2021 Indie Romance Convention Attending Author Christmas Special Post

2022 Attending Author Leanne Tyler 

Christmas Memories … Oh What Fun!    Leanne Tyler

Christmas is a wonderful time of the year to spend with family and friends. I love to decorate the house while listening to Christmas music. This year, I changed things up on my front porch and hung lighted garlands around my front door instead of wreaths at my windows. Another thing I did differently was I shopped early, leaving the month of December to craft in the evenings and relax at home with my son and Yorkie. After all, December is one of the busiest months of the year. Santa needs a breather this time of year! And this jolly ole elf has been a busy bee in her workshop of words all year longer producing three books for her readers to enjoy all year through.

As a child, we’d spend Christmas with family. Excitedly going to my grandmother’s house on Christmas Eve. Oh, how we couldn’t wait to get there! And then we’d have to wait some more for the adults to get finished eating so we could retire to the living room and open presents. My favorite memories were of my aunt, uncle, and cousins gathering around the Christmas tree with us. We’d eat our favorite treats like pigs in a blanket, ham and pimento cheese sandwiches, potato chips and dip, Christmas cookies and drink punch before getting to open our presents. If we were especially good that year, we might even have a visit from Santa himself (or herself – should I say, because my grandmother dressed up one year and kind of scared of to death in that suit). I even remember when I was very young, I hadn’t even started school yet, when my grandfather’s youngest brother and his family would come over on Christmas Eve to open presents. That was until his children started marrying and having kids of their own. I remember a running joke between my grandfather and his nephew was to give each other a pig’s tail for Christmas. Of course, the tails were fresh because a hog was slaughtered for sausage in November. Those were fond memories.

My grandparents gave passed on. My aunt and uncle spend Christmas with their kids and grandchildren elsewhere, so it just me, my son, and my parents now. And even though it is not a large crowd or as loud a celebration, it doesn’t mean that we have forgotten the true meaning of Christmas. We know why we gather, and we are just as thankful for the season. We there to celebrate the birth of the Christ child who was born in Bethlehem so many years ago on that fateful night because He was born to die for our sins when He was hung upon the cross on Golgotha’s hill thirty-three years later. Whether you believe or not, know that God so Loved the World that He created you and me and He gave His only Son so we can make that choice to know Him.

I wish you a wonderful Christmas season. May you and your family have a blessed New Year.

Be sure to check out my latest release in the Chicago Protection Task Force Series: Jett (book 6) from Elle James’ Brotherhood Protectors World. Now available at Amazon.