The ease of making family memories
Some of my favorite childhood memories are wrapped around special family times—not when on vacation or having a birthday party, but during those occasions when each family member stepped out of the busyness of their world and truly connected with those who share the same home.
From the time I was eight until I entered high school, we lived in a rural part of Maryland. Losing electricity happened fairly often. We were well equipped to deal with the outages—potbelly stove for cold weather, plenty of goods my mother had canned from her garden, and several kerosene lamps. So we had warmth, food, and light. What more could a family need?
Games! Fast-paced, easy ones, where the goal is laughter, not winning.
During those times when the television was as dark as the night, we’d clear the kitchen table, set a lantern on it, and start a board game. Not having electricity caused everyone to naturally shift his or her normal routine.
The most fun part of those evenings was having our parents’ undivided attention. Parents are often so busy being parents that the children miss out on seeing their true personality—the one that shows up when Mom goes out to lunch with her girlfriends or when Dad and his buds are on the golf course.
My parents grew up during the Depression, so seriousness and responsibility was a huge part of who they were. I only caught rare glimpses of the person behind the busyness.
Game night, which only arrived when the electricity went out, helped shape my thoughts about life. It became a tiny seed that affected me so much it’s even seen throughout the Sisters of the Quilt series.
The Old Order Amish, like the ones I write about, live without electricity all the time.
Do I want to live like they do? With much respect to them, I say, “No, thank you.”
Do the Amish want to live as we do? With much respect to Englischers, the Amish I know say, “No, thank you.”
We’d each have to give up things we cherish. But there are common denominators within both traditions: like our determination to try to protect our family and keep them as a priority.
With that in mind, I’m going to post several entries over the next few weeks about how the Amish celebrate Christmas. (Is it too early to talk about celebrating Christmas?) Perhaps you’ll be reminded of things you did as a child and want to have a night or two of that with your own family. Or maybe you’ll find something new that you’d like to incorporate into your family traditions.
Here are some ways to keep Christmas simple:
A. Plan ahead. (In that sense, it is not too early to think about Christmas.)
B. Keep the plans simple.
C. Have a variety of easy-to-do choices.
D. Enjoy the fruits of your thoughtfulness.
E. Only snap a few photos for nostalgic purposes. (Sometimes parents ruin what should be relaxed family downtime by making everyone aware that they’re constantly “on stage.”)
*
Game suggestions:
Although I love a good game of Monopoly when there is time and the players are of a certain age, it isn’t for the easily distracted.
Spoons is played with just a deck of cards and a handful of spoons. For directions, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoons
Uno
Yahtzee
Go Fish
Dutch Blitz (The Amish love this one.)
Pictionary (There’s even a junior version!)
Charades
Chutes and Ladders
Candyland
Checkers
Parchese
Game of Life
Those are just some of the games I could think of easily. I’d love to hear more, as well as special things you’ve done that have made a family memory. If you leave a suggestion for our readers, or any comment, your name will be entered for a chance to win my Christmas novella, The Sound of Sleigh Bells.
Injecting a note here: I mentioned on a radio interview this morning (10-13-09) that I’d post a recipe for making Christmas dough ornaments. If you’d like that recipe go to my Book Lover News Blog by clicking here.
There are five winners from the previous blog contest. Each has won an autographed copy of The Sound of Sleigh Bells.
Congratulations to ~
Phyllis of Normal, Illinois
Dana of Clayton, Indiana
April of Henderson, North Carolina
Carol of Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania
Marlyss of Regina, Saskatchewan
For your chance to win an autographed copy of The Sound of Sleigh Bells, just leave a comment.
October 10th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
Three favorites in our house are “Clue”, “Sorry” & “Apples to Apples” (my teenagers & their friends love this game).
October 10th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
Your books are GREAT and I’m looking forward to reading “The Sound of Sleigh Bells”. The one memory that we have created over the years is, on Christmas morning before we open our gifts, we make sure that we sing “Happy Birthday to JESUS”. My kids are both grown now and we are still doing it today! After all isn’t that what Christmas is all about! Keep up the Great work!
God Bless!
~Kandy W.~
October 11th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
I have just finished the Sisters of the Quilt Books. I have to say these were the BEST books I have ever read. I hated that I can to the end of the books. It was as if you took us step by step in to Hannah’s life. I can’t wait to read more of your work. You have a God given gift. Thank you for Sharing it with us.
