I'M DREAMING OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS

I guess dreams really do come true...

We awoke on Christmas morning to several inches of snow. Truly a white Christmas.

Here are early Christmas morning pictures.

As someone who was raised in the South all the little things about snow were foreign to me until I moved to Colorado. Things like how quiet everything becomes with a layer of snow on the ground, how pristine everything looks, how much of a pain it is to shovel so the dog will have a potty path, how driving on solid ice is possible, but a challenge.

Here are the photos of our quiet Christmas morning. As Scott and I shoveled that path, I took the time to thank God for sending his Son for us.

The stillness of the morning reminded me of one of my favorite verses: "Be still and know, that I am God." Psalm 46:10

Hope's Subaru parked in the driveway. Just a little cover!

One of our outside Christmas trees. So much snow the branches are drooping. 

 Close up of one of my favorite ornaments on our tree.

Our Labradoodle loving the snow. We had a hard time catching her to bring her back into the house. We nicknamed her--Chili the Snow Dog!

I pray that y'all had a wonderful Christmas day where ever you were and that God's peace surrounded you and your family!

Thanks for visiting Lagniappe

Leave a comment if you'd like,

I love hearing from  readers!

I pray that you find "a little something extra" in each of your days.

Marian

A Christmas to Remember Blog Hop

THIS CONTEST HAS EXPIRED AS OF 12/15/2012 11:59 PM-THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING. PLEASE CONTINUE TO ENJOY OUR CHRISTMAS STORY.

THE WINNER OF THE CAJUN BASKET AND EBOOK COPY OF CAJUN FRIED CHRISTMAS IS:

KAYELEEN HAMBLIN

GRAND PRIZE WINNER OF THE $100 AMAZON GIFT CARD IS:

MRS. SYLVIA STEIN

CONGRATULATIONS LADIES!

Please join us in the celebration of our Lord and Savior, and rejoice with us our favorite Christmas songs and movies and join us on a progressive Christmas story hop.

A progressive Christmas Story? Well, six authors decided to write one story. No plot, no character profiles, no plan. Just creative license to write. The first author began the story and handed it off to the next, and so on...Read our impromptu Christmas Story. We hope you enjoy it!

Here’s how the blog hop works:

A.  Go to each blog in the order that is listed below.

B.  Read the first section of the story. Then follow the link to the next section of the      story.

C.  At each blog, comment to get entered in both the Grand Prize drawing ($100 Amazon Gift Card) and to be entered in each author’s individual drawing. Your comments can be about the story. Or you can tell us your favorite Christmas songs or movies or books. You can also tweet and like us on Facebook to be entered multiple times.

Feel free to browse each author’s bookshelf.

Blogs to visit for the Progressive Christmas Story should be visited in the order listed below:

1.   Gloria Harchar

2.   Emerald Barnes

3.   Bonnie Blythe

4.   Anita Green

5.   Marian Merritt

6.   Rich Bullock

7.   Dawn Turner

To read part 4, visit Anita Green

A Christmas to Remember - Part 5

Meredith gasped as darkness enveloped her and musty air filled her senses. She tried to remember what she'd seen on the shelves of the small pantry: canned goods, a bag of potatoes, and other objects that wouldn't help if she needed to defend herself.

The black space closed in on her. Squeezed her. Where the darkness had soothed her headache last night, this morning it terrified her as the shelves, close on each side, brushed her shoulders. She attempted a deep breath and found she couldn't get enough air for her lungs.

One…two…three…breathe. 

She wiped her palms on the seat of her pants and pressed her ear against the door.

Nothing.

She paced back and forth the two steps the small room afforded her. Her rapid shallow breaths were useless attempts to fulfill her need. If only there was some light in this darkness. Just a little. Finally, she slid to the floor with her back against the door. 

Please Lord watch over Garth. And please, please Lord, don't let me be stuck in here much longer. I don't know how much of this I can take.

A rough gravely voice burst through the silence. "Garth. Are you in there?" The voice filtered into the room from a distance. Maybe just outside the kitchen window. She couldn't be sure.

