For the first time
since their children were born, empty nesters Judith and Stan Winters
spent Thanksgiving without the kids, and it's looking like Christmas
will be the same. Judith can't bring herself to even start decorating
for the holiday; her kids always hung the first ornaments on the tree,
ornaments they had made each year since they were toddlers. Sure they
were strange-looking--some could be called downright ugly--but they were
tradition. A tradition she's heartbroken to miss this year.
With Judith refusing to decorate the bare spruce tree in their living room, Stan knows something must be done. And his only hope for saving the holiday is found in a box of handmade ornaments.
With Judith refusing to decorate the bare spruce tree in their living room, Stan knows something must be done. And his only hope for saving the holiday is found in a box of handmade ornaments.
Published
September 1st 2015
by Revell
ISBN: 0800721195
ISBN: 0800721195
5 Stars
I moved from my family home many years ago and started a new life with my husband. My brother and sister both lived away, yet close enough to travel for the holidays. In 1987, my husband and I moved from Kentucky to Florida for his job. The first year we traveled home to spend the holidays with our parents, but the second year we were unable to come home. You can not imagine the guilt and pain I experienced during that holiday. Of course I was so focused on my own thoughts that I never once questioned how my parents felt about it.
So you can only imagine how this story actually hit me. Yes, I could imagine how Anna, Brandon and Suzanne felt, because I had been there. Then this feeling of loss hit me, because this November will make 13 years since my mother's passing. I can't pick up the phone and ask how she felt that first Christmas she had as a divorced mother of grown children not coming home for the holidays.
Judith was lucky because she still had Stan, but spouses are different than your children. This summer I tried to make as memories as I could with my children, because with my daughter being a sophomore in college I knew it would more than likely be her last summer of living at home. Our children do grow up (and rather quickly if you ask me) and start their lives as adults. Yes, like Judith I have and still do push my children to excel in their studies because I know this will lead to their success in life.
Stan was a very tender and loving husband and father, but the impact was not as strong for him. Fortunately as a husband he sees the impact on his wife and wants to help her navigate the loss and depression. His was an act of true love.
This was a refreshing story for me, because it's not about a girl meets boy and falls in love. Then again, it sort of is at the same time. This is the story of two people who joined their lives together years ago and show what a last relationship is all about.
This is a wonderful Christmas story.
It is a reminder of faith, hope and love, but the greatest is love.
Dan Walsh can weave words together that evoke both laughter and tears. He puts an artful touch to the story. This is a clean, feel good story. It has a sweet plot that flows effortlessly. It has a wonderful message that no matter what struggles you are facing today, there is another chapter to your story.
This is my first Dan Walsh book to read, but I promise you it won't be my last. I would like to thank Revell for this opportunity.
I would recommend this to anyone.
**I received this book free from the Revell as part of their book review blogger program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 guidelines.
I moved from my family home many years ago and started a new life with my husband. My brother and sister both lived away, yet close enough to travel for the holidays. In 1987, my husband and I moved from Kentucky to Florida for his job. The first year we traveled home to spend the holidays with our parents, but the second year we were unable to come home. You can not imagine the guilt and pain I experienced during that holiday. Of course I was so focused on my own thoughts that I never once questioned how my parents felt about it.
So you can only imagine how this story actually hit me. Yes, I could imagine how Anna, Brandon and Suzanne felt, because I had been there. Then this feeling of loss hit me, because this November will make 13 years since my mother's passing. I can't pick up the phone and ask how she felt that first Christmas she had as a divorced mother of grown children not coming home for the holidays.
Judith was lucky because she still had Stan, but spouses are different than your children. This summer I tried to make as memories as I could with my children, because with my daughter being a sophomore in college I knew it would more than likely be her last summer of living at home. Our children do grow up (and rather quickly if you ask me) and start their lives as adults. Yes, like Judith I have and still do push my children to excel in their studies because I know this will lead to their success in life.
Stan was a very tender and loving husband and father, but the impact was not as strong for him. Fortunately as a husband he sees the impact on his wife and wants to help her navigate the loss and depression. His was an act of true love.
This was a refreshing story for me, because it's not about a girl meets boy and falls in love. Then again, it sort of is at the same time. This is the story of two people who joined their lives together years ago and show what a last relationship is all about.
This is a wonderful Christmas story.
It is a reminder of faith, hope and love, but the greatest is love.
Dan Walsh can weave words together that evoke both laughter and tears. He puts an artful touch to the story. This is a clean, feel good story. It has a sweet plot that flows effortlessly. It has a wonderful message that no matter what struggles you are facing today, there is another chapter to your story.
