The Armstrongs: 2009

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Deckin' the Halls

Twinkle lights are the best... we went blue this year and we like it.

We hang mistletoe on the Mexican bells, so watch out for them bells!

Jesus is the center our our Christmas, but it takes some doin' to make a baby scene equal other decorations. Lights and greenery make some weird collision of tradition and honor. The baby is represented by the longest surviving doll from over 3 decades back. Beauty wasn't a factor since the stark amazingness of what God did began so humbly.

The tree guards the manger like the multitude of angels shouting Halleluia... only really, really different.

Our house wouldn't be complete without numerous mini Nativity scenes, one of which must be set in the backdrop of hot rods. "Let everything that hath (or hath not) breath, PRAISE THE LORD!"

Does that sound crazy?

Dad said it better in his newsletter.... I shall quote him being starkly un-inspired this Saturday morning...

"I always enjoy this time of year. Look around and see all the preparations that are being made for Christmas - it seems like stores are preparing earlier and earlier each year...

I like to see these things because so much pivots around the birth of Jesus Christ, around whom pivots all of history and even the whole universe.

The one who takes the prize for preparing for Christmas, though, is God Himself. Hundreds of years before the birth of Christ, the Bible prophesies of where Jesus would be born, that He would rule over Israel, that the circumstances of his birth would be unique, that the child would be a male, that he would be God dwelling with humanity. Angels were used for some announcements. Some of the arrangements were made by world rulers (Caesar called for the census), and other rulers took part in the celebration of his birth. Satan even tried to kill him as he tried to kill Moses, stirring up Herod to kill the young boys in the region.

Of course, none of this is news to you because God has made sure you know this information. I bring it up to accentuate the idea that the long-term preparations God made far exceed what we see today.

There is another way He excels. It has to do with how great the quality of his character is.

People had ample opportunity to raise up a Godly line in the four thousand years before Christ.

Adam and Eve were in a perfect, sinless enviroment until they corrupted it with sin.

None of the great people mentioned in the Bible could live a perfect life, let alone raise up a Godly family that produced after it's kind.

Now, compare that with the incomparable superiority of God. Whereas we humans had millions of opportunities to raise up a Godly race, God didn't even have a contingency plan. He reached down from heaven and planted one, only one, Seed. Because with God, once was enough."

Bring on the decorations!!!!! We celebrate YOU, God!!!!

Picture Tour

(Did you catch the shop thrown in there?! :-) It's so beautiful!)

Party Season

Aria kicked off the November Party Season at Chuck E Cheese's with a bunch of friends - she's 5!

Then Camten turned 6

and so many people came out to celebrate - it was such a great excuse to get together!

Jeremy found a cute orange cat that needed a home, so she joined the family and was dubbed, "Orange", short for Hugger Orange.... because she's orange. She's really soft and cuddly. And playful.

Amazingly, I got older. I thought I was as wise as I could get, but I was mistaken.

Somewhere in the mix we got some fun toys. I think these are Camten's big fists... you'd never know Jeremy didn't get them for his birthday. Since there's four of 'em... it is NOT unusual to see everyone sportin' one and wailing on each other in a four-way battle that resembles the standard wrestling, but endangers furniture to a new degree.

First BAND Concert!

What an experience! There are 52 members in the 5th grade band at Damascus Middle School. 52 first-time players of a lot of different instruments. 52 members of families - all of whom needed to come and support their budding artists. Needless to say, the bleachers were full to bursting, the chairs on the gym floor were packed out and the surrounding space was standing room only, 5 cheerleaders thick.

We found an open space behind the band on the edge of the stage right next to the screen with all the announcements. We had to be on our best behavior, which was no problem for the first 4 numbers. We did pretty good for the second band set of 4. We even did tolerably well for the 3rd band set of 4. But the Jazz band ended the evening and by then my crew was wiggling right off the stage and sprawling on the gym floor. I had to clarify that spinning around on your back was not band concert behavior - nor was banging or stomping or dancing along to the music. (Trinity is a good dancer.)

I might have gotten more pictures of the actual experience, but I'm shy when I feel in the spotlight, and with my wiggly dancers, I really felt like entertainment-central. I don't think we'll forget.... there's only ONCE that our 5th grader plays in his very first concert. This was a once-in-a-lifetime event. A fact we can live with.

And as for our budding artist? HE WAS AWESOME!

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Halloween Weekend - Happy Birthday Dad!

Traditions!! the kids pick a costume - we had some repeats this year except for the holes cut out in the sheet.

We go to Lloyd, Mary and Cody's house every year and trick-or-treat in their neighborhood.

Dad inspects all the candy and everyone eyes each other's booty (and negotiates trades).

But the Grand Finale is the best.... we celebrate dad's birthday on the 1st of November.

It takes at least 3 days to 2 weeks to celebrate properly - it involves a lot of spiderwebbing and chocolate and full participation by all the family members.

It's no wonder Halloween is one of our favoritist hollidays of the year. Ignoring the scary stuff is a minor inconvenience to such a grand event.

Afternoon in the Gorge

Remembering Grandpa

Grandpa was endless... I don't know how long it will take me to realize he passed away on October 18th. I didn't get any pictures of all the family getting together to honor him or Mom and Carol's reading of his autobiography. I will always remember the moment I learned how frustrating his blond curls were to him and how much he enjoyed passing them on to a great-granddaughter - a girl who could show off the beautiful menace. I think Trinity is just as frustrated with her hair, honestly. I hadn't noticed 'til after the funeral how she eats and uses scissors with her left hand. Maybe she inherited more than we know from Grandpa!

I know I grew up feeling like a celebrity. Grandpa was king of the grocery world in Scappoose and I was oldest granddaughter, working at his store, daughter of his oldest daughter. I carried the weight of being known by people I didn't know. I think I was more shy for it instead of claiming any birthright, but Grandpa's family isn't into public speaking and stuff like that, so I don't think they noticed.

Grandpa was timeless to me - always standing tall and strong. That's how I remember him.