christmas lights here on Ashley Avenue in beaver tail is *** magical tradition for one family, that tradition turned into *** personal mission. And even after tragedy, that mission continues this year in *** new, beautiful way, twinkling sights, brings *** steady stream of headlights to Ashby Avenue merry christmas *** beaver tail tradition one family uses to shine *** light on generosity. I, you know, at one time didn't have *** lot. This was Julian dale marks. In 2020 the first year julie decided there decked out home could help feed hungry Iowans. I've been blessed and great blessed. So I believe that that's what we're supposed to do is help other people as much as we can. Julian dale devoted this time of year to raising thousands of dollars for the food bank of Iowa. But then in 2021 when dale was too weak to stand dozens of volunteers carried out his dying wish. I knew that I needed to carry on if I could all possible carry on. His wife's dream of *** christmas light food drive. He knows it's *** blessing. And this is the time of blessings and thankfulness. Just weeks after raising $30,000 dale died from complications of covid 19 december 30th was his last day and that was when we shut the lights out. Yeah, *** dark end to 2021 it was more than tough, but I think it's *** choice to go forward. Sparks *** new chapter in 2022 I wanted to bring them joy this year in the freezing cold julie strings. Thousands of lights decorating her new home with *** new love. We both have lost spouses. We know what it's like to go through that. So sharing that with somebody that's been through, it is so different, so completely different. You can't know, I don't know the value of life until you've been through that. Now mary Julian West Setter bought *** new house on the same street. It's unexpected, but it's *** huge gift. So the tradition continues merry christmas on Ashby Avenue. Thank you so much. We really appreciate it. Where food donations pile up. It's *** great thing to do. There needs to be more people, more of it passing it forward and acts of kindness are contagious. It brings tears to my eyes when people do that because they don't have two issues to take their time and go shopping and gift other people. And it overwhelms me every time with santa by her side. Merry christmas julie brings joy to the littlest faces and sparks *** happiness in herself. She thought was gone last year at this time. It was very, very sad for me and I felt like it was honestly the end so that this happened every day. I mean I just have to pinch myself and remind myself it's real and there's *** lot of happiness to this. *** new chapter lighting the way for the future in Des Moines merry christmas Lawrence Harold K. C. C. I ate News. I was News Leader