Chance to Win a Couple of Christmas Books

Do you like Christmas stories? 

Rose Allen McCauley visited my blog on Sunday and we're giving a free download of her new book to someone who comments on her guest post or tonight's post. I'll draw for the winner Sunday, and so far the odds are very good. Along with Rose's book, you can win a copy of my Christmas Shaker book, Christmas at Harmony Hill. (An autographed print copy.) If you don't have an e-reader, Rose says her book will soon be available in print as well. So answer one of the questions on the post tonight and join in the giveaway fun.

The Greatest Christmas Story

The greatest Christmas story is straight from the Bible in Luke and Matthew. Luke tells about the angels giving the Good News to the shepherds keeping watch over their flocks about the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes in a manger and Matthew has the story of the visit of the Wise Men. In spite of every church Christmas pageant you've ever seen, the Bible doesn't say how many wise men came to visit Jesus, only that they brought three gifts. But three works pretty well when you're assigning parts for those Christmas plays at church. 

Did you ever have a part in a Christmas play at your church?

Maybe you were a shepherd or a wise man or an angel in a Christmas play. Could be you were picked to be Mary or Joseph or even one of the sheep or other animals. I love Christmas pageants. I don't think I was ever an actor in one, but I've helped with a lot of them with my kids and the other kids in the church. 

I want the kids to tell the old, old story every year wearing those fuzzy, too long wise men and shepherd robes. I want to see the angels draped in white sheets with tinsel halos and cardboard wings that always end up a little crooked before the great announcement is finished. At our church gathering tonight, we were saying how little girls were always the angels. Yet in the Bible any time an angel is actually named, it's a man's name and often described as men, like the men Abraham fed in the Old Testament before they told him he would have a child in the next year and Sarah, eavesdropping, laughed. In spite of all that, we decided we couldn't imagine little boys doing the angels' parts in our Christmas pageants. They much prefer the shepherd role or bringing the gifts. 

What's your favorite carol?

My husband says all the carols are hard to sing and I guess he's right. He's the singer in the family. I just try to make a joyful noise and maybe that's why I like "Joy to the World." It probably is the easiest carol to sing. You can belt that one out pretty good.  But I like them all. They tell the Christmas story in song. 

I hope you get the privilege of having the Christmas story told to you by a cast of children. I've seen many and I have never been disappointed in the story they tell. 

Remember, leave a comment to have a chance to win Rose's download and a paper copy of my book. And make sure to include a way to contact you. 

As always, thanks for reading.

Socks and Other Blessings

http://blog.absolutesocks.com/2012/12/skid-free-socks.html

We hang socks from the mantle at Christmas time in hopes that our sock will get magically filled with our favorite candy or some cute little gifts on Christmas morning. Few people hang up real socks, those kind you actually wear on your feet, for Santa to fill these days. But sometimes those real socks that keep the feet warm or look cute might be gifts you've given or received. Maybe you've knitted some socks yourself. Most youngsters aren't too happy to get socks, but my son-in-law actually asks for socks for Christmas. So socks can be a gift of love and caring and a chance to have some fun with gifts as this story from Lynn shows. 

My Christmas story..... For a number of years, my granddaughter was heavily into ballet. As you probably know, ballet can be brutal on the feet. So during those years along with a few regular Christmas gifts, I would send comfy socks, some infused with aloe to relax in and wear around the house. Camouflaging the gift so she wouldn't guess they were socks was a challenge sometimes. 

One year in particular, I sent a metal tube with a beautiful Christmas scene. The first item out of the tube wasn't a pair of socks, but connected to that first gift on a long stream of ribbon were ten different pairs of comical and/or comfy socks, each with a special wish. She was delighted. 

After a few years in succession, I thought I'd be tricky.  Instead of sending her a bunch of socks, the socks went to her mother (a very talented and caring teacher) along with funny notes. I think my granddaughter enjoyed laughing at her mother's surprised look. 

