Christmas in July
Years ago I attended a church where they put up a Christmas tree in July. The minister talked about how she loved the tradition of Christmas in July because the reason for the season got overwhelmed by commercialism during December.
I agreed with her and loved the service. Even people who at first thought it a little silly realized that having a reason to remember the birth of Jesus in the middle of the year for itself, not just as a reason for gifts, enjoyed it.
Sometimes people start thinking about the holiday this time of year because Thanksgiving and Christmas are the times when they see their family -- or their family made of friends -- together. I know one woman who loves to make homemade gifts for her family but there are so many of them if she didn't start now she'd never get them all made.
So today I decided I would write this and offer a chance to win an autographed copy of An Amish Christmas: Expanded Edition, by Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, Barbara Cameron, and Kelly Long. The original edition of the book is quite special for me as it's the first inspirational novella I wrote. One Child, my contribution, is special to me. The book did very well and the following year, Kelly Long was asked to write a story for it and that became the Extended Edition. Now here all of us are on the AmishHearts.com site writing blogs about the Amish! You can see the cover of the book if you scroll down to the right of this...
If you'd like to enter the contest leave a comment at AmishHearts.com and tell me your favorite Christmas in July OR Christmas in December memory.
Merry Christmas in July!
Barbara
I agreed with her and loved the service. Even people who at first thought it a little silly realized that having a reason to remember the birth of Jesus in the middle of the year for itself, not just as a reason for gifts, enjoyed it.
Sometimes people start thinking about the holiday this time of year because Thanksgiving and Christmas are the times when they see their family -- or their family made of friends -- together. I know one woman who loves to make homemade gifts for her family but there are so many of them if she didn't start now she'd never get them all made.
So today I decided I would write this and offer a chance to win an autographed copy of An Amish Christmas: Expanded Edition, by Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, Barbara Cameron, and Kelly Long. The original edition of the book is quite special for me as it's the first inspirational novella I wrote. One Child, my contribution, is special to me. The book did very well and the following year, Kelly Long was asked to write a story for it and that became the Extended Edition. Now here all of us are on the AmishHearts.com site writing blogs about the Amish! You can see the cover of the book if you scroll down to the right of this...
If you'd like to enter the contest leave a comment at AmishHearts.com and tell me your favorite Christmas in July OR Christmas in December memory.
Merry Christmas in July!
Barbara
Posted by Barbara Cameron at 7/17/2011 5:51 PM 
Categories: Amish Christmas stories, Amish novellas
Tags: An Amish Christmas Expanded Edition
Categories: Amish Christmas stories, Amish novellas
Tags: An Amish Christmas Expanded Edition
I got a horse when I was 13. I rode bareback for 2 years, til my mom and uncle surprised me with a second-hand saddle for Christmas when I was 15. I was totally shocked! Its my favorite Christmas memory!
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My favorite Christmas was the first Christmas as a single parent. My children and I made decorations for a tree my father had given us. We made gifts with materials we had purchased from a store going out of business. A church had adopted us unbeknownst to me. I remember my 8 year old son saying to his 6 year old sister, "See we prayed God would give us a good Christmas and he gave us a great one." They were not just focused on the presents they received, they were focused on all of the gifts they had made to give. They are married and have kids now and whenever they visit they mention the year we made ornaments for our tree and how special that Christmas was. They each have several of those ornaments they hang each year on their own tree. To me it was so special because my kids have always focused on Christ's birthday instead of the presents.
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My favorite Christmas was in December - one that I will never forget. I am NOT a quilter - yet I wanted to make a quilt for my three daughters. Instead of piecing the quilts, I took an idea from a friend and used a solid piece of fabric with something favorite to each daughter. One was a parrot print; one a cat print and one a dog print. I worked diligently on these and did not say anything to anyone except my husband. I used a corresponding solid for the backing on each quilt and I must say that they looked pretty good when I finished. When the gifts were passed, I asked all three of the girls to open their gifts at the same time. Oh my goodness, how surprised and shocked they were and tears and more tears began to flow - tears of happiness. And then the hugs and kisses. My husband (always the clown) said, "The thing that surprises me most is that your Mother did not tell you about the quilts. She started them back in the spring of this year!" That proved that I CAN keep a secret. mw
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Oh goodness I love reading anything Amish. Would love to read this book.
