by Julie Lessman
Hello, everyone—Julie Lessman here, and I am delighted and honored to be back on Seekerville today for the “Advent in Seekerville” celebration. This year’s theme is “Home for the Holidays,” and I have to say my story below details one of my favorite holiday memories.
You see, I grew up in a family of thirteen kids, and all I remember of Christmases past is a wall of presents piled halfway up a ten-foot tree. As soon as presents were distributed, all of us tore into the gifts at the same time, completely swallowed up in a sea of paper and bows. To this day, I have no memory of gifts I received or what anyone else received because, frankly, it was bedlam.
So, when I met my husband, I discovered their tradition was opening gifts one at a time, everyone seated in a circle of laughter so we could all oooh and ahhh over each token of love. Wow! That sealed the deal for me and from that Christmas on, that became my favorite Christmas tradition of all that we still honor today.
And so, I thought I would share a “timely tale” of that very first Christmas I spent with my husband’s family when we just going together, not married yet. Because the greatest gift I received that year was a very special lesson from God, which to this day, has given me a life“time” of joy. Hopefully this lesson will inspire you—like it did me—to take “time” to thank God for His abundant blessings.
I wish you and yours a happy, healthy, and holy holiday season!
Hugs,
Julie
🎁 When God Wraps a Present 🎁
We’ve all heard the adage “it’s better to give than receive,” but never have I agreed more than the year I was dating the love of my life—my husband, Keith.
It was truly a Christmas to remember—spiced egg nog and snickerdoodles and shimmering presents unwrapped in a circle of love. Of course, we all ooohed and ahhhed over each gift opened, one at a time, reveling in the glow of excitement for giver and recipient alike.
And then it was my turn. Everyone waited while I tore into a small jewelry box, fingers trembling while anticipation fairly shimmered in my boyfriend’s eyes.
“Do you like it?” he asked, grinning like a little boy when I unearthed a very pretty silver watch.
No.
“It’s beautiful,” I said with a shaky giggle, slipping it on and holding it up for everyone to admire. I quickly gave him a sweet kiss on the lips. “Thank you so much, babe—what a perfect gift!”
Uh … perfectly awful, that is.
You see, when you are a twenty-seven-year-old Type A career woman who is very set in her ways (not to mention expecting a piece of jewelry for your finger instead of your wrist), there are just some things you have to buy for yourself.
Books, costume jewelry, purses … a watch.
All right, yes, I’ll admit it—“high maintenance” is my middle name because heaven knows I’m one of the most particular people on the planet, especially when it comes to watches. They have to be digital, waterproof, have a day and date window, an alarm, chronograph, second hand, both silver and gold metal to wear with either silver or gold jewelry, stretch band skinny enough to fit my wrist … and a GPS. Okay, I’m pulling your watch chain on the last one, but you get the picture—not easy to find, especially with numbers big enough for someone blind as a bat.
So, yes, I faked it, of course, thanking my boyfriend for the “prettiest watch I had ever owned,” because it was—I just didn’t like it.
But did I “fake it” with God? Uh, no. I went straight to His throne in prayer and BEGGED Him to help me love this watch because the man I loved gave it to me and I just flat-out didn’t want to hurt his feelings. I even went so far as to write the prayer request on a piece of paper and tuck it in my Bible so I could “wrap” it in prayer every single day, which I did for a number of years.
Until the fateful moment long after we were married when my husband used my Bible one day and found the note.
“You don’t like your watch??” The hurt in his tone matched the look in his eyes when his gaze flicked to the pretty watch on my wrist.
“What are you talking about?” I asked, somewhat confused.
He held up the note. “You told God you hated it in this note I found in your Bible.”
Uh-oh … BUSTED!
“Oh, babe,” I said with my brightest smile and a quick kiss on the lips. “That was then and this is now. It’s perfect for me, just like you, and I absolutely love it.
And you know what? I did!
🎁GIVEAWAY!
And now it’s “time” for a giveaway, so leave a comment, and you’ll be entered to win all six of my Christmas e-books below:
🎁 EXTRA JOURNAL JOTS CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY!
🎄$15 Amazon gift card
🎄 All six of my Christmas e-books (if you don’t win them in this Seekerville)
🎄 Christmas books by Becky Wade, Allie Pleiter, Toni Shiloh, Mary Manners, etc. and more.
🎄 Your choice of any one of my indie e-books
🎄 PLUS a character named after you in my next book
🎁ABOUT JULIE
Julie Lessman is an award-winning author whose tagline of “Passion With a Purpose” underscores her intense passion for both God and romance. A lover of all things Irish, she enjoys writing close-knit Irish family sagas that evolve into 3-D love stories: the hero, the heroine, and the God that brings them together.
