How Does He Know …?

Greetings of the season everyone. Thea Devine today. I hope you all had a magical Christmas. I know I did, having spent three days previous to Christmas and Christmas day itself, with our grandson. I now know the purpose of grandmothers — it is to have the joy of stepping back, as I’ve commented to some of you — and really see and appreciate everything that as a first time mother you were to scared, too cautious, too focused on not making a mistake to notice.

I was thirty-two when my first son was born, absolutely certain I was ready, had the reserve of patience, balance and practicality to deal with a newborn. NOT. I was on the phone with my mom-in-law every day. I was scared witless. And sometimes felt helpless.

But this first-time grandma found that all her apprehension about whether she even remembered what to do with a baby evaporated in weeks and what took hold was observing the miracle of his progression from newborn to nearly 11 month old and all he’s learned in between.

How does he know …
to open his mouth like a little bird when Mama feeds him; to reach, to grab, to hold; to kick; to get up on his knees and rock back and forth; to push a button; to sit; to manipulate things with his fingers; to laugh — what is funny to a baby? –; to be in on the joke: when I’m feeding him, sometimes he catches my eye just as he clamps down on the spoon with his teeth, and then he gives me a big smile.

How does he know that? He’s about two steps and a couple of bounces away from walking and talking. He babbles non-stop. He’s the energizer bunny. He found the kitchen cabinets. How did he know? He can spend a day pulling himself to a standing position, taking two steps and flopping, and up again before you can count to five. How does he know that pushing his cover into a mound in his crib will elevate him to see better? How does he know that’s him in the mirror? How did he figure out what a kiss is, and to respond by pressing his open mouth against my cheek?

I am awed and floored by his progression so far. He is excellent company, easy to be with. His one year birthday is coming soon and I can’t wait to see what happens after that. But that’s his story.

There’s a lesson here for authors too. Step back sometimes and really see what’s going on in your manuscript. Consider the small things, the simple things about your characters and why and how they know what they know and do what they do. Don’t let them take baby steps. Let them grow organically. Let them show you what they want to be when they grow up.

Any grandmas out there? What awes you about your grandchild?

Thea Devine’s books defined erotic historical romance. She’s currently working on her next erotic contemporary romance.

Donate Comfort for Sandy Hook Parents and Families

 

Hello all, Katy Lee here with a very special way you can help the families of Sandy Hook. Our author friend and past guest, Alice J. Wisler, has just released a comforting book for parents who have lost a child called Getting Out of Bed in the Morning, and she would love to get a book in every victim’s families hands. I personally don’t believe in coincidences, and Alice’s story of her own loss and grief of losing a child–and then her new book–sprang to mind when I was wondering how I could reach out to the families. Then I learned she was one step ahead of me. Here is her post from her blog:

On December 14, 2012, a tragedy too awful to believe could happen, did happen. Twenty-six people were shot at Sandy Hook Elementary School in the Sandy Hook village of Newtown, Connecticut. Twenty children died. Six adults died.

I know the devastation of having a child die.

My cousin in Maryland asked if I’d donate one of my novels for an auction to benefit the survivors—those lost in the anguish and sorrow. I signed one of my novels and put it in a mail to her.

Later today, a Facebook friend, Lisa Schorp, wanted to know if my new book, Getting Out of Bed in the Morning: Reflections of Comfort in Heartache, could reach the hands of those devastated. Her message: To tell them that God is near.

Suddenly I realized that maybe I should act on this desire of Lisa’s.

People could sponsor my new devotional, Getting Out of Bed in the Morning: Reflections of Comfort in Heartache and a batch of books could be sent with a note to the elementary school for each family who lost a loved one.

