Chicken Soup for the Soul Christmas (28 page)

Kimberly Ripley
is a freelance writer and published author from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. A wife and mother of five, her days are filled with homeschooling her two teenagers and planning trips to Fort Myers, Florida. Kim is the author of
Freelancing Later in Life,
available online and through major bookstores.

Sallie A. Rodman
is an award-winning author who loves to write about true inspirational moments in her life. She has contributed to many Chicken Soup anthologies, magazines, and the
Orange County Register
. She swears her three grown children, a husband, plus a cat and a dog, provide lots of writing ideas!

John E. Schlimm II
is the author of several books, including
Corresponding with
History, Straub Brewery, The Straub Beer Cookbook,
and
The Pennsylvania Celebrities
Cookbook
. He earned his master's degree in education from Harvard University. He was born and raised in St. Marys, Pennsylvania. Please e-mail him at john [email protected]

Tracy Schmid
teaches first graders. After hours, she teaches multiaged students poetry. Tracy is a member of Ash Canyon Poets. She lives in Carson City, Nevada, with her two children and two dogs. She enjoys music, writing, theater, and a hot cup of black tea. Please email her at [email protected]

Michael Jordan Segal,
who defied all odds after being shot in the head, is a husband, father, social worker, author, and inspirational speaker. His miraculous comeback story was first published in
Chicken Soup for the Christian Family Soul
. Since then, he's had numorous stories published. To contact Mike, please visit
www.InspirationByMike.com
or call 877-226-1003.

Dayle Allen Shockley's
byline has appeared in dozens of publications. She is the author of three books and offers editorial services through her website at
www.dayleshockley.com
. Dayle lives in Texas with her husband and daughter. Please e-mail her at [email protected]

Robin Lee Shope
is a language arts teacher and has had two dozen short stories published in popular collections such as Chicken Soup. Currently, her three novels are out in bookstores:
The Chase, The Replacement,
and
The Candidate
. Her next book,
Ruby Red and the Color of Home,
will be available through Amazon by Christmas 2007. You can e-mail her at [email protected]

Jennifer Smith
works with her husband at a boarding academy for at-risk teenagers. She is blessed to announce the arrival of her first children's book,
Things
I Wonder
. Please visit
www.hisworkpub.com
to view the book and look for her upcoming book,
Rose, the Bubble-Breathing Dragon
.

Lizanne Southgate
is an Oregon screenwriter and ghostwriter. She can be reached at [email protected]

Ruth Spiro
lives in Illinois with her husband and two daughters. Her articles and essays have appeared in
Child, Woman's World,
and
Family Fun,
as well as several anthologies. She is also the author of a children's book,
The Bubble Gum Artist
. She can be reached at
www.ruthspiro.com
.

Elva Stoelers
is an award-winning Canadian writer. Most recently her work has appeared in
Chicken Soup for the New Mom's Soul, Chicken Soup for the Shopper's Soup,
Chicken Soup for the Recovering Soul,
and
Recovering Soul Daily Inspirations
. In addition to being broadcast on CBC Radio, she has been published internationally in a variety of small press parenting magazines.

Glorianne Swenson
is a Minnesota-based published freelance writer and small business owner of Gloribks. Her genre includes creative non fictionmemoirs, devotionals, poetry, and children's picture book manuscripts. She is a wife, mother, and grandmother and enjoys singing, piano, geneology, photography, and antiquing. She may be e-mailed at [email protected]

Kimberly Welsh
, M.Ed., has been writing poems and stories since she was a child as gifts for family members and friends. She is a high-school English teacher. Kim loves to spend time with her husband and her two children. Her e-mail address is [email protected]

Ann Greenleaf Wirtz
received a bachelor's in education from Bradley University and a master's from Illinois State. She has one son, was widowed, and remarried to Patrick, and authored
Sorrow Answered: A Journey of Grace
. She writes for the
Times-
News
in North Carolina and is a hospice volunteer in Hendersonville, North Carolina. Write to her at [email protected]

Helen Xenakis
loves retirement living on Hilton Head. The lifestyle gives her plenty of time to pursue her interests, especially writing.

Pauline Youd
is the author of children's Bible story books, magazine articles, and devotions for both adults and chidren. Her hobbies include musical comedy theater. Pauline teaches reading and Sunday school. She lives in California with her husband, Bill, and one very fluffy cat.

