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17 December 2013

Christmas Memories with Christina Rich

Please welcome Christina Rich to my blog today. Christina's book will be out next year with Love Inspired Historical. Don't for get to check Mondays post for the week long giveaway.

1.       It’s hard to associate any one thing with Christmas, especially since decorations start hitting the shelves the day after all the Halloween candy is dumped into the clearance carts.

2.       Ahhhh…. Family traditions. My husband and I have never held to the idea of Santa. The kids grew up knowing that their presents were because we were blessed by Jesus and able to buy them presents. When the kids were little we used to have a tradition of going to my parents’ home on Christmas Eve for lunch, then hubs and I would do our Christmas shopping for the kids. We’d come home take all the presents to our room and wrap. The kids loved sitting outside the door waiting to be handed wrapped presents so they could place them under the tree. As soon as the last present was placed under the tree they’d all dance around with excitement waiting to open up their presents. (Jenny here that is so fun the in our house all gifts got the feel test. As I was the youngest I often was the one to do it as if we got caught I was the youngest)

3.       I love Christmas music, and not just the traditional Christmas Carols. I grew up listening to Mannheim Steamroller, Tchaikovsky, and Alvin and the Chimpmunks, but I think my all time favorite is O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.

4.       Every year I have visions of spending Christmas with my family in a cabin in the mountains, but if I had the money I’d love to spend it in Israel with my family.

5.       One of my favorite memories is from when I was a teenager. My brothers are quite a bit younger than I am so they were little. Maybe first grade and kindergarten. Anyway, Dad, a pilot, would concoct a story that he needed to check on the plane. Mom would load us kids up into the car and then have to use the restroom. She’d come back to the car and then Dad would say he forgot his wallet. This would go on for a few minutes before we’d make our way to the airport. The whole way there the boys would be watching out the window for Santa, but this one particular year it was foggy and the boys were concerned Santa wouldn’t be able to find his way to our house. But he did and the boys’ excitement was priceless. (I love that how cool)

6.       We no longer have a typical Christmas. We’re in that stage of our lives where we have adult kids and young kids. We try to accommodate schedules.

7.       Let’s just say I’m addicted to Christmas movies and books. Whatever is out, I watch and read.


8.        John 3:16 says that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, so that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. Christmastime is the celebration of our savior being birthed into our world. It’s the evidence of God’s grace and mercy. Many people believe Christmas is a time to spread love, kindness and good cheer. However, God’s word says that we are to love our neighbors as ourselves and we are to pray for our enemies. I believe that is something that should be done 365 days a year. Christmas should be a time to reflect on the goodness of Jesus as our savior and the blessings he’s showered upon us.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)


The Guardian’s Promise Blurb
A Kingdom in Jeopardy
An evil queen and her royal guards will stop at nothing to find—and kill—the rightful heir to the throne of Judah. When their pursuit leads them to Mira’s village, only her father’s bond servant, Ari, a man shrouded in secrets, can keep Mira safe.
Abandoning his life as a temple guard and becoming an indentured servant was the only way Ari could protect young Joash, the true King of Judah, from Queen Athaliah. But his sacred duty prevents him from confessing his feelings for his master’s daughter. With the future of their nation on the line, Ari and Mira will risk everything to save their people.

When she was younger, Christina tried to dig herself to China, loved Three Billy Goats Gruff, and had an obsession with maps. She gave up her dig to China but still jumps at the chance to travel even if it’s just down the road. She loves watching modern takes of fairytales and mythologies on the big screen and still has a huge obsession with maps. The older the better.
Born and raised in Kansas, where she currently lives with her husband and children, Christina loves to read stories with happily ever afters, research,  take photos, knit scarves, dig into her ancestry, fish, visit the ocean, write stories with happily ever afters and talk about her family and Jesus.

Her debut novel, The Guardian’s Promise, releases from Love Inspired March 2013.

7 comments:

Dorothy said...

Hi Christina and Jenny,

I love that carol, too. Such a haunting yet inspiring melody. (Can that happen in one song? I think so)

Congratulations on your book release for next year. Beautiful cover and interesting story.

Blessings
Dotti

PS - Jenny... why am I not surprised you 'touched' all the presents under the tree? ;)

Sherida Stewart said...

Hello, Christina and Jenny!

So fun to read all the Christmas memories and the thoughts on the true meaning of Christmas. Yes, I too love all the music, books and movies focused on this season....I should enjoy those all year long!

Congratulations on the March 2014 release of The Guardian's Promise!

Blessings to you both!

Ausjenny said...

Dotti my brother made me do it and then it became a habit ;) I am better now they sit there untouched sure there is only one I didn't wrap but I haven't touched it.

thanks for coming Sherida. dont forget you can get 5 entries each day this week for the prize.

Christina Rich said...

Thank you, Dotti! I keep going from being excited to 'I can't believe it'.

Christina Rich said...

Thank you, Sherida. I noticed I gave Jenny the wrong release date. Crazy, I've been saying it all year long and now that it's almost here I keep thinking it's 2013 instead of 2014.

Christina Rich said...

Jenny, thank you for having me!

Ausjenny said...

You know I didn't even pick it up. but then I have had a fever most of the week it seems.

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