A cuddly blanket, a holiday-scented candle, a great book, and a cup of rich, velvety hot chocolate. This, my friends, is the absolute Christmas dream. Insert the treasure of a kiddo to read to and a new holiday tale to tell, and it gets even better.

When you add a little time to do a bit of giving back… well, the holidays just shine a little brighter. I have a tale to tell about my daughter-in-law, Kimber Fox Morgan, her incredible Christmas spirit, and the small fox that came out of the whole operation. At Christmas time, when her children were smaller, Kimber encouraged her friends to gather their families on Christmas Eve to “do good deeds” in their community.

Thus, the 'Merry Making Movement' was born to inspire and teach kids about giving back to the community during the holiday season. From delivering donuts to the local fire department to recycling outgrown toys, this movement is a challenge that empowers families to connect with others. Kimber hosted this celebration at her own home, where she offered warm treats, the most popular of which was her famous hot chocolate bar.

It was exactly from this season of giving back that her children's book character, Chipper the Fox, was born. Each children’s book in the series contains a witty tale while offering an uplifting moral. I fiercely encourage you to share the gift of a book reading with a little one this season, and then enjoy some merry making by gathering those around you for community good deed-doing.

From the Memoir to the Kitchen