Home for the Holidays with Author Joi Copeland

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Author Joi Copeland, Catherine Castle's Holiday blog series, Christmas lights, Holiday Traditions, Home for the Holidays

Photo from Wikimedia

 

Christmas Lights

 

“Baby, it’s cold outside!” And we love it! Christmas time in Metro-Denver, Colorado, with a chill in the air, is one of the things my family and I adore. It just isn’t Christmas for us if it is 80 degrees.

So, one night a year, we adorn our jackets, scarves, mittens, and beanies, and we head outside to our vehicle. We drive just a little ways down the street to another one of our favorite places: Starbucks. Once we each have our drinks, we jump into the van, turn on Christmas music, and drive around looking at Christmas lights.

We love to see what different houses do to celebrate the birth of our Savior! When we lived in California, we used to drive to Rancho Cucamonga and Glendora and check out the neighborhood light displays. Those were always the best. Such creativity went into lighting up each house in those neighborhoods.

When we moved to Colorado seven years ago, we discovered they don’t have neighborhood lights like we are used to. So, we pick a few streets to drive down, ooh and ahh over the light displays, enjoy the music, and enjoy each other. My boys, husband, and I love this tradition. Sometimes, we last an hour, others we last a little less. It doesn’t matter how long we are out, as long as we are with each other

 

ABout the Author:

Joi loves Christmas because of the beauty and wonder of how God chose to reach man. His love for us astounds Joi and she loves to celebrate this time of year! It is her favorite season!

Joi writes Women’s Christian Fiction, based on Hope and Redemption. You can find Joi and her books at Amazon.

 

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Home for the Holidays with Author Amber Schamel

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Author Amber Schamel, Catherine Castle Holiday Blog, Christmas without a Christmas tree, Holiday Traditions, Home for the Holidays

 A Holiday Centered Around the Reason for the Season

  by Amber Schamel

The Holidays at my house are unique. One of the most common comments I receive after telling folks I’m the second oldest of twelve children is “Christmas must be a hoot!” and let me assure you. It is.

You’ll probably be surprised to hear that my favorite Christmas tradition is…not having a Christmas tree.

WHAT? No Christmas tree? With twelve kids?

No, I’m not one of those people who doesn’t celebrate Christmas at all. I love Christmas, but unfortunately, there are a lot of people in this world that would like to take CHRIST out of CHRISTmas. My family wanted to keep the holiday centered around its true meaning, so instead of a Christmas tree, we have a manger.

This manger is homemade out of wood in a crude style that looks authentic. My brothers made it with their own hands, which makes it even more special. We put it in the living room and fill it with hay. Then my baby sister will contribute one of her dolls to serve as Baby Jesus for the season. We wrap it in a pillow case or something of the sort to act as swaddling clothes. We hang a star above the manger. When I was young, we cut out a star from cardboard and covered it in foil. Today, we have a snazzy light up star that blinks. 😉

The Christmas gifts are placed under the manger, just like the Wise Men  might have done thousands of years ago. My family is big on gifts, so we end up with a LOT of them by Christmas morning. Even our youngest ones will work hard and save money so they can buy something at the dollar store to give their brothers, sisters and parents for Christmas.

To me, this tradition is priceless. It gives the young children a visual and emotional connection to the Nativity.

In what ways does your family keep the Christ in Christmas?

 

About the Author

Amber’s favorite Christmas tradition is not having a tree.  Author of over half a dozen books, Amber Schamel writes riveting stories that bring HIStory to life. She has a passion for travel, history, books and her Savior. This combination results in what her readers call “historical fiction at its finest”.  She lives in Colorado and spends half her time volunteering in the Ozarks. Visit her online at www.AmberSchamel.com/