Christmas Adam 2016. Balmy weather, palm trees, beautiful houses built into the side of a hill—every traditionalist’s Christmas dream, right?
I’ll confess. I didn’t want to be there, and not just because I’m a natural homebody. Perhaps if it had been a Currier and Ives scene. A farmhouse, evergreen swags and buntings draped along a picket fence, snow piled everywhere snow can be, a jaunty snowman in one corner of the yard (but no footprints anywhere near him to mar the pristine beauty of it all)…
Yeah. I might not have been so unenthusiastic about our “destination Christmas” if it actually had looked like Christmas! But it didn’t—not at all.
The house… enormous. Seriously. There were more bedrooms in that place than we have rooms in our current house. I felt like Benny Goodman’s mother in The Benny Goodman Story. When she walks into Alice’s house, sees the marble entryway and just how enormous it all is, she says, “Oh, that poor woman!”
Her son asks, “What woman?”
“That every day has to dust this place!”
Yeah. That about sums it up for me right there. Our grandchildren’s voices rang out both upstairs and down, and our grandson dragged me out to see the pool.
Look, that pool? Totally amazing. An infinity pool, it literally just ended at the edge of a drop-off. If you really wanted to, you could swim up to that edge, hike a leg over, and fall down to your death.
No joke.
It should have been a warning. I’m an author. I know what that’s called.
Foreshadowing.
While we all unpacked and got things ready for the night, one of my girls and her boyfriend took orders and my debit card and went to get dinner for all of us from a local Mexican eatery.
Me? I was frantically finishing edits for New Year’s Revolutions.
Dinner came, we ate… everyone split to do their own thing. Older teens in the game room, oldest kids trying to get the TV to work properly, me editing, of course.
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How My “Heart Attack” Sent My Husband to the ER
My husband, as I’d expected he would, went for the hot tub. After having back surgery a few years ago, he has become a huge fan of hot baths and heating pads to soothe the damaged nerve that has never healed.
Thirty minutes later, one of the girls burst into the room. “Dad fell!”
Begin heart attack.
I dashed out the back door, begging God for mercy on my husband’s back. But he wasn’t there. In fact, half of them weren’t. I could hear them, but I couldn’t see.
That’s when the rest of the news came. I asked where he was and someone said, “He stepped out of the hot tub and fell down the cliff.”
The cliff. The one with boulders and a fence line fifteen to twenty feet or more away.
I couldn’t get down there—not over the slippery hot tub ledge. You know, the one with no floodlights to help you see and no railing or anything to keep you from slipping off the tiles and down that cliff? Yeah. That one.
My only other option, go down the side. That meant climbing a fence. I went to change into pants. By the time I returned, they’d gotten to him and were slowly moving him up the cliff… one rock at a time.
The praises started right then.
Thank you, Lord, that he can “walk” in some fashion. (I didn’t know how much but he was moving, so…) Thank you, Lord, that he’s not screaming in pain. (I hoped that meant the attack on his sciatic nerve had not returned.) Thank you, Lord, that the kids are here and can do this. Twenty years ago…
The next morning, my “heart attack” transferred him to the ER.
By dinner time, we had the final verdict. He didn’t break anything or injure any internal organs. With just a few scrapes and some deep tissue bruising, Kevin was fine. Yes, it would take over two months for him to move without wincing. The sorest part of his shoulder had bruised so deeply that the color never made it to the surface.
But he was fine.
That Christmas taught me a huge lesson.
Where you celebrate Christmas doesn’t matter. Who you are with—that’s what makes Christmas… Christmas.
Oh, and considering that in February of the same year, my second son stepped out of a hot tub, passed out, and earned himself a three-toothed bridge, I also learned that Havig men are not allowed in hot tubs.
Ever.
Have you ever wondered how much of my life you see in my books?
I mean, I showed a bit in A Bird Died, but not really. That was one, specific event designed to show how amazing our town is and what God did in the life of our grandson.
On Sunday, November 25—our thirtieth anniversary, no less—I published Sand & Mistletoe. While this book is not a “true story,” there are definite true events and glimpses of the craziness of the Havigs in it. All hyperbolized. As I say in the author’s note, we’re nowhere near that dramatic, but the personalities that produced the drama—pieces of them, all meshed from multiple people into one here and another there—are real.
