Christmas! For many people the holiday season is steeped in traditions such as decorating, family gatherings, food, Christmas programs, parties, giving and receiving gifts, cards, carols, Christmas eve services. The authors who contributed to this book share their personal stories of the Christmas season. Some of their stories are about happy childhood memories, the joy of the season, the beauty and excitement of the holiday. Others depict change…the difficulty of facing Christmas, the sadness of loss and grief, the hurt of some memories. Yet all of their stories are encouraging and inspiring because they show how, no matter what their circumstances, the authors came to understand that in order to have a meaningful Christmas, we must open our hearts to the wonder of Christ’s presence. Contributors: Charlotte Adelsperger, Julie Arduini, Esther M. Bailey, Cathy Baker, Sheryl M. Baker, Dan Balow, Carol A. Bell, Lisa Braxton, Elsie H. Brunk, Rebecca Carpenter, Joann Claypoole, Carlitta Cole-Kelly, Autumn J. Conley, Diana C. Derringer, Susan Dollyhigh, Janet Perez Eckles , Sandra Fischer, Emme Gannon, Theresa Jenner Garrido, Bernadean J. Gates, Carol Graham, Lydia E. Harris, Joyce Heiser, Karen R. Hessen, Victoria Hicks , Larry C. Hoover, Geneva Cobb Iijima, Sondra Kraak, Barbara Latta, Yvonne Lehman, Diana Leagh Matthews, Dianne Neal Matthews, Edie Melson, Andrea Merrell, Marybeth Mitcham, Vicki H. Moss, Dee Dee Parker, Linda Landreth Phelps, Debbie Presnell, Kimberly Rae, Susan Holt Simpson, Cindy Sproles, Nate Stevens, Annmarie B. Tait, Ann Tatlock, Joni Vance, Dr. Rhett H. Wilson Sr., Simon Wilson, Ann Greenleaf Wirtz