Silence answered the unknown man's question. Where was Garth?

"Garth, you coward. Show your ugly face." His sinister laughter echoed throughout the peaceful morning. The same place where only last night she'd brought innocent children—children who could have been injured while singing Christmas carols.

Meredith's chest heaved up and down, up and down.

Need air.

As she assessed her situation, her panic rose.

She attempted another deep breath and when the relief she anticipated—needed—didn't come, her heart thundered in her chest. 

Lord, please. Yea though I walk through the valley…C'mon remember, remember. I will fear no evil…She visualized the psalm on the page of her Bible and, as she recited the words, the vise squeezing her chest eased.

The image of the children's smiles from last night came to mind. They'd loved singing the familiar Christmas carols and seeing the joy on the faces of the people who'd opened their doors to them.

Except, of course, when Garth had opened his door. Now she knew why he'd had the gun. He'd gotten involved with something evil, and she had landed smack dab in the middle of it.

The image of the children's frightened and distraught faces replaced the happy joyous one. Thank God, that man, whoever he was, had not been here last night.

Her pulse pounded in her neck and head again. She stood and paced the two steps within the confined space. As she turned back toward the door, a popping sound cracked through the air. She jumped. Garth? A shiver snaked along her back causing the skin there to tingle. Would his mission of revenge get him killed? And her, too? Oh, Lord, soften his heart.

"Merrie, you okay?" Garth's whispered words bathed her heart with relief. Thank you, Lord. He still lived.

She leaned into the door and pressed her lips near the corner. "Garth, what's happening?"

"Stay put. Do not make a sound. Understand?" His commands were rushed and urgent.

She growled under her breath. "Yes."

"Merrie. It's not what you think. I'll explain later." Even rushed, tenderness seeped through his words and spread into the place of her heart that she'd thought she'd barricaded tight against Garth Decker. Had he really thought she would turn away from him because of his injuries? Did he not know how much she had loved him?

"Okay. And Garth, I don't care about the scars." The words drifted from her lips in such a soft whisper that she wondered if he'd heard her. A slight shuffle of nylon against nylon answered.

"Garth Decker, come out here, it's time to end this here and now. Just you and me." The graveled speech sent chills through her as she tried to imagine the face that belonged to the unnerving voice.

The unmistakable kluck-klack of metal on metal—a slide chambering a round—sounded from the other side of the door.

Then silence.

Moments later the slow creak of unoiled hinges betrayed the opening of the back door.

End of Part 5

To read Part 6, visit Rich Bullock.

Note: All Christian Blog Hops will be announced at CHIN Blog Hops. 

Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out! 

(All winners will be announced at CHIN Blog Hops, too.)

Comment on this blog and you will be entered in a drawing to win a Cajun Goodies Basket and a free ebook copy of my Christmas Novella, Southern Fried Christmas.

(Please leave your email address as myemail at xxxxx dot com in the comments below) 

To earn additional entries for the $100 Amazon Gift Card enter with the Rafflecopter giveaway below:

Become a follower of this blog, Lagniappe.

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Bonne Christmeusse! 

Thanks for visiting Lagniappe

I pray that you find "a little something extra" in each of your days.

Marian

An Aussie Christmas Angel by Clare Revell

Who doesn't love a love story?

Most people do and love one even more when it is based on a true story. So is the case with Clare Revell's, An Aussie Christmas Angel. I won't spoil the particulars about WHO the story is about, but I can say, you will love the characters.

When John Connington arrives in Sydney, Australia without a plan and without his suitcase, he is plunged into a world where he is forced to rely on God. There God leads him to the doorstep of roommates, Jo and Pip who were referred to John by a mutual friend of Pip's.

Jo is wary of a stranger staying in their home, until John's unbridled goodness and warmth win her over. But it takes a while.

A sweet romance set in the backdrop of "down under". While getting to know the characters, you may pick up a few new words you can sling about at your next barbie!


