The McMurrin family - parents John and Susan, and their three children, preteen twins Amy and Sam, and young adolescent Michael - live on a rural Washington farm that has been in Susan`s family for generations, the actual house built by Susan`s father when she was a young girl. At the beginning of December, John and Susan die in an automobile crash. The only real family the children have left is their single maternal aunt, Martha McCarthy, who also lives in town. Despite she barely being able to provide for herself, there is no question in Martha`s mind that she will take care of the children, they all to live on the farm so that the children will continue to be together in the only home they`ve ever known. Paige Holloway, who is assigned the case worker for Social Services, this her first ever file, is sympathetic to Martha`s goals, especially in not wanting any disruption to their family unit during the Christmas season. Paige wants to help Martha in any way she can.