Oh yeah, I couldn't pass it up though. I gave my granddaughter a really funky pair of socks that year that looked similar to the ones seen on the cover of The Cat in The Hat. Each had individual sections to comfort each toe. So that's my Christmas story. I hope in years to come it will be a pleasant memory and a story that my granddaughter will impart to her own children at Christmas time. 

Thanks, Lynn, for sharing your "sock" story. Sounds as if socks made for some fun times around your Christmas trees and showed your love for your granddaughter.

Isabelle tells about a time when she had her eyes opened to how love can make a gift one you will never forget. Her story happened almost eighty years ago, but it's one that taught her a lesson about the true meaning of gifts at Christmas. Here's her story. 

"I don't remember any special gift I've given, but I vividly remember one I received when I was about 8 (I'm now 87). It was Christmas vacation, and I had my tonsils out then so I wouldn't miss school! I sulked and felt abused and wouldn't let anyone console me. On Christmas day, (this was during the Depression) I got up to a beautiful dollhouse my grandfather had made me out of scrap wood. My grandmother, a tailor, had upholstered furniture out of scraps. My aunts and mother and dad had made the furniture out of cardboard. It was a wonderful gift, and I am still abashed when I remember the effort and love with which they had worked while I was stomping around the house. It was an episode I've never forgotten and now I take things as they come and just feel blessed. I've a happy family, (they might disagree over politics and such), but children, grandchildren and great grandchildren always stand up for each other."

Thank you, Isabelle, for that sweet story. And a happy family is truly a blessing and a wonderful gift for a grandmother to have. 

Those are the stories for tonight. I'll be drawing for the winner of my Christmas giveaway prizes on Tuesday night. So if you haven't entered, you've got a couple more days to throw your name in my giveaway hat. You might win a prize of a pillow or books. Be sure to tell me if you "never win." That will give you a chance to win a book and snowman pin. Details on my website news & events page. 

As always, thanks for reading. I always enjoy hearing from you too. Wishing you a very happy New Year!

Family - the Perfect Gift

Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas. ~Peg Bracken

What makes Christmas such a special time of the year? What stirs up the Christmas spirit in our hearts and makes us want everybody to be happy on Christmas Day? Love is the main reason. God's love for us that resulted in the first Christmas, and our love for the Lord and for our families and friends.

And because we love we want to give gifts that show that love. Mandy was able to do that with a gift to her brother. Here's her best gift given story.

"My brother is a country music singer and he is always traveling from home to Nashville, TN. I just thought he needed something to take with him from home while he is away. So, I made him a quilt. I worked so hard on it...I'm not a great quilter. I embroidered a square in the middle with a guitar, a guitar pick, and a microphone on it. My brother doesn't show emotion very much, but he did when I gave him his quilt. He hugged me and cried and then said very quickly that he need to go outside for a minute. I loved that he loved it. Now he always takes it with him wherever he goes so he can have a little bit of home wrapped around him."

Aww, Mandy, that's such a sweet story. But Robin has those best family gifts figured out. Here's what she said, "Best gift given or received! Hmmmm........I have to say that is a really hard question. Yes, our family exchanges gifts, but it isn't about the presents for me. I only remember being together as a family. Going to my grandparents as a child and now going to my parents' house with my children. It's family! Only family. That is the perfect gift. The gift of being together."

Beautiful thoughts, Robin. Thanks for sharing. May we always remember those blessed times with our families.

Last week we shared a story of a cat as the best gift ever. So far nobody has mentioned a puppy or a dog as best gifts. They don't have to be under a Christmas tree the way my daughter's dog is here. They can be the best gift any time of the year. I've certainly had some of those best gifts. Oscar is my most recent one. But I may get a dog Christmas story yet. Remember, if you haven't already entered my Christmas giveaway, you still have time. I'm not drawing for the winner until New Year's Eve. Just leave a comment here with a way to contact you or send me an e-mail from my website.You can check out about the prizes on the Events Page.

By this time next week, we will have had our family Christmas. Saturday is our big day with the kids. Next week is getting ready time. Gotta bake cookies, wrap those last stray gifts, go to the Candlelight Service at church, buy groceries, clean the house, and who knows what else. If I could teach Oscar to wipe his feet when he comes inside it would be easier to keep the floors clean. 

