1 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:11,160 Calarugashock Media. Hey I'm Johnny Mack and so Christmas on Tuesday and Thursday. 2 00:00:11,359 --> 00:00:19,160 It's bonus episodes of five Good News Christmas Stories. Here's Aster. A man 3 00:00:19,199 --> 00:00:23,480 from Audubon, New Jersey, embraced the spirit of No Shave November, a 4 00:00:23,519 --> 00:00:28,320 campaign to grow out one's facial hair to raise cancer awareness. As November gave 5 00:00:28,359 --> 00:00:32,479 way to December, his beard had flourished into a white, fluffy spectacle. 6 00:00:33,039 --> 00:00:37,719 Passersby began to take notice their glances and remarks hinting at a familiar, festive 7 00:00:37,719 --> 00:00:42,840 figure. His resemblance to the iconic Saint Nick was so striking that it opened 8 00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:48,159 doors to unexpected opportunities. He began to don the red suit for Malsanta rolls, 9 00:00:48,439 --> 00:00:53,119 secured parts in movies and television, and made live appearances. In his 10 00:00:53,240 --> 00:00:57,719 journey as a modern day Chris Kringle, he encountered the less glamorous aspects of 11 00:00:57,759 --> 00:01:02,119 the job, like the occupational hazards of being mistaken for a rest stop by 12 00:01:02,159 --> 00:01:08,400 young believers or the curious prods of tiny hands. Once upon a time, 13 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:12,640 when a seventy five cent hourly wage was the norm, there was a parent 14 00:01:12,680 --> 00:01:18,680 whose greatest wish was to surprise their three children with bicycles for Christmas, a 15 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:22,879 wish that seemed just out of financial reach. As the new year began. 16 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:27,079 With hope as their ally, the parent placed three bicycles on layaway. As 17 00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:32,840 the months passed, they paid little by little, Yet a week before Christmas, 18 00:01:33,159 --> 00:01:37,599 they were still fourteen dollars fifty cents short. That's when Ricky, the 19 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:42,120 eldest child, asked about the balance and suggested they count the penny saved in 20 00:01:42,159 --> 00:01:47,439 the family's penny jug. The parent consented, albeit skeptically, not expecting to 21 00:01:47,439 --> 00:01:53,159 find the necessary amount. To their astonishment, Ricky's count amounted to fifteen dollars 22 00:01:53,159 --> 00:01:57,159 fifty cents. With a heart swelling with happiness, the parent told Ricky to 23 00:01:57,200 --> 00:02:01,000 set aside a dollar for gas, which meant they could finally pick up the 24 00:02:01,040 --> 00:02:07,239 bicycles. This tale, cherished by the parent, stands as a testament to 25 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:12,000 the unexpected joys that life can bring. That year, a simple act of 26 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:20,000 counting pennies turned into a Christmas miracle, blessing their holiday with joy and gratitude. 27 00:02:21,159 --> 00:02:25,439 An unusual spectacle. As part of a festive event, the aquarium orchestrated 28 00:02:25,479 --> 00:02:30,280 a daring dive where Santa and his assistant submerged into the vast shark tank. 29 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:36,879 During this event, two divers donned festive attire, one as Santa Claus and 30 00:02:36,919 --> 00:02:39,479 the other as an elf. They not only swam with the sharks, but 31 00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:45,400 also carried out a feeding session for the underwater inhabitants, revealed Shelby Dobson, 32 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:50,800 who represents the aquarium. The tank, rich in marine Life, houses a 33 00:02:50,879 --> 00:02:54,240 variety of sharks, including nurse sharks, zebra sharks, black tip, white 34 00:02:54,240 --> 00:03:00,599 tip, and sandbar sharks, alongside sea turtles and a moray eel, providing 35 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:07,879 a unique backdrop for this holiday themed underwater adventure. In twenty eleven, the 36 00:03:07,919 --> 00:03:13,240 economic struggle had hit the Rays family hard, with Rosa Cardanus de Reyus's husband 37 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:19,439 facing prolonged unemployment. The financial crunch meant that Christmas presents were a luxury they 38 00:03:19,439 --> 00:03:23,280 could not afford. Embracing a tradition from her past, Rosa decided to have 39 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:28,520 her five year old daughter Helen send a wish to Santa Claus in an unconventional 40 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:34,039 way by a letter tied to helium balloons. The balloons carried Helen's message over 41 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:38,599 five hundred miles to a ranch in northern California. The ranch owner Lane Sanderson 42 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:44,479 stumbled upon the letter with his son. After having it translated, he was 43 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:49,400 touched by the contents and decided to act. Lane, along with his wife 44 00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:53,080 and daughter, selected clothes and a doll, wrapped them and sent the package 45 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:59,199 to the Rhys family. Helen's joy was palpable, and Rosa was overwhelmed with 46 00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:03,520 emotion. Reflecting on the gesture, she shared with The Auburn Reporter that the 47 00:04:03,599 --> 00:04:12,159 experience felt like a Christmas miracle had unfolded before them. It seems that the 48 00:04:12,199 --> 00:04:16,879 antidote to the notorious holiday sweater might just be a charming creature, exemplified by 49 00:04:16,959 --> 00:04:23,439 a sheep in Omaha, Nebraska, that was discovered meandering the local streets clad 50 00:04:23,439 --> 00:04:28,519 in a festive Christmas sweater. The tail and images of this well dressed sheep 51 00:04:28,639 --> 00:04:33,439 captured hearts across the Internet earlier in the month, inspiring the viral hashtag hash 52 00:04:33,519 --> 00:04:41,120 Christmas sheep. The Nebraska Humane Society NHS took to Facebook with a light hearted 53 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:45,560 message, if you're missing a sheep that enjoys wearing Christmas sweaters, He's here 54 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:49,759 at NHS. This sheep, given the name Gage, was eventually claimed by 55 00:04:49,759 --> 00:04:55,399 its owner, who became aware of Gage's whereabouts thanks to the social media stir 56 00:04:55,519 --> 00:05:00,319 on Facebook. It appears that the sheep's incognito days were numb, unable to 57 00:05:00,399 --> 00:05:05,879 forever keep its identity hidden from its owner. And with those festive stories of 58 00:05:05,959 --> 00:05:11,920 joy, we conclude today's five Good News Christmas Stories. My gratitude goes to 59 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:15,360 Johnny Mack for passing me the mic. This is Astor, Ireland, Hoping 60 00:05:15,399 --> 00:05:17,319 your day is as merry as these tales.