Author of The Daughters of Boston, Winds of Change, Heart of San Francisco, Isle of Hope, and Silver Lining Ranch series, Julie was American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Author of the Year and has garnered over 18 Romance Writers of America and other awards. Voted #1 Romance Author in Family Fiction magazine’s 2012 and 2011 Reader’s Choice Awards, Julie’s novels also made Family Fiction magazine’s Best of 2015, Best of 2014, and “Essential Christian Romance Authors” 2017, as well as Booklist’s 2010 Top 10 Inspirational Fiction and Borders Best Fiction. Her independent novel A Light in the Window was an International Digital Awards winner, a 2013 Readers' Crown Award winner, and a 2013 Book Buyers Best Award winner.
Julie has also written a self-help workbook for writers entitled Romance-ology 101: Writing Romantic Tension for the Sweet and Inspirational Markets. Contact Julie through her website and read excerpts from each of her books at www.julielessman.com.
I had to chuckle when you said 'bedlam' re unwrapping Christmas present. We don't have 13 children but when all the grands and my 5 children are home for Christmas there are ~20 of us and even though we try the one present at a time method, it usually ends up being bedlam! Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones and everyone at Seekerville.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I'm a Journal Jots reader too.
Anne, that would be a big crowd for opening gifts!
DeleteMerry Christmas to you, too!
Good morning, everyone -- SO great to be here!! And MEGA thanks to Missy for inviting me! ♥️
DeleteAnd, ANNE RIGHTLER, oh my goodness -- 20 would definitely be "bedlam," my friend, especially with kiddos!
Thank you for being a JJ reader, Anne, and good luck in the giveaway!
🎄 Hugs and Happy Holidays,
Julie
Julie, this is so you.... Oh my stars, I could totally see it, the whole thing and I'm laughing that you had to write it down.... Oh mylanta. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd what an impressive list of awards. Congratulations to you on all of your success. I think that's an absolutely wonderful thing and your words have touched hearts all over. Good for you, and thank you for stopping back to play with us today! It's always so stinkin' good to see you!
So are you still writing? And if so, what are you working on? Give us the dish, Jules!
Good morning, Ruthy! I, too, want to hear what Julie is working on.
DeleteHey, Ruthy, I sure miss you and everyone else on Seekerville, so today is extra special for me -- definitely like "Coming Home for Christmas"!
DeleteYes, I am still writing (albeit very slowly ... I've never been Speedy Gonzalez like you and Mary! How many books did you write this year anyway??), but I actually wrote two books this year -- my annual O'Connor Christmas novella, A Gift Like No Other, which is about Faith & Collin's marital problems �� (which do get resolved, of course, in a most festive way!). And then I wrote Gabe O'Connor's story during WWII (she's the incorrigible foster child the O'Connors adopted), which took me FOREVER since I had to do so much research (cold chill!) regarding historical timeline, battle tidbits, 1940s dress/language/mores/tidbits, aeromedical pilot terms, WASP terms (Women Air Force Service Pilots), medical terms, and on and on. It was pretty fascinating, I will admit, especially since 2019 was the 75th Anniversary of D-Day, but I literally had to research on every page and sometimes every paragraph. Consequently, it took me 3/4 of the year to write. I was planning on indie pubbing it this fall in time for Christmas, but Natasha had two secular publishers interested in it if you can believe that, and now I'm pretty shocked to say that Harper Collins has taken it to pub board. Haven't heard anything, but if they don't buy it, I plan to publish it myself as both a Christian novel and as a secular novel under a different title, cover, and my maiden name since I had to revamp it for the secular market anyway by deleting all references to God, prayer, spiritual themes, etc.). The only good thing about it was I also had to step up the passion, which as you are well aware, was NO PROBLEM WHATSOEVER!! ;) I have been feeling God leading me into the secular market for a while now, so here I go one way or the other. But I fully intend to continue to write for the Christian market as well, so I guess I get to write my cake and eat it too! ;)
I wish you and yours a happy, healthy, and holy holiday season, Ruthy!
Hugs,
Julie
Good morning, Julie. Thanks for stopping by and sharing that story today. I just love the idea of you praying to love the gift. It would be so easy to just shrug it off, but love demands much of us, right?
ReplyDeleteAnd what a great comeback line. ;)
Holiday blessings to you and your family.
Well, my comment disappeared! Hope this isn't a duplicate. Cate, I agree about how difficult it would be to to show love when disappointed over not getting that diamond ring!