I'll have to say my favorite Christmas in December was the Christmas of 1985. That's the day my youngest daughter was born. Yep, She's a Christmas baby! The hospital put her in a red stocking.For sure, that's one I'll never forget and will cherish always. (She thinks she gets cheated out of birthday gifts). Haha. It's hard sometimes to combine a birthday and Christmas but we do.
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I shop for christmas all year long, not just in July, but i would have to say that my favorite december memories is having santa at our house, in full costume, for everyone, with packages for all in his sack.
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It would have to be the year I got what I REALLY wanted. A talking doll. Chatty Cathy. Pink pinafore dress with white apron.
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ok so my favorite is when my grandad took the card board thing that comes off of paper towels and tapped it real good at the bottom and then puts ton of change in it then he told me to shake it and money fell all over the place and also when my two older siblings come home and stay up late for Santa
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One of my favorite Christmas memories is when I received my first bicycle as a child.
I live in Louisiana and it was a rainy Christmas day. That did not deter my joy. I was small enough that Mom let me ride the bicycle in the house. I can actually remember turning the curves and going through the doorways.
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I would absolutely love to win a copy of An Amish Christmas:Expanded Edition! I've read An Amish Christmas and absolutely LOVED it! What a treasure it would be to win the Expanded Edition!!!!
Merry Christmas in July. I remember our church celebrating that when I was a little girl. We always got special gifts for our missionaries!
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I'd have to say right now is my favorite Christmas in July. We've had more family at our house this month than I can count. Wonderful month and I am very blessed. Love you Barbara.
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My favorite Christmas memory is when I was about ten. My parents couldn't afford to get me a new bike for Christmas.Mmy Dad bought an old bike at the Goodwill, repainted and fixed it up. To me it was a brand new bike.
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This July our family had our family reunion theme "Christmas in July" It was awesome we had stockings for every member of the family, and had christmas trees, and other decor. Everyone loved it, we always have a auction at the end to make money to support each reunion,So we had real nice stockings for grandpa and grandma which have both passed on that was auction off at the last. It was lots of fun!
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I think it would have to be my first Christmas after moving to the USA. My husband had just converted to Christianity (he's Jewish)and we put up our first tree together and had a wonderful time decorating it. I got to put up my fave ornaments I'd brought with me and start a collection with him that continues to this day ... and yes, we still put up the menorrah too ... Christmas has become a very special place in our house ... for all the right reasons.
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Honestly I don't have just one memory, it was just a wonderful time of the year to head over to my Grandma's for lunch, I got to see all of that side of the family, which were MANY, we didn't see them much other than the holidays! Not to mention the best meals! What I wouldn't do to go back to those days, but I will always have those PRECIOUS MEMORIES! I would love to be entered! Thank You!
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My favorite Christmas in December was special because we had sent gifts to relatives out of town, had a lovely dinner, and spent time praying for my brother who was in the army in the Korean War. We left all of our gifts under the tree until mid-February when he was discharged and came home. Then we were willing to open gifts with him. Having him safely home was our best gift.
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Thank you Barbara for an opportunity to win!!
At 53 years old I would have to say my favorite memory was just last Christmas 2010. My precious Mama underwent open heart surgery July 2009. Exactly one year later July 2010 she was diagnosed with lung cancer and immediately began radiation and chemo at the same time. She was one sick lady that kept encouraging everyone around her. Her faith in God never faltered and she continues to remind everyone that there are others in worse shape than she is. For Christmas last year her prayer was that she, daddy, my siblings and families all go to the beach together. Praise God she was relieved of chemo / radiation to go. That was a blessing I'll thank God for always. Now..bless her heart..this July she has spent 18 days in the hospital and still has her head up and encouraging even the nurses and doctors. God is good all the time and all the time God is good!!
