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The Inquisitive Raven

December 31, 2025 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

Disclosure: I received this complimentary product The Inquisitive Raven through Douglas & McIntyre. Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so, and it is so much appreciated.

The Inquisitive Raven introduces us to Rueben. He’s a smart raven who wants to know everything about everything. A lover of his community and a teacher of what he has learned, he loves to help as much as he loves to learn. But he is sometimes laughed at, and this bothers Rueben. Whatever shall he do?

the inquisitive raven by robert wagamese, a review

The Basic Details

Title: The Inquisitive Raven
Author: Richard Wagamese
Illustrator: Bridget George
Series: The Richard Wagamese Storybook Collection
Publisher: Douglas & McIntyre
Pages: 32
Intended Audience: children, 6-8 years,
Genre: indigenous, Canada, children’s Canada books, children’s growth, creation, indigenous stories
Available formats: Hardcover
Received: hardcover
Reviewed for: Douglas & McIntyre

Book and Author

Richard Wagamese also wrote The Animal People Choose a Leader which I also reviewed. A member of the Obijway people, he was a gifted storyteller. Despite being abandoned by his parents and being ill-treated in the foster care system, Richard learned to read. His life was not an easy-one, he was married, divorced, fathered children, and lived his life. He lived out his calling of being a storyteller with several published works.

In The Inquisitive Raven we learn about Rueben. He’s such a smart, inquisitive bird, sticking his beak into everything. He wanted to know as much about his world as he could, and he shared his knowledge with his community. One day he noticed an eagle soaring high above and watched how the other animals respected the eagle. He also wanted to be respected, and so we get to read of his experiences.

Looking deeper into The Inquisitive Raven

Oh, the artwork in The Inquisitive Raven helps to bring the story to life. It has a very indigenous feel to it. You can see the beauty in his coat, and the intelligence in his eyes. He seems like a very likable chap not wanting to miss an iota of life.

Some pages are full colour images and others only have an image on part of the page. Lots of white space to allow for ease of reading.

Large font makes it easy to read to a group of children. Wouldn’t it be fun to read with a group and stopping once in a while to ask questions? Thinking about the story you are listening to and building anticipation. What will Rueben learn through all of this? Can we learn together you think?

You’ll find that it’s a beautiful hardcover tome. It done up so nicely with a slightly rough texture making it very easy to handle/hold. The Douglas and McIntyre of have done a wonderful job of presenting Wagamese’s story. Rueben learned so much in this story, won’t you come and see the learning?

You will love this story and the artwork. It gives a good touch to First Nations language and history. Learn with Rueben. Accept what you have and who you are!

Jesus is Coming!

December 29, 2025 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

Today’s passage is from Luke 1. I’ve called this devotional Jesus is Coming! And yeah, I know, the timing isn’t great because Christmas is just past. A season where we most celebrate the coming of our Lord into the world. Do we still have that excitement? Would we, if just a babe in the womb, leap for joy at the news? Jesus is coming!!!

Luke 1:39-45

³⁹In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, ⁴⁰and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, ⁴²and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! ⁴³And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

Jesus is Coming!

So Mary is pregnant right? At least I would assume she was at this point because “she went with haste into the hill country“. Kinda sounds like a euphemism for something doesn’t it? It wasn’t done back in the day for young women to get pregnant without the benefit of marriage. People would talk. It would be a shame to the family. So here, let’s pack you off to spend time with distant family.

Who did she go visit? None other than Zechariah and Elizabeth!

And get this excitement level. Mary comes into the house and Elizabeth’s baby leaps for joy in her womb. I can just imagine the oomph from Elizabeth her baby’s antics. But her baby leapt for joy just from being in the presence of Jesus. All Mary did was walk in the door.

How many of us have lost that joy? That immediacy of deep satisfaction/love/inner peace when we are in God’s presence? Is going to church a joy? Is opening up your bible a joy? Do you long to just be with him? I know I struggle with this. Working actively to fix it, to notice that small things of God that make my heart smile. Also to make meaningful connections between God’s word and the world that I live. It isn’t always an easy road walking. But oh, seeing the joy that John had while YET IN THE WOMB of the close presence of his Lord and Saviour… that is so inspiring isn’t it?

But Elizabeth..

John leapt for joy but Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. When she saw Mary she cried out “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! ⁴³And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

Do you see it? Do you see how the Holy Spirit helped Elizabeth to understand what was going on with Mary? How she could see the blessing that was upon her (Mary)?!?! She knew that Mary was going to have God’s child. The knowledge was given to her that this child would be her Lord.

