California? The name of the place didn’t seem as down to earth as the places I had known and loved. What could be better than the home I had grown up in? Were we going to live near the ocean? Every picture I’d ever seen of California showed a beach and the ocean and the pounding, foaming surf. I couldn’t even swim. Plus I had heard that California was a place where they had earthquakes and mudslides and raging fires. What kind of a place were we moving to?
Then there was the fact that we didn’t know anybody in California. My mom knew only the name of the person who had hired her by long distance for her new job. We were moving to a place where we had no family, no friends, and no friendly neighbors. The tiny apartment we lived in wasn’t much, but it was home, and I dreaded leaving it behind. Not only that, but we pulled up stakes in the middle of a school year, which meant I was leaving all my old friends. What would California kids be like?
The job my mom had gotten was in Oakland, and we soon found ourselves in an inner-city apartment in a neighborhood that was very different from our old one. We made the best of things, and tried to fit in both in our new home and at the school we attended. The neighborhood around us didn’t have many kids, and our school was a tough one, where you had to learn how to survive. It was not the easiest place to live.
But in our small apartment we managed to make a good life. The beach wasn’t too far by bus, and we explored the sand and surf with wide-eyed wonder. Though we didn’t have many friends, my brother, sister, and I had each other. We were very frugal, and my mom counted our pennies carefully while we settled in and tried to make a go of things. At first everything seemed all right. My mom’s job allowed her to support us and just make ends meet. We were still poor but she managed to put food on the table and take care of us.
But the move took a lot out of our finances, and by the time that first Christmas in our new home came along we were practically penniless. Christmas in Oakland, California didn’t bring a lot of cold weather, and even though stores were decorated for the season it was hard to create that Christmas feeling that seemed so easy to capture in our old home. It didn’t help that we didn’t have money for a Christmas tree, presents, or even a Christmas dinner. It was hard for us to feel that Christmas spirit.
My mom tried to help us find it. We made homemade decorations, sang Christmas carols, talked about our favorite Christmas memories and took walks to see the Christmas lights in the city. Even though we wouldn’t have presents, we colored pictures and wrote stories and poems to give to each other. My mom scraped enough money together to plan a simple Christmas meal. Being alone in this new place was very hard, and I think especially hard on my mom, but we tried to make the best of it.
Then something magical happened on Christmas Eve. There was a knock on the door and we opened it to see two people, a man and woman, who seemed oddly familiar. It took a few minutes for me to realize that I was staring at the two people who were the local television news anchors on the station we watched on TV. The pair came in and explained to us that our mom had written to them after she had seen a story about how the TV station was collecting toys for needy children to give out at Christmas. They explained that her letter had come very late, only arriving the day before, after all the toys had been given away.
“Well, almost all of them,” the woman explained to me. “We wanted you to have these presents that Santa asked us to give you.”
Then they handed each of us a toy. They weren’t fancy toys. My brother got a pinball game, my sister got a chocolate-colored stuffed bear, and I got a small football. They also gave my mom a bottle of perfume. The couple smiled at us.
“We hope you like them and have a Merry Christmas. Remember, you have friends here in your new home.”
Then they were gone. I stood looking at the little plastic football in my hands. It felt like the greatest gift I had ever gotten. I looked at my mom, knowing how hard she had tried to make this Christmas a happy one for us, and at the two people as they drove off waving at us. I didn’t know their names, but they seemed like members of our family. They hadn’t asked for anything, not a story for the news, nothing, just the chance to let us know someone cared about us.
That Christmas we all celebrated as if it was the most wonderful Christmas we ever had. In a way it was, because our little family was together, here in this strange new place, holding the surest sign of the Christmas spirit, delivered by a pair of angels whose job it was to let us know that there would always be those who were ready to reach out to remind us that this truly is a season of love.
