My Happiest Christmas by Cianna Reider

My Happiest Christmas Memory 
      by Cianna Reider

The happiest Christmas memory I have is from the year I moved in with my aunt and uncle.  They usually put up a white stick pre-lit tree in the Dining Room.  While we were in the basement getting it, I noticed this huge box in the corner.  It was an artificial tree, a nine-foot Norwegian, to be exact.  I talked them into putting it up.  The "tree" was nothing more than a box of color-coded branches, and because it was old, some of the color-coding had worn off, so we had to guess.  It took hours to just get the tree up and when we were done, it's not so perfect shape led everyone to believe it was real!  

Because of it's height, it only would fit in the the middle of the great room.  We put strings and strings of lights on it and still had to go out and buy more.  Then we brought up boxes of ornaments and my aunt had a story for each one of her special ones; where and when they bought it on vacation, or who gave it to her.  She also had many of the handmade ones I made for her as a little girl.  We had Christmas music playing in the background and hot chocolate and cookies.  It was a full day.

By the way, you might know my aunt.  Her name is Carol Ann Kauffman.
    

My Favorite Christmas Memory by Lacey Dearie

"I believe my favourite Christmas memory is one from my childhood.  Christmas 1984 was a special year for me because I received a bike.  Not that I was particularly interested in bikes as a child but the fact that I then had one, just like everyone else, made me really happy.  It was also the first white Christmas that I remember and on Christmas morning my sister and I went out for a ride on our new bikes in the snow.  

I was only four years old then but that Christmas has stayed in my heart for the rest of my life.  I think now that I'm a parent with a son around that age, Santa might be leaving a bike under the Christmas tree for him.  Hopefully he will have the same happy memories of this year!"

This is our own sweet Lacey Dearie, at a book signing in Scotland.  She is the author of the hugely popular Leger, Cat Sleuth series that is much loved here in the United Staes and in Canada.

Lacey also wrote Baked, the sweet shop story of a plain doughnut madly in love with a creamstick, or the Scottish equivalent.  Really cute!

Amazon buy link:

Lacey Dearie
http://www.amazon.com/Lacey-Dearie/e/B006H5EVES/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1416246383&sr=1-2-ent

Leger's Lights
http://www.amazon.com/Legers-Lights-Sleuth-Christmas-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00P4FSMSS/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1416246621&sr=1-9&keywords=leger+cat+sleuth

Crystal Miles Gauthier's Most Precious Christmas Memory

My most precious Christmas memory is the one when when my husband Joe's brother and partner came to stay with us in our favorite house on Meese Street in Lansing, MI.
It was the first time we had ever had Christmas guests. Through the years we have moved around a lot, the kids have all grown and scattered about. We were sure it would be a lonely holiday.


We had so much fun cooking, talking and waking up to Christmas music softly playing, hot coffee brewing, and the wonderful tradition of exchanging gifts.  Christmas morning just the four of us. That was the morning, my husband gave me my blue topaz ring, necklace and earring set.  I had never been given such beautiful gifts in my life.

It was a good year that year, we were financially stable, loving life and living every day by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Times have gotten harder.  We don't see our loved ones as much as we would like to.  The kids are all still too busy.  Joe's job is't going so well now and we stumble to make ends meet.  At this time of year, I am thankful for all that we do have, a roof over our heads.  Remember to keep Christ in Christmas, praise the Lord! Love one another. Peace on earth, goodwill towards all!







Crystal Lynn Miles Gauthier
7435 #5 Shell Flower Circle
Lansing, MI 48917
517-897-4067
authormom4033@gmail.com
Twitter: @cubbymom0403
www.facebook.com/CrystalMilesGauthierAuthor

Coloring Sheets from FREE-N-FUN Christmas

Dear Gentle Readers,

This morning I have a site to share with you for Christmas fun and activities with your little ones.  As a classroom teacher, I found this company, Oriental Trading, a good source for inexpensive classroom rewards and contest prizes, as well as holiday activities.  

These two sheets are from their free coloring pages for children section and they have many to choose from.  

