The Book of Christmas Virtues (17 page)

Charlotte A. Lanham
is a retired teacher and columnist. She is a frequent contributor to
Chicken Soup for the Soul
. Charlotte and her husband, Ray, cofounded a nonprofit organization called Abbi's Room Foundation, providing beds and bedding for children of Habitat for Humanity families. E-mail her at
[email protected]
.

Sharon Whitley Larsen,
a former special-education teacher, has contributed previously to
Chicken Soup
books (
4t
h, 5th, Teenage and Golden editions). Her work has also appeared in
Reader's Digest, Los Angeles Times Magazine
and other publications. She currently writes travel stories for Copley News Service and can be reached at
[email protected]
.

Margaret R. Middleton
has experienced miracles and unhappiness in her seventy-five years of life. God has been her foundation. She has written fifteen episodes of her childhood and, as an adult, a biography that readers will perceive as an adventurous experience of her life.

Sheila Myers
's work has appeared in
Grit,
the
St. Anthony Messenger
and
Staying
Sane When Your Family Comes to Visit
(due Fall, 2005). She ghosted Carmen's memoir,
Daughter of the Spirit: A Soul's Journey Home,
for which she seeks a publisher. Ms. Myers can be reached at
[email protected].

Edmund W. Ostrander
holds a bachelor's of music from Oberlin Conservatory, a master's of education in music from C. W. Post College, a master's of education in counseling psychology from Cambridge College and a Ph.D. in humanities from the Union Institute. He has taught on every level and currently teaches storytelling for Cambridge College and Lesley University. E-mail him at
[email protected]
.

Annette Seaver's
greatest passion is mothering. She currently has eleven children: seven biological, four adopted and two “on hold.” She's been to China and Saoma, and anticipates traveling to Mongolia soon. She mentors unwed mothers, organizes a variety of teen activities, volunteers at school and church, and enjoys writing.

Stephanie Welcher Thompson
married her sweetheart, Michael, on February 14, 2002. These days, they enjoy family life in an Oklahoma City suburb with their darling two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Micah. Reach them at P.O. Box 1502, Edmond, OK 73083, or
[email protected]
.

Jim West
is one of the most sought after cruise professionals in the travel industry. He is the author of four travel books and a contributing author in
Chicken Soup for the Traveler's Soul.
He was a professional cruise director for ten years; has sailed on over 850 cruises, including a cruise to Antarctica with Sir Edmund Hillary; visited over 72 countries around the world and is a popular international speaker. He has received his certification in Youth Ministry from the University in Stubenville, Ohio, and continues to minister to teens through a travel ministry. You can reach Jim at
www.TravelWest.com
or by calling (815) 878-3600.

Woody Woodburn
is a sports columnist for the
Daily Breeze
in Torrance, California. He has been honored for column writing by the Associated Press Sports Editors, appeared in
The Best American Sports Writing
anthology, is a frequent contributor to the
Chicken Soup
series and authored two books. He can be reached at
[email protected]
.

Jane Zaffino
recently retired from Bell Canada after thirty years of dedicated service. She is now pursuing her lifelong dream of writing by taking courses at George Brown College. She currently lives in Toronto with her husband of thirty years and their two children. You can reach Jane at
[email protected].

Permissions

We would like to acknowledge the following publishers and individuals for permission to reprint the following material. (Note: The stories that are in the public domain, or that were written by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen or Carol McAdoo Rehme are not included in this listing.)

Homestead Holiday.
Reprinted by permission of Margaret Noyes Lang. ©2005 Margaret Noyes Lang.

With Gladness and Glue.
Reprinted by permission of Nancy B. Gibbs. ©2000 Nancy B. Gibbs.

Decking the Halls with Balls of Jolly.
Reprinted by permission of Gregory S. Woodburn. ©2005 Gregory S. Woodburn.

The Debut.
Reprinted by permission of Mary K. Danielson. © 2003 Mary K. Danielson.

Music to My Ears.
Reprinted by permission of Margaret R. Middelton. © 2004 Margaret R. Middelton.

I Wonder.
Reprinted by permission of Mary K. Danielson. © 1998 Mary K. Danielson.