This is my first Dan Walsh book to read, but I promise you it won't be my last. I would like to thank Revell for this opportunity.
I would recommend this to anyone.
**I received this book free from the Revell as part of their book review blogger program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 guidelines.
Dan was born in Philadelphia in 1957 to a mostly blue-collar,
hard-working Irish family. His father was the first person on either
side of the family to earn a college degree. It took him 9 years,
working during the day, going to college at night, using the GI Bill. In
the mid-60s, GE hired his dad as an engineer for the Apollo space
program. Dan’s family packed up and moved to Florida, which is where
Dan spent most of his childhood.
Dan’s primary interests through high school were basketball and surfing. His family attended church every Sunday, but it was’t until his senior year that Dan made a personal decision to become a Christian. In the spring of that same year, he met Cindi, the woman who would become his wife. They were married in 1976. Today, they have 2 grown children and 2 grandchildren.
During a personal retreat in 1977, Dan experienced a call to pastoral ministry. He began studying and preparing for the next several years. In 1985, he was ordained as a pastor and served in the same church for the next 25 years. In August 2010, after 3 of his novels were published by a major publishing house (Revell – Baker Publishing Group), Dan retired from ministry to write fulltime.
- See more at: http://www.danwalshbooks.com/about-dan/#sthash.X3spPrvq.dpuf
blue-collar,
hard-working Irish family. His father was the first person on either
side of the family to earn a college degree. It took him 9 years,
working during the day, going to college at night, using the GI Bill. In
the mid-60s, GE hired his dad as an engineer for the Apollo space
program. Dan’s family packed up and moved to Florida, which is where
Dan spent most of his childhood.Dan’s primary interests through high school were basketball and surfing. His family attended church every Sunday, but it was’t until his senior year that Dan made a personal decision to become a Christian. In the spring of that same year, he met Cindi, the woman who would become his wife. They were married in 1976. Today, they have 2 grown children and 2 grandchildren.
During a personal retreat in 1977, Dan experienced a call to pastoral ministry. He began studying and preparing for the next several years. In 1985, he was ordained as a pastor and served in the same church for the next 25 years. In August 2010, after 3 of his novels were published by a major publishing house (Revell – Baker Publishing Group), Dan retired from ministry to write fulltime.
- See more at: http://www.danwalshbooks.com/about-dan/#sthash.X3spPrvq.dpuf
Dan was born in Philadelphia in 1957 to a mostly blue-collar,
hard-working Irish family. His father was the first person on either
side of the family to earn a college degree. It took him 9 years,
working during the day, going to college at night, using the GI Bill. In
the mid-60s, GE hired his dad as an engineer for the Apollo space
program. Dan’s family packed up and moved to Florida, which is where
Dan spent most of his childhood.
Dan’s primary interests through high school were basketball and surfing. His family attended church every Sunday, but it was’t until his senior year that Dan made a personal decision to become a Christian. In the spring of that same year, he met Cindi, the woman who would become his wife. They were married in 1976. Today, they have 2 grown children and 2 grandchildren.
During a personal retreat in 1977, Dan experienced a call to pastoral ministry. He began studying and preparing for the next several years. In 1985, he was ordained as a pastor and served in the same church for the next 25 years. In August 2010, after 3 of his novels were published by a major publishing house (Revell – Baker Publishing Group), Dan retired from ministry to write fulltime.
- See more at: http://www.danwalshbooks.com/about-dan/#sthash.X3spPrvq.dpuf
blue-collar,
hard-working Irish family. His father was the first person on either
side of the family to earn a college degree. It took him 9 years,
working during the day, going to college at night, using the GI Bill. In
the mid-60s, GE hired his dad as an engineer for the Apollo space
program. Dan’s family packed up and moved to Florida, which is where
Dan spent most of his childhood.Dan’s primary interests through high school were basketball and surfing. His family attended church every Sunday, but it was’t until his senior year that Dan made a personal decision to become a Christian. In the spring of that same year, he met Cindi, the woman who would become his wife. They were married in 1976. Today, they have 2 grown children and 2 grandchildren.
During a personal retreat in 1977, Dan experienced a call to pastoral ministry. He began studying and preparing for the next several years. In 1985, he was ordained as a pastor and served in the same church for the next 25 years. In August 2010, after 3 of his novels were published by a major publishing house (Revell – Baker Publishing Group), Dan retired from ministry to write fulltime.
- See more at: http://www.danwalshbooks.com/about-dan/#sthash.X3spPrvq.dpuf
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