Part 3—Amish Christmas Interview with Vannetta Chapman, Mary Ellis, and Murray Pura

We’re celebrating a sweet and simple Christmas here at AmishReader.com with a series of fun author interviews! Join some of your favorite Amish authors as they share happy reminiscences of Christmases past, interesting information on the Amish approach to the holiday, and fascinating lists of Christmas/book favorites. Find a cozy place by the fire or looking out on the wintry weather, prepare a mug of hot chocolate, and enjoy Part 3 of this special 3-part interview…

Christmas Interview Cover Collage

Featured Books:

Welcome back, Vannetta, Mary, and Murray! Today, we’d like to know which one you’d choose out of two Christmas-themed options…

1. White Christmas or a sunny holiday?

  • Vannetta: Well, I live in Texas so I usually have SUNNY, but I wouldn’t mind WHITE.
  • Mary: Since I’ve lived in northern Ohio my whole life, I would pick a sunny holiday. I believe I’ve only had one once or twice!!
  • Murray: White Christmas with tall evergreens and mountains.

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Mary Ellis preparing for a draft-horse-drawn sleigh ride in Ohio’s Amish country

2. Riding in a horse-drawn sleigh or sledding downhill?

  • Vannetta: Sleigh. Definitely sleigh.
  • Mary: Definitely a horse-drawn sleigh. I’ve only done this once, but I loved it! I get too cold and wet while sledding.
  • Murray: A sleigh ride is Christmas magic.

3. Lots of presents or one meaningful gift?

  • Vannetta: One gift.
  • Mary: Lots of small, inexpensive, practical gifts like socks, tablets, pens, or candy. I love opening presents.
  • Murray: Too many gifts spoil the event. So a sock and one meaningful gift.

4. Big family dinner or a nice restaurant?

  • Vannetta: Big family dinner – that way the dog is allowed to come.
  • Mary: If we can get away, then a big dinner with out-of-town family in Kentucky or Texas.
  • Murray: Family dinner for sure. There’s nothing like relaxing at home instead of not-really-relaxing at a restaurant.

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Mary Ellis’s barn in the winter

5. Home for Christmas or traveling elsewhere?

  • Vannetta: Home. I like to be snuggled on the couch with a fire blazing, my dog lying next to me, and holding a good book with everyone around me doing the same.
  • Mary: Usually we travel for both Easter and Thanksgiving, so we’re home just the two of us for Christmas.
  • Murray: Home is where the people are so if it means travel, fine, so long as road conditions or sky conditions permit, and the trip itself can be a happy part of the celebration, not a huge stress.

Thank you Vannetta, Mary, and Murray for joining us this week and helping us to celebrate Christmas here on AmishReader.com!

Christmas Interview Author Collage

Giveaway!

Amish readers, share your choices for all 5 of the either/or scenarios (listed above) in the comments section to enter to win a paperback copy of An Amish Family Christmas by Murray Pura!

Fine print: Giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only, and participants must be 18 years old or older to enter. A winner will be randomly selected and emailed on Friday, December 26th. This giveaway is in no way sponsored by or affiliated with Facebook, WordPress, or Twitter.

 

Last 5 posts by Amber | AmishReader.com

45 Responses to “Part 3—Amish Christmas Interview with Vannetta Chapman, Mary Ellis, and Murray Pura”

  1. all was good thank you!!

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  2. 1. White Christmas-As long as I don’t have to drive in it.
    2. Horse Drawn Sleigh
    3. 1 meaningful gift. I love to give more than receive.
    Big family dinner. I love to cook.
    With family. It would have to be both though as my family all live elsewhere.

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  3. Being with family sharing the day. meal and all the wonderful memories of the past…

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  4. BLESSINGS TO ALL!
    I LOVE READING & ALL YOUR BOOKS ARE SO ENJOYABLE!
    THANK-YOU FOR SHARING THEM WITH ALL OF US!MAY THE NEW YEAR BRING US ALL GOOD HEALTH & HAPPY SPIRITS!
    FONDLY,
    DONNA

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  5. I want to win this book so bad, i won it once but never got it, Murray did ever thing in his power but they people sending ,didnt send, so please please pick me thanks
    Shirley Blanchard jcisforme@aol.com

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    Amber Stokes Reply:

    Hi Shirley,

    I’m sorry to hear you’ve had trouble getting a copy of this book!

    To enter this particular giveaway, just be sure to share your choices for the 5 either/or scenarios listed in the post. (You don’t have to go in-depth with your reasoning – a simple list will do! See Debi Smith’s comment for an example.) That’s the fun twist to this Christmas-themed giveaway. :) Good luck!