Tending the Home Fires.
Reprinted by permission of James L. West, Jr. © 2004 James L. West, Jr.

Bringing Christmas.
Reprinted by permission of Toby Ann Abraham-Rhine. © 2005 Toby Ann Abraham-Rhine.

In the Rush.
Reprinted by permission of Ann Katherine Brandt. © 1994 Ann Katherine Brandt.

Bottomed Out.
Reprinted by permission of Margaret M. Kirk. © 2004MargaretM. Kirk.

Secret Ingredients.
Reprinted by permission of Jane Zaffino. © 2005 Jane Zaffino.

Sweets for the Sweet.
Reprinted by permission of Emily Sue Harvey. © 2004 Emily Sue Harvey.

Nickled and Dimed.
Reprinted by permission of Barbara Dussalt. © 1985 Barbara Dussalt.

Fair Game.
Reprinted by permission of James Daigh. © 2000 James Daigh.

Nothin' Says Lovin' Like . . .
Reprinted by permission of Isabel Bearman Bucher. © 2003 Isabel Bearman Bucher.

Chords of Love.
Reprinted by permission of Margaret Noyes Lang. © 2005 Margaret Noyes Lang.

Charlie's Coat.
Reprinted by permission of Robin Clephane Steward. © 2004 Robin Clephane Steward.

Flashing Back.
Reprinted by permission of Kathryn A. Beisner. © 2005 Kathryn A. Beisner.

Drawn to the Warmth.
Reprinted by permission of Marion Smith. © 2001 Marion Smith.

School for “Hire” Learning.
Reprinted by permission of Edmund W. Ostrander. © 2002 Edmund W. Ostrander.

Surprise Santa.
Reprinted by permission of Henry Boye. © 2005 Henry Boye.

In the Bag.
Reprinted by permission of Sheila Myers. © 2005 Sheila Myers.

Stroke By Stroke.
Reprinted by permission of Margaret Noyes Lang. © 2005 Margaret Noyes Lang.

St. Nick's Note.
Reprinted by permission of Pamela L. Bumpus. © 2002 Pamela L. Bumpus.

Mother to Mother.
Reprinted by permission of Annette Seaver. © 2005 Annette Seaver.

Chilly Today, Hot Tamale.
Reprinted by permission of Ellen Fenter. © 1998 Ellen Fenter.

Angels and Angst.
Reprinted by permission of Sharon Whitley Larsen. © 1987 Sharon Whitley Larsen.

Everybody Loves Santa.
Reprinted by permission of Robert H. Bickmeyer. © 1997 Robert H. Bickmeyer.

Presence and Accounted For.
Reprinted by permission of Vickie Ryan Koehler. © 2004 Vickie Ryan Koehler.

Let's Get Real.
Reprinted by permission of Charlotte Ann Lanham. © 1999 Charlotte Ann Lanham.

Ho, Ho, Hope.
Reprinted by permission of Angela Hall. © 2004 Angela Hall.

Away from the Manger.
Reprinted by permission of Stephanie Denise Thompson. © 2002 Stephanie Denise Thompson.

The Family Tree.
Reprinted by permission of Tamara J. Chilla. © 2000 Tamara J. Chilla.

A Place of Honor.
Reprinted by permission of Mary K. Danielson. © 2002 Mary K. Danielson.

The Lone Caroler.
Reprinted by permission of Bonnie Blanche Hanson. © 2001 Bonnie Blanche Hanson.

The Right Touch.
Reprinted by permission of Steven Earl Burt. © 1978 Steven Earl Burt.

Christmas Derailed.
Reprinted by permission of Charlotte Armené Humber. © 2005 Charlotte Armené Humber.

Troubled.
Reprinted by permission of Gregory S. Woodburn. © 2003 Gregory S. Woodburn.

'Twas the Night.
Reprinted by permission of Charlotte Ann Lanham. © 1999 Charlotte Ann Lanham.

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copyright © 2012 Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, LLC

ISBN: 978-1-4532-7493-4 (ePub Apple)

Cover design by Andrea C. Uva
Interior formatting by Lawna Patterson Oldfield

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