2nd Day of Christmas Giveaway with Lisa Whittle
Published December 2, 2010Welcome to the 2nd Day of Christmas Giveaway!!
Each day, December 1-12th, I am featuring a fellow Proverbs 31 sister and an aspect of Christmas. You’ll get to know her and she, in turn, will offer a fabulous giveaway! Simply leave a comment on her post to be entered in the drawing.
And, one soon-to-be-very-giddy gal who comments on all 12 posts will win the GRAND PRIZE! You may comment on all posts until Monday, December 13th when the winners will be announced. (to see the grand prize and get caught up on the posts click here)
Now, for day two….here is Lisa Whittle!!
Lisa Whittle is an author, communicator, and ministry leader who lives in North Carolina. A former pastor’s daughter, Lisa has a passion for speaking bold truth to the church. Her books include: The 7 Hardest Things God Asks A Woman to Do (2006), and Behind Those Eyes: What’s Really Going on Inside the Souls of Women (2008).
Lisa’s highly anticipated first solo female-authored Barna book will include new research on women in the church and will release in May 2011. (And as I type, she is recording at Family Life Today on the topic of her first book!)
Lisa coordinates the P31 She Seeks Ministry to 20-somethings, contributes to various publications, and travels with a message of authentic faith, driven to represent Jesus well. Her family is her greatest love, outside of Him.
Lisa’s other loves include: cool photography, people who can make her laugh, and salt and vinegar chips. She has an addiction to cute shoes and The Food Network. To read other interesting things about Lisa, check out her site at www.lisawhittle.com.
My most memorable Christmas:
The Whittle Family 
One Christmas, my husband and children and I all sat by the tree and with candles lighting the room, we each chose our favorite ornament and talked about why it was our favorite.
My middle son was only about 7 at the time, and there were many favorite ornaments I imagined him choosing: his cool Power Ranger one…the funny Scooby Doo one his grandmother had gotten him…or the crazy-looking reindeer one he’d made in class. But when it came time for him to share, he walked over to the tree and thoughtfully made his selection.
He held out his hand to expose his favorite ornament: a rugged looking cross with the words etched across the top, very simply: JESUS. As he looked up, his eyes were filled with tears and his lip quivered, but he had no words. None were needed, as the reason for his selection was clear to all of us: just months before he had made a decision to accept Christ into his heart, and his ornament choice reflected the gratitude he had for his newly personal Savior.
I’ll never forget the importance of that moment or his decision. It was a Christmas memory I’ll forever hold in my heart, and it reminded me of why it’s so crucial to make Jesus the center of our home.
Now for Lisa’s giveaway. She says:
I think I’ve got a great one! I’m giving away BOTH of my books plus an adorable lunch tote in a beautiful green and cream and chocolate brown. It includes a container with a lid (in a separate bottom compartment), 3 divider inserts, and is made of lead-free, vinyl-free fabric and is water-resistant. It insulates hot and cold food for up to 4 hours and would be PERFECT to monogram for a gift or for yourself.
Okay ladies…to be entered to win Lisa’s prize tell us your most memorable Christmas, or simply say “I’m in!”. And if you haven’t commented on all the days so far, click around and get caught up. You may just win the Grand Prize!!!
Memory-making Blessings,
244 Responses to 2nd Day of Christmas Giveaway with Lisa Whittle
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My Family
I have a few memorable Christmases. Several years ago my dad told me that my maternal grandmother bought most of the gifts for my two sisters and me because my parents couldn’t afford them. I think to know that she did that for us so we’d have gifts to open as kids makes each of those Christmases special. One Christmas that I remember that was also very special was in 1988. For a few years before 1988 I had been asking my grandmother for a particular doll. This was my paternal grandmother. In September 1988 she died. On Christmas that year my aunt gave me a gift that said it was from my grandmother and it was the doll. I still miss my grandmother and always will.
I’m in! My most memorable Christmas has sad associations, so I won’t share it here: otherwise, they all seem to be awesome times with family and friends! Possibly one of the most memorable was when, as a lonely young volunteer in Kenya, I was taken in and ‘adopted’ by an extended family who gave me some Christmas traditions which we still follow. And I’m still in close touch with them, 30 years later!
My most memorable Christmas was when we all gathered in my grandparents home as families. my mum had 5 siblings and for all of us to gather together was great. We just enjoyed being together from different parts of the country. i wish i could give the same memory to my children someday!
