Nancy and I spent 5 days with our Birmingham grandkids a couple weeks ago while son Mark and his wife Jenny flew to New York City for some well deserved R&R. Nancy prepared for the weekend with, among other things, elf aprons for each of the kids. After I took this picture, we put the aprons to good use by baking cookies. Pictured are Jackson (10), John Michael (7), and Margaret (still 3 but 4 in a couple months).

That weekend was also when Nancy first started showing symptoms of the flu. Since we both had flu shots, we were surprised by that diagnosis. The fever subsided in a day or two but the cough stayed with her, and yesterday the doctor told her she has pneumonia. That's the bad news. The good news is that pneumonia, unlike the flu, is actually treatable. So she's taking some new meds, and she's hoping to be cleared up for Christmas.

Oh my! Christmas is this coming week. I mailed our last cards this morning. If you get a card from us in the next day or two, I won't be upset if you spray a little Lysol on it before reading it. Just kidding. I hope everyone has a...