Tucker McBride and the Christmas Present

  It's December 1, and the stores are draped in red and green. It is the Holidays, the Christmas Holidays. The Christ Child came to bring life and light. He is the present that keeps on giving.

We all know that money is tight right now due to the rising prices of everything. We worry that we will not be able to give the "perfect" gift. Perfect love was already given. We can enjoy giving the stocking stuffers.

When Tucker was in elementary school, the students in his class had their annual Christmas gift exchange. With his grandpa's small pension from the railroad, there was never "extra" money in the purse. So, Uncle Jacob would carefully cut a walnut in half, scoop out the nut meat, and replace it with a quarter before gluing it back together. That simple gift was Tucker's contribution to the Christmas party.

Do you really have to be the star of the Christmas party, giving the coveted present everyone wishes they would receive? Or, could you be the most gracious gift receiver at the party? Blessing the one who gave with appreciation and love?

Watch for my newest Tucker book in late winter, Tucker McBride and the Christmas Present. He has gifts to buy, too, with very few dollars in his wallet. I hope you have a relaxing and blessed holiday season.

Doris

If you are in Fort Wayne on December 10, come to Barnes and Noble Bookseller off Illinois Road from 10:30 to 12:30 pm. I will sign the first three Tucker books.

Tucker and The Christmas Mouse

 

Lincoln's Christmas Mouse could have been one of Tucker's favorite books when he was younger.

Great Idea! Order one or more for yourself. "President Lincoln didn't want to waste wood during the Civil War and order no Christmas tree for the White House. But the Christmas Mouse came up with an idea."

The book has been reformatted to fit into the Shoe Box Ministry container you donate to children around the world. Order several copies from https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lincolns-chistmas-mouse-doris-gaines-rapp/1120729551?ean=9780991503339 - (Please share.)

It is available on Amazon as an eBook. Enjoy the season.

Doris

Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.

Author and Psychologist

Tucker's on Vacation

 Sorry I haven't posted in many months. I am not currently writing a Tucker McBride novel. I completed The Boy with the Golden Horn. You may want to check it out on Amazon.com or Barnes&Noble.com.

 I am currently writing Garden in the Sky which includes several original songs. A sequel,  Honeysuckle Rose, will follow.

I will begin writing book 4 - Tucker McBride's Christmas Present in the early winter. Enjoy the previous posts of Tucker's activities and forward the ideas to others. Enjoy a beautiful Autumn.

Have Fun in a Snap

Tucker's grandmother enjoyed creating new things from used objects, like a crazy quilt out of favorite fabrics and a new sweater from used yarn. I, too, love to entertain my creative side by making important things for me.

I enjoy snap jewelry. So, I made a snap from the picture I drew for the cover of my most recent Tucker book, Tucker's Perfect Day. 

  Use a picture you want to display in a new way or fabric with a unique pattern. 

Supplies are available online.

With craft glue, affix it to the flat side of the domed top. (Dome on the right) Try not to move the picture.

Let it dry for several hours or overnight. Next, glue the dome with the picture showing through to the button base. (Far left) Put the snap in your snap jewelry, or order a piece from the internet. As you can see from my necklace, I ordered some elements that can hang from a chain.

YouTube has several good videos demonstrating the making of snap jewelry.  

Whatever you choose to create, make it fun. And, remember, live all of your life.

Doris 

Copyright 2022 Doris Gaines Rapp

Off to Wellness!

 Off to Wellness!

Wow, there are so many new words: epidemic, pandemic, vaccination, and quarantine are just a few. 

Have you been quarantined with Covid 19 or one of its variants? Tucker McBride was kept home from school many times. But it was for other illnesses, not for Covid.

Tucker lived when there were diseases for which children are now vaccinated, before going to school: mumps, measles, and smallpox. He not only stayed home when he had each of those, but he also had to stay home when his brother and two sisters experienced the illnesses. So, Tucker was home for many weeks during the first, second, and third grades.

Smallpox:  Isn't it great that vaccinations have eliminated smallpox in the United States and other countries?

Mumps:  

Measles:  

We all know these illnesses were very serious. Just like the symptoms that some people have when they get Covid 19. Tucker and I aren't saying Covid isn't important enough to be very cautious. But, you know Tucker. He would find a way to have fun if stuck in the house day after day. So, let's think of things to do that show we are brave, strong, and healthy under the illness. 

