Now that Thanksgiving is over, Christmas is next. I wish they wouldn’t make it a commercial holiday. Maybe with the money crunch, people will think more about the real meaning of the day.

I received a catalog in the mail from an organization that will distribute money where it is needed in various countries where there is a lot of poverty. This organization asks for money to buy animals like goats, chickens, ducks, sheep, and rabbits. Now, that is sensible. I plan to contribute. This way of taking care of live animals, they’ll learn to take care of them and use the milk, eggs, and fur to improve their living conditions.

Elm Street is lighted more than ever. Marion County Lake is always beautifully decorated.

A few weeks back, we had only two restaurants. Now I counted seven. Can you believe that? I hope they will be well-supported.

I watched some great programs on KPTS. One was about Christmas being celebrated in Europe in several different countries. I wish they would show it again. One part was on Italy. What a beautiful country with so many wonderful churches. Music was on another program. I can never hear the Christmas carols enough.

There are a lot of Christmas programs produced in our country. They are for children, mostly about Santa Claus. They are such cute stories but not the Christian view — all Santa and his helpers. I hope someone will tell children the real story. If they go to church and Sunday school, I’m sure they will get the real story.

— norma hannaford