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I just loved the book " An Amish Christmas". I found my way here from the Amish Living website. I just love everything Amish.
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My favorite Christmas as a child was on Christmas Eve we got to open one present and it was always new pj's.I would put my on and wear them to bed.
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MY favorite Christmas in July is when we had a family reunion and I got to see family members I had not see in years. Please enter me for a chance to win an autographed copy of An Amish Christmas: Expanded Edition, by Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, Barbara Cameron, and Kelly Long.Thanks for the chance.
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ONE OF THE SPECIAL CHRISTMAS WAS WHEN I WAS A SINGLE PARENT. IT WAS MY SON AND I AND VERY LTTTLE MONEY. SO HE AND I DECIDED TO MAKE GIFTS TO GIVE. I WENT TO THE THRIFT STORE AND BOUGHT MATERIAL, BEADS, OLD PILLOWS. AND BUTTONS. I AM NOT A SEWER BUT I WAS DETERMINE TO MAKE THIS WORK. WE TORE ALL THE STUFFING FROM THE OLD PILLOWS AND USE THOSE TO MAKE NEW ONES AS GIFTS. WE PUT BEADS ON SOME, BUTTONS AND EVEN PAINTED ONE A FEW OF THEM. WE HAD EVERY SHAPE AND SIZE PILLOW YOU CAN IMAGINE. BUT THE TWO OF US BONDED TOGETHER AND GAVE GIFTS FROM THE HEART AND WE RECEIVED MORE BLESSINGS WHEN WE GAVE THE PILLOWS OUT THAN WE EVER EXPECTED. AFTER IT WAS OVER AND BEDTIME MY SON REPLIED, THIS WAS THE BEST CHRISTMAS EVER AND WE GOT TO SHARE OUR LOVE AND GOD'S LOVE TO EVERYONE. I STILL HAVE ONE OF THOSE ODD SHAPE PILLOWS AND ITS PRICELESS.
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Hello Barbara, I would love to win an autographed copy of your Extended Edition of An Amish Christmas, as I look back on past Christmas's I think one of my favorite memories was when I was 12, my Daddy had a brain tumor removed and was left blind and his left side of his body paralyzed, my momma was left to learn to drive, work outside the home and care for 3 children
and her disabled husband, she wanted to give us something we all wanted special this yr. and was working 2 jobs from Thanksgiving thru the week before Christmas, when asked what I wanted, being an avid reader, I ask for a copy of Little Women or a Bible.. When Christmas morning arrived and the gifts were passed out, she handed me a small pkg wrapped in brown paper sack, it was a nice used copy of Little women, and then she had my Daddy hand me another pkg and in it was a white Bible, and I was so happy.. I treasured those gifts for as long as I have lived, the bible is old and tattered and worn, but inside the front page it still says given to me by my Momma and Daddy on Christmas morning 1963.. and means more to me than words can say.. thank you for letting me share this memory with you.. God answered prayers then for me and today he is still answering prayers for me.. Thank you for being so nice to me and the wonderful stories you have shared with me, I love to read and your stories always inspire something in me everytime I read one.. God bless you, please keep them coming.. hugs and prayers always,
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Hi,
My two best friends (one has gone on to her heavenly home) have given one another a Christmas gift (nothing big) forever and sung carols, sometimes in churches. After all, the Scriptures don't tell us when He was born, maybe for 'good' reason, that we're to show each other love all year long. Anyway, every day is a day the Lord has made.
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my favorite was after I became a christian and really realized the true meaning of Christ birth.
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Being with my Mother at Christmas. She is no longer with me.
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My first Christmas after I met my husband was special. His birthday is Dec. 25. It was very stressful trying to come up with two "good" gifts. His dad gave me a broken humidifier gauge and then would not let me return it. Kinda weird. *LOL*
Thank you.
