Ruthzar, Craig & John Christiansen & Jilina in New YorkFriday, January 2, 2009
January 2009 - Executive Office of Ken Woodward
Dear family,
There is little to report since our last issue. As Aaron well knows, we government and retired government officials always take most of December off on vacation, and in Aaron’s case, it’s not much different during the other eleven month of the year. The only exception is the CHP. We know Adam is out there in the wind and snow valiantly guiding those misguided motorist over Cajon Pass.
This world needs more Adam Cannons. And while on the subject of Adam, how about that picture of those three beautiful children? It’s too bad Torrie and Levi are so cheap.
Christmas here was a success, having received the usual calendar from Price Funeral Home, accompanied by a personal letter from the head man, reminding me how much he appreciated my business in the past, and reminded me that he was available should similar need arise in the future.
The Christmas tree and decorations were down by the early hours of December 26, an activity of which the other two members of the household were in total agreement. Zack’s only lament was he would have to wait another 365 days for a repeat.
The Saturday after Christmas Big Nick (grandpa Shubin) and family came to Sacramento and spent the day with the boys. He’s always a welcome visitor to them. The routine is lunch, a movie, and a visit to Wal-mart, with emphasis on the latter. To them, one can’t have too many gifts.
The most practical Christmas gift for each this year was a white shirt, necktie,, and a dark dress jacket, which incidentally they are very proud of. With the approach of their 12th birthday I thought they needed to start looking the part at church, but I can’t decide whether they look like future general authorities or undertakers.
New Years arrived with little fanfare. They have a standard going-to-bed time which they seem to like, and the dropping of the ball at 9 pm at Time Square was enough evidence for them that year 2009 had safely arrived.
Year 2008 was good to me, health-wise and otherwise, and I hope I can say the same 12 months from now. And each of you likewise.
Love, Dad
There is little to report since our last issue. As Aaron well knows, we government and retired government officials always take most of December off on vacation, and in Aaron’s case, it’s not much different during the other eleven month of the year. The only exception is the CHP. We know Adam is out there in the wind and snow valiantly guiding those misguided motorist over Cajon Pass.
This world needs more Adam Cannons. And while on the subject of Adam, how about that picture of those three beautiful children? It’s too bad Torrie and Levi are so cheap.
Christmas here was a success, having received the usual calendar from Price Funeral Home, accompanied by a personal letter from the head man, reminding me how much he appreciated my business in the past, and reminded me that he was available should similar need arise in the future.
The Christmas tree and decorations were down by the early hours of December 26, an activity of which the other two members of the household were in total agreement. Zack’s only lament was he would have to wait another 365 days for a repeat.
The Saturday after Christmas Big Nick (grandpa Shubin) and family came to Sacramento and spent the day with the boys. He’s always a welcome visitor to them. The routine is lunch, a movie, and a visit to Wal-mart, with emphasis on the latter. To them, one can’t have too many gifts.
The most practical Christmas gift for each this year was a white shirt, necktie,, and a dark dress jacket, which incidentally they are very proud of. With the approach of their 12th birthday I thought they needed to start looking the part at church, but I can’t decide whether they look like future general authorities or undertakers.
New Years arrived with little fanfare. They have a standard going-to-bed time which they seem to like, and the dropping of the ball at 9 pm at Time Square was enough evidence for them that year 2009 had safely arrived.
Year 2008 was good to me, health-wise and otherwise, and I hope I can say the same 12 months from now. And each of you likewise.
Love, Dad
January 2009 - Bos, Rick & Kristy
It has been 4 months to the day since Rick and I were married. I haven't written since then, not because I have fallen off the face of the earth, but because I keep missing the deadline by about one day.
It is new Year's Eve and we are about to head to a Brazilian Restaurant in Salt Lake City to bring in the New Year Brazilian style. (Rick went to Brazil on his mission and has kept close ties with Brazil, etc.)
I attended Brenton Wilcox's 3rd birthday party today and in 1 /1/2 hours Tracy and Todd packed in more activities than I can even count. The thought was three years olds have short attention spans so you need to "keep it moving." I loved the pace and the activities. It was the best party I've ever attended and it definitely kept my attention. Tracy can throw my parties any day. Todd and Craig have a birthday today also. If they had been in Utah we would have celebrated their birthdays too. However, they are on their own. I do remind them that the "world is celebrating their birthday," every year but that doesn't seem to hold much water with Todd Christiansen.