The year my daughter was born was so special. She was born on December 19 and we were able to be home for Christmas. I didn’t need presents or anything else ~ it was wonderful to just have our family together. It reminded me of how Mary must have felt wih her new little baby boy ~ JESUS!
I think this year might be our most memorable Christmas. Our daughter is away at college yet close by (1.5 hrs away). Our son moved to VA in August to begin his career as a teacher. While he was home for Thanksgiving for the first time since moving, we sent him back to his apartment with a 4 foot pre-lit Christmas tree and a small baggie of his favorite childhood ornaments.
I started my new job yesterday.
This year will be filled with new traditions and new memories when we all come back together for Christmas. It will be different yet still filled with the blessings and celebrating of Jesus’ birth.
I have many wonderful Christmas memories. One is a childhood memory of all my friends in the neighborhood and their moms all went on Christmas Eve to a beautiful old stone country church for their candlelight service that ended each year with lit candles and silent night and many tears. It was tradition.
Also, I remember our first Christmas with our son having just been adopted from Guatemala and so many gifts under the tree so many had brought gifts to him and he was wearing a candy can striped onesie and matching hat and in one photo you can hardly see him he was 7 mos old. It was like “where’s Waldo” so darn adorable. Our God is an awesome God!
I’m in…
One of my most memorable Christmas memories is when I was a child. My two sisters and I had woke up, opened presents and really thought everything was over. However, my mom walks into the kitchens, gasps with a little scream. We all walk in there and there was a bike for each of kids! For some reason, that was so exciting to me!
I have a picture of my nine month old baby in a santa outfit as a momento of my first Christmas as a Mom. The picture is precious and brings back all the warm membories of that time in our family.
i’m in!
My most memorable Christmas was probably 3 Christmases ago when I was a day overdue with our fourth child. We had all expected our little one to be there for the big day but he held on tightly until I was induced 4 days later. It was a great Christmas though, anticipating the birth, my momma being there (expecting to be helping with a baby and helping take down decorations, instead). I have a new appreciation for Mary traveling, etc. very pregnant! God really is so good!
There were not many great memories with my Dad. One good one is it was later in the day and all the gifts had been unwrapped and played with. (so we thought) My Dad came out with 2 more wrapped gifts for my brother and me. They were big boxes of legos. It was just so fun to have one more gift and we got busy building!
Wow…my most memorable Christmas? Hard to pick just one. I’d have to say each one is memorable in its own way. The last five because we’ve had children have been different than all the ones before…and so far the best
Christmas is all about memories and each Christmas is unique. Presents never matter anymore to me, but the presences of my family to share them with. Jesus the reason for the season!!!
My most memorable Christmas was last year, when I received a very special gift from an unexpected person. The gift helped me realize the love they have for me.
I’m in! I love Christmas and have so many memories. Now that I have children Christmas time has become even more special watching their excitement!
My most memorable Christmas would be the year my oldest son was born. He was born December 15 and we had him home by Christmas. He was the best present that year. This year will also be different and memorable since this same son is a missionary in Slovakia for a year. What is really amazing is that he has a great network of Slovak friends and many of them want to invite him over at Christmas. So even though he’s not with us this year (though we will talk to him on Skype), he will have a family to spend Christmas with.
My most memorable Christmas was in 8th grade when my parents surprised my sister and I with a piano.
I’m in!
I’m in!
I’m in! I have many Christmas memories, when I think of them they always bring a smile to my face!
I’m in
My most memorable Christmas, I was maybe in 5th grade, my mom and dad had yet seperated for the impending divorce. We lived in a very nice big house, we were not wanting for much. And that year, my dad, who was usually not a happy man had invited all my relatives from both sides. We had both sets of grandparents, aunts and uncles…if was glorious! I just can remember how happy I was at that moment in time. How the twinkling of the lights on the tree and the smell in the kitchen from the cooking that was being done by the women that I adored and that adored me, just warmed my soul.
Was a blessed day that was!
I’m in!!! And I love the story about Lisa’s son!!!
Christmas memories are the best, each one special in its own. I love Christmas!. I’m in.
The one thing that is memorable to me at Christmas is while we lived in Somerton (my dad was a preacher and we moved), we would have to wait on the steps before we could go down and see what santa brought. Sitting on the steps was such a wonderful thing and the anticipation was great. Santa only brought one thing for us and everything else was from mom and dad. Even though there was never a lot, we had love and we always put Christ and His story before anything else. I remember sitting and listening to the story of His birth and mom always had homemade cinnamon rolls too!! What a great memory!!!
