A2
Family
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, December 21, 2016
Christmas is coming!
By Robin Roberts
To the Blue Mountain Eagle
Editor’s note: This week features
the conclusion with parts three and
four. Parts one and two were pub-
lished last week.
The Trip
It was a four-day drive to Minne-
apolis. My mother didn’t drive so we
had to stay in motels along the way.
Though my mother eagerly pointed
out each interesting view or attrac-
tion we passed, and played word
games with us, the days seemed in-
terminable. My father joined in the
conversation frequently but most-
ly concentrated on his driving. It
was winter, and the roads could be
treacherous. The best part was each
morning we awoke in a new state,
with new things to see and one day
closer to Grandma’s.
Each arriving family had a dif-
ferent place to sleep. We stayed at
Uncle Ken’s house, an old Victorian
with two fl oors, an attic and a base-
ment. The house my brother and I
grew up in was a ranch-style house
in the middle of an apricot orchard
so stairs fascinated us. The primary
stairs were in the front of the house,
but there was a small, narrow stair-
way that rose from the kitchen as
well. We always spent our fi rst few
minutes in his house going up one
and down the other.
Though each family had a differ-
ent place to sleep, the gathering took
place at my grandmother’s house.
Her house was nearly twice the size
of Uncle Ken’s, with a large living
room and attached parlor. Since we
came from so far away many of the
relatives had already arrived. It was
always a surprise, and no small sense
of pride, to walk in the front door and
see so many adults spread about the
room chatting merrily and know they
were all family. The children would
be downstairs in the basement or in
Something to crow about
Blue Mountain Eagle
The city of Monument
wrapped up its scare-
crow contest earlier this
month and announced the
winners.
Out of six contestants, the
Monument High School FFA
won first place with a scare-
crow decorated to look like
an FFA member. The group
won a trivia game for their
classroom.
In second place was Pat
the back yard. With only the briefest
of hellos to the adults, my brother
and I hurried off to join them.
I don’t know if I ever knew the
exact number of cousins we had, but
there were dozens of them, of every
age from toddler to teenager. What-
ever activity one wanted to take part
in, whether throwing the ball, play-
ing card games or just reading, one
or more of them was doing it.
Christmas Day
Despite all the excitement and
conviviality the true purpose of our
get-together, Christmas, was never
forgotten. Thanks was given at the
dinner table each night, and the mir-
acle of the time was on everyone’s
lips. We all attended the same ser-
vice that morning, then caravanned
to Grandma’s house. I remember all
the cars parked in the driveway and
down both sides of the street.
The tree stood in a corner of the
living room, banked to its lower
D ASHING THROUGH THE SNOW
Foundation awards $237,500
in Eastern Oregon grants
McCrary who won a candle
for her creation.
Mary Cade, in third place,
also received a candle.
“This was our first year
holding the event, and we
were happy with the turnout
and hope for more partici-
pants next year,” said city
recorder Dorothy Jordan.
“Having so many young and
new council members, we
are all learning new things
to improve community in-
volvement.”
Blue Mountain Eagle
The Oregon Communi-
ty Foundation Board of Di-
rectors approved $237,500
in grants to Eastern Oregon
nonprofi ts in November.
A variety of grants were
awarded in Baker, Gilliam,
Harney, Malheur, Umatilla,
Union, Wallowa and Wasco
counties, according to a press
release from the foundation.
The foundation awarded more
than $3.6 million statewide.
In previous years, the
foundation has awarded
grants in Grant County for
the fairgrounds and the new
John Day Fire Hall.
“The Oregon Communi-
ty Foundation team of staff
members and volunteers is
excited to see the progress
of these projects that work
to improve health and hu-
I will be broadcasting The Cowboy Chapel Hour
on KJDY for the last time December 25th I am
very sorry to say; no problems, KJDY has been
wonderful, the Lord has just led me in a
different direction. It has been a blessed 7
years; I had fun and met a lot of really beautiful
people from Monument to
Seneca. So thank you for
listening and your wonderful
comments along the way.
Wishing you a merry
Christmas and a blessed 2017.
Love in the Lord &
Lovin’ the Lord,
Cowboy Chapel
Chaplain Richie
time had passed. I sat buried to the
waist in wrapping paper, ribbons
and bows of every color imaginable.
As was everyone else still sitting on
the fl oor. Then came the big clean-
up, everyone being extra careful not
to throw away a gift with the wrap-
pings.