We spent Christmas Eve with the Wilcoxes and Nathan Bos, Rick's youngest son. It was a lovely time and we thoroughly enjoyed it. It was very cold and snowy, and I couldn't help but think about Craig and his trip with his Dad to Canada where they went on a dog sledding trip. As I recall our weather comes from Canada. If we were cold, I am sure Craig was even colder. Haven't heard from him yet, but I anticipate getting a full report on his trip when he returns to Provo in a few days.
Speaking of snow, I am trying to get used to it, but it is still a new adventure to me. When it snowed for the first time on my red sports "California" car, I issued a formal apology to it. I don't think that it quite knew what to make of it. I try to keep the snow road grime off of it, but it seems to be a lost cause. It will just have to make the adjustment just like me.
Life here is good and quite busy. It is the first time in 20 years I have not been in the classroom. I sort of miss it, but I am keeping busy with being a Grandma, and now working at Rick's office as we get ready for a big trade show in Anaheim on January 15. They are introducing several new products to their XP Audio line of music gear, and it is very, very, very busy right now.
Have a wonderful New Year. Until next month,
Kristy
It is new Year's Eve and we are about to head to a Brazilian Restaurant in Salt Lake City to bring in the New Year Brazilian style. (Rick went to Brazil on his mission and has kept close ties with Brazil, etc.)
I attended Brenton Wilcox's 3rd birthday party today and in 1 /1/2 hours Tracy and Todd packed in more activities than I can even count. The thought was three years olds have short attention spans so you need to "keep it moving." I loved the pace and the activities. It was the best party I've ever attended and it definitely kept my attention. Tracy can throw my parties any day. Todd and Craig have a birthday today also. If they had been in Utah we would have celebrated their birthdays too. However, they are on their own. I do remind them that the "world is celebrating their birthday," every year but that doesn't seem to hold much water with Todd Christiansen.
We spent Christmas Eve with the Wilcoxes and Nathan Bos, Rick's youngest son. It was a lovely time and we thoroughly enjoyed it. It was very cold and snowy, and I couldn't help but think about Craig and his trip with his Dad to Canada where they went on a dog sledding trip. As I recall our weather comes from Canada. If we were cold, I am sure Craig was even colder. Haven't heard from him yet, but I anticipate getting a full report on his trip when he returns to Provo in a few days.
Speaking of snow, I am trying to get used to it, but it is still a new adventure to me. When it snowed for the first time on my red sports "California" car, I issued a formal apology to it. I don't think that it quite knew what to make of it. I try to keep the snow road grime off of it, but it seems to be a lost cause. It will just have to make the adjustment just like me.
Life here is good and quite busy. It is the first time in 20 years I have not been in the classroom. I sort of miss it, but I am keeping busy with being a Grandma, and now working at Rick's office as we get ready for a big trade show in Anaheim on January 15. They are introducing several new products to their XP Audio line of music gear, and it is very, very, very busy right now.
Have a wonderful New Year. Until next month,
Kristy
January 2009 - Cannon, Adam & Erica & Family
December has come and gone, good riddance. It is cold here in sunny Los Angeles. So cold I have to wear a winter suit when I work at night to avoid freezing to death. This month, I was involved with 2 pursuits, one foot chase, two DUI traffic collisions, both involving injuries to innocent people, 15 traffic collisions where people where hurt badly, one "hit and run" collision where the non-at fault party was put in the hospital, and an uncountable number of traffic citations. Plus I put together a bunch of Princess stuff for Christmas. Other than that, it has been a slow month.
Ava can roll over, and scoot a little. She has learned quickly that Daddy is a sucker for a smile and mommy isn't. Annika and Maja continue to destroy our home, sanity and health. Erica is doing great.
That is all.
Adam, Erica, Maja, Annika, and Ava.
Ava can roll over, and scoot a little. She has learned quickly that Daddy is a sucker for a smile and mommy isn't. Annika and Maja continue to destroy our home, sanity and health. Erica is doing great.
That is all.
