I would like to share with you a joyous surprise that my son and I experienced Saturday night Dec. 10, 2011.

Around 8:30 p.m. we were sitting around the fire just talking boy talk while Carla and Emma were visiting family and friends. A knock at the door was not what we were expecting.

When I answered the door a good friend said we are out singing Christmas songs in Ironton. At that time, the trailer full of children immediately began to sing Christmas songs. Joel and I stood on the porch and listened to the wonderful sound.

After several songs many of the adults came up and greeted us saying, Merry Christmas, we are just out having fun and sharing some Christmas spirit and wanted to stop by.

They had been to many places already around the city and still had plenty of places to go.

After they left Joel and I talked about how exciting that was to witness the young people singing and the adults out having such a good time. By listening to the children sing it was obvious that they were having a good time.

In times of such uncertainty and turmoil in our country and all around the world, this was certainly an eye opening experience to know that we are truly blessed in the City of Ironton, Lawrence County and the U.S.A.

Although, as we all know, we have a lot of work has to do in order to make our community a better place, we still have the freedom to go out into our community and spread the Christmas joy.

On behalf of the Blankenship family, I would like to thank all of the children and adults who took the time to go out singing and spreading the Christmas joy. You certainly made our evening better as well as many others.

Let us not forget the reason for the season. God has blessed us all so much and we should remember that Jesus is the reason for the season.

Merry Christmas to all.

 

Rich Blankenship is the mayor of Ironton.