My book is written as raw and real; I know the pain of loss. There are also passages of hope, love and comfort. This book has been called a companion through grief. Eugene Peterson writes about it:

“Believe me, you will be changed as you read this book—a book of grief and comfort. Written without easy answers, but with gritty, courageous prayer, wrestling like Jacob with God’s angel.” ~ Eugene H Peterson, Professor Emeritus of Spiritual Theology, Recent College, Vancouver, B.C.; translator of The Message

“Hope stirs fresh in Getting Out of Bed in the Morning as Alice Wisler tenderly challenges the remnants of our grieving hearts to a healing journey. This book is a safe place to reconcile painful losses; a graceful guide through the uncharted and often complex landscape of grief and loss. Alice’s heart whispers an understanding that comes only from one who has tasted consuming heartache yet uncovered the hope of God’s sustaining grace.” ~ Jo Ann Fore, Author, Founder of WriteWhereItHurts.org

(Read more about Getting Out of Bed in the Morning here.)

If you like this idea and would like to make a donation, please send a check made out to me using the snail mail address below. If you want to stay tuned in and have updates on the amount contributed as well as when the books will be sent, etc., email me at info@alicewisler.com with the subject: “Comfort to Sandy Hook”. I will send out periodic updates.

Let’s make Lisa’s wonderful suggestion come true!

Mail your donation to:
Daniel’s House Publications
201 Monticello Avenue
Durham, NC 27707 USA

OR

Donate via Paypal on her site at: http://www.alicewisler.blogspot.com/2012/12/donate-book-for-sandy-hook-parents-and.html

Thank you, Alice, and thank you everyone who has helped in some way, from prayer to time and everything in between. You are blessed to be a blessing, and Merry Christmas to you all!!!

#26Acts of Kindness

Hey, all, Suze here. I hope your holiday season, no matter what or how you celebrate, is full of joy, hope, and love this year.

Have you heard about #26Acts of Kindness? It’s a movement started by Ann Curry (@AnnCurry) (click here to read more) as a tribute to the victims of the Sandy Hook tragedy. I can’t think of a better way to honor these children and heroines than by spreading kindness in small increments throughout the world, not just during the holidays but every day.

Please, pay it forward and pass it on. The world is already a better place. And feel free to tell us about your Kind Acts in the Comments section. It’s not bragging–it’s inspiring!

I’ll leave you with a quick recipe to counteract all the rich food and sweet-sweet-yummies you’ve probably been eating since Thanksgiving: Simple Vegetable Soup. Why not make a double batch and take some to a neighbor, and have a nice visit while you’re there?

SIMPLE VEGETABLE SOUP

Wash and chop up an onion, a couple of carrots, a couple of stalks of celery, and crush a couple of cloves of garlic in a tablespoon of olive oil. Saute all in a saucepan over medium heat until the vegetables are fragrant (do not brown). Add a medium sized can of crushed tomatoes and a small can of chicken, beef, or vegetable broth (for a vegan version), and a tablespoon of Italian seasoning (less if you don’t want it too spicy). Simmer over low-medium heat for 15 minutes, or until vegetables are tender. Serve in a big bowl with some parmesan cheese (fresh grated, if possible; vegans, obviously omit). Enjoy!

 

 

 

Marketing Makeover

As the end of 2012 looms on the horizon, I’ve been working on my first quarter marketing plan for 2013. Being a relative newbie to indie-publishing with much more to learn, I’ve been studying the results of my first year efforts, and in retrospect, I can say I’ve definitively learned one thing. Well, I’ve learned a LOT actually, but one thing in particular stands out for me. I’ve learned that there are no constants in this business. What worked for one book didn’t work for others. What worked yesterday might not work today, and no matter how hard I work, there is an element of luck and timing that I have no control over. PJ Sharon here, welcoming you to the Writing Secrets of Seven Scribes. Today, I’ll be sharing what I think is a more focused approach than my previous “throw everything at the wall and see what sticks” marketing plan.

Not that I haven’t had some moderate success with this approach, but like any business, the only way I can survive is if I trim the fat so to speak, and look for areas where I am wasting my time, effort, and resources. To that end, here is what I plan to do differently in 2013.

