12 December 2011

HO! HO! HO! HOLIDAY SPICE: CHOOSE YOUR FLAVOR NAUGHTY OR NICE BLOG HOP TOUR (DEC 12-19)

 HO! HO! HO! HOLIDAY SPICE: CHOOSE YOUR FLAVOR NAUGHTY OR NICE BLOG HOP TOUR (DEC 12-19)

It was revealed on the news last night that the beckhams purportedly paid £35.000 for their Christmas trees.
While this is not the tree in question, it did get me thinking.  The newscaster - inspite of the roling ticker at the bottom of the screen stating 'trees' - implied they'd paid that amount for one tree, and maybe some people do.

But it got me thinking. We here talk every year about the commercialism of Christmas and yet we seem to be compelled to go out and shop until we drop every year, in order to offer gifts to our nearest and dearest.
Children's wish lists these days are enough to turn our hair as white as Santas

Sadly, I no longer have it, but my son carved a beautiful animal out of wood while at school and gave it too me for Christmas.  I treasured it at the time and still mourne the loss all these years later.  But... I still have the memory. I can still remember the anticipation on his face when he handed me the parcel.  I can still remember the overwhelming love surrounding the gift and all it represented.  So it iwas a bit scew-wiff, but I didn't care, to me it was beautiful, and worth more than a sleighful of gifts.
Several years later it was his father's turn to ''fill up'.  For several years, he'd been searching for a single jazz record.  He'd taped it off the radio, but didn't get the name of the tune or the artist.  On this particular Christmas our son handed him his gift, and when DH opened it, he cried, it meant so much to him.

No amount of money could or would better the value of those gifts to us.  In both cases our son spent time ensuring we received gifts we'd treasure. 

to you all, and thank you for being a part of my life.

Hop on over to Enchanted Muse Press to read some more fantasic blogs
TOUR RULES!

1) HAVE FUN!!!
2) INVITE ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS!!! SPREAD THE WORD!!!
3) THIS TOUR STARTS: Monday, December 12, at Midnight (Arizona Time)

THIS TOUR ENDS: Monday, December 19, at Midnight (Arizona Time)
***Winners will be drawn and posted December 20th! ***

4) MEET AND MINGLE WITH ALL THE AUTHORS & BOOK PAGES! EXPERIENCE A NEW DESTINATION AT EVERY STOP! PARTICIPATE IN EVERY BLOG CONTEST AND BE ENTERED FOR CHANCES TO WIN MULTIPLE PRIZES! EVERY BLOG VISITED IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO WIN!!

5) PARTICIPATION AT ALL BLOGS IS RECOMMENDED, BUT NOT REQUIRED. REMEMBER, THE MORE BLOGS YOU HOP, THE BETTER YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING PRIZES. EVERY AUTHOR & BOOK PAGE IS WAITING TO MEET AND INTERACT WITH YOU, SO PLEASE BE SURE TO SHOW THEM SOME LOVE!

6) DID I MENTION TO HAVE FUN? WHOO! HOO!! HERE WE GOOOOOOOOOOOO!

***Authors & Book Pages have full discretion to choose an alternate winner in the event any winner fails to claim their prize(s) within 72 hours of their name being posted or after notification of win, whichever comes first. Anyone who participates in this blog hop tour is subject to these rules***


GIVEAWAY
Answer the question below to win a copy of my hew novella,


Leave a comment sharing your favourite Christmas Day memory, it can be something physical, an action, a thought, a picture, anything. Please remember to include your email.

www.sherrygloag.com
Astraea Press
The Wild Rose Press
eTreasures

34 comments:

Unknown said...

i cant wait i love blog hops they're so much fun!

Unknown said...

My favourite part of Christmas is just being able to be with me family. I'm very thankful for all I have and how I'm so rich in love and friendship. I adore lighting the Xmas tree each evening.

leanne_gag[at]hotmail[dot]com
www.booksnmakeup.com

Gena Robertson said...

My favorite Christmas memory is remembering the years that I've spent Christmas Eve watching Christmas themed movies with my husband and boys all day long for the past 22 years - the boys still come over to do it, and now my new daughter-in-law is looking forward to the tradition as well!
Thank you so much for this giveaway op!
Happy Holidays!
Gena Robertson
robertsongena@hotmail.com

Caroline Clemmons said...

