This week, I will be stepping aside and allowing another to take over my blog. Lillian Duncan has a new Christmas book out titled No Home for the Holidays and giveaways for Amazon gift cards. I hope you enjoy her article about the first Christmas tree. Don’t forget God’s miracles this season. Bible verse Psalm 77:14 reads, You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.
TIS THE SEASON FOR MIRACLES!
Christmas is my favorite time of the year except for the snow and ice, I’ll take a moment to share a little about my hometown, Wooster, where one of their claims to fame is that they had the first Christmas tree in America.
According to the Wayne County Historical Society’s website: In 1847 a young German immigrant,
August Imgard, 21, while a resident of Wooster introduced the first Christmas tree to America.
Young Imgard missed the Christmas tree which had marked the Christmas he had known in his native Bavaria. He also believed a Christmas tree would bring added joy to his nephew and niece, Albert and Mary Imgard. For these two reasons he went to the woods outside Wooster and dropped down a spruce tree. He obtained a tin star and made paper decorations, which ornamented the first tree at the Imgard home on December 24, 1847.
The novelty appealed to other Wooster residents and the next year many people cut and decorated their own trees. Out of Wooster the custom spread and now it is universal throughout the States.
And so now you know where the first Christmas tree in America was. It must be why I love Christmas trees so much. Every year, we clear off our enclosed porch and fill it with Christmas trees and other decorations. Last year we had 14!
Merry Christmas and remember it really is the season for miracles!
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With Christmas as the backdrop to my latest release, there’s so many possibilities for what the characters can learn as they journey through the story. And, of course, I love all the Christmas symbolism available during my favorite time of the year.
To celebrate the release of No Home For The Holidays, I am running a contest on my blog, Tiaras & Tennis Shoes. Five lucky winners will receive a $10 Amazon Gift card. So hop on over to www.lillian-duncan.com and leave a comment under the No Home For The Holidays blog post so you’ll be entered to win one of the gift cards. Winners will be picked on Dec. 23—just in time for Christmas!
BLURB:
Unlike the Prodigal Son, Chloe Sullivan knows she can’t go home for the Christmas holidays or ever—not
if she wants to stay alive.
She’s resigned to the fact she must stay in hiding to keep herself and her family safe. Lonely and desperate for God’s presence, she’s drawn to a nearby church.
Ex-FBI agent turned preacher, Colton Douglas, mistakenly identifies Chloe as the person breaking into local churches. A midnight chase ensues that ends with him snapping her photo. When the photo goes public he learns more about the mystery woman than he bargained for. . .
And that changes everything!
MORE ABOUT LILLIAN
Lillian Duncan: stories of faith mingled with murder & mayhem!
Lillian is a multi-published writer with several Amazon bestsellers, including The Christmas Stalking and Betrayed. Lillian writes the types of books she loves to read—fast-paced suspense with a touch or 
two of romance that demonstrates God’s love for all of us
Whether as an educator, a writer, or a speech pathologist, she believes in the power of words to transform lives, especially God’s Word.
To learn more about Lillian and her books, visit: www.lillianduncan.net. Tiaras & Tennis Shoes is her personal blog at www.lillian-duncan.com.
