Christmas Eve will be spent at church with a candle light service. This will be Riley's second year that we have allowed him to light a candle. We always warn everyone sitting in front of us that he has a candle. It's such a beautiful service with the darkness of the room as hundreds of candles light up the sanctuary while we sing Silent Night Holy Night. A wonderful tradition for our family and church family.

Speaking of family Traditions...I have been celebrating with my family for 8 years now making Kroppkakor or "Kroks" (pronounced kruks) on Christmas Eve. Kroks are a Minnesotan, Swedish, Norwegian, Hagen Family Tradition. When I asked my Mother in-law, Jackie, about them this is what she had to say.

" Kroks are a part of our Swedish heritage. My Grandmother, who came from Sweden as a young woman, brought with her to this country the recipe for kroks. They are really a potato dumpling, made with grated raw potatoes and held together with flour. In the center is a very small piece of fried salt pork. The Swedes did not have a lot of meat, and kroks were an excellent way to use up the last bits of meat. We always make extra so that there will be kroks left over to be sliced and lightly sauteed in the morning for breakfast. When I was a child, my Mother started our tradition of having kroks on Christmas Eve. We all love them, so it was a wonderful way to start the Christmas holiday".

This is wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Blessings to all.