Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

From Christmas Village

Matthew and Chelsea were over for our Christmas Celebration on Friday, Dec. 26th.

From Christmas Village

Amiya and Matthew Jr. with Daddy

From Christmas Village

Grandpa with Madison Arroyo

From Christmas Village

Chasity, Chandler and Cayden Arroyo came over to Grandma and Grandpa's on Christmas Day.

From Christmas Village 2007 - 08 - Christmas 08

Frances and Brody

From Christmas Village 2007 - 08 - Christmas 08

Landon and Kayla

Partridge in a Pear Tree

From 1558 to 1829, Roman Catholics in Europe were not allowed to practice their faith openly. Someone wrote the carol as a catechism song for the children. The words have a coded meaning, which helped the children to learn and remember the religious doctrine.

• The partridge in the pear tree was Jesus Christ.
• Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.
• Three French hens represented faith, hope and love.
• Four calling birds were the four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
• Five golden rings were reminders of the first five books of the Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.
• Six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
• Seven swans a-swimming represented the seven gifts from the Holy Spirit: Prophecy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership and Mercy.
• Eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
• Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self Control.
• Ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.
• Eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
• Twelve drummers drumming represented the twelve points of belief of the Apostles' Creed.

JingleBells - KofC Christmas Party

Another view from the Christmas Party with Rainee, Chloe, and Alec.
Merry Christmas from the Arroyo Family to yours!

Knights of Columbus Christmas Party

Alec singing with Santa.

Arroyo Christmas Preparations

From Christmas Village

From Christmas Village

The Arroyo Christmas Village has expanded this year to include a Nativity Scene, School, Mayor's Mansion, roads etc.

From The Arroyo Family

Rainee decorates the Christmas Tree

From The Arroyo Family

Grandma and Rainee preparing the decorations

From The Arroyo Family

Holly and Rainee - Taking a little break

From The Arroyo Family

Almost done, Rainee has completed most of the decorations

Merry Christmas from the Arroyo Family to yours.

December to Remember

Well, not all memories are good memories. A year ago December 11th, Shirley Beio passed away. The ice storm plagued Tulsa and, amidst it all, we were trying to get a memorial service together.

The day before the memorial, Destiny Arroyo was born, just in time for the memorial. Her father, today, has hit rock bottom and is awaiting his own destiny. His fate is in the hands of God. Many of you, family, friends, know the circumstances. Suffice it to say he needs our prayers.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Arroyo's

Well, this Thanksgiving has its ups and downs for our family.

On the ups side: Linda was able to spend her first Thanksgiving weekend with her sisters since, well, since she has been an adult! She went to Hot Springs to visit Judy and Anet and had a great weekend with her family.

Linda and I spent the actual Thanksgiving day together alone. All of our kids and grandkids were at in-laws and out-laws family get-to-gethers and we celebrated God's Blessings together.

Keep Jose', my oldest son, in your prayers. He has hit his rock bottom and the outlook is bleak for his future. It seemed like he was getting his life together, going to school and working but he backslid and his luck ran out. His reliance now has to be on God. We are keeping him in prayers and ask you to do the same.

My job situation has become brighter. I was going through a crisis in vocation. What has God gotten me into? Well, prayers have been answered and things are brighter in my chosen profession. They have not become easy, by any means, but brighter just the same.

BENEDICT XVI'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR DECEMBER

VATICAN CITY, 1 DEC 2008 (VIS) - Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for December is: "That, faced by the growing expansion of the culture of violence and death, the Church may courageously promote the culture of life through all her apostolic and missionary activities".

His mission intention is: "That, especially in mission countries, Christians may show through gestures of brotherliness that the Child born in the grotto in Bethlehem is the luminous Hope of the world".