I’m in. So many memories to have 1 favorite one in there…
Christmas during my early years was always filled with family. I treasure the memories of my Grandparents, Great Grandparents, distant Aunts and Uncles, Cousins, and of course, sisters, mom and dad gathered around the dining room table awaiting the delicious meal that took hours to prepare! Always filled with excitement and anticipation, filled with love and laughter. Still warms my heart today!
My dd was born 1 week before the second Christmas of our marriage. It was so special to be pregnant during that advent season, and to rock my own sweet baby on Christmas morning.
It’ll probably be this year. I’m having my gallbladder removed 3 days before Christmas.
My most memorable Christmas was the year my son was born. He was born on Dec. 14 – five weeks early. We were first time parents and were very scared, but we were so thankful that he was healthy. I will never forget how awesome all of our family and friends were…they helped us in so many ways, because we were not exactly prepared for his birth. To this day I can remember so many details of that time…it will be a Christmas I will never forget!
My most memorable Christmas was in 1979…the year my husband and I got married. Our wedding was a few days after Christmas, but the anticipation on that Christmas was palpable!! Still ranks highest with me 31 years later!
My most memorable Christmas was probably Christmas 2006. It had just moved from
Kansas to Colorado and into our apartment only days before. A big snow storm had hit Colorado earlier that week that shut the highways down so I was afraid I would be missing our first Christmas together. The roads opened a few days before Christmas I arrived into our new place we would call home. Christmas Eve we were surrounded by boxes half unpacked and sat there on the couch together talking about life, love and the next day we would be spending with our families. We exchanged gifts and mine was a heart pendant necklace which I still adore! The next day we spent the morning and lunch time with his family – where his mother gave me a gift while her and I were alone. She pulled me aside and gave me little box tied with a bow and said, “God has been pushing me to give you this message”. I opened the box and read the small message written on the small decorative paper and- I understood it entirely, they were words that I was waiting to hear, needing to hear. I have the small note in my box of important documents and things. That evening we spent Christmas with my family, where my grandma gave us our first christmas tree since we didn’t have one in our apartment that year – all predecorated and stood maybe a foot tall. We received other funny gifts for our new place together. Overall, I think so far that was my most memorable Christmas. This one will be different that the last 4 years as we live in another state, but at least we have some family here to celebrate with!
I remember the Christmas that I made my father-in-law a loaf of braided bread for Christmas. We hadn’t been married long and I saw a recipe for Viennese Streitzel in a cookbook. He was born in Austria. The bread turned out wonderful and was very pretty. I gave it to him Christmas Eve. As he opened it, his eyes filled with tears….I was so afraid I had done something wrong. Then he told us that some years when they lived in Austia that his Mom would make them all a loaf of this bread as their Christmas gift as that was all they could afford. To make sure that none of his sisters would sneak his…..they had their own……he would lick his loaf all over…LOL. It was such a touching moment and a God led gift from my heart…I had heard little of his growing up years. Since that time I make him one for his birthday, Father’s Day and Christmas. His Mom passed away before I ever got to meet her but she was a big part of my husbands life and a Godly inspiration to him. Thank you for reminding me of this sweet moment and for the chance to win.
Brenda S
I’m in….I just love the time spent with family at Christmas.
My most memorable Christmas was probably last year. It was a hard year for us financially so I wasn’t sure how Christmas morning would be for my girls. My husband was working as a maintenance guy at an apartment complex at the time. Him and his other co-worker were cleaning out an apartment where people had moved out and left a bunch of stuff. An xbox was left and the other co-worker already had one so he told my husband to take it. It worked perfect without a scratch on it. It also had a game left in it. It was a free gift from God that my girls loved Christmas morning. We also got a free brand new piano keyboard because we had to redeem our skymiles before we lost them, so we could trade them in for merchandise. My girls loved that too! It ended up being probably the best Christmas morning that my girls have had and it was all blessings from God!!
My most memorable Christmas involved a present from my parents. After my grandparents died they left my parents some inheritance money. My parents chose to give it to us. We were in the middle of adopting two little girls from Russia at the time. We needed money to cover the large expense of adoption. It was such a meaningful gift because it included my grandparents in the next generation of life in our family. I will never forget opening that present.
