Share YOUR Christmas Traditions!

What are YOUR favorite Christmas Traditions? Are you trying something new this year? Let me know. That might become my new favorite tradition!

Speaking of traditions: did you get new pajamas at Christmas when you were a child? Think back! When I was growing up, my sister and I always had Christmas pajamas. Usually flannel. My children had matching Christmas pajamas when they were small.

As you can see, for the last 4 years, we've revived that matching pajama tradition with our extended family! This year, based on input from my husband that he has enough pajama pants, I'll be deviating just a little from "pajamas." Rest assured we will still all be matching, though! What I'm doing a surprise, so I will share photos of my "tweaks" after Christmas!

If you'd like to read more about my family traditions, one of my stories was just featured in the Chicken Soup Daily Newsletter! It is also featured in the recently published book Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Gift of Christmas: A Special Collection of Joyful Holiday Stories (Sponsored Link.) Click here to read "My Nativities."  A second story I wrote,  "Santa Hats," is also in the book.

I wrote a post for the Peach State Moms Blog about 10 of our family's favorite Christmas Traditions. You may want to check that out. Also look at the Tradition Place Pinterest Boards by clicking HERE!

Also, PLEASE like my new Tradition Place Facebook page! I have set up the page in anticipation of the launch of my Tradition Place website within the next few months. (It will be a resource for finding and sharing traditions!) You may sign up to be notified of the launch of www.TraditionPlace.com by clicking on the web address.

Remember to share your favorite traditions and the recipes you absolutely MUST make for your family at Christmas, below, or on the Tradition Place Facebook Page. Feel free to post links to favorite recipes and traditions from your blog or Pinterest Boards. Hope you have a Happy December and Blessed Christmas!

Another Book Signing to Benefit Wellspring Living

"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year...." Charles Dickens

The book signing Dec. 4 was a huge success! Thanks to all who participated! There is one more signing scheduled for the Northside of Atlanta. I will be signing copies of Chicken Soup for the Soul's deluxe hardback Christmas Book The Gift of Christmas, which features two of my stories. (This gift book, which has deluxe endpapers and a ribbon bookmark, is available only at Wal-Mart or from the authors.)

The signing scheduled for Saturday, December 18th, 1-3 at our new Cobb store had to be cancelled because of "red tape" associated with getting the store opened. If you were planning on being at the Cobb signing, I hope you'll be able to go to the signing on Tuesday, December 21, in Duluth instead. My friend, Ann Platz, noted Atlanta Interior Designer, speaker and author, will be joining me to sign her books:

Wellspring Treasures
2785 Buford Highway, Suite 103-B
Duluth, GA 30096
770-623-3166

ALL PROCEEDS FROM THE BOOK SALES GO TO WELLSPRING LIVING, AN ORGANIZATION THAT GIVES VICTIMS OF CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE A SAFE PLACE TO HEAL AND START OVER.

My story, '"Santa Hats," is about our family tradition of wearing Santa hats in unusual locations for our Christmas photos. Here are a few of the photos mentioned in the story!

Hot Tub Santas!

Dog Sledding in Alaska--1999

2008 Venice Italy

Skyping with my niece from Dubai

The other story, "My Nativities," is about my collection of Nativity Scenes, in all shapes and sizes, from around the world.

The tiny Nativity Church gift from the Hanes that started my collection

Inside the Nativity Church --One of my smallest Nativities.

Largest Nativity, with one of my other Nativities on the floor waiting to be placed!
Also, there is a Nativity mobile hanging on the window up higher, and a collection of smaller nativities across the middle of the windows.

 Some of the Nativities on display year round in my living room.
Cookie Jar and Hot Chocolate Set on the top.

Nativity Fire Screen

As I ended the "My Nativities" story, "Seeing my collection every day reminds me that we ought to celebrate our Savior's birth all year long, not just at Christmas."

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

I AM SOMEBODY NOW!

As my husband, Ed, told me yesterday, while quoting Steve Martin's character, Navin Johnson, in "The Jerk", when Navin first saw his name printed in the phonebook, "I am Somebody Now!" (Dialogue & video below.) I just received copies of the Chicken Soup for the Soul, The Gift of Christmas book, in which two of my stories are published!

I wrote one story about how our family has taken photos of us wearing Santa hats in fun and unusual locations, for the last ten years or so. The other story is about my Nativity collection. I got the idea from my friend, Ruth Maldonado, and a gift from friends, Steve and Nancy Hanes, actually started the collection.

I wasn't expecting the books until later in the month, so it was a pleasant surprise when Ed brought them in. I received 10 copies of the book for each of my two stories. In addition, I will be receiving a modest check! I'm not only published, I'm PAID!

Seeing my name in print, does confirm to the world that I am a published "somebody," but it's more important that I KNOW I am "somebody" who is important to God. Actually, we are ALL "Somebodies" who are precious in God's sight. What a blessing!

This special gift edition Chicken Soup book, with deluxe endpapers and red satin bookmark, is available exclusively at Wal-Mart, and retails for $19.95.

I will be having a couple of book signings next month to benefit www.wellspringliving.org. This organization, on whose board I serve, provides survivors of childhood sexual trauma, including sex trafficking victims, a safe place to heal and "start over." Wellspring will receive all the profits, $10.00, for each book sold at the book signings. I will let you know when the signing events are going to be held, so you can help spread the word!

From: "The Jerk:"

Navin R. Johnson: The new phone book's here! The new phone book's here!
Harry Hartounian: Boy, I wish I could get that excited about nothing.
Navin R. Johnson: Nothing? Are you kidding? Page 73 - Johnson, Navin R.! I'm somebody now! Millions of people look at this book everyday! This is the kind of spontaneous publicity - your name in print - that makes people. I'm in print! Things are going to start happening to me now.

YouTube - 'The Jerk' (1979) - Phonebook/Sniper (Caution: Cursing in Video!)