October 11th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
I so enjoyed reading “The Hope of Refuge”. My grandmother yanked over many years ago and married my grandpa, and I am so interested in why and what the Amish are really about that I read all I can about them. I come from Pa and love to know more and more about the country and people that are my roots! Thank you for the wonderful Christian writings that reveal so much to me. Love Linda
October 11th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
I enjoy reading about the Amish and learning more about their way of life. I am definitely interested in The Sound of Sleigh Bells as I love holiday stories. This is a great combination of two type of books that I love. Thanks!
October 11th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Times for games are often few and far between in our home, but when they do happen, they are filled with love and laughter- two of my favorite ingredients for life. But often the best memories have come from being surrounded by family on a rainy/snowy afternoon, a cheery fire, pleasant company, a good book. Thank you God for those simple moments we take for granted. Also, Dominos or a puzzle are great things to do on a chilly afternoon- don’t forget the popcorn!:)
October 12th, 2009 at 11:38 am
A favorite game at our home is UNO attack. I have a 9 year old and a 3 year old so it’s not always easy to find a game that everyone can participate in and enjoy. UNO attack lets my youngest push the button so the cards fly out. Every time she gets a case of the giggles which in turn gives everyone else a case of the giggles. A must play game for anyone with small children who are not old enough for the traditional games!
I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season! God Bless!
October 12th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
our extended family of cousins(which happen to be all girls)have been enjoying your series of Amish books. we all get so excited discussing them when we get together. we all grew up with a grandmother who rose early every morning to milk cows, gather eggs from the chicken coup, churn fresh butter, and make the best breakfast you can imagine. we can all remember her slaughtering hogs, plucking chicken feathers and picking fresh vegetables regularly. one of our favorites was when she would pick fresh strawberries and have fresh cow cream to pour over the top of them; and none of us could resist a glass of fresh cow milk to drink with our hot slice of buttermilk pound cake(which of course had a smear of fresh churned butter melting on it)! your books help bring us back together and remind us of fond memories that we all hold so dear. our grandmother passed to heaven 5 years ago this coming Christmas morning. we all miss her very much but she seems ever so close when are together and reminiscing. thanks to you and your books that have opened an avenue for us to do so!
October 12th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
Me and a friend started reading on Aug. 1998 our first Amish Series The Shunning by Beverly Lewis. I can’t wait to share my new find with her. I just fell in love with your writing and can’t wait for book 2 in the Ada’s house series.
October 12th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
My husband and I love playing Scrabble. Last Christmas our extended family played Things… and had a blast. I believe Target carries it and it’s great for a large group, although you only need 4 to play.
October 13th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
i love your books
October 14th, 2009 at 10:03 am
I just finished “The Hope of Refuge” and enjoyed
it like all of your other books.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:23 am
We love your books! My mom read your Amish series and then got me to read them. Wonderful! One of my favorite familie memories around Christmas, besides being all together for the most wonderful time of the year, is attending Midnight Mass at our Catholic Church. It is so special and beautiful! Thank you again, and if I win, I would surprise my mom with your autographed “The Sound of Sleighbells” book!
October 14th, 2009 at 10:25 am
You are a fabulous writer and we simply love your stories!
October 15th, 2009 at 12:30 am
My love for reading the Amish books came when I moved to the rural area of Fort Plain, NY, where the Amish continue to restore the farmland and share their wonderful company with others. Your books are so incredible! I got my 86 year old MoM to read your books, though she has not read since she was a young girl (she tells me) and didn’t think her eyes would let her now. She is taking on the 2nd book as I write this. My memories of Christmas when things were so much simpler are:
A Christmas when the snow came down so heavy– storms rode in, and the lights and electric were gone for days–my brother came to visit from his warm California comforts, and at first none of us knew what to do. We had a fireplace so we lit it and he gathered us all around the fireplace, my oldest daughter with her restless boycrazy mind, and my youngest who was very scared and hated the dark. My brother began to tell Irish Leprechan stories and how they too would delight in a Christmas surprise or two. He talked about how they were always around us, little specks of dust might in fact be one, and this calmed our nerves and left a lifetime impression on my youngest. She is a mother now, step-mom, and tells her step son about the little dust people that happen to be very alive around Christmas Eve. The lights out and the heat gone but we not only survived, we found laughter and joy that is priceless. Someday I hope to write like you do. Happy Holidays to All. Susan
October 15th, 2009 at 7:20 am
We used to play Monopoly all the time. It helped to relieve the boredom of long days with nothing to do.