Permissions

We would like to acknowledge the following publishers and individuals for permission to reprint the following material.

Christmas of My Dreams.
Reprinted by permission of Cheryl Kirking Kilker. ©1994 Cheryl Kirking Kilker.

Cheap Sax.
Reprinted by permission of Robin Lee Shope. ©2007 Robin Lee Shope.

A Closed Highway Opened Hearts.
Reprinted by permission of Martha Jane Ajango. ©2006 Martha Jane Ajango.

In Touch withMy Inner Elf.
Reprinted by permission of Loree Jean Gold. ©2003 Loree Jean Gold.

It's the Simple Things.
Reprinted by permission of Nancy J. Kopp. ©2006 Nancy J. Kopp.

The First Christmas.
Reprinted by permission of Sharon Melnicer. ©2005 Sharon Melnicer.

The Christmas Doll.
Reprinted by permission of Lizanne Southgate. ©2006 Lizanne Southgate.

Connecting at Christmas.
Reprinted by permission of Brenda Nixon. ©2005 Brenda Nixon.

The Focus.
Reprinted by permission of Pauline O. Youd. ©2005 Pauline O. Youd.

Dad's Christmas Gift.
Reprinted by permission of Kimberly Welsh. ©2006 Kimberly Welsh.

Once a Year.
Reprinted by permission of Lindy B. Dolan. ©2007 Lindy B. Dolan.

The Gift of Time.
Reprinted by permission of John Forrest. ©199
6
John Forrest.

The Nativity Story.
Reprinted by permission of Amy Christine Breitmann. ©2006 Amy Christine Breitmann.

Christmas in the Heart of a Child.
Reprinted by permission of Joan Clayton. ©2000 Joan Clayton.

A Little Angel's Big Prayer.
Reprinted by permission of Phyllis E. Ring. ©2006 Phyllis E. Ring.

Sarah's Christmas Wish.
Reprinted by permission of William Livers. ©2007 William Livers.

TheWish List.
Reprinted by permission of Cheryl Marie Kremer. ©2000 CherylMarie Kremer.

Love for Tots.
Reprinted by permission of Lynnea Bolin and Lars Bolin. ©2006 Lynnea Bolin.

Tree of Thanks.
Reprinted by permission of Brenda Nixon. ©2006 Brenda Nixon.

Memories of a Christmas Doll.
Reprinted by permission of Ann Louise Wirtz. ©2006 Ann Louise Wirtz.

The Christmas Gift.
Reprinted by permission of Raymond Morehead. ©2006 Raymond Morehead.

Christmas at Six.
Reprinted by permission of Kerry Anne Germain. ©2006 Kerry Anne Germain.

Here Comes Santa Claus.
Reprinted by permission of Carol Sue Hahn. ©2004 Carol Sue Hahn.

Dear Santa.
Reprinted by permission of Eileen M. Hector. ©2005 Eileen M. Hector.

Skinny Santa.
Reprinted by permission of Elva Rae Stoelers. ©2007 Elva Rae Stoelers.

The Greatest Christmas Gift.
Reprinted by permission of Bonnie Blanche Hanson. ©1986 Bonnie Blanche Hanson.

Christmas Spirit.
Reprinted by permission of Lisa Beringer. ©2006 Lisa Beringeri.

Just One Gift.
Reprinted by permission of Ruth B. Spiro. ©2007 Ruth B. Spiro.

The Christmas Present.
Reprinted by permission of Karen Rae Kilby. ©2006 Karen Rae Kilby.

Six Brown Eggs.
Reprinted by permission of George H. Baty. ©1955 George H. Baty.

The Treasured Gifts Come Without Ribbons or Bows.
Reprinted by permission of Cookie Curci. ©1989 Cookie Curci.

Papa's Radio.
Reprinted by permission of Cookie Curci. ©1989 Cookie Curci.

Elvis Was Wrong!
Reprinted by permission of Sallie A. Rodman. ©2006 Sallie A. Rodman.

A Christmas Moment.
Reprinted by permission of Glorianne Marsyl Swenson. ©2002 Glorianne Marsyl Swenson.

Christmas Lost—and Found.
Reprinted by permission of Catherine Michele Davis. ©2000 Catherine Michele Davis.

The Doll in Burgundy Twill.
Reprinted by permission of Emily C. King. ©2005 Emily C. King.

