Twelve Favorite Things I Love About Christmas by Tamera L Kraft

A Warm Welcome to a Favorite Author and good friend! 

1.  Christmas is my favorite time of year. I love it so much that I tend to drive my family crazy with all of my Holiday Cheer. Here are my 12 favorite things I absolutely LOVE about Christmas.

2.  The Nativity Story: Christ, who is fully God, was born to a humble family in a lowly stable - the true meaning of Christmas. He came to Earth to die for us, for our sins. I sometimes think about how awestruck Mary must have been holding the Son of God in her arms and knowing He would become her savior.

3.  The Celebration: Christmas isn't just another holiday without significance. It celebrates the birth of Christ. I know He wasn't born on Christmas, but until we know for certain which day He was born, that's a good day to celebrate.

4.  Children's Christmas Program: I love children's Christmas programs. When I was a children's pastor for 20 years, this was the highlight of my Christmas. My favorite program was "Santa Bowed at Christmas". My daughter had a starring role, and my husband was Santa. Earlier that year, he had given his heart to Jesus. In the play, at the end, Santa gets saved and bows at the Nativity manger. That year, there was not a dry eye in the church. My pastor called my daughter forward and talked about how she always asked him to pray for her daddy's salvation. The pastor pointed to Rick. "This year, her daddy got saved."

5.  This year, I'm excited because my church's children's pastor asked me to be in charge of the Christmas Program. I'm doing a happy dance here.

6.  Christmas Trees: I love Christmas trees. My husband occasionally asks me if I would like to downsize to a smaller tree, and I always give him that look. My tree is 6 1/2 foot tall and has ornaments I've collected over the years. Each ornament reminds me of a different season of my life and of past Christmases.

7.  Christmas Music: I love Christmas music. For the sake of everyone around me, I limit myself to playing it between Thanksgiving and Christmas, but I make good use of that time. I like all kinds of Christmas music including Christmas classics like White Christmas sung by Bing Crosby and Silent Night sung by Frank Sinatra, modern Christian songs like Mary Did You Know, fun songs like Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer and I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas, and different types of renditions like what is done by the Tran-Siberian Orchestra. I love them all.

8.  Presents: No gift cards for me. I love presents I can wrap and place under the tree. I can barely wait to watch my friends and family tear into the wrapping paper and react to what I got them. The presents don't have to be expensive, but they do express the personality and wants of the recipient. I also love to get presents. My favorite part is not knowing what's under the wrappings. My husband knows I'm impatient and likes to torment me by putting wrapped gifts under the tree.

9.  Christmas Eve Candlelight Service: I love Christmas Eve services. It disappoints me that many churches have discontinued this. I'm blessed that the church I'm attending is still having them.

10.  Christmas Movies: Every year, I get to get out my favorite classic Christmas movies and watch them all over again. Occasionally I'll add a new favorite, but the classics are the best. My favorite Christmas movie is It's a Wonderful Life. I still get goosebumps when I watch it.

11.  Decorations: I love Christmas decorations. Red is my favorite color, and this time of year, it is everywhere.

12.  Saying Merry Christmas: I don't care how people greet me. Sometimes their just following orders. But I love to say, "Merry Christmas". I find most clerks who had offered a timid "Happy Holidays" grin and wish me a "Merry Christmas" back. Because I wish them one first, they now have permission to do the same.


And Tamera's bonus loves! 
Christmas Dinner: No shortcuts for me. My husband and I love to make everything from scratch and have
a feast with our family. First on the menu is Roast Beast (roast beef). Then the list goes on: mashed potatoes and gravy or Duchess potatoes, Grandma's Jell-O salad, noodles, asparagus, sweet potatoes, and other goodies. A chocolate birthday cake and homemade pie top off the meal.

I also love to get out my grandmother's china and Christmas tablecloth and set a beautiful table for Christmas.

Christmas Cards: I love Christmas cards. Unfortunately not as many send them anymore. A generic greeting on FaceBook has replaced them. But I love having friends and family I don't get to see very often send me a card to let me know they're thinking of me. And I love to send them out.

Bio:
Tamera Lynn Kraft has always loved adventures and writes Christian historical fiction set in America because there are so many adventures in American history.