DeleteOh, AMEN TO THAT, Cate! Yeah, it was pretty fun giving him that comeback line, and he did forgive me, so all is well. :)
DeleteHugs & Happy Holidays!
Julie
What a great story, Julie!
ReplyDeleteWe unwrap one gift at a time, as well! I would hate the chaos of a free-for-all!
Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Debby, we always unwrap one at a time as well. And we take turns, going around the room, opening one at a time. Someone plays Santa and hands them out one at a time from under the tree. :)
DeleteDebby & Missy, I am amazed to discover now that most people do unwrap one gift at a time, but I sure never heard of that before, so I am blessed my inlaws taught me how to truly appreciate gifts from and given to loved ones.
DeleteMerry Christmas to you and yours, Deb!
Hugs,
Julie
Loved your story! I think if we are all honest, we have had the same reaction about a gift at some point in our life. We also open up one gift at a time. It does help to slow down and enjoy what everyone has received as gifts. Merry Christmas, Julie!
ReplyDeleteJoy, I agree!
DeleteMerry Christmas!
Hey, Joy -- wow, you are certainly appropriately named for this season, my friend, so "Joy to the World"!
DeleteAnd, yeah, I think it's pretty safe to say that all of us have gotten some bummer presents over the years. My husband claims that the worst one I ever gave him was a tube of toothpaste. You see, we always tried to outdo each other with the number of presents we gave and when I discovered we were tied on Christmas morning, I snuck in and wrapped a brand-new tube of toothpaste I had specifically bought for him since he complained the tube was rolled to the hilt and we needed more.
Uh ... he didn't think it was too unfunny at the time, unfortunately, so I'm a little more selective about my gifts now ... ;)
Hugs and Happy Holidays@
Julie
Love the sweet story! To be honest, gift-giving is the part of Christmas I dislike the most. I'm not a great giver and I'm a terrible liar if I receive something I don't like. It's really just fraught with danger all the way around. As the kids have gotten older, we've really pared down the gifts, and Christmas has become less stressful for me. Great to see you here and have a Merry Christmas!!
ReplyDeleteGlynis, I think it's a wonderful idea to pare down. I just heard from a friend the other day that they've decided to request that their family start drawing names, so each person only buys one gift. I love that idea.
DeleteLOL, Glynis, you sound SO much like my daughter! She could never lie or fake it about a gift to save her soul, so it became a joke after a while. My son was a pro, however, and he always told her to just fawn over it and return it later like he did. ;)
DeleteAnd I'm with you on the whole gift thing, too. I used to bake 60 cookie/rum cake platters (w/8 types of cookies!) for neighbors and friends each year decorated to the hilt with red Saran, bows, real holly, etc. I was an idiot, but I'm happy to say that I have finally wised up and cut presents WAY down by talking all my friends and neighbors into not giving gifts. Sigh ... it really helps to focus more on the true reason for the season: JESUS!!
Hugs and Happy HOlidays!
Julie
Hi Julie, What a funny story. Our God does have a sense of humor. smile We had the same tradition. We opened our presents one at a time and went in order of height. Shortest one first up to the tallest. And I love seeing all your accomplishments. Congrats and keep on writing great stories.
ReplyDeleteSandra, what a fun idea to go by height--especially when there are kids around!! :)
DeleteSo good to see you today! We look forward to your post soon!
SANDRA!! It is sooooo fun seeing my old buds again, even if it's only in cyberspace.
DeleteI like the shortest-to-tallest idea for sure. Keith's family always just let the grand kids rip into theirs all at once, and then we adults would do the circle thing while the kids played. :)
I wish you and Ed a happy, healthy, and holy holiday season!
Hugs and more hugs,
Julie
Julie, we're so glad to have you back with us today!! What a wonderful story. I had to laugh. My first Christmas with my husband, we had been dating almost a year. I SO wanted an engagement ring!! And honestly, I expected one. But he got me earrings. Gorgeous sapphire earrings. Never in my life would I have imagined being disappointed with that!! haha But I was. Later, when I was alone with his mom, she said she could tell I was disappointed. I felt awful! But she just told me to be patient (or something like that). I think she already knew he planned to propose soon. He didn't want to propose on a major holiday. He wanted to do it as a surprise and in a special way with just us. He ended up proposing in January, on the anniversary of our first date. :)
ReplyDeleteAwww, Missy. That story just made me tear up a little. What a sweet boyfriend to be so intentional with the timing of his proposal. :)
DeleteJeanne, he's very romantic (more than I am!). The night of that 1-year date anniversary, he took me out to all the places we'd spent our first week--in reverse order. Then he proposed at the exact spot we met--by a water fountain in the youth center at the church. :)
DeleteOh, Missy, I'm with Jeanne -- I teared up over your precious story! What a guy! He could have saved himself a bundle by giving the ring on Christmas instead of buying sapphire earrings too, but he loved you enough to want to make it extra special. That is true love! And it sure made your January for sure! ;)
DeleteHugs and more hugs,
Julie
I have to say that once I got the engagement ring, I sure did love those earrings! LOL
DeleteOh, Julie, I loved this story! And what I especially loved was your prayer! How beautiful that you asked God to help you love that watch. :) That's love right there. :)
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a wonderful Christmas!
