The Christmas Mouse

By Juliana (Batie) Loudon for Midwest Messenger
Dec 26, 2025
Dec 26, 2025

Barb Batie kittens — In this April 2024 photo, Barb Batie displays a few of the newborn kittens that had cozied down in the shop at the Lexington, Neb., area farm she shared with her husband, Don.
Midwest Messenger photo by Janelle Atyeo

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By Juliana (Batie) Loudon for Midwest Messenger

Many of you have been avid readers of Mom’s columns for the past seven years here at the Midwest Messenger. Many of you may have also noticed that her usual columns have not run for the past month or so.

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