Elaine Ingalls Hogg

Two years ago The Halifax Herald relayed a Christmas story that gripped the hearts of all who heard of it. On Christmas Eve, after a visit with members of her family, a young mother skidded on a narrow turn, and … Read more

"Stop! What's that up ahead of us?" I asked my husband who was driving our rental car over some back roads in the highlands of Scotland. About a thousand sheep were being herded down the middle of the road by … Read more

It wasn't the doll that my husband and I had so carefully chosen to give our daughter for Christmas that captured her heart; it was a pair of brown boots. I can still see the smile that lit up the … Read more

"Was that all?" my friend asked, and, from the tone of her voice, I knew that she was trying to picture a Christmas where the only decorations in the home consisted of a six-inch tree and two handmade candleholders. "That … Read more

One of my early school memories is of the Christmas choir concert. Our teacher was a stickler when it came to diction, and she made us repeat the words over and over. After several repetitions, one of the boys, who … Read more

"I can't wait until you see Melody [not her real name] open the present I bought her for Christmas," our friend said. Melody was an only child, and planning for Christmas was an exciting event in my friend's home. On … Read more

"Grandma, this isn't good," my seven-year-old grandson complained at breakfast during a recent visit. Before I could answer him, or discover why he was complaining, I overheard his older sister say, "Eat it and stop complaining." Then, with a sigh, … Read more

My brother and I didn't have the opportunity to go to a cottage very often, so it was a real treat when my parents' friend offered to take my parents and the two of us in his truck to a … Read more

When browsing the Internet, I discovered that November was designated "Family Stories Month." What stories would I be willing to tell about my family? I know that one of the ones my brother and I shared the last time we … Read more

"That's the problem," my friend said, when we were visiting together one evening. We had shared a meal together, and then spent a couple of hours talking and sharing. Three times during our conversation, the phone rang. Two of these … Read more