Christmas Memories with Regina Scott

Please join me in welcoming Love Inspired Historical author Regina Scott to my blog today to talk Christmas.

1.    What do you most associate with Christmas where you live?

Lights.  Here in the Pacific Northwest, winters tend to be dark and gray.  Christmas lights—on trees, on houses, in store windows, truly do brighten our lives. (Jenny here, We have lights here on some homes and they are really pretty to look at)

2.    Do you have any special family traditions you do at Christmas time?

We have always opened our presents Christmas Eve instead of Christmas morning. My parents explained when we were little that with the growing world population, poor Santa simply couldn’t make it around the world in one night.  So, WE were nice and let him come early.  (Personally, I think maybe they just didn’t want to be woken quite so early in the morning by excited children!)  My husband and I kept the tradition with our boys, and soon we’ll be passing it on to the next generation. 

3.    Do you have a favourite Christmas Carol and if so do you know why? 

Oh Holy Night.  I love the story of it.  And I love that you can really belt it out.  

4.    If you could spend Christmas any way you could how would you celebrate?

In a cabin in the woods, with the snow falling softly outside, a fire roaring in the fireplace, and all my family around me, with lots of food and stories and laughter. 

5.    Do you have any special memories of Christmas?

My father was brilliant about getting my mother presents.  One year, she had suggested he get her bookends for her bookshelves.  The present under the tree was this huge box.  When she opened it, all she could see were tiny white packing peanuts, thousands of them, and a string with a tag at the end that read “Pull.”  She pulled, and out came a bookend, and more string.  She must have kept pulling for ten minutes before they were all out of the box.   

6.    What is a typical Christmas eve and or Christmas day for you?

On Christmas Eve, we generally have some kind of dinner that everyone likes—pizza or lasagna.  While one of the adults keeps the kids busy cleaning up after dinner, one or two other adults tiptoes down the hall and fills all the stockings.  My mother’s stocking has a jingle bell on the end of it, which we have to muffle until everything is ready.  Then we let the bell peal.  All the kids look at each other, and someone says, “Santa’s here!”  Then they all run for the stockings.  We take everything out, exclaim over it, share our booty (chocolate coins, Tootsie Rolls, maple sugar candy, Turkish Delight), and talk for a good while before someone else remembers there are presents under the tree.  And then Christmas Eve really starts.  

7.    Do you have any Christmas movies or Christmas books you like to see or read each year?

The movie White Christmas with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye is a big favorite in my family.  We can all sing the songs and quote the lines.  “Must be beautiful in Vermont this time of year, all that snow and everything.”   

8.    Do you have a Christmas message for my readers?

May you make new and joyous memories this Christmas and never forget the reason for the season.

The Rake’s Redemption, November 2012, Love Inspired Historical

Even infamous duelist and poet Vaughn Everard has qualms about dragging an innocent lady into his quest for revenge. But Imogene Devary is the daughter of the man suspected of murdering Vaughn's uncle. Surely that makes her fair game in order to uncover the truth!

Can the man who writes such moving verse be beyond redemption? Imogene can't believe so. In taming Vaughn's heart and healing the rift between their families, she's sure she's found her calling. Then his mission to unmask a killer reveals a terrifying plot. Only together can they safeguard his legacy, their newfound love, and England's very future.

Christmas Memories with Wendy Sparkes

Today I have Wendy Sparkes from England on my blog. Wendy has a children's book which would be great for Christmas. 

Firstly thanks for coming to my blog to focus on Christmas.

1.     What do you most associate with Christmas where you live?

Thanks for having me here, Jenny.

The Christmas Lights – it gets dark early here in the UK in December so having the lights on houses & trees really lightens up a dark time. I love seeing the lights shining (or twinkling as in some cases!) out dispelling the darkness, & it reminds me of how Jesus came into a dark world to be our Light.

