I'm like an athlete

Same routine every day until the book is finished. 

Get up, go to McDonalds,

try to wake up,

boot laptop,

take thirty minutes to goof around in email, read blogs,

open manuscript,

launched DVD of Justin Rizzo leading worship at KC "One Thing,"

eat no meat or sweets, (okay so this a Daniel Fast, still...)

start editing where left off day before,

Maintain mojo.

Sweet Caroline is almost here!

Sweet Caroline, my next Thomas Nelson book debuts February 12. I'm so excited.

Romantic Times Book Club wrote:

Hauck's adorable novel contains the multi-layered characters readers have come to expect from her books. The enjoyable story and unpredictable ending entertains and offers much to think about.

- 4.5 Stars, Melissa Parcel, Romantic Times Book Club

I'm so busy finishing Love Starts With Elle I haven't thought much about promoing Caroline's story, so I thought next week I'd write a "Behind The Scenes With Caroline Sweeney" blog series and talk a little about this book and why you want to buy it. :)

Isn't it funny, so much of the time we just see the book cover and blurb and it's hard to know, "Why do I want to invest my time to read this book?"

So next week I'll talk about why I invested seven months writing this book (besides having a deadline) and why it might be fun for y'all to read.

But today, I'm back to work on Elle. This story will be more straight up romance with a small subplot. But, it's a great story!

A wonderful dream

A great vision visited me in the night. Ohio State played a third National Championship game and Won!

I said, "See, they are the National Champs!"

And to be honest, I don't think the Nighttime Tylenol for colds effected me at all.

Candidate Guideline

Two great American's said:

And so my fellow Americans, ask not what your county can do for you, but what you can do for your country.

- John F. Kennedy

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.

- Martin Luther King

As we go through this election year, listen to the candidates. What are they really saying, what does it mean to us if their plans are instituted, what are they are NOT saying? We are so lulled by the rhetoric.

We've got to get back to personal responsibility for ourselves and our families and our country.

Compare what all the candidates are saying with the above quotes by great Americans. Are we hearing "ask why you can do for your country?" Or are we hearing, "this is what the government can do for you."

Are we are judging by the content of character or by skin color, gender and "sexual orientation?"

In this election, pray for God to reveal His plan for our nation and vote for the candidate He puts on your heart. But we need a guideline.

Go to wallbuilders.com to see how candidates line up with issues that matter to you.

Peace to all

God's Love

Isn't this a great verse from Paul's letter to the Romans? (Chapter 5, verse 5)

"And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."

Make this your personal prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to pour out love in your heart for Jesus, for others.

Speaking of...

We don't always have the right impression of people. Here's a story of mine in this. A few years ago I saw a video of a man talking about the love of God and while he spoke words I believed to be true, and he was affiliated with a ministry I respect, I felt he was really arrogant.

He spoke like a politician, you know, sounding so much about himself though he spoke of Jesus.

Fast forward a few years, I met this man in my living room. He came to speak at some meetings and I was anxious to meet him. He walked in, greeted other guest and speakers in the room, but never once spoke to his hostess, me.

Now, at the risk of sounding like a diva, I didn't mind that he immediately engaged in conversation with others, they were people he knew. Maybe he's shy about meeting new people, maybe he didn't realized he missed being introduced to me.

While it didn't help my impression of him, I gave him the benefit of doubt. Throughout the weekend, situations arose, slight conflict, and while discussing these issues with a mutual friend, I confessed, "He is so arrogant."

A weekend in my home and while we were busy with meetings, he didn't say more than 100 words to me, or hubby, or our team.

Fast forward a few more years to last night. I happen upon a podcast of his wife speaking of him. In such a heart of genuine love she said, "When I first met my husband the thing that stood out to me was his humility. He was a leader, but did not run over people."

I was amazed. Of all the words I would use to describe this man, based on my brief encounter and distant observations, humble is not one of them. Passionate, intense, lover of Jesus, but humble? No.

So, who needs to change here? Me. My impression is wrong, no matter what this man projects to outside observers.

It was a lesson to me that I need to seek God about how I view others instead of making judgments based on my weak human heart.

I should post

But as I'm on my way out the door, then back to work on Love Starts With Elle, I can't think of much to write.

