Tina M. Cho
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MiSung's Cards of Love ~ A Christmas Story 

12/9/2014

68 Comments

 
PictureMade by daughter Anna
I'm participating in a holiday story contest hosted by author Susanna Leonard Hill. 

The rules: Write a children's story in which wild weather impacts the holidays!  Your story may be poetry or prose, silly or serious or sweet, religious or not, based on Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or whatever you celebrate, but is not to exceed 350 words. And it has to be posted on our blogs. 

Thanks for reading!

Glossary: 
Appa: daddy
Omma: mommy
Halaboji: grandfather


                                   MiSung's Cards of Love

 
            MiSung loved winter in the mountains of Korea. She loved ice sledding, ice fishing, and most of all Christmas. But she didn’t like snowstorms.

            Only two days until Christmas. MiSung had plans. She needed to buy cards for her friends at school (only the girls), write a letter to Santa Halaboji, and help Mom choose a Christmas cake at the bakery. Having only one day off for Christmas made preparations difficult.

            “I can’t take you into town tonight,” said Appa. “Korea's worst snowstorm is heading this way.”

            “Oh no!” said MiSung.

            MiSung wasn’t going to let a snowstorm stand in her way. A small, bare Christmas tree stood in the corner. MiSung strung rice popcorn for a garland. Then she wrote a letter to Santa Halaboji in her neatest handwriting. Last she scrounged her bedroom for colorful papers and scissors. If she couldn’t buy cards for her friends, she would make them.

            She remembered the paper folding art her teacher had taught the class. MiSung wrote each friend a note on her cards. She put them in her backpack to hand out at school.

            While MiSung slept, the wind howled and rattled the windows. Snow dropped in thick puffs that stuck like sticky rice.

            “No school for you,” said Omma the next morning. The street hasn’t been plowed.”

            “But I must get to school,” she said. “I have to deliver my cards, or my friends will think I don’t like them.”

            “They’ll understand,” said Omma.

            The snow fell all day. MiSung pulled on her boots and coat and went outside.

 “Some Christmas,” she said, throwing a snowball into the driveway. It bounced off the ATV.

            “That looks like a sleigh,” said MiSung with a smile.

            She went inside and told Appa her idea.

            The three of them snuggled together on the ATV with MiSung’s backpack. They arrived at church in time for Christmas carols.

            “Merry Christmas, MiSung,” said her friends, showering her with cards.

            “Merry Christmas to you,” said MiSung handing out her cards of love.

           

           

 


68 Comments
Ariel link
12/8/2014 10:39:19 pm

Lovely story :) It's great how you added in Korean words throughout.

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Tina Cho link
12/9/2014 08:48:46 am

Thanks, Ariel. Glad you enjoyed it.

Reply
Johnell link
12/8/2014 10:42:40 pm

How completely fun to see this from the perspective of a child in Korea. Love the sticky rice comparison.

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Tina Cho link
12/9/2014 08:49:21 am

Thanks, Johnell. I like that comparison, too.

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Teresa Robeson link
12/8/2014 10:46:46 pm

Very cool story, Tina! And I love the card your daughter made that helped to illustrate the type of card MiSung made in the story. :) I also love that we learned some new Korean words!

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Tina Cho link
12/9/2014 08:49:54 am

Thanks, Teresa. I'll pass on your compliment to Anna.

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Linda Schueler link
12/8/2014 11:42:12 pm

I liked learning about some of the Korean traditions. And also how she found a solution to her problem. A sweet story.

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Tina Cho link
12/9/2014 08:51:09 am

Thanks, Linda. It is interesting in the differences among cultures.

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Tracey M. Cox link
12/9/2014 12:00:47 am

Tina, Thank you for incorporating the Korean words and traditions. Very neat to learn.

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Tina Cho link
12/9/2014 08:51:46 am

Glad you enjoyed it, Tracey. Thanks!

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Linda Boyden link
12/9/2014 12:28:41 am

I enjoyed learning about Korean customs. Thanks for this touching story.

