Tuesday, November 22, 2016

How early is too early? by Julie Jarnagin

Thanksgiving is around the corner, but if you turn on the television or walk into any store, you will think we've skipped straight to Christmas.

I'm torn.

I love the decorations, the movies, the food, and the spirit of Christmas, but I also hate skipping right over Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because we get food, family, and a reminder of everything we have to be thankful for, but without the shopping (I'm not a fan of the crowds), stress, and busyness that can come with the Christmas season.

This weekend, I spent a few days away from home at a writing retreat. It was wonderful. I learned a lot and spent time with some great friends. When I got home, my husband, who is normally a no-Christmas-until-after-Thanksgiving purist, had set up the Christmas tree. He'd caved to the excitement of our eight-year-old.

In this rush, rush, rush world, it can sometimes feel like we've forgotten how to be in the moment--how to enjoy this fall season with the changing leaves and Thanksgiving meals with family.

But even though our Christmas tree still doesn't have ornaments, I have to say that I love turning on the Christmas tree lights when I get up in the morning. Maybe we're rushing it a little bit, but who can resist an eight-year-old who just wants to spend a few extra days celebrating Christmas.

So whether you like to wait or you've already put up the tree, I wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving and a very Merry Christmas.

When do you decorate for Christmas?

New Release! 
Cowgirl in the Kitchen

Just as she's about to make her dream come true, disaster strikes. The only way she can get back in the saddle is to strike a bargain—with a man her family despises. 

Jentry Lawson's dream of becoming a world-class barrel racer is about to happen—until she and her horse are injured in a terrible accident. Forced to move back home to Texas to recuperate, her Dallas-based brother makes her an offer she can't refuse. He needs someone he can trust to oversee the renovation and grand opening of his new restaurant. If she'll take that on, he'll finance her return to the arena. It doesn't take Jentry long to discover she bit off more than she can chew. Swallowing her pride, she asks for help from Gavin Easton—a man her brother despises. But he's the one person who can make the restaurant succeed. 

People in Glover never thought Gavin Easton would amount to anything. Ever since his own restaurant in town burned down, he's taken odd jobs to provide for his niece, whom he is raising alone. When beautiful and stubborn Jentry offers him the perfect job, his first reaction is to turn her down flat. No way he's going to do anything to help her brother! But there's more at stake than his pride. Can he trust his future to the woman whose brother tried to ruin his reputation—and his life? 

Besides, how can he manage a restaurant, when he can't manage his heart?


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USA Today Best Selling author Julie Jarnagin writes sweet and inspirational romance. She grew up in a small Oklahoma town where her family farmed and ranched. These days she lives in a not-so-big city with her amazing husband and two young sons who tolerate all her nerdy quirks. Julie earned a B.A. in Journalism / Professional Writing from the University of Oklahoma and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. www.JulieJarnagin.comSign up for her newsletter for a FREE Christmas novellahttp://eepurl.com/5y5k

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2 comments:

  1. Julie, We will decorate for Christmas at the beginning of December. I love Christmas and decorating, but also love the Fall decorations.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I usually decorate the first week in December. I may start right after Thanksgiving if it's late in the month.

    ReplyDelete