Besides, I need to save my energy and words for da book!

Truly, I pray you all are having a God kissed day.

Please welcome my friend and author Susan Meissner. I've known Susan for a few years now and love her heart and spirit. She's a beautiful, fabulous woman in love with Jesus. Check out her latest release.

Blue Heart Blessed

Left standing at the altar, Daisy Murien, a wounded but hopeful romantic, opens a secondhand wedding dress boutique, hoping to soothe her broken heart while giving doomed wedding dresses a second chance at love.

Her predictable days take a sharp turn, though, when the retired Episcopal priest who blesses the tiny, blue satin heart she sews into each dress falls ill.

When the priest's brooding and recently divorced son arrives with plans to take his ailing father away, a contest of wills begins between two stubborn - and hurting - souls.

While fighting to keep Father Laurent close by, Daisy finally begins to understand why she has routinely convinced potential buyers not to buy the one gown that started her business - her own.

She doesn't want to give up on the dream of a fairytale romance. This compelling story is about the magnificence of unconditional love and God's impeccable timing in bringing it about.

Publisher's Weekly said this about Blue Heart Blessed:

"Meissner tells her story well, and her Christian themes are interwoven throughout with a deft touch. Readers will appreciate some fresh elements: an Ecuadorian couple that cooks for the apartment dwellers every Sunday, and the one gown in Daisy's inventory she does not want to sell.

The ending is well told if conventional, with all the loose ends neatly tied up, which should please fans of "happily ever after" romance novels."

Romantic Times gave it 4½ stars and chose it for one of their Top Picks for February:

"Meissner's unique story is a treat. It's filled with realistic, wounded characters who rely on God's grace and guidance to see them through. Themes of learning to trust God and waiting for His perfect timing exude warmth and love."

Where did this story idea come from?

I was on a long car ride with a friend one afternoon a couple years ago. She had just seen her roommate's wedding dress and she was describing it to me. It sounded so beautiful. I said something like, "It's kind of a shame such a lovely dress will only be worn once."

As soon as those words were out of my mouth, a story began to bloom in my head about a woman who opens a boutique and sells second-hand wedding dresses.

I began to imagine what kind of woman would open a shop like that and by the time we got to our destination, I had a title for this book, my quirky character Daisy, and a reason why she can’t seem to sell the one dress that began it all.

And I knew this would be a story about waiting on God for true love - that is, love that is true.

I've got a great blog started that will dovetail nicely with this book. The blog, called Blue Heart Blessed by the way, will feature stories, ideas, op-ed pieces, poems, jokes, lists, you name it, on quirky engagements, second chances at love, proposals, laughable wedding stories and the like.

I'd love to hear from readers and writers alike, especially if they've a story to share. Here's the web address:

Published by Harvest House, Blue Heart Blessed will release on February 1.

Home for Christmas

A couple of "our girls" came for Christmas, Carrie and Elizabeth.

The slumbered in the guest room and it was fun and pleasant to have them here. One lives in D.C., the other in Tallahassee.

This season, Tony and I learned a new game, Carcassonne. It's a "board" game with puzzle like pieces where the players build cities, fields and roads.

Each player claims one of the above and earns points for completing a city or road, or possessing a field.

We play the game at night in about 30 minutes. It's fun. We used to play Scrabble and Pente, so this game is a fun addition.

One afternoon we were sitting in the living room and a thump resounded from the window. Pal barked and barked. Finally I went out to see what caused his concern.

I found a small grey bird in the front bed. Poor little thing broke his neck on impact. I picked him up and tried to pray life (yes, I did) back into him.

He actually fluttered and I thought I might be holding a miracle in my palm. Hey, if I can pray a bird back to life, I'll try people next. But, it just his nerves releasing energy. He's in birdy heaven.

Be sure to pop over to MyBookTherapy where we're spending a year with a hero!

I wanna be found faithful

I wanna be found faithful
I wanna be found steady
I wanna be found faithful
Until the end.
Justin Rizzo

Just a quick update as I need to get editing/rewriting today. Elle's story still needs an ending. I know it, just haven't written it all the way.

Grace, grace

it's Over

Today, we took down the Christmas tree.

Seven Weird Things About Me

Well, I was going to blog on the line from the Lord's Prayer about "lead me not into temptation," but... my sister tagged me to admit seven weird things about myself.

