I usually had to hang my ornaments on the higher branches because she loved to bat at them. Now, I didn't have to worry about that and I missed it more than words could say. "One evening, I went to plug in the tree, and I noticed all of the ornaments on the lower section were scattered on the floor. Joyful tears flooded my eyes as I laid a hand on my heart. 'I'm not even going to scold you,' I whispered to Martha. 'I'm going to thank you because that's the best gift I could have gotten!""
-LINDA ESTES, 62, Madison, WI
POWER OF LOVE Pennies and smiles
"When my daughter moved to Paris where her husband got a promotion, my heart broke. Not only would I miss her but my 7-year-old granddaughter, Penny, was my entire world. We did everything together, and now with her an ocean away, I was inconsolable. As we hugged goodbye, she told me to look for pennies everywhere I went. When I found one, it would be a sign she's still close. I nodded through my tears.
"As Christmas approached, I went to the grocery store, where my heart ached to see so many smiling children. But suddenly, I heard a loud clatter. The coin counting machine up front had gotten a glitch and tons of pennies came pouring out onto the floor. As workers rushed to clean up the mess, I had to just smile. 'You are here,' I whispered with newfound peace, feeling Penny near. 'Merry Christmas, sweetheart."" -MADELINE PETERSON, 67, Bristol, TN
BLESSINGS IN DISGUISE
The perfect extra shift
Esta historia es de la edición December 16, 2024 de First for Women.
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Esta historia es de la edición December 16, 2024 de First for Women.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
FIONA DAVIS' The Stolen Queen
Known for her glamorous historical fiction novels featuring iconic New York City landmarks like The New York Public Library and Radio City Music Hall, Fiona Davis has sold more than a million books and counting!
Deck the Halls on a Dime
Americans spend hundreds of dollars on holiday decorations each year. To the rescue: FIRST polled decorating pros on how to make your home merry and bright for less!
FAITH & LAUGHTER
GIVE ME STRENGTH AS A SANDWICH GENERATION’ CAREGIVER
CHRISTMAS TREES GIVE HOPE TO MILITARY FAMILIES
For many soldiers and their loved ones, the holidays can be difficult, both emotionally and financially. But thanks to the Trees for Troops program, hundreds of their homes and hearts are filled with Christmas cheer every year
MARTHA STEWART'S NEW Cookbook
Step into Martha Stewart's kitchen with a collection of timeless recipes sure to elevate your everyday meals and make holiday celebrations extra special
CONFIDENCE, TRADITIONS & ALL THE Good Things
FOR MORE THAN FOUR DECADES, Martha Stewart has been a lifestyle icon.
POWER UP YOUR PROTEIN WITH CREATINE
There are some stories-like How the Grinch Stole Christmas-that we know by heart. Another tale that may be all too familiar to many of us: How we try to slim, only to regain more weight than we lost.
FOUND: HELP FOR HOLIDAY SLEEP LOSS
If you're tossing and turning a lot more this time of year, you're not alone: New research shows Americans lose nearly 40 minutes of sleep each night over the hectic holiday season. To the rescue: Experts share simple tips to transform sleepless nights into sweet, sugarplum dreams, including the strategy that works for 9 in 10 people
5 WAYS TO SICKPROOF YOUR HOLIDAYS
Stay healthy all season with these clever-and easy-strategies
Radiant in Red
3 steps to wearing the bold hue at any age