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I think my best memories of Christmas go back many years when I was a child. I am next to the youngest of eight children. My favorite memories are of the time when there were just three of us yet unmarried. It was a time when all my brothers and sisters came home with their families. Oh what a houseful of love. Yes, at the time gifts were a big part of it BUT I was in my very early teens. Now when I think back....it was the closeness and family bonding. With five married siblings (each with children of their own), sitting at the table with Mom, Dad and us three teenagers, kind of reminds me of the Amish with their large families. All under one roof. Ah the memories.
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My favorite Christmas was when I was 5 years old. I wanted a doll baby and a stroller. When all the Christmas gifts had been unwrapped there wasn't any sign of a doll baby or stroller. I don't remember feeling too sad but boy did my eyes light up when my parents left the room and came back with doll babies and strollers for my sister and me. That was one of the best Christmas's ever. It was also the last Christmas together as a family. My Mother left my Dad and us kids a short time later.
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I remember my mom always wanted to celebrate Christmas in July because it would be easier for her children to come home. We all lived out of town, me being the farthest, about 600 miles. She lived in Michigan and, of course, the weather could be bad for traveling so she always thought if we celebrated Christmas in July, her girls could travel safely.
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It's hard to choose a favourite as they've all been good.
However, one of them was when I had a puppy for Christmas. My poor parents had been up practically all night because the puppy was crying and needed some love. They were trying to keep him quiet so he's be a surprise for me and my sister.
He WAS a surprise and a fantastic one too; even though my parents looked particularly tired that Christmas!
Just come across this website. Going to enjoy reading it. Greetings from a Christian, Brit in Singapore!!!!
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I still have my tree up from this past christmas--it is decorated with shells of the sea etc
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My favorite Christmas in July memory...I always look foward to the Hallmark Christmas in July ornament spectacular. I take this time to pick out special ornaments for each of my children. ( some of them have ornaments from a special collection . Each year a new ornament is created to add to the collection) Someday, when my children get married, I will present each of them with their own set of ornaments to place on their tree...ornaments that have adorned our tree over the years will bring childhood memories of Christmas' past to their new home. I have been collecting these ornaments since they were babies. So the Christmas in July ornament unveiling is always a great memory and something I always look foward to.
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When I was a young girl we were pretty poor. I think I was about 10 years old and I had a job going to a neighbors house every morning and ringing her doorbell until she answered so she wouldn't be late for work. She paid me 25 cents a week. That Christmas she gave me a Betsy Wetsy doll. I was so thrilled. It was the best present I received that year.
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My favorite Christmas in July was back in 1984. My husband and 3 children moved to Boise, ID. Downsizing was the reason for this sad move...away from all of our families.
We were to move in Aug., so my Mother decided to have Chrismas in July and have all of our relatives show up to say goodbye. It was a wonderful Christmas with tree and all the trimmings...and talk about the food..YYYUUMM!!!
Hope this is a good story for your contest.
Blessings, Jacquie
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My favorite Christmas in December memory is when my family stayed home for Christmas. We lived 3 1/2 hours away from my parent's families, and we always had to travel for Christmas (which took its toll on us children). One Christmas, however, my parents decided to stay home. We (my siblings and I) woke up my parents so we could open presents. After we opened all the gifts, my parents made breakfast and, later, we went to church for our Christmas program. Our family had been going through a rough time that year, but that Christmas everything was different. It reminds me that Christmas miracles really do happen.
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my is a silly july christmas, my husband loves christmas so we start watching our christmas movies in july. with hot chocolate and popcorn.we put our christmas pj on. the kids love it, too
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It's so true, how Christmas has become so commercialized. Christmas isn't about running around stores to get the perfect gift for everybody, having wild parties, (if you're not a believer in Christ). Christmas is about the first 6 letters in that word. Christ, and remembering the day of His birth and what He eventually does for us with His life. Being together with friends and family is wonderful. Christ needs to be in the middle of all of that. We should have all eyes on Him.
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