I’ve enjoyed nearly seventy Christmas’s so far each one with special memories. Trying to pick one to share has been difficult. Between, my childhood, my marriage, my kids and grandkids, I could fill a book with Christmas memories. What I realized as I thought back was that each year had something beautiful, funny, touching or even poignant. The first Christmas without my grandpa, our first Christmas as man and wife, as parents, and the Christmas we enjoyed as new grandparents. Interestingly enough, while each was special none of them were perfect. That’s what made them so memorable.
One Christmas that stands out is my first with my husband’s family. I only had one brother, and one set of grandparents, so our Christmas celebrations were very small and low key. My husband is the oldest of seven and Christmas was a huge deal in his house. His dad liked to decorate so the house was filled with tinsel and lights and candles and all things Christmas. It could have been Christmas store all by itself.
Christmas morning was pure chaos. Paper and ribbon flying everywhere eventually covering the entire floor. The gifts were simple, but everyone got tons of packages. It was the first time I saw anyone put toys and goodies in a stocking. (I usually got oranges and candy.) I knew then that when we had children of our own, our Christmas would include lots of presents and lots of decorations. But it didn’t stop there. My mother-in-law is one of eight. Her mother was one of eight and she lived right next door. Christmas night everyone and I do mean everyone came to Grandma’s house and there were more presents. I counted the people once but lost track around eighty-two. What a fun day that was and it changed my concept of family and Christmas forever. I’m so blessed to have married into the Beatty family.
Whatever your Christmas day is like, enjoy it for what it is. Time with family and time to rejoice on the greatest miracle of all. The day God shed his glory and humbled himself to become human like us so in the end he could reconcile us to the father. Emmanuel.
“You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
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Lorraine Beatty is a multi-published, bestselling author born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. She and husband Joe have two grown sons and five grandchildren. Lorraine started writing in Junior High and has written for trade books, newspapers, and company newsletters. She writes for Love Inspired Books and is finishing up a ten book series Home to Dover, set in small Mississippi town. She is a member of RWA, ACFW and is a charter member, and past President of Magnolia State Romance Writers. Away from writing she sings in her church choir, loves to garden, spend time with her grandchildren, and travel. I love to hear from my readers. You can reach me at www.lorrainebeatty.com or https://www.facebook.com/Lorrainebeattyauthor/
Her Christmas Hero
Gemma Butler has a grand vision to transform the fledgling Christmas celebrations in Dover, Mississippi, and bring visitors to the town. It’s also the single mom’s last chance to provide or her son and revive her event planning business. But Gemma’s not the only one with something to prove. Linc Montgomery has the weight of the family business on his shoulders. And he’ll go down swinging before he’ll let anyone disrupt the traditions he holds dear. Yet when a storm threatens to destroy the holiday, he’ll join forces with the beautiful planner and discover she just might be the love he’s been searching for.Christmas Comes to Bethlehem, Maine
A novella collection set around a small town nativity presentation.
This year, spend Christmas in Bethlehem, Maine, as the town prepares for annual living nativities. Will stepping into the roles of Mary and Joseph help empty nesters David and Kate Walters discover the joy of becoming parents again unexpectedly? Can a young pastor and a pretty choir member convince the town to be like three wise men of long ago when a devastating hurricane threatens tradition? Can veterinarian Leesa McElroy survive working alongside a man more at home with camels than Christians? Will the truth about singer Angeline Monroe’s abandoned career come to light at Christmas?
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