I’ve been blessed with so many special Christmases but one of the most memorable was two years ago. I was 6 months pregnant with my first child and really starting to feel her move. I remember thinking of Mary and how she must have felt, carrying the most precious baby. How she must have smiled when He kicked, how she must have felt so full of love she could burst. And then I thought about what a painful time she would have to endure when He chose the best path and gave His life for us all…even her. And how God must have felt, watching his only Son save the world by giving His life. Just having that little life inside of me, moving around, made it so much more real the sacrifice God made when He gave His Son for me. It is totally astonishing…to realize I’m THAT loved.
My most memorable Christmas has been my childhood ones. Since becoming an adult, it has not been easy. It’s always one thing or the other, and I have never seemed to enjoy the holidays and wish that it would end as soon as possible. I am reaching that point now where I am thinking about the reason for the season and not about what I don’t have but about how my Saviour came and died so that I can have life and have it more abundantly. I am grateful to God for all He has done.
I just love Christmas memories! They each seem to hold a special place in my heart – but one of my favorites was the Christams my second daughter was born. It was such a simple year – mostly b/c I was recovering from a C-Section, but there was something so special about NOT being able to do much except snuggle my new precious bundle – it allowed our family lots of time to reflect on what the first Christmas must’ve been like.
Every Christmas holds something special! I’m in!
I don’t know if it would be my most memorable one but last year I had a student and a great family in my co-op. They were broke, broke, broke and God put it on my heart to call the mom and see what the kids would want for Christmas. I was so glad she said yes to my desire to help, it was all done anonymously and I really learned that in giving we really do receive. PS I only found out their financial situation because another parent paid their tuition for the second semester, I was not to tell them who paid it. See, we really get the ball rolling when each of us responds to the spirit whispering in our hearts!
All of my Christmas memories are special. I guess I will always have a special place in my memories for our traditions of Christmas day growing up. We started at our house seeing what Santa brought for us and then went down two blocks to my grandparents house for presents and lunch and finished the day one block down at my aunt’s house for dinner with my father’s side of the family-nine brothers and sisters and their families!
Some of my Christmas memories are not exactly warm and fuzzy ones. Some are so full of gratitude and blessings experienced. I’m grateful for this Christmas where we can celebrate Jesus and have all of my family together.
When I was 20 years old I moved from New Mexico to Georgia and wasn’t able to go home for Christmas. My Mom (being a Mom) was worried I wouldn’t spend money for a Christmas tree, so she had one shipped to me via Fed Ex. That was over 21 years ago. I don’t have my Mom this Christmas, she is with Jesus, but I still have that tree and it will be put up in my house this year as it has been every year.
My most memorable Christmas’s are the ones when I was a child and my family would gather at my grandparents house for Christmas Eve. My gramma would make tamales and her side of the family would pop in a quick visit but when they were all done visiting thats when our family (aunts & uncles) would gather together. We’d sing Christmas carols and then open our gifts. But singing Christmas carols was the best part. All the old Christmas songs that talk about the birth of Jesus.
Our family of 8 has made a lot of great memories…but to tell you the truth, I think we have yet to make our most memorable one. The kids are growing up and God is really maturing them. We are excited for what God has planned.
Just this year, we asked our kids to purchase or make something for each of their siblings and are helping them in that process. It’s been fun to see their focus change.
I’m in
I don’t know yet, but I think this might be our last Christmas to spend the actual days of Christmas with our extended families, as we are moving SEVERAL hours away. I think this might be the most memorable, and bittersweet… but we look forward to starting our own traditions:)
I’m in! I’d love to win these two books. Thanks for bringing my attention to a “new to me” author!
I’m in! Christmas time is my favorite time of the year. Many great memories. Every year I purchased an ornament for my 2 kids & myself. It may be from someplace we traveled that year or maybe a sport they participated in that year, or just a fun ornament. Somewhere on the ornament I put the year they received it. Now they have their own ornaments from every year of their life.
I love Christmas! Lisa’s ornament memory brought tears to my eyes—the kids have got it right!
My favorite memories are from when I was much younger, when the whole family oth sides) would gather together to eat adn open gifts. My favorite part, looking back, is everyone’s reaction to gifts they received. The joy of the day was catching! And still is every year.
Looking forward to reading about more memories!
I’m in.
I am in …
I’m in.