Yes, Jeanne, I thought the same thing! Such a sweet prayer.
DeleteHey, Jeanne, thank you! I pretty much pray about everything, but I sure in the heck didn't expect Keith to find out! That's the danger of putting things in writing, I guess, but what else is an author to do??? ;)
DeleteI wish you and yours a happy, healthy, and holy holiday season, my friend!
Hugs,
Julie
Oh, Julie, what a great story, and it drives home the point of what giving is all about. Nice to hear from you again.
ReplyDeleteHaving Seekerville every day for a month is a gift in itself...
Kathy Bailey
Kathy, it's nice to hang out with y'all daily this month!
DeleteWhoops, Kathy ... I wrote my response to you in a new comment, so check it out below. Sigh. I always end up doing this somehow. 😳
DeleteHugs,
Julie
Hey, Kathy, thank you, my friend, and it's nice to chat with you again as well! And, YES, Seekerville is definitely a gift and a blessing to SO many. I truly believe it has been and continues to be anointed by God.
ReplyDeleteI wish you and yours a happy, healthy, and holy holiday season!
Hugs,
Julie
When we have our immediate family time of opening gifts right after breakfast, we each open one gift at a time, because I want the kids to get excited for others. But when we then drive over to their Nana & Grandpar's, they usually open gifts all at the same time, because they always give so many presents that it would take forever to do them one at a time, and we're all starving for the Christmas feast by then. ;) So there are pros and cons to both ways.
ReplyDeleteLOL, Lila! I can relate to how long it can take when there are a lot of young kids and presents. :)
DeleteLOL, Lila, I see your point! ;)
DeleteThat reminds me of what I do when it comes to saying grace before dinners. If we have company, I tell everyone to just start eating till I sit down because it takes me FOR-EVER to get my act together enough to sit down myself and enjoy my meal (I'm always the last to get my own drink or am putting food on the table and things like butter, sour cream, whatever. So,because I don't want people's food to get cold or them to starve while waiting on me, I just pray when I take my seat. It works really well. ;)
Merry Christmas to you and yours and GOOD LUCK in the contest!
Hugs,
Julie
Hi Julie:
ReplyDeleteLoved your Christmas story! And truth be told, I smugly had the ending all figured out…only it didn't happen that way!!!
I just knew that after all the gifts were opened, your family would get to the stocking stuffers. Our family always saved the stockings for last as if they were a desert...the icing on the cake! Besides a lot of the gifts were really odd and very funny. Some were even white elephants from years before.
Well, when you got to open your stocking gifts you found a little three inch high plastic Santa Claus Christmas Tree ornament. No big deal. But just as you are putting the Santa down Keith says, "Look in Santa's bag." You do and what do you see sparkling up at you? The most beautiful engagement ring you ever saw!
Keith adds, "I knew when you said you loved that awful watch that I should leave that Santa in your stocking."
That's just what I would have done!
*******
Glory be. It's great to see your back in Seekerville! I even wore my sunglasses just in case your appearance was like a supernova…and… it's a good thing I did!
Merry Christmas
Vince
VINCE!! Goodness, my friend, do you have any idea how much I've missed chatting with you?? I pray for your health and your back all the time, so I hope you are doing well.
DeleteLOL about figuring out my ending -- you always try to do that, you little stinker! And you are SUCH a romantic, my friend!! I sure hope Mrs. Mooney knows how blessed she is. :)
That would have been a great ending, but I'm afraid my hubby is not as astute regarding romantic endings as you and I tend to be. I will have to say, however, that he is far more affectionate than I am, although I have definitely improved in that area being married to him.
I sent you an email regarding my blog tour for my latest O'Connor Christmas novella, A Gift Like No Other, but I didn't hear back from you. I will be happy to send you an e-copy if you want because I think you would like it since it's my most "romantically passionate" book yet. ;)
I wish you and your sweet wife a happy, healthy, and holy holiday season, my friend, and God bless you and your health.