She added this though “blessed is she who believed“. Mary wasn’t forced to believe. She chose to believe. For her belief she is blessed. Believing that God will have a child through her. Her belief, it’s a great thing indeed. And Elizabeth saw it.

Think about it

Isn’t that neat? Like seriously, just think about it for a bit.

This young relative comes to you “in all haste” and you know that can’t be good. But when she arrives you just KNOW. The Holy Spirit abundantly lets you know who the child is that she is bearing. And it’s good. It’s beyond good. You know what a blessing this is. Her belief and the situation that Mary is in. It’s a good thing, not shameful or horrible, but good.

I’m betting that Mary had a good stay with Elizabeth and Zechariah. You see, the Holy Spirit let Elizabeth know what a good thing is was, how blessed Mary was for her believing. Isn’t it fantastic?

God worked it all out eh?

From choosing who would bear his child. The child who would foretell his boy when he grew up. That child recognizing who his Saviour was while yet a babe in the womb. The Holy Spirit moving in Elizabeth’s heart. God made it all work together perfectly.

All the little pieces of the puzzle fit together making it all work out for our good. A good working eh?

Follow along with Studies from Unexplainable Jesus

Come along with me as we continue to go through the study Unexplainable Jesus.

It Seems Rather Stable

December 28, 2025 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

It seems rather stable was born as I sat under my shoulder warmer fighting a rather nasty cold. Hubsters fought with it last week (fights it still). He thought sharing it a rather good idea (though I disagree). Gave me time to ponder about one born in a stable. How there is more to the story than what the commercials and stories might tell. Falseness pervades everything and we need to seek out the truth diligently.

It Seems Rather Stable

It seems rather stable
to believe in the stable.
A child born a fair while back
Without whom the world would surely lack.

It’s black and white
And I’m not at all contrite.
To know the importance of belief
better than experiencing grief.

Now we know a few things
Not of which the caroler sings
No snow on the ground, no wisemen
at the cradle, traditions strikes again.

No in December, January or March
a birth for Christ not under an arch
shepherds and animals this we know true
a donkey, a stable, and the manger a clue.

Learning more to the scriptures one should turn
In Matthew and Luke the story does burn
making hearts see truth
So don’t be uncouth!

Seek ever always to know what should be
how to be eternally free
knowing the start and the ending you know
it’s starts from beginning, it’s a flow.

The beginning, the end, truth be told
may always be ever bold
Forever and forever always to reign
His birth doesn’t start the refrain.

Instead the refrain runs throughout history
telling the tale of his family tree.
Creating, restoring, saving us all,
He’s stopped the repercussions of the fall.

Rejoice and be glad, be of good cheer
sing the story loud and clear.
Seek out the truth in that all you do
Don’t let it be true just in the pew.

Starship in the Stone

December 17, 2025 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table they become part of so much fantasy literature. Starship in the Stone is a 10 book series that takes the story of Arthur and revamps it. There is much about the series that I liked and some things that occasionally irked me. But since I finished the entire series there was more that I liked than not! If you like science fiction and adventure, where good guys do all they can to defeat the bad guys, this is the story for you!

The Basic Details for The Starship in the Stone

Series Title: The Starship in the Stone

Author: M.R. Forbes
Publisher: Independently published
Pages: averaging 350 pages
Intended Audience: high-school, young adult, adult,
Genre: science fiction, space opera, space fleet, space marine,
Available formats: Kindle, Paperback, Hardcover, Audio
Read: Kindle

About the author and Series

M. R. Forbes has written a fair number of science fiction books. He loves to read sci-fi books and has a love for the genre in every format he can find. His goal is to entertain and surprise his audience. You can learn more about his works at his website.

The Starship in the Stone takes an unlikely hero, a bike messenger trying to escape a messy situation and lands him in a world unheard of. It’s an twist on the Legend of Arthur. You’ll find Merlin, a version of the Round Table. Enemies that were once friends. Enemies that become friends, and heroes in unlikely spaces. In many ways it’s a coming of age tale.

So What Did I think?

I enjoyed this series. Normally science fiction books aren’t my thing, but the story drew me in. An unlikely hero, a determined advisor, and an emergency situation, led to growth unimagined.

