picturesque scene to see as the family left the church. Kenny Hanson has many wonderful memories of Christmas and loved ones; and he especially enjoys watching children’s excitement when opening presents. Regarding Christmases past, Kenny grew up on a farm and only remembers maybe getting one gift growing up but Christmas shouldn’t be just about presents. Kenny shared with me that too many of us forget that Christmas should be about Jesus Christ and not about expensive presents. “Remain old fashioned because Jesus is,” he told me. At another table I met Romaine Wieseler. She didn’t share a past Christmas tradition or story but she shared a current one that means a lot to her. Every year her daughter comes to put up the tree. She will fix the lights and hang up all the decorations. That family time and Christmas tradition is her favorite part of the holiday. When I went back the second day, I met Diane Nicholson and Janene Cabalka. Diane Nicholson told me about how her grandmother was born on Christmas Eve and then had a daughter who was born on New Year’s Day. For Christmas Eve they would go to her grandma’s house to celebrate her birthday. Then the whole family would attend midnight mass, which is one of Diane’s favorite traditions. Christmas Day morning was spent at home where they would open presents. Then the whole family would go back to her grandma’s for Christmas dinner. Her grandma would make duck and dumplings and ham. And of course there were kolaches. As Diane and others grew up they made their own traditions but Christmas Eve was always separate to celebrate her grandma’s birthday. Diane also remembers how on one Christmas Eve her dad came rushing up to her and the other kids saying he thought he had heard Santa. The kids and her dad ran outside to try to catch Santa but they had just missed him. Her dad told them Santa must be delivering early to make sure to get every kid and they were allowed to open their presents before mass. This was special and Diane remembers it fondly, as it was the first time this had happened. She can still hear the excitement in her dad’s voice when he ran in telling them about Santa. Janene Cabalka spent Christmas at home with family. But one Christmas that stood out to her was when she was about 10. She remembered going to her mom in a panic because she forgot to tell Santa about a purse she wanted. And even though it’s not exactly a Christmas story, she told me about her husband’s grandpa who came over from Czechoslovakia when he was one-year-old. The farm Janene lived on with her husband was actually homesteaded by his great-grandparents in the Dakota Territory. Her husband’s grandpa remembers one time when a group of Native Americans came to give them some food and that’s all they wanted. And the last person I met was Mary. Mary spent Christmas Eve with her whole family and then they would have dinner on Christmas Day. She also remembers that her husband would get a young cedar tree every year and she called it their Precious Moments tree. vBy Brandi Bue “Do You Hear What I Hear? If not, do what I did... For a complete hearing exam and a solution to your unique hearing problem, schedule an appointment with our Audiology experts today! 605-665-0062 We’re H“ear” For You! EAR, NOSE & THROAT ASSOCIATES, P.C. 2525 Fox Run Parkway, Suite 101, Yankton 605-665-0062 • 1-866-665-0062 • www.entyankton.com Beth J. Beeman Au. D, CCC-A Todd A. Farnham Au. D, CCC-A HERVOICEvNOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016v21