Hugs and more hugs,
Julie
Vince, I thought that ending might be coming, too. I guess we're hopeless romantics. :)
DeleteOh Vince, Like Julie, I've missed your wisdom and humor. And we did the same thing--saved the stockings for last and those we didn't have to do one at a time. We all dug in at once. And there were always fun gems. Mrs. Santa (my mom) made sure we had a package of thank you notes. LOL. Good thinking. Again, good to see you and be in Seekerville again.
DeleteHi Julie:
DeleteYes, please email a schedule. I'm not on Facebook and can't go there without being on it. So if the tour is only on Facebook, then I'm out of luck. I'm saving the Christmas book for closer to Christmas. It has to be a treasured read in that I can never know if there will be another one. It's like the last L'Amour and Hillerman books. I have no intention of gobbling it up. :)
My ending to your story could be used, like so many movies today, by adding "based on actual events."
Indeed, I've always been romantic. It's just a better way to live.
Enjoy the holidays.
Vince
Hi Missy:
DeleteYou know, as I was writing the Christmas story comment, I was thinking that I had to hurry because you, Tina, or Sandra would get to it first. It's just a case of "Great Minds"...at least romantic great minds. :)
Vince
Hi Sandra:
DeleteWe open the stockings mostly all at once but when an item is unwrapped, then we lift it up for all to see and tell who gave us the gift. Even with this somewhat more speedy way of doing things, we still take about three hours to open all the gifts! Of course, that was when all the family was still with us. If anyone is still in the years where great memories are being made, enjoy them to the most. We make great memories and take so many vacation pictures so we can play them back when they are most needed. The best memories are the most treasured 'keepers'.
Merry Christmas
Vince
P.S. I saw that a big best seller had a Lake Powell location. Now I have to check the best sellers to see which one it is. I'm sure it is somewhere where the eagles fly. :)
Hi Vince, Interesting. Yep, we'll have to check out those eagles.
DeleteYour description of Christmas bedlam sounds exactly like the Christmases I grew up with! Fun craziness! We still do it that way with our grown and almost-grown kids--and I always end up being the last one to open my gifts because I am having too much fun watching other people open theirs. And that Christmas watch story! Love it!!
ReplyDeleteHey, Laurel, yes, it IS "fun craziness" for sure, but if you can sit back and watch like you do, it is SO great! You sound like a very giving person, my friend, who derives more joy from watching the joy of others than receiving it yourself. :)
DeleteGood luck in the giveaway, and I wish you and yours a most blessed Christmas!
Hugs,
Julie
Laurel, I, too, love to savor watching everyone open theirs. But I will say I would feel sorry for myself if I didn't have anything! haha
DeleteThank you so much Julie for sharing this lovely story! Love how it reminds me to step back and appreciate every gift given to me by my loved ones and God. Also liked the reminder to send up things to God in prayer(even the smallest things). Have to admit though I had to laugh a bit when you wrote you were busted by that note that Keith found . So happy you could tell him truthfully you loved the watch. His hurt look touched my heart,I hope you were able to take the hurt away. :) Thank you so much for being a sweet loving friend! Hope you're having a blessed Christmas season! Hugs!!
ReplyDeleteLYNNE!! I always love "seeing" you on various blogs and FB, my sweet friend, so thank you for coming by. I am having a wonderful holiday season so far, and I pray the same for you too!
DeleteHugs and more hugs, and what the heck -- more hugs on top of that! ;)
Julie
I know, Lynne! I thought, uh oh, when she said he found the note! :)
DeleteJulie - I LOVE your watch story. The look on your face must have been priceless. I too have notes in my Bible about my husband when we were dating...which reminds me, maybe I should move them elsewhere. HA! The best part of Christmas is watching my kids open their presents and now that I'm a Mom, I really don't care if there's something under the tree for me since it really is about the kids. Merry Christmas! Lee-Ann
ReplyDeleteUh-oh, Lee-Ann, get those out of your Bible, girlfriend, because you NEVER KNOW when those hubbies of ours are going to stumble upon them!! ;)
DeleteGoodness, you and Laurel above are those truly giving types of people who focus more on others than yourselves! I will admit I do like to receive presents, but it is SO fun to watch others open theirs too! Although, I find that as I get older (and trust me, I'm talking OLD!), I care less and less about presents, so that's a good thing, I think. :)
Hugs and Happy Holidays to you and yours, my friend!
