More Than Christmas Lights

When I was a little girl I always looked forward to the night our family would pile in the car to go for a drive to see the Christmas lights. We’d wander all over SE Portland, but we would always end up at one particular street near Mt Tabor just a few miles from our house. I don’t remember the name of the street, but we called it Candy Cane Lane. This cul-de-sac included about 20 houses all on one side of the street with a park on the other, and it ended with a large turnaround. Every house on Candy Cane Lane was decked out with twinkling lights and Christmas figures in the yard. One house even had Santa’s sleigh and eight reindeer on the roof. Sometimes residents dressed up in elf costumes and passed out candy to the kids in the cars. We always loved that!

But my favorite part came when we reached the turnaround where a live nativity had been set up. All the cars would slow down as they drove past to look into the stable and see Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus in the manger. We’d roll down our windows and listen to Away in the Manger or Silent Night playing in the background.

I loved visiting Candy Cane Lane…because even amid all the colorful decorations and twinkling lights the true meaning of the holiday was not forgotten. Looking into the manger and seeing the baby there made a deep impression on my heart, and I still cherish Him today. . . Jesus the True Light of the World.

“Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:12

Carrie Turansky is the author of ten inspirational romance novels and novellas, including her latest, Snowflake Sweethearts. www.carrieturansky.com

Snowflake Sweethearts Interview

How exciting to have Annie Romano the heroine from Snowflake Sweethearts written by Carrie Turansky, a December 2012 release from Love Inspired Romance.

1. Annie, tell me one of the most interesting thing about you.

I love to cook for friends and family, and that’s one reason I decided to become a personal chef and start my own business in Fairhaven, Washington. Experimenting with new recipes and serving a special meal to friends brings me a lot of joy.

2.  What do you do for fun?

I enjoy spending time with my six-year-old daughter Emma. We like reading aloud in front of the fire, baking cookies, and taking walks to the park. Recently I’ve been learning to ice skate. That’s been a fun adventure, because I’m not too athletic, but the special man in my life, Alex Jameson, has been teaching me, and that makes it fun. I can’t wait to try it again with Emma.

3.  What do you put off doing because you dread it?

Balancing my checkbook and working on taxes rank up there right next to having a headache and stomach flu. I do not have a head for numbers, so I am very thankful to share that side of the bakery business with Alex.

4.  What are you afraid of most in life?

I’m afraid that I may not be able to give my daughter the safe and happy childhood that she deserves. Being a single mother is often challenging and I’m tempted to worry about the future. I’m thankful that I’m learning more about trusting God and opening my heart and life to others so they can become the family and friends that we need.

5.  What is the most important thing to you?

Taking care of Emma and making sure she has everything she needs emotionally, physically, and spiritually is very important to me. Being her mom is a blessing, but some days I feel like I might not have what it takes to be a good mother. But since I’ve been staying with Irene, she has really boosted my confidence and been like mom to me and a grandma to Emma. I am very thankful for Irene’s friendship and encouragement.

 

6.  Do you read books? If so, what is your favorite type of book?

Oh, yes! I love to read cookbooks and also inspirational historical romance.

7.  If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Sometimes I wish that my family situation growing up could have been different. My father left my mom and me when I was young, and that has always been a painful reality for me. But that longing for a father was one of the reasons I became a believer in Jesus when I was in college. Knowing my Heavenly Father loves me has been a balm to my heart and met some of my deepest needs.

8.  Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet?

Emma and I would love to have a pet. I hope when we get our own home we will adopt a cat or dog that needs a home and a lot of love. That would be fun for Emma and help her learn more about responsibility.  

9. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?

I’d love to travel back in time and meet my grandparents and other family members in Italy. I’ve heard so many wonderful stories about them, and I wish I’d had a chance to get to know them. Maybe I’d learn some secret family recipes I could use at the new Jameson’s Bakery Café too!

Featured Book: Snowflake Sweethearts

Bringing her daughter to the one place she feels safe, single mother Annie Romano returns to Fairhaven, Washington. Though hoping to start a new life as a personal chef, Annie accepts a different job. Alex Jameson, the handsome man she secretly loved as a teenager, needs a live-in caregiver for his ailing grandmother. A big-city workaholic in town temporarily, Alex doesn't seem to realize how much he needs family—or love. But the holiday season, his grandmother's matchmaking friends and one fatherless little girl start pulling at both Annie's and Alex's heartstrings. Just in time for the most special Christmas ever.

Visiting Downton Abbey - Beautiful Highclere Castle

Hi Friends, Carrie Turansky here, sharing some fun memories from our recent trip to England!

My husband Scott and I spent a wonderful week touring country villages and back roads in Oxfordshire, the Cotsowlds, and the Peaks District. We rented a car and my brave husband drove over 400 miles sitting in the driver's seat on the wrong side of the car and driving on the wrong side of the road! But he considered it a challenge and handled it all very well. What a great sport!

Touring Highclere Castle where the TV series Downton Abbey is filmed was the highlight of the trip for me. Walking through the front door and into the double library where so many scenes have been shot was so exciting! I almost expected to see Carson and hear him announce me to Lord and Lady Grantham. We toured all through the ground floor and the next floor up, which is called the first floor there, peeking in the bedrooms and wandering down the hallways. My favorite room was the great hall, which is called the saloon. The high arched celiling with the carvings and large fireplace are so lovely. I felt like I was stepping back in time to the Edwardian Period.

This was a research trip for me. My next book, The Governess of Highland Hall, is set in England during the Edwardian Period. It's the first of a three-book series that will follow the Ramsey family of Oxfordshire from the years 1910 to 1919 including WWI. Like Downton Abbey, the story captures the viewpoint of both the hard-working servants downstairs, and the wealthy, distinguished family upstairs. Of course it includes romance, faith, family struggles, and a delightful dash of history.

Until next fall when the Governess of Highland Hall releases, I hope you will be looking for my latest Love Inspired title, Snowflake Sweethearts! It's a sweet and inspiring holiday romance set in Fairhaven, Washington and inclues the four senior-age ladies known as the Bayside Treasures who love to play matchmakers for their friends and family. Snowflake Sweethearts is available in eBook format now here: http://bit.ly/OUjGB.  It will be available as a paperback in stores and online after November 13th.

For more info about my books please stop by my website:  http://www.carrieturansky.com

Are you a Downton Abbey fan? If so, are you eager for Season 3 to start in January? Who is your favorite Downton Abbey character?