1) KDP Select-The exclusive 90 day enrollment that I did last spring with Amazon for Savage Cinderella was by far the most successful (at least in the short term) promotional tool I found. With 39,000 downloads, a temporary spot on the top 100 list, and a significant uptick in sales for several weeks after my FREE days, I felt like I was seeing some real progress forward. However, shortly after coming off the Select program, my sales declined in June, and the numbers tumbled every month after that for my first three books. I heard from industry veterans that the best way to rebound was to publish another book, which I did in September. Despite a month long blog tour and several group promotions, I have not seen much improvement in sales since then.

I resisted continuing with the KDP Select program because I didn’t like the idea of exclusivity, and I was hearing that results for the Select program had reportedly not been as good as they were last spring. That being said, I’ve decided to take the plunge again—for several reasons. I would be foolish not to tap into the Amazon pot that is set aside monthly to be divided amongst Select participants, paid out for “borrows” from the Kindle Lending Library. With 1.5 million dollars available for December (twice the norm), “borrows” should offer authors a nice Christmas bonus. Being able to offer my books for FREE for five days during that 90 day period without jumping through all the hoops of playing the “price matching” game is a simple and effective marketing tool. It also helps me to increase my reader base and my visibility, which are probably the greatest challenges that an author must focus on.

So I’ve revamped my cover for Heaven is for Heroes and enrolled both it, and On Thin Ice, into the program for the next 90 days. That means Only Savage Cinderella and Waning Moon are available on all platforms. If all goes well, when my 90 days are up, HIFH and OTI will go back onto all distribution channels and I’ll put Waning Moon into the Select program for a few months prior to the release of Western Desert, book two in the trilogy. I hate feeding the Amazon “monster,” but until I see real sales on B&N et al. I can’t pass up the opportunity. I literally have made an average of $15 a month from B&N—and less through Smashwords–hardly worth giving up potentially hundreds of sales through Amazon.

This is where I was supposed to mention earlier that both Heaven is for Heroes and On Thin Ice will be available for FREE on Amazon this Friday and Saturday, December 22-23. If you haven’t read them, I’d love it if you would download them or tell anyone you know who might enjoy some YA romance drama. The more downloads I have, the closer I’ll get to that top 100 list so all those new Kindle owners can find me after Christmas. I appreciate it!

2) I’ll keep exploring available social media platforms-I now have almost 500 FB likes and nearly 1000 Twitter followers, which is where I have put my focus over the past year. I’m not sure how that translates directly to sales, but it sure helps me connect with some great authors, bloggers, readers, reviewers, industry professionals, and some all-around awesome people. Since word of mouth is still the best advertising, it’s clear that social media is here to stay and is a useful medium to help get the word out. I would like to try to focus on finding what works for me and best helps me connect with my target audience. That will include more time on sites like Good reads, Pinterest, Tumbler, Wattpad, and Kindle Boards.

3) Budget funds for paid advertisements and production costs. Short cuts are not the way to go in this business. It’s a very competitive industry and becoming more so every day. Hiring a cover artist, quality editors, and paying for advertising that has proven to be effective are worth budgeting funds for. My husband and I doing everything ourselves at first seemed like a way to save money and maintain control of my product, but in the long run, I can see I didn’t give my books their due.

The nice thing about Indie publishing is that I can make changes whenever I want. The books won’t be taken off the market if they don’t sell in a month or two. My backlist can become my front list if I want to start a new advertising campaign and change up the cover, try a new venue, or target specific groups of potential readers. The sky is the limit, but it all costs money, so I’ve realized that I have to budget money to give the books their best chance to succeed.

4) More than anything, though, I’d like to become more organized about my time management-This is a business. But without writing good books in a timely manner, I will have no business. That means that the writing has to come first. I’m not kidding myself into thinking I’ll be able to keep it all under perfect control, but I will budget my time differently, allowing for 50-60% of my time to go towards production of new material, with only 40% of my time spent on administrative details.