2.     Do you have any special family traditions you do at Christmas time?

One of our traditions is to keep the decorations up until the day after 12th night. It started with my great-grandmother. One of her daughters (one of my great aunts) has a birthday on 12th night. My great-grandmother decided it would be good to keep the decorations up for her birthday for her to enjoy, & then to keep them up over 12th night in defiance of the bad luck keeping your decorations up on 12th night is supposed to bring!

3.     Do you have a favourite Christmas Carol and if so do you know why?

I have 2 – is that allowed? :)

Silent Night – it just perfectly sums up the nativity scene & I feel like I’m there at Bethlehem experiencing the wonder of Jesus’ birth when I sing that carol.

O Little Town of Bethlehem - it wonderfully links the Christmas story to us today.

4.     If you could spend Christmas anyway you could how would you celebrate?

It would be with family, & preferably somewhere where it gets dark early so I can enjoy the Christmas lights!

5.     Do you have any special memories of Christmas?

I have lots of special memories, all involving family. Over the Christmas week we’ve always met up with extended family members & had lots of fun together.

6.     What is a typical Christmas eve and or Christmas day for you?

Christmas Day – We have a special Christmas breakfast & exchange Christmas cards, then it’s out to church for a short Christmas service. We come back to check on the dinner & then the others will go out for a walk on the seafront while waiting for dinner to finish cooking – as I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome I have a rest at this time. A roast dinner then clean-up, & then it’s present opening time! We will then have a light tea together in the lounge & look over our presents & just enjoy being together. (Jenny Here sounds fun. The walk on the seafront sorry you are unable to go also. It’s interesting commonwealth countries seem to go to church on Christmas day. Wow you are good to wait til after dinner for presents.)

7. Do you have any Christmas movies or Christmas books you like to see or read each year?

Books: The Protector by Dee Henderson (I love her whole O’Malley Series, but always get this audio book out to listen to during the Christmas period), A Fairytale Romance by Melanie Panagiotopoulos, Christmas Peril by Margaret Daley & Debby Giusti & Holiday Illusion by Lynette Eason. New this year I’ve listened to an audio version of Karen Kingsbury’s The Bridge & that will now be added to my Christmas favourites! I also enjoy the devotionals Christ the Light of the World by Thomas Kinkade, The Art of Waiting by Wendy Bray & Mary’s Diary – An Advent Journey by Emily Owen.

Films: The Christmas Card starring Alice Evans & John Newton is my absolute favourite Christmas film to watch.

8. Do you have a Christmas message for my readers?

I would like to wish everyone a happy Christmas, & to those who are grieving or ill at this time, I pray that God’s comfort & love will surround you & uphold you.

One Starry Night - Christmas carols are playing, mince pies are cooking, and wrapping paper is everywhere! Yes, it's Christmas Eve. Jude and Annie are enjoying getting ready for Christmas. With a walk on the beach in the dark and a special bedtime story, they feel God's greatness and find out how much God really loves them.

 Books by Wendy Sparkes: Come along with Jude and Annie as they discover the meaning of Christmas in One Starry Night, find out more about heaven in Snowfall, and learn about praising God in everything – yes even when things go wrong in A Sunny Day.

Visit my website www.WendySparkes.co.uk to get sneak peeks of the stories & illustrations!

Christmas Memories with Sandra LeeSmith

Please welcome Sandra Lee Smith to my blog today. Sandra is one of the seekers (no not "The Seekers" as in music group) but from the seekerville blog. Sandra also has a new book out just in time for Christmas.

1.    What do you most associate with Christmas where you live?

What I love about Christmas is time together with family.  I love the smells of cooking favorite foods.  I love the piles of presents and wrapping that mess up my office. I love the decorations and bright cheery lights that light up the dark mornings when I get up early.  I love the reminders of Christ's birth that are everywhere.  It is a wonderful time to reflect upon his life and love.

 2.    Do you have any special family traditions you do at Christmas time? 

Our family always reads the story of Christ's birth as we sit around the tree.  We usually do that Christmas Eve.  Then we each get to choose one present to open early. We open the rest Christmas morning.  We always have grandma's special coffee cake with hot coffee while opening presents.