What do you have to do to get ready for Christmas? 

Savoring the Christmas Spirit

Figuring out the nesting Santa puzzle

Christmas Day is past. The kids came, shared lots of laughter, food and fun and then went home. My daughter and her husband and their two dogs just took off about an hour ago. The snow was only a dusting here so no problem for them to go south. 

 Lots of chores waiting for me. Got the dishwasher loaded and clothes in the washer. The floors will have to keep their paw printed pattern at least until tomorrow since I have to go to Mom's soon. The empty boxes are stacked in the corner awaiting a save or pitch decision. There are always chores. Always. But Christmas only comes once a year and I like to hang onto the Christmas spirit as long as possible. At least until the New Year's makes me start making resolutions about getting rid of extra pounds and exercising and sweeping away clutter. 

But for now I've been scrolling back through the special joys and memories so many of you shared with me for my Christmas giveaway. (If you haven't entered yet for the bookends, books and cat magnets, you still can. Send me a message from my website to enter or leave a comment here with a way to contact you. Drawing on Saturday.) 

First as you begin to think about taking down your decorations, I hope you'll remember the joy of putting up your Christmas tree the way Donna H. of Arkansas does here. One of my favorite times during the holiday season is putting up the Christmas tree. Unwrapping each ornament that had so carefully been stored away for the previous 11 months. Childhood memories of making that yarn angel ornament in 5th grade...my daughter's laminated construction ornaments from elementary school...the blown glass hummingbirds of my mother's I inherited when she passed...the unique nativity ornaments given to me over the years...the ornaments that commemorate loved ones who are no longer with us...ornaments that remind me to pray for friends & family who are no longer in close contact with us. It is a time to reflect, pray & praise God for the true meaning of Christmas.


I loved this tradition Jolynn's family has. What a great way to remember Christmases past. Here's what she says. One of the favorite things I like about Christmas is writing letters to Santa. We wrote Santa letters while I was young, thanking him for the toys from last year, and asking for a gift that year. We even wrote letters to Santa just for fun, when we were teenagers too, to set an example for the younger siblings. Also because my Mom said if we stop believing, we stop getting gifts from Santa too. We've done the same thing with my 2 kids also. Except that, Santa wrote a letter to them on the back of the paper. My daughter is now 18, and will continue with this Christmas Eve tradition, when she puts the cookies out for Santa too. We've saved most of the letters, and we all like to read through them and laugh.

Michele of Maine shares about the Spirit of Giving, something we need to hang onto all year long. I think what I enjoy most about Christmas is the Spirit of Giving. For the most part it seems people try to be more courteous during the Holidays: they hold doors open or help people with packages, donate to charities, take time to talk to others in shopping lines, etc. It can certainly bring out the worst in some (I've worked in retail customer service for 20 years!) but when you see someone go out of their way to do something special for someone they don't know, it overshadows all the negative aspects.

Marjorie shares a childhood memory that shows how things have changed over the years. I thought that you might enjoy a story from my childhood.  I am 83.  Back then we only had Coke to drink at Christmas. We would receive a coupon  that would enable us to purchase a carton of six small bottle Cokes for $.15, yes, $.15. My Mother didn't like Coke, so I got one, my older brother got two, my Dad got two, and Santa Claus got one. When I realized who actually got that last Coke, I really gave my Dad a hard time, and I teased him about that for the rest of his life. Family and celebrating the reason for Christmas is what it represents to me.
   
Norma Jean remembers a very special gift and how it helped her give a very special gift the next Christmas. My favorite memory from Christmas is the year I turned 14. I still claimed to believe in Santa even though by then I knew the truth but I subscribed to the theory that Santa is the kindness that everyone does throughout the year. I came downstairs to find my very own sewing machine. Now for an only child with a widowed mom in the late 1960's that was quite a gift when the money was tight and mom was only working part time while I was in school. The next year for Christmas I made her new curtains with that machine and my mowing lawns money, and put them up before she came down Christmas morning. Norma Jean says she still using that sewing machine 53 years later.

