Be sure to enter for your chance to win an ebook edition of Providence at the end of the post. Today, I’d like to introduce you to Sarah and Margie Hensley, daughters of main character Elaina Hensley in my Christmas novella Wish Upon a Star. Sarah became close friends with Emily Bainbridge in Providence, Book 3 in the Apple Hill Series. At fourteen and nine respectively, they’re at the ages where Christmas traditions can be an anchor that holds a family together, even when things are challenging. This reminded me of a tradition we had with our own children that has continued through the years and brought us closer together, even though we now live so far apart.
As I prepared to write today’s Christmas Tradition post, I found myself immersed in memories, which is the point of this series. Both of our children are movie buffs, and although I was never good at sitting still long enough to watch television with them, this was one tradition that trumped whatever other tasks I had on my to-do list. Christmas Movie Night. Now that they’re grown and residing in separate states, whenever we get together for the holidays, it’s an event that spans several evenings. Each night, after the dinner dishes are cleared up, we sit down to watch a Christmas movie together. We’ll watch some of the same ones we did when they were children, and some that are more up to date.
I love this. Not because we’re watching a movie but because we’re doing it together as they reminisce about past Christmases, and it connects us to a simpler time. There is nothing sweeter to me than hearing the laughter of my children, even now that they are adults.
When they were little, the choices were limited to such classics as “Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” The original 1966 version (based off the 1957 book) is still my favorite. But as the kids got older, they preferred the 2000 remake with Jim Carey. Another classic, which I will never tire of watching is “Miracle on 34th Street.” Even at the age of nine, Natalie Wood shone as little Susan Walker—the same age Margie Hensley is in Wish Upon a Star. There is of course the 1994 remake with Mara Wilson in the same role, but it’s not quite the same. So few remakes live up to the originals.
Our Christmas movie choices changed some as the kids aged. Since this tradition was more about them than it was about me, I let them take the lead with movies such as “Home Alone.” I was even willing to suffer through “Home Alone 2” but when it came to number 3, I used the careful art of manipulation to encourage them to make better choices.
The classics cannot be beat, but not everyone has an old soul like me. If I had my way, we would have watched “What a Wonderful Life,” every year, but I was in the minority. I’m being totally transparent here when I admit I have never been able to get through the movie that everyone else seems to hail as the Christmas movie to watch—the 1983 film “The Christmas Story.” I thought it was a defect on my part until my husband and I tried again to watch it a few years ago, and he turned it off before we were thirty minutes into it. But I hear it’s a classic that cannot be beat. No judgment here.
I prefer others such as “The Nativity Story”, which was released in 2006. This is one that will keep your Christmas Movie Tradition steeped in Christ (where it truly belongs). We took our adult daughter to see this at the movies when it first came out, and it’s a beautiful rendition of the birth of Christ. “Polar Express” is a fun animated movie in which Tom Hanks shines bright. And one of my favorite new movies which came out on Netflix in 2018 “The Christmas Chronicles” with Kurt Russell. Last year, “Christmas Chronicles 2” was released and is also entertaining.
It doesn’t matter what you watch, as long as it’s a family affair. Pop some popcorn (cinnamon and sugar or peppermint will make it merrier), hot cocoa, or apple cider and get comfortable on the couch. Even the crankiest teen will be hard pressed to close him/herself off in the bedroom and miss out on the fun.
Fairy tales and wishing upon stars are for those who still believe in romance.
Sometimes misplaced trust injures more than ourselves, and doesn’t Elaina Hensley know it. When her oldest daughter is left suffering the consequences, Elaina vows to protect her girls at any cost. Nothing, not even her own happiness, will sway her again.
Or will it?
She’s got this protective self-denial down pat—right up to the moment her best friend’s brother arrives on the scene like a fairytale knight, vowing to slay all her dragons. She must—she will resist.
However, when her worst nightmare comes back to haunt her, Elaina has to admit she needs that white knight on her side.
Be sure to enter for a chance to win an ebook edition of Providence. For a limited time, you can receive the ebook edition of Wish Upon a Star the special price of only $2.99. Grab your copy here. You can still enter for Day 1 (a $15 Amazon Gift Card), Day 2 (an ebook edition of Saving Faith), and Day 3 (an ebook edition of All That Glitters).
Comments 1
I love Christmas traditions. My daughters and I love to watch Christmas movies.