3.    Do you have a favourite Christmas Carol and if so do you know why?

Mary Did You Know.    I think that is the title.  I just love the concept of it.  I actually love most Christmas carols.  Christmas is the only time I really play a lot of music.  (Jenny here I love this song when I first heard it being played it reached me.)

4.    If you could spend Christmas anyway you could how would you celebrate?

I would love to go visit the Holy land one of these Christmas seasons.  Seems like a special way to celebrate.  Otherwise I really enjoy all my Christmas seasons.

5.    Do you have any special memories of Christmas?

WE used to drive to Lake Tahoe where my mom lived.  It snowed there so we would arrive after a long drive and she would always put a pot roast in the crock pot.  We would come into the house out of the freezing snow and there would be a roaring fire in the fireplace and the smell of that pot roast.  yummmmmmm

6.    What is a typical Christmas eve and or Christmas day for you.

Mostly spending time visiting with family.  When we would visit mom, we would ski in the snow.  Of course if we were down your way, we would be heading for the swim pool to cool off. (haven’t been to the beach for Christmas myself but many do. But have played back yard cricket many times.)

7.    Do you have any Christmas movies or Christmas books you like to see or read each year?

We usually read Charles Dickens Christmas Carol.   And then hubby always records Hallmark Christmas movies.  We probably watch a Hallmark Christmas movie every day during December.

8.    Do you have a Christmas message for my readers?

I would truly love to see the Christmas message and season celebrated all year.  Not the presents or commercial hype, but the true message and meaning of Christ's birth, life and death for all of us.

Sandra's new book is Current of Love.

Janelle Edwards is a sultry singer who’s nursing a perpetually broken heart. Everett Jamison, III is a handsome workaholic with no time for love on his busy agenda. Both have sworn off relationships and marriage…but on a cozy steamboat cruise up the Mississippi River, the two keep crossing paths. They try hard to ignore the growing attraction, even as family and friends urge them on. But when danger threatens the ship, Janelle and Rett must make a decision: continue running from their emotions—or let the tides of passion sweep them away.
A light Southern romance sweetened with a splash of humor, Current of Love blends brilliant storytelling with endearing characters to make even the biggest skeptics believe in love again.

Christmas Memories with Andrea Grigg

Today we have Andrea Grigg sharing Christmas memories. Her book would also make a good christmas gift.

1.     What do you most associate with Christmas where you live?

Sunshine, heat, good times with family and friends 

2.     Do you have any special family traditions you do at Christmas time?

One of our three children was born on Christmas Day – Hayley will be 25 this year. We always have a birthday barbecue breakfast and then we celebrate Christmas after that. When she was younger and still living at home, we would have an open night for family and Hayley’s friends to come over. We still have the open night.

We have a fairly new tradition. Up until 3 years ago, I always put up the Christmas tree, but that year I was running out of time and my husband volunteered to do it. It looked brilliant so I’ve happily let him do it ever since. He’s so much more patient and particular with the placement of the lights than I am.

I have to confess – I’ve only just stopped doing Santa sacks! I’ll do it again when we have some grandchildren. Or maybe I could do some little ones this year … (Jenny here we stopped when my brother was around 21 hes over 4 years older than me.)

3.     Do you have a favourite Christmas Carol and if so do you know why? 

I love them all! We love three Christmas CDs in particular, the ones by Mariah Carey, Amy Grant and The Tin Lids (Jimmy Barnes’ kids - they put out an album back in the early 90s). They pump out while the tree’s going up and from then on until midnight on December 25. We’re quite glad to put them away after that!  (Jenny again I have The Tin Lids tape and still love it)

4.     If you could spend Christmas anyway you could how would you celebrate?

Exactly how we do it now except it would be nice to have my parents here as well. They live in NZ and unfortunately, it’s too difficult for them to travel these days.   

