THE PRIZE - Each author that is participating in the eXtasy Advent Calendar has generously donated one of their eBooks! That's 15 eBooks, all for ONE lucky winner. I'll be donating a copy of the first book in the Always Cambridge Series.
There will also be one more grand prize added to the bundle, but to find out what that is, you'll have to wait and see.
I know I'm probably not the only one who becomes nostalgic this time of year. Bitter sweet memories of times long past, a time to reflect and be thankful, and perhaps remember the people who are no longer here to celebrate with us.
Some of my fondest recollections are of Christmas Eve. I love Christmas Eve, probably more so than Christmas Day. Even when I was a child the night before the big day just seemed so magical. The anticipation made everything seem so mystical and exciting.
When fellow author Beany Sparks suggested this Advent Calendar Hop, it all of a sudden reminded me, when we were kids, my sister made up an Advent book full of readings and she'd share one every evening at supper time leading up to Christmas. If I'm not mistaken, she even lit a candle. I hadn't thought of it in years. I remember the backing was made of orange construction paper, and the verses carefully typed on white paper then clipped with pinking sheers, and pasted delicately on the page, a string of yarn around the middle to keep it together, like binding. On the front cover was a candle, a page from a colouring book, I think. I'll, bet our mum still has the precious book stashed in among all our Christmas decorations, a little tattered and faded but cherished all the same. Our mother saves everything. :)
When I was a kid, as a family, we attended Church services. There were two services on Christmas Eve. An early service for the children and then a midnight service. I don't honestly remember the children's time (I guess I was too young when I stopped going) and I'm not sure that I ever attended the late programme (it was for the adults) :p
As teenagers, my sister and I used to stay home, while our parents went to the late service. We watched Christmas cartoons—The classics, Charlie Brown, Frosty, Rudolph and my all time favourite The Grinch—and then we switched over to movies, the later it got.
It always, always snowed on Christmas Eve, without fail. Those big fluffy flakes—in my family, we call it Christmas snow. Our mum and dad would come in from Church around midnight, shivering but happy, full of Christmas Spirit. I remember those snowflakes sticking, glistening on my dad's dark hair. It really seemed magical. Everything about it. It was home. He'd brush the snow off his head and give it shake, he'd stomp his feet and smile like a big kid. My dad was kind of a gruff guy, but at Christmas, he was different. Lighter. Happier. The way I wished he could have been all of the time. Perhaps that's why I so love The Grinch, it reminds me of my father.
He might have seemed hard to approach and grouchy on the outside, but he had a massive heart and enormous faith. He'd make my mama a brandy and egg nog
and we'd sit by the fire and watch A Christmas Carol the one with Alistair Sim, in black and
white, of course and we'd have snacks before we headed to bed. 
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| Look Lenny, It's Christmas Snow. |
We miss you, Dad, Merry Christmas.
Wishing you all the blessings and spirit of Christmas.
Hug the ones you love.
Happy Christmas
from Canada
from Canada
Below you will find the word of the day which you'll need for the contest. Be sure to check the Book Carousel page on Facebook tomorrow for the name of the next author and the link where you will find the post. Good luck.
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