Christmas Yesteryears
You can’t listen to 1940s Billie Holiday tunes and not expect to start thinking completely nostalgic thoughts.
It’s what I’m doing today. Billie’s belting out the notes and I’m tucked away in a coffee shop corner, ear buds in place, lost in the mountain of memories that are Christmases past. (Not to sound all Charles Dickens’ ghost about it, but it’s true.)
I’m drawn back to the days when photos like this were taken. Circa 1984, Christmas felt simple. Like Billie’s voice– it's sweet around the edges, fragile in its beauty, and all these years later, still completely unforgettable.
In my mind’s eye, there’s a gentle snow drifting down outside that window. The tree is twinkling in the front room. I’m eating sugar cookies, listening to my dad play the guitar, and snuggling in that absolutely fabulous 1980s sweater as a fire crackles on the hearth.
That girl may not be a girl any more, but she remembers a few things about Christmas from yesteryear. The tiny brunette writer gal in the front is a bit taller now, and a whole lot blonder. (Ahem…) And she still watches It’s a Wonderful Life, quoting the famous line: “Every time a bell rings, and angel gets its wings” every Christmas Eve.
A mom now, she keenly remembers the magic of Christmas at that age. She remembers how incredible a real balsam pine smells. How she could never seem to fall sleep on Christmas Eve. How Christmas in her childhood was always, always about Jesus. She loved unwrapping the old Christmas ornaments– a few that used to hang on her grandparents’ trees in the 1940s and 50s– and still hang in her home today.
Billie's music and the twinkling tree in the coffee shop reminds me that yesteryear really isn't that far away. As long as we share the memories, they keep going. Keep blessing. Keep Christmas joy from being bottled in one heart. And that's what we're doing.
I’m delighted to be a part of a community of writers who are sharing their heart for Christmas – for nostalgia and the incredible gift of Jesus Christ to the world – and sharing it all month long. And we're kicking it off, right here!
#SpreadtheChristmasJOY16 kicks off today -- a CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY with 20+ authors, all sharing our Christmas memories in the month of December.
I hope you’ll stick with us to the end of the tour. I hope you'll grab your own mug of cozy, turn on the tree lights, and snuggle in to share the joy. After all, there’s more than enough sugar cookies and Billie Holiday songs to go around. And we’re making new memories here. Together. Because before we know it, today will be tomorrow's yesteryear.
With love & Christmas nostalgia,
_____________
Kristy Cambron has a background in art and design, but she fancies life as a vintage-inspired storyteller. She is the author of The Ringmaster’s Wife, named to Publishers Weekly Spring 2016 Religion & Spirituality TOP 10. Her novels have been named to Library Journal Reviews’ Best Books and RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards Best lists, and received a 2015 INSPY Awards nomination for best debut novel. The Illusionist’s Apprentice (HarperCollins, 2017) is her fourth novel. Kristy holds a degree in Art History from Indiana University and has 15 years of experience in instructional design, corporate training, and communications for a Fortune-100 Corporation. Kristy lives in Indiana with her husband and three sons, where she can probably be bribed with a coconut mocha latte and a good read.
Connect with Kristy:
Facebook: Kristy Cambron | Twitter: @KCambronAuthor | Instagram: kristycambron
Pinterest: KCambronAuthor | Web: KristyCambron.com
*GIVEAWAY*
I will be offering a "Joy to the World" bookmark from my Etsy shop (see image here).
All giveaways run until January 2nd and winners will be announced shortly after. Use the image to the left to share on social media and don't forget the hashtag: #SpreadTheChristmasJoy16
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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