5 Most Uplifting Stories of the Week

Stories about people playing Santa and an orphan's wish come true make this week's list:

• 'Layaway Santas' Pay for Strangers' Holiday Gifts: "Layaway Santas" started popping up around the country in 2011, and the trend appears to be on the rise this season. Stores such as Walmart and Kmart are seeing an uptick in strangers paying for others' gifts on layaway. One good Samaritan plunked down $20,000.
• NFL's Andre Johnson Buys $17K in Toys for Kids: A little antidote to the usual headlines that NFL players make off the field: Houston Texan Andre Johnson dropped more than $17,000 at a Toys R Us for a dozen kids and their siblings in child protective services. In fact, it's the seventh straight year he's paid for such a shopping spree.
• Christmas Wish Happens: Orphan Gets Family Christmas: Davion Only became Internet famous in October when the 15-year-old's plea to be adopted went viral. He's now living with a prospective family—and about to have his first traditional Christmas.
• Astronaut Calls Kid, 6, Who's Fighting to Save NASA: A 6-year-old Denver boy who started an online petition to keep NASA funded got a phone call of support from someone with a unique perspective: Gene Cernan, the last man to walk on the moon.
• Lucky Goats Escape Avalanche: Things were not looking good for 10 mountain goats in the French Alps: As concerned onlookers watched (and videotaped), it appeared the Chamois goats would be overtaken by an avalanche. Four of them were—before emerging to cheers.

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