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  6. WOW What a great way to celebrate a lonesome Christmas was to know that you have won this book. I want to win but not much of a chance right now but I will be so happy for the person that doe swin.
    thank you any way for this chance. Karen

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    Amber Stokes Reply:

    Hi Karen,

    That’s very sweet of you to say! If you’re in the US or Canada, please do feel free to enter the giveaway. You just have to share your choices for the 5 either/or options to get your name in the hat.

    And everyone can be a winner with the ebook deals (linked at the top of the post)! You can get Vannetta’s short story for free and the other two books for $3.99 each. If you don’t have an e-reader, you can download the free Kindle app for your computer or other device.

    Thanks for stopping by, and merry Christmas!

    [Reply]

  7. 1. white
    2. sleigh
    3. one gift
    4. big family dinner
    5. home

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  8. 1. White – must be snow for snowmobiling
    2. Sledding and screaming down the hill
    3. Lots of gifts – we spoil only at Christmas
    4. Big family dinner that morphs into Dutch Blitz and Pumpkin Pie
    5. Kids prefer home with special lonely guests invited

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  9. 1.) White Christmas…although living in southern AZ that doesn’t happen..so I cherish just cool weather
    2.) Sledding…letting the kid in me come out
    3.) One gift and a stocking.
    4.) Family dinner. I cook the entire meal and just love watching my family together enjoying the meal.
    5) Home in the morning, visiting family later in the day.

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  10. 1 _ definitely a white Christms. Or a lot of snow with Sun shining on it. Like glistening snow.
    2_ at my age I would prefer a horse drawn sleigh ride. Might break something otherwise .
    3_one meaning full gift is what I prefer.
    4_ for once a meal out at a restaurant would be nice. I have fixed Christmas dinner for years. Would welcome a change.
    5_ Home for Christmas with my loved ones is what I want.
    Would love to win Murray Pura’s book An Amish Family Christmas.
    Thanks and Merry Christmas
    Shirley

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  11. 1. White Christmas
    2. Sledding
    3. One Gift
    4. Family Dinner
    5. Home

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  12. 1. White Christmas for sure. Lots of sunshine and gentle snowflakes falling.
    2. A horse drawn sleigh ride follow by some yummy hot chocolate.
    3. One meaningful gift.
    4. Family dinner for sure. Relaxing with family is the best way to spend
    Christmas.
    5. Home for Christmas or going to a relative’s home not too far away.

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    Shirley Chapel Reply:

    Hi Carroll Anne! You could use my yummy slow cooker recipe for hot chocolate found on and earlier post comment on Amish Reader.com. The hot chocolate could be simmering in the crock pot while your out riding in a one horse open sleigh.

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    Amber Stokes Reply:

    That’s a great plan, Shirley! :)

    Here’s the link to the post, if anyone’s interested (just scroll down to the comments and check out Shirley’s third post):

    Recipe: Christmas Sugar Cookies

    [Reply]

  13. 1. Like it white!
    2.Sleigh
    3. A meaningful gift
    4. Family dinner
    5. Home and at my mom’s home

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  14. Hello Amber. Three great authors and friends here. Thanks. #1. Love White Christmases but none here in TX.
    #2. Horse Drawn sleigh on a snowy day. What fun.
    #3.I like several gifts, but just some smaller things I need instead of things I don’t really need.
    #4. Family meal at home. Can’t visit good at a restaurant.
    #5. At my son’s home nearby. Lots of room for our big family Love seeing everyone. No traveling long distance.
    Would love to win this book. Merry Christmas to you all.
    GOD bless. Maxie

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  15. hanks all was so awesome what you all did !..never read one of murry pura books…be a awesome christmas gift!

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    Amber Stokes Reply:

    Hi Wilma,

    It would indeed be a great Christmas gift for Amish-fiction lovers! If you’re in the US or Canada and you’d like to enter this drawing for a free copy, just let us know your choices for the 5 options listed in the post. Thank you for your enthusiasm for these interviews – so glad you enjoyed them!

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  16. White ChristmaS
    Sleigh ride
    One gift. To a special place with my husband
    Family meal
    At Family members home

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  17. White Christmas
    One gift
    Family meal
    cousin house
    Sleigh ride

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  18. Very fun to see everyone’s choices! Looks like people mostly prefer a sleigh ride on a white Christmas day, with one gift and a cozy family dinner at home. Sounds like the recipe for a sweet, traditional holiday!

    Tell me, what’s on the menu for that family dinner?

