2025 Reading Challenge discussion

Updated message #12: 8/24

update to message #20: 9/24

Update to message #8

PROGRESS: 9/24 🎄

Day 9 - from "24 Christmas Poems for Kids: Festive Advent Calendar" at imagineforest.com

"Symbols" by Charles A. Waugaman

The Cross was at the heart
Of Christmas
The star announced and
Summarized.
Lights beamed a plus into
Our darkness
And ebbing Hope was
Cauterised.
Symbols appear both sharp
And simple,
But wondrous sacrifice
They hold.
Alpha*Life and death*Omega
Incarnate.
When the whole is told.

Update to Msg #3

9/31

rxa ♥ wrote: "update to message 47


tihylttw: 9 chapters/25 chapters
oas: 4 chapters/20 chapters

overall: 13 chapters/45 chapters

(i've also decided to start reading 'on a sunbeam' by tillie walden starting d..."

rxa -- We are counting days on this challenge not chapters. Please tell me how many days you wish to participate between 24 and 31 days. And let me know how many days you have read so far. Thanks 😊

Updated through Msg #105.

🕯️16 Days 'til Christmas🕯️

@Jen & Hunter Welcome!

Will update again on Dec 10th.

🕯️Happy Advent Reading!🕯️

Sunny wrote: "rxa ♥ wrote: "update to message 47


tihylttw: 9 chapters/25 chapters
oas: 4 chapters/20 chapters

overall: 13 chapters/45 chapters

(i've also decided to start reading 'on a sunbeam' by tillie wal..."

ah okay. then here is my update:

8 days/24 days

message #6 updated:

9/31
My original post pledged 40 short stories - but with the re-clarification of the challenge, I have changed it to 31 days.
Thanks

update to message #11

9 of 24

Updated message: #7

🎄🎄🎄Progress: 9/24🎄🎄🎄

✔️12/9 - Chapter 10

Update to message #8

PROGRESS: 10/24 🎄

Update: message 16 - 10/24 complete

Day 10 - from "24 Christmas Poems for Kids: Festive Advent Calendar" at imagineforest.com

"The Greatest Gift of All" by Jennie Munson

The greatest gift
Given long ago
Wasn’t wrapped in paper
Or tied with a bow
God’s only Son
From heaven above
Given to us
Straight from His love
Lest we forget
Please hold on tight
To the great truth
Brought on that night
His gift for love
For all to receive
The gift of salvation
To those who believe.

Update to Msg #3

10/31

Update to Message #10: 10/24

Started the fourth holiday novel today.

Updated through Msg #115.

🕯️15 Days 'til Christmas🕯️

Will update again on Dec 12th.

🕯️Happy Advent Reading!🕯️

Updated message #12: 10/24

Update msg 5: 11/24 🎄

Updated message: #7

🎄🎄🎄Progress: 10/24🎄🎄🎄

✔️12/10 - Chapter 11

Update to message #8

PROGRESS: 11/24 🎄

Day 11 - from "Academy of American Poets" at poets.org

"A New Law" by Greg Delanty

Let there be a ban on every holiday.
No ringing in the new year.
No fireworks doodling the warm night air.
No holly on the door. I say
let there be no more.
For many are not here who were here before.

Update to message #13:

9/24 🎄

Update to Msg #3

11/31

Updated message #4: 11/24

Updated message 15. Progress: 11/24

Update to message #8

PROGRESS: 12/24 🎄

Updated message: #7

🎄🎄🎄Progress: 11/24🎄🎄🎄

✔️12/11 - Chapter 12

update msg.#20 : 11/24

Update to Message #10: 12/24

Update to Msg #3

12/31

Day 12 - from "24 Christmas Poems for Kids: Festive Advent Calendar" at imagineforest.com

"Come, Santa" by Unknown

Once upon a time,
I made a wish while holding a dime,
“I wish Santa come here on Christmas
Put something special in my socks”.

So every night,
I watch out for Santa,
Waiting for a huge guy
with a huge belly to show up.

Then one night, my wish came true.
I saw someone huge near my socks,
Putting something there,
I was shocked it was my DAD!

Updated through Msg #131.

🕯️12 Days 'til Christmas🕯️

Today we lit the candle for JOY! Hope all of you have a week filled with joy!

Will update again on Dec 16th.

🕯️Happy Advent Reading!🕯️

Update to message #14: 12/24

Updated message: #7

🎄🎄🎄Progress: 12/24🎄🎄🎄

✔️12/12 - Chapter 13 & 14

Update to message #8

PROGRESS: 13/24 🎄

Updated message #12: 12/24

Update to Msg #3

13/31

Day 13 - from "24 Christmas Poems for Kids: Festive Advent Calendar" at imagineforest.com

"My Christmas Day" by @Piddlypoems

I ate so much
On Christmas Day
I sank in the snow
When I sat on my sleigh
Santa’s reindeer
Came to say
I’ll only pull you out
If you pay
I muttered
“I have no dough
I only have hay”
He replied
“Well hey man
Then there you’ll stay!”

Updated message 15. Progress: 16/24

Updated message: #7

🎄🎄🎄Progress: 13/24🎄🎄🎄

✔️12/13 - Chapter 15

Update to message #8

PROGRESS: 14/24 🎄

Day 14 - from "24 Christmas Poems for Kids: Festive Advent Calendar" at imagineforest.com:

"Merry + Bright" by Diane Bohn

Christmas may be over,
The stockings put away.
The chocolate and the cookies
Enjoyed every single day.

Now the New Year’s coming,
All hurry on their way,
To live their busy lives,
No more thoughts of Santa’s sleigh.

Although the season’s come and go,
And Holidays have their cheer,
The spirit of Christ can stay in our hearts,
To warm and bless all near.

I hope you had a merry Christmas,
Full of Christmas spirit,
But more than that I hope your year
Has much happiness and love in it!

I have been reading poems from the book, All Along You We’re Blooming: thoughts for boundless living, by Morgan Harper Nichols.

Here’s one that is meaningful to me in this season.

When songs rise within me,
I will sing them.
Even when I am tired,
Weary and exhausted,
I will trust
These melodies are
More than melodies.
They are grace-filled
Cadences to remind
My soul through my
Aching, there is a
Peace to keep
Me steady… a balm
For my wounds.

Update to Msg #3

14/31

Updated message #12: 14/24

Edit message 25
14/24

Updated message: #7

🎄🎄🎄Progress: 14/24🎄🎄🎄

✔️12/14 - Chapter 16

Update to message #8

PROGRESS: 15/24 🎄

Update to message 14 - 15/24

I am done for now. I have read 73 pages of poetry. I don’t do well with one a day things. My pace is never steady.