About Clare:

Clare lives in a small town in England with her husband, whom she married in 1992, and her three children. Writing from a early childhood and encouraged by her teachers, she graduated from rewriting fairy stories through fanfiction to using her own original characters and enjoys writing an eclectic mix of romance, crime fiction and children's stories. When she's not writing, reading, sewing or keeping house or doing the many piles of laundry her children manage to make, she's working part time in the breakfast club at one of the local schools.

She has been a Christian for more than half her life. She goes to Carey Baptist where she is one of three registrars.

Thanks for visiting Lagniappe

. 

Leave a comment if you'd like,

I love hearing from  readers!

I pray that you find "a little something extra" in each of your days.

Marian

FINDING HOME by Marianne Evans

Marianne Evans delivers a sweet Christmas read. She takes us to London via Alexa “Lexie” Gordon, a California girl who refuses to spend Christmas alone regretting her past relationship. So she takes a trip to London to visit two college roommates.

Peter Colby and his twin sister give Lexie an enthusiastic welcome and pamper her as well. Peter’s long-held emotions for Lexie shine through during her stay making Lexie question everything she feels.

Marianne’s characters are richly drawn and keep you guessing until the very end whether Lexie will follow her heart back to London and to Peter.

I loved Finding Home and Marianne’s vivid descriptions. I’ve never been to London, but after reading this book, I felt like I’d taken a trip "across the pond” and enjoyed afternoon tea and scones with old friends.

And at the end of the book…a lovely surprise. Lexie’s Cream Scones Recipe.

Cheerio!

Do people from England really say that? You tell me.

Recommend buying Finding Home for the sweet story, great characters, and the oh, so awesome scone recipe. Check it out!

If you read Finding Home, please hop over to the Amazon page and leave a favorable review!

A little about Marianne Evans:

Marianne Evans is an award-winning author of Christian romance and fiction. Her hope is to spread the faith-affirming message of God’s love through the stories He prompts her to create. Readers laud her work as: ‘Riveting.’ ‘Realistic and true to heart.’ ‘Compelling.’

Evans’s novel, Hearts Communion, earned Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year honors in the Romance category as well as best inspirational romance of 2012 by ACRA, a chapter of the Romance Writers of America. Evans has also won acclaim in such RWA contests as The Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence where she has been a finalist twice, and the Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence contest.

A lifelong resident of Michigan, Evans is active in a number of a number of Romance Writers of America chapters, most notably the Greater Detroit Chapter where she served two terms as President. She’s also active in American Christian Fiction Writers and the Michigan Literary Network.

Thanks for visiting Lagniappe.

I pray that you find "a little something extra" in each of your days.

Marian

NO SUBSTITUTE - New Release

Recently released: 

Debut novel of 

Susan Diane Johnson

No Substitute

Amy Welsh knew when she came back to the small Washington town of Goose Bay she'd eventually run into her high school sweetheart—the one who broke her heart seventeen years ago. Only Quentin Macmillan isn’t the boy she remembered. He could potentially be everything she's ever dreamed of. But remembering the past reminds Amy that she and Quentin aren't a pair of teenagers in the bloom of first love. Letting him into her life resurfaces all the hurt she's tried to ignore. Forgiveness isn't as simple—or easy—as it sounds, especially after Quentin and Amy discover his teenage daughter has been manipulating their feelings. If Amy can open her heart to healing, she’ll find the future God prepared for her.

Suzie on Suzie:


During the day I work at my local hospital as a cancer registrar. During the evenings and on weekends, I write novels that I hope will bring joy and uplift the hearts of readers. I am married and have one grown son. I love to travel and see new places - especially by train. My favorite destinations are Victoria, B.C.; Williamsburg, Virginia; Disneyland; and Avila Beach in California. I love to read, write, go to baseball games, and ride roller coasters with my son. I am a member of American Christian Fiction Writers; Romance Writers of America; Faith, Hope and Love; National Cancer Registrars Association; and Washington State Tumor Registrars Association.




To learn more about Suzie visit her at : www.susandianejohnson.com

To purchase No Substitute on Amazon.


Thanks for visiting "Lagniappe" today. Please leave Susan a comment in support of her debut novel's release. 

I pray you'll always find a "little something extra" in your day!

Marian