My Favorite Christmas Memory by Connilyn Cossette

Hey, y’all! Mesu here. 😉

As this year’s holidays approached, I tried to think of a gift my readers would value. Since I know most of you are crazy about biblical fiction as I am, I contacted a few author pals and asked if they’d share a special holiday memory–or two or three.

Today, I get to introduce my sweet friend, Connilyn Cossette. I’m sure most of you already know her through her biblical novels. I was extra blessed when she moved to NC a few years ago. We got to meet for lunch a couple of times–before her family moved back to TX. We had a ball causing trouble at the local Christian bookstore!

BTW, if you’d like to read the holiday posts from my other two bibfic buddies, Brennan McPherson shared about his Thanksgivings: Past and Present, and Tessa Afshar wrote about her conversion experience in Christmas Lost – And Found. I’ve enjoyed peeking inside their holiday experiences, and I hope you have too!

My Favorite Christmas Memory

by Connilyn Cossette

It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly one memory that is distinct from the others when it comes to Christmastime, especially from my childhood.

Dad’s Side

Conni sitting in the wooden rocker made by her great-great grandfather for her dad (that her kids also used)!

Those memories blur into a long chain of moments spent at my paternal grandparents house in Idaho. My grandpa would make a big show over “snooping” under the Christmas tree, and my grandmother always made certain we had a “cookie party” at 3pm (not too close to dinner!) which included a wide assortment of goodies.

Many were traditional Norweigian treats, from the 1500 (yes, 1500!) cookies she baked every year to give away to family and friends, and those fantastic frozen-fingered days when the snow was just right to sled down the road the city closed off for that purpose.

Mom’s Side

Conni with her mom

There are also wonderful memories from my maternal grandmother’s enormous Christmas parties.

She would invite friends, family, and even strangers to celebrate Jesus’s birth with songs, readings, and a groaning banquet table full of dishes both savory and sweet.

Then she would have four-year-old-me stand on her piano bench and sing her favorite time-worn hymns.

Making Our Own Memories

But I think I would have to say, even though my childhood is full of warm and cozy Christmas memories, nothing can beat the first Christmas after our daughter was born. She was just old enough to be delighted by the lights and the paper and packages and our son was delighted by everything about his sister and it felt like everything was just…complete.

After struggling through seven years of childlessness and then the challenge of adopting two children with limited finances, our first Christmas with our son was beautiful and special.

But once our daughter was a part of the mix, it truly became a magical thing that I think will only be surpassed by the first Christmas in the future when I get to call myself grandmother—but I guarantee you, there will not be 1500 cookies in that future by any stretch of the imagination!

More About Connilyn:

CONNILYN COSSETTE is the award-winning and best-selling author whose passion is to write stories that draw readers into an immersive experience within the rich ancient world of the Bible, to personalize the history found there, and to spark a curiosity that will lead to digging deeper into the truth of the Word. You can connect with her on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter, or drop her an email at: connilyn@connilyncossette.com.