After gifts, the women retired to
the kitchen to cook dinner. It would
be our last meal all together. Our
last chance to say our goodbyes. My
family and two others were leaving
in the morning. Some of the families
would stay for another two days. It
was always magical there at Christ-
mastime, and I envied those two ex-
tra days, but we had the farthest to
travel.
We said our goodbyes that night
and thanked everyone before return-
ing to Uncle Ken’s. The next morn-
ing, as we started off for home, I
wondered if my cat had missed me.
Robin Roberts is a writer who
lives in Canyon City.
branches with presents of every size,
shape and color. I could only stare
dumbly and wonder which ones
might be mine. Slowly everyone
crowded in. There were chairs for
those who needed them, and the chil-
dren were allowed so sit anywhere
on the fl oor we wanted, but not too
close to the tree.
After a brief prayer of thanks for
our bounty, gift-giving began. This
was done by the three oldest chil-
dren, Roy, Helen and Max, all teen-
agers. As each person’s turn came up,
the elves, as they were called, would
search the pile until they found a gift
with that person’s name. The adults
came fi rst and then the children by
age. Being in the lower half of the
children it seemed to take hours for
my turn to come. Eagerly, I tore at
the paper. An edition of the Hardy
Boys I didn’t have from Aunt Meg.
Hours later, it always surprised
me when I looked up at the clock
on the mantel and saw how much
man services for people of
all ages in Eastern Oregon,”
said Cheryl Puddy, associ-
ate program offi cer/regional
coordinator for the Oregon
Community Foundation in
Central and Eastern Oregon,
in the release. “The valuable
services these nonprofi ts
provide in our communities
is a true refl ection of OCF’s
goal to improve lives across
Oregon, and we are proud to
partner with them.”
The foundation hosts
grant workshops throughout
the state to help nonprofi ts
with the application process
and will be reviewing anoth-
er round of grant applications
in the spring.
For a full list of grants
awarded or more information
about donating or applying
for a grant, visit oregoncf.
org.
O BITUARIES
Joan Bowling
The Eagle/Rylan Boggs
05008
Eighteen-month-old Mia goes for a ride in her
homemade sled with her grandparents Jeff
Carey and Ashley Allison Friday, Dec. 16, in
John Day.
Joan Bowling, 84, of Canyon City passed away Wednesday,
Dec. 14, at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Boise. A funeral ser-
vice will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 21, at the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in John Day, followed by a
procession to the Canyon City Cemetery. A reception will fol-
low at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Red Cross
through Driskill Memorial Chapel, 241 S. Canyon Blvd., John
Day, OR 97845. To leave a condolence, visit driskillmemorial-
chapel.com.
Diana Lee Smith
Diana Lee Smith, 70, of John Day passed away Sunday, Dec.
18, at her home. No public services are planned. Arrangements
are under the care of Driskill Memorial Chapel, 241 S. Canyon
Blvd., John Day, OR 97845. To leave a condolence, visit drisk-
illmemorialchapel.com.
BLUE MOUNTAIN EAGLE
EARLY DEADLINES
for the January 4th edition
Classified, Legal & Display Deadline
is Thursday, December 29 th at Noon
A MAN
WAKES
UP in the
morning
after sleeping on...
an advertised bed, in advertised
pajamas.
He will bathe in an ADVERTISED TUB, shave with an ADVERTISED RAZOR,
have a breakfast of ADVERTISED JUICE, cereal and toast, toasted in an
ADVERTISED TOASTER, put on ADVERTISED CLOTHES and glance at his
ADVERTISED WATCH. He’ll ride to work in his ADVERTISED CAR, sit at an
ADVERTISED DESK and write with an ADVERTISED PEN. Yet this person
hesitates to advertise, saying that advertising doesn’t pay. Finally, when his
non-advertised business is going under, HE’LL ADVERTISE IT FOR SALE.
Then it’s too late.
AND THEY SAY ADVERTISING DOESN’T WORK?
DON’T MAKE THIS SAME MISTAKE
Advertising is an investment, not an expense. Think about it!
For more information or to place an ad:
Call Kim Kell at:
541-575-0710
Blue Mountain Eagle
195 N Canyon Blvd., John Day | www.bluemountaineagle.com
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W EATHER F ORECAST FOR THE WEEK OF D EC . 21-27
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Sunny
Chance of
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Chance of
snow
Cloudy with
fl urries
Cold
with sun
Cold with
periods of sun
Mostly
cloudy
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36
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32
28
27
36
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