Goodbye 2005 - Welcome 2006 - It Looks Like It Will Be A Great Year!

This Is The Next Generation Being Trained In A Spencer Adams Christmas

The Only Thing That Would Have Made It Better Would Have Been A Real Kris Kringle!

It Was A Great Day, And As We Leave We Take A Last Look Back And The Homestead With Its Decorations.

After Each Present Is Opened, The "Prize" Must Be Shared And Passed Around.

After Each Arrival Group Is Greeted, Everyone Returns To Finding A Seat And Sharing Stories Since Last Year.

In Addition The Annual Challenge To See Who Could Make It Hardest To Open The Present. This Wooden Box With Seven Screws Was Inside 3 Boxes Each With Wrapping Paper that Had To Be Removed.

Two Traditions Were Maintained, The Boxes Inside The Wrapping Rarely Represented What Was Inside!

Presents Were Passed Out To Everyone Before The Traditional Opening Of the Presents Started, As Always With The Youngest Opening Their Presents First

Many Christmas Carols Were Sung Ending With The Famous Adams Rendition Of Dancing To The Twelve Days Of Christmas

The Crowd Overflowed From The Living Room

After The Meal The Traditional Festivities Were About To Start

After A While The Meal Was Ready

The Kitchen Was Jammed With Those Who Were Preparing The Meal

Each Car Was Unloaded And The Presents Placed Beneath The Tree

Bonnie Had The Homestead A Christmas Fantasyland

Early In The Day There Was A Constant Stream Of Arrivals

T'was the night before Christmas . . .

Twas the night before Christmas, on the Chowan River, the family is gathering, and it is the best time of the year. God bless you all!

John Davis, Merry Hill

Kelvin Outlaw, Merry Hill

Gregg Atkins, Sheriff, Bertie County

Ricky Freeman, Member, Board Of Education From Merry Hill

Rick Harrell, Chairman, Bertie County Board Of Commissioners

Reverend Vonner Horton, Oxley Hill Missionary Baptist Church

From Left, Greg Atkins, Ricky Freeman, Rick Harrell And Kelvin Outlaw

The Oxley Hill Baptist Church Provided A Great Meal

Merry Hill Crowd Gathers

Opposition To School Closings Was Nearly Unanimous

Michael Williams Asks For BOE To Consider The Future Of Our Kids

Henry Spruill Opposes Closing Aulander Elementary

Merry Hill Grandmother Opposes Closing J.P. Law

From Left, Ricky Freeman, Seaton Fairless, D.r Collins-Hart, Melinda Eure And Gary Cordon Sr.

From Left, Zee Lamb, County Manager, Lloyd Smith, County Attorney, County Commissioners, Norman Cherry, Rick Harrell (standing), L.C. Hoggard And Wallace Perry

The Virgin Mary And Joseph, Make Their Way To Bethlehem

Baby Jesus Is Born And Wrapped In Swaddling CLothes And Laid In A Manger

Shepheards In The Field Guard Their Flock (Some Strange Looking Sheep!)

A heavenly Chorus Announces The Birth To The Shepheards, And Guides Them To The Manger

When The Shepheards Find The Young Child They Sing Of Their Adulation

Young Dancers Symbolize The Joy Of The Season

Throughout The Play, A Family Shares The Joy Of Christmas By Telling The Story Of Christ's Birth

Three Wise Men Bring Gifts To The Future Messiah

The Curtain Call Had The Entire Cast Receiving A Huge Ovation

The Christmas Party Ended With The Singing Of The Twelve Days Of Christmas, But Ali Made It Unique By Changing The Gifts To A Brand New List

Ms. Ali Van Norman Was The Hostess, And Was Dressed For The Occassion

Santa Did A Good Job And Made Sure We All Got The Gift Needed To Play The Game

The Game Was About Passing Out Gifts When There Were Not Enough Presents, And Santa WAs Of Course The One Who Passed Out the Gifts

The Readings Included Stories And Games

All Were Delightful And Presented With Great Skill By The Students

Interspersed Within The Services We Were Entertained With Formail Readings About The Courses Being Served