Set in the 1920s, A Cole Family Christmas
is a touching story about the things that really matter over the holidays. It was great to read a story that valued family and simple things over shopping and gifts and extravagant feasts.
This lovely story could easily become part of your Christmas traditions. Gather the family, read aloud and enjoy the illustrations year after year. And yes, I have two copies to give away! To enter, leave a comment about the Christmas gift that meant the most to you – either one you received or one you gave. Make sure to leave your email address so I can contact you if you’re the winner. Contest runs until Dec 19th
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The Rubik’s Cube… ahhh that was such a nice christmas.
my kiddos are the best gift..whether blood or not . I would rather have a hug and a day of time together baking than things but since my kids are special material items I will say them
After one very tough year when my husband was ill right before Christmas, a dear friend brought over a week’s worth of meals and gift cards to local restaurants…I will never for get this Christmas…showed the true spirit…thanks for entry
my husband planned and booked a trip to Mexico and put the tickets in my stocking.
my engagement ring
I most look forward to the handmade Christmas gifts my kids give. They are priceless and mean oh so much.
When I wrapped up my positive pregnancy stick and gave it to my hubby on Christmas day in front of all of our family. (we had been trying for a while without any luck). Needless to say everybody was very excited.
I’m taking a chance and hoping that Canadians can enter; if not, its nice to remember anyways!
The best gift I ever gave were about 10 boxes full of books, dvds, stuffies, cat and dog food to an inner city school! (mainly all freebies and contest wins)
The best gift I’ve received was having my whole family together, no fights or bickering, just lots of love, food and laughter! Nothing can beat that.
Thanks
nancyrobster@gmail.com
In childhood, the gift that probably meant the most to me was my first Daisy BB gun. I wanted one so badly and I only popped my hand with it a few times while cocking it.
As an adult, it’s hard to say. Mostly I get books, and that is all right with me.
email – kainja@hotmail.com
The year I got divorced, my daughter and I had moved to a tiny apartment with very, very little. A friend gave us a $100 gift card and a ride to Target so that I was able to get cleaning supplies, household items, a few toys for my daughter, and even some treats that otherwise wouldn’t have been in the budget.
It gave me such a sense of normalcy at a really turbulent time.
galeogirl(at)comcast(dot)net
I cherish the ornaments that my children made with they where young.I love putting them on the tree it brings back happy memories . con5459(at)gmail(dot)com
ahhhh the year my son was was born -he was the best Christmas ever
Watching my kids open their presents and see their excitement is the best Christmas gift for me.
stacie_vaughan@hotmail.com
giving my Mom a gc for a dog grommer. she can’t afford it anymore
This Christmas means the most to me. My daughter is with me and she is now walking unassisted. In August, I wasn’t sure she would still be here.
my barbie Dream House meant everything to me when I was a little girl. The best Christmas present I received.
Carla
cpullum(at)yahoo(dot)com
When I was young, I received a “Chatty Cathy” Doll that I didn’t think my family could afford. The feeling of seeing her under the tree is still with me! Thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
The one that meant the most to me was a book that my mom had put together of all of the art work and awards and little things. I love it so much.
babychooch (at) gmail {dot} com
I received a hardcover copy of Heidi from Santa many years ago. It was my first “real” book and I was so proud of it. I wasn’t much of a reader before that, but I think it’s what got me interested in reading and made me the voracious reader I am today.
my mother gave me her pearl necklace she received from my father on their wedding day
tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com
I got this cheap little plastic piano/synthesizer when i was thirteen. it meant the world to me because I felt like my parents valued my desire to want to learn to play. I actually never learned to play, i got tired of it after a year but I still remember it to this day.
My best gift was a lamp i received from my son when he was 16.
The best Christmas present I received was my first-born son, who arrived Dec. 11th, 1974. Thanks for the contest.
The Christmas present that meant the most to me was homemade figurine from my daughter. Thanks for the giveaway!
I got engaged on Christmas many many years ago. I opened a huge box and inside was my tiny little diamond ring. Thank you!
I was 17, almost 18 years old. I had decided that church was for suckers. To repay me, my foster family drove me to the nearest city (where I didn’t know anyone) and simply dropped me off with a backpack.
Christmas was coming, and I was alone.
I managed through on my own until Christmas Eve, sleeping under bridges, in bus stations, on random couches of people who didn’t mind a random teenager crashing there. December 24th rolled around, and the day was bitterly cold. I spent much of the day hiding in a bus terminal, trying to keep warm. I had a pair of gloves, I had a scarf. I had somehow lost my socks, and I remember clearly how cold my toes were in my shoes.
The sky clouded over, and I overheard people saying, “It’s going to be a white Christmas, this year.” Afraid for my sockless feet, I asked around and found out where the nearest youth shelter was. I headed there on foot, and arrived right around dinner time.