Julie
LOL, Lee-Ann! Yes, if they're doubtful or negative, maybe hide those notes. ;)
DeleteJulie- I love how you asked God to help you love the gift. How often do we forget that step entirely. What a beautiful story about God's timing and grace.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Layne, and I have to say that I LOVE your name! I think I may just call my next character that!
DeleteAnd, YES, all too often in our busy lives, prayer becomes a last resort instead of a first one, so I have tried to train myself to pray first and save myself a LOT of grief. My husband shakes his head at me because I do the same thing with directions in a store. The minute I walk in, I immediately ask somebody where a particular aisle is while my husband is content to cruise around till he finds what he wants. :)
Hugs and MERRY CHRISTMAS, my friend!
Julie
Wasn't that the sweetest thing, Layne? I don't think I would have thought of that. Bless you, Julie, for having such a loving heart.
DeleteIt was a bit chaotic when our two kids were little, so we have pared down Christmas a LOT. Plus they always had way more than they needed/wanted. I’m pretty picky about jewelry items, so I would have had a tough time with the watch, too.
ReplyDeleteperrianne (DOT)askew (AT) me (DOT) com
Perrianne Askew
Hey, Perrianne, thank you for commiserating with me on the watch -- I'm glad I'm not alone! And I agree that my kids always had more than they needed as well, so paring down is definitely good and more in line with the season.
DeleteGood luck in the contest and Merry Christmas!
Hugs,
Julie
Perrianne, I would be that way about watches, too. And purses! I don't think anyone could ever buy me a purse. haha
DeleteI so love you Jules, you know what I use for a bible bookmark? Plain paper, for writing prayer requests of jotting down notes and verses... I never ever grow tired of your stories or your books! Since i won your ebooks and own all of them, I would opt for a paperback novel or two instead! You know to add to that goal of mine of owning all your books in paperback! lol wink!!! Ruth was right, this was so you! I am so glad that Missy had you here on Seekerville, I need to make it more of a habit of coming here to read and learn! I make the notes and prayer requests in my bible to so that each day when I see them I am like Yes Lord, help me to do this or that and be submitted to his perfect will for my life...The last two years has been incredibly crazy and I have sat and cried at times saying " Why? " Why me? Why this ? Why here?
ReplyDeleteThere has been alot of things , changes and losses, blessings and it is all part of God's Perfect Plan for Me !
I so love you!
Linda Marie
Aw, Linda Marie, you're making me cry, my friend, which I guess is fair turnaround if I've made you cry in my books! ;)
DeleteA large piece of paper sounds WAY better than a bookmark anyway because it's SO functional, and I tend to be a dirt practical gal myself, so I sometimes do the same.
Sorry you've had such a crazy couple of years, but you are right, the road of life is littered with a whole bunch of things we don't always understand or like. But we've both been assured by a real reliable source (God's Word) that the next life is gonna make up for it BIG TIME!! Till then, I pray HE keeps us strong and stable on the path we're supposed to be on, come what may.
I wish you and yours a most blessed Christmas, Linda Marie, and may God bless you richly in the year ahead.
Hugs and more hugs,
Julie
Linda Marie, we're glad you stopped by!
DeleteI am glad to be here! Life was sorta crazy for a while I am looking forward to a Wonderful New Year!!!
DeleteLinda Marie
Oh Julie you have me rolling in the aisles at your story!! I KNEW eventually your husband would discover your prayer note to God. What a conundrum to get out of, LOL! I'm so glad though that you did indeed learn to love that watch. Isn't God amazing in answering those kind of prayers? :-)
ReplyDeleteI can't even imagine growing up with 12 other siblings! I was an only child until I was nine when my brother came along, and then less than a year later my sister. I have seen pictures of Christmases past where all the presents were for me and very much piled high. I guess I was spoiled for many years until I had to share, lol! We always got together with my aunts and uncles over at my Grandma's house (she had nine kids) for a big dinner & I'm sure present opening commenced. There was me and three of my closest in age boy cousins. I was the middle of them with one a year older and one a year younger. I just remember (barely) all the fun times we had! I miss that moer & more as I get older but what memories we made :-) Nothing beats family!
Whoops ... I did it again ... responded to your comment in a new comment rather than beneath your comment, Trixi, so I apologize. My response is below.
DeleteHUGS!!
Julie
Trixi, I bet having two siblings after 9 years of having all the attention was a shock to your system. :) But what fun to have a brother and sister.
DeleteTRIXI!! Hey, girl, hope you are doing well!
ReplyDeleteGlad I could put a smile on your face, although I guarantee, it didn't do that with my husband till much later! ;)
Growing up in a big family has SO many benefits, which is one of the reasons why I wrote my O'Connor family saga -- I LOVE big families! Don't get me wrong -- LOTS of dysfunction, too, but there's something special about all those siblings making things interesting!
