We are having Christmas early this year! Mary and I are hosting a Family Brunch this Sunday after church. As much work as it is we are looking forward to it!

All of our Tennessee family will be here with the exception of our Vanderbilt grandson, Patrick. He has another engagements which he can’t miss. We’ll miss him. His Pittsburgh grandma, Joanne, will fill in for him!

Unfortunately Maura, our daughter from Dayton, Ohio, and her family will not be here either! Nor will they be able to make it On Christmas Day, so we’ll just have to go on with out them! So sorry! Her son, Marc, is driving home from Niagara University tomorrow and the girls are still in school. When they get out all the kids are flying to Florida to spend Christmas with their Florida Grandma. Somehow I can’t blame them for that! It should be warm and sunny!

Eric will be here from Notre Dame and Harry is coming from West Point. So we’ll have nine kids and nine adults! Or perhaps out of respect of the college boys I should re-state that as 12 adults and 6 kids!We aren’t sure yet what will be on the menu but it includes ham, baked french toast, pork sausages, fruit salad, cranberry bread and who knows what else. With eight teenagers we’ll need lots more food.

But, it’s not what we have to eat, but whom we have to eat it with that makes it fun. Like I’ve said for the past 51 years, this will be a special Christmas; I have been right every time. When the family is together every day is special.

Enjoy the time with your family; too soon they will be gone. Then, you’ll have to eat Christmas dinner with Mary and me at our favorite restaurant, Sperry’s. That will be special too, even if we don’t see each other.

Have a Merry Christmas and may God continue to bless you and your family!