I’m the first to admit that I day dream–a lot. I don’t know why my mind wanders, but it does. Rather than allowing it to be a problem, I’ve embraced my over-active imagination and put it to use as a writer. However, that was not the case one Christmas many years ago.
I don’t recall how old I was, but I’m guess no older than five or six. We were spending Christmas at my Grandmother’s house and had stayed the night on Christmas Eve. My sister and I were sleeping on cots in a room that was directly off the main living area in the small house.
When I was a child I barely slept on Christmas Eve due to my excitement about Santa coming. I know not everyone does Santa, but my parents did, and I never doubted for a second that he was real. I woke up early as usual and heard what sounded like wrapping paper being crumpled. I’d been warned the night before that I was not allowed to get out of bed to peek at the tree or else . . . so there I was with my over active imagination. I held my breath certain that Santa Clause was in the other room wrapping presents.
After it became quiet I called out to anyone who might be listening and asked if I could get up. My mom gave me permission. I charged out of the room and into the living room and sure enough Santa had come. :) Then all of a sudden I heard sleigh bells–for real! My mom said to run to the window and look outside for Santa, so I did. Sure enough, he was in the sky soaring with his reindeer! I was so excited. :)
Years later I was revisiting that memory with my family and learned that my grandma had been in her bedroom jingling the bells to play with my mind.
Isn’t the mind a powerful thing? I know it wasn’t possible to see what I saw, but I really and truly saw him flying with his reindeer.
I’ve since grown up and left behind my childish beliefs and have embraced the real meaning for Christmas–the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
As you celebrate Christmas this year I encourage you to embrace the reason for the season and share the joy we have in Christ.
I’m compiling a list for another blog post about readers’ favorite books in 2015. Please leave me the title of your top three for 2015. Finally, I would love it if you’d subscribe to my newsletter. You can do so at http://kimberlyrjohnson.com/.
Blessings to all of you and Merry Christmas!
Award winning author Kimberly Rose Johnson married her college sweetheart and lives in the Pacific Northwest. From a young child Kimberly has been an avid reader. That love of reading fostered a creative mind and led to her passion for writing. She especially loves romance and writes contemporary romance, romantic mystery, and romantic suspense that warms the heart and feeds the soul. Kimberly holds a degree in Behavioral Science from Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington, and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.
Such a sweet childhood memory, Kimberly. You’re grandmother ringing the bells, sounds like something my grandmother would have done.
My favorite books of 2015 were:
Bridge of Faith
A Beautiful Kind of Broken
Jesus Calling
Thanks for the link to your newsletter. Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to you too. Jill. Thanks for leaving your book list. :)
Love the Thoreau quote.
My favorites are
A Reason to Run
The Grand Sophy
Isle of Hope
Great story about your imagination! I think it’s really fun that your grandma jingled the bells. As for the top three books–wow, that is SO HARD! I recently discovered RaeAnne Thayne, and her Christmas books are wonderful. Also Brenda Minton’s A REUNION FOR THE RANCHER.
Thanks for the post and sharing your wonderful Christmas memory, Kim! Why do you think I wrote a book called Daydreams (which was the first book you’ve read of mine, as I recall)? Dream on, believer! :) I’ll decline to name favorite books since there are many good ones out there, and many written by my friends. I’ll let the readers speak instead. Blessings to you and yours during this joyous Christmas season!
Thanks for sharing your favorite books, Katy C. :)
Thanks, JoAnn. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and make many more new memories. :)
Hi Lee, Thanks for sharing your book choices. :)
What special memories of the bells ringing! So sweet! I have read so many books this year and there are more than three that are my favorites. Merry Christmas! Blessings to you and your family.
How clever your grandma was with the jingle bells!! And I bet in your child’s mind, you did see Santa’s Reindeer :-)
Top 2015 reads:
Sarah Ladd’s Whispers of the Moors series (three books)
Dani Pettrey’s Alaskan Courage series (5 books?)
Rosanna White “The Lost Heiress”
Sandra Byrd “Mist of Midnight”
Naomi Rawlings Eagle Harbor series (4 so far)
Julie Klassen “The Tutors Daughter” and “The Dancing Master” (working on The Secret of Pembrooke Park)
I know I named more than 3 and most of them are series, but I just can’t help it…lol!! There are so many more great books I’ve read over 2015 :-) And 2016 is shaping up to be another great book reading year!
Loved your post. My folks let believe in Santa but we always knew it was about the birth of Jesus Christ, God’s only son. Our tradition was to read the story of Jesus’ birth before we opened any gifts. My mother loved Christmas and even though we never had much money, she would remember all the nieces and nephews and the kids in her Sunday school class as well as me and my brothers. Her joy was giving not receiving. It was never anything special, it was just idea that someone thought to remember all the ones she loved. I think I miss her most at this time of year.
I have read too many great books this year to name three. Thank you for the wonderful books you have written.
Purplemeri65, your mother sounds like she was a wonderful person with a big heart. Memories of our loved ones are especially special this time of year. :)
LOL on the books. I should have asked everyone to list their top ten.
I know what you mean about there being so many great books, Trixi. I can’t even remember all the books I’ve read, much less narrow it down to my top three. I really should have asked for the top ten books. :) Merry Christmas!
Love your imagination! I read so many books this year it’s hard to chose.. The War Room, The Butterfly and The Violin and Sparrow of Terezin would be at the top.
My top three books of 2015 are:
Come Rain or Come Shine by Jan Karon
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
Fifteen Minutes by Karen Kingsbury
Thanks, Jessica!