1. Draw a picture of what you might look like with one of these childhood diseases.

2. You and some friends have a movie date by Zooming your group and tuning into the same movie.

3. Today, there are vaccinations so people don't get these illnesses. If you could eat your favorite food and make the illness go away, what ten foods would you hope were on the list?

4. Gramma would have prayed with Tucker for healing. Write a prayer of your own for you and your friends and family to heal.

5. Write the words to Old MacDonald had a Farm that describe you conquering one of the illnesses. Here is the one I wrote:

    Oh, Dr. Rapp had the mumps.

    E-I-E-I-O!

    And on the mump, she had a bump,

    E-I-E-I-O!

    With a lump bump here

    and a lump bump there,

    Here a lump,

    There a bump,

    Both her jaws had a lump bump.

    Dr. Rapp, she had the mumps,

    E-I-E-I-O!

    And on the lump, she had a spot,

    E-I-E-I-O!

    With a bump spot here

    And a bump spot there,

    Here a bump.

    There a spot,

    Everywhere a bump spot,

    Dr. Rapp, she had the mumps,

    E-I-E-I-O!

    And on the spot, there was a freckle,

    E-I-E-I-O!

    With a freckled spot here

    And a freckled spot there,

    Here a spot,

    There a spot,

    Everywhere a freckled spot.

    Dr. Rapp, she had the mumps,

    E-I-E-I-O!

Remember, stay home, sleep often, drink a lot of water, and do as your doctor prescribes. While at home, read, do any assigned homework, and watch videos that make you laugh. Have a lot of fun. Many years ago, research showed that laughter helped your body to heal. Giggle your way to health.

Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.

Copyright 2022 Doris Gaines Rapp

The Haunted House

                           In Tucker's Perfect Day, Tucker and his friends enjoy Beggars' Night in various spooky ways. Many people have told me about the haunted house they went through one Halloween.

As a child, I never went into such a menagerie of scary rooms. My father didn't permit my sister and me to experience events intended to deliberately frighten us. I didn't see a horror film until I was in college. In the community I grew up in, Beggars' Night was the 30th of September. Halloween was on the 31st. "Good" children didn't venture out on Halloween. That was when pranksters played tricks and destroyed property.

However, the day after Halloween, my friends at school would tell me about the haunted house they inched through. I found their stories fascinating. As readers reminded me of those rooms full of spiderwebs, dripping imitation blood, headless figures, eerie music, and ghosts that jumped out of closets, I wondered if any of you have ever gone through a haunted house. 

If you have a special, unique experience of Halloween, let me know. I'll share it on the blog.

For me, Halloween is a time to enjoy family and community. It's a time to laugh, let your heart pound a little faster, and grab someone's hand for safety. It's clear crisp air, caramel-covered apples, and little Snickers candy bars. 

Join Tucker as he enjoys late October 1947 by reading Tucker's Perfect Day.

Doris Gaines Rapp

How We Spend Halloween

👻   Tucker McBride had an exciting evening on Halloween 1947 in my book, Tucker's Perfect Day. His hours were full from the time school got out, until those stinking, slimy boys finally slunk home.

I asked readers to tell me about their Halloween evening. I have permission to add these here. If you have autumn activities you have enjoyed and are willing to share, email me or respond to my Facebook post.

I received word from two people from the United States on how they spent Halloween. Both said they love the crisp air of fall and talking to other ghosts and goblins in costumes.

One of those who shared their Halloween excitement told me about autumn fun even before Beggars' Night. Some churches and other organizations in their town have events called Trick-or-Trunk. Members of the church or club line their cars up in the parking lot with their trunks open. Parents bring their costumed children so they can select their favorite candy in a safe place. 

Another woman explained that their church did not celebrate Halloween. In its place, the congregation opens the fellowship hall for a Harvest Party. Everyone plays games and participates in line dancing. They have hotdogs, chips, cupcakes and take home a small treat bag full of candy. Their harvest was plentiful.

On our street, homeowners gather on their front porch, driveway, or front yard and talk to all the wonderful kids dressed in whatever Halloween costumes their parents helped them put together. The evening air is so clear, you can hear conversations several houses down. A wave and "Hello" to those across the street, knit the community together.

Halloween can be celebrated in many ways. If you have another good evening to share, let me know and I'll post your idea. Enjoy the evening.

Doris Gaines Rapp