Shannon here: Sarah Anne Crouch shares some Christmas tree mishaps, plus a chance to win a copy of her Contemporary Romance Novella, A Match of Her Own, which is included in the Christmas Novella Collection, A Match Made at Christmas. All four authors will be here over the last two weeks. Comment or answer the question in any or each post dated Oct 1st – 11th to enter the drawing. Deadline: Oct 19th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Sarah:
With the release of the Match Made at Christmas novella collection, I’ve had the holiday on my mind for quite a while. On the topic of Christmas and romance, let me tell you about one of the most romantic things my husband ever said to me.
My husband grew up without a Christmas tree. When we first met, I thought that was a tragedy. How can you celebrate Christmas without a beautiful Christmas tree? Turns out, it’s not that hard. And between my children and my own clumsiness, we’ve really tested the limits of our trees over the years.
Our middle child knocked over our tree twice. The first time, not much broke and I figured she’d learned her lesson after such a harrowing incident. Nope. I was the one who needed to learn a lesson, and that lesson was not to put breakable ornaments on a Christmas tree in a house with multiple small children.
The second time was the last time she knocked the tree over, but we made lots of handmade ornaments out of cinnamon dough and popsicle sticks from then on. Our youngest child also knocked the tree over once, but by then we were exclusively using child-proof ornaments.
Last year, I was the one who ruined the tree. We’d recently replaced the tiny artificial tree we bought when we first got married. It had lights and real-looking branches and was over seven feet tall! During the year, we used to keep our tree in a bag against the wall of the garage.
One day, I was in a hurry and someone was parked behind me. Instead of asking her to move, I decided to just make a 50 point turn and shimmy my way out of the garage and around her car. At some point, I heard a crunch and realized I must’ve run over something, but I was late. So I put it out of my mind as something to deal with later on.
My husband’s birthday usually falls right after Thanksgiving, and the day after his birthday is always Tree Day in the Crouch house. The kids and I make a big deal out of it. My husband never participates, but he puts up with it and is just happy that we’re happy.
So on the day after his birthday, the kids went off to school and I promised them I’d have the tree set up and ready for decorations when they got home. I turned on some Nat King Cole and pulled out the Christmas tree bag only to discover that the middle section had been squashed. The little metal contraption that hooked up to the section below was flat as a pancake. Disappointed but undaunted, I pulled out a couple pairs of pliers from the garage and got to work reshaping the Christmas tree.
Two hours later, with lots of bumps and scrapes on my hands, I realized I was not going to be able to put the tree back together. It looked even worse than when I’d started. I was heartbroken.
After a lot of ugly crying, I finally decided to call my husband and let him know I needed to buy a new one. To my surprise and relief, he acted genuinely sorry for me and told me to, “Just do whatever you need to do to prevent more crying.” So I dusted myself off and washed my face and made my way to four stores around town to try and find a replacement tree.
But every tree was either too expensive or too small. I just couldn’t find anything as good as what I already had.
I wasn’t quite sure what the top section and bottom section of the tree would look like put together but, at some point in all that shopping, I decided to try it out. After driving back home, I plugged everything in and stuck the first and third sections together. Turns out, it didn’t look too terrible. And everyone forgave me for running over the Christmas tree. In the end, we decided we like a tree but don’t need a perfect-looking one and would probably be happy with nothing at all.
My husband doesn’t always care about the things I care about (and vice versa) but the love and grace he showed me when I was so upset about that tree meant the world to me.
My main character, Victoria Wood, has her own Christmas tree fiasco when she tries to organize a large Christmas Eve party all by herself. But you’ll just have to read “A Match of Her Own” to find out what happens. 😉
Question for Readers: What about you? Do you have any funny stories about decorations or trees? Am I the only one who is so destructive with my holiday decorations?
About Sarah: Sarah Anne Crouch lives in Arkansas with her husband, three children, and thousands of books. She always wanted to be an author, but spent some time as a teacher, earned a degree in library science, and makes feeble attempts to corral her small children as a stay-at-home mom. Sarah loves reading books, recipes, piano music, and emails from readers. Learn more & connect:
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About the Novella Collection – A Match Made at Christmas:
A-parent-ly Christmas (by Amy R Anguish)—Noel and Joy Davidson didn’t mean to separate, but a job promotion and educational opportunities were too much for their marriage to withstand. Now, it’s Christmas and their son Andy wants them together. Between his mischief, an unexpected snowstorm, and the holiday spirit, they’re remembering why they first wanted to be together. But which one will give up their dream for the other?
A Match of her Own (by Sarah Anne Crouch)—Victoria Wood is torn between elation and devastation now that her sister is married and gone. When she realizes her sister’s best friend is alone and best-friend-less on Christmas, she knows just what to do. Set her up with a boyfriend! But pesky Jared Knight keeps getting in the way. Jared can’t date Victoria—she’s too immature—but he can’t convince his heart to move on. How will he keep Victoria from ruining everyone’s love lives? When will she realize her perfect match is closer than she thinks?
Jingle Bell Matchmakers (by Lori DeJong)—When country music star Aubrey Mayfield is lured home after years away, she’s bewildered when she and ex-fiance-now-widowed-dad Cody Lansdale keep finding themselves in the same place at the same time. As they become reacquainted, however, old feelings stir. Aubrey’s at a crossroads in her career and is contemplating a change. But when a chance at headlining her own tour takes her back to Nashville, Cody realizes her dreams may once again come between them. Unless God, with a little help from the Jingle Bell Committee, has a better plan.
The Santa Setup (by Heather Greer)—Turning friendship into love takes magic. Good thing Nicholas Eckert and Julie Clarke work at Christmas Wonderland. The attraction brims with holiday magic, not to mention four teenage elves determined that Mr. and Mrs. Claus stop playing a couple and become one. The teens will need more than mistletoe to pair up these two. Julie is seeing someone, and Nick won’t risk their friendship for possible love. Only the elven employees’ outrageous antics stand a chance of setting up Santa in time for Christmas.
Can’t wait for the drawing? Worried you won’t win? Need extra copies for Christmas gifts?
Interested in Sarah’s other titles? Get your copy/copies now!
A Match Made at Christmas Sarah’s Books
Come back Oct 14th for Shannon’s Book Bargains Roundup!
Come back Oct 15th for Mary Pat Johns!
I remember the year my mom “ almost” called off Christmas. It was about a week before Christmas. The tree and house looked great as usual. The dog decided to chase the cat up the tree. The tree of course fell over and with it many of mom’s collector bulbs and other ornaments with it! Needless to say she wasn’t pleased and shoved the tree in the garage say we weren’t having one. Dad of course couldn’t see why not so he went out and got the tree and fixed it. My brothers and I still talk about that Christmas to this day.
Funny story but not decorating the tree…rather after it was decorated.
We always have a battery operated Christmas train around the tree and one year guess who was riding that train,,, our cockatiel 😉
I have a winner! Donna B won this drawing. I appreciate Sarah for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.