Day 2 of 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways (with Alena Pitts)
*Give Away has Ended*
It’s Day 2 of 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways! If you’re just joining in, be sure to start at Day 1 here.
Today is a bittersweet day in our series. One of my guests in this series in 2017 was Wynter Pitts, author and founder of For Girls Like You, a resource ministry for tween girls and their parents. Sadly, Wynter passed away suddenly in July of 2018 leaving behind a husband and four daughters. Her passing was an unexpected shock that left many family and friends devastated. However, Wynter’s husband Jonathan has determined to trust God despite this tragedy and today, I get to introduce you to their oldest daughter Alena. A budding actress and singer, you may recognize her from her role in the movie The War Room. I have asked her to share one of her favorite memories of her mom during the holidays.
Here’s Alena…
I’ll never forget the holidays with my mom over the years. We were alike in so many ways and one of the things that made us most similar was our love for sleeping. It’s pretty embarrassing to share the amount of time we would spend taking naps together over Christmas break but for both of us it was super refreshing. She was an introvert and so am I. She enjoyed being around people during the holidays but she would need time to refuel just like I do. You could always count on one of us to be hidden somewhere alone, or both of us together, buried underneath a warm fuzzy blanket. I imagine her in heaven under a fuzzy blanket even now, enjoying her rest with the Lord. In honor of her, I’ll be taking plenty of naps this holiday season. And I’ll take some moments alone too, so I can refresh my soul. Hope these resources might help you do the same as you take some time to replenish your soul over the holidays. ~ Alena
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Day 2 Giveaway
Alena is giving away two of her mom’s books: Emptied: Experiencing the Fullness of a Poured-Out Marriage, co-authored with Alena’s father Jonathan, and I Am Yours: Prayers for God’s Girl.
Giveaway rules are listed below. Enjoy!
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Alena Pitts is a 15-year-old actress, author and vocalist. The Kendrick Brothers’ WAR ROOM marked Alena’s professional acting debut and launched Alena headfirst into the spotlight at the age of eleven. Shortly after, Alena started on a new journey and co-authored a three-book fictional series aptly titled, Lena In The Spotlight (Zonderkids, 2017). The books are written with her mother, Wynter Pitts, author and founder of For Girls Like You Magazine. Though having experienced unbelievable success, Alena’s journey has not come without loss. She tragically and unexpectedly lost her mother on July 24th 2018 at the age of fourteen. Though heartbroken, she is not without hope and is using Wynter’s passing from death to life as an opportunity to share the hope and love of God in Jesus through her voice and her writing. Alena is the oldest of four sisters, Kaitlyn (12) and twins Camryn and Olivia (10). She and her family reside in Franklin, TN. She enjoys all things music and competitive volleyball. Connect with Alena here.
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12 Days of Christmas Giveaways Rules
- U.S. Addresses only please.
- You can comment on all 12 days (once per person) up until midnight Pacific time, Sunday, December 22. Each day will be linked below for easy reference.
- One daily winner will be chosen from each day’s comments.
- To enter to win the Grand Prize (worth over $150 and includes a $75 Amazon gift card, and two admission tickets (with meet-and-greet) to a concert with award-winning country music artist, Granger Smith, comment on, and share, all 12 posts. You can use the share buttons below or repost and share on Instagram (my fave!) and tag me @karenehman.
- All winners (including Grand Prize) will be announced here on the blog on Monday, December 23, and contacted via email. Please allow 4-6 weeks to receive your prizes.
- If you’re not already subscribed, click HERE and you’ll receive an email notification each day of our series, plus my Bless Don’t Stress devotional.
DAY 2 GIVEAWAY QUESTION:
Do you have a favorite holiday memory of your time with your mom, or another loved one, growing up? What is it?
Let us know in the comments and you’ll be entered in today’s giveaway. Remember, if you want to enter to win the grand prize, you must comment on and share all twelve days.
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Day 1 with Candace Cameron Bure
Such a heartwarming story. Makes me wish my mom was type I could snuggle with.
https://twitter.com/momof3boysj/status/1204442733349392384
My mom and I have always made apple pie together. She showed me how to make it when I was 8 years old. My mom has been diagnosed with ALS and can no longer make the pies, but I continue to carry on this tradition with my own children. She watches us from her wheelchair and I know it brings her alot of joy.
Christmas was the one time we were all together as a family. There isn’t one year that stands out over the others . . . Just being together!