She is married to the love of her life, has two grown children, and lives in Akron, Ohio.

Soldier’s Heart and A Christmas Promise are two of her historical novellas that have been published. She has received 2nd place in the NOCW contest, 3rd place TARA writer’s contest, and is a finalist in the Frasier Writing Contest. Her third novella, A Resurrection of Hope, will be released in March.



A Christmas Promise

A Moravian Holiday Story, Circa 1773

During colonial times, John and Anna settle in an Ohio village to become Moravian missionaries to the Lenape. When John is called away to help at another settlement two days before Christmas, he promises
he’ll be back by Christmas Day.

When he doesn’t show up, Anna works hard to not fear the worst while she provides her children with a traditional Moravian Christmas.

Through it all, she discovers a Christmas promise that will give her the peace she craves.

"Revel in the spirit of a Colonial Christmas with this achingly tender love story that will warm both your heart and your faith. With rich historical detail and characters who live and breathe on the page, Tamera Lynn Kraft has penned a haunting tale of Moravian missionaries who selflessly bring the promise of Christ to the Lenape Indians. A beautiful way to set your season aglow, A Christmas Promise is truly a promise kept for a heartwarming holiday tale." -- Julie Lessman

Available at these online stores:

· Amazon
· Barnes and Noble
· ChristianBooks.com



Wonderful loves, Tamera, and so many of my own! We truly must be sisters! :) 

Blessings for a wonderful Christmas.  
Merry Christmas, my friends!

My Twelve Favorite Things I Love About Christmas! by Jodie Wolfe

Delighted to have my long time friend, Jodie Wolfe visit today and share her delights about Christmas. Read on for an entertaining list . . .

12 Things I Love About Christmas  By Jodie Wolfe


1. The weather turns colder and we have a better chance of snow. 
Okay, we haven't actually had any snow yet, but a girl can hope. :) We won't mention the fact that it's been much warmer than normal... instead I'm hoping and praying the temperatures drop and we get some Christmas snow!





2. The lights.
There's something special about the season that gets everyone in a holiday mood. Residences put up lights
and Christmas displays. Last night my husband and I drove around our neighborhood to see the beauty of lights. For us it's a reminder of Jesus, the Great Light that came into the world for us.




3. Decorations.
Along with the lights, the special Christmas decorations come out to grace trees, front yards, mantels, etc. While I haven't been able to bring out some of my favorites this year, I delight in seeing the simplistic charm of the things I'm able to display.






4. Cantata.
Our church choir performs a Christmas cantata ever year. I love being a part of the choir and being able to sing about my Savior's birth. While this isn't a photo of our choir, it does remind me of the joy of singing to the Lord.




5. The Crèche.
I love seeing around town the different nativity scenes that are placed on the lawns of folks and various churches too. The crèche is a reminder of what the season is all about. If you haven't ever read it before, pick up a Bible and read Luke chapter 2.










6. Special sights in town.
Every year before Thanksgiving, our town has a holiday parade. Before that takes place, the historical district of my town bedecks the street lights with greenery and lights that gives it a wondrous appearance. I love to drive along main street when it's arrayed in all its beauty.





7. The music.
Most years you'll find me starting to listen to Christmas music as early as July. Let's just say I love the music of the season. :) Even though I have quite a number of Christmas CD's to listen to, each year I add to my collection.



8. Goodies. :)
While I'm not always the greatest cookie baker, I enjoy the special foods of the season. My waistline may not always appreciate it, but it only comes once a year, right? LOL. I do enjoy special times with family and friends and often good foods are involved too.





9. Time.
While this is often tied with #8, I love being able to spend time with family and friends. Okay, I admit, sometimes the preparation beforehand can be stressful, but I'm blessed to have family and friends in my life and to be able to spend time with each other.




10. Christmas cards.
Most years I love writing out the Christmas cards. We've always written one of those newsy family letters
that share what has happened in our lives the past year. While we may experience many ups and downs, we always are reminded of God's faithfulness seeing us through each situation.





