View from the Cab: Merry Christmas!

By Kent Casson

In the hustle and bustle of the holidays, I hope everyone takes a moment to slow down and remember Jesus in the reason for the season.

It is a time of year when we pause to celebrate the birth of Christ in a manger and hear the words, “peace on Earth and goodwill.”

What are your holiday traditions? Our family attends the local Christmas Eve service at church and gathers with relatives later in the evening before returning home and leaving cookies and milk out for the big guy. The night is filled with candlelight and holiday cheer and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

We always wake up early on Christmas morning and the kids anxiously wait to see what is under the tree. After wrapping paper fills the living room and the last batteries are installed in toys, we make our way down the road to Rebecca’s parents to gather with her family for a late breakfast and present time before heading to my family’s Christmas celebration at lunch. This extends well into the afternoon with more presents and food.

By the time we get home late in the afternoon, it is typically dark out and we are exhausted from another holiday. It’s fun to sit back and reflect on all of our blessings in 2025 and we can’t wait to do everything again in 2026.

I am constantly reminded of those Christmases past when my brother and I would wake our parents multiple times during the night, begging them to let us dig into those presents downstairs. Mom would always say to go back to sleep for at least a couple more hours. We eventually convinced them to let us open presents at a decent hour.

Mom would then put the coffee on and make us a holiday breakfast before heading off to my grandmother’s home in Chenoa before heading to my grandfather’s farm near Fairbury at night. I guess we are used to fun-filled holiday celebrations in our family.

December 26 was always a day to recover from the craziness but it was fun to play with all of the toys we received the day before.

I certainly hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. May 2026 be a year of good health and prosperity for all. Be safe this holiday season and as they say, I will talk to you next year!