There was a struggle with Merlin always calling Thomas “my boy”. Like use his name! Seriously. His name is Thomas, call him that! He’s a man, not a child. And yes, Merlin is like an ancient being and in some ways I can conceive of him using the “my boy” moniker but it got a bit tiresome.

I did like how not everything turned out perfectly. People died, loved and cared for people. Ones that I wanted to see make it to the end of the story. Not all of them made it, which made the tale much more realistic and moving.

not always plausible

There were parts that seemed not quite plausible. Would it really be possible for one starship to take on massive amounts of other starships and miraculously being able to avoid weapons fire? But that’s the nature of a story right? Especially a story about a long-dead leader, embodied in a stone, with a high tech ship. Add to the mix an immortalized wizard transferred into technology (a computer) and you are bound to have things that seem a bit far-fetched. All that said, I read through all the books eagerly! 🙂

I wanted to know how Thomas was going to win the fight. I wanted to know if Lancelot could be saved and if Morgana could be stopped. Would Thomas and his lady friend become more than just friends? Could the round table be completed?

Did I get the answers to all my questions? NOPE. But I did get many of them answered, and mostly to the good. Bad things happen, good things happen, and in the end… good prevails. It’s just the way a good adventure story is supposed to!

Starship in the Stone, an excellent space marine opera worth reading!

Advantage of a Sale

December 13, 2025 By Annette1 4 Comments

Taking advantage of a sale, hubsters and I went to London today. We had a lovely afternoon out together, we chatted and got needed supplies, bought some things perhaps we shouldn’t, but stockings are getting fuller! 🙂 Then tonight on Amazon I took advantage of a couple of sales and thought I’d round out my hubby’s gift just a little bit. I found him a keto snack he hasn’t been able to locate in quite a while so I’m hoping it will be a great surprise!

Advantage of a sale

Today I had a conversation
with a friend that I hold dear.
A weekly conversation with
laughter and so much cheer.

She asked me what we had in
mind for Christmas this year
and wondered if we gift-exchanged
and what plans we had.

I mentioned that I had two
desires for Christmas this year and
found them on sale during the Prime Days
and Black Friday events on Amazon.

But are no longer on sale but
still sit in my cart as I learn
if I’ll need to buy them after
the Christmas season.

Will a price reduction be again
in my future? Or will one of my
loved ones spare me the trouble?
I’ll know more in a couple of weeks.

ReceiptHog where I share receipts
from items purchased. They have a
contest of sorts going on right now.
We’re to video ourselves talking

About sales and purchases made
not over the Christmas season.
Speaking about the why and how
of gift-giving over the year.

I thought it was an interesting
approach. But really have no ideas
to present as I don’t buy many
gifts over the year. 🙂

I have to admit though, that
when I did shop more often for toys,
taking advantage of a sale is
an added side benefit and often a
boost to making the sale!

Continued thoughts

I sat here after writing the above and wondered if I could find a way to continue faith to the idea of a sale. I failed miserably. 🙂 The only thing I could think of is how often people love to find a bargain. How often we fail to see the bargain right in front of us. The bargain of eternal life and eternal hope all for the bargain price of acceptance of who God is. it’s the best bargain out there you know? Asks for just a little, and in return we get everything most important. Have you taken advantage of the sale of faith yet? (that’s not supposed to sound as awkward as perhaps that reads). 🙂 I hope you get the idea meant!

Just ask questions if you never taken God seriously before. It’s eternally important. And literally the best gift you can give yourself!

Questions have consequences

December 8, 2025 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

Continuing on in my study of the Unexplainable Jesus. Working through chapter one of Unexplainable Beginnings, working through day three today. Day one and two had me considering new things, so I’m thinking the same will continue. I was struck with how Zechariah’s and Mary’s questions have consequences. Join me won’t you? Maybe you will see something that I have missed!

Questions lead to consequences

Day Three: Luke 1:18-38

¹⁸And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” ¹⁹And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. ²⁰And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” ²¹And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. ²²And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. ²³And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.

²⁴After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, ²⁵“Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”

So Zechariah, who knows that it’s an angel standing before him, giving him news that God directed him to give. And he questions him!!! I can totally understand this. You tell me something that is momentous and I’d have questions! Especially if it seemed like there were real obstacles in the way… in this particular instance Zechariah and Elizabeth were both old. They weren’t exactly in their child-bearing years! And yet, Gabriel reassures him… this will happen. But then lays out the consequence of this unbelief… no talking until the baby is born.

