Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 362

Today in World War II History—December 2, 1939 & 1944

Poster for the planned 1940 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. (Public domain)

75 Years Ago—Dec. 2, 1939: 1940 Summer Olympic Games—originally scheduled to be held in Tokyo, and then changed to Helsinki, Finland—are cancelled due to the war. New York Municipal Airport (later named LaGuardia) opens for traffic.

70 Years Ago—Dec. 2, 1944: New song in Top Ten—“Don’t Fence Me In.”

Simplify Christmas – 12 Tips to Turn Chaos to Wonder – plus Giveaway!

Do you break out in hives just thinking about the craziness and chaos that comes with Christmas? It doesn’t have to be that way. Inspirational authors Cara Putman, Sarah Sundin, and Tricia Goyer share about Christmases past in their new novella collection Where Treetops Glisten . Their three stories “White Christmas,” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” will take you back to wartime 1942, 1943, and 1944. The authors have also teamed up to give tips on simplifying Christmas this year! Join us December 1-6 on Not Quite Amish for the Simplifying Christmas series.

Twelve Tips to Turn Chaos to Wonder
by Sarah Sundin

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year! We long to make Christmas a time of joy and wonder for our family and friends, but in the process we often find ourselves depressed, stressed, irritable, and in debt.

Over the years, I’ve mourned how December has turned from my most anticipated month to my most dreaded. Last year, two things made me re-evaluate. First, I wrote my World War II Christmas novella in Where Treetops Glisten. Christmas was simpler then. Fewer gifts, fewer decorations, simpler food—less of everything. Was Christmas less meaningful then? Absolutely not.

Then on December 14, our youngest son received a concussion in a karate tournament and needed surgery … which was performed on January 2. Those two weeks were spent nursing my son and taking him to numerous appointments. Out of necessity, Christmas had to be simplified. As a family we agreed on what absolutely had to be done and what we could live without. And you know what? It was a really nice Christmas.

So how can we rein things in and turn Christmas from chaos to wonder?

To read the twelve tips – and for a free printable to help you simplify your Christmas, see the rest of the article on Not Quite Amish.

Where Treetops Glisten Gift Basket Giveaway!

My publisher has created three wonderful gift baskets. To enter to win this basket, please use the Rafflecopter form below. Also find the additional giveaways (and read more great tips to simplify Christmas!) on Tricia Goyer’s blog and Cara Putman’s blog!

Each basket contains:

Copy of Where Treetops Glisten
Christmas DVD – Holiday InnBing Crosby, Fred Astaire
Christmas CD (includes all the book title songs) – “A Jolly Christmas” Frank Sinatra
Apron made from vintage pattern
Recipe cards from each character

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Simplify Christmas – 12 Tips to Turn Chaos to Wonder

Do you break out in hives just thinking about the craziness and chaos that comes with Christmas? It doesn’t have to be that way. Inspirational authors Cara Putman, Sarah Sundin, and Tricia Goyer share about Christmases past in their new novella collection Where Treetops Glisten . Their three stories “White Christmas,” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” will take you back to wartime 1942, 1943, and 1944. The authors have also teamed up to give tips on simplifying Christmas this year! Join us December 1-6 on Not Quite Amish for the Simplifying Christmas series.

Twelve Tips to Turn Chaos to Wonder
by Sarah Sundin

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year! We long to make Christmas a time of joy and wonder for our family and friends, but in the process we often find ourselves depressed, stressed, irritable, and in debt.

Over the years, I’ve mourned how December has turned from my most anticipated month to my most dreaded. Last year, two things made me re-evaluate. First, I wrote my World War II Christmas novella in Where Treetops Glisten. Christmas was simpler then. Fewer gifts, fewer decorations, simpler food—less of everything. Was Christmas less meaningful then? Absolutely not.

Then on December 14, our youngest son received a concussion in a karate tournament and needed surgery … which was performed on January 2. Those two weeks were spent nursing my son and taking him to numerous appointments. Out of necessity, Christmas had to be simplified. As a family we agreed on what absolutely had to be done and what we could live without. And you know what? It was a really nice Christmas.

So how can we rein things in and turn Christmas from chaos to wonder?

To read the twelve tips – and for a free printable to help you simplify your Christmas, see the rest of the article on Not Quite Amish.

