Late last night, when you were probably all asleep, we drew names for the week five shopping spree and giveaway. First of all we want to tell you how moved we were by the memoirs of Christmas past and present. What precious testimonies about love for family and the faithfulness of God in hard times. Thank you again for sharing your hearts. We are going to print your comments out and read them aloud to our family and relatives on Christmas day. You may want to do the same.
Well, I’m sure you’re anxious to know who won the contest. The winners are as follows:
The winners are Cinnamon, Kristen, Angela, Bernadette, Jen and Joan.
You said,
“I think my favorite Christmas memory is the year we were building our home. Our 8 children were small, all under 13. We needed a tree so our 8 yr old son went out on our 10 acres and chopped a tree down for us. He set it up in our living room which had no insulation, no carpeting, and electrical wires sticking out everywhere. It was an exact replica of Charlie Browns Tree and by far the most special tree we’ve ever had.” -Cinnamon
“My favorite Christmas experience … probably this year. The chaos of small children has settled into having a new 8 year old and new 5 year old, which means we get to be more purposeful in creating our holiday traditions. The kids’ favorite right now is our Lego Advent calendar. Another tradition we’ve adopted is assembling a (pre-made!) gingerbread house.
Also special … we’ve taken to marking ornaments that are tied to memories. We get lots of gift ornaments, for things like Christmas pageant participation and classes and random things, and it’s hard to remember from year to year what each one represents. THIS year I am trying to be handier with a pen, to mark (on the ornaments that can handle it) the date and event and child it is for. Very special! And someday the kids can have these memory ornaments for their own family trees.” – Kristen
“My most cherished memory is when my children were younger, and they memorized and acted out the birth of Jesus for extended family. It was precious!
Thanks for the contest!” – Angela“When I lived in Sweden in the 1990’s the family redecorated the house with everything. They even changed the curtains. It was cold and dark but the houses were filled with candle lights, red and greens and the most delicious food including spicy ginger bicuits, ginger bread houses and all kins of wonderful things. They celebrate on Christmas Eve which was so much fun with 4 little children in the house.” – Bernadette
“My favorite CHRISTmas memory is the when my husband FINALLY purposed to me. We had been courting for 2 years which to me seemed like a life time. But it was the events that happened after that are more important to us. In April of 05 my sister developed a brain infection (she was also 6 months pregnant), the chances of her surviving were slim to non. I was not a believer at the time nor was my fiancee. But my parents are very strong Christians. They rushed my sister into surgery. I remember my parent’s Pastor coming to the hospital and me being so full of anger I didn’t want to hear anything he had to say. My sister was brain dead when they started the surgery, but by the grace of God my sister survived, so did her unborn child who is now a very active 4 year old. Fast forward 5 months to September my husband was at work and we felt as if our world was crumbling in on us. We were in financial ruins and down as deep as we could go. He could not get any other radio station in at work except for a Christian station, after the speaker was done on there he gave an alter call and my husband accepted Christ as his Savior. My husband called me crying and told me what had happened. Growing up in a Christian home I knew what had happened. I fell to my knees in submission to Him. We were married in Novmber. That first CHRISTmas as Husband and Wife was also our first CHRISTmas as children of God!!! What a wonderful experience. I could go on and on.
Thank you for the give-away and giving me a moment to reflect on the important times. I will post about your give a way on my blog. I have wanted to get some of your magazines but we just have not had the money. What a blessing this would be!!” – Jen
“Such a precious memory of sitting at the top of the stairs with two of my sisters with our Daddy and waiting for Mom to finish turning on the tree and the candles in the windows and then Daddy rushing down the stairs to await his little girls as they came down and saw the tree and the gifts they had had asked for under the tree. He died when I was almost 14 and that memory of a Father filled with love made it easy for me at age 37 to picture a Heavenly Father who loved me and would forgive me of my sins as the Pastor explained that Sunday morning so many years ago. As a Homeschooling Mom for 12 years now, many times I have failed and yet many times I have crawled back into the arms of my Heavenly Father and asked for His forgiveness and wisdom and He has never ever failed me.” – Joan
Angela, Bernadette, Jen and Joan will be receiving a Comfort and Joy issue.
Cinnamon and Kristen will be receiving the $50.00 shopping spree!
Blessings,
Jill and Eric Novak