12 Days of Christmas Giveaway ~ Day 9!

On the 9th day of Christmas, my favorite authors gave to me…a chance to win nine books and a $150 Amazon gift card or one-year subscription to Audible!

Join twelve authors (myself included!) as we celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway. 

Today is stop #9 on the blog tour and look at all these amazing books we're giving away.

The prizes are building, and today’s winner will receive my recent release, The Victorian Christmas Brides Collection, with my story A Christmas Promise.

As well as ALL of the following:

An advanced copy of The Secrets of Paper and Ink by Lindsay Harrel

The Sky Above Us by Sarah Sundin

Where the Fire Falls by Karen Barnett

My Heart Belongs in Fort Bliss, Texas by Erica Vetsch

A Sparkle of Silver by Liz Johnson

Cold Case Christmas by Jessica R. Patch

Wyoming Christmas Quadruplets by Jill Kemerer

Christmas with the Cowboy + jingle bell necklace by Tina Radcliffe

It’s not too late to enter in the Rafflecopter giveaway below by following some of your favorite authors on social media and signing up for their newsletters. We draw a new winner every day, and on December 12th, we’ll give away a $150 Amazon Gift Card OR a 1-Year Audible Gold Subscription (winner’s choice) in addition to all the other great prizes! You can also get an extra entry every day by tweeting about the giveaway.

Merry Christmas and good luck!

Don’t forget to stop by Sara Ella's blog tomorrow to see what else will be up for grabs this week!

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On the Fourth Day of Christmas...

🎜🎜On the fourth day of Christmas, my favorite author gave to me...

A copy of A Family Arrangement...that has a tree...on the cover...🎜🎜

I'm definitely not a singer, or a lyricist. Thankfully you don't have to listen to us sing to enter this amazing Christmas giveaway! Join me and nine other authors as we celebrate Christmas with the 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway! We're giving away 78 prizes to 12 winners--and one of them could be you!

Here’s how it works:

We’ll randomly select a winner every day for the first twelve days of December. Each day the prize builds with another book or book-related goody.

On the first day of Christmas your authors gave to you...

Hazardous Holiday, by Liz Johnson

On the second day of Christmas, your authors gave to you...

An audiobook of Watercolor Dreams by Sherry Kyle

On the third day of Christmas, your authors gave to you...

Concealed Identity, by Jessica R. Patch

On the fourth day of Christmas, your authors gave to you...

A Family Arrangement, by Gabrielle Meyer

Abram Cooper has ten months to turn rough Minnesota country into a vibrant town, or his sister-in-law will take his three sons back to Iowa with his blessing. Until then, Charlotte Lee has agreed to keep house and help raise his children as part of their bargain. But can the single father fulfill Charlotte's requirements in time to make sure that she and his boys don't leave—and take his heart with them?

Charlotte is convinced that the wilderness is no place to raise her nephews. But as she watches the community slowly develop, she sees that Abram just might be able to make it blossom. With three little matchmakers bringing her and Abram together, Little Falls could become not just a flourishing town, but the perfect home for their patchwork family.

🎄🎄🎄🎄

Enter the Rafflecopter below by following some of your favorite authors on social media and signing up for their newsletters. Every entry carries over–so the sooner you enter, the more chances you have to win. So check back every day until the 12th of December to try and win one of the many awesome prizes.

On Monday, December 5th be sure to visit Author Erica Vetsch to see what she'll add to the prize for the fifth day of Christmas!

My questions for you: Do you have your Christmas tree up? Is it real or artificial? Do you have any fun traditions focusing on your tree?

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Christmas Break

The past three months have been very relaxing for me. Since going to the ACFW Conference in Indianapolis in September, I've become very intentional about my time. August and September were very stressful months as I prepared for (and attended) the conference--and I knew after that I had to take a breather.

My husband's job is seasonal. He owns his own landscaping company, so he's busy from May to the end of November. I try not to write in those months, because of our busy schedule, but sometimes I have to sneak in some work--which is what happened in August and September for the conference.

Not only was I busy with writing related responsibilities, but I also had family obligations that demanded extra attention. So I geared up for those months as best as I could, but I didn't realize what kind of a toll they would take on my physical health.

