HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2017-12-21, Page 10PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2017.
Armstrongs' angel tree one of three for holidays
Angels around the house
Elaine and Brian Armstrong's angel tree is one of three in
their Brandon Road home, just north of Brussels. The tree
and its vast collection of ornaments come complete with
quite the story for this year's Citizen of the Year Award
winner. (Shawn Loughlin photo)
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
Christmas at the Armstrong family
house north of Brussels is a tale of
family, volunteering and three
Christmas trees.
"I guess it's all about family,"
Elaine Armstrong, 2017 Citizen of
the Year Award winner said. "We
enjoy Christmas meals together and
attend church at Melville
Presbyterian Church."
Christmas for Elaine starts weeks
in advance as she is involved with
several different church initiatives
focused on giving at Christmas.
"I co-ordinate the Samaritan's
shoeboxes which are sent to children
in need and set up the mitten tree for
our church, which goes to the Huron
County Christmas Bureau."
Armstrong explained that the shoe
box initiative, called Operation
Christmas Child and run through
Samaritan's Purse, sees packed shoe
boxes delivered to children in third -
world countries, as well as closer to
home.
"We also work with the Huron
•
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enlightenment and joy.
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County Food Bank," she said. "I
also run the Sunday School
Christmas concert. I get the plan
ready for them."
Her involvement at the church
keeps her busy right up until
Christmas Eve when she and her
family attend a Christmas service.
Armstrong's family includes her
husband Brian, son and daughter-in-
law David and Stephanie and their
children, son Chris and daughter-in-
law Holly and their children, son
Richard and daughter-in-law
Stephanie and their children and
daughter Laura and son-in-law Peter.
When it comes to Christmas, the
Armstrong family goes "all in"
according to Elaine, and said that
one of their first traditions, when her
children were younger, was that each
would receive a new ornament every
year. That tradition has continued
with the grandchildren putting one
ornament per day on the family's
`Advent' tree.
"They aren't here every day, so
sometimes we need to do some
catch-up, but it's fun," Elaine said.
"We would also read The Night
Before Christmas."
The Advent tree is only one of
three special holiday trees put up for
Christmas. The second tree, a
traditional tree with ornaments
marking family events and cherished
memories, is now put up by Elaine's
daughter Laura.
Elaine's angel tree also goes up,
featuring her collection of different
angels she has acquired over the
years.
"The first angel I bought for our
first Christmas as a family cost
$2.27 which wasn't inexpensive,"
she said.
Elaine also has a family tradition
revolving around Christmas clocks
that she sets up throughout the
house.
"My children don't like it, but my
grandchildren think the set-up is
great," she said.
Elaine explained that she sets up
three different kinds of clocks: one
that chimes, one that plays
Christmas carols and one that plays
the Nutcracker ballet theme. She
Continued on page 11
•
0' Come,
�tQIs,4dore(Him
In this time of joy our remembrance
of His birth, we join you in prayer
and celebration, offering our
hopes for a world filled with
peace and love. Best wishes
for a healthy, happy holiday.
Dan, Heather and family thank
you for your patronage in the past year.
We wish to extend a heartfelt
Merry Christmas and a
Happy New Year to all.
Dan's Auto Repair
Westfield 519-523-4356
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519-887-6428 (Shop)
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Happy Holidays from our family to yours.
We're proud to serve this community.
Ron & Betty Chad & Crystal
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