11. Joy.
The season is especially meaningful to me because of the reminder that Jesus is our Joy. If He hadn't come to the world as a baby we wouldn't be able to experience true joy.


12. Last, but most important - JESUS.
There would be no reason to celebrate the holiday if it wasn't for Jesus. He came into this world as a baby, to grow up to die on the cross for our sins, so one day we can live in heaven with Him. Our world needs a Savior. We.... you... I need a Savior.






Jodie got bitten by the writing bug as a young girl after reading and watching Little House on the Prairie. She loves writing stories about feisty heroines and strong, godly heroes. The power of story to influence lives and change hearts is what motivates her to weave tales that tell of the Savior’s faithfulness and forgiveness.

You can find her on FB, her website and other social media.

The Twelve Things I Love About Christmas by Sandra Hart

Twelve Things I love at Christmastime

12) Window shopping before the season starts to get gift ideas.

11) Looking for great deals on Black Friday!

10) Buying a new Christmas decoration for our home.

9) Listening to my husband read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" at our family Christmas party.

8) Wrapping gifts while watching "Rudolf, the Red-Nosed Reindeer."

7) Shopping with my daughter to purchase Christmas gifts.

6) Wrapping up in a warm blanket while watching holiday specials on television. 

5) Watching "It's A Wonderful Life" once again. 

4) Purchasing new Christmas novels and reading them the whole month of December.

3) Reading about the birth of Jesus in first two chapters of Matthew and Luke to prepare my heart for Christmas.

2) Attending Christmas Eve Candlelight church service.

1) Watching "White Christmas" after all the preparations are done.




Author Bio  
Sandra Merville Hart serves as Assistant Editor for DevoKids.com where she contributes articles about history and holidays. Her inspirational Civil War novella, A Stranger on My Land, released in 2014.  She has written for several publications and websites including The Secret Place, Harpstring, Splickety Magazine, Pockets Magazine, Common Ground, Afictionado, and ChristianDevotions.us. Sandra loves to find unusual historical facts for her stories. She and her husband enjoy traveling to many of the sites in her books to explore the history.

A Christmas novella 

set during the Civil War!

Back Cover Blurb:

A Stranger on My Land by Sandra Merville Hart

Carrie and her little brother, Jay, find a wounded soldier on their land after a battle which later became known as "The Battle Above the Clouds." Adam, a Union soldier, has been shot twice in the arm. Though Carrie is reluctant to take Adam to their cave where her family hides their livestock from both armies, she cannot turn her back on him. 

But her Aunt Lavinia, bitter over what Yankees have done to their land, urges Carrie to allow Adam to die. Carrie refuses, but cannot remove the bullets. Adam's friendship with Jay softens her heart toward him. It's not long until his gratitude and teasing manner spark a friendship between the young couple. Even though Carrie's father fights for the Confederacy in far-off Virginia, her feelings for the handsome young soldier begin to blossom into love. 

When Adam's condition worsens, Carrie knows a Union surgeon is needed to save his life. How can she accomplish this and keep her family's hiding place a secret?

Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas Bookstore  
(HINT: Use coupon code SandraMHart for a 20% discount at the LPC store site!!!)

Amazon

Barnes & Noble: 



Blessings, readers!

Welcome, Sherry Carter: The Twelve Songs of Christmas

What a delight to host my dear friend Sherry Carter to my blog today! Following is her list of her Twelve Songs of Christmas. 


My 12 Favorite Christmas Songs
I love the Christmas hymns but many of my favorite songs are the ones that make me smile and bring back wonderful memories.

Sweet Little Jesus Boy
I can’t listen to Mahalia Jackson sing this without crying. “We didn’t know who you was.” Praise God, because Jesus was born, died, and rose again, we have new life!

Do You Hear What I Hear?
This is one of my very favorites. The little lamb, the shepherd boy, and the mighty king, all singing praises to the Child. I’ve heard it sung many times but it’s hard to top Carrie Underwood.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ad7KU9bCTAM

O Holy Night
I still get the chills when I hear, “Fall on your knees, Oh hear the Angel voices, O night divine, O night when Christ was born.”

Little Drummer Boy
How beautiful that this little boy gave what he had, from his heart. I know it was Baby Jesus’ favorite gift.

