The Paper Bag Christmas

I have a gem to share with you today. I was recently asked by Center Street Books if I would like to review a book entitled "The Paper Bag Christmas", of course I agreed I just love Christmas stories. I can honestly say that this book is like no other I have ever read. The author Kevin Alan Milne truly reached out throw this book and touched me. I was moved to tears on several occasions through out this story. As I finished this story I was inspired to teach my children the gift of giving through acts of kindness.

"The Paper Bag Christmas" is a story of two little boys whose parents insist on taking them to the mall to visit Santa even though they aren't sure they believe in Santa any longer. As they wait in a never ending line they are given a wish list to fill out. The boys fill in every line on their Christmas wish list to give to Santa and when they final get the chance to give Santa their list he informs them that they won't be getting anything on their Christmas wish list, but that they will receive something better. You see, the Santa at the mall is Dr. Chris Ringle a pediatric oncologist that through the help of the boy's parents have the boys help him as elves at the local children's ward. On the night they are to show up to help they learn that they will be helping on an ongoing basis until the Christmas party, and Dr. Ringle assigns each of the boys a special task. Aaron the older brother has been asked befriend and get the Christmas wishl ist from Madhu (a little boy waiting on a kidney transplant) who is not Christian and does not believe, but is very curious about our holidays. Molar the younger brother has a bit more difficult. He has been asked to befriend and get the Christmas wish list from a little girl named Katrina she to is a patient of the hospital. She has recently lost all of her family and suffered from cancer. Previous surgeries have left the little girl badly scarred and she has shut herself off from everyone around her. Through the actions of these two little boys true Christmas miracles do happen.

This story will touch the lives of all who read it. I can't wait to share it with my children. I encourage each of you to get a copy today. It will change and redirect your focus this holiday season.