Meet Linda!
She is a mother of 14--4 homemade, 10 adopted--Linda shares her life with her one and only husband, a grown son, and a paraplegic client. She makes her home on a farm/ranch in Alberta, Canada where she can see the beautiful Rocky Mountains daily. She is a member of RWA On-line, Calgary RWA Chapter and FHL. She is multipublished with Heartsong Presents. The Dreams of Hannah Williams (a Heartsong release) is due out in Dec. and her first Love Inspired Historical, The Road to Love, will be on the shelves in May 08. For more information about Linda and her books, visit her website and blog!
Tell us about your first Christmas memory?
There were 3 of us—the last in a blended family. We had measles and were confined to bed so Mom put cots for the three of us in the living room and we opened our gifts from our beds. I don't remember my gift. I only remember the excitement of being in my pajamas and in bed to open presents.
Growing up, did your family have Christmas traditions? Tell us how you incorporated them into your family life. Or, how you created new ones.
My husband and I raised a large family and tried to make Christmas more about Jesus' birth than the gifts. Christmas Eve we had Jesus' birthday party. The kids dressed up and acted out the Christmas story as someone read the story from the Bible. We lit candles and sang Christmas songs and then had a birthday cake for Jesus. As gifts to Him, each year we wrote a letter to Jesus, telling Him what we would like to give Him. Each letter was sealed until next year and no one opened the letters except the writer so I have no idea what they wrote but certainly things like 'be nicer to my brother' or 'argue less with Mom and Dad.' I think every year, I promised, with His help, to be more patient. LOL
When do you put up your tree?
When the kids were home, they were in charge of decorating. Usually they did a good job. When they finished, there wasn't much wall or window space that hadn't received some form of adornment. Now that they are gone, I like to have things more simple. Last year, we didn't even put up a big tree. Instead, I put out a collection of small trees - like one with fiber optic lights in the branches, one all silvery and glittery, one made from wood -- and I put out several different crèche sets.
What is your favorite Christmas song or album.
I love Christmas music and start playing it throughout the house as soon as Christmas makes its first appearance in the stores but I discovered a favorite song a few years ago. By Paul Brandt, it is 'The Way In A Manger." It's a beautiful song. Here are the lyrics for part of it:
The way in a manger is a babe fast asleep
He's never a stranger to wise men who seek
The light and the hope for all of mankind
He's the way in a the manger
And He's easy to find
If you want to listen to a clip of it, here is a link A Paul Brandt Christmas: Shall I Play For You
What is Christmas Morning like at your house?
Christmas morning with our family meant opening stockings as soon as everyone was up. Presents in the stockings were simple—candy (to ruin their breakfast), little useful things like gloves, pens, notebooks, storybooks, etc. After that, we had breakfast and my husband had to go do chores (we live on a ranch and the cows have to be fed first). Then we gathered around the tree and opened gifts, usually joined by grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins. Gift opening had to be done the right way. One person received a gift and we all waited as he opened it and we had a chance to admire it before we handed out the next gift. And yes, sometimes it took hours but it was a fun way of sharing the excitement and joy.
Seems to me snow and Christmas go together, and in Montana that's almost a given! Tell us about your Christmas setting?
Christmas in Alberta on a farm often means snow. Or a Chinook wind with snow melting. Or brown and dry. But whatever the weather the kids always went outside at some point to skate or play in the snow or, if there was no snow, play ball or ball hockey. There were always enough kids around for teams. The adults often went for a walk too but only if the weather was warm.
Now that the kids have to come home for Christmas, we celebrate in a different way. We pick a day that works for everyone, often not Christmas day itself. And we gather for gifts and a big meal.
Confession time. Shop on line or at the mall?
Shudder. Shopping is a chore for me. I like to see and feel what I am buying so I go to the mall but only after I've shopped locally in my small hometown and bought as much as I can get without facing the crowds.
Christmas grows more and more commercial every year. Setting the hustle and bustle aside, what does Christmas really mean to you?
There was a time Christmas meant new clothes for all the kids and a new toy to help pass the winter months. We tried to make it about need rather than greed. I remember a scene in one of The Little House on the Prairie books where the girls got a tin cup so now they wouldn't have to share cups and for each, an orange. Gifts meant something to those kids. Nowadays, It seems that gift giving among many of us has become buying things people don't need for people who have way too much.
So the goal I am slowly working toward is for the Ford family to forego gifts among the adults (at least when we gather here) and instead, donate an amount that will help someone who needs it -- buy a cow for a family in Africa, purchase materials for a school or medical center, or pay for a meal at a homeless shelter -- giving to people with a real need. And as we gather to celebrate the true reason for Christmas -- the baby in a manger –rejoice in the joy of each other. I want to spend time visiting or playing games together rather than opening presents.
It’s Christmas day… what’s for dinner? Do you make cookies or other traditional foods?
My kids all have favorites they expect to see at Christmas. For some, turkey and mom's homemade stuffing is necessary. For others, ham is essential. So I now do both. Cranberry sauce is required by one son (others like it too). I used to make pies as my husband's mother always did but no one has room for pies and now my youngest son thinks Christmas dessert should be no-bake cheesecake. It is easy to make so I'm more than happy to go with that. For me, the most important thing is to have as much of the family as possible gathered around one table (okay make it two or three tables stretched out to fill the living room. BTW, when we moved a few years ago, God provided the perfect house for us so we can line up the tables this way.)
My wish is that my family and yours might enjoy the true joy of Christmas.
Thank you so much for sharing Linda!
