Friday, December 6, 2019

Advent Day 6 - Christmas with Children




This Seekerville Advent journey had me reflecting on my favorite Christmas memories. I have sporadic memories from my childhood like the year my father/Santa almost didn't find Snugglebun (the baby doll who came in a cradle with a small lamp) that was the ONLY thing my sister wanted, because a man snatched the last one from in front of him. I don't remember how he actually got one, just the story of the one he lost.

Then there was the year I was 5 or 6. I remember walking solemnly around my backyard wondering how it could be Christmas when there was no snow. Note, I've survived many many snowless Christmases since, so I'm wondering if snow at Christmas was a thing to 5 year-old me because of Rudolph.

That reminds me of another memory. Back in the day, The Sound of Music always aired on Thanksgiving Night (except for the times it was The Wizard of Oz instead). Charlie Brown, Frosty, Rudolph - they all were only on once and it was a special occasion that we were allowed to stay up for. There was no streaming! If you missed it, you were deprived for a whole year!





My most wonderful Christmas memories though, come from when my girls were young.

I miss my sweet babies


My husband LOVED prepping for Christmas with the girls. It usually involved a trip to Macys and the mall so we could select that year's special ornaments.



We would wander through Toys R Us and the girls would eagerly point out presents they'd love. They are still amazed that we managed to get the presents into the cart (under their winter coats) and check out without them noticing. My oldest daughter and I had a long Thanksgiving road trip last week, and we were reminiscing. She commented that she remembers Daddy always came out to the car awhile after us, but since it happened every year, she didn't think anything of it.

Such JOY! Cinderella loved the gown Santa's elves made for her.


Not so the letters from Santa. I remember the year she told me that Santa's handwriting looked an awful lot like mine. I thought I was so brilliant typing it and leaving it in the printer the next year, but apparently that was a dead giveaway to my smart 4th grader.


My girls are grown women now, and have their own homes, but we still make sure to spend the holidays together. This will be our second year without my husband. It's hard. It's different. But we're making new traditions. Last year we each got white candles for our windows to light in his honor - one for each of us, and one for him. And when we take those precious decorations from their boxes, we have beautiful memories.

In my Love Inspired Suspense, Christmas in Hiding, Callie Martin loves Christmas. She's a kindergarten teacher who longs to be in her classroom amid the glitter and tinsel, but instead she's in witness protection and on the run for her life. I had so much fun writing Callie and her love of Christmas, but I especially loved writing the scenes where her U.S. Marshal, Jackson Walker, goes out of his way to bring Christmas to her.

What memories do you have? Do you have a special family tradition or memory you would like to share?

In honor of my husband's love of choosing ornaments, I'm giving away this Christmas memories ornament that you can choose to have engraved however you like, along with a digital copy of Christmas in Hiding. I apologize to those who prefer print, but Amazon has no more and neither do I, so we have to go with eBook.







Cate Nolan lives in New York City, but she escapes to the ocean any chance she gets. A devoted mom and teacher, Cate loves to leave her real life behind and play with the characters in her imagination. She’s got that suspense writer gene that sees danger and a story in everyday occurrences. Cate particularly loves to write stories of faith enabling ordinary people to overcome extraordinary danger. 







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37 comments:

  1. My fondest memory was the dresses my mom made for my sister and I and herself that were all red with white lace edging. This was for Church for Christmas singing, I think I was like 10! Mom would always do a solo of " Oh Holy Night" at church!
    Glad to meet you Cate, your books are new to me !
    Blessings
    Linda Marie Finn

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    1. Good morning, Linda. I used to love making dresses for my daughters. After a while, the other moms in the neighborhood would ask me to make them for their daughters as birthday presents. It was a happy time.
      I love your memory of listening to you mom sing. My oldest always sang in the choir and I loved listening to the songs at Midnight Mass especially.

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    2. Oh, Cate, I wish I could sew. I can do placemats, banners and craft stuff, but clothing eludes me. Maybe I'll take a class some day.
      KB

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    3. I was very grateful that my mother gave my sewing lessons at the Singer store when I was a teen. I always loved making them beautiful dresses.

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    4. Thank you.... my mom showed us how to sew as we watched her sew for us, but I also got lessons in our baptist church school at 12. I learned to quilt on my own but have much to still learn at 55! Never give up kaybee, you can learn to make some wonderful things !
      Linda Marie

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  2. These are all lovely memories, Cate! I don't remember a lot of individual Christmases as a child, but I now have wonderful memories of my kids at Christmas. We were "lucky" enough to be snowed in over Thanksgiving with my daughter home from college and as I watched my almost-grown kids decorate the tree together, I was teary-eyed thinking that someday in the not-too-distant future they will have their own families and make their own memories and I just wanted to soak it in while I could :) Beautiful post!