During Christmas, nowadays, I mostly bake cookies. Lots of cookies. It’s a fun time to connect with our child. He’s only four, and I’m sure that before long, he’ll no longer want to join me in the cookie-baking tradition!
October 16th, 2009 at 1:37 am
Just reading through all the comments to see what books your readers enjoyed …to get an idea of which one I want to start on next. Still can’t decide… too many good ones
One of our Christmas traditions is at our big family potluck, we have a birthday cake that says “Happy Birthday Jesus”. What is a birthday celebration without a birthday cake, right???
October 16th, 2009 at 10:21 am
I spend a lot of time finding QUALITY highly rated audiobooks for my Dad whose vision is seriously impaired and ha can no longer read his beloved Christian romance novels and do other things he enjoys. My heart sang when I saw all three of the Quilt series are on audio CD, and easily accessible from one source. I spend many hours on the internet tracking down all the audios in a series. A big thank you to you and your publisher!!!!
October 16th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
I’m reading now “Hope of Refuge.” I enjoy reading your books. Hope of Refuge, I hate that I’m almost finished reading it.
October 18th, 2009 at 8:32 am
We had a wood cook stove growing up so we even popped popcorn on top of the stove when electricity was out. In living room we had one of those pot belly stoves and a kerosene heater in the bedroom. We had electricity but our heat was not dependent on it.
Where I live now everything is electric and I dread power outages in the winter. I do have a propane heater but cannot afford the propane.
Even with that you need electricity to work the blower to blow the heat out.
Thank God my daughter has wood heat and only lives 10 min. away as last year I spent one night there.
We have always played board games and not just when electric was out. My daughter has family night at her house and has taken most of my board games to use with the children.
God bless and I’d love to win.
October 18th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
I am almost finished with When the Heart Cries and just went out and bought book 3 but cannot find book 2 right now! Since I don’t want to read out of order, it looks as if I’ll be driving around tomorrow trying to find When the Morning Comes…
I love the book except the part about the birth (being cryptic for those who havent’ yet read it)
Anyway: I have 7 kids, five of which live w/me and my “current” DH (lol). 3 boys and 2 gorgeous girls. My Heidi is Hannah, truly! My youngest girl is a blond-haired, blue-eyed minx, a real sprite. We like to play UNO, and my 11 y/o son named Erik is a big fan of all card games. The kids love to play Apples to Apples. (I dont’ know how but I guess they can teach me lol)
My husband currently works 2 full time jobs, and is rarely home. We miss him much. But when he can, he will join in a game of Uno .
I am SO happy to find your website! And your books!
Cat Gainesville FL
October 18th, 2009 at 8:03 pm
I have read the last 2 books and I enjoy them very much.
October 19th, 2009 at 8:59 am
My mother and I loved reading your Sisters of the Quilt series and we look forward to reading many more of your books. We have read many Amish series and yours has been one that was very hard to put down. Thanks for writing such wonderful books!
October 20th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Love reading about the Amish and Christmas novels. Have enjoyed each of your books and passed on to friends and family to enjoy also. Please keep up the good writing I enjoy so much!
October 22nd, 2009 at 12:45 pm
I would love a chance to win The sound of Sleigh Bells by Cindy Woodsman, I love her books.
mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net
October 23rd, 2009 at 11:27 am
I grew up in a rural area. When our electricity went out we roasted marshmallows and sometimes hot dogs over the gas stove.
My family loves games. Since our youngest is 5, we play a lot of Uno, Go Fish, War, matching games, and Hi-Ho Cherry-o. My oldest has discovered Dutch Blitz and is enjoying learning the game.
We have some unusual Christmas traditions. We start the first week in December, three weeks from Christmas Eve. We split Luke 1 – 2:40 into 4 reading sections, with Luke 2:1-20 being on Christmas Eve. Each day after we read we all open one Christmas present. (These are from extended family and friends.) One week however we don’t open a present, instead we do something for someone else. WE talk about how we should be anticipating Christ’s return like they are anticipating opening a Christmas present. We should be telling others about the greatest gift.
