For those who mark Christmas, it’s the season to celebrate the Nativity, gather with family and friends, put up sparkly decorations, exchange brightly-wrapped gifts and more.

It’s also a time of joy and renewal, love and hope and to observe the turning of another year.

I wrote two Christmas books in 2025:

As Jen Gilroy, A Small Town Family Christmas, in my Strawberry Pond sweet contemporary romance series for Harlequin Heartwarming.

As Rose Warner, A Christmas Proposal, part of my British home front WW2 Teacher Evacuees series.

In my world, it’s felt a lot like Christmas since May and both books, out in 2026, include many things I love about the holiday season.

In addition, researching a British wartime Christmas for my Rose Warner story, gave me new appreciation of the grit and ingenuity that still made celebrations special despite shortages, rationing and a constant fear of bombing and invasion.

As a child, I made a Christmas list from holiday catalogues and after seeing toys and books in department stores.

I still have many of those long ago Christmas presents, including “Snowball,” a cuddly, floppy-eared dog I longed for.

When “Snowball” appeared under the tree on Christmas morning, it was my best Christmas ever.

Nowadays, Christmas is different. And since I’m the only one of my “original” family left, those holiday memories and traditions are mine alone—and bittersweet.

While I’m grateful to celebrate with Tech Guy and English Rose, and we’ve made our own traditions, this time of year is one when I can’t help but look back and remember others dear to me.

And while I no longer make a Christmas list, my wishes are no less heartfelt.

In addition to what’s for me the Christian meaning of Christmas, this year I’m focusing even more on the love, hope and joy that transcend religious belief.

It’s been a hard year for many, and from my small town to the larger world, worries and crises abound.

Yet, I’m taking inspiration from those wartime Christmas celebrations when people had little but still were generous and showed goodwill.

After last year’s Covid Christmas, following flu and an emergency hospital visit with English Rose in 2023, all I truly want for this holiday season is good health and family time.

Those are more precious than any gifts under the tree.

As always, I’m taking a blogging break over Christmas and will return with a new post in January 2026.

No matter what you celebrate, wishing you all the best for the holiday season and a happy new year.