Prelude

"With each passing year, I find it becomes increasingly difficult to believe the facts of my own story"... so begins Steven's retelling of his first Christmas at Mountain View. Reviewers have called this writing style warm and welcoming; a first-person narrative that embraces the reader with a comforting voice. The Southwestern flavor and traditions of “Jeremy’s Bell” are filled with the regional flavor of a New Mexican Christmas.

 While this is Steven's story, there are many parallels to the author’s own life. The south-valley neighborhood is very similar to the one where he lived as a young boy. The rumbling trains and tracks were part of his upbringing. Even today's readers may notice the similarities to Steven's description of the church and setting with many south-valley buildings. Perhaps all authors bring experiences from their own life, if for no other reason but to enrich the story with the strong memories that they have held for many years. However, that's where the similarities end. The major events of this story, while compelling, are purely fictional.

Steven can’t help but feel a little overwhelmed by the foreignness of his new home, but he is up to the challenge. He completes his examination of the run-down Church, checks to be sure that all the lights have been turned off and pauses at the front door:

“The evening winds had kicked up clouds of dust that colored the last rays of sunlight a ruddy brown. Through the clouds, and just over the rise of the train embankment, I could see the distant peaks of the Sandia Mountains fading into shadow. I squinted to keep out the dust out of my eyes, and headed out to my car.

This was it, Mountain View Church, my new home.”