Such a touching story…Just remembering any Christmas morning when I have had children in the house is special. I love Christmas and having quiet time to thank my Savior for the gift He gave to me…but I also love seeing Christmas with my kids / grandkids…
I’m in too!
What a sweet memory! My most memorable Christmas was 1994 – I became a wife 2 days before Christmas and my dear husband and I were in a hotel room thinking it was so weird to NOT be with our families during the holidays. His mom had packed a tiny Christmas tree in our luggage, and the hotel upgraded our room.
My most memorable Christmas was definitely not my favorite Christmas, but one of the most meaningful. My mother had just passed away a few days before Christmas. My dad, children and I sat around my sparsley decorated tree wondering how we were going to make it through the holiday – everything seemed so different. We decided to read about the birth of Jesus. Suddenly, out view of the day brightened. We realized it was all about Jesus and not about us or even the pain we were feeling. We began a new tradition of reading the Christmas story before any kind of celebration. It has provided precious memories for the past 10 years.
My most memorable Christmas was 1986. My daughter had just been born 10 days prior and I spent the entire day just holding her. It was a poignant reminder of the sacrifice Mary made for all of us. She didn’t know at the time her baby boy was going to the cross but she did know He was born to redeem us. She had much to ponder and so do we.
Our most memorable Christmas was in 2006. Our youngest was born Dec 19th. My MIL stayed with us til Christmas Eve, then we were on our own. I just remember cocooning with my family of five, slowly opening gifts, puttering in the kitchen, snuggling our sweet baby boy. Instead of the usual go go go of the holidays surrounded by people, it was so special to have just my husband and kids around. No pressure, no hurry, just time to savor.
Great info here – and I’m in on the drawing, thanks!
Lisa’s story is awesome! It brought tears to my eyes. What a beautiful memory. I have two daughters who are now 13 and 5. Every year I let them pick out an ornament to put on the tree. When they each grow up, move out and have their own Christmas tree, I will present them with all the ornaments that they picked out over the years.
P.S. That is the CUTEST lunch bag ever!
Enjoying so much while reading about all Proverbs 31 gals! I am definitely in today, too!
I will always treasure special holiday times spent with family and friends.
And of course, the Christmas in 1993 when my now husband “officially” proposed after breakfast with the family!
Hang in there, single girlfriends! I was only 30!! … (and had just met him prior to leaving for the mission teaching field in Hong Kong for over a year – had to come home for God’s man for me!)
Awesome giveaway! One of my favorite memories is from my childhood when the whole gang went caroling and then came back home for fellowship, cocoa, and cookies. We kids stayed up late playing games and having a blast.
Tonight is the final dress rehearsal of a musical that I am producing, and today my five year old woke up sick. It’s also my birthday, and tomorrow is my five year old turns six. Needless to say, we are not ‘celebrating’ my birthday this year. I am so busy that I should just say “I’m in” and leave it at that. But I want to share my favorite Christmas memory – the year that our car broke down irrepairably on the espressway just as we came to an exit for a truck stop. We were on my way to visit my husband’s family across state. We did not make it there, nor did we make it home. It was a bad snowstorm also. We ended up “celebrating” Christmas at the truck stop. Our three girls never once complained at all; I was very grateful that the Lord provided shelter for us at the truck stop; and we dined on their special turkey dinner for only $6 a person. We sat around the table and sang songs, and received many words of thanks from the truckers who were on the road – that they were able to have a little piece of a family Christmas with us that day.
One of my most memorable Christmases was when I was 8. My daddy had died of cancer on the 15th, and everything was looking bleak for a happy Christmas. My brother and I woke up on Christmas morning to find gifts…gifts that our Daddy had picked out and bought for us while he was still feeling well enough to drive to town months before! What special gifts!
Thanks for the chance to win a fantastic giveaway!!
My most memorable Christmas was when my husband and I were dating, and things were serious, and we were talking marriage. out of nowhere, he pulls out this little black box, (and the whole room got quiet, since my parents and brother were present), but lo and behold, it was a pair of earrings, not a ring! What a stinker! He wanted to be ornery! That is etched in my mind as the most memorable!
My favorite Christmas memory is the tradition we have of our families “Lighting Ceremony.” My husband puts up the Christmas lights up on the house and then that night we all gather in the drive way and one of the kids gets to push the button to turn the lights on … A three year olds excitement about lights for Jesus’ Birthday is pretty special
Lisa’s story was beautiful. I love to hear aobut families who make it a priority to keep Christ in Christmas. That’s what it’s about.