Adam, Erica, Maja, Annika, and Ava.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
January 2009 - Haupt, Levi & Torrie & Family
As many of you know we have established a Christmas rotation to visit our parents. Since special events led us to the Woodward's the last 2 years Nana (Levi's mom) was very anxious for us to come home. We originally planned to head home the weekend before Christmas, but a blizzard sized storm and Charlotte having the stomach flu postponed our flight until the morning of Christmas Eve.
Our Apartment Complex
We drove to the airport in another snow storm but were able to take off on time. The two flights (to Chicago and then Portland) were interesting. Emma was wonderful despite not wanting to watch a movie, and Charlotte challenged our preparation skills by throwing up three times on us. We were prepared with clothes for her, but forgot to bring clothes for us in the carry on.
Christmas was wonderful. Our family spoiled Emma with plenty of gifts, but after the first few she was done opening presents and just wanted to play.
Christmas was wonderful. Our family spoiled Emma with plenty of gifts, but after the first few she was done opening presents and just wanted to play.
A special treat Santa brought me was a bag of cookie mix. This has become a holiday tradition to make Christmas cookies. (Here are pictures of both girls with the traditional bag of cookies, you will notice there are the same pair of pajamas as well, we love traditions).
Charlotte - Christmas 2008
Emma - Christmas 2006
We actually made it to church as a family for the first time in a while since everyone was on the mend. We hope that we can make it to the first meeting block of the new year. The girls wore matching dresses (thanks Aunt Karen - Levi's aunt) and beautiful dress coats (thanks Nana).
The rest of the week was spent visiting high school friends and family and playing Settlers of Catan. We also got some great pictures taken of Charlotte. Thanks Bro. Walker. It was nice to have a break from work and to have things slow down a little at the busy Haupt house. The girls dress pictures and Charlotte's pictures are for another post.
The trip home was tolerable. We almost partied it up for New Year's at the Van home (our cousins on Torrie's mom's side) in Mesa, AZ when there was a weather advisory because yet another storm was hitting the Albany area. However we chanced it and after a quick stint in the Baltimore airport we made it back to New York. Our hero "daddy" braved the -10 degree wind chill to go dig out our car from long-term parking. I am not quite sure what was more eventful, standing in 6 inches of fresh snow and 20 mph winds after 30 minutes of digging the car out and needing a jump and waiting another 30 minutes, or trying to wrangle two very tired girls in an airport, two dirty diapers, hungry infant and an escapee two year old.... We call it a wash! We made it home in one piece and the only residual effect is a very spoiled 3-month old who doesn't want to be put down. It was well worth it and we hope that the holidays were as good for all of you.
Love, The Haupts
The rest of the week was spent visiting high school friends and family and playing Settlers of Catan. We also got some great pictures taken of Charlotte. Thanks Bro. Walker. It was nice to have a break from work and to have things slow down a little at the busy Haupt house. The girls dress pictures and Charlotte's pictures are for another post.
The trip home was tolerable. We almost partied it up for New Year's at the Van home (our cousins on Torrie's mom's side) in Mesa, AZ when there was a weather advisory because yet another storm was hitting the Albany area. However we chanced it and after a quick stint in the Baltimore airport we made it back to New York. Our hero "daddy" braved the -10 degree wind chill to go dig out our car from long-term parking. I am not quite sure what was more eventful, standing in 6 inches of fresh snow and 20 mph winds after 30 minutes of digging the car out and needing a jump and waiting another 30 minutes, or trying to wrangle two very tired girls in an airport, two dirty diapers, hungry infant and an escapee two year old.... We call it a wash! We made it home in one piece and the only residual effect is a very spoiled 3-month old who doesn't want to be put down. It was well worth it and we hope that the holidays were as good for all of you.
Love, The Haupts
January 2009 - McClintock, Robert & Susan
Well 2009 has actually made it past sleepy Father Time and the holidays have bid us adieu.
Susan visited with Emily and Justin in Los Angeles in December and had the additional treat of visiting with Kimber and getting acquainted with sweet Mimi. Now don't keel over Kimber, Mimi is an active and sweet child. All mother's deal with a little naughtiness in their children occasionally but I must say that every one of the children that I have met in this family are sweet and energetic. Wouldn't this be a different world if all the children could have good and loving parents such as are in this family?
