Book excerpt: This beautifully written holiday memoir follows the tradition of The Christmas Box and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. It's the story of the author's mother, whose romantic nature and love for Christmas left a lifelong impression on her son. Mother is a tiny woman--4'11''--except when life demands that she draw herself up to her "full height" of 11'4''. Christmas is one of those times. Father is opposed to celebrating Christmas, and every year the couple fights about it. And every year Jerry and the other kids eavesdrop nervously until their mother ensures that Christmas wins out. When things take a turn for the worst, Mother and the boys find themselves struggling with poverty and depressed circumstances. Mother tries to make the best of Christmas at first, but when she loses the holiday spirit, her young sons decide to do something about it. In their attempt, they discover the true meaning of grace.