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With all their potential for joyous reunions with beloved family members and friends, the holidays also can generate a great deal of angst at the prospect of visiting a loved one diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or another memory disorder. The upcoming visit may lead to several questions:

How should I respond when Aunt Mary tells the same story over and over, or when she forgets who I am?

How can I help Dad deal with his anger and frustration over Mom’s behavior?

This December weekend is becoming a second Veterans Day here in Hardin County.

It started four years ago with the Wreaths Across America observance at the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery-Central in Radcliff. This year, more than 2,500 grave sites received a wreath of honor.

Later on Saturday, the second official ceremony at the new Hardin County Veterans Tribute honored all branches of service by placing commemorative wreaths at the monument’s statues.

On the day I’m writing this, there are exactly 12 days until old St. Nick reveals his decision about which Kentucky legislators and judges have been naughty and which are nice.

So I decided to try some good old-fashioned political caroling to express my wishes – and those of a growing number of Kentuckians – for a more prosperous and competitive commonwealth in the days to come.

All who have “less government and more freedom” on your Christmas wish list, sing with me – don’t be shy:

In our house, Christmas meant so many different things: Giving, faith, fun and especially family. We always understood that no matter what, nothing was more important than all these things.

We often look back at all our moments and, man, do we laugh at the fun we all shared in the Holmes household. When you raise six kids, believe me, things can get a little crazy during the holidays.