Christmas Chronicles – Regina Jennings

The Christmas Chronicles is a blog hop between 5 historical romance authors. Our desire is to bring you joy through these letters, grounded in the true spirit of the season, and written from the fictional viewpoints of each book’s heroine. We’re so glad to have you join the event. Each day this week, a new Christmas Chronicles post will go live, complete with a letter and a new ornament giveaway for that blog post.

To read more about the project and enter for a chance to win the fresh evergreen wreath which represents the gift of eternal life, click here.

On today’s stop for the Christmas Chronicles,  Regina Jennings shares a letter from her heroine, Abigail Calhoun from A Most Inconvenient Marriage. Regina’s giving away a copy of this delightful book (I just finished reading it!), plus ornaments inspired by the story!

Monday, December 1st: Regina Jennings  (Heroine: Abigail Calhoun, A Most Inconvenient Marriage)

Tuesday, December 2nd: Joanne Bischof  (Heroine: Sarah Miller, This Quiet Sky)

Wednesday, December 3rd: Amanda Dykes (Heroine: Aria St. John, Bespoke)

Thursday, December 4th: Karen Barnett (Heroine: Abby Fischer, Out of the Ruins)

Friday, December 5th: Sarah Sundin (Heroine: Grace Kessler, Where Treetops Glisten)

Today in World War II History—December 1, 1939 & 1944

Edward Stettinius, 1941 (Library of Congress)

75 Years Ago—Dec. 1, 1939: First Canadian troop convoy (TC-1) sails from Halifax to Britain with 7400 men.

70 Years Ago—Dec. 1, 1944: Edward Stettinius becomes US Secretary of State after Cordell Hull’s resignation.

Today in World War II History—November 30, 1939 & 1944

Burning building in Helsinki, Finland after Soviet bombing, 30 November 1939

75 Years Ago—Nov. 30, 1939: Soviet Army invades Finland, beginning the Winter War.

70 Years Ago—Nov. 30, 1944: Poland puts commandant and guards from Majdanek concentration camp on trial. HMS Vanguard is launched at Clydebank, Scotland, the world’s last battleship to be launched (she will not see service in WWII).

Today in World War II History—November 29, 1944

USS Archerfish

70 Years Ago—Nov. 29, 1944: Submarine USS Archerfish sinks Japanese carrier Shinano on her maiden voyage. German spies William Colepaugh and Erich Gimpel are landed by U-1230 at Hancock Point ME, both are arrested by 1/1/45. Johns Hopkins hospital performs first open-heart surgery.

Today in World War II History—November 28, 1939 & 1944

Oil being unloaded from SS Fort Cataraqui at Antwerp, 30 November 1944. (Imperial War Museum)

75 Years Ago—Nov. 28, 1939: USSR denounces 1932 non-aggression pact with Finland.

70 Years Ago—Nov. 28, 1944: Allies open port of Antwerp, Belgium as first convoy of supply ships arrives. Albania is secured by partisans as Germans evacuate.

With Every Letter on Sale!

With Every Letter , the first book in the Wings of the Nightingale series is on sale in ebook format for only $1.99 Thursday November 27 and Friday November 28 ONLY! If you’ve been wanting to try the series, this is a great time to get started.

As part of a morale-building program, World War II flight nurse Lt. Mellie Blake begins an anonymous correspondence with Army engineer Lt. Tom MacGilliver in North Africa. As their letters crisscross the Atlantic, they develop a deep friendship. But when they’re both transferred to Algeria, will their future be held hostage by the past-or will they reveal their identities?

With Every Letter is available on sale for only $1.59 as an ebook at ChristianBook.com and for only $1.99 on Kindle at Amazon and on Nook at Barnes & Noble.

Today in World War II History—November 27, 1939 & 1944

Secretary of State Cordell Hull, September 1944 (US Department of State)

75 Years Ago—Nov. 27, 1939: Nobel Committee announces cancellation of 1939 Peace Prize. Japanese capture Nanning, China, an important railhead. An earthquake of magnitude 8 kills over 20,000 in Erzhcam, Turkey.

70 Years Ago—Nov. 27, 1944: Aircraft from British carrier Implacable sinks German freighter Rigel carrying 2248 Soviet POWs; 415 survive. Cordell Hull resigns as US Secretary of State.