Ulm News: Festive Celebrations Mark the Holiday Season

Merry Christmas!

The Ulm community is very festive, with quite a few houses beautifully decorated. The party season has begun, and I, for one, am partied out. I love this holiday, but this year snuck up on me, and I had lots of parties all in one week. The Ulm Pinochle Club had a great time last Monday at Carol's house. She always decorates so nicely and had quite a spread of sweets. Loretta even made sourdough pecan rolls on top of it. We played cards, visited, laughed, and then ate a wonderful peppermint dessert (like we needed more desserts) and had a gift exchange. Some of us also did a cookie exchange with lots of yummy varieties. Juanita had the only double pinochle and was the high scorer for the night. Carol, despite being the best hostess, had the low score.

The Ulm Pishkun 4-H Club had their December meeting and then moved right into our Christmas party. We had a pizza party with all kinds of desserts and some Grinch punch. We had a piñata again this year, thanks to Eden Livestock 4-H. Tons of candy came bursting out of that thing after about 5-6 good smacks. We drew tickets to see who got to take a whack at it. After being full of pizza and sugar, we had a white elephant gift exchange. There was barely any stealing going on, as the kids are all too polite, LOL. Then we did the best part, in my opinion. We went to Great Falls in the gravel storm and divided the group into three different retirement homes. We went to Goldstone, Rivers Edge, and Azalea Place to visit the residents and hand out bags of goodies for Christmas. We had previously put together about 75 bags with candy, fuzzy grippy socks, and handmade Christmas cards in them. We sang and talked with the residents, and everyone involved was blessed. It will definitely be a lasting memory for the kids. We even had enough bags to send some to the Hosanna House with the Ulm Bible Church, who visits them every Tuesday, and take some to Quiet Day Manor in Cascade to give away. It was a great giving project, as we try to do one every year. I think this one had more meaning behind it than some of them, and the kids were super involved. I just loved seeing the interaction at the one I was at.

The Ulm School will be having all of their festivities this week, and then the kids are off school for quite a while. The weather might give us a white Christmas, but best of all, it's giving it to Showdown. We did lose a couple of long-time members of the community in the last month. A heartfelt hug goes out to the families of Frank Ball and Martha Kennedy. They have been staples in the Ulm Community. Frank and his family owned the old Ulm bar, and I grew up with his sons. He also used to have the horse arena, and that's how I will always remember that cowboy. Martha worked for the school for years as a great secretary and was loved by all. She lived just down the road from me and was a bookkeeper for many people after the school. They will be sorely missed. On another note, we want to congratulate our own Brock Hofer on his marriage to Kaylee. Welcome to the community, Kaylee-you got yourself a good man.

I want to wish everyone the best this season. The Ulm Bible Church will be having its Christmas Eve services at 6:00, so come celebrate the reason for the season with us. Merry Christmas!