Four weeks of oh! ho! ho! Are you bored yet? I hope not! I’m having fun finding new friends and reading new blogs. Even though I’ve been so busy I’ve barely had time to read them. So, if you are one of my bloggy friends (new or old) please know I haven’t forgotten about you. I may be lurking, but I promise as soon as life slows down (this week, I hope!) I’ll be commenting and reading like mad. Doesn’t it stink when real life gets in the way of your bloggy life? Sheesh.
Let’s get back to Christmas, shall we? We are officially in the Christmas spirit here. In fact, Lydia is eating breakfast right now and instead of watching her normal “ELMO!”, she’s watching The Very First Noel. It’s the best little cgi DVD with Andy Griffith as the narrator. He narrates all in rhyme. And the music is by the First Hawaiian Christian Choir (well, something like that), so it’s got a little Jack Johnson feel to it. Oh, but I’m getting carried away because I’m not giving away that movie. (You should check it out though, it’s very good and really follows the Christmas Story…well, with the exception of the Wise Men showing up at the stable. But at least it’s much better than this movie. yuck.)
Whew…you can tell I haven’t been doing some serious blogging lately because I’m wordy today, huh?
Last Christmas I bought something that is destined to be a Christmas tradition in our house. It’s something I heard as a little girl, but could never get my hands on until last year! It’s Adventures in Odyssey’s Christmas Classics cd’s.
If you’re not familiar with Adventures in Odyssey you are missing out. It’s a radio drama produced by Focus on the Family. It follows the stories of a small town called Odyssey with Mr. Whittaker, owner of Whit’s End (an ice cream emporium) and all the kids and families that come in and out. I started listening to Odyssey when I was a kid and it still captures my attention like nothing else. It’s high quality with great voices (how ’bout Scoooge McDuck is one!) and stories that tell moral and biblical principles in funny, exciting and creative ways.
My brother and I are huge Odyssey fans and now Lydia will point to the speaker in the car and say, “Oddeeee!” I can’t wait to introduce her to these Christmas episodes. I think Odyssey (and other radio dramas or audio books) are such a good family-time activity. They are so engaging and big conversation starters. The Christmas episodes would be great for traveling to Grandma’s for Christmas, driving around looking at Christmas lights, or snuggling on the couch with hot chocolate and gazing at your Christmas tree.
The Christmas Classics set has my all time favorite episode called Gifts for Madge & Guy. And if you didn’t catch it, it’s based on O. Henry’s The Gift of the Magi, which is also my very favorite Christmas story. I’m sure you know the story but, here’s the two sentence synopsis:
A newlywed couple has no money for Christmas presents. Their two most prized possessions are the wife’s beautiful hair and the husband’s handsome pocket watch. In a fit of unselfishness, they both sell their most prized possession to buy a gift for their spouse. The wife cuts her hair to buy a watch fob for her husband. The husband sells his watch to buy beautiful combs for his wife’s tresses.
OK, so it was a little longer than 2 sentences. But it puts a tear in my eye just thinking about it! What a good and true example of selfless giving! This radio episode is a hilarious and crazy fractured re-telling of this classic O. Henry story. I laugh out loud just thinking about it. Click here to read a real recap and hear a teaser of this episode.
So, onto the prize. I’m giving away FIVE, count ’em…1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Adventures in Odyssey Christmas Sampler with 2 full-length episodes including my fave, Gifts for Madge and Guy.
All you have to do is leave me a comment. I’m not even going to make you tell me anything special. You can say “Merry Christmas”, “Happy Oh! Ho! Ho!” or just “Plllleeeeeaaaaase! Pick me!” and you’ll be entered to win ONE of FIVE prizes! And, if you want some extra entries, just subscribe to my feed or put up my oh! ho! ho! button somewhere on your blog with a link back here. Just let me know (via a comment) that you’re doing that so I can give you the proper extra credit! I’ll announce the winners (did you catch that? winnerS?!) on Friday!
Eden says
Merry Christmas! Pick me!!!
Misty says
It hardly seems fair, considering my winning spree as of late, but please oh please oh please pick me… Now, if by some chance you feel the need to award someone else with this lovely prize, could you tell me where to get it. Most of my daughter’s christmas line up is A in O. She LOVES it! We got to take her to Focus on the Family this summer and she adored visiting “Whit’s End”! 🙂
bebemiqui says
My daughter LOVES A in O!!! My sis and I were obsessed with it as well on long car rides.
