Join me today as I welcome author and blogger Mary Lou Cheatham, as she shares about her love for Christ and the Christmas season.

Perhaps it seems a little early to talk about Christmas, but it isn’t too early to make some plans before the holiday hustle and bustle take over.

Most people I know consider Christmas their favorite time. It’s when we spend precious moments with the ones we love, when we remember the delights of Christmases of the past, and most importantly when we reflect on our Father’s gift of his Son to us. We love to sing “For unto us a Child is born” and “Joy to the World.”

We’re happy to make things together. My daughter, Christie Marie Underwood, designs decorations and with the help of Brandt, her husband, she leaves no corner plain during the month of December.

She has assisted me with three books about Christmas. Drawing is one of her hobbies, and her style is drawing through the eyes of a child. Her signature style in life is vibrant colors, well-suited to her personality.

One of our books is Brother Star, Sister Moon, in which the star of Bethlehem asks the moon to help light the way for the wise men. I wrote the poem, and she illustrated it. The book features a simple recipe for sugar cookies. There is an Audible version recorded by Victoria Phelps.

Another children’s Christmas story is Seth, the Shepherd Boy, also illustrated by Christie and recorded by Victoria. Seth, a young shepherd, guards the sheep with his father. Angels come to bring good news.

Children have fun listening to the recordings as they look at the books. When parents enjoy these stories with their children, it is important to introduce them to the true narrative of the birth of Jesus and teach them that the stories—like the ones they see on television or read in other books—are not meant to be the actual story of Christmas. Here is an opportunity to help children learn about the true meaning of the holiday.

Christie and I also had a delightful time contributing stories to an anthology about Christmas. The editor invites readers to share “heart-warming, heart-wrenching, and heart-stopping moments” as the readers create lasting memories of their own.

You can connect with Mary Lou through her website: https://mary-cooke.com