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Annual Christmas story

Selfless acts bring warm Christmas morning rewards

Editor’s note: Merry Christmas! This is the final chapter of a 12-part fictional holiday tale that began Dec. 14 and ran daily through Christmas. Parents were encouraged to read it aloud to their children. “We can’t,” Faith said, finding her voice. “This is so kind of you, unbelievably kind, but it’s so much ...” Mrs. Coleman stepped forward and took Faith’s hands. “Faith, I’ve known you for decades. I’ve seen firsthand how kind and generous you and your family are, and always have been. I don’t think I can name a good cause you didn’t donate to, or a person ...

Door to a very sweet miracle opens on Christmas Day

Editor’s note: This is the 11th chapter of a 12-part continuing, fictional holiday tale that is running daily through Christmas. Parents are encouraged to read it aloud to their children. On Christmas morning, Angelica and Faith sat on the floor around the Christmas tree opening presents. There weren’t as many as past years, but Angelica didn’t mind. Since giving their winnings to the Coleman family, Faith and Angelica had both felt lighter and happier, feelings that outweighed their sadness at the thought of saying goodbye to the bakery. They didn’t regret it one bit, but ...

Recipe of sacrifice stirs batch of hope to help others

Editor’s note: This is the 10th chapter of a 12-part continuing, fictional holiday tale that is running daily through Christmas. Parents are encouraged to read it aloud to their children. The next morning, Angelica and Faith quietly sat at the kitchen table in their pajamas, holding mugs of coffee and cocoa. The prize check for $10,000 lay in the center of the table, staring back at them. “You’re going to have to say something eventually, Angel,” Faith said softly. Angelica squeezed her eyes shut and gripped her mug. She’d been trying to process everything that her ...

Scents of hope follow the sweet taste of gingerbread victory

Editor’s note: This is the ninth chapter of a 12-part continuing, fictional holiday tale that is running daily through Christmas. Parents are encouraged to read it aloud to their children. Angelica Sweet could hardly watch as the judges went from table-to-table, making notes on their clipboards as they leaned in close to study every detail about the structures. They joined the other contestants by the table of sandwiches and snacks provided by the competition heads, although Angelica was too nervous to do more than nibble. So much was riding on the outcome of this contest. The ...

Gingerbread bakery comes together

Editor’s note: This is the eighth chapter of a 12-part continuing, fictional holiday tale that is running daily through Christmas. Parents are encouraged to read it aloud to their children. “Careful, careful,” Angelica whispered to herself, slowly securing a piece of sugar glass into place. She stepped back, surveying the almost-finished edible bakery. The front of the gingerbread model was almost done. Now that the large display window was in place, they just had to finish all the small details. “Using the sugar glass was a really good idea, Mom,” she said. “It looks so ...

Mysterious spoon fixes pie pans full of pumpkin mistakes

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the sixth chapter of a 12-part continuing, fictional holiday tale that is running daily through Christmas. Parents are encouraged to read it aloud to their children. Faith stood back and surveyed the dozens of pieces of cut-out and decorated gingerbread with a worried frown. “Three days. We only have three days until this contest and we don’t even have walls.” Angelica smiled as she piled and organized the different sizes of gingerbread. “We don’t have many orders for the rest of the week. There’s no reason we shouldn’t get it ...