Also, my full-length novel set in southern Italy, Utah, and northern Ohio, THE BASLICATO, is free today.  It is set in the 1960s.  Fans of Time After Time series will get another adventure in the lives of Richard and Nicole.  http://tinyurl.com/mw83qxb

Hugs,

Carol

Link to coloring pages:

http://www.bing.com/search?q=FREE-N-Fun%20Christmas&pc=cosp&ptag=A316A5D3C6E4B4B068EF&form=CONMHP&conlogo=CT3210127

Retreat from Civilization and Into Fandom by Nathan Barra

A Retreat from Civilization and Into Fandom

When I was growing up, I spent many of my weekends and most of my breaks from school at the cabin my family owned in the Appalachian Mountains. My father had always dreamed of owning a second home, and viewed the retreat as a refuge from the stress of his work and the world in general. As such, my parents chose to limit the cabin’s connectivity. As we had neither internet nor TV, time at the cabin was spent reading, watching movies and talking about what had been going on in our lives. For me, the cabin became a place of stories.

During our longer breaks, such as around Christmas, my family would marathon movies and TV. By sharing stories, we found joy not only in the moment, but also in our ability to discuss and be fans together. It brought us closer as a family and formed bonds that stay strong even though I live half way across the continent. When I remember those stories, rewatch and relive them, I remember Christmas breaks with my parents and brother and feel closer to them.

That is the power of stories. That is why I write, and one part of the difference I hope to make in the world.

Though Nathan Barra is an engineer by profession, training and temperament, he is a storyteller by nature and at heart. Fascinated with the byplay of magic and technology, Nathan is drawn to urban fantasy and soft science fiction in both his reading and writing. He has been known, however, to wander off into other genres for "funzies." He is an active blogger, not only on his own site, NathanBarra.com, but also with a group blog called the Fictorians (www.Fictorians.com). Nathan is always up for a good conversation, so please drop him a line through his contact page, or write on his Facebook wall (www.facebook.com/WriterNathanBarra).

Sandra Capicotti's Most Beautiful Christmas Experience

My Most Beautiful Christmas Experience 

by Sandra Capicotti

Well, it's THAT time of year again. Yes, you know, that time when the airwaves are filled with one Christmas song after another until you feel that if your bells are jingled one more time you’re going to strangle the DJ with that reusable shopping bag they gave you at the mall?

                                                                           

Strange that as a youngster, my burden was not to be dragged to the mall, but to what still ranks in my mind as the most beautiful Christmas experience EVER! Each year my parents, my brother and I would visit the grounds of the National Enquirer in Boca Raton, Florida.  It was something we looked forward to each year as a family. We marveled at the innovative displays they had, both static and animated. There were traditional favorites, such as hobby trains and elves, but there were also things you’d only find at a Florida Christmas celebration. Traditionally, we’re known down here for going all out with our holiday festivities, since the weather is not usually a boundary. Decorations by a store in West Palm Beach called Christmas with Dorice were the centerpieces of the event. There were trees covered in netting, lace and gold lame bows, the first time I’d ever seen designer themed trees of every color scheme. It was so beautiful and such a simple idea. And not just the trees, the grounds of The National Enquirer themselves were transformed into a magical wonderland, all surrounding the star attraction…a pine Christmas tree that had to be trucked down each year from Oregon in pieces and reconstructed in Florida. The heights of those trees ranged from 45 Feet tall in 1971 to 126 feet tall in its final showing in 1989. The tree made the Guinness Book when it had reached 117 feet. For you statistical buffs, that is much bigger than the tree in Rockefeller Center in New York. It had ornaments the size of the Moon (or so it seemed to me at the time) and icicles you could swing on. It was gorgeous enough in the daytime, but once the sun went down and the lights came on it became even more awe inspiring. When the management of that publication changed, a decision was made to discontinue the display, much to the lament of all who’d had the privilege of viewing it.

Nowadays I like to celebrate in another way that could only be enjoyed in South Florida in the month of December. I’ve had the privilege of boating down the Intracoastal Waterway in Jupiter, Florida to my brother’s in-laws for Christmas dinner and a general day of fun. Whenever we’ve done this, the weather has just been a gorgeous example of why I live where I do, having been a native New Yorker. I don’t know what new memories the future might bring, but hopefully, the best is yet to come. I think it’s time to re-visit the annual boat parade...

Photo Credits:  Ruth Berge’s Blogspot for the National Enquirer Tree Photo.

http://ruththewriter.blogspot.com/2012_10_01_archive.html

http://activerain.trulia.com/image_store/uploads/agents/urschalitz/files/lighthouse.jpg

http://www.jupiter.fl.us/images/pages/N231/Boat-Parade-webpage-banner600px.jpg