Day 12: The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey

Day 12 of Advent

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey

As a woodworker himself, my dad annually read this story of a lonely carpenter’s heart being softened by a gentle widow and her son. This story always struck a chord with him, and to this day, he cannot get through this heartwarming story with dry eyes.

-Caleb

Get a wooden bird carving kit just like Thomas!

Include us in your day! Tag @piperandleaf and #piperandleafadvent

Scripture Reading for the Day

Zechariah 6:12-13

12 You are to tell him: This is what the Lord of Armies says: Here is a man whose name is Branch; he will branch out from his place and build the Lord’s temple. 13 Yes, he will build the Lord’s temple; he will be clothed in splendor and will sit on his throne and rule. There will also be a priest on his throne, and there will be peaceful counsel between the two of them.

Activity for Today

Molasses Cookies, Raisin Buns, and a Creche

Whip up some molasses cookies or raisin buns just like Jonathan Toomey's aspiring apprentice! Also, if you have a nativity scene try this... put the creche under your tree today and start letting one member of the family add one of the people or animals each day. Add baby Jesus on Christmas eve or Morning!

Whip up some Molasses cookies!

Raisin Bun Recipe!

A sweet symphony of caramel and the comforting spice of gingerbread, reminiscent of Jonathan's warm, molasses cookies.

Let's spill the tea about Caramel Apple Pie...

Eloquent Description

Bustling leaves and friends coming together in cooler weather only can be helped by sweetness. Freshly harvested, late fall, cellar-root apples lend a crisp note to the decidedly creamy, mellow, and caramel-laced black tea.

Ingredients

Ceylon Black Tea
Apples
Cinnamon
Ginger
Orange Rind
Star Anise
Licorice
Natural Flavor
Black Pepper

Steeping Suggestions

For hot tea, steep one tea bag in 8 to 10oz of 212 water for 3 minutes. For iced, use half the water(same temp), steep for the same time, and add ice after you pull the tea bag out.

Someone Else's Thoughts

"I am really enjoying my new Caramel Apple Tea! The flavor is rich and bright without being cloying like some fall flavors. There is just the right amount of caramel to balance out the spices which don’t overpower the apple. Another win for Piper and Leaf!"

~Kyla: Caramel Apple Pie in Tea Bags

All about The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey

Fun Fact!
If you remember from the other day, Brigette is determined to get a nice nativity set! After I introduced her to this book, she decided this nativity set would also do—as long as the cows are proud and the sheep are happy!

We gave our son, Henry, a carving set for his birthday. We are hoping maybe he will hone his skills in the next few years!

Just like Thomas, you too can carve a bird! Here is a link to a wood carving set
Movie Trailer
Get a wooden bird carving kit just like Thomas!
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey
Jonathan Toomey wasn’t an old man, but if you saw him, you might think he was, the
way he walked bent forwards with his head down. You wouldn’t notice his eyes, the clear
blue of an August sky. And you wouldn’t see the dimple on his chin, since his face was
mostly hidden under a shaggy, untrimmed beard, speckled with sawdust and wood
shavings.

The village people didn’t know it, but there was a reason for his gloom, a reason for
his grumbling, a reason why he walked hunched over, as if carrying a great weight on his
shoulders.

Some years earlier, when Jonathan Toomey was young and full of life and full of love,
his wife and baby had become very ill. And, because those were the days before hospitals
and medicines and skilled doctors, his wife and baby died, three days apart from each other.

So Jonathan Toomey had packed his belongings into a wagon and travelled till his
tears stopped. He settled into a tiny house at the edge of a village to do his woodcarving.

One day in early December, there was a knock at Jonathan’s door. Mumbling and grumbling, he went to answer it. There stood a woman and a young boy. “I’m the widow McDowell. I’m new in your village. This is my son Thomas,” the woman said.

“I’m seven and I know how to whistle,” said Thomas. “Whistling is pish-posh,” said
the woodcarver gruffly. “I need something carved,” said the woman, and she told
Jonathan about a very special set of Christmas figures her grandfather had carved for her
when she was a girl. “After I moved here, I discovered that they were lost,” she explained. “I had hoped that by some miracle I would find them again, but it hasn’t happened.”
About the Author
Susan Wojciechowski grew up in Rochester, NY, dreaming of being a Mouseketeer. She pursued teaching in college but found the classroom tougher than expected and moved through various jobs before discovering her passion for writing. Inspired by a neighbor's success, she penned her first essay, got published, and never looked back.
Her stories take shape during everyday moments—washing dishes, driving, or relaxing in her favorite chair. She writes them by hand before they reach the publisher. Family often finds its way into her books, especially her kids, Joel, Christian, and Mary. In her downtime, Susan enjoys reading, tennis, and the New York Times crossword, and her wish is that readers love her books as much as she loves creating them.