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Tina Cho link
12/9/2014 08:53:13 am

Thanks, Linda. Glad it was touching.

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Robyn Campbell link
12/9/2014 01:37:10 am

Tina, thank you for writing this. It is beautiful. I can speak a few Korean words now. Anna's card is gorgeous. Please tell her how much I loved looking at it. The story is stirring. I so enjoyed reading it.

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Tina Cho link
12/9/2014 08:53:42 am

Thanks, Robyn! I shared your comments with Anna.

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Jarm Del Boccio link
12/9/2014 02:50:05 am

Such a sweet story, Tina. . .I hope you win this year!!

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Tina Cho link
12/9/2014 08:54:20 am

Ah, thanks Jarm. You, too!

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Vivian Kirkfield link
12/9/2014 03:29:06 am

Tina...what a beautiful story. I love your main character and I love her sweet and loyal spirit. I think this could be a pb one day. :)

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Tina Cho link
12/9/2014 08:55:19 am

Oh, thanks, Vivian!

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Evelyn Christensen link
12/9/2014 03:57:27 am

Lovely story, Tina. I especially liked the fact that MiSung made her own Christmas cards, since I always make ours. Anna's card to go with the story is lovely also.

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Tina Cho link
12/9/2014 08:55:53 am

Thanks, Ev. Yes, I enjoy your handmade, special cards!

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Elaine Kiely Kearns link
12/9/2014 04:05:29 am

Lovely story, Tina. I loved learning the Korean words!

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Tina Cho link
12/9/2014 08:57:11 am

Yea! Thanks, Elaine.

Reply
Tracy Campbell link
12/9/2014 05:36:27 am

Hi Tina,
What a beautiful message of love in your delightful story. Loved the sticky rice snow too, and Anna's card.
All the best in the competition. :-) This story would also be great for kids' publication.

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Tina Cho link
12/9/2014 08:58:04 am

How nice! Thanks, Tracy. Will pass your kudos to Anna.

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Teresa MI Schaefer link
12/9/2014 06:48:06 am

Tina, As is true for so many others -- I loved the inclusion of the Korean language/customs. MiSung is one wonderfully persistent little girl.

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Tina Cho link
12/9/2014 08:58:49 am

Yes, she is. Thanks, Teresa, for stopping by.

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Carrie Finison
12/9/2014 07:23:12 am

What a sweet story, Tina! I'm glad MiSung found a way to accomplish her Christmas tasks. I hope we all can do the same. :-)

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Tina Cho link
12/9/2014 08:59:22 am

Exactly, Carrie. Thanks!

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Patricia Tilton link
12/9/2014 08:16:25 am

A story about another culture. Loved it! Very original.

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Tina Cho link
12/9/2014 08:59:50 am

Thanks, Pat! That's what I was aiming for.

Reply
Robin Newman link
12/9/2014 08:49:12 am

Tina, What a wonderful story! Love that you set the story in Korea. Good luck in the competition.

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Tina Cho link
12/9/2014 09:00:26 am

Thanks, Robin. I tried to be unique.

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Alayne Kay Christian link
12/9/2014 09:10:42 am

Christmas in the mountains of Korea - what a great setting. I'm happy that MiSung found a way to get her cards to her friends, and what a great bonus to be showered with cards from friends and get to hear the carols. Very satisfying ending. Nice job, Tina.

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Tina Cho link
12/9/2014 04:00:44 pm

Thanks, Alayne.

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Jilanne Hoffmann
12/9/2014 02:46:31 pm

You had me at the sticky rice, my son's favorite food! :-)

I'm so glad MiSung succeeded in such an inventive way. Smart girl and a good friend. Good luck in the competition!

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Tina Cho link
12/9/2014 04:01:25 pm

How fun your son likes sticky rice. Thanks for reading!

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Catherine Johnson link
12/9/2014 08:18:44 pm

Love the sticky rice simile. What a sweet story!

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Tina Cho link
12/9/2014 09:56:43 pm

Thanks so much, Catherine!

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Rachel Stones link
12/9/2014 09:10:46 pm

I love seeing other cultures and traditions. What a great story!

