Merry Christmas to each of you! I hope you are enjoying many Christmas blessings on this very special day. A day in which we rejoice for the birth of baby Jesus! I hope your home is filled with the warmth of family and friends! In Valley Home this past week our students visited the Christmas store and purchased gifts for their families. Santa’s helpers wrapped the gifts and the kids were able to take them home ready to go under the tree. We send a huge thank you to all who made the Christmas store possible. On Friday morning Valley Home School students presented their Christmas program to family and friends. It was an amazing day filled with lots of Christmas cheer!

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Friday evening our Valley Home community came together in downtown Valley Home. The community sponsored Lighted Christmas Parade was filled with fun parade entries. Parade Grand Marshal Mr. Kerry Taylor led the parade as it made its way around downtown Valley Home. The lighted entries were filled with imagination and tons of Christmas spirit! All had a great time! Immediately following the parade the Grand Marshal Mr. Taylor lit the beautiful park Christmas tree. The crowd then crossed the street together to the school gym. Before the dinner began, Valley Home 4-H president Callie Chrisman asked all to join her in prayer before enjoying their dinner. Callie took time to recognize our Parade Grand Marshal Mr. Taylor, thanking him and his family for their contributions to our Valley Home community and presented him with a gift of appreciation. One of the nicest surprises of the evening was young Emmit Caudle serving hot chocolate to parade onlookers! Thank you Emmit and to all who helped make the night so special.

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On Sunday our Valley Home 4-H visited folks at Astoria Care Home and enjoyed singing Christmas carols with them. The 4-Hers gave the residents beautiful homemade Christmas cards they had made just for them!

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As always you may contact me with information for this column at winniemullins51@gmail.com.

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We hope you all are having a blessed Christmas Day, as we remember, Jesus is the reason for this very special season! Merry Christmas!