There have been times over the past year where I haven’t written a word on a WIP for weeks because of getting caught up in all the crazy business chores and responsibilities. I’m finally beginning to let go of all that, and bring my focus back to the writing. If it means less time building my network or promoting the books, then so be it. And if I only get one quality book out this year, then that’s okay with me, too–though I’m planning for two and possibly another short story.

Most importantly, staying healhy, sane, and having some fun along the way is much more important to me than sales figures these days. When I start stressing about all the “to-do’s,” I remind myself to relax and enjoy the ride. You never know what’s going to come over that next big hill.

What will you do differently this year?

Are you a Holiday Movie fanatic?

PJ Sharon here on this fine and busy Tuesday. I’ll keep it brief today since I’m doing double duty. In addition to my Scribes post, I’m hanging out with my WG2E Beach Book Blast buddies who have a slew of new Christmas stories for sale today and tomorrow, all for under $5. We’re calling it a BeachBookBlast e-Book Extravaganza!

Since two of my YA romances culminate with a Christmas surprise and a heartwarmingly sweet ending, both Heaven Is For Heroes and On Thin Ice are part of this great sale. I hope you’ll stop by the site and check out the fantastic selection. Rest assured, we have plenty of uplifting Christmas stories to keep you in the holiday spirit. Speaking of uplifting stories…

One of my favorite parts of December is watching all my favorite holiday movies. Miracle on 34^th Street and It’s a Wonderful Life are two of my favorites, but I have to admit I’m glued to the Hallmark Channel’s 25 Days of Christmas. I know; the movies are sappy, unrealistic, sticky sweet, and totally romantic, and I love them. A cup of warm cocoa and a box of tissues are a must, however. So far this season, my top three Hallmark Channel movies have been, A Christmas With Molly, Come Dance With Me and A Princess for Christmas.

What about you? Are you a holiday movie freak? What’s your favorite classic? Have you seen any new ones this year that you’ve added to your favorite’s list?

The Bucket List

Hey, peeps. Suze here. There’s been an delay with my interview with Ghost Photographer Julie Griffin, but we’ll get her here soon.So, today I thought I’d talk a bit about the Bucket List. Even if you never saw the movie that came out a few years ago, I’ll bet you know what a Bucket List is: it’s those accomplishments and experiences you want–need–to have before you die, the things you can’t let go of and have always wanted to do.

Here are a few things on my Bucket List:

1. Ride in a limousine. True story: I’ve never ridden in a limo! I have three sisters and a brother, but they all had small-town weddings (back then, I don’t think there even was limo service within 40 miles or so). Mr. Suze and I had a lock-and-load-type wedding at a hotel. We got married on the waterfront gazebo, and had the reception right there.

When I told my mom and sisters about this wish at Thanksgiving, we came up with the idea of renting a limo (now available even in that little boondocks town up north!) and riding around to look at Christmas lights. So I’ll be able to cross this one off in about a month. Go Suze!

2. See the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. Nope, I’ve never seen the show and I’ve always wanted to. This one is very doable, since it’s only a day trip away. And yet I’ve never managed to get there. Anyone up for a visit to the Big Apple with me?

3. Solve the last of the family mysteries that have plagued me since I was a kid. I’ve already cracked a couple of these to my satisfaction: Was my great great grandfather a Native American? I’m now almost certain he was not. My great grandfather either believed, or was told, or made up, that his mother had an affair with a Native American and that they both ran off, leaving him to be raised by his grandmother. That’s a nice, romantic way to explain one’s illegitimacy! But it’s also a big fat lie. My research leads quite strongly to the conclusion that great great grandma was a servant in the household of a prosperous shopkeeper and that great granddad was the product of a little intra-household, upstairs-downstairs nookie. GGGram did run off and leave the baby with her mother; that much of the story is true anyway.

Another family mystery I’ve solved is that I was finally, after literally years of research, able to obtain a copy of an archaeological dig report on some family land, confirming (and also disproving) some things my grandfather told me.