And now for some very touching Christmas memories. Lisa S of Nebraska shared a beautiful memory. My best Christmas memory was when I was 5 and my brother 7. My brother and I were adopted and it was our first Christmas with our new family. We went from an orphanage to a huge farm house. Our new parents were so excited to have children at Christmas that they each shopped alone without the other one knowing. We couldn't believe how many presents were under the tree. It was also a surprise to our new parents as well. The previous Christmas we did not get any presents because someone had stolen the presents that were donated, so we weren't expecting much. I remember the smiles on their faces as we opened the presents. The house also had beautiful decorations and traditional Christmas cookies. Our father is now in his 90's and our mother is 7 years younger. I don't know how many more holidays we will have together, but every one has been wonderful because of their caring for someone else's children. Because of great memories, Christmas is my favorite holiday.

Peggy C. had a different experience than Lisa's, but shares how a simple act of giving can make a warm memory that lasts a lifetime. She shared this story with me last year, but that's the great thing about Christmas memories. We never get tired of hearing what makes Christmas special. Here's what Peggy says. I love Christmas as we buy a tree in the container and then plant it on our land where we just built a house in a rural area. Then what I cherish is a Christmas stocking with my name on it that I've had for 50 years. The stocking was given to me by my foster brother's social worker. She brought one for all 15 of us and I love mine. We all were eventually kicked out or sent our own ways as my 1st foster mom died and my foster dad married a woman who didn't want foster kids, only hers. So my grandma adopted me and my foster sister who was the same age as me. That stocking brings back such good memories and also bad, but I will never forget that social worker and that day when she gave me a most cherished item.  

The story Deborah D. of Pennsylvania shared with us reminds us that things can never be as important as our loved ones. My favorite Christmas was in 1982.  My sister at 3 1/2 years old was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor on Nov. 16, 1982.  On November 17, 1982 she underwent emergency surgery to remove the tumor that was the size of a large egg. At that time she was in the hospital for two months. Since Christmas was on a weekend that year the doctor gave her a pass to come home for the weekend but she had to be back in the hospital that Monday. My dad just got laid off from his job and we didn't have a lot of money for Christmas but the best Christmas present I received ever was when my dad pulled in the driveway with my mom & my sister. My sister ended up staying in the hospital for two months and had to get radiation but she came through that scare just fine. Unfortunately, she was diagnosed with breast cancer in July of 2012. She has to go through Chemo & radiation for this but we are very hopeful that she will get better. (Prayers going up for your sister, Deborah.)

 

Nancy B. of NY shares some of the best ways to celebrate Christmas. What I like best about Christmas is the tang in the air, the smell of our Pine Trees..the joy I see on my pet’s faces when they get their goodies, and early morning Christmas Mass! My family is budget oriented so hence no big gifts. Happiness is in reading a good book, the family gathered around the table and the joy of being together. To celebrate the Season all it takes is love in your heart.

May the love in your heart let you savor the Christmas Spirit all year long. Did you enjoy reading about the Christmas joys as much as I did? I hope so, and it's not too late for you to share your Christmas joys with us here in your comments.

Jesus in the Center

I like Nativity Sets. I have three. One in minature, one that my daughter gave me several years ago that is fragile, and one that's made of wood so the grandkids can arrange the figures to their hearts' content. One of my granddaughters set up the one in the picture. She has all the people, and the animals too, pushing in close to better see the Baby Jesus. That was what the writer of the devotional on the back of our bulletin said we needed to remember - to keep Christ in the center and our eyes on Him. 

It's been a weekend of tears. There are no words to ease the despair most of us have been feeling since the terrible school shooting as we thought of those children so senselessly murdered and the teachers and workers giving their lives to try to stop the horror. Our hearts ache not only for the mothers and fathers, but for the sisters and brothers, for the grandparents and aunts and uncles - the families who loved them. Who had Christmas gifts bought and ready for them. Who had their worlds shattered in a burst of evil. But perhaps even more we grieve for the lost promise of those young lives. We want to spin the world backwards and somehow change what happened, but we can't. We can only pray God's comfort down on those grieving families. 