It became clear to me by the beginning of October that I needed a break...so that's what I've done. I met my writing deadlines and then I slowed down.

Sadly, my blog has taken a hit because of this. I've heard from many people that they miss my regular blog postings, and I apologize, but it's been for the best. I've been using these months to catch up on work at home, relax with my family, and brainstorm my next story (which I plan to start in January after the holidays). Dave just finished his work at the end of November, so he's home more and it's been a big help.

I plan to use the months of January through May as my writing months (because Dave will be home). I did this last year and it worked very well. I also plan to come back to my blog with renewed ideas and content in January. I want to make my blog a worthwhile place for my readers to stop and spend some time. It's become very important to me that I use my time, energy, and resources to the best of my ability--not only for my own sake, but also for anyone who takes the time to read my words.

So, from now until the beginning of January, I will not be posting on my blog. I will be preparing for Christmas and spending time with my family as we worship the King of Kings.

My prayer for the remainder of 2013 and into 2014 is that you and I would meet Jesus in a whole new way. As we're intentional about our time, our energy, and our resources, I pray that He can use each and every one of us to spread the life-changing news of His salvation throughout the world--which is the most magnificent gift ever given.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I look forward to seeing you all back here in January!
-Gabrielle

A Different Kind of Gift for Christmas



My daughter busting a move with
my husband at a family wedding.
She's a gifted dancer!

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights..." James 1:17

I have three siblings and all of us are married with children. When we get together for Christmas there are twenty-one people just in our immediate little circle. A few years ago we decided to stop buying gifts for one another, instead we spend Christmas visiting, playing games and watching the grandchildren perform their annual Nativity Play.

In lieu of material gifts this year, I suggested we do something a little different. Instead of buying something from the store, I thought it would be fun to share the gift that God has given us.

I firmly believe that God has placed inside each of us special talents, skills and abilities that we're supposed to share with the world.

My husband is an amazing singer. It's so much fun to listen to him sing praise and worship in church. But, it's even more fulfilling when others come up and tell him how much his singing blesses them.

My sister is gifted in designing. It can be a room or a wardrobe. She's always the first person I call when I'm picking out wall colors or trying to put together the perfect outfit.

My mom is gifted in encouraging and propelling people to action. It's no wonder that she's serving in her second term as mayor of our town.

My dad is gifted in spacial concepts. He has built four of my parents' homes (while maintaining a day job that has nothing to do with building) and the way he can take lines on a blueprint and make it into a structure astounds me.

I realize my family can't share some of these gifts in my parents' living room, but thankfully God doesn't stop with one gift. There are so many to choose from.

My oldest daughter loves to tell jokes, so she's been practicing her best jokes for Christmas Eve. My second daughter loves to dance, so she and a cousin have been choreographing a dance for us and another cousin will sing the song they're dancing to. My brother-in-law has a top-secret gift he's planning on sharing, but none of us know what it is!

As for me, I haven't quite figured out what gift I'll share. I have a few ideas in the back of my head, but I think I'll also keep it a secret until Christmas Eve.

It's so much fun watching the grandchildren, who range in age from nine months to eleven years old, get more excited for this talent show than anything else this Christmas Season. But the best part is knowing we'll make memories together that will far outlast any toy we could ever give.

What about you? Do you have any unique ideas for Christmas this year? What is your favorite memory from a childhood Christmas?

Our Favorite Christmas Tradition

I've said it before, but I'll say it again, I'm married to Mr. Christmas. He loves all aspects of this holiday season and, according to his mom, he's been that way since he was a little boy.

The first Christmas after we started dating we were just seventeen and I wasn't sure what to get him for a present, so when I found this cute little Santa Claus ornament I knew it was perfect for him. He loved it.

The following Christmas we went on a school trip to London and I came across this Santa Claus.

As we walked the streets of London, with this tin Santa in my backpack, a tradition was birthed - one that has lasted more than fourteen years. We decided that wherever we go we will find a Santa Claus ornament to remember the trip and add to our tree.