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    1. Glynis, I would have cried too. I cry over everything in December. Even the TV commercials with the Coca-Cola polar bears, and the musical Hershey kisses. I'm a basket case in search of a basket. And what great kids, to decorate the tree for you.
      KB

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    2. That sounds like a wonderful Thnaksgiving, Glynis. I just missed being snowed in while visiting my daughter in Maine. We left on Sunday and they got hit with a storm on Monday..

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  3. Cate, what beautiful memories. I have two girls, grown now of course, and the photos of yours reminded me of mine.
    We had good times. I well remember the years of "smuggling presents." And Christmas is a sweet time for memories. Once you get past the initial first years and shock of loss, it is like they're still with you in your memories and traditions. Hard to explain, even for a writer.
    We have had two feet of snow here so many of my holiday plans have already been disrupted. I finally threw away my list (okay, my multiple lists). However this Christmas plays out is how it plays out. Going rogue.
    For the shopping I always borrow my brother-in-law's handicapped tag, and I'm done in a couple hours. I AM ONLY KIDDING.
    Treated MYSELF to Jane Kirkpatrick's new book, "One More River to Cross" and will be indulging myself in it tonight when we are expecting a couple more inches. Of snow, what else would we expect in New England in December? I hope I live long enough to write Oregon Trail as well as she does.
    Otherwise, working on my nonfiction book with my daughter, working on next year's Christmas novella, and taking a deep breath before I start the third "Western Dreams" novel.
    And being more aware of Advent rather than The Holidays or even Christmas. What does He want to do in my life?
    May be back later,
    Kaybee

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    1. kaybee, settling in on a snowy day with some great new reads sounds absolutely perfect to me. The place we stayed in Maine had a gorgeous big window in the living room and I kept thinking how delightful it would be to curl up in front of it and watch snow fall.

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  4. And don't get me started on "It's A Wonderful Life."
    KB

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  5. Thanks Cate for sharing with us your Christmas memories. Such wonderful memories to have! I'm not sure which memories stand out the most for me growing up, but I love watching my little ones at Christmas time. They've been asking for weeks now how long until Christmas, and they're excited about the Christmas programs at church and at school. Their excitement is contagious. :) Merry Christmas! Lee-Ann B

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    1. I do think having little ones makes Christmas so very special! Merry Christmas to you, also.

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  6. You have some wonderful memories. I have several from when I was growing up. Knowing that my parents didn't have much money, it always amazed me that they were able to get us something big that we wanted. Like a bicycle that I got one year. Another year, it was a basketball goal and ball. Another year, my brother and I got the Nintendo console and a small TV. My parents did everything they could to make sure we had a great Christmas. However, I think my favorite memory is the last Christmas we had with my dad back in 2006. My whole family was there. My siblings and our families were all together for the last time. It's not been the same since.

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    1. Loss makes things hard for sure, Joy. I'm sorry you lost your dad. I know how that feels. But I'm glad you have such lovely memories.

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  7. Oh, Cate, I remember watching those movies! That was my favorite part of Christmas as a child! We ended up buying all the videos for our kids so we could watch when we wanted. :)

    I'm glad you and your daughters are making new traditions while re-living the good memories.

    We did something new over Thanksgiving. We watched a short movie, Olaf's Frozen Adventure (a spin-off of Frozen). It was SO GOOD! I think we created a new tradition. :)

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    1. I replied to this before, Missy and then accidentally logged out. :(

      My girls found a new favorite when they were young. It was a musical called Twas the Night Before Christmas and was all about a little mouse named Albert who almost ruined Christmas for his town.

      Now it's available on YouTube and they still watch it every year.

      Albert and Despereaux are the only mice we like in our house!

      https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3ga10f

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  8. What lovely memories Cate. Since I never grew up around snow, I don't associate it with Christmas. I guess I just figured all the snow on cards, etc came from Santa's residence. LOL. I know it must be tough with your loss, but how precious to light the candles. I'm sure it helps your daughters also. And isn't it amazing how we find new traditions? All the family we spent the holidays with are gone and we've been doing the same thing--finding new traditions. Enjoy and thanks for sharing. Hugs

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    1. Thanks so much, Sandra. It's funny how I associate Christmas with snow since I live in NYC where we rarely have a white Christmas..I guess it's the influence of all the books and movies. I expect to be in Maine for Christmas so it will likely be a white one.

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  9. Thanks for those special memories. I'm sorry you're missing your husband this year. Our dog died on November 1st, and he was my sons' big Christmas present 7 years ago, so when we decorated our tree and found the ornament that looks like him, it was hard. But we got a new kitty on November 30th, so that has helped. I don't remember a lot about Christmases as a child; they all kind of blend together into one magical, happy impression. I do remember the year I got an electronic keyboard and the year we got spoiled by my rich aunt and uncle.

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    1. I'm so sorry about the loss of your beloved dog, Lila. Ours has survived several cancer scares and each time I worry we will lose him. Good luck with the kitten and the Christmas tree..

