Happy Sunday!
Here in the US, we’re gearing up for Thanksgiving. Not only is it a fabulous day for spending time with family and focusing on the things we’re grateful for, but it’s the kickoff to the Christmas season.
Of course, outside the Church, that kickoff is focused on gifts and spending money, but this year, since Thanksgiving is so late, it’s followed immediately by the first week of Advent. I love that.
Advent is one of my favorite elements on the Church calendar. I love revisiting the whole story of God’s beautiful romance with His creation. The Advent calendar we use with our boys begins with the prophecies in Isaiah and then John the Baptist, long before we get to Mary and Joseph and the Inn with no room. And it follows along with the words of so many of the pieces in Handel’s Messiah — the soundtrack that seems to underpin this time in our home.
Do you have any special Advent traditions that you’re looking forward to beginning?
Winners this Week
Jackie Castle’s winner was Jennifer Hibdon!
Shannon Taylor Vannatter’s winner was Caitlyn Santi!
Jaycee Weaver’s winner was Megan L!
Toni Shiloh’s winner was Cindy Anderson!
If you’re a winner, you should have received an email from the author in charge of the giveaway. If not, please email us at: prizes at inspyromance dot com.
Congratulations!
Don’t forget… every comment you make qualifies you to win one of the monthly Amazon card giveaways!
Sales this Week
The Cowboy’s Mixed Up Matchmaker by Valerie Comer is 99c through today!
Reader Gathering
Did you know Inspy Romance hosts a Christian Romance Reader Gathering group on Facebook? Join us… but don’t forget to answer the questions for admittance!
Last Week on Inspy Romance
Monday: Jackie Castle talked about small ways to make Christmas special.
Tuesday: Hallee Bridgeman talked about her new release.
Wednesday: Lindi Peterson took us back to the beginning of her writing career.
Thursday: Heather Gray talked about loneliness versus connection.
Friday: Narelle Atkins recommended That’s Amore and the Tuscan Legacy series.
Saturday: Kimberly Rose Johnson shared how she is grateful and blessed.
Next Week on Inspy Romance
Monday: Valerie Comer
Tuesday: Angela Ruth Strong
Wednesday: Liwen Ho
Thursday: Closed for Thanksgivng
Friday: Ginger Solomon
Saturday: Deb Kastner
New Releases
November 2019
A Heart Reconsidered (Peacock Hill 6) by Elizabeth Maddrey
The Cowboy’s Belated Discovery (Saddle Springs Romance 5) by Valerie Comer
A Place to Find Love (Front Porch Promises 6) by Merrillee Whren
Always (Imagination 7) by Staci Stallings
Southern Hearts 1-4 by Janet W. Ferguson
Restoring Christmas by Julie Arduini
Not Until Christmas Morning (Hope Springs 5) by Valerie M. Bodden
October 2019
The Texan’s Surprise Return (the Cowboys of Diamondback Ranch) by Jolene Navarro
Sara’s Gift (Small-Town Christmas Wishes) by Kimberly Rose Johnson
Valerie’s Verdict (The Dixon Brothers 2) by Hallee Bridgeman
Nate’s Gift (Small-Town Christmas Wishes) by Jackie Castle
Once Upon a Christmas: Contemporary Retellings of Timeless Tales by Toni Shiloh, Angela Ruth Strong, Jaycee Weaver, and 2 others
Saddle Springs Romance 1-3 by Valerie Comer
Hope Springs Books 1-3 (Hope Springs Box Sets 1) by Valerie M. Bodden
A complete list of Inspy Romance books by our authors is always available on our BOOKS tab. Find our audiobooks, our permanently free e-books, and our thank-you gifts for newsletter subscribers there as well!
Elizabeth Maddrey is a semi-reformed computer geek and homeschooling mother of two who lives in the suburbs of Washington D.C. When she isn’t writing, Elizabeth is a voracious consumer of books. She loves to write about Christians who struggle through their lives, dealing with sin and receiving God’s grace on their way to their own romantic happily ever after.
Hi Elizabeth! Being raised a German Baptist, our Christmas traditions began with Advent – both at our German Baptist church and at home. Our dining table is graced with an Advent wreath and four red candles. In the center is the white Christ candle, which is lit Christmas Eve. As a Christian I appreciate what each candle represents. (1. Hope – Prophets 2. Faith – Bethlehem 3. Joy – Shepherds 4. Peace – Angels.) On our wall hangs a felt Advent Nativity Calendar. Each morning the granddaughters add a piece of the Nativity – stars, musical instruments, angels, Mary & Joseph, the donkey, baby Jesus, sheep, shepherds, the Three Wise Men and their camels. On December 6 we celebrate St. Nicholas Day – patron saint of the poor, sailors, and children, who puts candy and a small gift in your shoes that have been set by the door. The Christ Child brings children a gift on Christmas Eve – like the wise men did baby Jesus. Even though modern German traditions have embraced the secular and as Americans we open presents Christmas morning – I embrace my German heritage and traditions which separates the secular from the spiritual. Growing up our German Baptist church sang Advent hymns and my favorite is Come, Oh Come Emanuel. Best wishes for the Advent season to all Inspy Romance authors and readers.
I grew up with most of these traditions! I love the Advent wreath (we also have that). And my family still opens gifts on Christmas Eve. We do gifts with hubby’s family on Christmas day.
We light the Advent candles at church each week. To be honest, I didn’t even know about Advent (even though I grew up in the church!) until I was an adult. No one did Advent calendars, candles, etc., when I was growing up, or when my parents were growing up or when they were adults, or we’d have done it at home! If I had kids, I’d be doing it now, too. We didn’t even do Advent candles at church until I was in my 30’s!!
Just want to say Happy Thanksgiving to all authors and readers of Inspy!
Oh – I can’t imagine Christmas without an Advent wreath!
Thanks! To you as well!
Our church started the advent wreath and a reading about 10 years ago or maybe a bit longer. It wasn’t something we grew up with. I probably didn’t know much about Advent except that a few Churches celebrated it. Its interesting having the reading and lighting a candle and getting ready for Christmas Day.
A couple years ago I found some articles on advent to put in the newsletter each week.
That sounds lovely! I’m glad you were able to find articles to share with info – it’s always good to know the details when you can
I love reading advent prayers and lightning the candles to celebrate.
Me too!
We open a Christmas book every night of December. My kids favorite was a flap book called Where’s Baby Jesus? “Is baby Jesus in the castle? Nope!” But we have all kinds of great Jesus focused books! My kids also love their Veggie Tales nativity toy, which we got out about two weeks ago!
I love this so much! Doing Advent with kids is so much fun – and such a great way to remind them of Jesus and what He did for us and why.
We’ve never celebrated Advent so I really don’t know the tradition as well as someone who does every year. Obviously when our kids were growing up, we taught the real reason behind Christmas and got them excited for remembering His birth. We also had Christmas books we read to them & they loved.
Now that we have a five year old grand-girl, we’re continuing this! :-)