“It’s true, Christmas can feel like a lot of work, particularly for mothers. But when you look back on all the Christmases in your life, you’ll find you’ve created family traditions and lasting memories. Those memories, good and bad, are really what help to keep a family together over the long haul.” (Caroline Kennedy)
Family – generations of love. Grandmother to mother to grandchild. As you might imagine, I’m missing Mom as the Christmas season approaches and remembering those family traditions and memories she helped create in my life. I’m sure many of you have experienced like feelings after you’ve lost loved ones. I am grateful for all the good memories I have and for the pictures that awake many of those memories.
As those of you who read Sunday’s post or get my newsletter know, I’m having a Christmas giveaway contest with the above figurine as the first prize along with one of my books. You have to win a book, you know. LOL. I like writing about families in my stories. I like exploring the relationships in my fictional families and I like sometimes letting those families reach out and pull people into their family circle that aren’t actually related by anything but the love in their hearts. That is especially true in my Heart of Hollyhill series with the great bond between Jocie and Wes. (Scent of Lilacs is still a free download if any of you haven’t grabbed it yet.) It’s true in my Rosey Corner books too with how Lorena finds a forever place in the Merritt family. In the first Rosey Corner book, Angel Sister, generations play an important part in the storyline.
All that to explain that’s why I picked this particular prize – to celebrate families. You can read all the details of the contest on my website here. Entering is easy. An e-mail or a comment here as long as you be sure to leave a way to contact you. For fun, you can tell me something you especially like about Christmas. I’ve been reading your messages already. Not got them all read yet since I had some of those grandkids visiting this weekend and have been playing catch-up ever since. But here’s one of the messages from Jan that seems to sum it all up.
“My favorite thing about Christmas is the family catching up and being together during this wonderful season. The memories that are made and the tales that are told. The window dressing of Christmas trees and lights and the beautiful music just makes it more fun but it’s all about the miracle of God sending his son to earth for our sins.”
Family. Memories. Stories. Beautiful lights and music to celebrate the greatest gift – the birth of Jesus. Yes, Jan, that is Christmas.
Thanks for reading.
Comments 10
Nice post
bn100candg at hotmail dot com
Author
Thanks so much, bn100.
I know this Christmas will be very different without your mother. Hold on to your precious and hold even tighter to those precious grands! Merry Christmas, Ann, to you and your family.
mauback55 at gmail dot com
Author
Thanks so much, Melanie. The grandkids do make Christmas fun. Hard to get all the preparations done with so many youngsters to buy for, but it's fun too. Of course, as you know, Mom had been in a dementia state for a few years and so Christmas had already changed for us, but I am missing her. I do have precious memories.
Love reading your blog and facebook posts. Today was a sad day after such an exhilarated day yesterday. Our beautiful new grandson was born yesterday and today his other grandpa died. He was there at the hospital all day waiting for his birth when he felt so bad and then today he collapsed and was gone. Goes to show that we just do not know when it's time to leave this world. Keep the family in your prayers. Our son in law is the their only child.
Author
That has to be very difficult for your daughter and son-in-law, Ola. Sometimes joy and sadness go hand in hand in our lives. You are so right that none of us can be sure of tomorrow. Prayers with you all. May the care and love of the new little one comfort his parents.
On another note, thank you so much for reading my this and that blogs and posts. I always appreciate you coming by to visit.
I plan to download your book. Lovely that you talked about generations. Christmas does cause us to remember back to our childhood. Our children memorized much of Luke 2 and we would recite it together before we opened gifts. I always did a Christmas Tea inviting neighbors. As a missionary I once had ladies representing 18 different countries for Tea. We sang Silent Night in 8 languages.
Barbara Anne Waite http://www.BarbaraAnneWaite.com
Author
Great, Barbara, I hope you enjoy the story. The Outsider is on e-book sale right now too for 1.99 or less. That's one of my Shaker books.
I love your tradition of reciting Luke 2 before opening gifts. And that had to be a beautiful tea when you sang Silent Night in 8 languages. Thanks for sharing that with us.
Thinking of you, Ann, as you remember your mother. Family stories and memories are so precious! Wishing you and your family comfort and joy this Christmas season!
texaggs2000 at gmail dot com
Author
Thanks, Britney. But it is good to remember the Christmases of your childhood when there was a magic over the day. That memory may be why we try so hard to cling to the traditions and make the magic happen for our children.