But the one that eludes me: Locating a family heirloom (an 18th century ceremonial walking stick with a whale-tooth handle inscribed to Joseph Bartlett), which was allegedly stolen by my great-uncle to spite my grandfather. It may have been given to a museum. I don’t expect to get the thing back; I just want to see it and photograph it. I think I’m just going to have to contact every museum in New York State. Will get right on that!

4. Run a 5K. Notice I said “run.” I could easily walk a 5K, do it quite frequently, as a matter of fact. But I’ve never enjoyed running. And yet, this one nags at me. Therefore, 2013 is the year of the 5K for Suze. Or maybe 2014. Definitely soon, though!

How about you? What’s on your Bucket List? How many things could you do in the next year? I’d love to hear all about it!

Holiday Road

Greetings, Scribelings. Suze here, back from a road trip vacation. I thought I’d share some of the highlights with you.

First, let me say that most of this trip was unplanned. We had only one time-sensitive place to get to; everything else was flexible as we traveled through and found interesting places to see. We made no hotel reservations in advance. I know not everyone can travel this way–in fact, I’ll bet some of you planning types are downright horrified, aren’t you? But with a smart phone and a Garmin GPS unit, I had no trouble finding us decent hotels/motels every day, wherever we happened to end up. So here are some of the interesting things we saw and did:

The Astabula, Ohio, Wine and Walleye Festival. Yes, for those of you who want to combine your love of both vino and game fish, here’s a festival just for you. If walleye’s not your thing, not to worry! You can also have perch. I had a very delicious, very fresh perch sandwich, a glass of wine, and listened to a good local band at the Rotary Club tent. Later, as we strolled around admiring the vintage cars lined up along the main street, I had a cup of some of the most delicious coffee ever–the beans were roasting right there, and the aroma was intoxicating. If you’re in Ashtabula, even if you miss the W&W festival, stop in for a cup of joe at Harborperk!

The Toledo, Ohio, German-American Festival. This was our only planned stop. Let me emphasize that this was NOT an Oktoberfest. Because it was August, sillies. And yet … it was JUST LIKE an Oktoberfest. Go figure. From men in Lederhosen to a live Glockenspiel performance every hour on the hour (sponsored by Jaegermeister) to a humongous beer tent with a live German band, this is the next best thing to being in Munich. There was even a Steinstossen event. Now apparently this is a real sport in Switzerland. Men (and even some women) lift a 138 pound rock (only 75 pounds for women–definitely doable…ha!) over their heads, then see how far they can throw it. We only saw one guy almost drop the rock on his head. Fortunately, it only struck him a glancing blow on the noggin, then hit his shoulder, and fell to the ground.

 

There was also a Swiss cheese eating competition. Contestants lined up to see who could eat a 1 pound block of Swiss cheese the fastest. We saw a couple of people finish, and when one guy looked like he was going to blow, we left.

Finally, also in the Feats of Strength category, is the Stein Lift. No, this is not a drinking competition, but it does involve beer and glass steins. Contestants line up to hold a full glass stein of beer, straight out from their bodies, for as long as possible without spilling. This is not as easy as it looks. Try holding a 2 or 3 pound weight in that position for a couple of minutes. (Try it and let me know what happens. I’m not going to do it myself. It looked painful!) The winner managed over 5 minutes, but it was a strain. Everyone walks away from this competition a winner, though. They get to drink the beer even if they lose.

Tony Packo’s Hungarian Restaurant. This is a landmark in Toledo. Fans of M.A.S.H. will recall that Corporal Klinger was from Toledo, and this is one of the places he apparently referenced in the show. The walls are lined with, I kid you not, autographed hot dog buns encased in plastic. The food was great and the atmosphere was better. My chicken paprikash was worth the stigma of having to tell you all that I went to Toledo on my summer vacation.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Cleveland isn’t really a dull place, kids! The Hall of Fame is loads of fun. Right now there’s a big exhibit on the Grateful Dead. In other parts of the museum, you can see some of Stevie Nicks’ costumes, Michael Jackson’s sequined glove, Johnny Cash’s tour bus, Janis Joplin’s Porsche, and my personal favorite, ZZ Topp’s furry drum set. The food, unfortunately, is not that great. Go someplace else for lunch.

