CHRISTMAS BLESSING NO. 1: WARM, SUNNY WEATHER.Byline: Jennifer Radcliffe Staff Writer Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. residents observed Christmas Day with church and family gatherings, reflecting on life's blessings as children played with their new toys in Saturday's warm, sunny weather. At a packed Balboa Lake Park in Encino, children lined the sidewalks on their new bikes and in-line skates. Other families picnicked, played basketball and walked dogs. ``This is great. Everybody's having fun. Everybody brought their presents here,'' said Sylmar resident Mike Solorio as his 4-year-old daughter, Destiny, was smitten with a new doll. Down the path, 6-year-old Karen Morales bragged that she hadn't yet crashed on her new purple in-line skates. ``I'm not falling, but they are falling,'' she said, pointing to her two siblings, who received matching skates. And at the neighboring Balboa Tennis Center, 7-year-old Juan Jose Herrera was taking his first ride on his new motorized mo·tor·ize tr.v. mo·tor·ized, mo·tor·iz·ing, mo·tor·iz·es 1. To equip with a motor. 2. To supply with motor-driven vehicles. 3. To provide with automobiles. minibike minibike: see motorcycle. . ``Santa Claus Santa Claus: see Nicholas, Saint. Santa Claus jolly, gift-giving figure who visits children on Christmas Eve. [Christian Tradition: NCE, 1937] See : Christmas Santa Claus left it,'' the excited North Hollywood youngster said. While Valley residents played hard Saturday, many said starting the day with church services was a must. ``This is Christ's birthday; it's a wonderful day,'' said Mary Brenion, 73, after attending morning services at St. Mark's Episcopal Church St. Mark's Episcopal Church may refer to one of hundreds of Episcopal churches throughout the United States, including:
Brenion, along with several congregation members, acknowledged having heavy hearts for servicemen and servicewomen stationed in Iraq during this holiday season. ``I pray I beg; I request; I entreat you; - used in asking a question, making a request, introducing a petition, etc.; as, Pray, allow me to go s>. See also: Pray that they are safe and that the war ends - not in defeat, but in victory,'' the Van Nuys resident said. After opening his Christmas gifts, Nick Stoney ston·ey adj. Variant of stony. , a 16-year-old from Sylmar, served as a master acolyte during St. Mark's St. Mark's could refer to:
``I'm just blessed with this family; I enjoy the chance to come here,'' said the teenager, a running back on Verdugo High School's football team. The Rev. Norman Hull said he focused his Christmas service on the importance of expressing love that might otherwise go unstated. ``Christmas is a time to be reassured about how much God loves us and cares about us,'' he said. ``It's also a time during which we need to tell each other how much we care about each other.'' At Lake Balboa Park Balboa Park is the name of several municipal parks, including the following:
``We're not a very traditional family,'' mother Allison Marks said, laughing. Nearby, 4-year-old Alyssa Mandel was taking her first bike ride on a purple and pink bike with training wheels. She wore a helmet and knee pads. ``I just gave her a push,'' said her proud father, Mike Mandel. ``I wasn't holding on.'' Jennifer Radcliffe, (818) 713-3722 jennifer.radcliffe(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Destiny Solorio, 4, of Sylmar practices riding her new bike around other toys, like the stroller given to her for Christmas by her grandmother. Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News |
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