By: Terresa Monroe-Hamilton

Purchase at Penguin.com or Amazon.com

Want a heartwarming book for Christmas? Well, this is it. You will recognize Mike Huckabee from Fox News… he was also a politician, governor and pastor. This book is his gift to his grandchildren, so they will remember him long after he is gone. In a series of letters, he recounts memories, stories, wisdom and lessons learned along the way. His love for his family touches the heart and his love shows through in his splendid writing. At this time of year especially, we all count our blessings and love and we rejoice in the birth of the Savior. We also contemplate all that has gone before and what is to come. This is an incredible way for Mr. Huckabee to share himself with those he cherishes and loves. I think it is fantastic!

Mixed in with all the love and history, is humor and basic truths that lift the soul. The book is his legacy put to print and is a golden gift of love to his grandchildren. I believe that each of us, if possible, would love to leave something similar to those we love. We carry those that go before us in our minds and hearts, but it is oh, so special to have something tangible to bring them close and warm your heart. This is not politics, it’s love – a refreshing break for this political wonk. It actually brought tears to my eyes.

From Penguin.com:

“I wrote these letters so that long after I’m gone, you’ll know that I loved you, had great hopes for you, and wanted to give you my best advice on living in this tough world. If I can’t be there with you, I hope my letters will act as a sort of reminder of me—as if I’m standing there beside you, whispering in your ear, and putting my arm around your shoulder.”

On education:

“The stuff you learn in school is not the only education worth having. There are so many different types of knowledge, each of them valuable in its own way. As you go through life, you’ll meet people with less formal education than you, but that doesn’t mean they are stupid. Some of the smartest people I’ve ever known didn’t have a degree from anywhere but the University of Life, where they learned things no book or professor could ever have taught them.”

On work:

“Your grandpa wants to give you the world, and it’s awfully tempting to want to give you things that I had to work so hard to get as a kid. But now that I’m older, I realize that the best things I got from my hard work were not a paycheck or a catcher’s mitt, but a willingness to do whatever it took to accomplish my goals.”

On love and marriage:

“Ever since Adam and Eve, men and women have been trying to figure each other out….Save yourself some energy: Don’t try to blow out the flame of the sun with your breath and don’t try to figure out the opposite gender. Just assume that God designed us so very differently from one another and yet made us wildly attracted to each other because He has a sense of humor.”

What a selfless act of love this book is. Pick up your copy at Penguin.com or Amazon.com. Also visit Mr. Huckabee’s site. Now, I need a Kleenex. 😉