So, tomorrow or Monday, I'll download my great wisdom on the temptation line.

Seven weird things.... (and only seven, you can't make me confess more.)

7.) It's hard to surprise me. If you even hint, I'll figure it out. Before Tony and I were married, I traveled a lot and we were talking on the phone and he said, "I have a surprise for you when you get home." Instantly, I knew - he'd fixed my bike. A few months earlier, I'd been hit by a car riding my bike and the wheel was bent. Don't worry, she was going like 2 miles an hour, but still, I was green for a day.

6.) I must have a balance of lamp light throughout a room. I don't like overhead lights. I don't like to watch the TV in the dark unless the Christmas tree is on in the corner. When I worked in the corp world, I had the maintenance tech remove specific florescent lights so I could have the right balance over my head and around me with lamps.

5.) I love Publix Supermarket. I especially love the one by my house. Tony suggested, "Let's look at moving into Melbourne." My response? "But then I won't be by the Bayside Publix."

4.) I go to McDonalds most mornings, not all, for a Diet Coke. I say hello to Lynn who takes my order, and Jane and Henry who eat breakfast there every morning.

3.) I always wonder if the next book will be my last, or if it will be my worst. Now, I'm trying to change my thinking to the next book will be my best, and the first of many.

2.) I read two or three books at once. If I'm stuck in my writing, I'll go pick up a book and start reading in the middle trying to figure out how it's done. This of course does nothing but frustrate me because you can't start a book in the middle and as Paul wrote, "It's stupid to compare yourself to others."

1.) I want to grow more confident every day that Jesus loves me and I'm His favorite one and if that makes me weird to some, so be it!

Amy Grant's book, Mosaic

I have copies of Amy Grant's book to give away. Leave a comment to be eligible for a drawing.

I loved this book, being both warmed and challenged by Grant's most charmed life. Born in a family with Nashville roots to a doctor and his wife, Grant is the youngest of four sisters. By the stories she tells, she's lived a privileged, loved, charmed life, being discovered at fifteen by a music producer looking for a new Christian music sound.

Yet, I was moved by her stories, and felt God's love for her and through her. I sat in McDonalds drinking a Diet Coke, finishing the book, weeping, just with a glad-God feeling. "Thank you for Amy Grant."

This is not an autobiography. Don't expect details of her relationship with Gary Chapman. I appreciated Grant's approach to his part in her life. She recognizes him, but never comments. As spectators, we all know their marriage had its ups and downs. We can't begin to know the whos and whys - it's not for us to know. There are always two sides to every story, marriage, relationship and Grant honored her children by avoiding details of her life with Chapman.

Great read.

More Grand Writing News

Top reviewer, Rel, from Australia picked Diva as one of her top '07 reads. Thanks!

RT, Romantic Times Book Club Review honored Sweet Caroline with 4.5 stars, their hightest rating.

Though, I must explain. The 4.5 stars comes with it's own sub rating. My good buddy and MyBookTherapy partner, Susan Warren, got 4.5 stars and Top Pick! Congrats Suz.

We both laughed at how the books we think should get the "most stars" don't and the ones we're insecure about, do.

Happy New Year!

End of the Year

It's Sunday after. The late December day is warm, sunny and breezy under a blue sky. The year is ending. Feels like another day in a standard week, but the calendar turns.

I make no resolutions except to be purposeful in knowing Jesus more, and learning to love. If He increases in me, I decrease and the world becomes a better place.

A man I know died and went to heaven. He encountered the King of Kings who asked, "On earth, did you learn to love?"

What an amazing question. He loved. We are to be like Him. Love is a choice. Simple and straightforward. Choose love. It's patient, kind, forgiving, bears offense and keeps no record of wrong. It uplifts and upholds. Love believes and hopes.

Have you forgiven an offense? Then you've loved.

God is love. (1 John 4) Not God is like love, He IS love, the very definition. How can we do or be less? The rock group Foreigner sang, "I wanna know what love is."

Seek Him.

Love does not mean we allow ourselves to be bullied or walked on. Love is not an ethereal concept that evades our grasp. Love is not unsanctified mercy. We show mercy when we should speak truth and call it love. No.

But always, grace, grace.

