Can you feel the holiday spirit beginning to sweep across the land? I can! This is the time of year when I love to begin reading Christmas books and watching Christmas movies, so I’m delighted that my friend Jill Kemerer is visiting today and giving away a prize pack that includes her Christmas novel, Thanksgiving dishtowels, and a Thanksgiving notepad and pen set! Welcome, Jill! -Becky
I grew up in the country in the middle of Michigan where snow every year was guaranteed. As a kid, I couldn’t wait for the first snowfall. By the end of October, anticipation would set in of seeing those first flakes. I remember sitting in class, staring out the window while the teacher droned on as I willed the snow to come.
I’m sure some of my excitement had to do with the fact that snow signified the start of the holiday season, my favorite time of the year. When the first flakes danced down from the sky, I could barely contain my excitement. I’d spin around outside with my arms wide, face tipped to the sky, mouth open trying to catch each frozen wonder on my tongue.
When my homework was finished, I would gather various scraps of paper—from gum wrappers to construction paper—and cut out snowflakes. Each one would be lovingly placed in a shoebox decorated with Christmas wrapping paper, and as the weeks wore on, I would add to my collection.
One year, my teacher taught us how to make snow ice cream. I don’t recall the exact recipe, but I think it consisted of a bowl full of snow, a raw egg, and a lot of sugar. I, naturally, loved it. Looking back, it kind of grosses me out!
If the snow got deep enough, my sister and I would drop to the ground to wave our arms and legs into snow angels. Then we’d roll balls to make snowmen. We also loved creating snow forts and sledding around the yard. There was a large brush pile behind our old shed, and when the snow covered it, there were little paths to slide down on your bottom. Talk about fun!
Now I live in northwestern Ohio, and we still get snow, but it doesn’t always appear before Christmas. Sometimes it will wait for January. Regardless, the old excitement brings a smile to my face when I see those first flakes floating down.
And I can’t help myself—I get out a few scraps of paper and make paper snowflakes again.
Do you have any special memories of snow?
Congrats to Chasya, winner of the below prize pack!
He’s learned from his mistakes…
But can he prove he’s changed?
When Sawyer Roth is hired to work on his childhood ranch, he knows he has a damaged reputation to repair. Tess Malone, the new ranch owner’s daughter, is the hardest to win over. But as Christmas approaches, Tess and her toddler son find a way into Sawyer’s heart. He lost everything the last time he put his trust in love. Can he risk it all again?
Click here for purchase links and more!
Jill Kemerer is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author of heartwarming, emotional, small-town romance novels often featuring cowboys. Over half a million of her books have sold worldwide. Jill’s essentials include coffee, caramels, a stack of books, her mini-doxie, and long walks outdoors. She resides in Ohio with her husband and two almost-grown children. For more information, visit her website, jillkemerer.com.
Becky Wade
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We remember making snow ice cream but we didn’t with our kids as there was a lot of talk about the snow being radiated. Now we enjoy just watching since we’ve retired and don’t clean the driveway.
Now I’m really surprised I never got sick–radiated snow? Yikes!! I’m glad you can just sit back and enjoy the snow now!
I remember one Christmas eve we were at my Nana’s house in Massachusetts and it was snowing so bad that everyone was choosing which room they would get. I was able to go spend the night with my aunt and uncle. I loved snow when I was little. Now I only like it for Christmas.
That’s so sweet that you got to spend the night with your aunt and uncle. Fun memories!
I lived in New England until I was in high school and I also loved the first snowfall and the feelings of expectation and fun of a white Christmas. The lights on main street in the small town where we lived always looked magical to me.
Colleen, I feel like I can see those magical lights! I’m right there with you.
From the time I was 5 until I was almost 15, we lived at Fort Ord, CA near the Monterey Bay area. So basically during my growing up years I’d never seen snow. It’s a place where folks mowed the yard to get it pretty for Christmas week. Although it wasn’t Christmas, my first memory of snow was when they got the first snow in 75 years. It was just the lightest of dusting and the green grass was poking up through it. However, it was such a big event that schools were let out so kids could see and feel what snow was. There was no snowmen to be made or snowballs to throw, but I remember it as pretty, cold and a great way to get out of school. After Dad retired and we moved back to Arkansas, I’ve seem my far share of snow (especially in the last 5 years after I moved to the Ozark Mountain area of the state), but none really stick out so much in my mind as that first snow.
