Christmas From Heaven/Ornaments

Being a huge lover of History, I was so thrilled when I got a surprise request to review not only a book, Christmas From Heaven but wrapped up like a true gift was a DVD recording from Tom Brokaw that captured the retelling of this wonderful story. You get to chose between either simply reading the wonderful book, Christmas From Heaven or watching it being narrated by Tom Brokaw along with musical accompaniment from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Christmas From Heaven conveys the historical significance of Lt. Gail Halvorsen, a young pilot in the US Army Air Corps who was assigned as a cargo pilot to the Berlin Airlift, in which US forces flew much-needed supplies into a Soviet blockaded Berlin. As he performed his duties, Lt. Halvorsen began to notice the German children gathered by the fences of the Tempelhof Air Base. Knowing that they had very little, he one day offered them some chewing gum. From that small act, an idea sprang: He would "bomb" Berlin with candy. Fashioning small parachutes, he and his crew sent them floating down as they approached the Berlin airport, wiggling the wings of their C-54 as a signal to the children that their anticipated cargo would soon arrive.

Lt. Halvorsen became known by hundreds, if not thousands, of children in Berlin as "Uncle Wiggly Wings" or "The Candy Bomber." Word soon spread, and donations of candy and other supplies poured in from sympathetic Americans. Lt. Halvorsen's small idea became a great symbol of hope not only to the German children in a bombed-out city but to all those who yearned for freedom. It showed everyone in the midst of a war what the true spirit of Christmas looks like.

Famed broadcast journalist and author Tom Brokaw brings this remarkable story to life in a stunning live performance with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, captured on the accompanying DVD. Also included in the book is a template and directions for creating your own "Candy Bomber" parachutes. At the ending of this DVD you get to see Gail Halvorsen, now 92 years young. See if this story doesn't make you cry. One selfless act brought hope to those who only knew the horrors of what war would bring.

In addition to this wonderful book, I also got the opportunity to review a collection of Christmas ornaments called the Biblical Names of Christ. These are so beautiful to add to the Christmas Tree Decorating that you and your family take part of and as you add each of them to your tree, on the back of the box are Bible Scriptures that accompany each name of Jesus Christ. There are 12 star-shaped antique pewter-finish ornaments you can use as gift tags, adorning a wreath on your front door or added to your Christmas tree this  year. Create a Christ-focused holiday tradition as you review the sacred names of the Savior.

I received both the book/DVD Christmas From Heaven and the 12 Biblical Names of Christ Ornaments compliments of Deseret Books and Shadow Mountain for my honest review of these products. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed are strictly my own. I think both of these items would make a wonderful gift this Christmas in order to keep the Spirit of Christmas and Jesus at the center of our celebrations. The ornament collection can only be purchased through the link below.  I rate both of these products a 5 out of 5 stars and for more information on either product, please click on the links below: 

Christmas From Heaven as read by Tom Brokaw

12 Ornament Set of the Biblical Names of Christ