Advent

Last Thursday was Autumn's piano recital. She played "Song for a Princess" and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen". This was the most nervous she's been at a recital. I think she would have probably been more confident with another week on her songs. Don't know if this will work or not, but I'll try to post a video after the picture.








Friday Sam was in the "Mayor's Lighted Holiday Parade" with our youth group. This parade is put on to collect canned goods for the needy. Their float one a BEST USE OF CANS! I thought that was kind of funny. They won $100 for it and a trophy. In this picture he's in the front of the wagon between 2 boys.


Other pictures from the parade...











Sunday we began revival with Rev. Jim Mellish. I'd never heard of him before but he is out of Warren, Michigan.

Sunday was also the beginning of Advent. John and I are usually in charge of this, and try to do something different every year. One year we did the Jesse Tree. This year I talked to our children's pastor to see if she had any ideas. She suggested some how using the congregation members that are from foreign countries some how. So I decided it would be neat to have the reading done in another tongue and then the English read. On Sunday I gave a brief explanation on what the colored candles stood for and the wreath etc...Then we had our Chinese family come up. Lily had made a power pt of the Chinese characters and I inserted the English words on another slide. She read Isaiah 11:1-4, then Yunmei, her 11 year old, read the English, then she read 5-8, then the English, then 9 and 10, then the English. They both read it with much feeling and dramatized it well. Then one of their children walked down and lit the first candle. Everyone loved it and clapped when it was completed even though it was suppose to be a quiet moment! I had several people tell me they actually cried!
Next week we have a woman reading it in Spanish, and the week after that a German/American family is doing it.

We have been reading a book for our "family Advent" time called Bartholemew's Passage. It is specifically written to be read aloud for families at Advent. Each day continues the story and leaves you with a cliff hanger. There's also a little devotional reading at the end of each day. It's VERY good!

I sprained my left hand in a car door a few days ago. A family member, who shall remain nameless, tried to shut the door to get by in the garage, and my hand was in it. It didn't shut all the way, or I would be having a cast on right now. It just squeezed it a little. I still have it wrapped up, but had some painful days with it. It is getting better, so I'm pretty sure nothing is broken. Just a nuisance. Try folding laundry, curling your hair, washing dishes, driving...all with one hand. A pain!