~John P. Buentello
Meet Our Contributors
Elena Aitken lives in Okotoks, Alberta where she spends her time hanging out with her eight-year-old twins, training for various athletic events, running her own copywriting business and writing fiction. She’s currently looking for a publisher for her first novel. She can be reached via e-mail at
[email protected] or www.inkblotcommunications.ca.
Pamela Underhill Altendorf lives in Wisconsin with her husband. She is currently a volunteer tutor in English as a Second Language, and enjoys traveling throughout the United States and abroad. Her stories have appeared in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, and several other magazines and newspapers.
Monica A. Andermann writes and lives on Long Island where her brother, Louis, is a frequent inspiration for many of her essays. More of Monica’s work can be found both online and in print, including several credits in the Chicken Soup for the Soul and A Cup of Comfort collections.
Paula F. Blevins and her husband, David, live on a farm in southern Ohio with three wonderful kids. She is the author of the For Hymn Mystery series, a variety of Chicken Soup for the Soul stories, and enjoys writing for children as well as adults. Contact Paula through her website at www.paulafblevins.com.
Heather Block squeezes in writing between raising her charming eight-year-old son, a job in a Winnipeg Family Centre, good friends, good books, and a character home that constantly needs upkeep. She writes for personal growth, publishing in her spiritual reflections blog, http://spiritsflight.wordpress.com.
Lil Blosfield is the Chief Financial Officer for Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health in Canton, Ohio. She has been writing stories and poems pretty much since she first learned to write which was many, many years ago. In addition to writing, Lil enjoys music, working outdoors and spending time with family and friends. She can be reached at
[email protected] Jean Brody has a BS degree in Journalism and Education plus graduate work in Animal Behavior. This is her seventeenth story in Chicken Soup for the Soul. She writes a weekly newspaper column and a monthly magazine column. She and her husband Gene live on their horse farm.
John P. Buentello is a writer who has published essays, fiction, and poetry. He is the co-author of the novel Reproduction Rights and the story collection Binary Tales. He is at work on a new novel and a picture book for children. He can be reached via e-mail at
[email protected] Connie Sturm Cameron is a speaker and author of the book, God’s Gentle Nudges. She’s been published dozens of times, including several Chicken Soup for the Soul books and other compilations. She and Chuck have three children and three grandchildren. Contact her through her website www.conniecameron.com; or via e-mail at
[email protected] Kathe Campbell lives on a Montana mountain with her mammoth donkeys, a Keeshond, and a few kitties. Three children, eleven grands and three greats round her herd. She is a prolific writer on Alzheimer’s. Kathe is a contributing author to the Chicken Soup for the Soul and A Cup of Comfort series, Rx for Writers, and medical journals. E-mail her at
[email protected] D. Kinza Christenson is nationally recognized as The Performance Pro and wellness “Humorist with Heart.” A boomer in denial, she combines her love of belly dancing with her business and life experience to help people achieve a standing ovation in life. You can reach her via e-mail at
[email protected] or via her website at www.kinza.net.
Kristen Cla
rk is the founder of His Witness Ministries and contributing author to New Beginnings Marriage Ministry. She is a published author, public speaker, and singer/songwriter, and she lives in Houston with her darling husband, Lawrence. Please e-mail her at
[email protected] Joan Clayton is a retired teacher. Her passion now is writing. She and her husband have three sons, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Joan has published eight books of her own. She has many stories in anthologies. Currently she is the religion columnist for her local paper.
Bridget Colern lives in Southern California, where she runs a bookkeeping and tax practice. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, writing, and playing with her grandchildren. Bridget has been previously published in Chicken Soup for the Adopted Soul. She can be contacted at
[email protected] D’ette Corona is the Assistant Publisher for Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, LLC. She received her bachelor of science in business management in 1994. D’ette has been married for eighteen years and has a thirteen-year-old son.
Kayla Rehme Crockett and her husband Jared are parents to three daughters, ages seven, four, and one. They love to spend time as a family hiking Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. When she’s not changing diapers, kissing boo-boos, or pretending to be the evil queen, Kayla enjoys baking, reading, and teaching piano.