Sherry, your post made me tear up. When our youngest learned that I was the Santa who filled our stockings each Christmas Eve, she said that wasn't fair because I always knew what I was receiving. The next year, I found a tiny gift at the bottom of my stocking, something she'd purchased with her allowance at a garage sale in the summer and saved until Christmas. Of course I still have the gift, a set of four plastic tea bag holders. Since then, she remembers each year and now includes her dad and sister in her surprises. They've caught the spirit, too, and also participate.

Suzanne G. Rogers said...

My favorite Christmas memory was the year my son toddled out on his own to see the goodies Santa had left for him. The look of wonderment on his face was priceless.

Lovely post, Sherry.

Sherry Gloag said...

LOL terri_dion you must have seen this when i was copying the url for entering the hop. I do hope you enjoy visiting all the participants, there are some awesome prizes on offer.

Sherry Gloag said...

Leanne109 thanks for sharing your favourite part of Chirstmas. I so agree with you.

Sherry Gloag said...

Gena what a lovely memory and tradition to pass on to the hew generations. Have a wonderful holiday.

Sherry Gloag said...

Awe, Caroline, now you have me tearing up. Aren't kids wonderful? Thanks for commenting and I hope you have a fabulous holiday.

Sherry Gloag said...

S.G. Rogers I nearly chose that memory too, or a variation of it. The first time a toddler 'realises' Christmas Day is special, the adults get to rediscover the magic of Christmas all over again, through their eyes.

druidgirl said...

My best Christmas memory is the year my oldest granddaughter on December 23, what a wonderful present as she was the first grandchild born.

mom2000_18@yahoo.com

Happy Holidays!

desitheblonde said...

i can say one was when we all gt
coal in stocking and yea mom did it
she put the stuff in boxes under the couch and no one look for them and my brother started sceraming
it was funny

Felicia Rogers said...

Thanks for sharing, Sherry. I have to say some of my best memories of Christmas are not of the gifts I received but of the gifts I was able to give. Like you said, it doesn't really matter the amount of money spent on the gift, what truly matters is the thought you put into the gift you were giving.

feliciarogersauthor@yahoo.com

Patricia Kiyono said...

Fascinating stuff! I've always admired the pageantry of the British royalty. I guess that's what makes them so fascinating to us here. Best wishes on your new release!

Natasha Zaleski said...

My favorite Christmas memory (I don't really have just one), but I do so love seeing my husband and his family's face as they open their presents. I love when people are happy with their presents.

My email is wedgeheadlove@yahoo.com.

Ronda Tutt said...

Hi Sherry, I know what you mean about those priceless gifts you get from your children. I am the same way with my three children. Even now that they are grown, it is still special.

I have so many great memories but I have to say I got an early present this year from two of my kids.

my daughters sort of filled me out, one daughter was here at the house telling me about the Trans-Sibieran Orchestra and showing me a video on YouTube which I totally loved and then the other daughter calls on the phone while we are watching this on YouTube. I like the band so much that I bought two Albums while we were on the computer. Of course the girls are swispering to each other on the phone while I was making my order, I wasnt really paying attention to what they were talking aobut.

Well later that day after the one daughter leaves and I hang up with the other one, I check my email and there is an email from both girls and 2 printable tickets to see the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

It is for my hubbys and my christmas present and our 14th year aniversery which shows on the day after our aniversery.

My son is slow with his gifts every year, he spends his money faster than he can make it but his hugs and thoughtfullness is more than a mother could ask for.

Happy Holidays!

Ronda Tutt
mrsqueentutt@yahoo.com

TreeTx said...

One of my favorite Christmas day memories is of a printed piece of paper that my husband had framed for me. He found a website that included my name into all of the things that made me the most precious thing to him. We have been married for almost 19 years and he still can find the little things, special things, to make it perfect.

Teresa Martin
teresadmartin@sbcglobal.net

Sherry Gloag said...

druidgirl, :-) Dec 23 rd is a good birthday. It's my DH's too. Thank you for sharing your memories.

Sherry Gloag said...

LOL Desi, thanks for sharing.

Sherry Gloag said...

I agree Felicia, seeing their faces when they open their gifts is often priceless :-)

Sherry Gloag said...

Thanks, Patricia. If you want pagentry watch out for the shinanigins next year when tyeh celebrate the Queen's 60 years of rule!

Sherry Gloag said...

Natasha, I am very vain when it comes to giving gifts. I have to know it's something they really want, because then I get to share in their genuine pleasure when they open it! (even if I'm not there, I know they've already - at some time- told me it's what they want.)

