A FL family got a surprise Christmas gift when their German Shepherd/husky mix, Athena, returned home after being missing for nine days. While the community searched for her, she was spotted on security cameras in a 20-mile loop during her adventure. At 2:30 a.m. on Christmas Eve, the family got a Ring doorbell notification, and when they checked the camera, Athena was standing at the door…………….. International best-selling author James Patterson donated $300,000 to independent bookstores this year to allow dozens of American booksellers to give their employees a $500 holiday bonus. The American Booksellers Association (ABA) workers either submitted an application for the bonus, or were nominated by their colleagues, friends, or even an author…………………And finally………… 

Thanks to Lowe’s relief efforts and hundreds of volunteers, dozens of tiny homes were donated to families and installed in western NC in time for Christmas Eve. The homes, which include heat, a kitchen, bathroom, and two full-size beds, allow families to stay in their neighborhood while their permanent home is rebuilt. Lowe’s Senior Director of Community relations, Julie Yenichek, proposed the idea to Danny Kelly of Charlotte’s Kelly McArdle Construction, who jumped on it. The Home Builders Association of Greater Charlotte is spearheading the volunteer effort in WNC, and they had more than 400 volunteers sign up to help put the tiny homes together in just a matter of seven days.