I’m giggling at getting that yard mowed for Christmas! I can totally see that. How cool that you got snow where it never snows! Yes, that first snow will always stay in your mind!
I have many special memories of snow, especially the snowmen we would try to build. Even as teens we’d have a blast after helping to shovel the snow. I love snow!
Julie, I loved snow as a teen, too, and honestly, I like going out and shoveling every now and then!
Also growing up in Michigan, I have a treasure trove of memories to choose from! I always loved when it snowed at Christmas Time. We had a huge picture window in our living room and I would cuddle on the couch, listen to Christmas music and enjoy the tree lights while watching the flakes come down. Thanks for reminding me!
Yay, another Michigander! I want to snuggle under a blanket and watch snow come down now!
One year there must have been a storm because the snow nearly covered the parked cars. We were bundled up so much we could hardly move. I remember making snow balls til my hands felt frozen through the gloves.
Oh, Jocelyn, I’ve been through snow storms like that! We’ve had a few doozies in recent years. I hope we don’t get one this year!
Childhood memories are fun to think about. Having lived in upstate New York near the snow-making Lake Ontario where they measure snow by the feet and also in the Southeast corner of PA where it snows prolifically I have had my fill of snow and shoveling. Our first winter after we moved back to my hometown in Arkansas it snowed so much the town shut down! But on the bright side, it is pretty falling! Great prize package!
Oh, Linda, you HAVE had your share of snow and shoveling. I have to admit, I get sick of winter by mid-February!
I love Thanksgiving and Christmas!! But it seems like it goes way too fast. We are expecting our first snow on Sunday!! Yay!!
We’re supposed to get snow on Sunday, too!! Woohoo!!
Jill writes the best stories. She’s wonderful!
Aw, thanks so much, Melissa!! I think you’re wonderful too!
I live in Michigan and have lived in other midwest states for most of my life. Snow has always been a constant part of winter. I have to say that I agree. The first snowfall of the season is somewhat magical!
Ooh, nice! Yes, snow has been a constant for me, too. I love the first one–but after Christmas? Not so much!
Every year my youngest brother and I go sledding at least once, and we love sledding at night. On the first night of sledding when we return to the house, our mom always has homemade cocoa ready for us. 😀
What a sweet tradition! We used to take our kids sledding. What a hoot! Please have some hot cocoa for me, too!
I remember the joy of finding out that school had been canceled because of snow. I could happily go back to bed with the anticipation of a free day to go outside and play in it.
There was NOTHING better than a snow day!!
I remember wearing bread sacks over our shoes to help keep our feet dry. It didn’t bother me one bit I still loved making snowmen and snow angels.
Believe it or not, I wore bread bags a time or two myself! Kept the feet dry!
The Prodigal’s Holiday Hope sounds wonderful. I like the Love Inspired books. Thank you for the chance. Have a good weekend.
Thank you, Emma! I love them, too!
When I was about 8 we had a huge snow storm in southern NJ, drifts as tall as the house! I had a tiny log cabin playhouse my grandfather had built in my backyard and my friends and I had collected berries and pine cones and stocked the shelves for winter like in pioneer days, so when that storm came we thought we could actually live out there! Didn’t take us too long to realize that even with our coats, hats and mittens we were NOT pioneer tough, lol
That must have been some storm!! I love the thought of you and your little friends thinking you could live in your tiny log cabin! Too cute!
I was raised a missionary kid below the equator, so December was the hottest month; we’d get the month off from school (American School of Recife). Yet, I remember visiting cousins in the States in Erie, Pennsylvania. It was Christmas time. Tobogganing in the snow was thrilling, especially since I sat next to a boy – I’ve always been boy crazy. Now that I’m retired I live in Indiana and do see quite a bit of snow.
Thanks for the opportunity to win these gifts!
I can’t even imagine being hot in December! Haha! Oh, toboganning with a boy would have been right up my alley, too! I’ve always been boy crazy, myself. Probably why I write romance novels!
Left California move to Illinois make snow angels with my 2 beautiful kids that are grown up upset me because I am disabled now
I’m sorry you’re disable. Thank you for sharing the memories of the snow angels.