5.     Do you have any special memories of Christmas?

Haha - apart from being in labour and giving birth at 12:16am one year? Yes – mainly seeing our kids’ reactions opening presents when they were little and making it special for them. I love hearing them talk about their memories rather than mine! 

6.     What is a typical Christmas eve and or Christmas day for you.

Christmas Eve is spent watching Christmas concerts on TV with any family members who are around (there are usually several) and hoping I’ve remembered to do everything. On Christmas Day we don’t usually go to church (shock!) because of fitting in Hayley’s birthday plus our other children have in-laws’ places to go to as well, but we attend the special Christmas Carol service the Sunday night before. Christmas afternoon is spent doing as little as possible before people start arriving at night with leftovers which we eat sitting around outside on our patio overlooking the pool, surrounded by fairy lights, candles, Christmas music … love it. 

7.     Do you have any Christmas movies or Christmas books you like to see or read each year?

We’ll watch whatever Christmas movies are on. As for reading, I tend to read the latest Debbie Macomber Christmas novel. 

8.     Do you have a Christmas message for my readers?

Cherish the day with your family and thank God for the opportunity to do so. And remember, Jesus is the reason for the season.

My first book, ‘A Simple Mistake’ was published in April, by Even Before Publishing. (Big thanks to Rochelle Manners).  Here’s the blurb:

When teenage sweethearts Nick and Lainey meet again after more than a decade, so much has changed. Nick is now a famous celebrity and Lainey is the girl he left behind. As a member of a highly successful band and with an emerging acting career, Nick can have any girl he wants. Now he wants Lainey back.

Despite Nick’s promise to keep in touch when he left to seek fame and fortune, Lainey never heard from him. Now that so much time has passed, she has moved on from what she felt. Or has she?

After discovering what kept them apart for so long, they tentatively rekindle their past romance. The feelings are just as strong as before but can Lainey accept Nick’s lack of faith? And can their new relationship survive Lainey’s secret? 

Christmas Memories with Melissa Jagears

Today starts my Christmas Memories for December and today I have Melissa Jagears who sold her first book this year and its out the second part of 2013. I have gotten to know Melissa through Seekerville and facebook and am very excited for her. You can find out more about her at http://melissajagears.com/.

Firstly thanks for coming to my blog to focus on Christmas.


1.    What do you most associate with Christmas where you live? 
Unfortunately, commercialism. The moment Halloween is over, the shelves are stocked with Christmas junk, the radio starts throwing in Jingle Bells every now and then and if I had TV anymore, I'm sure I'd see commercials trying to convince children a certain toy is the best thing ever. People are worried about gifts--whether they'll get what they want or whether they'll buy something to make another happy. (Jenny here its like that here they start with items in Sept and the music mid Nov.)
 
2.    Do you have any special family traditions you do at Christmas time? 
I doubt you're going to get this answer from anybody else, if you do, it'd be cool, but my immediate family has decided not to do anything special for Christmas nor give each other presents. We're going over to the families that want us over, and do the dinner and gift exchanges with extended family, but none of our families do anything to commemorate the meaning behind Christmas, and I just don't have the energy to do two or more Christmas gatherings in another state and then come home and say, "Now let's do Christmas, right." Really, Christmas is just a day, and I'm rather proud my daughter doesn't know what role Santa Claus plays beyond being on Christmas cards. But I don't want to let the season pass without celebrating Christ, so we as a family have chosen to celebrate Epiphany which falls on January 6th which commemorates the wise men coming to see the Christ Child. I looked up some Catholic, Latin American, and European traditions which are groups that celebrate the Epiphany or King's Day and have chosen to do a few of those. We set out our shoes the night before Epiphany and decorate a star to hang outside our front door so that when the wise men pass by on their way to visit the Christ Child they fill the shoes with stocking stuffer type things and they leave three presents for each person. The first present is cash money according to our ages (so the two year old gets $2, I get $33) in representation of gold, the second present is wisdom (three books a piece), and the third is one single fun gift. With the cash money, we all decide whether we want to pool our money together, add money from our piggy banks or choose to buy something for Jesus separately with that money. We read the Christmas Story and Matthew 25, to explain how we give God a present, "doing unto the least of these," and decide what we're going to do with our money and time to give such a present. Last year, we pooled our wise men money and added some from our savings to buy a Llama through Heifer International. Then we bake a birthday cake for Jesus (A King's Cake), and then we invite a different family over every year because we buy a new board game to play as a family and so we don't have to eat that birthday cake all by ourselves! (I like this idea. Christmas day to me is also a day I go to church then am normally on my own and will have something special sometimes for lunch and celebrate alone and reflect on the reason for the season).


