peace, love, joy, and everything good---
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Happy holidays!
Winter has come to western Washington in a big way. The weather forecasters were right on it, promising us snow for days; it's finally here, and it's absolutely beautiful. Nothing says the holidays quite like snow, does it? I thought I'd pass along a picture of my back yard--including the horses in the field. When I look up from all the cooking, wrapping, online shopping, and writing, this is the view I see.
My son is finally coming home from college tomorrow--amazingly, he is finishing up the first semester of his junior year. I can't wait to pick him up from the airport (yes, I still do that--I can't help it. I love seeing him that first time), and have the first family movie night in a long time. I just hope I get to pick the movie. Anyone have any recommendations?
I love the idea of coming up with a firefly recommends list, btw. I already love the posts that are the start of it. This is definitely something to work on in the new year.
To all fireflies, I wish you all the very best luck with the True Colors advance reading copy contest. Enter away!
I'd love to hear about your family holiday traditions, too. What is the most important "thing" you do every year, the most important food you eat? For me, it's our Christmas Eve book exchange, Christmas morning eggs benedict and homemade cinnamon rolls, skiing on Christmas day, and sneaking around after everyone else has gone to bed. All of that is in addition to family gatherings, of course. There's nothing I love more than sitting around with family (okay, often we're drinking wine or champagne), with lights and decorations all around, catching up on all the news we've missed as our lives go in different directions. This is the one time of year where we all come together. There's nothing better than that.
And as for being grateful in this holiday season, let me say how truly grateful I am for all of you who have chosen to join me on my fiction writing journey, and for all of you who dare to weigh in on the blog. It takes guts to step forward and hit "post," and I love it. For the first time in twenty years of writing, I really feel as if I know the women for whom I'm writing, and it's turned out to be so much fun. Thanks fireflies!
Happy holidays to all,
Kristin
24 Comments:
Merry Christmas, Kristin!!
Well, if there was a way to stalk, er, communicate earlier to show support, I'm sure we would have. :)
My favorite holiday moment is that moment right before Christmas or on Chrismas Day when we just turn off everything but the tree lights. I like the moment of quiet (any more than a moment, and I go a little nutty). It's like that moment in church when we used to have only the candles lit and Silent Night plays though not every church does this and we're not near my childhood church anymore.
It's cold here, but it's not quite wintery. We are going north next week though. I'll have to find a way to bundle up!
Dear Kristin.
My most favorite moment of Crristmas is mid night mass,and I think of all my wonderful family both here and gone.I love the music of the season,and my wonderful grandsons.I hope to see you at your next book signing
Merry Christmas
Love and Big Hugs
Sharon
My son just finished his first semester in college, and he insisted that we watch "The Dark Knight." I am really not into this type of movie, but to humor him, I did watch it. It was hard for me, as I really prefer light comedies or romances....Good luck, and enjoy the visit with your son! I really enjoy your books, and look forward to the new one coming in February.
I loved The Dark Knight. I saw it in the theater and jumped like 5 rows back in parts. Then again, I jumped during Journey to the Center of the Earth, too. :) I'm easily startled.
We're watching Talk to Me now. My mom liked the story, but she is kind of wimpy with bad language without any warning. She liked Knocked Up (with LOTS of warning), but she went in blind to this one. It's interesting because I really didn't know anything about Petey Greene. Don Cheadle is such a wonderful actor, but the language is a little salty. :)
Merry Christmas. Keep all the snow there. All they want to forecast here is ice and I don't want that. This is first year in three I could celebrate due to surgeries every year.
I make my Mom homemade divinity every year and have to send it to her long distance. My family has always enjoyed the homemade goodies I ship to them as I cannot be with. This year this includes my oldest daughter which is harder.
Merry Christmas everyone. It will be a white Christmas here in Wisconsin - we got seven inches of snow yesterday and are expecting six more tonight, on top of what had already fallen the last few weeks, something like 24 inches total. If anyone else would like some snow, PLEASE take it! LOL My favorite tradition has come and gone now that my children are all grown, but I loved reading them "The Night Before Christmas" on Christmas Eve, right before we set cookies out for Santa. Now my family all gathers at an aunt's house and we play Christmas BINGO, catch up with our long distance family members and of course, eat ourselves silly.
Have a blessed holiday season, Kristin and fellow fireflies - may you find joy and peace in whatever you do!
Anita
Happy Holidays!
A Christmas Story is always a classic. Or we just watched Fred Claus which was pretty good. It was a heartwarming christmas comedy, one of the Santa does exist ones. =D
Favorite moment? 2 years ago for Christmas the niece and nephew finally realized what Christmas was all about. At that moment when they opened their presents I knew what it mean when storybooks say "and their eyes lit up"!!! It was awesome.