 

Yes, that’s a leg lamp in the window!

A Christmas Story House. This was both a huge thrill, and a huge-er disappointment. I love Ralphie! Christmas day is just not complete at the Hardy household till we’ve opened presents and watched Ralphie finally get his Red Ryder Range Model Air Rifle (good thing there’s a compass in the stock and a thing that tells time). Unfortunately, Ralphie’s house (and the museum and gift shop in two separate buildings across the street), were not open on the day that we were in Cleveland. Sigh. But we did go and see the outside of the house anyway. Bonus trivia question for you–from which direction did the Bumpuses’ dogs come? We were trying to figure out which house would have been theirs, but couldn’t remember.

We did tons more stuff on our vacation, so stay tuned for another installment.

Where did you go on your vacation this summer? Would you ever travel without reservations?

A Twenty- Something Christmas

The other day a coworker and I were watching as dozens of excited second graders discussed the wonders of Christmas. The Christmas season for teachers is somewhat of an adorable nightmare.Nothing gets done this time of year because the kids’ minds are filled with visions of sugar cookies and Santa and no school for a week.

“Who can tell me what the BIG IDEA of this story was?”

We call on the child who is practically jumping out of his seat to answer. “Santa is bringing me the WIPEOUT video game, but my mom says I have to let my sister play or else she’s going to take it away,” he says proudly.

My coworker and I sigh at each other. We had lost the room, but honestly how could we compete with a fat man in a red suit that brings presents. We couldn’t be upset over our lost lesson because they were so cute, and when you’re seven Christmas is magical.

When thirty is sneaking up on you and you have no kids of your own it’s not. It’s bills and crowded malls and buying people junk they don’t need. It’s very easy to become jaded.

And yet every year I make the trek to my parents’ house for Christmas eve. There was a time when we all would gather and make dozens of cookies. That doesn’t happen any more.(You try getting three almost adult men to make and decorate dozens of cookies) But my mother (bless her heart), still buys the cookie mix every year.

They went unmade this year. And the decorations that used to look like Christmas threw up on our house were trimmed down to the bare minimum.

I thought that my parents were starting to give up on Christmas. With four kids in their twenties it’s hard to keep the magic alive.

And yet they surprised me.

“GET UP!” My mother pokes my in the forehead at six am. “It’s time to open presents.”

“Are you on drugs?” I glance at the clock then back at mommie dearest before I roll over and try to go back to sleep. She retaliates by putting the two month old puppy in my bed. The little scamp steps on my head, licks my face and then bites my ear.

I get up.

When I walk into my family’s formal living room I’m greeted by four equally groggy, half-dressed boys.

“Grumble, grumble,” one of them says by way of greeting.

And then my father who is way too chipper for six in the morning yells, “Look happy damn it. It’s Christmas day.” Before any of us can react he pulls out his camera and starts snapping pictures. Evil. EVIL man. I look like Medusa. One of my brothers is scratching his arm pit and we all look like a hot mess. EXCEPT for my mother who is freshly made up and in her shiny new Christmas pjs.

Together my parents view the pictures and laugh. They then show them to my youngest brother, who laughs. He then shows it to me. I cringe, lunge at him and try to delete the photo of me looking like a deranged mental hospital escapee. They all laugh and eventually we go about Christmas morning like we did when we were little. Just happy to be in the same room together.

What was the lesson in all that?

Go to bed Christmas eve in full hair and make up!

Your turn. How was your Christmas? Have you ever felt like the season has lost some of its magic? Have a funny experience to share? Any and all comments are welcome.   

