Count Down to Love by Julie N. Ford – Countdown to Christmas 2011

19 days until Christmas

 

Julie has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a minor in English Literature from San Diego State University. In addition, she earned a Masters in Social Work from the University of Alabama. She has worked in teaching, childbirth education and family therapy. Besides writing, she hopes to re-enter the Social Work field someday.

She is the author of three women’s fiction novels, The Woman He Married (March 2011) and No Holly for Christmas (November 2011), published by Whiskey Creek Press. The third, Count Down to Love (July 2011), published by Bonneville Books.

Currently, she lives in Nashville, TN with her husband, two daughters and one very feisty fish.

Connect with Julie: WEBSITE | BLOG

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LDSWBR: What Christmas-related activity would you like to do this year that you have never done before?

JULIE: Besides finding a feasible solution to solving the world’s problems, including, but not limited to, poverty, the national debt and developing sustainable alternative energy, I’ve often dreamed of going to Karlovy Vary like Queen Latifah did in Last Holiday. I know this might sound a little trite, but every time I see that movie, I imagine how wonderful it would be to spend the holidays in a European mountain city. Is it just me or does eating gourmet food, relaxing in a spa, and strolling along a snowy river or cobblestoned street wearing a puffy coat, fur hat and boots sound like heaven?

LDSWBR: If you could find one book under the tree this year, what would it be?

JULIE: Oh, just about any book would send my heart drumming with excitement. I enjoy both giving, and receiving, novels of any kind. But if I had to choose one that would cause me to squeal with excitement, it would be Kristin Hannah’s, not yet released, Home Front, or any of her other novels I don’t already own. I’ve also fantasized about indulging in a Jodi Picoult marathon/read-a-thon where I start with her first novel and work my way through to her most recent (except Sing You Home. I didn’t like that one). Only finding every one of her books under the tree would likely leave little room for anyone else’s gifts ;)

LDSWBR: What is your favorite childhood Christmas memory?

JULIE: Wow, that’s a hard question. It’s been a while since I was a child, physically at least. Mentally, well that’s debatable, so maybe I’ll just stick to a more recent memory. Last fall my husband was in a fairly serious motorcycle accident that resulted in a ten day hospital stay where he underwent surgery to repair a dislocated knee after which he suffered a minor heart attack. Not long after, he had a stroke that left him unable to speak except for a few words in Spanish (don’t ask).

By the time mid- December rolled around, thankfully, he was back on his feet, speaking English, and out of town on a business trip. That Sunday evening, my daughters and I looked out the window to see it was snowing big white flakes. Feeling overly festive, we donned coats, hats and boots, retrieved a gift from under the tree and set out through the snow for my in-laws house down the street to spread some of our holiday cheer. (In case you were wondering, I consider their close proximity both a blessing and curse, but that’s a subject for another time.)

After a short visit with the in-laws—they were not as enthusiastic about the snow as we were—we headed back. On the way home, the neighborhood was so quiet that all we could hear was the crunch of our boots in the snow and the three of us paused a moment to enjoy the silence. From the blanketed sky, snowflakes fluttered down upon us like we’d been transported into a snow globe. In our wake, we saw only our footprints fading into a clean blanket of snow. For the first time in months I was truly at peace. The whole scene was a metaphor for the season. Magically, old trials are washed away, replaced by a new hope that begins with the miracle of Christ’s birth. Sharing that moment with my girls, for now anyway, is my favorite Christmas memory.

LDSWBR: Wow. Thank you for sharing that powerful memory, Julie. Merry Christmas to you and your family!

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Buy Count Down to Love by Julie N. Ford

CEDAR FORT | DESERET BOOK | AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

In the hectic busyness of the Holiday season, how do you find moments of peace?

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