Giveaway: Christmas Edition

Hi friends.

alliscalmIt’s the season of giving, so let’s have us a fun giveaway! Back when it was only on pre-order in September, I snagged two copies of Colleen Coble’s new Christmas book “All Is Calm/All Is Bright” — two novels in one! It’s already getting great reviews, which isn’t at all surprising. Colleen is a talented author who has become one of my all time favorites.

I’ve just started reading my copy in front of the Christmas tree with some hot tea in the evenings. I’d love to give the other copy away to one lucky reader.

To enter, just comment here and tell us your favorite holiday tradition. I’ll announce the winner at the end of the week, so enter now!

Yearning for Christmas

I posted this photo and caption on Instagram last night after decorating our Christmas tree earlier than ever this year. I’ve noticed a lot of others commenting that they felt pulled to decorate early, too. What is making us yearn for Christmas this year? Whatever it is, I’m so grateful. I’ll look forward to visiting with you after Thanksgiving. Blessings, friends!

IG_tree

Getting to Know (Me)…

gettingtoknowme

We’ve been sharing this little virtual space for some time now. Some of you are dear to me in real life and know me quite well, but several of you have likely found me via other authors, sites, connections.

Connections often grow stronger when life is SHARED. Similarities are discovered. “Me too!” is uttered beneath wide eyes of understanding.

Here’s some fun facts about yours truly. I really hope you’ll share in the comments section below a fact or two about you. And, away we go…

  1. I was born in Honolulu, Hawaii as a Navy brat but only lived there 11 months and haven’t been back yet.
  2. I’ve never had a nickname until a friend recently dubbed me “Fun Size” because I’m a teeny tiny at around 5″. I kind of love it.
  3. I cry at the end of Footloose every time. I mean, they finally get to DANCE! It’s really more about the joy through music.
  4. Since I was a child, my favorite song has been What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong.
  5. I discovered I am allergic to buckwheat (flour) after eating whole grain pancakes at Cracker Barrel. Not. Fun. My. Friends.
  6. I am a twin and older than my sister by only 90 seconds.
  7. Most people think I’m extroverted, but I test very introverted. Internally, I yearn for quiet and alone time. I married an extreme extrovert. Boy, that’s been interesting. 🙂
  8. Writing started early for me. I wrote poetry as a child, had a job with the Orlando Sentinel in high school, and was editor of my school’s paper for two years.
  9. I love everything caramel. Coffee, ice cream, popcorn, candy, apples, you name it.
  10. For my graduate thesis project, I had the pleasure and honor of editing, designing, and publishing my grandfather’s memoirs into a bound, hardback book and gifted it to him for his 80th birthday.
  11. We’re a creative family! I am a full-time Director of Communications for a large church and do lots of graphic design. My husband is a professional theater stage manager. Last year, he worked a show on Broadway and was even in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade!
  12. I love coffee, thunderstorms, snow days, old movies (i.e. Casablanca, An Affair to Remember, White Christmas), drum lines, queso and chips, lip gloss, loud music in the car, being sarcastic, nativity sets, Walt Disney World, and when it gets cold enough to wear socks and oversized sweatshirts around the house.

Your turn!

The Not-So-Secret Recipe

 

recipe

Preparing to marry my groom over thirteen years ago and start a household of my own, I approached my mom and excitedly asked her if I could finally have her famous pumpkin pie recipe. Through giggles, she leaned close and whispered, “Just follow the recipe on the back of a can of Libby’s Pumpkin Puree.” Imagine my surprise!

All those years, all those holidays. Family, friends, and co-workers clamored for one of her pies. What was her trick? Secret ingredient? All that time, no secret at all.

As the holidays approach, like every other year, I think back to this silly moment shared with my mom and my heart smiles.

But you know what dawns on me today? If we’re not careful, our faith is much like this recipe my mom held. She chose not to share, but it was available and accessible to all. Please don’t get me wrong — I am in no way comparing my mom’s fun “secret keeping” to choosing not to share her faith. She’s a great example of living out her faith every day through service and kindness to others.

But am I keeping secret the best recipe for grace, salvation, never-ending love? Imagine a similar conversation to the one I had as a bride with my mom:

Friend who doesn’t know Jesus: “Your life is so good, so happy. Can I have the recipe?”

Me: (Giggle) “Just open the pages of your Bible. It’s all right there.”

Wow. Right?

Chances are, someone won’t likely come up to you so readily and offer you the chance to share the recipe for eternal life in Christ. Am I allowing people to witness my life but not have access to the ingredients I know make up the best, most satisfying dish out there? Salvation.

I pray that God shows me each and every opportunity to pass along the not-so-secret recipe he’s shown me. And that I do so before someone has to ask for it.

Maybe through my writing (I pray). Maybe through my friendships (I pray). Maybe through my smiles to strangers (I pray).

But what more can I do? What can you do? May these holidays be full of recipe sharing of all kinds!