Some people have beautifully colour coordinated trees. Other people have thematic trees–like my parents. Their tree is dogs and angels. But mine is a mishmash of memories. It’s how I like it! Every year, I get a new ornament or two. Sometimes, it’s just something pretty, or something I like. One year I got Star Trek ornaments, for example.

But this year, I wanted to get something that would remind us what it was like for the Johns family in 2019. And I found the perfect ornament!

Our son is 11, and this year, he was wild about Monopoly, so he’s been roping my husband and I into playing with him. So Mr. Johns and I have been playing a lot of Monopoly… a lot. There’s something about the age, I think, that leans toward that game, because most of our son’s friends love playing it, too. Our son makes terrible deals, though. Just terrible! And when I told my father that, he said, “You did the same thing! You made awful deals.”

I remember that, too! When I was his age, I’d be playing Monopoly with my family, and if I got Park Place or Boardwalk, my brother could always talk me into some terrible deal, and I’d cave in and trade it away.

“Boardwalk for Baltic, a Get Out of Jail Free card, and $50? Well… I suppose I could do that…”

I wanted to win, of course, but I loved my big brother more and he wanted to win so badly, that I couldn’t resist making him happy.

I think our son is the same way. He plays Monopoly with more heart than shark-instinct, and I love that about him. 🙂 He’s just such a sweet kid!

I’m still looking for an ornament that will cover my husband’s interests this year… so I’m not done shopping quite yet.

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Have you picked up my latest release? I think you’ll like this one! Triplet babies, a brooding cowboy, and a marriage of convenience between best friends… all at Christmas!

Can a marriage of convenience…

…really last a lifetime?

Single mom Gabby Rogers needs help raising her newborn triplets, so when her best friend, Seth, proposes a marriage of convenience, she cautiously agrees—on the condition it doesn’t ruin their friendship. As far as the town of Eagle’s Rest knows, Gabby and Seth are the perfect couple, but the imaginary romance soon feels surprisingly real. With the triplets’ first Christmas drawing closer, will Gabby risk showing Seth how she truly feels?

Available now!