While my resolve is simple, yet difficult, I have goals. To write with grace and beauty. Frankly, the only way I know is to sit at His feet.

Be faithful to prayer and fasting.

I want to be found in His presence, to stand in His council. My good friend Susie pointed out this verse, Psalm 25:14.

The secret of the LORD is for those who fear Him,
And He will make them know His covenant.
My eyes are continually toward the LORD

Goodbye 2007. You brought me good times and bad. Disappointment that stirred both anger and jealousy in my soul. But, in this I gained hope, grace, faith, the abililty to be abandoned.

I am a blank slate. Jesus, paint on my heart whatever You will. If this life is an intership for eternity, then so goes my reward.

Grace, grace.

A nod from Reviewers

A couple of book reviewers gave me a nod this week. Thank so much Michelle and Jana.

Michelle with EdgyInspirationalAuthor picked Diva NashVegas as one of her Top 2007 reads.

And Janna at Cornhuskeracademy picked Lambert's Code as one of her Life Changing reads of 2007. (Though the book was released in October 2005.)

Patricia Woodside over at Readin N Writin selected Geogia On Her Mind as one of her favorite 2007 reads.

Thanks!

Merry Christmas 2007

Note to self: Update address book. Only two addys are valid.

I've resolved this year to send the annual Christmas letter. I'm always close to a deadline in December, thus frantic.

Besides, I blog all over kingdom come: web site, MySpace, Shoutlife, Xanga, Facebook and one new blog site I can't even remember so I feel like our life is "out there."

Tony guest blogs for me from time to time. He has great insights on life and faith.

Last summer, after twenty years of youth ministry, Tony handed off youth church to a younger man and is now focused on teaching, administration, house churches and a downtown outreach.

He picked one of the hardest areas in Melbourne - a drugs and guns type of community - to knocked on doors asking, "How can we pray for you?"

In the last year, the work has grown to a multi-level outreach with small home churches being formed.

I still lead worship on Sunday mornings and at Fire Dweller, and head up a Dream Team in a down town coffee shop. We put up a sign - Dreams - and wait for customers. It's free, fun and very successful.

The multi-church prayer ministry, Fire Dweller is going strong after five years with good changes coming in '08. While Tony is the leader, he is one of the best team players around.

My day job is writing fiction. I had four books released in 2006, one in 2007, and two more coming in '08. Look for Sweet Caroline in February and Love Starts With Elle in July from Thomas Nelson.

I love my job! If you want to know more or read excerpts visit the Books page.

In March we took the Fire Dweller band to Poughkeepsie for a prayer and worship conference. We had a blast.

In May, I flew to northern New Hampshire for a book signing.

In July, I attended a writer's retreat and retailer's convention followed by Fire Dwellers' summer conference, In The Fire.

September, baby bro Pete, Tony and I visited big bro Danny. Opening college football weekend. Fun! A few weeks later I went to writer's conference in Dallas.

In October, Tony and I took a few days in the South Carolina lowcountry - research for me, relaxing for him.

November I traveled to Nashville, meeting up with a friend for another friend's wedding. And got to hang out with my Thomas Nelson colleagues.

Tony flew up to meet me in Indy and we did a whirlwind family tour - his parents, Thanksgiving with my sister and her family, followed by a visit to my mom, grandma, Pete and his family in Knoxville.

We lost our loving dog Jack in '06, but Pal is thrilled to be an only dog-child. Red, our 15 yr-old cat still thinks he's a dog and does pretty much whatever he wants.

It is our prayer that God will do exceedingly above all that you ask or think in 2008.

With love, Tony and Rachel

Get Up On Those Walls

Tony has a pre-Christmas game. A castle building, surf conquering theme where Tony gathers defenders for his domain.

The other night all I heard was, "Get up on those walls."

You know, such a saying gets to a person. "Get up on those walls."

For a day, I walked around, "Get up on those walls." (more like "Get up on those whoools.")

Archers then take their place on the castle walls to defend against the enemy.

God calls the same to us.

On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed watchmen;
All day and all night they will never keep silent
You who remind the LORD, take no rest for yourselves.

Isaiah 62:6

Are you in your place on the wall?

Drum roll, please... And the winners are...