December was filled with more choir concerts for Susan. Bob was a commissioned to take a family portrait. The family has eight boys and one girl. It turned out to be a delightful experience. Daughters-in-law and Grandchildren were friendly and cooperative as the fifteen member family organizes into various group shots under Bob's direction.
Susan visited with Emily and Justin in Los Angeles in December and had the additional treat of visiting with Kimber and getting acquainted with sweet Mimi. Now don't keel over Kimber, Mimi is an active and sweet child. All mother's deal with a little naughtiness in their children occasionally but I must say that every one of the children that I have met in this family are sweet and energetic. Wouldn't this be a different world if all the children could have good and loving parents such as are in this family?
December was filled with more choir concerts for Susan. Bob was a commissioned to take a family portrait. The family has eight boys and one girl. It turned out to be a delightful experience. Daughters-in-law and Grandchildren were friendly and cooperative as the fifteen member family organizes into various group shots under Bob's direction.
Grandma Anna is doing well. Since Todd and Sarah are not contributing to the family news wire I shall share something that occurred not long ago. Todd was visiting with Grandma Anna a while back and mentioned that when he was a little boy he thought she was one of his grandmothers but couldn't figure out why he never received any "grandma presents" from her. He can tell the anecdote better than I but the gist of the story was that finally someone explained that Grandma Anna was Emily's grandmother and Todd, putting put two-and-two together, accepted the fact that he would never get a present from Grandma Anna. That little anecdote tickled Grandma Anna so much she refers to it often.
There was a round of layoffs at the television station where Susan works. Her boss, who has also been a friend, and is also a member of the same stake was among the casualties. As it turns out this man was hired at the station as a result of filling in for Susan when she took maternity leave after giving birth to Emily. AND coincidentally Emily was born on his 25th birthday! His journey into the gospel and at KCRA has been an amazing one. Like so many he will be missed.
That gives you a quick overview of McClintock's December 2008.
We wish all a Happy New Year!
January 2009 - Mercier, Cesar & Kelly & Family
This month brought the end of student teaching for me. It was a welcomed relief to have my life back. I am now a certified teacher in NJ and looking for employment. The best part, there are almost no jobs. Our professors warned us that for every job there are usually 800 to 1000 applicants. I am not holding my breath for anything any time soon. It is a bit disappointing, but I am sure that if we move it won't be as bad.
We are enjoying the company of my Dad and Craig this week. Craig has never been to NY so it has been fun to take him to see the sights. We are enjoying our vacation and the time with family. We hope this new year brings some better times for us and for you all. We are still hoping to find something for Cesar with the new year and new budgets.
Happy Birthday to Craig, Todd and Brenton!
We hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season! We miss you all.
The Merciers
We are enjoying the company of my Dad and Craig this week. Craig has never been to NY so it has been fun to take him to see the sights. We are enjoying our vacation and the time with family. We hope this new year brings some better times for us and for you all. We are still hoping to find something for Cesar with the new year and new budgets.
Happy Birthday to Craig, Todd and Brenton!
We hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season! We miss you all.
The Merciers
Jilina's Winter Concert
January 2009 - Slade, Jeff & Crystal & Family
Well, just a quick update on our family because not a lot has been going on. Jeff has been job hunting..... Apparently it was not a good time to go into the financial industry. He has some really good prospects though and hopefully by the next newsletter we will have good news for you. I am still working 3 days a week as a school psychologist at the local high school. I am enjoying it and it is nice to use my skills and education in a different way. I also have been able to work with quite a few ward members...... and they have been very grateful for my understanding of their beliefs (and hence their concerns). It makes the process easier.
The kids are great. Mathew is a wiz. He won his school spelling bee and is going on to the district spelling bee. Felicity is now in GATE with Mathew (but for her age), and Andrew is doing GREAT in his speech therapy and preschool. He keeps us laughing with his comments, now that we know what he is saying. We had a very nice Christmas and feel very blessed by supportive family, friends and ward members. It has been a difficult year; we are looking forward to a little more reason to celebrate?? in 2009.
Crystal
The kids are great. Mathew is a wiz. He won his school spelling bee and is going on to the district spelling bee. Felicity is now in GATE with Mathew (but for her age), and Andrew is doing GREAT in his speech therapy and preschool. He keeps us laughing with his comments, now that we know what he is saying. We had a very nice Christmas and feel very blessed by supportive family, friends and ward members. It has been a difficult year; we are looking forward to a little more reason to celebrate?? in 2009.