Got done with finals and work (woohoo!) and drove home Saturday before the snow storm hit the west side. Came from Eastern WA, where it was -12 when I was driving back. I'm ready for some above freezing weather!
I like lots of Christmas movies. Especially the Santa Clause (1 and 2). They're just really fun : )
Unfortunately, my favorite family tradition won't be happening this year. I love having a real tree, it's my most favorite special thing. But my Mom doesn't want any tree at all this year. Real or fake. She said that since I came back so late, there's no point to having a tree up for 5 days.
So I think I'm going to get one when she's not home. Which is going to be a challenge because currently none of us can get a car out of the driveway....
And I have a question. Finals have addled my mind. For the contest: what do I write about and where do I send it? A little help?
Merry Christmas eveyone!
Wishing all the Fireflies a happy and joyous holiday and a new year filled with all things good!!!
Sharon, I'm with you. Midnight mass is what I look forward to most during this time of year. Though, now it's not actually at midnight at our church--10:00 p.m. :) But it still holds all of the magic no matter what time.
And Sheila, check out the main page of Kristin's site for information on the contest. Good luck!!
Kim
Hi fellow F-FLIES !!! I wish you could see me now. I really look like a fly! My surgery (nasal valve repair) was on Friday and today is the first day I feel like I might make it. With the bandages, I am quite the sight to see. All is good! I am SO incredibly blessed. My precious husband has been the best nurse ever. It's been very easy to rest and begin healing.
I am so excited for CMAS! Our children will be with us. We will attend candlelight church service on CMAS Eve and then I'll read the Twelve Days of Christmas, nasal pitch and all. The kids act totally humiliated, now that they are "grown" (HA - 20 & 14), but the smiles on their face tell me they love it too.
I have so much to be thankful for this year. Anyone following Kristin's blog knows that I am always ready to share my joy! 2008 has been the best year of my life. I'm finally grown up, and completely in my bliss, at 39. Wow!
Merry Christmas and the Happiest of 2009 to anyone who has reached out to us via this blog, but especially to Kristin and Kim. You have both shared your lives with us, and embraced ours. I am proud to be a Firefly and count you all as very special blessings!
Much Love! Lisa
Hi Kristin,
I'm a first time blogger and I guess I can consider myself a firefly - since I turned 50 on Dec. 18 - the date of your latest post. Firefly Lane and all of its music, clothes, tv shows, and other 70's references were taken verbatim from my life and those of my girlfriends!! I really enjoyed it...just sat on the floor crying for that whole last chapter...didn't want to take the time to move to a more comfortable spot. I have close girlfriends that were at my surprise party and they got up and spoke and made me feel so special. One song "Love will keep us together" by Capt. and Tenille was mentioned as our "anthem" with dance moves included.
One of my new favorite movies to recommend is a Hallmark channel movie called "Silent Night" and would be a good one to watch with your son. It takes place in WWII and is about a German Woman and her son in a cabin on the front lines who let American and German soldiers take refuge on Christmas eve. It is a true story and is very intense, but very beautiful. Another good Hallmark movie is "Silver Bells" about a family from Nova Scotia that comes down to New York City to sell their Christmas trees.
A childhood tradition was for my family was to get our Christmas tree on my birthday. My favorite tradition as a parent is for our family to cook a "roast beast" and just stay home on Christmas day, reading new books, watching new movies. We are fortunate to go to a church where they still do have a candlelight service on Chr. eve. We sing Silent Night with the first verse in German. I'm looking forward to this year because at the service my husband will be singing in the choir and my 15 yr. old son will accompany the group on violin for a song "On this Still and Silent Night". I teared up even in practice. Maybe it will be a new tradition. Thanks for your books, Kristin. My first was Summer Island and I just loved how you imbedded humor into those characters with all that mother-daugher angst !! That little girl in "On Mystic Lake" stayed with me a long time, as did the wild wolf girl in Magic Hour.
Hi Guys! Kristin, Kim, Lisa and all my other firefly buddies, Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays!
I've been absent for a little while, I was pretty ill. I'm 31 and felt like I was 90. Body aches, much like the flu, hard, I mean HARD to function, especially with my three kiddos (11,8 and 3). I got diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis, and am on medication now feeling so much better! So this holiday, I am thankful that there is a name to what I have and they have medicine for it. I've missed you all and the blogs. I will have to catch up.
We have candlelight service tonight. I love hearing O Holy Night, it brings me to tears every time. I also love hearing Mary Did you know? Then a celebration at my mom's house with cousin's galore!
MOVIES
Hancock was okay
The Dark Night was great!
Shrek the Halls was great!
Twilight pretty good
27 Dresses great!
I have Facing the Giants and Street Kings at home. I am getting Horatio Hornblower for Christmas and just purchased The Inheritence.