Michele Cushatt writes articles, stories and devotionals for numerous publications from a unique collection of life experiences. The director of a local writers group and a speaker trainer, she and her husband and three teenage boys make their home in Colorado. Connect with her at www.MicheleCushatt.com.
Barbara D’Amario is a retired executive secretary who honed her skills writing accommodation letters and personnel evaluations. She belongs to two writing groups, attends workshops and enjoys cooking, reading and painting.
Although blind, Janet Perez Eckles thrives as a Spanish interpreter, international speaker, writer and author of Trials of Today, Treasures for Tomorrow—Overcoming Adversities in Life. From her home in Florida, she enjoys working on church ministries and taking Caribbean cruises with her husband Gene. She imparts inspiration at: www.janetperezeckles.com.
Rebecca C. Emrich graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in History from Brigham Young University in 1999. She currently lives in Syracuse, New York with her husband and twin daughters. She enjoys serving in her church, exploring state parks, and exhausting the reading opportunities at the local library.
Cheri Eplin received her Bachelor of Science from Cal Poly and Masters in Education from JFK University. She teaches third grade in Danville, California. Cheri feels blessed to do what she loves: be a mom to two amazing boys, teach, write, hike, and travel. E-mail her at
[email protected] Susan Farr-Fahncke is the founder of 2TheHeart.com, where you can find more of her writing and sign up for an online writing workshop! She is also the founder of the amazing volunteer group, Angels2TheHeart, the author of Angel’s Legacy, and contributor to over sixty books, including many in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. Visit her at www.2TheHeart.com.
Jackie Fleming, a native Californian, grew up in the Bay Area and raised three boys on an island in the California Delta. Her hobbies are traveling the world by freighter, yoga, reading and writing. For six years, she wrote columns for two weekly newspapers. She now lives in Paradise, California.
Peggy Frezon is a freelance writer specializing in pets. Her first book, Losing It With My Dog, is about dieting with a lovable, chubby Spaniel. Peggy is also a contributing writer for Guideposts and Angels on Earth. Her favorite Christmas tradition is hanging stockings! Visit Peggy’s Pet Place (peggyfrezon.blogspot.com) or connect with her on Twitter @peggyfrezon.
Susan Garrard holds a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Southern Maine. She currently works in the marketing field. She lives in Scarborough, Maine with her three sons. Susan enjoys running, fitness, writing and long walks along the beautiful Maine coast. Please e-mail her at
[email protected] Beverly Golberg, a resident of St. Paul, Minnesota, turned her energy to writing after retiring from paralegal work. Her essays have appeared in literary journals, Cottage Life magazine, A Cup of Comfort, and the St. Paul Pioneer Press. She reads her work at the Wild Yam Cabaret in St. Paul.
Marian Gormley’s writing has appeared in numerous Chicken Soup for the Soul books and other regional, national and international publications. She writes primarily about parenting, family life, education, health and the arts. She recently earned a Masters Degree in Education and looks forward to instilling a love of reading in Northern Virginia elementary-age students.
Sally Baggett Griffis, a West Texas ranch girl who finally went to college, received a B.S. in Education, Psychology and a B.S. in Psychology, Counseling from Angelo State University. In agency and private practice for many years, she is now retired. Her first book, From the Back of the Beast, is a memoir of a war widow. Contact her via e-mail at
[email protected] Michelle D. Halperin is a teacher in Elmira, New York, where she lives with her husband, two sons and three dogs. Michelle enjoys working with children and spending time with her family.
Cynthia M. Hamond’s in over 100 publications including Chicken Soup for the Soul, magazines, Bible study aids and is a King Features Syndicate recurring author. She’s received several writing awards. Two stories have been made for TV. She enjoys her speaking and school visits and is founder of Joyful MOMs. E-mail her at
[email protected] Bonnie Compton Hanson is author of over twenty-five books for children and adults. Her stories and poems have been published in many magazines and books, including thirty-two in Chicken Soup for the Soul. Besides mentoring new writers, she speaks to women, seniors, and student groups. You may contact her via e-mail at
[email protected] Carol Harrison earned her Bachelor of Education from the University of Saskatchewan, and her Distinguished Toastmaster designation. She is a motivational speaker and author of Amee’s Story. She enjoys time with family, reading, scrapbooking and speaking. You can e-mail her at
[email protected] or visit her website www.carolscorner.ca.