I really would love to win this.
BTW, you are on my sidebar!
Courtney says
would love to listen!
Jen says
This sounds great! I love the Gift of the Magi story too… I put your button up on my new post today! 😀
Betsy says
Pick me!
Cindi Hoppes says
Hi, Please enter me in your fabulous contest. I appreciate it. Thanks,Cindi
Deanne says
This is a great giveaway! As I was reading I was thinking ‘this would be a good thing to have on our trip up to family this Christmas’. Soooo…..you just gotta pick me (please?). 🙂
Leigh says
I haven’t heard Adventures in Odyssey in forever! I admit, I’d forgotten about it… So pick me! 😉
Deanne says
I put your banner on my blog, so don’t forget to add my name in the hat more than once! 😉
Jean says
I found your nifty little button on someone’s blog..I can’t remember who, but thought I’d stop by and glad I found you and a giveaway. Woohoo!
Becky says
I haven’t listened to that since I was a kid! I’d love to let the kiddos hear it. Count me in! Also, I put up your oh ho ho button. 🙂
Becky says
…and I’ve subscribed to your feed, and you’re on my sidebar. Ha ha
Amanda says
please enter me. I have your button on my sidebar
Karla ~ Looking Towards Heaven says
ok.
pllleeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaassssssssseee pick me.
how’s that?
blessings,
k
Tina says
Me, me, me, me, me, me, me!!!! Pick meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee please!
Was that subtle enough for ya?
Christi says
Me Me Me!! *waving arms and jumping up and down*
Audra Marie says
“Merry Christmas”, “Happy Oh! Ho! Ho!” AND “Plllleeeeeaaaaase! Pick me!” 🙂
My kids love Adventures in Odyssey. Oh and your button is on my sidebar.
Laura @ Laura Williams' Musings says
Merry Christmoose!! Oh wait… Merry Christmas!
blogged ya: http://laurawilliamsmusings.blogspot.com/2007/11/monday-edition-of-contests-galore_26.html
Tiff@Three Peas in a Pod says
Pick me Pick ME!!!!!
Andrea says
I LOVED Adventures in Odessy as a kid and I would love to win this for my little boy now! 😉
Jenny M says
Love these for long car trips- keep my little guys interest and expands his vocabularly at the same time. Thanks for the chancE
JAy says
YAY- enter us please- its so hard to find great entertainment for the whole family and this definitely fits the bill
Caryn says
Merry Christmas@
Theresa N says
Merry Christmas and Please pick me!!
Coach Jenny says
Am I too late? Pick me, pick me! 🙂
michelle says
Count me in for this! And you are on my side bar!
Carey says
Count me in please!! I have your button on my blogs side bar.
Hope your having a terrific day!
Queen of My Domain says
I just found you by following a button. This looks like fun. I can’t wait to go back and read some of your other things.
Cherie J says
Sounds wonderful! Please pick me!
elizabeth says
my children ADORE adventure in odyssey …. pick me!!
Kim says
OH! OH! Pick me, pick me!!! I have your button on my sidebar and I plan on writing about my favorite Christmas CD tomorrow! Do I get extra credit?? 🙂
*smiles and Happy Deck the Halls*
Kim
kelli says
Long time lurker and feed subscriber.
This story means alot to our family for personal reasons. I’d love a copy.
Thanks for the chance 🙂
Shannon says
Hey Girl!
Hope all is well. Happy Holidays!
Leanne says
I just found you but it sounds like you’re having fun – so count me in!
I’ll be back to see more. 🙂
loving advice for my teenaged daughter says
please enter me in for this contest. I also subscribed to your feed. Thanks
jubilee says
please enter me! your button is up!
America says
Put some extra credit toward my way, got a button up and I am new at this button thingy. Merrrrrry Christmas.
Michelle at Scribbit says
I’m in! And I’ve already subscribed to your feed though I don’t know if that counts.
Angela says
yohoho and a bottle of rum gimme some prizes and i wont kick you in the bum.
I donno that just came out Im feeling spicy today
Your button is up of course ;
http://contestaddict.blogspot.com