​Getting My Heart Ready For Christmas

It’s nearly the end of November and this is the time of year my mind turns to decorating the house for Christmas and what presents I will buy for family and friends. I usually approach this preparation time with joy and confidence that I’m going to have a lovely time. In the past that has always been the case but this year it’s different for me.

I’ve had so much sympathy for people who aren’t looking forward to the festive season. Many times have I heard people say, I don’t like Christmas it’s a sad time of year for me? I really feel for those people, and to help them cope I have suggested they take time to be sad but also focus on who they currently have in their life. To be sad at a time when everyone else seems to be happy makes it all the more poignant, so to be able to feel that you still have some joy is important.

This year I have a taste of what they’re talking about and it’s my turn to practice my own advice. It’s the very first Christmas I’ve faced without my mother. She has been in my life since my first breath and now she’s not here and a large hole is left. Mum always made the Christmas plum pudding and added a generous amount of cheer. She had a warm and excited-to-see-you greeting for all that was infectious. Her gift to me is the example she set. Her mother passed when I was a teenager but Mum kept making Christmas day special for us. I’ll honour her by carrying on in the way she would want me to.

She taught me how to make a plum pudding so I’ll be making one this year.  And I’ll be focussing on the people I have in my life: my dear partner Sam; Dad; my kids and their partners; and Sam’s and my sisters and their families. Mum always decorated the house for Christmas so I plan to do that this week too. 
I’ve been watching Christmas decorating videos on YouTube for inspiration and motivation, fortunately that has been working. Below, I've included a video I made of my home last year if you’d like to have a look.

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I really always did love Christmas, the joy of buying gifts for loved ones and adding to my stash of pretty decorations. I think family and love are the themes that make Christmas so special and warm my heart. That still is so important to me. I included a Christmas scene in the epilogue of my book ‘The Scottish Billionaire’s Secret Lover’, because it was a way to show how wonderful it is for family to gather and give to each other.

My recently released book The Italian Billionaire’s Secret Baby” was inspired by an overseas trip to Italy that my darling mother paid for. I can’t believe she’s gone but I can believe that her love goes on and that she inspires me every day, also that Christmas day will be no exception.
I encourage you to stay tuned for updates on the Christmas decorating I’ll be doing. There will be a blog about it with photos next week.
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In case I’ve piqued your interest in either of my books, the buy links are below.

The Scottish Billionaire’s Secret Lover

https://www.amazon.com/Scottish-Billionaires-Secret-Baxter-Sisters-ebook/dp/B01GHJVRKY
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The Italian Billionaire’s Secret Baby

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076NLBW6R

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