Sherry Gloag said...

Ronda, thank you for sharing, that is so lovely. I hope you have a wonderful time.

Sherry Gloag said...

Teresa, your husband sound like a wonderful man. That's such a unique memory he found for you. Thank you for sharnig.

April Alvey said...

I love blog hops its a great way for me to find more authors to subscribe to. i am an avid book reader and cant wait to read more of your books. My Christmas memory would be when i was a lil girl we didnt have much money back then and my parents was working so hard to feed and clothe 6 kids so all us kids got together and sugested that instead of buying gifts we draw names and make presents for the person we drew. it was lots of fun and we still do it today.

Sherry Gloag said...

April, what a lovely memory, sometimes it's the hard times that give us the last ing traditions that stand the test of time.

Andrea said...

My favorite memory was surprising my mother with her great grandson. He was born on December 16th and she had no idea about his birth or my daughter's pregnancy.

ainfinger(at)comcast(dot)net

MamaElk said...

My favorite memory was when my older sister and two younger brother's and I put on a show for may parents when we were in Upstate NY. We sang the theme song from Neverending story, did a little dance and everything, lol! I know it's not very Christmassy, but we all had a blast. After wards, we took out the sleds and slid down the hills that were our back yards.

Thank you for participating in thus fun hop!
I hope you all have a Merry Christmas!
Sonia

mamaelk1113 at gmail dot com

Sherry Gloag said...

Andrea, I gues your Mom was very surprised :-) Thanks for sharing.

Sherry Gloag said...

Mama Elk, Thank you for sharing your lovely memory. Giving [pleasure can be such fun.

Jaxs said...

I had to ponder for quite awhile on whether I should just tell you a "happy" story from my past, or truly answer your question on the "meaning" of Christmas for me. On Dec.23rd, almost 11 years ago, while travelling to visit my sister in KY, we hit a blizzard in Erie, Pa and were involved in a catastrophic accident. At the time, I remember looking up into the rear view mirror, just before we hit the bridge abutment head on, seeing both kids sleeping in the back against the window, I never had time to shout a warning but I had time for a silent prayer. I prayed to God that should he spare my children I would brave any injury that I received without complaint. Miraculously, my children and husband woke up just after we hit and other than a few bumps and bruises, they walked away without injuries. As a matter of fact, my husband didn't realize I was injured and he ran out on the highway trying to rescue Christmas presents that had sprung out with the hatch had popped on the vehicle's trunk. I was freaking out, the adrenaline keeps you wide awake, that he would be hurt or go after the driver that hit us in the first place. I was not as lucky as my family but I have kept my promise to this day. I am a quadriplegic and I still thank God that it was me that he picked to share this burden with.

I know that this doesn't seem like a good Christmas memory and I have had many wonderful memories of Christmas growing up, while the kids were young and I tricked them by making backwards footprints to the chimney so they thought that Santa had really come down, and since the MVA as well, but I think that having my family walk away from that accident was the greatest gift I ever received.

We take our health for granted. Having gone from working 80 hour weeks to being bedridden for months at a time, nothing in this world is more valuable than your health so look after yourselves this Christmas and the lives of your loved ones. Don't drink and drive and do to someone else what was done to us. Take your guests keys if you serve alcohol. Be responsible, you may not be behind the wheel but you are just as guilty in my books.

Enjoy Christmas safely. Take care folks.

You can contact me @
jaxslady-ebooks@yahoo.ca

Sherry Gloag said...

Jaxs, thank you for sharing this with us.
I wouldn't wish this on anyone, but do thank you for sharing. Ihope your Christmas is a good one for you and your family.

Shadow said...

Great post! Thank you for the giveaway! My favorite christmas memory is of my little cousin, who was about three, and he snuck under the christmas tree and opened everyones presents. It was so cute. He was also in his 'mine' phase and didnt want to give the presents back. lol Have a wonderful christmas!
shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com

Jaxs said...

Thanks Sherry. Sometimes it is hard to decide whether or not to share my story so I'm happy that you didn't find it too much of a downer. I just want people to think before they get behind the wheel and be responsible hosts.

Thank you so much for being a part of this Christmas blog hop. It was my first and although it was a lot of work typing(I should say less :")
I had tons of fun. It was really uplifting. You will see me again I'm sure.

Have a Wonderful Christmas and a Great New Year.

Jax(Suzanne M)

jaxslady-ebooks@yahoo.ca