Families - that's what matters as we join our prayers and consider the important things in life. As most of you know, I'm having a Christmas giveaway on my website right now. And I asked people who entered to tell me what brought them joy at Christmas. The vast majority of responses spoke of family being what mattered most in having a blessed and happy holiday. Here are a few samples:

What I like best about Christmas is spending time with my family. Especially the grandchildren and seeing the love, joy and sparkle in their eyes. ~Connie

 

I like the joy of the grandchildren as they open their presents. ~Theresa

 

What I like most about Christmas is getting together with my family with the ultimate goal of having a day filled with love and fun. ~Janet 

 

What I like best about Christmas... It has to be the time I get to spend with my family and friends. ~Dianna

 

My favorite part of Christmas is actually the Christmas Eve service that we attend as a family every year. ~Allison

 

 

The thing I like best about Christmas is getting to be with family. A little corny, I know, but that's what it's all about. ~Vickie   Not a bit corny, Vickie. Only right. These are just a few of the many who mentioned the joy of family at Christmas time. And so we are doubly sad since we know how we love our families and can so easily imagine the sorrow of the families whose children went to school but will never come home again. So we keep our eyes centered on the Lord and we pray and we hug our kids a little tighter this Christmas holiday.

 

 

Two Houses, Two Stories

"A house is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body." ~Benjamin Franklin

This house contains nothing but memories and echoes of what once was. It's a house in my town that has always been a source of wondering for me. So when the current owners agreed to put the house in the women's club Christmas tour even though it's empty and doesn't have the first Christmas decoration, I, along with dozens of others, rushed to walk through its front doors and get a look inside. Ever since I was a kid, I had looked at that tower and thought what a wonderful place it would be to scribble my stories. I even used it in A Kindred Spirit, one of my books for young adults and had my heroine have an artist studio in a similar place or at least what I imagined the place would be like.

I could have gone up in it Sunday, but the steps were narrow and I'm no longer the young kid who dreamed of being on top of that world. The house looked to be structurally good, but in need of major renovating as the former owners had let things slide until some rooms were near disasters. But even so, you had the feeling this old house could re-capture its glory if only...

A couple of rivers run through my Kentucky county and several creeks and springs that made this area attractive for distilling spirits. T.B. Ripy was one of the men who made his fortune producing whiskey here. In the 1890s, Ripy was the largest independent sour mash distiller in the world. He began the construction of the three and a half story Queen Anne brick home with a tower and a widow's watch in 1887. A year later, it was completed at the cost of around $85,000. That was a pile of money in 1888. Mr. Ripy spared no expense in making the house a showcase with over 30 rooms and some of those rooms decked out with elaborate ceiling moldings and mahogany, walnut, or cherry wainscoting. Stained glass over the doors had a planet motif.   

Walking through the house even with no heat, no lights, no furniture, thick dust everywhere and an occasional hole in the floor or ceiling, you still couldn't help but be impressed by the house's grandeur. You could imagine the Ripy daughters and friends descending the beautiful stairway in their colorful ball dresses. You could hear strains of the hired musicians coming from the double parlors and almost see the couples dancing.

That was the way the richer folk lived. My family on my father's side dabbled in distilling, but gave it up. By the time I came along, they were all farming folk, happy to have their drafty farm houses.  At least those houses were cool in the summer time. 

Since we're talking houses, I've got a 1963 Christmas story to share about a family and a house in Maine. December 23 was Jackalyn's father's birthday. The family was planning a surprise birthday party for him. A first since he'd never had a party. Jackalyn can tell you the rest of the story. 