Crystal
January 2009 - Westover, Mel & Carol
Well hello family. Because the end of the month comes too soon, I am writing this on the 24th of December. Mel and I are still alive and well. We have been incredibly busy these last few months. Mel and I are still doing ACN. We are doing very well. Mel has about 450 representatiaves and about 3000 customer points in his organization. We both go to work during the day and have ACN meeting several times a week at night. We have met the most wonderful people. We went to a convention in Detroit in September and we just got back from one in Los Angeles at the beginning of December. Our next one is in San Diego at the end of February. We are hoping that Mel will be promoted to team coordinator at that convention. Mel and I are going to an ACN leadership training in Palm Springs January 2. Only certain leaders are invited to attend, so we are very honored to be asked.
My class this year is much easier than last year's class. Either that or I am more used to the second grade child. Our Christmas program was great. I usually pick out the music and then lead all the second grade classes. This year we sang "Where are you Christmas, and Welcome Christmas" from the Grinch. Bryce records the music for me on a C.D. and then we play it as the children sing. It was OUTSTANDING. No other second grade teacher is interested in music, so it is pretty much me. Right now I am looking for next year’s music.
Cassie is spending Christmas with us. She is flying in tonight and we will pick her up at the airport and then start having a lot of fun. We are also looking forward to seeing Adam, Erica and the girls in January. We are hoping to stop by San Diego on our way to Palm Springs to see Aaron and Family.
Hope everyone has a wonderful and safe Christmas and New Year. We love you all!!
Carol and Mel
My class this year is much easier than last year's class. Either that or I am more used to the second grade child. Our Christmas program was great. I usually pick out the music and then lead all the second grade classes. This year we sang "Where are you Christmas, and Welcome Christmas" from the Grinch. Bryce records the music for me on a C.D. and then we play it as the children sing. It was OUTSTANDING. No other second grade teacher is interested in music, so it is pretty much me. Right now I am looking for next year’s music.
Cassie is spending Christmas with us. She is flying in tonight and we will pick her up at the airport and then start having a lot of fun. We are also looking forward to seeing Adam, Erica and the girls in January. We are hoping to stop by San Diego on our way to Palm Springs to see Aaron and Family.
Hope everyone has a wonderful and safe Christmas and New Year. We love you all!!
Carol and Mel
January 2009 - Woodward, Kevin & Tammy & Family
We’ve enjoyed a somewhat slower pace during the month of December. Tammy, Arianna and I have been the only ones here at home for Christmas and New Years. We checked out Santa’s flight path on the NORAD website. (http://www.noradsanta.org/) This is a holiday tradition among families in the area. We had a wonderful stake Christmas fireside with music and spoken word on December 14. Given the fact that we don’t have a great deal to share in the way of news this month, I’d like to share a message which I had the chance to deliver as closing remarks during our Christmas fireside.
“The year was 1914. It was Christmas Eve in Belgium’s Flanders Field. German troops sought shelter inside hastily dug trenches only half a football field away from their British, Scottish, French and Belgian enemies. Both sides were wallowing in a freezing mire of mud. No Man’s Land, a small neutral area between the opposing armies, had been the site of fierce fighting and large scale human carnage during the previous days. Men on both sides of this front line could not help but have a degree of sympathy for their opponents who were having just as miserable a time as they were.
Then it began. The German soldiers began to place miniature Christmas trees lit with candles on the parapet of their trenches. They continued with their celebration by singing Silent Night. The Scottish troops in the trenches across from them responded by singing English carols. The two sides continued by shouting Christmas greetings to each other. Soon thereafter, there were calls for visits across the ‘No Man's Land’ where small gifts were exchanged. The artillery in the region fell silent that night. Alfred Anderson, at age 109 in 2005, widely believed to be the last surviving soldier to have heard the guns fall silent that night along the Western Front said, ‘All I’d heard for two months in the trenches was the hissing, cracking and whining of bullets in flight, machine-gun fire and distant German voices….But there was a dead silence that morning, right across the land as far as you could see.’
