Christmas is my favorite holiday. At our house, the celebration of Jesus’ birth begins in Mid-November and extends to the last week of the calendar year. Then, probably because my birthday falls in July, and I tend to behave like a spoiled child, it resumes sometime during the one of the hottest months of the year. My husband’s indulgence has it limits, so I limit my display to the buffet in my dining room. (He might not want this known, but this year he even helped me bring the boxes out of storage.)
Why? Because the greatest gift God gave us is too good to keep quiet about. I love sharing his love with everyone.
These scale model buildings are my only official collection. They were all produced by Department 56, and all but one are part of their Original Snow Village line. (More about that later).
My storyteller brain has always loved imagining the folks who might live in my Christmas village. So, when two of my friends and I decided to create a collection of novellas, I already had a good start on my portion.
If you read Rejoicing with Joy, part of A Gift for All Time, you will recognize these first two houses. They are the homes of my heroine, Joy Fredericks and her Grandpa Freddie. In fact, the story actually opens on the roof of the ranch style one with its abundance of decorations. Even the tree house out back plays a part, but no spoilers- you’ll have to read about that for yourself.
Nearby, the old church building houses the congregation where Joy’s dad serves as minister, as her grandpa did years before. It is also the base for the community’s celebration, which features a live nativity scene. Another very important treasure is found here, as well. Once again, no spoilers!
The old schoolhouse is the item that doesn’t belong to the Original Snow Village collection. Instead, it was featured in the Department 56 tribute to the movie A Christmas Story. In Rejoicing with Joy, it forms the heart of my heroine’s dream for restoring and reviving her town.
Bob’s Truck Stop is another star of my story. In Rejoicing with Joy, you hear some of its back story, and how it plays a very important part in Joy’s present-day celebration. There’s even a hint of how it might be revitalized in the future.
Just down the street, in my make-believe town’s business district, Ed’s Diner attracts hungry travelers from all over the countryside. “Granny’s Jams and Jellies” is a recent addition to my display, so it hasn’t appeared in a book yet. Time for a sequel?
Now you’ve had a tour of my fictional village, and a hint of how an author’s mind works.
If you are intrigued as I was with this lovely little town, you can order your own copy of A Gift for All Time. Besides my story, two more are included, set in Van Buren, Arkansas in the 1840s, and Mexico Missouri during the Civil War. The common thread? A very well-traveled nativity scene. If you haven’t already, read and review this book. If you are as fond of Christmas as I am, I have a feeling you will love it!
May the joy of Christmas live in your heart all year round!
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