Jonny Hawkins has been cartooning professionally since 1986. His work has appeared in over 600 publications and on dozens of products. He has five Cartoon-a-Day Calendars on the market: Medical, Fishing, Teachers, Cat and Dog. He lives in Sherwood, Michigan with his wife, Carissa, and their three children. He can be reached at
[email protected] Kat Heckenbach, honors graduate of the University of Tampa, home schools her two children while writing speculative fiction and inspirational nonfiction. She also enjoys reading, drawing, and anything that stretches her creative muscles. Please visit her at www.findingangel.com.
Laurie Higgins is an award-winning freelance journalist. She is a regular contributor to the Cape Cod Times and The Cape Codder newspapers. In addition to writing, her other passion is cooking and she combines both at her website, www.thatsnotwhattherecipesays.com. You can contact her via e-mail at
[email protected] Corinne “Cori” Foley Hill received her B.A. from the University of Virginia and her M.Ed. from James Madison University. She provides personnel training in early intervention in Virginia where she lives with her husband and two daughters. Cori dreams of living in the Caribbean and writing children’s books.
Robert Hill lives in Vancouver, Washington, and is very active in church and Native American ministries. In his spare time he likes to travel and spend time with his grandchildren, and after all these years, he still loves fruitcake!
Elaine Ingalls Hogg is an award-winning author and the editor of Christmas in the Maritimes (Nimbus Publishing), a book which became a Canadian bestseller in 2006. Elaine shares her office with two Ragdoll cats, Angus and Alex, enjoys writing, music and travel. Please contact her through her website: http://elainehogg.com.
Cindy Holcomb is working toward an Associate of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies - Communication degree. Cindy’s book, The Reverse Mortgage Book: Everything Yo
u Need to Know Explained Simply was published in 2008. She is working on her first novel. When not writing, Cindy loves spending time with her three daughters and three granddaughters.
David J. Hull has been a teacher for twenty-three years and also writes a monthly column in a local newspaper. He is currently working on creating a book of his collected columns. He enjoys reading, gardening and spending time with his nieces and nephews. You can e-mail him at
[email protected] Taryn R. Hutchison is the author of We Wait You: Waiting on God in Eastern Europe (2008 WinePress Publishing). She contributed to Chicken Soup for the Soul: Living Catholic Faith and has published over twenty-five articles. Taryn and her husband live in North Carolina. Visit her at www.tarynhutchison.com.
Cindy Hval’s work has appeared in numerous Chicken Soup for the Soul collections. She’s currently working on her first book Love Stories From the Greatest Generation. She’s a columnist and correspondent for The Spokesman-Review newspaper in Spokane, Washington where she lives with her husband, four sons and one cat.
Bonnie Jarvis-Lowe is a retired Registered Nurse who spends much of her time now working with animals at the SPCA in her town. She just celebrated her fortieth wedding anniversary and is the mother of two and the grandmother of one little girl.
Pat Stockett Johnston is published in a variety of devotionals, print publications, take-home papers, e-magazines, and missions’ education books. She received her BA from Pasadena/Point Loma Nazarene University. Pat and her husband Gordon served as missionaries in Beirut, Lebanon; Amman, Jordan; and Papua New Guinea. Please e-mail her at
[email protected] Mimi Greenwood Knight is one of twelve kids and mama to four. She lives with her husband and kiddos in South Louisiana where she enjoys artisan bread making, her butterfly garden, Bible study and the lost art of letter writing. Visit her blog at blog.nola.com/faith/mimi_greenwood_knight.