This informal truce allowed a breathing spell where recently-fallen soldiers could be brought back behind their lines by burial parties. Proper burials took place as soldiers from both sides mourned the dead together and paid their respects. At one funeral in No Man's Land, soldiers from both sides gathered and read a passage from the 23rd Psalm:
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. (Psalms 23)
The cessation of hostilities on Christmas Day stretched along the Western Front. In some places it lasted for several days. In others, it concluded as it had begun, by mutual agreement. Captain C. I. Stockwell, of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers recalled how, after a truly "Silent Night," he fired three shots into the air at 8.30 a.m. on December 26th and then climbed onto his parapet. The officer who had exchanged gifts with him the previous day also appeared on the German parapet. They bowed, saluted one another, and out of a sense of duty to their respective countries, climbed back into their trenches.
Even amidst the hostilities of World War I, these soldiers on both sides of the conflict longed for that feeling of peace, goodwill and brotherhood which they had experienced during Christmas seasons of the past. Perhaps because of the bloodshed and carnage they had witnessed over the previous months, that feeling of peace, goodwill and brotherhood had a particularly poignant meaning for them.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
May each of us during this Christmas season, and throughout this coming year, strive with greater resolve to witness to our Father, our gratitude for the Gift of His Son, the Prince of Peace, through the manner in which we treat one another. For remember, we are all precious in His sight. I bear solemn witness of the reality of the life, death, resurrection and divine mission of him whose birth we celebrate, and I do so in his holy name, even Jesus Christ, amen.”
To all of our family members, may you each enjoy a wonderful new year.
Much love,
The Woodwards
“The year was 1914. It was Christmas Eve in Belgium’s Flanders Field. German troops sought shelter inside hastily dug trenches only half a football field away from their British, Scottish, French and Belgian enemies. Both sides were wallowing in a freezing mire of mud. No Man’s Land, a small neutral area between the opposing armies, had been the site of fierce fighting and large scale human carnage during the previous days. Men on both sides of this front line could not help but have a degree of sympathy for their opponents who were having just as miserable a time as they were.
Then it began. The German soldiers began to place miniature Christmas trees lit with candles on the parapet of their trenches. They continued with their celebration by singing Silent Night. The Scottish troops in the trenches across from them responded by singing English carols. The two sides continued by shouting Christmas greetings to each other. Soon thereafter, there were calls for visits across the ‘No Man's Land’ where small gifts were exchanged. The artillery in the region fell silent that night. Alfred Anderson, at age 109 in 2005, widely believed to be the last surviving soldier to have heard the guns fall silent that night along the Western Front said, ‘All I’d heard for two months in the trenches was the hissing, cracking and whining of bullets in flight, machine-gun fire and distant German voices….But there was a dead silence that morning, right across the land as far as you could see.’
This informal truce allowed a breathing spell where recently-fallen soldiers could be brought back behind their lines by burial parties. Proper burials took place as soldiers from both sides mourned the dead together and paid their respects. At one funeral in No Man's Land, soldiers from both sides gathered and read a passage from the 23rd Psalm:
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. (Psalms 23)
The cessation of hostilities on Christmas Day stretched along the Western Front. In some places it lasted for several days. In others, it concluded as it had begun, by mutual agreement. Captain C. I. Stockwell, of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers recalled how, after a truly "Silent Night," he fired three shots into the air at 8.30 a.m. on December 26th and then climbed onto his parapet. The officer who had exchanged gifts with him the previous day also appeared on the German parapet. They bowed, saluted one another, and out of a sense of duty to their respective countries, climbed back into their trenches.
Even amidst the hostilities of World War I, these soldiers on both sides of the conflict longed for that feeling of peace, goodwill and brotherhood which they had experienced during Christmas seasons of the past. Perhaps because of the bloodshed and carnage they had witnessed over the previous months, that feeling of peace, goodwill and brotherhood had a particularly poignant meaning for them.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
May each of us during this Christmas season, and throughout this coming year, strive with greater resolve to witness to our Father, our gratitude for the Gift of His Son, the Prince of Peace, through the manner in which we treat one another. For remember, we are all precious in His sight. I bear solemn witness of the reality of the life, death, resurrection and divine mission of him whose birth we celebrate, and I do so in his holy name, even Jesus Christ, amen.”
To all of our family members, may you each enjoy a wonderful new year.
Much love,
The Woodwards
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