"We lived in the house owned by my Grandparents and the house my father was born in. My Grandparents had just done some wiring in the house so my 2 older brothers could have the upstairs (the Attic for their bedroom) as they were now teenagers and wanted their own space. As we were getting ready for my dad to come home, we could smell a funny odor coming from the attic. Mom checked it out and our whole upstairs was engulfed in flames. My mother got us all out of the house safely and was able to ring in the fire on the box on the corner. Now my Dad's workplace was within eye shot of our house. He heard the sirens and got out in the road to direct traffic for the firetrucks to get through. When someone told him it was his house, he ran to the house, but by this time an uncle had come and got us kids in his car and took us to my mother's mom. Dad didn't see us kids and tried to enter the house to get us out. Then he saw my mother and found out we were safe. That night friends and family showed up for the party, not knowing about the fire. They all chipped in and helped in every way they could. My dad said he didn't care about his birthday. All he wanted was for us to be a family together in that house on Christmas Day after the fire caused by defective wiring. 

Christmas morning 1963 we were all in the house having Christmas as a family. We couldn't live in the house and there was no electricity but my dad kept his promise. It was a Christmas we all are so thankful for and one that made us realize that all that matters was that we were together as a family. We did finally get the house fixed so we were able to move back. The house is still standing and I believe it is now one of the oldest houses in the city."

I can see why that would make a memorable Christmas, Jackalyn. Glad the house survived, but Jackalyn tells me in a follow-up message that her father never liked celebrating his birthday after that. He might have gotten too many jokes about his birthday candles setting the place on fire. 

So lovely houses can make our Christmases even better. 

If you haven't entered my contest, you still can. You can get more details on my website events page. These cat magnets are a prize along with a book for the winner of the drawing for those who say they've never won before. (The magnets are really silver. Don't know why they look gold here.) So send me an e-mail (you can contact me from my website) or leave a comment here and join in the fun if you haven't already. 

As always, thanks for reading. I'll share more stories about your Christmases between now and Christmas day.

Christmas Contest and Stories

It might be sixty-five degrees outside here in Kentucky, but it is December. Christmas is on the way. And one of the best things about Christmas is the spirit of giving. Gifts, gifts and more gifts. I’m getting on board the gift giving train by having a Christmas giveaway.

st prize is a pair of these fun bookends, winner’s choice of one of my titles, and an autographed copy of Karen Kingsbury’s new Christmas novel, The Bridge. Second prize is one of my books, autographed of course, and two other Christian novels. And I didn’t forget about those of you who say you never win. I’ve got a set of cute cat magnets and your choice of my books to get one of you out of the never won ranks.

 

To enter send me an e-mail from my website or leave a comment here with a way to reach you. Be sure to tell me you’ve never won to be entered in that drawing. Last, it’s not a requirement for entering, but for fun I asked you to share something you especially like at Christmas time. And boy, have you shared. All your wonderful traditions and memories are getting me in the Christmas spirit. Here’s a few of them. More next blog posting day.

Karin sort of summed up what many of you have said about Christmas with this concise line.  “The top three things I like about Christmas (and any holiday, weekend, or event) are Family, Family, and Family.” In a followup message she told me she grew up in a little town like me and never realized who she was related to and who she wasn't until she was older. However, she ALWAYS knew they were all family. Sounds like a great place to grow up.

So while a lot of you have mentioned getting together with family as the top thing you enjoy about Christmas, others of you have added going to Christmas Eve candlelight services with those family members. Or sleigh riding or seeing the people you love tearing into the present you gave them and loving the way their faces glow when they get that perfect gift from you.

Of course, Florence had a different story about gift wrap flying.  “My favorite part of Christmas is when my cats go wild and run through unwrapped gift wrap on the floor and tear around the tree. They get so excited, it's hilarious!”

And here’s Allie teaching her children all about the best parts of giving. “There are so many things I love about Christmas. On top of the list it would have to be giving to others. My children have been making shoeboxes since they were born (I helped) and now they do it themselves, we also get a gift for an Angel through the Angel Tree our church hosts through the Salvation Army. Last we donate other gifts to Toys for Tots. My kids have learned it is about giving and not always receiving. I also love the holiday parades we are in, Christmas lighting and we all carol to senior homes with our church. It is a magical time of year.”  

