Mia meets a new friend

December 24, 2020

Editor’s note: This is the 11th chapter of a 12-part continuing, fictional holiday tale, “The Golden Ornament” that is running daily through Christmas. Parents are encouraged to read it aloud to their children. “Mia, are you ready? It’s time to go,” Mia’s grandma called up the stairs. Mia finished yanking on one of her favorite fuzzy Christmas sweaters and bounded down the stairs. “I’m ready! Sorry, I couldn’t decide on a sweater.” Her grandma laughed, picking a piece of fuzz off Mia’s shoulder. “You’ll be bundled up in a coat, nobody will get to see ...

Mia, her mom create a plan

December 23, 2020

Editor’s note: This is the 10th chapter of a 12-part continuing, fictional holiday tale, “The Golden Ornament” that is running daily through Christmas. Parents are encouraged to read it aloud to their children. Mia and her mom spent the next morning helping at the animal sanctuary. The community had rallied around the Camerons, and teams of volunteers already were finishing a temporary structure for the animals while the Camerons worked to rebuild the barn. Mia spent a lot of time with the animals she’d rescued, petting them and talking to them. It might sound silly, but she ...

Mia acts fast in face of danger

December 21, 2020

Editor’s note: This is the eighth chapter of a 12-part continuing, fictional holiday tale, “The Golden Ornament” that is running daily through Christmas. Parents are encouraged to read it aloud to their children. Just as they’d reached the house, the cows started mooing and carrying on. Mia stared at the barn for a moment and wondered why so many animals were talking all at once. Mr. Cameron was inside talking to his wife about how they were getting a grant so that they could hire new help, which made her happy to hear. But if he was inside, she couldn’t imagine what was ...

Mia and Brandon work hard at animal sanctuary

December 20, 2020

Editor’s note: This is the seventh chapter of a 12-part continuing, fictional holiday tale, “The Golden Ornament,” that is running daily through Christmas. Parents are encouraged to read it aloud to their children. “Do either of you have any questions?” Mr. Cameron asked. He sat across from Mia and Brandon at the kitchen table. Mrs. Cameron had given them chocolate chip pancakes and hot cocoa, and they ate every delicious bite while listening to the list of things Mr. Cameron had for them to do. It turned out the normal volunteers for the season were out of town for the ...

Mia shares a secret with her mother

December 19, 2020

Editor’s note: This is the sixth chapter of a 12-part continuing, fictional holiday tale, “The Golden Ornament” that is running daily through Christmas. Parents are encouraged to read it aloud to their children. Mia’s heart was almost bursting with joy. Biscuit’s owner turned out to be a little boy named Joey, and she had never seen anyone as happy as him when he’d been reunited with his furry best friend. After being able to help the woman at the store and now bringing Biscuit back to Joey, she could hardly wait to see what the ornament had in store for her next. All ...

Ornament gives Mia another mysterious mission at park

December 18, 2020

Editor’s note: This is the fifth chapter of a 12-part continuing, fictional holiday tale, “The Golden Ornament” that is running daily through Christmas. Parents are encouraged to read it aloud to their children. No matter how many times Mia told herself it was just a coincidence that she had that money in her pocket, she couldn’t make herself believe it. Something had happened, something strange and wonderful, and she was determined to figure out what it was. Brandon sat next to her on the couch in the rec room. He held the golden ornament, turning it in his hands as he studied ...