From my house to yours, here’s a virtual stocking filled with seven Christmas stories for your reading pleasure. In the past I have written an annual story for this special season. My new subscribers may not have read them yet, and my “old” subscribers may enjoy reading them again. Here they are, starting with the earliest.

1. Christmas Stories: My Dad’s Best Christmas

When I asked my father what was the best Christmas of his life, he answered without any hesitation “Christmas 1945!” Then he told me this charming story. Click here to read: My Dad’s Best Christmas.

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2. Christmas Stories: The Mail Must Get Through

Mail was a lifeline at Christmas between the lonely men and women serving overseas, and their families back home. The Royal Canadian Air Force made sure the mail got through to them. Click here to read: The Morale Squadron Made Mail Their Mission.

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3. Christmas Stories: Dresden Church Resurrected

Every tiny black spot on the walls of the Church of Our Lady in Dresden, Germany is an original smoke-blackened stone. All that was left after an Allied bombing raid in 1945 was a pile of rubble, until 1990. That’s when the whole city, helped by citizens around the world, began to rebuild this historic cathedral from the ground up. See photos of how this feat was accomplished: Dresden Church Rose From the Ashes.

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4. Christmas Stories: Home at Last

When peace was declared, can you imagine the joy on the part of families around the world when they realized they would be reunited for their first Christmas in years? I love the expressions on the faces of this British father and his baby! These photos show just a few of the thousands of happy homecomings: I’ll Be Home for Christmas.

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5. Christmas Stories: Wartime Christmas Cards

The Australians, New Zealanders, and Canadians had some of the longest separations from their homes and families in wartime, since they entered the war in 1939 and many did not get home until 1946. The British and even the Germans got home on leave — but not the forces from overseas. Click here to see a collection of Christmas cards created especially for those men and women overseas who were so desperately homesick: Christmas Cards in Wartime.

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6. Christmas Stories: Ten Christmas Traditions

Here’s a very personal look at some of the Christmas traditions followed by my family, and dear to my heart. I’m even sharing the recipe for my mother’s famous dish, June’s Jellied Salad! For more: Ten Favourite Christmas Traditions.

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7. Christmas Stories: Tour My Tree

I love decorating my traditional tree with some treasured vintage ornaments, collected from my parents, grandparents, and children. In Mexico, where we lived for about eighteen months when my children were small, the devil is an essential part of the Christmas pageant, when he is driven away by Christmas angels. To see my tree in all its glory: Tour My Traditional Tree.

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Happy Birthday, Eugenie Turner

Eugenie Francoeur Turner turned 99 years old on November 30, 2021. A shining example of The Greatest Generation, Genie grew up in Quebec, served overseas with the Royal Canadian Air Force in the Second World War, married another air force veteran, and raised five children. She now lives in Kelowna, B.C.

I spoke to her on the telephone recently and she is still just as smart and sassy as she looks in this photograph. She uses her computer every day to write emails and Facebook posts! Read about her wartime experiences here: RCAF Airwoman Served Overseas.

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Don’t Miss an Issue!

Letters From Windermere might occasionally end up in Junk Mail, for no good reason. Make sure you check your Spam or Junk file to see if it is there before emptying the trash.

To make sure my emails hit your inbox in 2022, please follow these steps:

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Contact me if you have any questions. I’m here to help!

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Have a Very Merry Christmas!

Friends, along with my real tree I also put up an artificial white tree in the home office where I do all my writing, because I think it shows off my sparkly vintage ornaments. Believe me, I have so many there isn’t room for them all on two trees!

I’m sending you a very sincere wish for a happy holiday season, and my fervent hopes for a brighter new year! With much affection, Elinor