And we’ll end this bunch tonight with this touching story of a father’s love for his family from Betty.

“The best thing I like about Christmas..... is the memories. I grew up in an old Victorian, 3 story home in the suburbs of Philadelphia, one of nine siblings. I am the third oldest so I had a wonderful time watching our family grow. I also remember the visits of our Grand-parents and Great Grandparents. The most vivid memory is of Christmas morning with us children gathered at the top of the second floor landing looking down the stairs and waiting for our father. You see, my father earned his living driving a cab and was not allowed to have Christmas day off. So he drove into the city and picked up his cab and then came back home to us. What a wonderful time we all had opening our presents with both parents. Then Mom made us all a big breakfast. Afterwards Dad had to return to work. It wasn't until many years later that I realized that as horribly strict as his boss was at the cab company, Dad risked being fired just to spend that special time with us.”

Parents do so want to make Christmas magical for their children. Hope you are looking forward to a great time. Remember – if you haven’t – you’ve got time to sign up for my giveaways and if you want to throw in a Christmas story or tradition, that would be great. One entry per person over eighteen and deadline for entries is midnight EST December 23

Thanks for reading.  

 

Two Christmas Stories - The Reason for the Season

Photo Credit: zoetheband.blogspot.com

Christmas - a time of joy and love. It was great of so many of you to share your favorite Christmas memories with me. Some of the stories made me smile. Some brought tears to my eyes. Some echoed my own favorite memories of special Christmases with family. And some spoke of the reason for the season - the gift of love that is Jesus Christ. 

The two stories I've saved for this Christmas Day speak of the best gifts - those of Christian love and family love. First  A.C.'s story. "The Christmas that stands out to me most is very personal but I wanted to share it because of what it meant to me for others to be so giving and that's why to this day I give every chance I can to help others. You never know when you may need that Special Angel or Angels. 

   My Grandmother was very ill and I was going though a divorce and on top of that I was laid off work. I knew Christmas was around the corner and it was going to be a hard one. I didn't let anyone know what I was going thru (it was a pride thing) but I kept my head high and struggled each day. 

   I had a very good friend who invited me to her church. A very small community church where everyone knew each other. I kept finding every excuse I could, as to why I should not go and that worked for awhile. I said my prayers at night but I still had my pride and I didn't want to ask anyone for help. After awhile I finally gave in and decided I would go to the church with my sweet friend to the next Sunday night service. The devil tried every way possible for me not to make it but I had made a promise to a special friend who was dealing with the early stages of ALS. 

   That Sunday night rolled around and I went, dragging my feet. Little did I know God had a reason for putting me there at that time and I cannot tell you how much my life was blessed. My friend had talked with the Pastor and explained my hardship and the church adopted my family for Christmas. I was so touched with all the wonderful things that the people of her church were doing for me. We had a wonderful Christmas, I had a new extended Church family and a better relationship with God. I don't know what I would have done without their help.
    I think about what my friend did for me and I try to give as much as I can and as often as I can. God called my friend home shortly after that but I will remember her forever, especially at Christmas time and dedicate what I can do in Honor of her. So that's my Blessing at Christmas time, to help others during their hard times.

Thanks, A.C., for sharing your story and for giving forward. 

The next story Danielle shares is one a lot of servicemen and women's families are experiencing this Christmas with the soldiers coming home from Iraq. Here's Danielle's story. 
   " My favorite memory of Christmas was when I was in middle school. My aunt was deployed in the army in Germany, so we weren't able to see her for 2 years. On Christmas Eve there was a knock at our door and there she was! It was the happiest time ever. She was home for good. I will never forget that feeling I had when I answered the door after not seeing her for so long. My sisters and I never left her side. We sang Christmas carols. She shared stories about her living in Germany and pictures. She even brought us gifts and showed us all the letters she kept from us girls."

Christmas is a time for giving and a time for families. I hope the stories I've shared have blessed you as much as they have me. Merry Christmas! "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men." John 1:4 (NIV)