Review: The Familyman

Hard to believe that we are already seeing the leaves changing and that Christmas is around the corner. Part of doing reviews is reviewing products ahead of time so that those who read my Blog can learn about products before the season approaches. And today, I want to share with you about The Familyman's Christmas Treasury - Audio Collection from The Familyman. These are also available as Digital Downloads. This collection includes EIGHT audio stories!

These are all narrated by Jim Hodges, truly an amazing storyteller. If you listen, I did a short video recording of three of my kiddos listening to one of the stories. You can clearly make out his comforting and soothing voice in the background:


Hodges works with Familyman Ministries who brought us these Christmas stories. We were sent digital downloads of the six stories from the collection. We were also given an additional two Christmas stories that are only available in digital format. Included in the collection of six stories are:

• Captain Chaos and The Manger Blaster
• Cootie McKay's Nativity
• The Stranger
• The Bishop's Dream
• Harold Grubbs and the Christmas Vest
• Gladys Remembers Christmas

My seven-year-old Sidge told me that the stories were "Pretty good!" which is saying a lot for my boys to response so positively. Normally, anything that resembles school gets a fairly gruff response. :)

I wanted to take a moment to just very briefly summarize four of the six audios.

1. "Cooties McKay's Nativity" was one of our family's favorites! This is the story of a simple man who helps fix a broken nativity and how he finds Christ in the process. Like the other stories in the collection, the stories provide hours of listening enjoyment but more important, they reinforce the true meaning of Christmas. 
2. "The Stranger" was also another one we enjoyed. Sidge summarized by saying: "The stranger came to everyone's house and only one time did one family let him in." Like the other stories in the collection -- this one gets to what Christmas is really about and those memory that really stick with you when you do the right thing and treat someone the right way. 
3. "Captain Chaos" is a less realistic story with a superhero theme. "Captain Chaos" erases the birth of Jesus from history and listeners are left to see what it would have been like if Christ had never been born. My superhero loving boys found this one very intriguing. 
4. "The Bishop's Dream" looks at the true history of Saint Nicholas. The reader is allowed to perceive what Nicholas would think of what our holiday has turned into over the years. 

Each story is bite size in length (most range from about 15-30 minutes) which was perfect for us to listen to in one or two segments. I also think the price (just $25) is VERY reasonable and affordable for families wanting to make sure that they remain focused on the TRUE meaning of Christmas -- which of course is Christ's birth.

You can also find more information on this product by visiting them on: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Google Plus or on their Blog. 

*You can also check out the collection of 8 stories as well by clicking here.