Thanks so much to all who stopped by to read the Christmas memories of such wonderful authors. And, thanks to all who shared with us.

Be sure to stop by Tricia Goyer's place, and Camy Tang's as the interview tour continues!

I have a bunch of book drawings to do. Here are the winners:

Gail Martin's new release: WindyCity.

Diann Mill's book: ausjenny.

Kathryn Mackle's new release: Hannah, CherieJ and C. Gwynn.

Deb Raney's offering goes to Brittanie

And, for those who left a comment for a chance to win Cindy Woodsmall's book:
Rebornbutterfly and AudraElizabeth from Shoutlife.

Email me your snail mail addy's and I'll pass them to the authors.

Thanks everyone. Check back next week. It's back to my exciting and in-sightful blogs! ;)

The 12 Authors of Christmas Final Bonus, the lovely Tricia Goyer

Please welcome friend and author, Tricia Goyer. I've known Tricia for several years now and she is one person I always look forward to seeing at writer's conferences or retreats.

Her warm smile and love for others wins everyone over.

Welcome, Tricia.

Tell us about your first Christmas memory?

I remember being an angel in a Christmas pageant and my little brother was baby Jesus. I was four and he was four months old. I remember being very concerned when he started crying from his manger.

Growing up, did your family have Christmas traditions? Tell us how you incorporated them into your family life. Or, how you created new ones.

I remember after that going to my Grandma’s house for dinner. We always spent Christmas with her and my grandpa. All the aunts, uncles, and cousins would come together to celebrate. We'd have a big dinner, usually with homemade enchiladas or tamales. We'd have an adult's table and a kids' table. For most of my growing up years it was just me, my brother and my two cousins at the kids table.

Now that I have my own family, we still have a big gathering. My grandma lives with us, and we have three teenagers. We also invite over my husband's whole family and friends who don't have family nearby. Last year we had 35 people, and I expect the same this year.

(rh: Wow, sounds fun.)

When do you put up your tree? At my house, it goes up right after Thanksgiving. My husband works assembly and outside lights. I do the rest. Describe the decorating at your house.

I usually put it up after the kids keeping bugging me and bugging me. This year it was on December 2nd. We put it up Sunday after church.

(rh: Ah, my dad could relate to you. I bugged him until he put up the tree.)

My kids help decorate and the young woman I mentor and her family come over too. Her kids are 6, 3, and 1 … so there is a lot of commotion!

What is your favorite Christmas song or album? I grew up with a Johnny Mathis Christmas CD and it's still one of my favorites. My other is a copy of Mel Torme singing his "Christmas Song."

I love lots of different kinds of Christmas music. I love old songs that are sung by new artists with a new twist. This year I found a new cd called Unexpected Gifts, and I've listened to it at least 10 times every day.

It includes "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" (Bethany Dillon); "Do You Hear What I Hear" (Nichole Nordeman); "O Little Town of Bethlehem" (Steven Curtis Chapman); and "Silent Night" (Sanctus Real).

(rh: Tricia confessed to me she didn't even know who Johnny Mathis is, but I'll forgive her. Young'un...)

Christmas morning, my parents didn't want us in the living room until the tree was plugged in. So, we'd wake up early, five a.m. or so, and bang on the floor to stir my parents awake. Relive your childhood Christmas mornings for us.

We'd usually get up, get dressed and head over to my grandparents' house where we'd all open presents together.

I think that as we got older my brother and I complained because around junior high we started opening them at our house. I don't remember getting up super-early, but I do remember the smells of Christmas dinner cooking while we open gifts.

Also, I loved it because everyone was together and focused on the celebration. In fact, those Christmas days are some of the few times I remember my parents playing games with us. That's why I'm big on family time and games on Christmas!

Seems to me snow and Christmas go together, but I’ve been a Florida girl for 33 years! Tell us about your Christmas setting?

I grew up in the mountains of Northern California. We had lots of snow. Lots!

I remember one Christmas Eve driving from my Grandparents house to our house. It was a blizzard and I didn't know how my dad could even see the road. I remember thinking that the snow hitting the window looked like the opening of the Star Wars movie when the stars were zooming lines in space.

It’s Christmas Eve, describe your day and evening.