And so is my beloved Ventura.
I would love the one with the fence and th shadow of th cross. Thanks so much for the chance to win.
I love the path to the beach.
I love your books! can’t wait to ready this one!
The beach walk picture reminds me of the Outer Banks in N.C.
I love the picture of the boardwalk heading to the beach. The beach is my happy place 🙂
Isn’t it a wonderful thing? I love it.
Wow! What a story and Christmas memory! So glad he wasn’t hurt worse than he was.
Right? I’m still amazed. He could have been permanently injured, or if he hit just right, he could have died. So weird.
It was an unforgettable Christmas
It was. I like to call it, “The year we learned the evils of hot tubs.” It’s our June
I love that your books have little, if any kissing, which allows the focus to be on more important things, like character development. If it’s not obvious, I have a low tolerance of kissing scenes.?
We share that low tolerance. In fact, one of the most long-awaited kisses in any of my books was in Past Forward. It was either the end of book three or the beginning of book 4. And I was SO discreet that half the readers missed that a kiss happened!
After that, I wrote 31 kisses to get me more used to it, but um… kissing book lovers like Pepper Basham would be abashed at my still very discreet smooches. I didn’t linger, go on and on about emotions, or any of that nonsense. I just hinted that they were both pleased and moved along. And in that book, I got comfortable doing that. I got comfortable with me being me. And if people want sizzling kisses, then I’m not the author for them. And that’s okay.
Ohh, I love both pics and would be happy with either..hmmm I will pick the walkway..
I have coastal theme in my home…
It’s like it was set up for you!
I love the boat picture!!
I would prefer the pathway picture. It reminds me of how the Lord leads me down His choice of path when I am willingly following him!
I love the boat picture!
I like the picture of the boat. Thank you for your great stories! I look forward to Cassie each time it comes to my e-mail. Very entertaining. I’m pulling for Joel!
Joel wasn’t even supposed to be a consideration when I started (well, not so soon, anyway). He just refused to go away.
Chautona, I have never met one of your stories that I did not like. I find myself wanting to live as one your characters. They are so real to life then I realize that I live a pretty good life but it’s great to drop into someone else’s for a few minutes.
I really like the boat painting and would love to have the book. I have shared, commented, and already on the email list. Thanks!
Thanks for encouraging me like that! I appreciate it.
Chautona…so at first I thought you meant an actual heart attack. Now THAT would be a story…if your actual heart attack (or even a panic attack with similar symptoms) landed your hubby in the ER. Delivering twins. Or something like that. Lol.
And I like the pathway.
I’d love to win the pathway picture. They’re truly both so beautiful though!
Do you ever have a dull moment? 🙂
Wow
I like the boat picture.
Well… there was that time…
Love both the pictures! I’m torn.
Oh, and I am a subscriber!
I love your books, I can’t wait to read this one! I like the path to the beach. Thanks for the giveaway!
I love both pics – but especially the walkway to the beach. Reminds me of a few vacations we took to Outer Banks several years ago! Thanks for your books and the giveaways! I love connecting with authors whose books I enjoy and look forward to reading Sand and Mistletoe!
Oops I forgot to tell you I would prefer your book over the pictures. Thank you for this opportunity.
Love love all your books. But what i like best about you is that you are real. Real with the good and the bad. But most that you are real about our LORD. Thank you for being an example.
I love the one of the steps going down to the beach!
I love the path to the beach
I look forward to reading this book. I recently discovered when i read collections you are part of, like the Crossroads collections, I enjoy all the books but when i get to yours i feel like I’m home. I’m already a subscriber. That beach path is a cool picture.
That is just the sweetest compliment. Wow. I… well, wow. Thanks.
Those pictures are both beautiful. I would happily take either one.
I love the picture of the steps going down to the beach.
I would take the picture of the pathway to the beach. Love it!
By the way, I really enjoyed hearing a little more about you. 🙂
I love the path!
the walkway — but either one would be lovely
I love the picture of the boat best, but both are beautiful. I shared on Facebook I already subscribe to your newsletter.
I’d choose the beach walk. I’m looking forward to finishing reading the book soon!
