Silent Night (week 522)
Well, it wasn't exactly a silent night--particularly because we had an entire circus of families and kids from around the Carfax Ave. neighborhood at Bayshore for the candlelight service on Christmas Eve that included Tyler Huber. But is was a beautiful night, a restless sleep, and an awesome (very early) Christmas morning where Santa delivered the goods for another year. 
We are really fortunate to have such great friends and a safe, vibrant, healthy community in east Long Beach. At no time throughout the year does it come home even greater than at Christmas where we go to so many events together--the Rancho, dinners, school concerts, church services--to celebrate the gifts that God has given us. 2016 has been a great year for all our families, and although there will be challenges in the new year that we will have to rally around to support each other (Doug's cancer), we know that we can do it together.
This year, we celebrated another Christmas Eve at Bayshore Church, which was highlighted by the candlelight singing of Silent Night. Of course, the moments leading up to the song are filled with dropped candles, bathroom trips, and lots of shushing; but, when the moment finally comes that we turn down the lights, pass the flame, and sing that song (with Christopher's tiny voice soaring above all others), it is worth all the drama to get there. We all remember that moment throughout the year and think about it as a focal point--a reason for the season of celebration.This year's Christmas Eve dinner was at the Armstrongs and included Mom's Cioapino, Secret Santa gift exchange, and one last time together before we all headed home for our beds before 9:00 pm--which rumor has it is the time that Santa's elves begin their bed checks. This was a particularly special Christmas Eve at the Armstrong's because Doug was diagnosed with esophagus cancer this year and we are all getting ready for him to have his preliminary surgeries, and to start the radiation and chemo treatments during the first week of the new year.Christmas did not disappoint either. Christopher woke up at 4:00 am, 4:30 am, 5:00 am, and 5:30 am (turned back each time), before we were allowed to start unpacking our stockings. The big gifts this year were the Xbox One, a new smart 4K TV, new knives and pans, and lots of Lego sets!
Well, it wasn't exactly a silent night--particularly because we had an entire circus of families and kids from around the Carfax Ave. neighborhood at Bayshore for the candlelight service on Christmas Eve that included Tyler Huber. But is was a beautiful night, a restless sleep, and an awesome (very early) Christmas morning where Santa delivered the goods for another year. 
We are really fortunate to have such great friends and a safe, vibrant, healthy community in east Long Beach. At no time throughout the year does it come home even greater than at Christmas where we go to so many events together--the Rancho, dinners, school concerts, church services--to celebrate the gifts that God has given us. 2016 has been a great year for all our families, and although there will be challenges in the new year that we will have to rally around to support each other (Doug's cancer), we know that we can do it together.
This year, we celebrated another Christmas Eve at Bayshore Church, which was highlighted by the candlelight singing of Silent Night. Of course, the moments leading up to the song are filled with dropped candles, bathroom trips, and lots of shushing; but, when the moment finally comes that we turn down the lights, pass the flame, and sing that song (with Christopher's tiny voice soaring above all others), it is worth all the drama to get there. We all remember that moment throughout the year and think about it as a focal point--a reason for the season of celebration.This year's Christmas Eve dinner was at the Armstrongs and included Mom's Cioapino, Secret Santa gift exchange, and one last time together before we all headed home for our beds before 9:00 pm--which rumor has it is the time that Santa's elves begin their bed checks. This was a particularly special Christmas Eve at the Armstrong's because Doug was diagnosed with esophagus cancer this year and we are all getting ready for him to have his preliminary surgeries, and to start the radiation and chemo treatments during the first week of the new year.Christmas did not disappoint either. Christopher woke up at 4:00 am, 4:30 am, 5:00 am, and 5:30 am (turned back each time), before we were allowed to start unpacking our stockings. The big gifts this year were the Xbox One, a new smart 4K TV, new knives and pans, and lots of Lego sets! 
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