My most memorable Christmas was about 10 years ago when my daughter was 15 and my son 10. We wanted to find a way to keep the focus on Christ at Christmastime so we decided to take time at dinner every night the week prior to Christmas, light a candle and each of us say what we had to be thankful for that year, what we could do to bless someone else, finding a way to glorify God in our lives that day, What kind of gift could we give that would be a gift to Christ… ect. Jesus is the reason for the season!!!!!
Gotta stop reading these at work – no one wants to see my mascara run. What a wonderful story!
I’m in! I love Christmas because it is Jesus’ birthday! My favorite Christmas memory is every Christmas before any gift is opened my dad reads the Christmas story from Luke 2 to us all – he still does that even to this day and is now creating that memory for his grandkids!! I love the legacy he has given us!
I’m in! my favorite christmas memory is baking and decorating a ginger bread train with my older brother David. He is the best older brother a little (and older) sister could have
Merry christmas!!
I’m in! Christmas for me, while a joyous time, it is also a hectic time. When I think back to my happiest Christmases I think back to before I turned 8, when my family was whole, holidays were simpler. As it is now, my husband and I both come from divorced families. So not only are there 4 different houses to go to, we also have several grandparents that like to do Christmas celebrations as well. I don’t want it to sound like I’m complaining, I love our families and their wanting to see each other on the holidays, I simply long for the simpler holidays from time to time.
I’m in!
Im In!
What a blessing you all are to so many!!!
I have many memorable Christmas’s one is my first Christmas with my husband, then the first Christmas that we had as parents with our son.
Christmas with children as they are little is always a delight. But, Christmas traditions always warm our hearts. Our family’s relatives live in other states so usually it’s just the three of us, but we have so much joy getting with friends. Mostly our tradition of going to church on Christmas Eve and celebrating Jesus’ birth with Carols, Candles, and Communion is always the highlight of our Christmastime and then we gather under the three and read Luke’s version of our Savior’s birth, open one gift and reflect on our many blessings of the year. Music and laughter is a must.
After Christmas we always have a wonderfully fun reunion with friends from different states from a church we all use to belong to, kids are still at the age they come along as well (early 20s). This is a fabulous time of connecting, laughing, finding out what is going on in each other’s lives. One year we rented a dodgeball facility where the kids and adults were evenly divided. We had so much fun and I never heard so much groaning from 40 year olds jumping and dodging a ball and moving muscles not apparently utilized very often. Now that was a fun memory!
My most memorable Christmas was my first one as a mom. My son was 7 months old, being a new mom I was learning about mothering and about this new person in our lives. And he was the first grandchild. I remember his chunky body in my lap as we gave him gifts to open, which he didn’t get. But I remember mostly how he’d hold tightly to the opened gift and we’d have to pry it out of his hand for the next gift. Wouldn’t it be great to have that mindset to be content with the first thing we’re given, so content it would be the only thing we’d want? And not expect more.
What a sweet Christmas memory for Lisa!
I have to say that my best Christmas memory was when my husband proposed to me… He had written a poem and read it to me, then went down on bended knee with a beautiful ring that he selected on his own.
Another special part of the story was when he bought the ring….His mother had passed away when he was only 9 years old, so he obviously was not able to share his excitement or his plan to propose with her. But, there was a special laby in our in our church who was his spiritual mother (she prayed with him after VBS when he was a boy). To his surprise, after buying the ring (which he told no one about), he went through the doors at the jewelry shop to find that she was coming into the shop with her husband. He happily shared his plans and she gave him a big hug, along with words of encouragement. I know the Lord placed her there just at the right moment.
I’m in!
I’m in
I have many, but the most recent was 2 years ago. My husband’s father had gone missing. He left the nursing home with nothing and never came back. He was missing for 10 months. When others were giving up hope, I didn’t. I just knew that God had him in his hand, protected. I still believed that he was alive. As it drew closer to the holidays I began to have this strong feeling in my spirit. I was urged to pray and confess that dad was alive> I had this feeling he was going to be found soon. So I began to pray for my husband and all of the children. So 5 days before Christmas I met with my pastor and refreshed his memory about the situation and told him “I just know that he is alive and that he is going to be found before Christmas.” Never had I had such a strong feeling about something. 3 hours after my meeting with Pastor and his wife, my husband walked in the door and said guess who called me today?! I said who. He proceeded to tell me that his brother called him because Dad was in the area and had made his way from Ohio to South Carolina without a vehicle, id, money, clothes, nothing. He went to his daughter in laws home and there he was found! I fell to my knees in tears. I called pastor immediately and said…”I told you dad was coming home” That was the best Christmas and also the biggest miracle I had ever experienced.
