“Hallmark towns really do exist,” my little sister, Sara, told my older sister, Julie, as we walked through the tiny town of Cuba, Kansas. Cuba was the 3rd small town we had visited that day, and we were attending our second hometown Christmas parade in less than 24 hours. Ponies trotted past us with giddy children on their backs, a tractor pulling a wagon of hay rolled down the street,  and Santa walked down the sidewalk chatting with every child along the way.  I half expected Candace Cameron Bure to pop out of one of the stores and snow to start falling on cue. read more