title: Chicken Soup for the Soul: Merry Christmas!: 101 Joyous Holiday Stories
author:  Amy Newmark 
description: Amy Newmark is author, publisher, and editor-in-chief of the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series.
zlib_text: # Finding Christmas
  
  
  Jeannie Moon
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ## Chapter Five
  
  
  ‡
  
  
  Thanksgiving began early at the Benson house, so by the time noon rolled
  around, and the corn and clam chowder was simmering on the stove, the family
  had been up for hours. The day was all about tradition—from the freshly baked
  monkey bread that her mother had been making for as long as she remembered, to
  watching the Thanksgiving Day Parade in their pajamas, to the donation of a
  cooked turkey to the church soup kitchen—it was the perfect way to kick off
  her favorite season of the year.
  
  
  Maggie hoped that being with her family would help bring back the child-like
  joy she always felt this time of year. Everything about Christmas made her
  happy.
  
  
  Cookies, shopping, snow, even the holiday cups at Starbucks made her downright
  giddy. But mostly, she loved being with her family.
  
  
  Her sisters, in spite of having their own places close by, stayed over last
  night. The three of them stayed up late, drinking wine and watching 