Our first stop was to Kidron Bethel. We sang to several residents there, starting with Irene.
It was a difficult day for Irene as she just found out that her daughter, Jane has inoperable spine cancer. After singing, we surrounded Irene and prayed with her.After Kidron, we drove over to Presbyterian Manor. Unfortunately our pastor's mother had the flu so we could not sing to her. A couple were not home. But the ones who were there seemed to be so happy we came to sing to them. We are not the best singers to be sure, (we wished Adam and Jill could have joined us with their lovely voices but Hannah was ill) but I think these folks were just overjoyed that we would remember them. And quite frankly, it probably did more for us than for them!
Our last stop was out in the country to visit Willard and Edna. They were one of the founding members of our church (as were a few others, including Irene).
Willard handed out some peppernuts. He said it was the first year they didn't bake them. Every year they have baked tons of peppernuts but this year, it just wasn't to be. As we sang, Willard and Edna joined in and we could feel Christ's presence as we worshiped the One for whom the season is all about!
We love Willard and Edna. Infact, Allen and I have named a great blue heron and a white great egret that visit our pond after them!Doug and Robyn invited us to their home for Christmas treats after we finished caroling. What a great time we all had! They live in the home that Doug's great-great grandparents founded back in the early 1900's. The tiny homestead built in 1897 (if I remember right) is right by the big 2 story home. Doug and Robyn remodeled the home and it is just beautiful! Breathtaking!
We hope to do this next year if anyone wants to join us!!
* * * * * * * * *Hannah and Sophia came over yesterday morning. Hannah wanted to bake cookies so we dug through all our cookie cutters for Christmas shapes.
Baking with these two can get pretty messy!
We had lots of cookies so we took them to our Christmas Eve program. A couple of us babysat in the nursery for the 4:00 service. The Paden family babysat during the 6:00 service. We told the Christmas story (Janelle said one little girl, a visitor, asked how Jesus could save us so she was able to share the reason Christ came), we colored, decorated those sugar cookies and ate them, of course. And we did playdough. Lots of fun! How I love these little children!
Allen, our daughter Mindy and I went to the 6:oo candlelight and communion service. It was so very precious! Steve told the story about DeShazer, who was in the military to get revenge on the Japanese after Pearl Harbor. In a mission to bomb the Japanese, his plane went down and he was captured along with his military buddies. As a POW, he was beaten daily. And witnessed the execution of 3 of his friends. Oh how he hated those Japanese! One of his buddies was a Christian and didn't hate the Japanese, but prayed for them. This man starved to death and because of his life, the way he lived and died, Mr. DeShazer accepted Christ. After the war, he ended up going to Japan as a missionary (I went to school with his kids). This man happened to lead the Japanese military commander who led the Pearl Harbor attack, to the Lord and together they traveled Japan, telling about our Lord Jesus and the fact that God is in the business of reconciling men to Himself and to eachother. Amazing story.After the program, we did the traditional thing we do every year (even though the winds were whipping around at probably 50 mph!!). We love to drive around town and look at lights. Our kids used to complain about it and I think the last 2 years that they were in highschool, we just took them home and Al and I made a date of the evening.
Ok. This picture didn't turn out, but this house belongs to someone who reads my blog, so I will keep it here. Do you recognize it You-know-who?
Ok. This picture didn't turn out, but this house belongs to someone who reads my blog, so I will keep it here. Do you recognize it You-know-who?
Have a Merry Christmas!
1 comment:
We might have to join you in caroling next year...Sounds like a great time! Luke probably would've liked your cookies in the nursery last night, but we were with my parents at their church. They didn't have nursery for the kids. So, we had him with us in church. He actually did very well until he saw turned around and saw my dad in the distance in the light booth (he too does techy stuff). Then, he started shouting for Grandpa. So, I had to take him out. Oh well -- that's the life with a 17-month old. We certainly love him no matter what!
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