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  19. For my dinner I’m serving Honey Baked Ham , macaroni and cheese, candied yams , creamed corn , green beans , deviled eggs, peanut butter pie, Apple pie and my daughter is bringing 2 pies , creamed spinach and she said she would bring the slow cooker hot chocolate. So it will be a big feast.
    Merry Christma Amber and all my blog friends.
    Shirley

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    Amber Stokes Reply:

    Wow, that definitely sounds like a feast! Enjoy that hot chocolate and all the delicious food. And a very merry Christmas to you and your family, Shirley!

    [Reply]

  20. Riding in a horse – drawn sleigh has always been a dream of mine.

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  21. 1. White Christmas, but not a blizzard!
    2. Horse drawn sleigh
    3. One meaningful present! Growing up we tried to teach our daughter this lesson so she would receive one present from mommy, one from daddy and one from Santa….
    4. Since my family just consists of my daughter and I, we will probably go to a movie that has a restaurant inside…. makes for an easy afternoon! (That way we can both spend the morning with our 4 legged children!!)
    5. Both… just on different years. Some years we go like to Vegas and on other years we just veg at home…. depends on the finances! Since my husband passed, it has changed our routine.

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  22. 1. White Christmas
    2. Sleigh ride.
    3. 1special gift.
    4. Big family dinner
    5. Family’s house nearby. My house isn’t big enough to have family over for the holidays.

    Merry Christmas!!

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  23. 1. I would love having a white Christmas
    2. A horse drawn sled ride would be great
    3. A from the heart gift and a stocking
    4.A big family dinner
    5. I like going to my mom’s for Christmas which is only about 20 mins. away but we have a big family dinner.

    [Reply]

  24. 1. White Christmas!
    2. Sleigh ride
    3. Dinner out
    4. Family time
    5. Cookies

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  25. 1. Almost always white, but would enjoy sunny
    2. Horse drawn sleigh
    3. One gift
    4. Family dinner.
    5. Home

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  26. I prefer a white Christmas.
    I am excited about our special guest this Christmas Day. Jesus is coming to visit. We will have a birthday cake for him.
    (No, I am not crazy nor am I a child.)
    May the Lord bless you and give you Peace.
    Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
    Take care.

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  27. I’ve always had a white Christmas and can’t imagine anything else. The sleigh ride is so much fun!

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  28. My dream:

    Snowy day with a sleigh ride after a big meal with family…at home. One gift, or as Mary said, small useful things :)

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  29. My favorites: white Christmas, with clear roads!
    Being together with family and enjoying gift giving and receiving.
    Big family dinner(this year a big family breakfast.)
    Sledding on our backyard hill.
    Cuddling our brand new first grandson!
    Merry Christmas to all!

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  30. 1. white Christmas
    2. horse drawn sleigh
    3. one meaningful gift
    4. big family dinner
    5. home

    [Reply]

  31. Home for the holidays?

    I agree that home is where friends/family are. I usually don’t travel over the holidays so I prefer to be at home just relaxing and enjoying my family :)

    [Reply]

  32. 1. White Christmas
    2. Horse drawn sleigh
    3. Lots of gifts
    4. Big family dinner
    5. Home

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  33. White Christmas
    Horse drawn sleigh
    1 meaningful gift
    Big family dinner
    Home for Christmas

    [Reply]

  34. Snow! I’ve never had a white Christmas living in Alabama

    Sleigh ride – so romantic sounding

    I like lots of little gifts

    I hate to cook, so restaurant or another family member’s house

    In all our 33 years of marriage we’ve always stayed at home

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  35. I’d love a white Christmas. I’ve never been in a horse drawn sleigh, but think I’d love it. I like lots of gifts with one being meaningful, not expensive particularly. It would be wonderful to have a big dinner at home with all my family. That would be in the miracle department, but that’s what my God is good at doing.

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  36. 1. White Christmas
    2. Horse drawn sleigh
    3. a few small but inexpensive gifts
    4. Family dinner
    5.Home for Christmas

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  37. I love a sunny but white Christmas..I would love a sleigh ride. I love to open gifts. I could be happy with one meaningful gift. I love a big family dinner. I always want to be with family for the holidays. I can always be home but I cannot always be with my family.

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  38. Thank you all so much for sharing about your Christmas preferences! A winner for the book giveaway will be announced on Friday, so entries are open through Christmas – just don’t forget to give your choice for all 5 options in order to qualify for the drawing. :)

    Have a lovely and blessed holiday with your loved ones!

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  39. This month’s randomly selected winner is Diane Wilczenski! Congratulations, Diane, and enjoy this belated Christmas gift from AmishReader.com. :)

    Thank you once again to everyone who participated in the giveaway and shared about their Christmas preferences and traditions. Hope you all are still enjoying time with friends and family – and savoring those yummy leftovers!

    [Reply]

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