The Winner of Jolene Navarro’s prize package is Angela Chestnut. Congratulations, Angela. Now, on to Patricia’s Christmas memory.
My favorite Christmas memory happened long, long ago in Groton, Connecticut. I was facing the most depressing Christmas of my young life. My sailor husband was deployed on his submarine, and I was fifteen hundred miles away from my close-knit family in Kansas. Only the presence of my beautiful baby daughter allowed me to find joy in my situation. I put my 7 month old in her backpack carrier and went to a local Christmas tree farm. I picked out a beautiful small tree, but I didn’t have the money for ornaments. I settled for a cheap string of colored lights, popcorn strands, a few handmade paper stars and tinsel. It filled my lonely little apartment with the wonderful fragrance and feel of the holidays. Then, wonder of wonders, I got a call from my husband. His submarine had come in for unexpected repairs and he would have a twenty-four hour leave, on Christmas Eve. You can’t imagine how happy I was as I cuddled up beside him on our sofa with the baby in my arms and our Christmas tree twinkling in the corner of the room. My lonely Christmas had turned into a very blessed Christmas, indeed.
Amish Christmas Joy
One minute, Caleb Mast is an oil-rig roughneck who answers to no one but himself. The next, he’s the father of a special-needs child he never knew existed. What kind of home can a man like him—without faith or community—provide for an eight-year-old girl? For little Joy’s sake, Caleb returns to the Amish community he left behind years ago. His daughter bonds with Amish schoolteacher Leah Belier, and Caleb feels hopeful for once. But Leah blames Caleb for dashing long-ago dreams and can’t bear to trust him. With Christmas weeks away, one special girl just may bring two hearts—and an entire community—together.
Patricia is giving away two copies of Amish Christmas Joy and an ornament.
Patricia Davids was born and raised in central Kansas. Her career as a nurse spanned 40 years, most of that in the NICU, a true place of miracles. Now, she’s a full time writer. She enjoys traveling, but she loves spending time with her daughter, her grandchildren and one overgrown yellow Lab named Sadie, who thinks fetch is a game to be played day and night. When not on the road or throwing a ball, Pat is happily dreaming up new stories.
*To be eligible for Patricia’s presents, you must leave a comment and live within the Continental United States. Winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will be notified Dec 4, and posted on the sidebar as well.
20 responses to “3rd Day of Christmas ~ Patricia Davids”
Aw, I love this story, Patricia! What a special Christmas indeed.
That Christmas memory is made all the more special because my honey is gone now. I sure do miss that guy.
I love collecting Christmas ornaments and revisiting the memories each year when I get them out for the tree.
Many years ago we had a house fire and lost everything. When we settled into our new home we threw a Christmas party and asked people to bring Christmas ornaments as housewarming gifts. I treasure them all.
Sometimes it’s those little things, like homemade ornaments, that mean the most and bring the most joy. We have several on our Christmas tree that our children have made through the years. They are priceless gems to us. 🙂
They are priceless.
What a touching story. Thank you for sharing.
You’re very welcome.
What a beautiful story! Love to read happy stories.
I Iove amish stories . its like being in a whole new place
I’m glad you enjoy Amish stories. I’m always amazed at how popular they are.
I’ll admit I teared up reading this one. Great story, Patricia.
Thank you. My husband has been gone for two years now, but I love sharing stories about him with people. My granddaughter especially loves to hear them.
Sounds like a good book…
I never know when I write them if they are good or not. By the end of the story I’m just ready for the couple to say, “I love you,” and let me move on.
Oh, my goodness, I am sitting here with tears in my eyes at your beautiful story of your daughter’s first Christmas. What a blessed gift it was to have your husband home like that!
I love your Amish books (just finished one, in fact–A Home for Hannah–LOVED it! I pick books up used when I can since my hubby has been out of work nearly 7 months now) and when I’m done reading them, I pass them onto our daughter who is the one who introduced me to Amish fiction. She loves having them.
A merry and blessed Christmas to you, Patricia! (I just found your author page on FB. 🙂 )
I’m so sorry to hear you hubby is out of work. I’ll add your family to my prayer list tonight.
Wonderful story!
Thank you Katy. Thanks for stopping in.
I’m please so many people stopped by and left a comment. Sorry I wasn’t here to chat today. I’d like to wish all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thanks, too, to Christina for hosting me.