I devoured the e-book/kindle version- Sand and Mistletoe. I was captivated by all the strong personalities and how outsiders dealt with them, resolutions to conflicts and of course the love story. Caused me to realize how imperfect families really are. I thoroughly enjoy seeing the characters-flaws and all- work through the issues in a un/godly, everyday life type of way and how they grow in their relationships with each other and Christ.
Aw, thanks! That’s just what I was trying to show.
I am so excited this book is complete. I remember when you blogged about it and have been waiting for this day. I like either picture. I am on your newsletter list already.
Thank you for sharing your story. With every blog and Facebook post, I feel like we get to know you a little more. I love the beach picture and have pinned and tweeted (@auntcherie) the post.
Can’t wait to read the book! Loving both pictires!
I remember when your husband fell! Thankful there were no long-lasting effects from it. The paintings are beautiful.
You know, we expect “foreshadowing” in our books, but not IRL! So glad your hubby wasn’t hurt worse and eventually healed. The older we get, the longer that process takes.
I’d choose the picture with the boat if I won the giveaway.
Alesha
Both are beautiful, but I’d probably pick the beach walk one. I have fond memories of walking along a beach with my husband.
Both prints are beautiful! If I had to choose I would pick the print with the path. It reminds me of going to the beach with my dad when I was little. He fell off a cliff this past August and I miss him terribly.
I’m so glad your husband was alright!
I’m already subscribed and I forwarded the email.
I love the picture of the boat! I grew up in a little coastal town and the water always makes me feel like I’m home.
I like the beach scene.
I really like the beach scene:) (Especially since I am an artist too:) See http://www.facebook.com/LualOKrautter Thanks for the opportunity to enter a giveaway! Would love to win a print copy (not ebook)! Thanks, and God bless! krautter12ATbresnanDOTnet
looking forward to checking out your art!
I think if I just HAD to choose between the 2 I would like the one with the fence on the beach. It tells a story of a journey – beginning or ending – that I would like to partake in. Regardless of which I chose, they are both BEAUTIFUL!
I love that path. I’ve walked it a million times it seems.
I shared this post on FB and commented here earlier, but can’t seem to get subscribed to your blog?
If you go to chautona.com/newsletter and scroll down to the bottom of the page, there are instructions. 🙂
I love the sailboat picture. You certainly have life experiences to draw on for your books. I’m glad you can look back on them and chuckle or at least make us chuckle! Hope all goes smoothly this Christmas! Blessings!
Oops, I am a subscriber!
I shared on Facebook.
These look awesome!
Love the path pic!
I do, too!
Either painting would be awesome if I win :)!
I really enjoy your writing style and have read most of your books 🙂
I’m pleased you like both!
I would love to read this new book! and my first option would the boat canvas. Love reading your books Chautona!
and I am already subscribed to your newsletter. 🙂
Thank you! 🙂
Definitely the beach picture! You do have the most interesting real-life stories. Maybe they help fuel your imagination for your writings.
I absolutely love the beach picture, the way the fence almost dances through the sand. I also love your book as I do ALL of them lol. I share you with everyone I know. 🙂
I love that you love it. Thanks for being you!
So excited to read your newest book! And a wonderful giveaway!!!
Thanks!
I am already subscribed to your newsletter!
The sailboat one…on water as smooth as glass–that’s when I liked to go water skiing in northern MN–when the lake was like glass!
I love the picture with the bridge in the sand. I also am looking forward to reading your new book!
It’s my favorite, too. And I really do love the book.
Thank you for the opportunity to enter. I would love to imagine the beach shot as Lake Michigan on my wall lol
Hey! That work, too, right?
Happy 30th Anniversary!
I love the little trail picture. Thank you for all you do.
I like the boat picture and am sure that I will love your book. I always do.
Aw, thanks!
Is it awful that I’m anticipating next years book, praying that story line inspiration doesn’t include emergency rooms?
I love this book. Love it.
I’m so glad you love it. So do I.
You are such an amazing storyteller!! I get so inside your stories, seeing what you are describing and being so pulled into your stories, whether about real life Havig or your fictional stories!! SO SO good!!
Oh, I am already subscribed to your blog and newsletter!
YAY!
I never fail to get inside a Having book. I don’t read the story, I am part of the story.
Aw, thanks! That’s exactly what I’m trying to do!