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Tina Cho link
12/9/2014 09:57:17 pm

Me, too! Thanks for reading!

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Lynn A. Davidson link
12/11/2014 03:36:44 am

Very clever little girl. Thanks for a lovely story depicting Christmas in another culture. :)

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Tina Cho link
12/11/2014 10:30:56 pm

Thanks, Lynn, for stopping by!

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Christie Allred link
12/11/2014 04:57:03 am

Nicely done. I enjoyed the Korean touch, and thought the sticky rice comparison was especially cute. Good luck. :)

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Tina Cho link
12/11/2014 10:31:42 pm

Thanks, Christie!

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Stacy S. Jensen link
12/11/2014 02:20:45 pm

Really liked this one. Especially how she solved her problem.

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tinamariecho@yahoo.com link
12/11/2014 10:32:23 pm

Thanks, Stacy. Yes, I thought sleigh/ATV could be somewhat the same.

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saranyan link
12/11/2014 09:20:54 pm

Bravo MiSung! I love the card too. Nice story.

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Tina Cho link
12/11/2014 10:33:01 pm

Thanks, Sara! Glad you liked it.

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Sylvia Liu link
12/11/2014 09:47:09 pm

A super sweet story with a great message.And fun too!

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Tina Cho link
12/11/2014 10:33:32 pm

Thanks, Sylvia, for stopping by!

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MIshka Jaeger link
12/12/2014 01:45:51 am

Charming! I love the optimism of children. And your card is wonderful! I'm going to have to try that with my daughter.

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Tina Cho link
12/12/2014 09:56:18 am

Thanks, Mishka. She'll like that. My daughter found a You Tube video that helped her.

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Debby Johnson link
12/12/2014 03:02:49 am

I also liked the Korean aspect. It's always nice to see different viewpoints.

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Tina Cho link
12/12/2014 09:57:39 am

I agree. I like reading about other cultures, too.

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Randi Sonenshine link
12/12/2014 06:16:46 am

What a beautiful story, Tina. Your writing is lovely, especially your use of vivid verbs and original similes. I also enjoyed the cultural flavor of the story with Korean terms and the glossary. Good luck!

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Tina Cho link
12/12/2014 09:57:08 am

Thanks, Randi, for the kudos!

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Carrie Charley Brown link
12/12/2014 01:28:47 pm

Very sweet story, Tina. MiSung has a heart of hope and joy. :) I love the cultural feel of this, too.

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Tina Cho link
12/12/2014 06:29:39 pm

Thanks, Carrie!

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Margaret Greanias link
12/12/2014 03:19:37 pm

Great story! I loves the perspective and loves the sticky rice comparison.

Reply
Tina Cho link
12/12/2014 06:30:08 pm

Thanks, Margaret!

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Lauri Meyers link
12/13/2014 04:00:42 am

Very nicely written.

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Tina Cho link
12/13/2014 09:34:48 am

Thanks, Lauri, for visiting!

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Susanna Leonard Hill link
12/13/2014 07:35:04 am

What a lovely sweet story, Tina! I can just imagine MiSung's disappointment when she couldn't deliver her cards to her friends. I'm glad the ATV was able to pull sleigh duty and get her to church. Love the Korean words too! Thanks so much for joining in the holiday fun!

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Tina Cho link
12/13/2014 09:35:38 am

Thanks, Susanna, for your compliments and for hosting this fun contest!

Reply
Cecilia Clark link
12/13/2014 02:52:10 pm

a delightful story and a terrific solution to her transport problems. Lovely

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Tina Cho link
12/13/2014 08:41:38 pm

Why, thank you, Cecilia!

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Penny Parker Klostermann link
12/14/2014 09:00:42 pm

What a sweet story, Tina. I love the sprinkling of Korean words and MiSung's determination. Nice job!

Reply
Tina Cho link
12/14/2014 11:06:00 pm

Thanks, Penny, for reading!

Reply



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    Tina M. Cho, children's author

    I'm a children's author and freelance writer for the educational market. Welcome!

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