I’m Telling it From My Mountain

Merry Christmas! Katy Lee here, and yes, I am telling it from my mountain—Jesus Christ is born! It’s Christmas day, and I know many of you have special plans with your loved ones. Perhaps you are traveling or maybe you are having a quiet day at home, but wherever you are, I pray your day will be filled with peaceful blessings and beautiful memories, and I thank you for stopping by the Scribes to spend a moment with us too. You have blessed us in doing so.

Now, no matter how many times I tell myself every year that I am going to focus on the real reason of the season, I still have to face a mountain of things to do—and I don’t mean the mountain of laundry that is growing in my laundry room. Some things I have to let go of during this week and that is one of them, especially with the clock ticking down to midnight and the many other things taking precedent. Now, I won’t go through that list because I know you all have a similar one of your own, and maybe your mountain is even higher than mine, but when December 25^th strikes everything stops. That mountain is left where it is standing whether I like it or not.

And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

It’s in this moment where I have to drop the things that didn’t get done because I have a guest, and my guest deserves my undivided attention. Christmas is my yearly reminder that God, my Creator, couldn’t spend another moment without me. He loved me so much that he came to the earth to be with me, and let me tell you, He is the perfect guest and the perfect host. He is the perfect gift. He is my Emmanuel—God with us. And He is yours too.

The Unlocked Secret: It’s Christmas. Don’t beat yourself up if you didn’t get everything done. Go ahead and drop those incomplete lists right where they are. It’s okay if they make a mountain. Let it be your mountain to go tell the story on.

The Magic Moment

Happy Saturday, everybody!  I’m so excited to be posting today because Christmas Eve is my very favorite day of the year.  I’ve always loved Christmas Eve.

Back when I was a little kid, it was a night of wonder when I’d try to stay awake and hear the reindeer on the roof, but I invariably fell asleep.  Sometime in the dark of the night, I’d wake up and sneak out to see if Santa had been yet.  He always beat me to the punch, so to speak.  I’d find piles of packages wrapped in 2 colors under the tree.  In each stocking, there would be a piece of wrapping paper, indicating which boxes were mine, and which were my sister’s.  I’d skulk quietly into the bathroom and shut the door silently, before turning on the light to see what was in my stocking.

When I was in high school and college, Christmas Eve meant a day of leisure before heading out for a fancy dinner, a midnight church service followed by gifts and champagne with friends and family until nearly 3:00 in the  morning.

From age 28 through 35, Christmas Eve was the calm before the Christmas Expedition of driving all over creation on Christmas Day.  From central Connecticut, to the Litchfield Hills, to NY State and back again.  A couple of years, those trips took hours through blinding snow.  Quite possibly, we went up hill both ways…without shoes.  Well, you get the idea.

Now, with young children of my own, Christmas Eve is a welcome rest in a busy season.  All the gifts will have been purchased and wrapped.  We enjoy an early dinner before the Christmas Pageant at church.  Preparations will be underway for the next day’s lounge and feast.  The hectic big family party will be behind us with just the Grandparents coming to visit on Christmas Day.  We eat and open gifts most of the day, often without even changing out of our pajamas.  My husband has his trusty Get-Toys-Out-Of-Thier-Packaging tool kit handy.  Worries about holiday bills are put on hold until the new year. 

Yes, Christmas Eve is my favorite day of the year.  All the excitement and anticipation of Christmas with the work behind me and the worries deferred.  It’s a happy day filled with wonder as my young children sprinkle reindeer dust on the front lawn and prepare a dish of cookies and carrots for the midnight visitors. 

I, in my kerchief, and Hubby in his cap, sit back and relax before the fire, and await the magic that we know the morning will bring.   Peace on earth, and goodwill to you all.  Whether or not your celebrate Christmas, have a wonderful day tomorrow.  And don’t forget to notice those magic moments and commit them to memory.

Merry Christmas,

J Monkeys