We usually attend a Christmas Eve service and then spend time with friends. This year we're going to church and then we're having the families from our small group come over for snacks and a white elephant gift exchange. There are five families and between us we have twelve kids between 4-18. We’ll eat, open gifts, sing and play games.

Confession time. Shop on line or at the mall?

Half and half. This year my daughter and I are making blankets for my nieces and nephews, so we have fabric and stuff all over the house.

But most of the stuff - for my kids and husband - I buy on-line. It's too hard to shop and not have them with me. Every time I go out the kids say,
"Can I come?"

Christmas grows more and more commercial every year. Setting the hustle and bustle aside, what does Christmas really mean to you?

Christmas is celebrating the birth of our Lord with friends and family. It's taking time to enjoy each other and spend time with those we love the most.

It's Christmas day, what's for dinner? Do you make cookies or other traditional foods?

I don't make many cookies . . . because I end up eating too many! Our Christmas dinner is similar to Thanksgiving.

We have potluck style and everyone brings something. Since it's usually at our house, I make a turkey, potatoes, and some type of dessert. There are usually 5-6 people scrambling around my kitchen and it's tons of fun.

Tell us about your favorite Christmas memory.

My favorite Christmas memory is when I was twelve. I received a cassette play with a microphone that could record. My Mom, Dad, brother and I sat around and made up stories and recorded them. I still have that tape somewhere.

What are you plans for this season?

The holiday season also means basketball season. In addition to all the holiday fun we travel every other weekend for games.

Since we live in rural Montana we often travel 4-5 hours for two or three basketball games. Of course, these are great memories too . . . dashing through Montana, talking in the car, replaying the game's highlights with our words.

Since my oldest son is a senior in high school thing years I’m enjoying every moment.

Any final thoughts on Christmas?

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

The official word on Tricia Goyer.

Tricia Goyer is the author of seven novels, six non-fiction books, and one children's book.

Tricia was named Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference "Writer of the Year" in 2003.

In 2005, her book Life Interrupted was a finalist for the Gold Medallion. Also in 2005, her novel Night Song won ACFW's Book of the Year for Long Historical Romance.

In 2006, her novel Dawn of a Thousand Nights also won Book of the Year for Long Historical.

She’s written over 300 articles for national publications and hundreds of Bible Study notes for the Women of Faith Study Bible.

Tricia lives in Montana with her husband and three kids where she homeschools, leads children's church, and mentors teenage mothers.

The 12 Authors of Christmas Bonus - Gail Gaymer Martin

Please welcome friend and award winning author, Gail Martin.

I've known Gail for many years, and am honored to serve with her as an Advisor to American Christian Fiction Writers.

Welcome Gail!

Tell us about your first Christmas memory.

My most vivid first Christmas memory was when I was four. Because of Christmas, the physician allowed mom to give birth to my sister at home. She was born on December 23.

Remember, this was many years ago. I was taken to my aunt's house to spend the night while my mom was in labor, and I recall being confused and wondering why I couldn't be home.

(rh: Gail, how special.)

The next day, Christmas Eve, my aunt took me home. The first thing I recall was the Christmas tree. In my childhood memory, it was in the middle of the living room.

Discussing this with my mom years later, she said my father had brought home a tree too big for our small living room and so to my young mind, it probably appeared to be in the middle of the room.

I remember the lights on the tree, and I remember standing beside it, and looking from there into my mom and dad's bedroom. I knew I had a brand new sister but I was very shy about meeting this interloper coming into our home.

(rh: When my sister came home from the hospital, I couldn't wait to see her. But I was ten.)

I was the first born until then and loved my only child status. My mom beckoned me forward, and finally, I tiptoed to the bedroom doorway, and out of the corner of my eye, I remember seeing a bassinet. My mom opened her arms, and I moved forward.

The words that came out of my mouth were: "I love you."

I suppose I wanted to be reassured that she still loved me too. I recall thinking how tiny this new little sister was and acknowledged I would rather have had a doll. Today my sister and I are dear friends, and a doll would never have given me a lifetime of companionship and fun as she does.

(rh: Same here.)

Growing up, did your family have Christmas traditions? Tell us how you incorporated them into your family life. Or how you created new ones.

I suppose my family was very typical of most, but we did have some traditions special to us.