Here in Alabama we rarely get snow. I do remember one year in our early marriage when it snowed enough to knock our power out. We put our milk outside in the snow to keep it cold and I was craving popcorn so bad (we have all electric) that I tried to pop some over the fireplace and it burned!
I’m giggling at the burnt popcorn. It’s impossible without electricity. Well, I take that back. You can always make Jiffy-Pop!
I too LOVE snow and the holiday season! September-December are my favorite times of year. Even though I don’t really like driving in snow…I love everything else about it. I grew up in Arizona, which means snow was rare, in the desert area. But up in the White Mountains, where we lived 2 years, snow was plentiful, and I was in heaven. Then we returned home to WA state, and we mostly get snow every year, but sometimes it waits until January. The mountains get it of course, and we are not too far away, but for us…the wait is long! LOL. Congratulations on your new book!
Ooh, White Mountains! Love the sound of that! Yeah, Ohio must be like Washington. Sometimes the snow is delayed…
I grew up on a road that ended at a circle. Therefore the snowplow pushed all the snow upmthebtoad and piled it at the top of the circle. Yep, I lived at the top of the circle. Snow was piled so high and packed so tight. Ugh! Shovel, shovel, shovel….shovel, shovel, shovel…..repeat over and over and over. Needless to say, I am not a huge fan of snow. I’m fine with seeing everyone else’s.pictires of snow. Lol
Sounds like that snow plow plowed you right in! The worst! It’s so hard shoveling through packed snow like that. Yuck!
We always had snow growing up in northern Utah. Since my birthday is in December, it was about a 50/50 chance of having snow on my birthday. We would build forts in the backyard and have snowball fights with the neighbor kids. We also had a canal across the street that would be only a couple of feet deep during winter. We would crawl down inside and scrape the snow off the ice and have our own private skating ring.
Aww, happy birthday (early)! Your snow memories sound like so much fun–especially the skating rink!
Here in Texas we don’t know what snow is until a few years ago when it actually snowed. We went out to make a snowman and act like little kids. Best day ever.
I’m grinning over here! What a fun memory!
I grew up in Portland, Oregon, where we would rarely get a measurable snowfall. The few times we did it was a winter wonderland. I remember making snowmen and snow angels with my brothers and sisters. I loved to watch the snowflakes fall on my dark jacket where I could see the beautiful designs of each one.
I have move many tines courtesy of the military as an Air Force spouse. We have lived in snowy places such as Upstate New York, Anchorage, Alaska, and Aurora, Colorado. Each place holds so many winter memories . We now live in San Antonio, Texas, where we don’t get much snow but we did last year!
Thank you so much for your spouse’s service. We appreciate it! I know it isn’t easy moving around all the time (I’ve done a lot of that myself). Enjoy San Antonio!
I remember making snow angles in the snow.Also we make snow cones with the snow and put flavoring on it it’s so good.I live in battle ground Washington so we rarely get much snow but Last year we got a foot or a foot in a half so they had to cancel church and stores where closed cause we are not use to this much snow and people if they had to go to town they would drive snowmobiles cause all cars where snowed in.I like to build puzzles when it get cold and snowy and just watch the snow fall.My grandpa is 94 and still gets all excited for when we get snow.we also make homemade hot apple cider and have snow parties if we get snow
Wow, I can’t believe you got all that snow last year! I love to do jigsaw puzzles in the winter, too. It’s relaxing. I hope your grandpa gets to see some snowflakes this year!
SO happy to see Jill here today – – she’s a sweetheart (and very talented, too!).
Being a lifelong Georgia girl, when we do get snow (a few flakes, LOL) it’s a BIG deal! There’s a running joke here about making sure you have bread and milk when snow is predicted. Sure enough, if you wait until those flakes start drifting down, the store shelves will be empty! 😉
Yet every year I find myself wishing for snow, because I love it as much as the kiddos do! 🙂
Hi Patti Jo!! You’re making me blush–you know I feel the same about you! Yes, everything shuts down at the hint of snow in the south!
Since I grew up in western Michigan I well remember big snows in winter. My memories include wonderful Sunday mornings during snowed in days playing games with my sister and dad after a ‘family church service’. After the fun we all got dressed in snow gear to shovel out the long driveway.Good memories!