I'm glad you finally got a brother and a sister, because it truly is a special experience. I remember my best friend -- who was an only child -- thrived on being at my house with all the activity, so there's a real blessing in that that supersedes all those extra presents and attention! :)
I wish you and yours a happy, healthy, and holy holiday season!
Hugs,
Julie
Julie! So good to see you here in Seekerville again! I loved your story about the watch. Isn't it the truth there are some - very common items - you just have to buy for yourself because these simple, common, everyday items have to be just the right ones!! Bless you and your honest heart. And mega hugs for Keith. I can imagine the whole look of surprise on his face to discover the watch wasn't what you wanted. Poor guy. BUT, God is good. We all know NO ONE loves more than Keith except maybe Jesus...and that's a whole 'nuther story, LOL.
ReplyDeleteI love you, too, sweetstuff. Merry Christmas with my whole heart!!!!
AUDRA!! Oh, girlfriend, it's SO good to talk to you again -- we need to catch up! PLEASE tell me you're going to go to ACFW next year in St. Louis because I am and would love to see you and any other Seekers planning to go! I miss all you guys. 😔
DeleteI'm praying you have a very happy, healthy, and holy holiday season!
Hugs and more hugs!!
Julie
Julie, so great to see you here today. Sorry I'm so late checking in. I loved your story about the watch. I'm sure you felt terrible when Keith found the note! I felt like that story could have been a scene from one of your books. I just finished reading A Gift Like No Other. I enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteOh, it's great to "see" you too, Sandy -- it's like "old home" week for me with so many of my favorite people!!
DeleteLOL ... that story could have definitely been a scene in one of my books for sure because to be honest, MOST of the quirky scenes like that in my books DO come from my life because what can I say -- I'm pretty quirky myself. ;)
SO glad you enjoyed A Gift Like No Other. I have found it to be a real challenge to write a deep and emotional novella given the short length parameters, but then I also found I enjoy that challenge, so hopefully I manage to accomplish that somewhat.
I wish you and yours a happy and holy holiday season, my friend!
Hugs!!
Julie
Fun post! Thanks for sharing with us. I’m a Journal Jots follower.
ReplyDeleteHey, Mindy, thanks for coming by, my friend -- you're in the draw, so GOOD LUCK in the giveaway!
DeleteHere's to a happy, healthy, and holy holiday season for you and yours!
Hugs!!
Julie
I loved this post. My first Christmas memory has been shared by both my husband and I with laughter some forty-three years later. I look back and I think his father ever gave his mom a personal gift so practical things were the order of the day. On Christmas morning before we went to my parents we opened our own gifts. I didn't mind the pitcher and I beleive there was another kitchen item but the one that really shocked me were toenail clippers. Being the kinda gal who says what she thinks and being a bride of 18 I asked him why on earth he would get me toenail clippers. His sheepish response, "Your toenails scratch me at night and you said you wished you had clippers." I laughed and said Sweetheart, in the future this is not even on the list of personal Christmas gifts to give your wife." We weren't mad, we laughed and of course I had to tell my family all about my very personal Christmas gift.
ReplyDeleteROTFLOL!!! Oh my gosh, Jubilee, that was SO funny, I had to read it to my husband, so thanks for the great laugh from both of us! And what a fun story you have to share today and in the future.
DeleteAnd as a dirt practical kind of gal, I think in hindsight, that was probably a pretty good gift, which I bet you used a lot over the years!
I wish you and your practical guy a blessed Christmas season.
Hugs!!
Julie
Now there’s the beginning of a story—finding a note in a Bible about yourself! Maybe some of us will “steal” it for a future plot. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteOoooooo, you're right, Susan -- never even thought about that, but I sure am now! In fact, you have just given me a great way to use it in a secular book I've been planning to write, so THANK YOU!! If and when that book comes out -- it's tentatively called "The Secret of Emerald Cove, about an international playboy/Irish soccer star and his aunt's nurse/caretaker -- remind me, and I'll send you a free copy. ;)
DeleteI wish you and yours a happy, healthy, and holy holiday season!
Hugs,
Julie
Julie. Loved your story about Christmas. I came from a family of 10 kids, you described ours exactly. I do remember gifts though. One year my Mom made my sister and I a whole bunch of Barbie clothes. She pinned on this big board. It was the most awesome gift. She's a great seamstress.