We opened our family gifts on Christmas Eve early evening - all except what Santa brought in the morning. Then, our whole family - meaning aunts, uncles and cousins - would visit my mother's oldest sister who lived in the area.

There we received token gifts and visited with family and even some friends who dropped by. About 11 PM, we headed for our midnight church service.

We had to leave earlier when I was old enough to sing in the adult choir. When we arrived home, we hung our stockings, and in the morning before church, we opened our stockings.

I remember then we received little gifts like fruits, nuts, candy, and perhaps some small gifts like school pencils or barrettes. Today, I think, kids expect iPods in their stocking because they're small.

(rh: LOL, probably. Nanopods are even smaller!)

We always had dinner with our extended family, and most of the time, it was at the same aunt's home that we visited on Christmas Eve. I do recall a few Christmas dinners at our house.

I remember being allowed to drink wine with our dinner even as a child. I assume that was a German custom. It usually gave me a headache. Still to this day, we have dinner with siblings and their families, but the Christmas Eve gift opening stopped being Christmas Eve.

With marriage comes another family who wants time with their sons and daughters and grandchildren too, so Christmas Day is also our gift opening time - mainly for the children.

We began another tradition. When we're together, we break up into groups of eleven and sing The Twelve Days of Christmas.

Everyone sings On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me a partridge in a pear tree, and then the other eleven groups sing the other verses. Usually my brother demands the Five golden rings verse. He thinks he's king.

When do you put up your tree?

This varies depending on our social schedule and on outside deadlines and pressures. Usually I want it up before the middle of December, and my husband believes in keeping the tree up until Epiphany which is January 6.

(rh: What a beautiful scene, Gail!)

Since our tree is up a long time, two years ago, I gave in and bought an artificial tree with lights (love that part) but it was something I said I would never do.

We actually have two Christmas trees. One's smaller that goes in our sitting room on the second floor. This is where our TV is located plus this computer that's on-line. We spend much time in this room so it needed it's own little slim-line tree.

Bob does the outside lights and decorations with a tiny bit of help from me. Along with white lights, we have a Rudolph character made from logs and twigs and a red bulb for a nose.

Our house has large French-pane windows, and I have candles in each window too and a wreath on the front door and a huge one on the attached garage. Inside, I'm it as far as decorating, except Bob helps get the tree up and helps with the lights and garland which for me is beads.

I treasure my ornaments and have a collection of old ones given to me by special people in my life but also ones that we've collected on vacations.

So many of the ornaments take me back to a warm and fun trip we took in the US and all over the world. I decorate my staircase with draped greens and red bows, and my mantel has greenery with miniature white lights, two candles, and a collection of angels - some are mine and some were my mom's.

I love my angels collection. We have a fiber optic tree for the bay window in our sun room, too, and often I hang greenery around an large archway and decorate that with ornaments or most often its draped with gold and burgundy ribbons and burgundy poinsettias.

What is your favorite Christmas song or album?

Oh my. A lover of music, it's so difficult to name one thing. I have a CD that I play every year which I purchased in Germany and it's a boys choir in the Alps singing German carols.

(rh: Gail has a beautiful voice, y'all!)

I also have a CD of a harpist playing Christmas music which is very lovely. I have another CD that's a blend of all the old Christmas favorites by the artists who made the music famous so it includes Johnny Mathis, Bing Crosby and so many others.

Another favorite is Mannheim Steamrollers Christmas CDs. If I were to select a favorite Christmas hymn other than Silent Night, it would probably be Whence Comes This Rush of Wings or What Child Is This.

Relive your Christmas morning.

As children, we couldn't wait to see what Santa brought. We would dart out when we woke up. If our parents weren't awake, they were when we let out our yells.

There bedroom was off the living room area. When we had Christmas Day services at church, we were shuffled quickly from our gifts to get ready to go to church. I love Christmas morning because Bob and I still give each other stocking gifts and they're so fun to see how creative we can be.

(rh: I think I should revisit this stocking idea...)

Tell us About Your Christmas Setting.

Michigan. Usually snow, blustery and cold. If no snow, it's still cold. I do love snow for Christmas and then send me Hawaiian weather. We're in the Detroit area but our little town has the feeling of distance. Our street is dirt with many evergreens, and all houses are different and have their own angles so it’s a pretty sight.