BOOKS
Flat-Out Sexy by Erin McCarthy ROCKS
Reading The Gift by Julie Garwood Right Now (Am #3 on the list at the library to get Fire and Ice Tues)
#4 for SEP's new book
Waiting for Lisa Kleypas' Smooth Talking Stranger
Get better soon Lisa!
Have a Safe and Happy Day tomorrow! Cindy
Kristin, I forgot to say how profound your statment was, that you finally know who reads your books after 20 years. I feel like I know you as an author. Every time a friend or someone wants a good read, I am giving my Firefly Lane "sale". And then always follow up with not only is she a great writer, but a great person. So thank you for sharing with us!
Cindy W - thank you so much for the well wishes. I am feeling MUCH better!
I am so sorry for your diagnosis, but like you - am thankful the doctors have identified it and can treat it. I will keep you in my prayers, for relief from your pain & sucessful medication results.
I knew you and I were kindred spirits when we both won the pre-read contest for True Colors. When I read your blog about O! Holy Night and Mary Did You Know?, I got chills. Those are my two absolute, hands down favorite songs of this wonderful, blessed season.
God Bless!
Dear April, Sharon, Laura, and JoAnn--
Merry Christmas to all of you, too! It's so great that we can stay in touch, even during these busy weeks. One of the things this blog always reminds me of is that we're all living versions of the same life. We women. We are all moved and touched by the same things, and the holidays are really at the heart of all of it.
And about the Dark Knight. Funny that so many of you should mention it. It was one of the movie gifts my hubby and I gave our son. Now, in the theaters, I loved the movie, but thought it could have used a little more emotion. (What can I say? I'm a love story gal). But I'm going to watch it again. I'll let you know what I think.
Thanks for the Christmas memories and traditions...
aloha,
K
Dear Squiresj and Anita--
I know how tough it is to be apart from loved ones during the holidays. My sister lives in So Cal, and we don't get together often at Christmas, and I really miss her. It's a great idea to send along a little love in the form of divinity and cookies. I'm sure your family loves to get any little goodies that remind them of how much you love and miss them. The only good thing I can say about it is that since love lives in our memories and hearts, a little separation can't stop all of that.
And Anita, I am totally with you on the games. That's a big holiday tradition in the Hannah household. Hearts, cribbages, Taboo, and gin rummy. I love it!
aloha,
K
Dear Wendy--
Merry christmas to you, too!! Thanks for the Fred Claus recommendation. I thought it was going to be too sharp for the holidays...you know, not sentimental enough. I like my Christmas movies to be really heartwarming. But now I'll give it a try!
aloha,
K
Dear Sheila--
Congratulations on finishing your finals. That must feel great. I'll send you a little mental picture of a Christmas tree. No wonder you miss that tradition--I would miss it, too. I was actually thinking of you on our long drive to Idaho this year. There was a ton of snow dumping on cheney, so I'm glad to hear you're home safe and sound.
Good luck on your grades.
aloha,
k
Dear Lisa--
As always you are an inspiration to all of us! I'm glad to hear that your surgery went well, and that you feel great for the holidays. And if you've actually found a good man who turn out to be a good nurse, you have hit the lottery! No wonder you're so happy.
Have fun with all the kids at the holidays...
aloha,
K
And of course, I have to say Merry Christmas to Kim, even though I talk to you all the time. If I don't answer her on the blog, she'll get cranky. But don't tell her I told you that...
:)
k
Dear Susan B:
WELCOME to the blog!!! It's great to meet you. You sound like one of us already. I can so remember dancing to Captain and Tenille! I think that's one of the reasons Firefly Lane resonated with so many women *of a certain age,* we all shared so many of the same songs and moments in our coming of ages.
Even your christmas memories sound like mine--roast beast and all. You must have come from a Grinch loving family, too. :)
It's great to hear from you and I hope you'll stay in touch. Be sure and enter the TC contest and say that you're a firefly.
aloha,
K
Dear Cindy W-
Gosh, I am so sorry to hear about how ill you've been, and I am so so glad to hear that a diagnosis has helped. It must be just awful to feel bad and not know why. But I can tell from your posts that you're a strong and optimistic woman, and when you put those two characteristics together, you can accomplish anything. We're all pulling for you and hope you feel better soon.
And thanksk so much for the comments about Firefly Lane. It really has been remarkable to get to know all of you, my readers, after so many separate years. The most amazing thing about it is to realize how alike we all are and how easily we could all be friends. The internet has really made a huge difference in all of that, hasn't it? Now we can communicate with and be helped by women from all over the world, whom we would never otherwise get to meet. And we're all richer because of it.
Happy hoidays, Cindy. We're all thinking of you.
aloha,
K
Thank you! I really am doing great and plan to start resume exercising tomorrow! I haven't been able to exercise since October. I download a book on my ipod and listen away!
Will you be collecting kids book for Africa? If so, I need to start a box at home instead of donate them!
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