ReplyDeleteOH MY GOSH, Peggy -- what an amazingly WONDERFUL gift from your sweet mom! I used to love to make my own paper dolls (I was pretty good in art, so I could draw fairly well) just SO I could design/make my own clothes for them as well. So, WOW, I can't imagine how thrilled you and your sister must have been opening up that Christmas morning!! A lifetime memory for sure!
DeleteThanks for sharing that great memory, my friend!
Hugs and more hugs,
Julie
Past Christmases...thinking of that brought some unhappy memories, but I'm not sharing them because they are overshadowed by the wonderful times I've enjoyed in my 53 years with my "Big Dutch Farmer" on the South Dakota prairies. I used to tell folks, "We don't have wall-to-wall carpet. We have wall-to-wall kids! Since then we have added 6 spouses-in-love, 28 grandkids, 2 granddaughters-in-love and 5 great-grandkids with more on the way! For the past few years, I have collected the free Christmas cards that come with "gimme" letters. I am sending them out one by one with a short note thanking the recipient for something...or several somethings....I'll probably still be sending them next Easter, but then, isn't the Christmas Story good for all year??
ReplyDeleteHey, Dee, see my response to your comment below. I have a bad habit of clicking in the wrong response box. 😳
DeleteHugs,
Julie
LOL, Dee -- wall-to-wall kids -- LOVE IT! And how clever is the term "spouses-in-love"!! I have to smile at the free Christmas cards in the "gimme" letters, because sometimes I send them out too, but I like your idea of thanking people with them -- you're brilliant!
ReplyDeleteAnd, WOW, WOW, WOW, your home sounds like mine used to be growing up, with the wall-to-wall kids! I was #12 of 13 kids, so all the older ones were married with kids, so I have a number of nieces who are just a few years younger than me. Between the grands, the spouses, and all of us, it was pretty crazy, as I imagine yours must be.
All my Christmas novellas feel like that, too, because most of the six O'Connor siblings are married with kids in them, so by the time I wrote my most recent O'Connor book about the last sibling, there were 24 grand kids to account for, so we're talking major bedlam in the latest Christmas scene. :)
Thanks for your great comment and for coming by! I wish you and yours (the whole lot) a happy, healthy, and holy holiday season.
Hugs,
Julie
Julie, I'm a day late and a dollar short, but I love this story. And I SO know what you mean about the bedlam of opening gifts versus the one at a time. I got so tired of my five kids ripping into their presents and then not having a clue as to who gave the gift to them. So Mom changed things up one year. Ever since then, one person opens one gift at a time, usually working youngest to oldest. Now, instead of things being over in a matter of minutes, it's sometimes hours of fun, depending how many of us are together. And even though the little ones still get antsy, it's now something we all get to experience together. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteLOL, MINDY, you're still ahead of me, girlfriend, because I tend to be 2 days late and 2 dollars short on most days, and those are the good ones! ;)
DeleteAnd, WOW, I didn't know you had five kiddos -- that's a busy Christmas for sure!
I wish you and your big beautiful family the most blessed of Christmases!
Hugs,
Julie
So fun to see you in Seekerville, Julie! Love your watch story and can imagine your expressions...both when opening the gift and when Keith read your prayer note.
ReplyDeleteBefore I married my high school sweetheart, I was super impressed by his gift giving selections...yellow roses, an ornate vanity mirror....always the perfect gift. After we were married, I found out his mother picked out the presents. She had good taste and liked me.
Since we’ve celebrated 48 anniversaries, I can attest to the adage, it’s not the gift, but “the thought that counts.” He makes me feel loved!
Hoping to hear soon about that next novel! Hugs and blessings.....and merry Christmas, my friend!
SHERIDA!! That is SO cute about his mom picking out your gifts -- that's a smart boy AND a smart mama! ;)
DeleteAnd that blesses me more than I can say that your guy makes you "feel loved" because you are one of the kindest, sweetest people I know, my friend, and it's SO good to hear you are blessed with a love like that.
I wish you and your loving guy and family a happy, healthy, and holy holiday season!
HUGS AND MORE HUGS!
Julie
His mom did not pick out gifts for me, but for some reason, for several years, I had to open my gift at his folks' house. One year I had to dig through a whole box of corncobs to find the little gift. I don't remember what it was...just the corncobs. After I convinced him it embarrassed me to open gifts in front of his family, it didn't happen again. Looking at our 53rd Christmas together. I think I'll keep him...Lord willing.
ReplyDeleteLOL, Dee ... that man's a quick learner, which is always an admirable trait in a husband, so you are blessed!! And, yeah, after 53 years, I'd say he's definitely a keeper! ;)
ReplyDeleteHugs and Merry Christmas!
Julie