Jingle Bells
Mom and Dad and us kids would sing this at the top of our voices when we drove around on Christmas Eve looking at the lights.

Walking in a Winter Wonderland
I loved this when I was in junior high. Lots of artists sang this but the one I remember was by Andy Williams. The idea of building a snowman and promising him that you’d get married once you got back to town was so romantic. Who knows what goes on in the mind of a starry-eyed teenager?

Frosty the Snowman
Nobody beats Burl Ives! I still watch it every year. I am sad when he melts but I know he’ll be back next year.

Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer
I identified with poor Rudolf – I got teased a lot as a kid. Probably had something to do with my last name – Butts. But God certainly has transformed me into a pretty cool girl!

Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
My favorite is done by Bruce Springsteen’s E-Street Band. We moved every few years when I was growing up and I always wondered if Santa would find me. He always did!

Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.
Way to go, Brenda Lee! I still like to dance around the tree.

Grandma Got Ran Over by a Reindeer.
That’s what happens when Grandma has a little too much eggnog. I can’t help but laugh!

The Theme Song from A Charlie Brown Christmas!
And of course, Christmas wouldn’t be complete without dancing with Linus, Lucy, and the whole gang.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1LUXQWzCno

Book Blurb:

Discover indisputable truths in God's Word that remain unchanged by your difficult situations. This study guides you through Scripture to show you how your Father God longs to bring you through suffering to victory in Jesus - victory as you come through each storm with a stronger faith and a deeper relationship with Him. Find God's purpose and perspective in a time of suffering and draw close to Him for strength for healing.

Buy her book here:

Amazon

About Sherry:

After Sherry Carter left her career as an engineer with NASA, God began to transform her into a Bible study author. Her first Bible study, Storms of Life, won the 2007 Award for Excellence in Christian Literature at the Blue Ridge Christian Writers Conference and was published in 2010. She loves God’s Word and her heart’s desire is to share her excitement with others. She lives and writes in west Texas.

Contact Sherry

Email: sherryjcarter@gmail.com

Website: www.sherrycarter.com

Blog: www.sherryjcarter.blogspot.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sherrycarterauthor

Some good ones in here, Sherry, and lots of my favorites too! 
So many great memories come from songs and Sherry's choices are wonderful to add to our lists!

Enjoy, and Merry Christmas!
Blessings

My Sweet Friend's Twelve Things I Love About Winter: from Jamin Baldwin!

I'm tickled pink (or red, purple, whatever!) to have my friend here today. First time on my blog! Read on to find out about HER twelve items!

12 Things I love about Winter

By, Jamin Baldwin

12. Hot cocoa of course!  I like Dark chocolate cocoa and
I always add an extra spoonful of "extra rich" coffee creamer.

It makes it "extra" creamy...

11. The smell of wood smoke in the air and
the cozy crackling sound coming from my 100 year

old pot bellied stove.

10. Wrapping presents. I love buying people gifts and making them look all pretty.

9. Christmas music! Is there anything more wonderful than decorating the house
while Bing Crosby sings "White Christmas"?

8. The first big snow. And with it the prospect of jolly, lopsided snowmen and a good snowball fight.

7.Making memories and carrying on traditions.

Every year my sister and I would make Christmas cookies and hard tack candy
with my Mamal Lou. We would also help decorate her tree.

Even though she's been gone for three years now
we still make cookies and candy and decorate her tree in her favorite color. Purple.

6.Homemade chocolate pudding.

Ever since I can remember we have had a tradition.
the first BIG snow means my mommy makes us
homemade Chocolate pudding and serves it hot!

5.Snow Crème! (anyone else noticing the abundance of sweets?
No wonder I gain so much weight in the winter!)
A little clean snow, sugar, canned milk and vanilla

-- yummy goodness...

4. Crafting. Cuddling on the couch crocheting or quilting a new blanket.
It s moment I love to take and reflect on what a wonderful year it has been
and all the things that the good Lord has brought us through.

3. Babies! January and February is when we expect our kids! (Baby goats)
Walking out to the barn three and four times a day, hoping to find a sweet, new arrival.