They let me in with a smile. They served me a good, hot meal. They had a Christmas tree, and a small stereo playing cheerful carols that could barely be heard over the sound of too many noisy, well fed street kids. And when I asked to be allowed to sleep there tonight, they had a bed available. I was safe, for the night.
I woke up in the morning and glanced out the window; it had snowed, and it had snowed a lot. My childhood delight of a white Christmas had been obliterated by my fear of being too cold for too long. I could smell hot cider coming from the kitchen. I got up, put my shoes back onto bare feet, and went out to greet the day.
To my surprise, there were presents under the tree that morning! Stockings thumbtacked to the walls! A breakfast of pancakes and eggs and bacon, hot cider, hot chocolate, and coffee! I nearly broke down and cried from joy.
I ate my fill. The staff at the shelter allowed all of us homeless, family-less kids to open presents and pick a stocking from the wall. I got candy, trail mix, a bottle of water. I got ponytail ties and a couple barrettes for my hair. I was gifted with scented lotion and a stick of deodorant and, miraculously, two new pairs of socks. Then the impractical gifts appeared; a hair dryer, and a large stuffed bunny that looked like it should have arrived on Easter, not Christmas.
I thanked the people at the shelter and made off with my gifts into the snow, clean socks on my feet and a smile on my face. The hair dryer was bartered away that day for another hot meal, but for some reason, I kept the bunny. Eight Christmases later, the big yellow bunny still greets me on Christmas morning to remind me that there are good people in the world, and to never ever take anything for granted.
most meaningful was the puppy i received when i was very young
My favorite Christmas gift was a comment a woman gave to me about my 5 children in a store one day just before Christmas: “Your children are so well behaved”. She then offered to purchase them a treat at the coffee shop in the store. It’s so nice to see your efforts of raising children be rewarded with such a comment.
mariann.sweeps@gmail.com
My best gift was the birth of my two kids. Thanks for the chance to win.
erma.hurtt@sbcglobal.net
The gift that means the most to me is the Journey diamond necklace my husband gave me in 2006. I almost lost him in October of that year from a really bad motorcycle wreck. He gave it to me as a thank you for being there for him day and night during his recovery. It reminds me of how strong our love is.
My dog. I love my Alaskan Malamute he has added so much joy and love to my life.
I found all of these old snapshots in the hall closet and put them in a photo album for my Mother one Christmas; she loved the gift.
theyyyguy@yahoo.com
We took pictures of paintings that my wife’s deceased mom had painted. We made prints of them and sent them to all her relatives.
Christmas has always been magic for me,but it is not really about the gifts. It is more the good feelings that people display then that unfortunately we do not always see the rest of the year. The Christmas that really stands out more than the others would probably seem strange to others. My little sister was sick and we couldn’t go to our grandparents as planned. Dad and I started out to go 50 miles away to deliver the presents, but we had car trouble. Christmas Eve was spent in a dark garage next to a wood stove where the owner left his warm house to fix our car. I just felt safe with just my Dad and when we left to go home it was snowing. That stranger gave us the best gift because he left his family for awhile just to help us out.
The best christmas gift I’ve gotten was several boxes of dominos. My mother and I played a lot with those dominos.
My favourite gift at Christmas was my son, born just a month before and every Christmas after it will be my favourite, its a gift I gave and a gift I received.
I really liked recieving a trampoline when I was younger, I loved that thing!
My daughter! born almost 8 years ago
when I received Pictures of my brand new first grandson! Happy Holidays!
One of my best Christmas memories was the Christmas before my father passed away. I was 12 years old, and I wanted a stereo for my room, but was told that I was still to young. I had opened all of my presents, and they were nice, but not what I had hoped for, I went up to my room to take my gifts, and there on my dresser was a shiny new stereo system, I was so excited, my daddy had snuck up and put it in my room. Now almost 28 years later I still have that old stereo system, it is to special to get rid of.
purehrt555(at)yahoo(dot)com
a piece of slate with a snowman painted on it my son made at school
My new Computer is the best gift ever!
Vista rocks!
Best childhood gift was a Mrs. Besley Doll!
my daughter just having fun opeining her persents.. is the best gift
A perfect just for kids size stove, “stink”, and “fridge-a-gator”, that Santa brought when I was 4 years old complete with pots and pans and play food. I had fun playing with that for YEARS.
tskrush (at) cox (dot) net
It was a card from my son. He was leaving for his 3rd tour in Iraq. He was going through a divorce. The entire family flew out to see him off. He told us how much we had been there for him his whole life even through the most difficult of circumstances. He is home safe now and bringing his kids here for Christmas
What a great prize! Thank you for the chance
it was an angel ornament yes something as simple as that minsthins(at)optonline(dot)net
The best Christmas gift I ever received was an engagement ring. Thanks for having the contest!
My husband made my a photo book with pictures from when we first started dating until we got married
The Christmas gift that meant the most to me was a porcelain unicorn my fiance gave to me.