Since then we've bought many fun Santas and we try to find ones that represent the place we're visiting. Sometimes the best memories come from the hunt for the ornament - and then discovering a perfect one. Here are just a few.

This beautiful blown glass Santa
is one of my favorite. It came from
New York City in 2000 and sits
at the WAYYYYY top of the tree
where my little people can't reach!
It's actually the second one. The original
fell out of my bag in Central Park
and David went all the way back
to the store for a second one.



This Santa came from Decorah,
Iowa in 2000 and reminded us of
the strong Norwegian influence
in the city and region

   

A rodeo Santa from one of our many
trips to Colorado to visit my sister

  

From Washington, D.C. in 2001



From a Caribbean Cruise in 2006

  

This Santa is made out of sea shells
from Barbados in 2004



Sometimes we've gone to places that don't have Santas and so we've become creative. That was how this Santa came to be on our tree.

I carved it from a piece of pine that we  found when we went to Quetico Provincial Park on a camping trip in 2000. I colored his hat and cheeks with berries. For 13 years I've wanted to take a wood carving class, but I haven't had time!

Over the years we've been blessed to travel to many fun places, but we aren't always successful in finding a Santa, so we've bought other ornaments, instead.


This is an acorn from The Breakers
Mansion in Newport, RI in 2006.
The Breakers is decorated with
acorns because they represent
good luck & prosperity

Other times Dave or I have gone on a trip alone, but even if we're not together we still buy a Santa or an ornament that represents the place.



Dave bought this charming doll
during a mission trip to Burkina
Faso, Africa in 2008 and we turned
it into an ornament

I think you can guess where
this one came from! My trip
to Paris in 2009.

Every year, as we decorate the tree, we reminisce about the places we have gone and the things we have done - and dream about where we will go next.

What about you? What is your favorite Christmas tradition? Do you collect ornaments from the places you travel? 

Christmas Preparations

I can't believe we're less than two weeks away from Christmas!

A few nights ago we had a big snow storm, with about ten inches of snow, so we're ready to celebrate the holidays in style. We plan to go sledding this weekend, bake cookies and deliver them to neighbors next week, and wrap all the fun presents we've bought or made for friends and family.

We've already had fun preparing for Christmas in many different ways, including decorating our Christmas Tree, as well as my parents' and Dave's parents' trees. My children are pros at hanging decorations!

Here are a few pictures of us preparing for Christmas...



We've already made three batches of Monster Cookies
with many more to come!

 

We've gone out and picked the perfect tree



Watched some of our favorite Christmas movies
(popcorn included!)



And marveled at the wonder of Christmas...

In what ways have you prepared for Christmas? What do you plan to do in the next two weeks?

Friday Fun: Decorating the Tree

Happy Friday! December is flying by in the blink of an eye. Less than three weeks to Christmas and four weeks until the new year!

I'm married to Mr. Christmas. David's birthday is on the 27th and he's always felt a fondness for sharing his birthday with this holiday. He loves to decorate, watch Christmas movies, make cookies and generally listen to Christmas music every chance he can. He always sings during the Christmas Eve service at church - which is one of my favorite moments of the season.

The past few Christmases have been a little hectic for us because of the twins being so little, but this year has been a lot different. They are finally leaving the tree alone (sort of) and they are noticing little bits of Christmas here and there as we drive through town, go shopping, watch Christmas movies, etc. The girls are enjoying the fact that none of their ornaments have been broken this year!

We decorated the tree on Sunday evening and I thought I'd share a couple of pictures of what it looks like to decorate the tree in our house.

Next Friday I plan to share one of our traditions with you - it's one of my favorite things, no matter what time of year it is.



Daddy took a break and demonstrated juggling
(these are plastic ball ornaments!)



My oldest holding the beads



He's trying to juggle like Daddy - he always sticks
his tongue out when he's concentrating

 

She had high hopes to juggle six at a time!




Helping Daddy string lights (notice Dave's pajama
bottoms are Christmas lights...)

Sad that he couldn't do it by himself

My oldest wanted to take a picture of me

Our oldest hanging the first ornament

What about you? Have you decorated a tree this year?