October 23rd, 2009 at 5:35 pm
Love your first series and can’t wait to read your next books! Thanks for the chance to win one!!
October 24th, 2009 at 5:16 am
Sorry ,I missed your last book signing in Suwanee. you know that I love your books and have just finished your last one and can’t wait till the next one comes out. you give so much encouragement and I can see my life in so many of the chapters. God has been good to me as I strugggle to keep close to him everyday.Please keep up the great writings that God has blessed you with.
October 24th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Living in a very rural, Pennsylvania area, we had very few “toys” growing up, when I was young, I played Button, Button, Red-Light Green Light, and hide and seek in the chicken house…when my sons were small, we had many games of Monopoly, Battleship and Huskerdu, and we even read books together quietly..do not let anyone ever tell you differently, time spent with your children will repay you forever with memories, very loving memories…
October 24th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
I just wanted to say that I love your Sisters of the Quilt series. I read the first one and I just couldn’t wait to read the rest of the series. They are very well written and I enjoyed reading them very much. I am looking forward to reading some of your other books, including the Sound of Sleigh Bells. Thanks.
October 26th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
I believe in this time when all around us there is such horror of war, famine, disease and hatred for one to another, we need all the divine inspiration we can get…books like this affirm my faith in the goodness of man, and the Lord at work in us…May the Lord bless you for the beautiful books you write and share!
October 27th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
I live in a rural town with a small library. Everyone says it is too small but its just my size with good, wholesome books. That is where I stumbled onto Cindy Woodsmall books. I have let some friends in on my discovery, and it feels really good to spread news about a good author.
I have 3 boys-and we always love a good game. A new one we found was banana gram, Love it. Take the train card game is good for the younger ones. Others: Blink & Scrabble card games.
When it comes to Christmas, I get sad because everything is so commerical and not about the basics. I have taught my boys to make me a Christmas gift because I know it will come from their heart.
Cindy keep me in suspense, I can’t wait for your next adventure!
October 28th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
My childhood was spent living near the Amish of Lancaster County. Now I live in Philadelphia, but go out to Lancaster and Ephrata to visit family. Such beautiful farmland in this part of PA. Would love a chance to win a copy of The Sound of Sleigh Bells. Thank you, Cindy.
patjeannedavis[at}verizon[dot}net
October 28th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
LOVE the Hope of Refuge – so looking forward to the next book in the series! Hope I win!
November 3rd, 2009 at 1:59 am
I enjoy your books so much. I am giving them as gifts this year.
I can’t wait for more!!!! I have read all of your books and tell everyone how wonderful, uplifting, and romantic. I love a good love story:) Thank you for writing beautiful stories!
November 4th, 2009 at 10:16 pm
I enjoy all of your books. Can’t wait for the next one..Hope of Refuge was so good I coulfn’t put it down.. Looking for the next one in the series. You are my favorite writer..
November 5th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Just finished your 1st book, When the Heart Cries. I loved it!
November 5th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Wow this is so awesome i love Christmas time one of my favorite thing to do is read lots of Childrens books to children durnign this tiem aI also make a new oraniment every year and pass out to famiy and a hand ful of friends. I enjoy the simple time spent with family and friends aw well so I will host a get together with them and just love on them. Simple is so sweet during these times to make a simple batch of cookies and place a dough oraniment or one that we make out of applesause and cinnamon.
I jsut finished the Sound of Slegh bells I love it so much it seems like I am passing them around to everyone as I get done I love this one!!!!
November 6th, 2009 at 12:53 am
Thank you for using God’s gift in your life to write books. I have been an avid reader all my life and have followed the Lord’s conviction to switch to Christian authors. I am able to do this easily with the books you write. Thanks so much!!
November 8th, 2009 at 2:47 am
I HAVE ALL YOUR BOOKS AND LOVE THEM BUT PLEASE SAY THAT THERE WILL BE A SEQUEL TO THE SOUND OF SLEIGH BELLS YOU LEFT ME HANGING THERE IS SO MUCH MORE YOU COULD WRITE TO THAT BOOK THANKS FOR ALL THE BOOKS AND KEEP THEM COMING…