Debbie Macomber - The Perfect Christmas

October 2011

Dear Friends,

I believe many of us dreamor dreamed!about hosting the perfect Christmas. It took me most of my adult life to realize that perfect and Christmas are two words that dont really go together.

I remember the year the kids and I bought a huge Christmas tree, leaving my poor husband to fit it into a stand about seven times too small. That perfect Christmas tree ended up being tossed out the front door with a few choice words from Wayne.

Then there was the Christmas I spent the entire day in the kitchen cooking the perfect dinner for my young family. Just about everything that could go wrong did, including losing electricity in the middle of roasting the turkey. By the time dinner was ready, I was exhausted. Imagine my dismay when I realized all four kids were far more interested in playing with their new toys, and Wayne had been snacking all afternoon and wasnt hungry. Let me just saynot our best Christmas.

Over the years weve refined our family traditions but the idea of the perfect Christmas lingers in my mind, soas inevitably happens with writersI decided to create a story based on that elusive goal. This book was first published in hardcover in 2009; youll see that Ive provided a new epilogue, which gives you a brief update on the characters and their lives. Ive also included additional bonus material, such as a few recipes from my brand-new Christmas cookbook and a knitting pattern. And youll also find one of my first Christmas storiesstill a favorite of mine Can This Be Christmas?

Id love to hear from youwhether its just to say hello, to tell me what you think of the story or to describe your own perfect (or not so perfect!) Christmas. You can reach me at P.O. Box 1458, Port Orchard, WA 98366, or through my website, www.DebbieMacomber.com.

Merry Christmas!

W ho mails out Christmas cards before Thanksgiving? Cassie Beaumont lamented to her best friend.

Angie Barber looked up from her microscope and seemed to take an extra moment to consider what Cassie had just said. You got a Christmas card? Already?

Cassie wheeled her chair back to her station. Can you believe it?

Who from?

An old college friend. You wouldnt know her. Cassie shrugged. Jill married Tom two weeks after we graduated.

They have children?

Cassie caught the wisp of longing in Angies voice and answered with a nod. Two, a boy and a girl, and of course theyre adorable.

Of course, Angie echoed.

The Christmas card photo showed the four of them in matching outfits of green and red. The mother and daughter wore full-length green dresses with red-and-green plaid skirts. Father and son had on three-piece suits with vests in the same fabric as the dress skirts. It was too adorable for words.