 The Magic and The Miracle of Christmas, Stories of Hope Bryce Haderlie, Lori Nawyn, Virginia Parker, Lesa Price, Peggy Ramsay, RaeAnne Thayne, Janie Van Komen Copyright © November 22, 2003 All rights reserved. Soft Cover 48 pages ISBN 0-0716237-2-4 $5.95 Publishing Information Published on November 2003 Published by Parker Lane Publishing Read an Excerpt "The Magic and the Miracle of Christmas is full of stories that warm your heart and soften your soul. From light-hearted accounts of mad dashes before Christmas Eve to truthful accounts of final Christmases spent together, this definitely is a gift book I would want tucked in my Christmas stocking!" --C.S. Bezas, A Christian Lifestyle, bellaonline.com "The Magic and the Miracle of Christmas is like a warm cup of wassail on a blustery holiday evening: a little sweet, a little tart, with just a hint of holiday spice and whole lot of good cheer. This book is a delightful treat to share with friends and family." --Patricia Wiles, Executive Editor, Latter-Day Authors.com; Author, Kevin Kirk Chronicles, From stories that will make you laugh to stories that will tug at your heart, The Magic and The Miracle of Christmas is certain to be one of the seasons most treasured volumes. Meet the authors: A popular speaker to youth and adult groups, Janie Van Komen’s research into many varied topics has benefited educators, artists, and others. Janie co-authored the book, Beyond Beauty, Cosmetology Business Information and Resources with her daughter, Rachel Miner. Her work has appeared in The Stitchery Garden, Lace and Crafts Quarterly, Sew Art International and Sew Kids. Janie is the mother of ten children. The writings of Bryce Haderlie are proof that eating too much sugar and falling from moving vehicles do not contribute to a normal outlook on life. In addition to City Building Inspector, Bryce is a humor columnist for a local newspaper. He and his wife, Angie, are busy raising three boys, a dog, a parakeet and one determined gold fish, in Brigham City, Utah. A wife and mother of four, Lori Nawyn has won awards for her fiction and non-fiction work. Her writing has appeared in magazines across the country and in several Utah newspapers. In addition, her inspirational poetry and artwork are featured on a variety of home decor products. She enjoys writing humor and is a contributing editor for latterdayauthors.com. RaeAnne Thayne is the award-winning author of more than fifteen novels and two dozen short stories. Her books have won numerous awards, including two Heart of Romance Readers’ Choice awards and a RITA nomination, the highest honor given by Romance Writers of America. A native of Brigham City, Utah, she now lives in Cache Valley with her husband and three children. Born and raised in southern Idaho, Peggy Ramsay has fond memories of life on a cattle ranch where her father was a range rider. At age eighteen, she shucked her boots and spurs and moved to Utah where she started a career as a secretary and met her husband. After raising five children she discovered a need to find other interests. She found herself consorting with writer types and the passion rubbed off. Besides indulging a love for writing short stories, she is working on a novel. Lesa Leishman Price was born in Logan, Utah. After graduating from Sky View High School in 1973, she attended Utah State University for two years later. Lesa married Dan Ray Price in 1975. The couple has lived in Logan, Hyrum, Pleasant Grove, and currently reside in Brigham City, Utah. Lesa is the mother of seven children. She is currently working on a book aimed at helping families to enjoy a more Christ-centered Christmas Virginia C. Parker is the Director of Marketing for a large, privately held company based in northern Utah with 2002 annual sales of $4.6 billion. Among other responsibilities, she publishes a business magazine with a circulation that exceeds 700,000. Virginia also serves as Chairman of a national industry Communications and Image Policy Committee, Washington, DC; is Marketing Director for a regional charity event for children with kidney disorders, Salt Lake City, Utah; and enjoys the position of Editor, Parker Lane Publishing, Brigham City, Utah. She and her husband are the parents of eight children. Excerpt Snow Angels, Janie Van Komen Nobody told me to stop what I was doing and go play with them. Nobody told me to freeze frame those picture moments in my mind so I would never forget them. Nobody told me what was going on outside in the snow was infinitely more important than wrapping three more gifts and wiping fingerprints off the walls. Nobody told me this would be my last Christmas to spend with Sarah. Nobody told me. A Grandma for Christmas, Peggy Ramsay Her right hand shook and the coins spilled onto the checkout counter. Three pennies rolled off and scattered on the floor. The white haired lady pushed up the sleeve of her shabby, snow-flecked coat and a bony wrist appeared. She pushed the pennies forward, counting one at a time, with one finger of her left hand. Two cans of cat food. Three pennies short. A Gift Is a Terrible Thing to Waste, Bryce Haderlie I'm guessing that the women have their gifts bought, wrapped and have moved on to solving world hunger. I know this because most women started thinking about Christmas in July . . . 2001. This is a direct result of the nesting instinct that is impregnated on their brain, located right next to the area that remembers each child's exact weight and time of birth while we men are working to keep their names straight. Windows to an Angel, Lori Nawyn Nobody made Trish Carter feel more uncomfortable than her sister-in-law. It was more than their discordant backgrounds. More than the way Jamie dressed, makking her look like a woman with whom Trish would never want to associate. There was something else. Trish's lips pressed into a firm line. Her body tensed. Maybe it was the smiple fact that Jamie was dying. To Hold The King, Lesa Price The baby's hand quickly grasped onto his finger, and held tight. His little eyes opened and he sleepily looked up at Matthew. Matthew thought the child smiled at him. They exchanged looks for a brief moment, and then the baby closed his eyes and went back to sleep. Matthew held the child for a few minutes, and wondered if this child had a brother to protect him. "If I were your brother, I'd take care of you," Matthew thought. Warm Hearts, RaeAnne Thayne I had to do something soon to make this year better for them but the idea of picking out a tree by myself, lugging it home and setting it up was overwhelming. With a sigh, I quickly ushered the children into the house and left them inside to begin unpacking the groceries while I returned for the rest. I was so busy watching the steps for ice and ticking off all the things I had to do that I didn't realize I had company until I bumped into what felt like a solid wall of muscle. "Whoa. Sorry, Laura." The muscles belonged to my next-door neighbor, I realized when I heard his deep voice. "I didn't see you." |
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