2.My birthday. Every year my wonderful hubby takes me on a two day
birthday/valentines day trip to a cabin. He is the best.

1. When its OVER! When you wake up to sunshine and birds singing. the trees are trying thaw
and bud. Your heart breathes a sigh of relief and you think to yourself

"I made it..."

Aren't those heart-warming Twelves?
What warms YOUR heart this time of the year?

From Karen Pashley . . . The Twelve Recipes of Christmas!

Oh, this is a fun post from The Twelve Series: Karen Pashley's sharing TWELVE recipes from her blog, beginning December 1st! Check out her blog link to read and get these great favorites of hers. 
http://www.karenpashley.com/get-cooking/

Twelve of my favorite ridiculously easy-to-make Christmas party foods:

1. Warm Caramel Pecan Dip with Apples

2. Cream Cheese & Bell Pepper Pinwheels

3. Chocolate Pistachio bark 

4. Warm Artichoke and Roasted Pepper Dip

5. Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Macaroons

6. Old School Cocktail Meatballs

7. Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Dates

8. Buffalo Chicken Sliders

9. Pineapple Walnut Cheese Ball

10. Avocado Crostini

11. Double-Dipped Chocolate Pretzels

12. Smoked Salmon Bites

http://www.karenpashley.com/get-cooking/



Enjoy! 

My 12 Animals of Christmas

For the 12 Whatevers of Christmas, I have Susan Page Davis visiting today. Check out her list and see what you think. Did she hit pretty close? :)

And be sure to check out all her books!




My 12 Animals of Christmas  From Susan Page Davis

1.  Donkey—one of the few real animals actually associated with the original Christmas.

2.  Sheep—Oh, yeah, they were there, too.

3.  Cattle—If you believe the song, they were lowing in the stable when Jesus was born.

4. Doves—These are often associated with Jesus because of the dove that lit on him at his baptism. Then there were those two turtledoves in the 12 Days song.

5. Camel—well, it’s not actually stated in the Bible that the magi rode them, but we all believe it, don’t we? Those men from the east were wise enough to know a camel was the way to go, right?

6. Reindeer—going secular now. We can’t forget Donder, Blitzen, et al.

7. Turkey—a favorite to grace the Christmas dinner table.

8. Mice—they’re always there. Not a creature was stirring …

9. Chipmunks—I always loved Chip and Dale 

and the way they destroyed Donald Duck’s Christmas tree.

10. Horse—Okay, we’re reaching here, but think of snow and a nice, brisk sleigh ride. 

Who’s pulling it? Right!

11. Cat—in honor of our fluffy kitty, Sora, who loves to bat the ornaments so much that we gave her a bright red apple ornament to play with all year long. Make sure those low-hanging ones are unbreakable!

12. Partridge—I guess you can tell I’m getting desperate here. It’s in a pear tree, of course.

Book blurb:
In The Christmas Tree Bride, Polly Winfield lives at the stagecoach station that her father operates and often sees Jacob Tierney, one of the drivers. But winter arrives on the prairie bleak and uneventful, and she confesses to Jacob that all she longs for is a Christmas tree. Will a stagecoach accident prevent him from making her wish come true?

This novella is #8 in the popular 12 Brides of Christmas series, sold separately as e-books. It’s also found in the paper collection White Christmas Brides, found exclusively in Wal-Mart.

Bio: 
Susan Page Davis is the author of more than 50 novels and novellas in the historical romance, mystery, and suspense genres. She is the mother of six and grandmother of nine. A Maine native, she now lives in western Kentucky with her husband Jim.

Visit her website at: www.susanpagedavis.com , where you can sign up for a free book drawing, subscribe to her newsletter, and read a short story on her Romance page, besides seeing all her books.

Links to book: 
Amazon Kindle
Barnes and Noble Nook
Christian E-Book


Wasn't that fun? Thanks so much for stopping by with your list of Twelve, Susan!

Blessings!