I’m in.
What a precious memory Lisa shared!
I would have to say that the 1st Christmas after accepting Christ as my Savior was the absolute best too!
I didn’t accept the Lord until I was 29 years old; gives you a totally different perspective about the CHRISTmas season when you actually know the CHRIST & have a personal relationship with Him!
It really is ALL about Jesus!!!
I’m in!
Im in too! Always buy ornaments for the grands so when they have trees of their own they will remember Granna and Papa!! I put the date on the bottom to keep track!
I love what Lisa shared as her most memorable Christmas. That brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for sharing!
My most memorable Christmas is the first one after I had become a believer as a young adult. Our families did next-to-nothing to honor Christ in our celebrations. The Lord laid it on my heart to write out the Christmas story from Scripture on cards for everyone to read. Most of my family is unsaved, so I was thrilled they all participated. My hope is that seeds were planted…
I don’t have a particular memorable Christmas, but childhood Christmases were all magical. Another great giveaway!
Judy
My most memorable Christmas happened just last year. My son got up at about 4 in the morning which has been his habit since he’s been sleeping in a big boy bed. I told him it was too early and to go back to sleep for a little while. A little while later I heard noise and I thought to myself “Did he get up anyway and open those presents?” Well, boy was I surprised. I went down the hall and there was my 12 year old daughter in her brothers room playing a board game with him to keep him busy till we gave the ok to open presents. It was a sweet moment, I’ll never forget.
Josey
Every year we decorate the tree together as a family. What a great tradition sharing a favorite ornament. My favorites are the homemade ones, some are over 24 yrs old! Hand prints from my now 25yr ols to the Smores snowman from just a couple of yrs ago. I’m in!
My most memorable Christmas was spent in the hospital with my brother who was then 15 at the time. He pulled though yet another emergency surgery and the “Santa” at the hospital brought him an NFL Jersey from favorite team- I thought it was a little gift straight from God reminding him that he loved him and even though he could not be home for Christmas he blessed him with something special.
I have to say that this year I am praying will begin a long line of memories. We are finally in our home that we built for our disabled daughter..we feel blessed beyond what we deserve. We dedicate our home to Christ, using it to show HIS glory.
Merry Christmas
Tricia
I’m in!
I’m in!
My most memorable was the year my dear friend’s husband left her and their 2 young children with another on the way. She was broke and alone and had no clue what to do for Christmas. I took her children for the day and allowed them each to pick out a few inexpensive {we were both young, I was still single and didn’t have a lot myself} presents for their mommy. Just seeing their eyes light up as they chose gifts for her was the biggest blessing. And she reported back to me that on Christmas morning they didn’t worry about what was under the tree for them, they just wanted her to open the gifts that they had bought for HER; their sweet momma. Best Christmas I ever had I tell ya!!
I remember when things were tough financially growing up…we didn’t have many Christmas decorations nor an entire nativity set…all we had was Baby Jesus…I looked so forward to pulling him out of the box of decorations…I made it my job to place him out on the buffet table. Best childhood gift…homemade Barbie furniture and clothes…the couch and chair had plastic push pins for legs…I wanted the Barbie Dream house but the set of furniture was so unexpected…I loved it!
My favorite memories are with my grandma. She’s in heaven now, but I cherish the memories I have making Christmas cookies and singing carols around the piano at my parents’ house. She filled our house with so much love. I miss her but I know we will see each other again.
My favorite memory is last year, we made all our gifts for our family members. We had more fun putting those gifts together and there was so much Love put into making those gifts than if we would’ve went out and bought them. I love the memories of making cookies on Christmas Eve, going to the candle lit communion every Christmas Eve, doing Advent and watching our oldest daughter light up when she finally discovered the true meaning of Christmas. My oldest daughter (10 yrs old) prayed a few days ago that we’d have a great Christmas. She didn’t pray for presents or anything she needed, just that we’d have a great Christmas. That touched my heart!