Western Michigan always gets hammered! I think it’s Lake Michigan. Yes, snowed-in days were always fun! Good times!
I remember when my grandmother passed away and we had her funeral and were all gathered at my house. It had snowed a lot and we had a big snowball fight and ended up bringing a bowl of snow and dumping it in my uncle’s head
You know, if you can’t laugh a little after a funeral, you just feel sad. I am snickering at you dumping a bowl of snow on your uncle’s head! You all will never forget that day.
My favorite memory of growing up with snow, was riding a tractor down the lane to the bus stop. There was so much snow that we slid out a window until my dad could clear the doorway. Those were carefree days.
Sliding out a window?? You did have a lot of snow! I’m glad you have good memories!
We don’t get much snow in Alabama, but a few years ago it snowed on Christmas Day. We had the best time playing in the snow with our whole family including my 76 year old mother. The boys found out that Grammy could throw a mighty mean snowball!!
Aww, Christmas Day snow! The best kind! I have no doubt you and your mom clobbered the boys! haha!!
We don’t get snow where I live, but I remember going to the snow and getting to play with my siblings, it was a lot of fun and cold.
Yes, playing in the snow with siblings was a hoot!
We lived in various places along the east coast growing up … from Maine to Maryland. Some places it would snow so much it would cover our heads (Maine) and other places we might not get any (Maryland). We’d go out and play until we couldn’t feel our fingers and toes lol. Mom always had homemade hot chocolate with marshmallow fluff waiting for us.
It’s funny how just a few hours between states can mean the difference between a lot of snow and no snow, isn’t it? I really want your mom’s hot cocoa!
We actually just had some snow flurries here this morning! I love snow. I think its magical and beautiful. We don’t usually get much of it until January and then its usually over with but it can be fun while it lasts.
Ooh, love it!! We’re supposed to get some rainy/snow mix tomorrow. I prefer flakes to slush! I hope you enjoy yours!
We don’t always get snow where I live, but some years we have had some big storms around the holidays that left a pretty blanket of snow. We were helping with music one year at church on Christmas eve, and walked outside to find it had started snowing. It was beautiful! A perfect ending to the day.
Isn’t that the best? When it snows on Christmas? Yay!!
I remember snow so thick it filled the ditches. My friends and I dug tunnels in the snow. Each day we had to carve them bigger because they shrank overnight. It was the most fun! We wore socks over our gloves so the snow wouldn’t get into our coat sleeves.
That is a LOT of snow!! And it sounds so fun!!
Our snow seems to come later every year too but the Winter of ’78 is still talked about here. We had so much snow that we built tunnels in our yards that we could stand up in. It was as high as the swing set if not higher. There are pictures of roads cleared to one lane and a wall of snow on either side. And the best part, we didn’t have to make up those days of school. I think we were out for at least two weeks. I’m from Indiana, Ridgeville (grew up), live outside Winchester now.
Yes, we had an ice storm in ’78. It was rough!! The tunnels sound like so much fun! Being out of school for two weeks does, too! Yay!
I love making snow ice cream. Yes, a bowl of snow, an egg (or not), and a can of sweetened condensed milk. Since we get little snow in our part of Texas, making snow ice cream is very special. And my mom taught me to make it, and since she’s in heaven now, it’s even more special.
I never thought of adding sweetened condensed milk! Yum! I’m sorry your mom is no longer here with you, but it’s wonderful to think she’s in heaven. My dad is too. 🙂
My favorite snow memory is the one time we had a blizzard warning on Christmas Eve. It’s the only time we’ve had snow on Christmas and we got almost two feet, which is insane for our part of Missouri. It was magical.
Aww, I can picture it! There’s nothing better than being snowed in for Christmas!
When I was in 2nd or 3rd grade in Hayward, California, my mom woke us one Sunday morning, telling us it was snowing. Sure, Mother, you’re just trying to get us up early! BUT IT TRULY WAS SNOWING and we had a snow day I’ll never forget!☃️❄❄❄
Of course you’d never forget that!! I love it!
I would love to win your book !
Thank you!!
I remember my brother and sister and I making giant forts in the driveway for snowball fights. Probably made our narrow driveway impassable by car but it was so much fun!
Now that’s fun! Snowball fights with the siblings!
