Saturday, December 24, 2011

Guest Inspirational Author Roxanne Rustand - Christmas Eve Greetings


Happy holidays to you wherever you are.  I hope you are with family or friends today, and wish for you a wonderful holiday season.  

I know many of you are in warmer climates, and I've always wondered what the holidays would be like with balmy warm weather and bright sunshine, year after year!  My husband and I live out in the country in the Upper Midwest,  on an acreage with our horses, dogs and cats,  and we've usually got snow on the ground by Thanksgiving--sometimes even by Halloween. 

 I adore heavy snowfalls and sitting by the fire with a cup of cocoa and a good novel while a heavy blanket of white builds up on the trees outside.  The silence of it--the incredible beauty--just takes my breath away.  Of course, when it's time to go out to do my horse chores or help clear the driveway and I'm bundled up like a version of the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man (anyone remember the movie Ghost Busters?) then maybe it isn’t quite as fun!

 What are your favorite Christmas memories?  I would so love to hear them!  I guess my own favorite, hands down, was the Christmas Eve when our son Brian was born unexpectedly early.  His brother wasn't quite as excited, though, at finding Christmas and Santa were delayed because of a baby!   Do any of you have Christmas birthdays?   

Christmas Eve can be tough, because you can never have a big party on the actual date, and with the hectic schedule of that day-- with a big late afternoon dinner to prepare, a crowd of relatives coming and going, evening church and then opening Christmas gifts afterwards--making the day truly special for the birthday child isn't easy.  We often celebrated his birthday a week early when he was younger, but still....   

Not long ago, I told Brian that I was sorry that he didn't have a special day all his own, but he said "I have the best birthday I could ever have--because I'll always be with family to celebrate, and that means more than anything."  
 
I feel so blessed, to have my family around me on this holiday, and because another year has passed with all of us in good health.  And I feel so blessed to have had another year of doing the things I love most--enjoying the beautiful countryside on our horses, writing my books, pursuing my dreams. 


During the past thirteen months I had seven books out.  The last one, Duty to Protect, was released a few weeks ago. 
 
My wish for all of you is that your holidays are happy and that you have a wonderful, successful and joyous New Year.

Peace to you all,
Roxanne Rustand
www.roxannerustand.com (The All Creatures Great and Small Blog)

6 comments:

Judith Ashley said...

Roxanne, I love your pictures! and I love a white Christmas. We won't have one this year where I live because our cold weather (highs still in the 30's) morphed last night into warm (expected 50 degrees) weather now. If not snow, at least the crisp cold wintry weather is good. It's really too warm for a fire but I think I'll ignore that - I love watching the fire, hot tea or cocoa, or even egg nog with fresh grated nutmeg in hand.

I've friends and relatives with near Christmas Birthdays but no one on the 24th or 25th. Another awkward birthday is February 29th (2012 is a Leap Year so those birthday folks will be able to celebrate on their actual day!

Thank you for guesting with us, Roxanne on Christmas Eve.

Diana McCollum said...

I miss the mid-west Christmases! We lived for five years in upper Michigan and always had a white Christmas. The first year we lived there, we had snow on Halloween and Easter, 7 months of snow! My ex-boss had a Dec. 25th birthday and I know he hated it. I don't know anyone else with a Christmas or Christmas eve birthday. Happy Holidays!

Sarah Raplee said...

My favorite Christmas memories are of decorating the tree and baking cookies with my family, and going to midnight Mass with friends.

My daughter's kindergarden teacher's little boy was born on Dec. 25th. They celebrated Lamont's birthday in the summer on his father's birthday.

I love what your son said about his Christmas birthday! I so enjoyed reading your post on Christmas, Roxanne. Merry Christmas!

B. A. Binns said...

My favorite Christmas memory is always the most recent one. I relaxed, a quiet dinner with my sister and daughter, no stress, thank God for peace.

Roxanne Rustand said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Roxanne Rustand said...

Blogger RoxanneRustand said...

How lovely to read your Christmas memories, and to see all of the notes here.

I do have to admit--my photos are from last winter, not this one---we are having the craziest winter this year--no snow at all. I fear all of it is waiting for late January, though, in time for our youngest son's wedding!

Best wishes for a joyous Christmas week to everyone here,
Roxanne