Comment from Muffins

Excellent

This is a wonderful, warm, hot cocoa in front of the fireplace type story. The love is expressed tenderly. The togetherness families have for each other, especially in hard times, is more powerful and sort out than any presents. Glad everything turned out o.k.

 Comment Written 01-Dec-2015

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reply by the author on 01-Dec-2015

Thanks for the very nice review. Merry Christmas.

Comment from Lesley Collier

Excellent

A lovely Christmas story of a family looking forward to Christmas Day as the birth of Jesus and their daughter Penny. The children come home one day to find their mother missing and their father tells them because of heart problems she had to stay in hospital for awhile. Too young to visit intensive care they decorate a tree and gather together all the present to bring Christmas to their mother in hospital and are thankfully admitted to see her and celebrate that special as a family all together. Well written full of warmth and Christmas delight and a lesson in making the best out of a difficult situation!

 Comment Written 01-Dec-2015

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reply by the author on 01-Dec-2015

Thanks Lesley, for the super nice review. I am glad you enjoyed my very true story. Patricia

Comment from Zue65

Excellent

Oh this is really so nice and heartwarming my friend. You have beautiful memories of Christmas, and the paintings you did on your window is a noble gesture for your neighbors. The scene at the hospital is indicative of how closely-knit you are as a family together with a loving husband. You are one such lucky woman. God bless.

 Comment Written 30-Nov-2015

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reply by the author on 30-Nov-2015

Thanks for the lovely review. Our family has always been very close when together, We don't often get to be together these day as we live at distance from each other. The last time I was with all three of my girls was in 2012. But, we surely had a great time for the two days and made the best of every minute. Lots of laughs and memories.

Comment from mermaids

Excellent

Christmas is often celebrated differently due to circumstances like being in the hospital. The story is full of joy, a family together celebrating Christmas and a birthday. There is a good feeling that comes from your story. I like how it is told from your daughter's viewpoint. I admire your painting of your window at Christmas.

 Comment Written 29-Nov-2015

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reply by the author on 29-Nov-2015

Thank you for the lovely review. Christmas can be stressful for many, as the pressures of buying and wrapping gift, decorating, giving Christmas card and going to celebrations can drain a person. Depression is a very common ailment at this time of the year. My Christmas list of things to do, places to go and parties have by necessity become short, as my health has taken any of those things from me. I have always had a rather positive attitude about things and because of that, writing this story was healing to me. My daughter so much appreciated my writing the story from her point of vies. Sometimes we just have to make the best of things as they are, just as I did with the Hostess cupcakes in my story. Merry Christmas and a very Happy new Year. Patricia

reply by mermaids on 30-Nov-2015

I like how you ate hostess cupcakes in the hospital, very heart warming. Elaine

Comment from Joan E.

Excellent

Thank you for sharing your true story and your "window paintings". I enjoyed your memories from forty years ago, and I am glad to hear that your daughter appreciated them. Seasons greetings- Joan

 Comment Written 29-Nov-2015

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reply by the author on 29-Nov-2015

Thank you Joan for the lovely review. I am glad you liked the story. I no longer paint the house windows at Christmas, as I don't have a window that is well protected from the weather anymore since I have moved to NM. Also, with my health as it is, I cannot afford to stand in the cold to paint anything outside. Patricia

reply by Joan E. on 29-Nov-2015

I understand the limitations, but I'm glad you have lovely memories of Christmases past and your special window creations. Sweet dreams- Joan

Comment from MacMhuirich

Excellent

A nicely written story of a beautiful time. It something most people forget - it's Jesus' birthday. You have captured wonderful Christmas spirit in your tale. Best wishes for the contest.
Bless you
John

 Comment Written 29-Nov-2015

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reply by the author on 29-Nov-2015

Thanks John for the nice review.

Comment from Robert Louis Fox

Excellent

You're a Christmas baby? How cool is that. I really liked the paragraph that starts: "Five days before Chirstmas..." That's when your story grabbed me. Maybe you should make that the first sentence.

This is a nice story showing family love!

 Comment Written 29-Nov-2015

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reply by the author on 29-Nov-2015

Thanks for your review. Robert, you misread, I wrote the story as if it was my daughter telling the story. She was born on Christmas day. I am the mother in the story..

Comment from The Mom/DarleneThomson

Excellent

Patricia,
This is a beautiful story. Since this is a contest entry I will let you know there is a tiny typo in this sentence the small tree and returned (to) the intensive care where mama was. You missed the word to in the sentence. I am only telling you this because I don't want you to get dinged in the contest. I love the story. The story line. The way you wrote in the third person. I cannot wait until we can say, Happy Birthday Jesus. This story reminds me that we always made a cake or cupcakes for Christmas day for Jesus's birthday when my son was growing up. I wish you the very best in the contest.
Blessings,
Darlene

 Comment Written 28-Nov-2015

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reply by the author on 28-Nov-2015

Thanks Darlene for the kind review and for the small typo, I hope that is all now, Several have caught different things, and I appreciate the help as I have vision problems.

Comment from Annette Gulliver

Excellent

I see that you are the mother in this story, Patricia. How lucky you are to have a family so filled with love for you that they were determined to see you on Christmas day to celebrate a family birthday and Christmas. You are blessed. I wish you good luck in the contest.
Annette

 Comment Written 28-Nov-2015

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reply by the author on 28-Nov-2015

Thanks for the nice review. I was in the hospital that time for 9 days.

Comment from MizKat

Excellent

Hi Patricia,

This is a wonderfully written poem about the time that you were in the hospital. I figured you were the one that wrote it, but since you were also the one in the hospital you used one of your children's name as the writer. Very good!

Kat

 Comment Written 28-Nov-2015

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reply by the author on 28-Nov-2015

+Thanks for the excellent review. I did write this as if it was my oldest daughter writing it.

reply by MizKat on 28-Nov-2015

You did a great job on this.