Christmas Eve - describe the day and evening.

Christmas Eve day is usually preparing food for Christmas dinner that can be prepared ahead of time.

As I mentioned, we eat as a family with our siblings on Christmas Day. The hosts prepare the meat, potatoes and gravy, but everyone else brings contributions to the meal - salads, veggies, desserts and appetizers.

Bob and I open our gifts on Christmas Eve usually, but this year we will attend both worship services because of handbells, handchimes, and choir so Christmas Eve is a bevy of confusion.

We have a 6 PM and an 11 PM service. Sometimes we've been invited to someone's home from the choir or musical groups for treats and wait for the next service. So we never know.

Confession time. Shop on line or at the mall?

I proudly say I avoid malls at all cost. I'm definitely an on line shopper but I also do something else. Since we're blessed to do a lot of traveling and usually out of the country a couple times of the year, I buy gifts as they strike me for my husband and family. I tuck them away in two storage areas I have for that purpose and "voila" I'm ready for Christmas.

(rh: Nice idea to look for gifts all year.)

Christmas grows more and more commercial every year. Setting the hustle and bustle aside, what does Christmas really mean to you?

Christmas has always been Jesus birthday to me. It's a time of music and praise and a time to be with loved ones - family and friends. It's always been that way and always will.

Since my teen years, giving has always been more fun than receiving. I love participating in the Giving Tree at our church where we purchase gifts for strangers who have so little and for woman and their families at Haven which is a women's shelter.

This is what gives me joy. Bob and I support a Haitian child through Compassion and I love sending as much as they allow (which isn't much) to help this child have a special day.

Loving and giving is Christmas, when God gave us the greatest Gift possible, our Savior and Lord, born in a manger to save us from our sins.

Christmas Day – what's for dinner?

What's Christmas dinner without turkey, but we often have a second meat. Bob loves to make pork tenderloin. Some make a ham.

Others a pork roast. Stuffing is important and we sometimes have two - traditional bread stuffing and the other is rice stuffing. Bob sometimes makes his grandmother's nut strudel, and we usually make Itallian pizzelles.

(rh: Sounds lovely!)

I bake a variety of cookies but two that I love are thumb-print cookies which I've already made for this year and a nut roll up that is so fattening you’d gain 10 lbs just smelling them. They're made with butter, eggs and flour with a nut filling.

Favorite Christmas memory?

Having a home of my own big enough to host the family dinner is one that I recall. Another is when my sister's husband was in the military and came home, surprising everyone on Christmas Eve.

(rh: What a powerful time. Those are moments of great Christmases.)

What are your plans for the season?

This year we will eat at my sister's home. I am the Easter dinner person for this round of holidays.

My brother and wife had Thanksgiving. Good thing we didn't have four siblings. One would be left out of a holiday dinner unless we added the Fourth of July. We have gifts for the children - but I often have a token gift for others.

This year it will be my newest book, And Baby Makes Five and also some candy we brought back from our trip to Greece and Turkey in September.

It's called Turkish Delight. By the way, I have gifts put away from that trip for my siblings birthdays. We still exchanges gifts for birthdays.

Final thoughts Since the Christmas message is "Peace on Earth," I wish everyone blessings and peace. May we all pray that wars will cease and loved ones can return home from war, that the jobless find jobs, the homeless obtain homes, and the hungry have food.

When I look at my wonderful life filled with so many blessings, I can weep for those who struggle to find one iota of comfort and peace. Lord, grant us all your blessings.

The official work on Gail Gaymer Martin.

Multi-award-winning author, Gail Gaymer Martin, writes for Steeple Hill, Barbour Publishing, and Writers Digest.

Gail has signed forty fiction contracts and has over 1 million books in print. She is a co-founder of American Christian Fiction Writers and a keynote speaker and workshop presenter at conference across the U.S.

She has a Masters degree and post-master's classes from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.

Look for her book, Writing the Christian Romance from Writers Digest released at the end of December 2007. Visit her website at www.gailmartin.com and her blog site on Writing Fiction Right at www.writingright-martin.blogspot.com

Thanks Gail for coming by! What great memories.

Gail is giving away a free copy of her book, "Family In His Heart" January 2008. Leave a comment to be eligible for a drawing!