I grew up in Monterey, CA , so no real snow memories for me then, but I now live in WA state and raising my 4 daughters here was so much fun as we would get snow. My favorite memory was a huge snow dump where everyone stayed home as everything was shut down and we built the largest snowman I have ever scene ⛄️ ! Not growing up around snow as a little girl just made it so much more fun for me to embrace with my girls- such great memories.
I can totally picture that giant snowman! How fun!
We seemed to have a lot more snow when I was a kid than we do now. Having a snow day from school was so much fun. Now that I’m older and have to drive in it and shovel it, snow isn’t quite as appealing, though still beautiful.
I agree, Pam, my childhood was snowy!! Some years we don’t get much at all.
I have lived in many states and have had a lot of snowy Christmas’s and also a lot with no snow. Also was in Puerto Rico for a Christmas and in Okinawa for a few Christmas’s – no snow in either of those places. Truthfully, I do not like to be cold now that I am old, but when I was young I did like the snow. Now I really prefer no snow, but am living where there is snow…some years more than others.
Yes, snow is fun for kids! It’s nice to be WARM as adults!! I hope you don’t get too much snow this year!
I really look forward to this time of year with family and making homemade things.
We’ve made a lot of homemade ornaments..jolly rancher ornaments have been a favorite. You put parchment paper on a cookie sheet, grease it along with some cookie cutters of your choice then add the jolly ranchers & bake at a low temperature until melted, poke holes through, string and hang on tree.
Kids especially love them because they can be so colorful, they remind me of the look of stained glass.
Also, we leave our Christmas tree up through new years but after Christmas we take the Christmas ornaments off and replace them with homemade bible scripture ornaments we’ve made, just printing out scripture on colorful pieces of paper and then hanging then up with ribbon.
On New Year’s Eve everyone picks their scripture card to take into the new year ☺️
I’ve never made Jolly Rancher ornaments! They sound so pretty! I love that you replace the ornaments with Scripture. A perfect way to ring in the new year!
Where I live (Houston, TX), snow is a rarity, and thus it excites a delighted response. Not only do we not have snow very often, but even when we do experience snow, it rarely lasts very long. People race to make miniature snowmen and snap photos of them before the snow melts. Usually the snow falls in January because by February, we’re beginning spring. Reading about snow is a treat too.
Yes, it would be very exciting to get snow so far down south!
A favorite memory is when my girls were little enough to still believe in Santa. My husband had saved a leg from the deer he shot and early on Christmas morning he went out and put sleigh runner tracks and 32 hoof prints in the fresh snow on the driveway. When the girls saw it, they were amazed and awestruck! It’s their best memory of Christmas!
That is so sweet! Your daughters must have been so excited to think of Santa’s reindeer!
I grew up in Michigan, too, and we always hoped for snow days so the schools would be closed and we could go outside to sled and build snowpeople. By February, though, we were sick of the sludge and ready for some Spring weather!
Yay, Michigan! Yes, snow days were the best!
Now that I live in Ohio, I still am sick of the sludge by February! Haha!!
I grew up in Kentucky, and it has always been magical, we as a town love to play in snow, we get cold weather and glorious wonderful falls, Christmas has always been rich, and full of experiences.
I love winter so much ❤️
I grew up in Colorado and now live in Wyoming. We have snow more months of the year than not. Often the first snowfall is in September (this year not till October) and the last is in April, sometimes May. I have seen it snow in July here! I’m not a fan of the cold but the snow is pretty and it usually melts after a few days.
I had a lot of fun playing in the snow with my siblings in Oregon. We didn’t get a lot of snow every winter but we did get a good amount. We made snowmen and snow forts, and did sledding.
I love the snow because my Nana always loved it. She would build a fire and make hot chocolate and we would sit and watch the snow fall. I still do that to this day and Nana has beengone almost 40 years! I lived in MI for a year and it was amazing because the year I lived there it snowed every. single. day. from Thanksgiving to the end of March.
I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area in California, so snow was not in the forecast during the holidays. My parents took us to Lake Tahoe about once or twice a year so we were able to experience tubing & sledding, snowball fights, and making snow angels.
I remember the years we sometimes would get big snow fall amounts but not so much anymore we always would make snow cream for the kids and making snow angels It is always so pretty at Christmas time! Happy Thanksgiving and Blessings! To You and Your Family!