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    2. Saying goodbye to our furry friends is always tough, isn't it, Lila? They're not just pets, they're family.

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  10. Lila, I'm so sorry about your doggie. We lost ours last Thanksgiving night, so this year was a little sad thinking of that trauma. Still no new dog here, but I'm beginning to consider it again. Hubby is not ready yet, though. :)

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  11. Mary Cate, you brought tears to my eyes. What sweet stories. Would you believe that I still watch Rudolph and A Charlie Brown Christmas every year? Like you, it was part of my childhood and it's just something I must do.

    And the ornaments. My mom began the tradition of giving me and my kiddos an ornament every year. It's something they still anticipate, though the torch has now been passed to me. Memories are attached to each ornament, memories they reflect on each and every year. Just like you and your girls are doing now. And those memories are what make things so special.

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    1. BTW, Mary Cate, when I was a kid growing up in Michigan, I was always lost when there wasn't snow on Christmas, too. It just didn't seem right.

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    2. I can't imagine Christmas without snow in Michigan, Mindy. WOW! The world must have felt off kilter. I'm glad you're continuing the tradition of the ornaments!

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  12. What treasured Christmas memories! Your post reminds me of a special childhood time. As we piled into the car to drive a couple of hours to my grandparents’ home for Christmas Eve, my dad would always need to go back inside the house for some reason or other before we headed off. When we returned on Christmas Day, we three kids were delighted to find the gifts Santa left under our tree. I don’t remember if I ever figured out why Dad was so forgetful on Christmas Eve. May your Christmas memories bring you comfort and joy.

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    1. Thank you for sharing that, Sherida. How clever our parents were. My dad always had to be the first one down the stairs and every.single.year he *almost* caught Santa just as he was leaving.

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  13. How special to place candles in your windows...and especially the one for your husband. I hope you'll include that tradition in a future Christmas story.

    I loved Christmas in Hiding! One of my all time favorite reads!!!

    Hugs and love! :)

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    1. You're so sweet, Debby. Thank you for the compliment.

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  14. Cate, this was such a sweet post to read! I remember all the Christmas cartoons that would only come on ONE time FOR THE YEAR. We used to watch The Wizard of Oz as a special family night. Usually it meant my mom roasting a chicken in the oven and making other dishes, and we three girls sitting on the floor in the family room, a plastic tablecloth spread before us (no doubt to catch the inevitable milk spills!) and we'd get lost in the land of Oz.

    One of my favorite annual traditions/memories was decorating our Christmas tree and setting out presents. My parents made it magical with only the Christmas lights glowing as one person settled their gifts around the tree, while ringing a small silver bell. Everyone else's eyes were supposedly closed. Then we'd drink egg nog and eat home made cookies.

    Merry Christmas!

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    1. Jeanne, that sounds like such a lovely tradition! And your movie watching! That reminds me of how we used to pick up sandwiches and go to the drive in when we were little. I loved doing that. Thanks for visiting with us today.

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  15. Cate, I enjoyed your story of your precious Christmas memories. I can only imagine how difficult it is without your husband. I'm glad you have your daughters. I love the candle idea. I have so many special memories of Christmas at my grandparents' house. I think Christmas memories are some of the best. Another Christmas time memory in my mind today goes back 25 years today when my son was born. I had such visions of peaceful evenings cuddling him in the rocking chair as we watched Christmas specials on TV. Alas, it wasn't quite like that. He was colicky and cried much of the time. One night he just couldn't quit crying and it was so late. My husband and I both got up with him. We went out to the living room and turned on the Christmas lights and some music. He finally settled down. I lay down on the couch while my husband sat with our son on his chest and we dozed with the lights and the music and our newborn son. It seemed like a perfect Christmas moment after all.

    No need to put me in the drawing. I already have Christmas in Hiding. It is very good.

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    1. Oh, Sandy. I love that memory. So much of the time when our children are young is about seizing the moments that we have and cherishing them.

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  16. Oh, Cate, Sound of Music was SUCH a staple in our house at Christmas as well! It just made the holidays seem more like a holiday, you know? Especially for my daughter and me.

    I do remember, however, being a little shocked when she was about four or five, and I scooped her up to whirl her around, finally kissing her on the cheek. "No, Mom," I remember her saying, "kiss me like a man kisses a woman, like this ..." She promptly kissed me full on the lips, and the only place I could imagine her seeing that was in Sound of Music (or, between her Dad and me, I guess ... DUH!), so I've always associated that memory with that movie ... AND the holidays!

    MERRY CHRISTMAS!

    Hugs,
    Julie

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    1. That's too funny, Julie. I had a Louisa doll from the Sound of Music. She was one of my most favorite presents ever.

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  17. My favorite memory was when my parents gave me a kitten for Christmas. That was all I ever wanted. I named her Cecelia, and I had her for 18 years.

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