Finding the magic
of the holiday season
O
ne year when our daughters were very small,
my husband, Scott, and I took the girls home
to visit my parents for Christmas, an 1,100-
mile drive east. We crossed the Appalachian
Mountains under a full snowfall, on a highway
that twisted and turned through rugged terrain. So we were
weary travelers when we pulled into a small West Virginia
town and spotted— in the middle of Main Street— a horse-
drawn, sleigh-belled carriage. And beside it stood a white-
bearded Santa quietly handing out candy canes to passersby.
In a twinkling we parked the car and bundled up the girls for
a closer look. It was a truly magical holiday moment, standing
there in a swirl of snowflakes, mountains in the background,
exchanging Christmas wishes with a soft-spoken Santa. We left
the town completely refreshed and filled with holiday spirit. Our
daughters, thrilled at the time, have only hazy memory of it now.
But it's a day Scott and I will remember forever.
Holiday magic: It's what we all hope for at this time of
year— those special moments of peace and joy that bind our
families together. Only rarely do the magical moments seek
us out, like a Santa in a mountain snowfall. More often, we
create our own through the way we celebrate and the tradi-
tions we keep. Decorating and tree-trimming set a beautiful
scene; special food and music lift our spirits. But in the end,
it's the time we spend together that allows the magic to
happen. The snow play, the holiday movie, the game night,
the homemade chili delivered to the homeless shelter— those
are moments and hours that truly make the season bright.
One of my favorite things about this December issue is
that— along with the holiday ideas and food you expect— it
shares wonderful examples of holiday time creatively spent. I'm
particularly drawn to the story of the family,
page 44,
whose
Christmas traditions include a twist on the lemonade stand
to raise money for charity. Now there's a way to make holiday
magic with the kids. (And please— I'd love to have you share
your ideas for creating holiday magic, at the address below.)
Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and joy to all.
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What I Learned This Month
From organizing pro
Donna Smallin
An empty paper tube, slit up
one side, makes a great pro-
tective sleeve for a roll of gift
wrap. See more helpful tips
in our special Holiday Know-
How section,
page 146.
From my boss
(who volunteers for the non-
profit group Water.org)
Nearly a billion people
worldwide do not have ac-
cess to clean water, a basic
need. Find a holiday gift that
helps the cause on
page 156.
From our Better
Health section
Eleven super-fresh tips for
avoiding holiday weight
gain. I especially like the
BLT rule,
page 243.
From contributing
editor Scott Peacock
To develop a full-flavored
pot roast, season it with
salt and olive oil the day
before you roast it. See all
his secrets for this ultimate
comfort food on
page 198.
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12
BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS | DECEMBER 2010 | BHG.COM
PHOTO: KATHRYN GAMBLE