The Twelve Classic Movies Series from Tamera Kraft

It's great to welcome my dear friend Tamera Kraft back to my blog. Today she's participating in the Twelve Series of Christmas. Be sure to check out her book and links. Here's her list:


12 Classic Movies of Christmas

I love Christmas movies, but some of the sappy stuff on Hallmark is… well, it’s so badly written and acted that even I, the guru of Christmas, can’t bear to watch it. Thank God for Netflix and Turner Classic Movies where I can watch all the great classics. Here are my 12 favorite classic Christmas movies.

12. An American Christmas Carol
Released 1979
Director: Eric Till
Starring Henry Winkler and Dorian Harewood
This retelling of A Christmas Carol set in America’s depression era is really good.


11. Remember the Night
Released 1940
Directed by Mitchell Leisen
Starring Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwick
A prosecuting attorney asks for a pretty thief to be let out on bail for Christmas. When the thief is placed in his custody, interesting things occur.

10. The Homecoming: A Christmas Story
Released 1971
Directed by Fielder Cook
Starring Patricia Neil and Richard Thomas
This movie became the pilot of the TV series, The Waltons, and tells of a family during the depression. I remember first watching it when I was around twelve. I wanted to be a writer like John Boy, so I related to him.

9. Santa Claus, The Movie
Released 1985
Director: Jeannot Szwork
Starring David Huddleston and Dudley Moore
The best film that tells the story of Santa Claus.

8. A Christmas Carol
Released 1951
Director: Brian Desmond Hurst
Starring Alastair Sims, Jack Warner, and Kathleen Harrison
There are a couple of newer ones I really like, but when it comes to classic renditions of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, this one is the best.

7. 3 Godfathers
Released 1948
Director: John Ford
Starring John Wayne
A Christmas western where three outlaws must get a baby safely to the cow town of Bethlehem while running from a posse. This is my personal favorite John Wayne movie. One reason I like it so much is because I watched it when I came home with my first child. John Wayne was learning to take care of an infant while I was learning to take care of my son.

6. Home Alone
Released 1990
Director: Chris Columbus
Starring Macauley Culkin
First of many movies about a boy accidentally left home alone at Christmas time. I usually don’t consider movies made in 1990 classics, but this one has become a Christmas classic.

5. White Christmas
Released 1954
Director: Micheal Curtiz
Starring Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye
Best Christmas musical ever made with great singing and dancing features the song, “White Christmas”.

4. A Charlie Brown Christmas
Released 1965
Created by Charles M. Shultz
Animated
This animated classic helps Charlie Brown learn the true meaning of Christmas. The best part is where Linus tells the Christmas story word for word from the Bible and ends with “That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”

3. Miracle on 34th Street
Released 1947
Directed by George Seaton
Starring Maureen O’Hara, John Payne, Edmund Gween, and a very young Natalie Wood
This is the best movie made about believing in Santa Clause. It also featured the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

2. A Holiday Affair
Released 1949
Directed by Don Hartman
Starring Janet Leigh and Robert Mitchum
This is the best Christmas love story ever filmed. It’s sad more people don’t know about it.

1. It’s a Wonderful Life
Released 1946
Directed by Frank Capra
Starring James Stewart and Donna Reed
This touching story of an ordinary man who sacrifices his own ambitions for others is my all time favorite Christmas movie.


Bio: 
Tamera Lynn Kraft has always loved adventures and writes Christian historical fiction set in America because there are so many adventures in American history. She is married to the love of her life, has two grown children, and lives in Akron, Ohio. Soldier’s Heart and A Christmas Promise are two of her historical novellas that have been published.

Tamera is the leader of a ministry called Revival Fire For Kids where she mentors other children’s leaders, teaches workshops, and is a children’s ministry consultant and children’s evangelist. She has curriculum published and is a recipient of the 2007 National Children’s Leaders Association Shepherd’s Cup for lifetime achievement in children’s ministry.

You can contact Tamera online at these sites.
Word Sharpeners Blog: http://tameralynnkraft.com
Revival Fire For Kids Blog: http://revivalfire4kids.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TameraLynnKraft
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tamerakraft

A Christmas Promise

By Tamera Lynn Kraft

A Moravian Holiday Story, Circa 1773

During colonial times, John and Anna settle in an Ohio village to become Moravian missionaries to the Lenape. When John is called away to help at another settlement two days before Christmas, he promises he’ll be back by Christmas Day. 