Oh how my mom Loved the holidays! She sadly passed away this August and so it has been hard to fill that gap, but my kids and I are going to continue her tradition and ours along with a new one to represent her and keep her memory alive, especially during her favoritw holiday! She loved making chocolate bark… so well do that and remember her as we enjoy knowing she is enjoying our Lord and Savior!
I can always remember my mom doubting something different each year for Christmas for my brothers and I. She was always trying to hide the fact that we were poor. I was 11 and we had just moved from southern California to the middle or Arkansas the summer before, after being in foster homes for a few years. It was the first time my youngest brother and I had seen snow. We lived in a housing project and had a huge hill right outside our front door. We had no sled. Didn’t really know what sledding was except from movies. She took some scrap dry eraseboard pieces we used instead of writing on the walls placed them slick side down and we slid down that hill all day long.
My Mom LOVED CHRISTMAS!! We were the family that watched as many Christmas movies as we could, and traveled the town(with lots of hot chocolate) searching for the best Christmas lights! I was blessed to have my mom with me for 39 years!
Favorite memory with my mom was making Spritz cookies each year. I couldn’t wait for Christmas vacation when we would make our cookies. RIP mom.
My mom loved to make special candies for Christmas. I never was able to make divinity candy like hers.
My favorite Christmas memory would be making many batches of cookies with my mom. In particular she would make a special recipe where she had to cure super fine sugar with vanilla beans in a jar for some time before making the recipe. That jar smelled so good and those cookies were divine!
My favorite memory growing up is having dinner and spending time with my Grandpa every Christmas!
One of my favorite memories is my mom and dad hiding a pickle ornament on the tree on Christmas Eve and whoever found it first on Christmas morning got an extra gift!
My favorite childhood memory with my Mom at Christmas is baking Christmas cookies and homemade noodles. Also, sneaking in the freezer to get one of those Christmas cookies that we put up to take to family gatherings.
I don’t remember the presents we received growing up, but I do remember the family gatherings with all my grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins. it was such a good time. In todays world it is very hard for familys to get together like that.
My favorite holiday memory is when my brother and I both received bikes for Christmas. We were so excited! I remember riding them all day!
My brother liked to wrap a box in a box in a box in a box ad infintum! Just when you thought you got to the present, there was another box.
Making German Christmas cookies! It’s a all day process , but so much fun! My mom watches us now. But she keeps a sharp eye on us girls.
My dad was a pastor so Christmas season was very busy for us. My mom made it so special though with her love. Many of the members gave us baked goods for Christmas, so we didn’t do a lot of baking, but I remember decorating with my mom. She had about 5 things that had to go up each year. One was a special manger scene that had a church attached to it. I loved to put it up with her. We would place all the pieces in the manger area and then put pews and the pulpit in the other section. My mom has been with Jesus for 7 years now. She died on the 12th of December in 2012 and was able to sing her Christmas carols that year with Jesus!
My sisters are much older than I am. As a child I always enjoyed the Christmas season. It meant my sisters would be returning home to celebrate Christmas.
A favorite Christmas memory with my Mom was baking Christmas Spritz cookies to give to family and friends.
Growing up, we would always get visited by Herman the Elf while we were at the Christmas Eve Service. Herman would leave us pajamas (and always a mess!) for us to wear at night. It was a silly tradition, but one that my whole family looked forward to each year!
Definitely making Christmas cookie recipes that have been passed down through the years ?
When I was young, I enjoyed helping my mom decorate for Christmas. We would listen to a Christmas album on the old hi-fi record player as we decorated. We enjoyed looking at the ornaments together and remembering where we got them. I loved helping her set up the nativity and hang the mistletoe over the doorway between our den and kitchen. She is 86 now and doesn’t decorate anymore, but enjoys spending Christmas with my family at our home. I still have a few of the decorations from my childhood and it brings back sweet memories.
My mom was such a warm, loving, Godly woman. I remember times her and I would sit out on our porch and she would tell me stories of her family and what fun they would have together! I am so thankful for God giving me to her! And I know she is having such a wonderful time in heaven! And I know I’ll be there someday worshiping God with her!
One of my favorite things about the Christmas holidays is making new memories with my children. While I love the lights and decorations and baking and festivities, the thing I love most is reading scripture with my family and following the familiar prophecies and gospel accounts to the birth of our Savior, worshipping together Christmas Eve.