Holidays and The Tradition of Change by Grace Greene

This is my favorite time of year. It begins in October and runs through the end of December.

The leaves fall, the pumpkins are carved, and Halloween arrives with costumes and candy and trick-or-treaters. I enjoy Halloween. It’s my younger son’s birthday and the family often gathered for his birthday party and then the children went trick or treating with most of the parents tagging along. Lots of family and fun.

Less than a month later, it’s Thanksgiving. Mom and dad, my siblings and their families, all cooperated with me for many years, allowing me to cook the turkey and fill my dining room table and the chairs around it, with family, food, and good cheer.

Finally, Christmas is in sight. Suddenly we’re in full swing with shopping, decorating, sprucing up the house and preparing for the arrival of the kids (of all sizes and ages) and other guests, while making sure Christ is remembered and honored throughout the traditional hustle and bustle.

While we are busy making memories, life and the passing of time bring changes. Some changes happen quietly or gradually, some are abrupt and tear at our hearts. The children grow up and build lives elsewhere. Parents age and are lost to us. Grandchildren arrive. In-laws must be considered. This change is a tradition of its own—one that generations of families have experienced and shared throughout history. Change is the nature of life, including for us and for the people we love.

That’s what my novella, Beach Christmas, is about—traditions and family, and embracing change. Sometimes we can’t conceive of welcoming change, but change is inevitable. Change can be bittersweet or tragic, but change can also be joyful. Don’t hold onto the past too tightly. Make peace with the past and with the present feeling of loss, and look for joy in the now.

What holiday traditions and memories do you cherish?

Beach Christmas is available in ebook and print, and also in the Sweet Christmas Kisses box set at Kindle, KOBO, Nook and iBooks.

 

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Grace Greene writes women's fiction and contemporary romance with suspense. A Virginia native, Grace has family ties to North Carolina. She writes books set in both locations.

The Emerald Isle books, BEACH RENTAL and BEACH WINDS, are set in North Carolina where "It's always a good time for a love story and a trip to the beach." Or travel down Virginia Country Roads in KINCAID'S HOPE, A STRANGER IN WYNNEDOWER, and CUB CREEK and "Take a trip to love, mystery and suspense." Find Grace at her website, on Facebook and Twitter.

 

 

Girlfriend Weekend ~ by Magdalena Scott

I was fortunate to spend a long weekend with my high school girlfriends recently. What a treat to reconnect in person with these women, some of whom have known me since I was a skinny blonde--in other words, kindergarten and first grade.

It was a relaxing time in a lovely little town. One of the girls lives there and had rented a house and suggested activities we might enjoy. We arrived at our home away from home, and the conversation began. Being together is the important thing, so our plans for the weekend remained flexible, always subject to being tossed aside if we felt the least bit stressed to be here or do that. Everybody has plenty of expectations or stress in day to day life without including it in vacation.

We met in Wisconsin, in the town where one of the girls lives now. The rest of us made the trek by car or plane from Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee, Georgia and Pennsylvania. One of the girls had been in South Africa the week before, and most of us had trips planned soon after returning home. We said repeatedly how amazing and wonderful it was that everyone had been able to set the time aside to be together. This is only the second time that's happened since high school. We hope to have another gathering in 2016.

We took the photo above just before going our separate ways on Monday. It became a bit of a joke that several times over the weekend we were asked if we were sisters. We kept saying no, and explaining that instead we're longtime friends. 

But on reflection now, I realize the people asking that question were right after all. We are sisters--sisters who chose each other. I'm so thankful to have these girls in my family! They certainly helped make me the person I am today.

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Magdalena Scott is a bestselling author of the Ladies of Legend series. You can find her at her website, blog, and on Facebook and Twitter.