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MerReads: Our favorite Christmas stories

Traditional Christmas stories are filled with miracles, generosity, kindess, and humor. The Mermaids share a few of their favorite holiday books:

Mermaid Jennifer is reading this favorite by the fireplace

Christmas Stories, Everyman's Pocket Classics is a great fireside read. With literary essays by Charles Dickens, Alice Munro, Willa Cather, Arthur Conan Doyle, and O. Henry, it is a mental gift for yourself.

One of my favorite stories is by Leo Tolstoy entitled, "Where Love Is, God Is." It is about a basement dwelling cobbler who has lost faith in God due to the death of his youngest son and last family member.

He is despondent, when he is visited by a friend from a Monastery who encourages him to read the Bible. As he begins reading, he opens his heart to the words of the Gospel. He asks God for opportunities to serve. From his basement window, he receives a series of opportunities that show him that God is in fact present in his life.

Although lonely, he finds ways to bring a fullness to his life through service to others. In the end, he is filled with richness and happiness.

What is Mermaid Shelley reading to get in the holiday spirit?

The Little Big Book of Christmas This little book is just jam packed with everything Christmas. It is a collection of art, stories, carols, poems and recipes all set in Victorian style graphics. The variety is impressive.

There are stories that are sweet and childlike, others are so funny they bring tears to your eyes. And of course, there is the beautiful story of Joseph, Mary and the Christ child. The art work just feels like traditional Christmas with endless versions of St. Nick. What I especially enjoy are the numerous pieces of poetry from Lewis Carroll, Walter de la Mare, Ogden Nash and many more.

This book just seems to have it all! There are many wonderful recipes, some simple for kids to make, others more complicated for holiday meals. To top it off, all of the traditional Christmas songs are here as well! Jingle Bells, Silent Night, Deck the Halls, The Twelve Days of Christmas to name a few.

Mermaid Debbie has added this book to her annual Christmas must-reads

Little Ellie Claus This sweet little novel, by Emmy Award-winning author, James Manos, Jr. is a gift of love and hope for the Christmas season. Set in 1933, it is a magical tale for young and old, filled with sweet, gentle humor and heart-felt emotion.

During the hard times of the Great Depression, young newlyweds, Peter and Lucy move to New York City to persue a job that has been promised to Peter. The young couple is determined to make a beautiful life together, filled with joy and love. Difficult times begin when Peter's job falls through due to the financial hardships gripping New York City and the nation. As Christmas approaches, Peter and Lucy's meager savings have all but disappeared. Peter, filled with love for Lucy and faith in the magic of Christmas, never loses hope.

On Christmas Eve Peter is planning an extravagant gesture of his love for Lucy, while she waits with her gift to Peter... news of a baby. Suddenly, tragedy strikes before either can deliver their gifts to each other.

One year later, the despondent and penniless young mother leaves her sweet and much-loved baby girl on the steps of an orphanage.

"My heart is shattered, my soul bent and broken,

for I could not give this most deserved and beautiful child a chance in life.

I leave her to you, to keep her safe and comforted in the plam of God's hand.

Her name is Ellie. Please love her as much as I do. God forgive me."

Lucy's desperate act on that Christmas Eve sets in motion a miracle so wonderful that it will restore shattered hope and renew faith in the love and heavenly kindness that often touches our lives when we least expect.