Merry Christmas

Harold B. Jarrett American Legion Post 342 and Auxiliary Unit held their annual Christmas party Tuesday for some of the students in the Rowan-Salisbury Schools' Exceptional Children's program.
The event, a project the groups have carried out every year since the 1970s, was held at the post home on Lincolnton Road.
Thirty-eight students from Koontz and Overton elementary schools and Erwin and Southeast middle schools were treated to the "Nutty Buddy Gang" Clown Show. They had lunch and a visit from Santa, who gave each child a gift and a treat bag.
Harry Garwood and Phyllis Richardson were in charge of the project.

Hello there Ashlyn!

Yes Santa, I have been very good this year

For me? Why thank you Santa

Oh my! It's a Hannah Montana Doll!



thank you Siiiiiiiiinta!

(she yelled this out to Santa many times)



Ashlyn's class with Santa, aren't they some cuties?

Here's one more hug for the road, cause I know that you

didn't get enough hugs from me today! And you were such a good sport

about all of the lovin' you were getting!

Purpose Driven Life - December 19

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:13-14 (NIV)

*** *** *** ***


Peace on earth and good will toward men – that’s reconciliation.


What is reconciliation? It’s when a broken relationship is restored. When a boyfriend and girlfriend or a husband and wife get back together, there’s reconciliation. When a father and son restore peace between each other, there’s reconciliation.


Where do you need peace in your life this Christmas? That’s what Christmas is all about – peace on earth, good will toward men. I asked people, “Where would you like to see peace?” These are the answers I got:


· “I’d like to see peace in the broken families.”


· “I’d love to see peace in politics.”


· “With each other.”


· “In my heart.”


· “I’d like to see it at home.”


· “I’d like to see peace in my life.”


· “Peace? Right in this country of ours.”


· “Everywhere!”


Everywhere! Is it realistic to have peace everywhere? Isn’t it just a pipe dream to hope for peace on earth, good will toward men?


There will never be peace in the world until there is peace in nations.


And there will never be peace in nations until there is peace in communities.


And there will never be peace in communities until there is peace in families.


And there will never be peace in families until there is peace in individuals.


And there will never be peace in individuals until we invite the Prince of Peace – Jesus – to reign in our hearts.

It's called Christmas with a capital C

It's about the Cross

Let's remember the reason for the season!

That Mr. Jingles is one naughty elf

we found him in the chair surrounded by kiddies underwear

and we found underwear on the tree

I think Santa knew what he was doing when he sent

this crazy elf to the Williams household

Tis the season..... for strep throat.

First Mason
Second Ashlyn
Third Spenser

$143 later and they are on their way to feeling better soon. (please oh please, let it be soon!)

Here is Spenser decorating our traditional gingerbread house.

Mason was busy eating the candy,

Ashlyn was busy being sick :( Poor girl layed around on the couch all day yesterday.

She started shivering (from fever) and asked

"want socks on please, shoes on please"

Now you know this sister was cold and sick

BECAUSE

we can't keep socks or shoes on her.

She did feel better today and boy was she feisty!

Ta daaaa!

The boys found Mr. Jingles hiding under the dining room table today, with a box of hot chocolate for the kiddies.




Yesterday they found him hanging upside down from the ceiling fan. It was precious yesterday - the boys came running in the house after getting home from school- were squealing with delight wanting to be the first to find Mr. Jingles. They cracked up when they found him. :) (The little boy in the green shirt stays with us after school.)

Look who came to our house

It's Mr. Jingles, one of Santa's elves. He brought a gingerbread house for us to decorate and left a note explaining who he is. Mr. Jingles is one of Santa's elves who watches our children throughout the day and notes who is naughty and who is nice. He reports back to the North Pole every night and tells Santa all about Spenser, Ashlyn & Mason. On the days when the kids are not naughty Mr. Jingles will leave a treat for the kids the next morning, BUT they have to find him first because he likes to hide every morning after his trip back from the North Pole.

Mommy tried to take a picture of the wild woman in her Christmas dress... look who won't be getting a treat tomorrow, ha ha! Just joking!





She didn't want her picture made, she just wanted to make "poot" sounds on her arm

Allegro kids to perform at the White House - Again!

Charlotte's Allegro Foundation is becoming a holiday fixture at the White House.

For the third time in five years, the local organization – formally titled Allegro Foundation … A Champion for Children With Disabilities – has been invited to perform at a White House Christmas party.

The group's performance is scheduled for Saturday evening.

“We're certainly excited about going back,” said Christen Nechin, marketing director for Allegro, which provides music and movement training and activities for children with disabilities. “It's a big thrill for us again.”

In 2004, Allegro became the first group of children with disabilities ever to perform at the White House. They returned, at the invitation of the Bush administration, in 2005. The Allegro Foundation also visited Washington in 2006 for the National Independence Day Celebration and a performance at Walter Reed Army Medical Center for wounded veterans.

On the previous two White House trips, Allegro performed at open house programs, in which groups of VIPs were invited to tour the White House without the president in attendance. The group's leaders are holding out hope that this year's visit could be the big one – a personal party for President Bush.

“It could be a private party, and we won't know until we get there,” Nechin said. “But we've been rehearing the same, no matter what. It will be a big, big night for us.”

A group of 10 children with disabilities and 10 teaching assistants (high school students who work with the performers) will sing and do rhythmic movements to five songs, all with a holiday themes.

Leading the group are movement director Pat Farmer, who founded Allegro seven years ago, and music director Kenneth DeBoer, who also is music director at Sardis Presbyterian Church.

Farmer said this year's performance is dedicated to all veterans and current military members – in part, because of the group's experience at Walter Reed two years ago. She said she wished the performance could be broadcast to military members on duty in Iraq or Afghanistan.

The White House trip, Farmer added, is an opportunity that parents of the performers probably never expected for their children.

“What is truly amazing about the White House experience for children with disabilities and their families is that when many of the children were born with disabilities, there wasn't much hope,” she said. “Allegro provides that hope.”

It is touching, Farmer added, when a parent tells her, “What a miracle Allegro has been to us – my child, who has always been told what he or she cannot do, and then my child performs at the White House!”