This is the first time that Judith and Stan Winters' family has not been with them at Thanksgiving. Their three children have all moved away to other states with their own families. Thanksgiving dinner is too quiet and is depressing for them both, but Judith takes it much harder than Stan. He carries on as usual with his traditions of fishing in the morning and shopping on Black Friday at Bass Pro Shop. But before he leaves for his fishing trip, Stan gets all the decorations out for Christmas. Judith's tradition is to decorate the house and the tree on Black Friday.

When Stan returns from fishing, the decorations are still in the same place he left them. Judith is on the back porch just sitting. She has received phone calls from all their children that none of them are coming for Christmas either. While Stan is disappointed in the news, Judith becomes extremely depressed. Can she overcome her depression of not seeing any of her children over the holidays?

Dan Walsh has set KEEPING CHRISTMAS in the small central Florida town of Mount Dora. I don't live far from there, and this is a perfect setting for a Christmas story, especially with the Christmas traditions in this small town. Mr. Walsh's characters are very realistic, believable, and extremely endearing. I can identify with so many of them as related to our own Christmas traditions in our family. KEEPING CHRISTMAS explores the empty nest syndrome and the different ways that men and women handle their emotions. It's also a story about raising children and how different that has become in this day and time; a story about real communication and mentoring others. I just love Christmas stories and this one is absolutely charming. Get out a box of Kleenex; you'll need it!

Book Summary

For the first time since their children were born, empty nesters Judith and Stan Winters spent Thanksgiving without the kids, and it's looking like Christmas will be the same. Judith can't bring herself to even start decorating for the holiday; her kids always hung the first ornaments on the tree, ornaments they had made each year since they were toddlers. Sure they were strange-looking--some could be called downright ugly--but they were tradition. A tradition she's heartbroken to miss this year.

With Judith refusing to decorate the bare spruce tree in their living room, Stan knows something must be done. And his only hope for saving the holiday is found in a box of handmade ornaments.

Fan-favorite Dan Walsh invites readers to enjoy this nostalgic Christmas story that celebrates all of our most cherished seasonal traditions, especially the importance of family. Readers will join in remembering the things that make their own Christmas season so special.

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