House Blessings: Prayers, poems, and toasts celebrating home and family

by June Cotner

The home has long been the center of our family lives. This is where we gather to create memories with family and friends and to find comfort and solace for ourselves. In House Blessings, best-selling anthologist June Cotner has assembled a moving collection of interfaith prayers, poems, and toasts that speak to the experiences we share in turning our houses into our homes. With 112 pieces collected from 38 writers, this little book offers a reading for every occasion. From housewarming to holiday celebration, from planting a garden to raising a family, gems of wisdom and inspirational selections celebrate all our most treasured moments at home.

Genres: Prayer, Spirituality

164 pages, Hardcover

First published July 7, 2005

About the author

June is the published author of 40 books including the bestselling books, Graces, Bedside Prayers, Dog Blessings, and House Blessings (published by major houses such as Random House, Harper Collins, and Hachette. Her books are carried in nationwide bookstores and at the innovative Restoration Hardware store chain.

June's newest book is BLESS THE EARTH: A Collection of Poetry for Children to Celebrate and Care for Our World, coauthored with Nancy Tupper Ling, and published by Penguin Random House/Convergent Books.

June's books collectively have sold more than one million copies and have been featured in many national publications, including USA Today, The New York Times, Better Homes & Gardens, Woman's Day, Glamour, and Family Circle.

June has taught workshops and given presentations at bookstores throughout the country and at the Pacific Northwest Writer's Association Conference, the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Conference, and The Learning Annex in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego.

"Creativity for me involves connections ... whether it's coming up with new book ideas, helping others make their book proposals stronger, or finding a perfect quote for one of my books." ~ June Cotner

Reviews

[Alice Maryjane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've never really been one for blessings, but as situations have either happened, and unexpected turns, I've picked up this book, at first, it was a recommendation, but now, as I have completed this book of anthologies and poems, some of them are now in my heart, and I will remember the others for my hopeful future when I have a family of my own, maybe my life isn't so good at the moment, but when I have a family and padding feet running around, these passages will remind me to not only be good to them, to thank everything good, bad, and sad, and my future love. Thank you to the one who recommended this book.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of inspirational prayers, poems, and toasts that focus on the warmth and beauty of home and the joys of family and friends. Selections, written by a variety of authors, include Our Home, Family and Friends, Our Children, Our Garden, Graces and Toasts, Holidays and Celebrations, and Reflections. The majority of the readings are short, less than one page. These small gems of wisdom promise to brighten a reader’s day.

Recommended.

[Jeanne Gehret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although it doesn't always have what I want, it gives me ideas to craft my own. Inspiring.