A Very Merry McMorris Christmas Carol | December 2019

Just hours before Christmas, a community came together to show their love for the McMorris family. A show of Christmas support, more than 300 friends, family members, Scouts and loved ones gathered outside the home of Alisa and John McMorris and their daughter Arianna McMorris for caroling Sunday night.

"It was amazing," Alisa McMorris said. "We have been shattered into a million different pieces and only with the love and support of our friends, family and community do we have the strength to stand.""Sometimes there are stormy moments in your life when your friends, family and community, do more than just walk with you; they become angels that carry you and protect you with their wings," Alisa said. "We witnessed that protection in the form of over 300 Christmas carolers sneaking up on our front lawn. Today the memory puts a sweet smile on our faces and thoughts of how Andrew would have loved it! For the first time in my life I was truly surprised and in awe."

She laughed. "Honestly, I would have done my hair and put shoes on if I knew."

Filled with emotion, Alisa added: "It brought me to tears and I couldn't help but feel the warmth of all of you — each holding one of our shattered pieces and helping us to stand. The timing couldn't have been more perfect as I was hosting a few of my friends that I have know for over 30 years from my high school theater days. We were truly surrounded by love."

The McMorris family added on Monday: "'Thank you' does not seem like enough for what something like last night does for a broken soul. It truly was a Christmas blessing and the prayers of many were sent up to heaven in 'It's a Wonderful Life' style."