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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Why Is Christmas My Absolute Favorite Time of Year?

by Chautona Havig · 2 Comments

I wrote this back in 2006 on my old blog. While some of the traditions have changed as our children have grown and moved from home, most of them stay the same. But this post has always reflected best what I love about Christmas, and I thought I’d share it.  It was edited for typos, and I tried to update with better wording… and couldn’t.  The passive writing will have to do.  It says it best.

Why Is Christmas My Absolute Favorite Time of Year?

Note: links are possibly affiliates that provide a small commission at no extra expense to you.

Christmas… where to begin…?

It is six weeks of build-up to my very favorite part…

Thanksgiving is over, the turkey deboned, the puzzle pieced, and the Hungarian Coffee Cake is gone. Everyone is satisfied after an unusually varied meal. Someone puts on a Christmas CD. Bing Crosby sings “White Christmas.”

Silver Bells
Adeste Fideles
Silent Night
Christmas in Killarney
O, Holy Night

Someone pulls out the ads and we plan Black Friday…

After lunch and a freezing morning shopping, we brave the crowds again for a tree… The scent of a fresh-cut Douglas Fir. Heavenly.

Popcorn… hot cocoa… Peppermint and cranberries.

The voices of excited children singing “Away in a Manger” as they string popcorn and cranberries.

But that’s just the beginning.

Shopping in stores playing music to honor the Savior when usually I blush to hear the words sung. The Salvation Army, a presence at every stop. People smiling… just a little more patient with lines and excitable children than four months ago when shopping for back-to-school supplies and clothes.

Pretty wrapping paper, colorful ribbons, perky bows. Packages piled all over our tiny living room giving it the appearance of a treasure trove.

Baking smells. Hungarian Coffee Cake. Peppermint Bark. Sugar cookies.

Bundling in warm jackets to sing at the convalescent home.

O, holy night… the stars are brightly shining…

The sweet older lady rocking her baby doll to the tune of the music. She is never without her baby doll. The sight of tears in my son’s eyes when he realizes she thinks it is her real baby. (I wrote a short story about her–you’ll find it HERE.)

Fall… on your knees…

The toothless man’s grin as he tries to sing along.

We three kings…

Their thankful lonely faces as we turn to leave. My kids’ voices, thick with emotion as they realize we’re likely the only guests they’ve seen that day…

We wish you a Merry Christmas…

Mrs. Brown’s delight at our stopping. Her son’s devoted attention to her. Pastor Neipp’s grin as we sing under their window. The love they show each other the greatest gift they could give us.

Candlelight service. Gifts for our friends. Our children are so excited. They rush home and change into pajamas so we can go look at Christmas lights. The northwest development with luminarias.

The house on Vicki Lane.

Our friends’ parents who dress as Mr. and Mrs. Claus. They can’t this year. Mrs. Claus went home to be with Jesus.

It’s been one of those years.

(and 2017 wasn’t any easier than 2006!)

Home again, unwrapping presents from friends and neighbors. Hot chocolate. singing. Sleepy babies. The tree lights on and the house lights off.

It’s quiet now. Luke Chapter two… “And it came to pass… and He grew in wisdom, and in stature, and in favor with God and man…” read by a gentle masculine voice always with a trace of awe that God would come for such as he.

Oh, how I love this season.

One thing this post didn’t mention back then, probably because I hadn’t written any yet, was Christmas Fiction.  I love it.  I even wrote a BLOG POST about that.

Merry Christmas!

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Comments

  1. patty-anne Lea says

    November 24, 2017 at 12:58 am

    When you post a book to Amazon com. Please remember Amazon.ca And Love Joy and Peace from my house to yours.

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      November 24, 2017 at 3:45 am

      It’s here, Patty-anne: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B077Q621KD/ Merry Christmas to you, too!

      Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 480: A Chat with Tracie Peterson
byChautona Havig

 A chat with Tracie Peterson is always a treat, and this was no exception. Listen in as we talk about A Moment to Love, the last in the Hope of Cheyenne series. 

note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

I’ve been loving what Tracie is doing in this Cheyene series, but something about this book really hit home. I think the themes of revenge for heinous crimes and the indignity of our work being stolen are things we relate to whether it’s the 19th or the 21st century.

Also, don’t miss out on her Christmas novella collection with Karen Witemeyer and Misty M. Beller, On a Midnight Clear. 

A Moment to Love  by Tracie Peterson

A shared heart for justice pulls them together, but is their love strong enough to survive their trials? Dr. Carrie Vogel’s heart is shattered when her groundbreaking medical research is stolen and falsely credited to her ex-fiancé. With years of diligent work lost, she grapples with the disastrous turn of her career and leans on her faith for strength. When she learns that her Pinkerton friend Spencer Duval is on a justice-driven mission to her hometown of Cheyenne, she agrees to an arranged marriage to provide him with a cover story. But merely pretending to be in love with Spencer becomes increasingly difficult the more time she spends with him. Spencer is determined to apprehend the ruthless murderer who killed his father years ago, but his quest ignites unexpected emotions–both for Carrie and about the desire for revenge that has dominated his life. As the web of suspects tightens, their futures hang in the balance, and they must learn to trust God’s plan as unexpected love takes flight. Return to Cheyenne, Wyoming, with bestselling author Tracie Peterson for a journey of healing and forgiveness in this exquisite western frontier romance that will appeal to readers of faith-filled stories and When Calls the Heart.

Don’t forget that you can get this and her other books at 30-40% off with FREE US shipping from Bakerbookhouse.com

Learn more about Tracie Peterson on her WEBSITE. Follow her on BookBub and GoodReads.

Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at:

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Episode 480: A Chat with Tracie Peterson
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Part of the Westward Home & Hearts Mail-Order Brid Part of the Westward Home & Hearts Mail-Order Brides series, Penelope's Pursuit is on sale for $0.99 to celebrate six years of mail-order bride novels and novellas. Penelope is a bit different from most stories. It shows the potentially dangerous side without being too heavy. Check out the Facebook group for more books on sale by the series' authors!
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Sometimes, I fall in love with a character in my b Sometimes, I fall in love with a character in my books. Someone like Lewis in The Lights of New Cheltenham or Rory in Not a Word. But... in Twice Sold Tales, I fell in love with a cast of characters.  Harper the store owner, Noah the single-dad just learning how to be one, Bennie, the adorable ballet-loving little boy... and Mrs. Klair. Oh, how I loved Mrs. Klair.
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https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLKCDYKR
#BookishBooks
#Bookstrings
#ChristFic
#KindleUnlimited
Part of the Westward Home & Hearts Mail-Order Brid Part of the Westward Home & Hearts Mail-Order Brides series, Penelope's Pursuit is on sale for $0.99 to celebrate six years of mail-order bride novels and novellas. Penelope is a bit different from most stories. It shows the potentially dangerous side without being too heavy. Check out the Facebook group for more books on sale by the series' authors!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0921KHWBV
#ChristianHistoricalFiction
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