Well, while the MadMikes are celebrating a half-century together, we're adding to the festivities by:

Going to the candle-light Christmas service at church tomorrow night.

Getting everyone together at my sister's house on Monday to make Christmas candy, like my mother used to do. My sister learned her recipes and inherited her marble candy slab, and now she's teaching my daughters-in-law and my granddaughters how to do it.

Getting together at my house on Christmas Day to open presents and share little food specialties that we only do at Christmas, like bacon-wrapped dates with goat cheese, or chocolate-covered peanut-butter balls.

Always a family time!

Lannis