3.    Do you have a favourite Christmas Carol and if so do you know why?
 O Holy Night is my favorite classic carol, because the worship words of the song are the best, and my modern favorite is by Downhere "How many Kings" for the same reason--I care more about significant lyrics than melody, but it's always great when they both come together as they do in these two songs. And I find it fun that my two favorites talk significantly of the wise men. May we all realize that wisdom is found in no one else but the Christ. If you've never heard "How Many Kings" here's a youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iSivQmzJ_w&feature=player_embedded (I love O Holy Night its such a beautiful song when sung by the right people. checked out the song How Many Kings it sound really good)

4.    If you could spend Christmas anyway you could how would you celebrate? 
I'm rather partial to my Epiphany celebration. :)


5.    Do you have any special memories of Christmas?
 None of them are exactly heartrending besides holding my babies for their first Christmases, but I have lots of funny stories. When I was five, I really believed in Santa Claus and asked him for one thing. Then we had an extended family party with someone dressed as Santa, and he gave me this huge stuffed parrot. I cried buckets and was inconsolable. Santa either did not care enough to read my letter or chose not to give me what I wanted which was nothing extravagant. Hence, my disappointment with how the holiday is peddled to little children.


6.    What is a typical Christmas eve and or Christmas day for you?
Christmas Eve is spent with my extended family, Christmas Day is usually with my husband's family. Simply food and presents and conversation.

7.    Do you have any Christmas movies or Christmas books you like to see or read each year?
 I love watching White Christmas and Holiday Inn -- I'm a huge 40s-50s movie fan. We also now read one Christmas book a day with our children from Christmas Day to the Epiphany (Which are the Twelve Days of Christmas) but only books that tell the Christmas Story or a Biblical Story in some way, no reindeer or Santa Claus stories. I like to sift through thrift store children's books to find new ones to add to the collection, the older out of print books are often better at getting across the real meaning of Christmas in a story--they didn't shy away from it. (I like those movies too.)


8.    Do you have a Christmas message for my readers?
My message would be to examine what you are doing. Are you happy with how your family celebrates things or are you doing it because it's expected to be done that way? If you are unhappy or wish something could change, don't spend another year doing it the old way, decide what's important to you and do it regardless of familial and societal pressure.


My book, A Bride for Keeps, will be out sometime around Fall 2013. Here's the story:  

1876 - A Kansas homesteader’s neighbor orders him another bride even though his last three mail-order brides didn't marry him. When the prettiest woman Everett's ever seen steps off the train and says she's there for him, he knows she's about to make him the laughingstock of the entire county for at least the next quarter century.

              Julia's never been anything more than a pretty pawn for her father or a business acquisition for her former fiancé. She isn't interested in becoming a true wife to anyone, but she's determined to prove she can do more than flash smiles and model the latest fashions.

              Everett, desperate for help on his farm, agrees to marry Julia in name only, believing that two strangers living together will naturally grow in love. However, her panic at intimacy and his insecurities keep them at odds until a lecherous neighbor and a near-fatal wound push them closer to each other than either one can stand. Can Everett and Julia see past the superficial, or will they forever barricade their hearts from the one person they wish would cherish it?