God and Santa.
Reprinted by permission of Elsi J. Dodge. ©2007 Elsi J. Dodge.

The Twelve Days of Christmas.
Reprinted by permission of Janet Brennan. ©2001 Janet Brennan.

The Gift of Normandy Beach.
Reprinted by permission of Sheila S. Hudson. ©2002 Sheila S. Hudson.

Caroling with the Coots.
Reprinted by permission of Jennifer Noreen Martin. ©2006 Jennifer Noreen Martin.

Bearing Gifts.
Reprinted by permission of Meredith Knight. ©2006 Meredith Knight.

Holiday Tale.
Reprinted by permission of Michael Jordan Segal. ©2006 Michael Jordan Segal.

The World's Biggest Table.
Reprinted by permission of Helen Xenakis. ©2007 Helen Xenakis.

All I Want for Christmas.
Reprinted by permission of Alice Q. Malloy. ©2006 Alice Q. Malloy.

Milestones in the Boughs.
Reprinted by permission of Dayle Allen Shockley. ©2005 Dayle Allen Shockley.

Taking Down the Christmas Tree.
Reprinted by permission of Lyla Berry. ©2002 Lyla Berry.

Christmas Found.
Reprinted by permission of Lisa May. ©2006 Lisa May.

Christmas Cards.
Reprinted by permission of Deborah L. Farmer. ©2005 Deborah L. Farmer.

Paper Chains.
Reprinted by permission of Tracy Schmid. ©2006 Tracy Schmid
The Christmas Bagel.
Reprinted by permission of Barbara Puccia. ©2006 Barbara Puccia.

A Holiday to Remember.
Reprinted by permission of Denise Peebles. ©2003 Denise Peebles

Ringing the Doorbells of Christmas.
Reprinted by permission of Elizabeth Copeland. ©1999 Elizabeth Copeland.

The Secret of Grandma's Sugar Crock.
Reprinted by permission of Cookie Curci. ©1989 Cookie Curci.

The Twelve Years of Christmas.
Reprinted by permission of Jeffrey Scott Hamilton. ©2001 Jeffrey Scott Hamilton.

The Last Christmas.
Reprinted by permission ofMichael Jordan Segal. ©2005Michael Jordan Segal.

Unexpected Guests.
Reprinted by permission of Lawrence D. Elliott. ©2006 Lawrence D. Elliott.

Oh, Christmas Tree.
Reprinted by permission of Dahlynn McKowen. ©2007 Dahlynn McKowen.

The Morning Santa Came.
Reprinted by permission of Jennifer Smith. ©2007 Jennifer Smith.

A Bottle of Cologne and a Handmade Handkerchief.
Reprinted by permission of Isabel Bearman Bucher. ©2002 Isabel Bearman Bucher.

A Cell-Phone Christmas.
Reprinted by permission of Judy Lockhart DiGregorio. ©2005 Judy Lockhart DiGregorio.

The Best Noël.
Reprinted by permission of Mark Geiger. ©2005 Mark Geiger.

Christmas Cookies.
Reprinted by permission of Kimberly Ripley. ©1999 Kimberly Ripley.

The Truth About Christmas Decorations.
Reprinted by permission of Deborah L. Farmer. ©2005 Deborah L. Farmer.

Secret Santa.
Reprinted by permission of Betty Ann King. ©2006 Betty Ann King.

A Secondhand Christmas.
Reprinted by permission of Perry P. Perkins. ©2005 Perry P. Perkins.

Remembered Anthony.
Reprinted by permission of Valerie Jean Frost. ©2006 Valerie Jean Frost.

Christmas Memories in a Hospital.
Reprinted by permission of Marilyn White Phillips. ©2003 Marilyn White Phillips.

The Sound and Spirit of Christmas Through the Ears of a Deaf Woman.
Reprinted by permission of John E. Schlimm II. ©2005 John E. Schlimm II.

The Matchless Gift.
Reprinted by permission of Stephanie Ray Brown. ©2000 Stephanie Ray Brown.

When Good Things Happen to Bad Children.
Reprinted by permission of Judy Lockhart DiGregorio. ©2004 Judy Lockhart DiGregorio.

In-Law Survival Hot Line.
Reprinted by permission of Meredith Knight. ©2006 Meredith Knight.