Naomi Grace’s "Wonder-full" Christmas

By Jean-Marie R. Bralley

Naomi Grace loves ballet, and she loves stories. The year that she is cast as Clara in her ballet school's production of The Nutcracker, she finds herself caught up in a fascinating story off stage when she and her family meet and befriend their mysterious neighbor, Mr. Crabtree.Through this blossoming friendship, Naomi Grace discovers important lessons in compassion, hope, kindness, and wonder, all while celebrating the joy and excitement of ballet and of the Christmas season.Join her as she recounts her marvelous adventure during this "wonder-full" time of the year.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Sep 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9781638855613

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Naomi Grace’s Wonder-full Christmas

Jean-Marie R. Bralley

ISBN 978-1-63885-560-6 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-63885-561-3 (Digital)

Copyright © 2022 Jean-Marie R. Bralley

All rights reserved

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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

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In loving memory of you, Papa, my wonder-full father

Christmas is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, right? That's how the song goes anyway. Goodness knows, though, that there are enough grinches and cynics, lurking about and doing their darndest to prove otherwise. Well, I am here to confirm rumors and to defy scrooges. Christmas, in fact, is a time of happenings that can fill a person to the brim with wonder. And contrary to popular interpretation, I think a wonder-full event doesn't necessarily consist of pure joy and happiness. Maybe it's just a matter of semantics, but I think someone can feel wonder in the presence of something in which joy and sadness and merriment and longing are all mixed up together and that doesn't make it any less wonderful. Today, I am going to share a story with you that contains all those emotional ingredients, and it just so happens to have taken place at Christmas. It's even better because it's true. It happened to me just last year.

But first, we should be properly acquainted.

I'm Naomi Grace Bartholomew, and I'm fourteen years old. Grace is my middle name, but unlike most middle names that are only dusted off for legal forms and graduations and for parents to bellow when a kid does something stupid, I prefer to be called by both names in everyday life. Naomi Grace just sounds so musical, don't you think? I applaud my parents for labeling me so gracefully.

My dad and mom are Beau and Victoria. Dad is tall and strong with dark hair and eyes. He's hardworking and kind and has the most infectious smile. He always knows how to make me feel better when no one else can. He's from down South, and every now and again, you can hear a subtle drawl in his speech. He claims only Mom's flashing green eyes could have beguiled him into moving to the North where people say you guys instead of y'all and where it sometimes snows as early as November.

Mom is undeniably a beauty with her sea-green eyes and shining