When he doesn’t show up, Anna works hard to not fear the worst while she provides her children with a traditional Moravian Christmas. 

Through it all, she discovers a Christmas promise that will give her the peace she craves.

Available at these online stores:

Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GM59GN4/ref=rdr_kindle_ext_tmb

Pelican Book Group
http://pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=37_47&products_id=512

Christian Books.com http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=48711EB&item_code=WW&netp_id=1206746&event=ESRCG&view=details




Blessings!

Twelve Treasured Moments from The Keep by Johnnie Alexander

To join in The Twelve Series of Christmas, 
Johnnie Alexander is visiting today! 
Enjoy her post and be sure to check out her links and her books. 

Happy Season of Christmas . . .


Twelve Treasured Moments from The Keep

After a couple of decades in sunshiny Florida suburbia, I moved to Chosen Road Keep, a four-acre hobby farm in western Tennessee. Here are my twelve treasured moments from the past few months in no particular order:

1. Being the first to find a newborn litter of baby bunnies

2. Learning I could insert a syringe of medicine into an unhappy alpaca’s ear all by myself

3. Buying my first pair of farm boots

4. Getting a fire to blaze from embers with only my breath

5. Having an alpaca adolescent eat from my hand

6. Photographing lovely yellow daffodils last spring

7. Watching a mama hen gather her chicks beneath her wings

8. Throwing tennis balls for two adorable English shepherd puppies

9. Actually petting an untamed guinea

10. Coercing a two-hundred pig into a dog crate

11. Eating delicious sausage from same pig

12. Toting bales of hay from my car’s hatch to the barn by myself

Bonus: Gaining confidence in my ability as a farm girl.

About Johnnie!

Johnnie Alexander, author and freelance editor, recently signed a contract with Revell for three contemporary romances. The first of these, tentatively titled Into a Spacious Place, releases in January 2016.

Her debut novel, Where Treasure Hides (Tyndale, 2013), won the ACFW Genesis Contest (2011 Historical Fiction). “Beneath the Christmas Star,” her first short story, appeared in the Guideposts anthology A Cup of Christmas Cheer—Tales of Joy and Wonder for the Holidays (2013).

Johnnie also has won the Best Novel award at the 2010 Florida Christian Writers Conference and both the Best Novel and Writer of the Year awards at the 2009 FCWC. She is a 2012 Bronze Medalist in the My Book Therapy Frasier Contest.

A graduate of Rollins College (Orlando) with a Master of Liberal Studies degree, Johnnie treasures family memories, classic movies, road trips, and stacks of books. She recently moved to the Memphis area where she experiences farm life with a small herd of alpacas, Rugby the princely papillon, Skye the mischievous English shepherd, and assorted chickens, guineas, rabbits, and cats.

Wanna stay in touch with her?

Blog                http://www.johnnie-alexander.com

Facebook         https://www.facebook.com/JohnnieAlexanderDonley

Twitter            https://www.johnnie_alexndr

GoodReads     https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6802954.Johnnie_Alexander

LinkedIn         https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnniealexander

Pinterest          http://www.pinterest.com/johnnie­_alex/

Whoa! Read about her book!

Artist Alison Schuyler spends her time working in her family’s renowned art gallery, determined to avoid the curse that has followed the Schuyler clan from the Netherlands to America and back again. She’s certain that true love will only lead to tragedy—that is, until a chance meeting at Waterloo station brings Ian Devlin into her life. Drawn to the bold and compassionate British Army captain, Alison begins to question her fear of love as World War II breaks out, separating the two and drawing each into their own battles. While Ian fights for freedom on the battlefield, Alison works with the Dutch Underground to find a safe haven for Jewish children and priceless pieces of art alike. But safety is a luxury war does not allow. As time, war, and human will struggle to keep them apart, will Alison and Ian have the faith to fight for their love, or is it their fate to be separated forever?

Grab her book here!

Amazon

Barnesandnoble

Christianbook.com

More "Twelve Series of Christmas" coming! Look for it. Wanna join in? Leave a comment and we'll talk.

Merry Christmas Blessings!