Tradition, I love it, and this time of the year is no exception. The Sunday evening program, presented by the Rexton Mennonite Church and the Naubinway Christian Fellowship, was well attended and enjoyed by all. The youngsters wiggled and squirmed and made for a few chuckles, all of which will be stored in the memory bank for us to remind them of when they’re older.

Christmas celebrations are not limited to the very day. This past weekend at the Prater household, the family matriarch was joined by her daughter and son-in-law, Wilda and Don Frederick, and grandchildren, Vicki Perry, along with Joe and Eric, Milton Demarest, Mike and Debbie Schmeltzer, and Branden Daugherty, who all traveled this direction by way of Marquette.

Continued get well wishes to Shine Paquin, who experienced yet another stroke. Shine is being well taken care of by her daughter, Connie, and also many visitors who stop by to see how things are and offer a hand. Among them was her neighbor, Don, who lives a neighborly distance down on the Black River Road.

Diane Rinehold, who is anticipates her house will overflow this Christmas, is looking forward to making room for a daughter and her family, which includes five

grandchildren from Minnesota, and a son and his family from Tennessee, also including four grandchildren. Bet the only quiet time there will be when the lights go out, but oh, the memories.

Jeannie Donovan held a very lovely Christmas open house for all of her employees, and invited a few of the neighbors as well. The smell of cookies and cakes is lingering in the air, making the house smell so good. Don’t you just love this time of year? It’s a lot of work to make everything hum, but this, too, shall pass, and it’s only once a year.

Birthday wishes to our neighbor, Jim Kerridge, who celebrated December 15, to a great nephew, Brad Maison, December 18, Alan Browning December 19, Cheryl Franklin December 21, our son-inlaw’s dad, Charlie Fosdick Sr., December 24, a favorite mechanic, Lance Kerridge, December 28, and Dani Rutledge December 31.

Anniversary wishes to Bill and Karen Massey December 22, Bev and Sonny Stephenson and Ron and Cindy Pongracz December 23, Tom and Jo Prater December 26, to the man I’ve shared the past 43 years with, my husband, Dave, December 28, and to our neighbors, Bud and Marge Weger, December 31.

There are several freshman faces among the college group home for the holidays. Hello to Samantha Maison, Desi Derusha, Whittney Kerridge, and Lindsey Weger.

Christmas blessings that follow into the New Year are wished to all readers near and far, along with good health and happiness to last a lifetime, not just a season.