Shannon here: Lorna Seilstad shares her family traditions along with news of a new anthology she’s part of. Comments or answer the question in this post to enter Friday’s drawing. Deadline: Dec 21st, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Lorna:
In a few weeks, forty family members will pack into my house for what is termed as “Kinney Christmas.” Kinney is my maiden name and it’s my turn to host.
Our family has grown this year. There are three new babies, one marriage, and one newly engaged couple.
“Lorna,” you ask, “is your house big enough for forty people?”
Not really, but we’ll make it work. Why? Because we’re family.
By contrast, right after Christmas, my husband and our three adult children will be traveling to Minnesota to celebrate with his side of the family. The photo is from last year. There are a total of twelve of us when we sit around a beautifully decorated table. We will play cards, put ornate ribbons on packages, and even put up a “late” Christmas tree. We will eat lefse and krumkake (Norwegian traditions), but omit the lutefisk. Praise God!
More family. More traditions.
And I love it all because family means the world to me.
I was blessed to become a member of another family this year—a family of authors working under the name of The Mosaic Collection. Each month, a different book is released by a different author from the group. The books do not follow a particular genre. Some fall into the women’s fiction arena and others in romance. I believe a few even hold some mystery and intrigue. Our books have two things in common:
- They have to be about some element involving family by His design.
- They have to include chocolate.
This month, the Mosaic Collection just released A Hope is Born, an anthology of nine Christmas stories. I do not have a story in this anthology as my Mosaic book releases next month. It’s called More Than Enough, so please keep an eye out for it.
Now, back to the A Hope is Born. Below is a magical trailer for the book.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwCWj7FV4tU
If you’re not sold yet, listen to a few things others are saying about this book:
“Nobody told me I needed a box of Kleenex when reading A Hope is Born . . . Happy tears.” –Ebos A.
“This is a ‘must read’ book! All of the stories are wonderfully written and hold your attention. The best part about this book is it brings out the real meaning of Christmas. Just have a box of tissue close by because you will need them.” –Ann
“Raw with emotion…. nine different stories with a common theme of needing God — needing His mercy, needing His grace, needing His provision.” –Robbob
“Absolutely loved each story! They made me cry think and hope again. The first and the last story were my favorites! Beautifully written! A joy to read!” –Jcrew
So, if you love family and you’re looking for stories that warm your heart, tell Santa to put A Hope is Born in your stocking. You can find it here
Also, give yourself an extra present by becoming part of the Mosaic family of readers. Just drive your sleigh over to Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheMosaicCollection/ or sign up for the monthly newsletter “Hope and Glory” at www.mosaiccollectionbooks.com.
About Lorna: Lorna Seilstad has called Iowa home her whole life. She received her B.S. in education from Lubbock Christian University. After her first child was born, she stopped teaching and became a professional wiper. “I wiped noses, tears, skinned knees, baby’s bottoms, and countertops every day. But at naptime, I wrote.” Today, she writes historical fiction with a generous dash of humor.
Question for Readers: Do you go multiple places trying to fit different families in, or do you host the gathering at your house?
Come back Dec 13th for Joi Copeland!
How smart of your family to not serve lutefisk! That stuff is nasty! But I do love lefse and krumkake!
Hope your family has a very memorable Christmas!
Oh, and to answer your question (but don’t enter me!) – we usually have 3 family celebrations: one with my immediate family of 5. Our daughter’s hosting this year in her new house! One celebration with the Bryant family, which involves about 40 people crammed into a small house. And another celebration with the Andersons. That’s smaller in that we only have twenty-some people in attendance. 😀
I would love to host our family, but it is rare to get them all together. So we have as many as possible no matter what the calendar says! Christmas decor goes up at Thanksgiving and stays up as long as hubby allows!
since my brother and I are estranged at the moment,I host the small group of family that is left.
host it