Can you imagine how hard that would be? How humbling it would be for Zechariah and how it some ways it might be enlightening? Enlightening as it would show how, in the surprise of the moment, his trust in God faltered and became questions of doubt.

Luke 1:26-36

²⁶In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, ²⁷to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” ²⁹But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. ³⁰And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. ³²He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, ³³and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

³⁴And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

³⁵And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. ³⁶And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. ³⁷For nothing will be impossible with God.” ³⁸And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.&amp;amp;amp;lt;/span>

But on the flipside we see another pending birth announcement. The angel came to see Mary, told her not to be scared, and that she was going to have a baby. He gave her information about her son-to-be. Mary’s response was “how will this be, since I am a virgin. The angel didn’t call her on that question, not seeing it as a cause of doubt, but one of curiousity. And so, it seems to me taht’s what it was since she readily accepted his explanation and stated her availability to be used of God as he saw fit.

woman statue near cross during daytime — Photo by Juan Salamanca on Pexels.com

Questions have consequences

Well this is frustrating…. all my thoughts just disappeared. So now I get to try to recreate them!!!

In this passage we have two people with questions too which Gabriel, the angel of God, responds to differently.

Both Zechariah and Mary were startled when Gabriel showed up. Both were given the same message of “don’t be afraid, I’m an angel of God” and then the reason for his arrival.

Zechariah’s response to this momentous news was “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”

Mary’s response was “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

Do you see the difference in the questions?

Zechariah’s one of demand, or maybe more of sarcasm. Like he’s saying “hey man, how is that going to happen with a couple of old farts? Like seriously man, we’re old!”.

Mary’s response was more of a wondering, a how can this happen to me? She’s old enough to know how babies are made and well… wouldn’t you wonder how you could get pregnant with God’s child?

Gabriel’s response therefore to each was different. Zechariah disciplined with silence for nine months. Nine months to consider God’s grace in his life.

Mary on the otherhand got an explanation “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” Her response was “Behold, I am the servant^[f] of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”

Immediate acceptance vs nine months of a reminder to accept God’s will for your life.

Oh… that I might be more like Mary. Not needing time or discipline to accept God’s plan for my life.

Let’s not forget Elizabeth!

Even though I concentrated on Zechariah and Mary we shouldn’t forget Elizabeth’s response.

She saw God’s goodness in her life. So much so she hid herself away savouring it. (my words I know) Knowing that in her society she would no longer be looked down upon for having no children. For five months she kept this news for herself and Zechariah. I wonder if non-speaking Zechariah found a way to communicate with her about their son’s eventual ministry and God’s call upon his life. That would have helped me (if I were Elizabeth) to stay sequestered too, just trying to wrap my head around it all!

The Dreaded Christmas Sweater

December 6, 2025 By Annette1 10 Comments

The dreaded Christmas Sweater, the word prompt for this week, could be a fun read. At least I hope to have some fun reads from fellow contributors! Time will tell eh? So it’s a bit of a struggle this year with the whole gift giving idea…. no one is giving ideas of what they would like for Christmas. My son’s gal came up with a vague idea, but it’s like meh. My guys… NOTHING. No hints, no nudges, no “it would be nice comments, nothing for like almost a whole year!!” Gah, it’s a hard one this year, that’s for sure. I gave folks ideas… why can’t they be just as courteous???

image of man in christmas sweater holding poster board. Text Dreaded Christmas Sweater

The Dreaded Christmas Sweater

It’s a little known fact
that the dreaded Christmas Sweater
does not reside at my house.

I don’t know why I’ve never
been blessed, but I really,
truly do not mind.

I do own some fun tshirts
with Christmas theme ablaze,
those who know me well,
can guess what they might portray.

Bunnies in trees,
bunnies in a row,
and even bunnies wishing all
a Merry Christmas!

Hubby doesn’t know it, but
he might be given an ugly
Christmas sweater this year.

Since well…. he’s given me
no other ideas of items
he could happily receive.

I’ve considered underwear,
the rather fancy kind, but
that led down a rabbit hole
I’d rather not in reside.

No tools, no candy, I’m
really rather stuck, no
hints have been given
in now almost 12 months!

Should I get him yet,
another cat OR do the
dreaded Christmas sweater?

So give me ideas, my readers
please, what would you give
a 60 year grey haired fellow?

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The Inquisitive Raven

The Basic Details

Book and Author

Looking deeper into The Inquisitive Raven