THE ADVENTure BEGINS

What a wonderful week this has been!!!

If you haven't heard, we're Oma and Poppa again!  How great can Thanksgiving Day be?!? 

Welcome to the world, Bodhi Bay Wehrspann.

Kristi happened to be in El Cajon with Micah and Carrie and Zephyr for T-Giving, and Bodhi (Bo-dee) came a few days early - he was planned for the 29th.  I wrote it down somewhere ... I think 7#-9oz. and born at 7:04 pm or else he was 7#-4oz and born at 7:09pm ... and 20" long.  Just talked to Micah - they're all home and getting ready for their first doctor appointment - they all have colds - so Bodhi is getting an early immune check!  They're hosting Christmas for the fam, so really looking forward to our Christmas Day flight now!

Our Thanksgiving went quite smoothly - had services on T-Eve and had 60-75 people there; fun service - I think I mentioned the theme: Thank God for People, Places and Things.  When I got to "things" I alluded to "the Sound of Music" and Julie Andrews with her "raindrops on roses ..." and said, are you ready? and the audience participation made it through the "whiskers ... brown paper ... copper kettles ... a few of my favorite things!"  It was a hoot - they were a very proud people!  Did the annual "Bread Loaf" sharing after the offering - everyone comes forward and receives a 'mini' loaf of bread to be shared by breaking off pieces and naming something to be thankful for.  We took a few extra loaves home with us to share with our nearest neighbors.  Always a treat to add to our T-Giving "rituals".  Spent the day by ourselves this year, but that did stop us from eating - no, no Nanette -

the stuffing before stuffing - both the bird and us ...

the bird, weighing in at 2 "Bodhis"

zucchini  casserole smothered in Swiss cheese (only Dan can have it - how great is that!)

and the lovely chef - Presentation is everything!"

We 

1) ate at a decent hour;

2) didn't' stuff ourselves;

3) did the dish/kitchen clean-up;

4) watched a movie;

5) got the California phone call at 8-ish. ...

6) We are TRULY thankful!

THEN .... drum roll please ... ta da ta da ta da ta da ta ...

FRIDAY we finished the floor trim in the family room ... well almost, still have 19' of floor molding left, but who's counting? that's a straight shot - all the corners are done.  that's only two pieces!  three years and successful - now have to finish the crown molding at the ceiling and the rails on top of the wainscoting - but that's simple ...  we'll have another drum roll - hopefully before Christmas!  Was going to do it today, but the car needed servicing and extra 'stuff' so I had to drop it off at the dealer and they shuttled me to the church where I'm writing this epistle.  So (if you listened to my sermon - "I'm still waiting...").

The kids in the pre-school/Kindergarten had their T-Giving programs last week on Tuesday and Wednesday - it takes five presentations to get them all in - but here's a reminder of the Tuesday morning crowd ...

three-year-olds in the chapel

fours and pre-kindergarteners in the CLC

Had two programs going on at the same time - that makes for a full parking lot! (about 140 kids on Tues mornings) Even had Jeff outside directing traffic!  First time we've "doubled up" for these;  then there was another program Tues afternoon; and another morn/afternoon on Wednesday!  It's fun to watch the parents more - I'm sure there's no less than $20,000 worth of recording equipment going at the same time - inexpensive digital cameras, really fancy digital cameras, plain and fancy digital video cams; smartphones, and the goofiest one of all - people holding up their IPads and other assorted video pads in front of their faces to record the programs!  They never see their kids face-to-face!

I alluded to the sermon earlier - but had another most appropriate/ironic addition to the 2nd service yesterday.  We are lighting the Advent candle at different parts/times of the service this year - yesterday's was as a prelude to the Gospel.  The dialogue begins as the acolyte is lighting the candle and I am saying a prayer at the same time.  Now the lighting is going on behind me, and I can't see what's happening ... but I am sensing something isn't working as I see/hear the congregation shuffling and quietly giggling.  I finish the prayer and look toward the wreath and there's no candle lit; the acolyte torch jammed and the acolyte and the lay reader can't get the thing to work.  I say to "there seems to be a technical difficulty with the torch, so let's just go on ..."  The congregation has been laughing; they handed me the torch and I couldn't get it to work, but in the meantime one of the worship assistants has brought another torch from the vestry - so I change my last words to say, "oh, we have rescue!"  We'll light the candle and go on.  Well, the torch barely has a flame, but enough to get the Advent candle lit, and the next dialog (which no one has seen - including me, because the whole service is on PowerPoint) says: 

P:  O Lord, our God, we stumble as those lost in the night.

C:  Will not the day come soon?

and as I am saying my part the whole congregation breaks forth in raucous laughter! 

As I said, how appropriate and how ironic!  We did, however make it through the lighting and the rest of the service.  I think it went on without a hitch.

thanks about it from rainy Portland - I think we are at 207% of normal rainfall for November, and the month isn't over - had over 4" last week.  but 'dry' today (that only means it's not raining at the moment).

till next time - may your season also be an ADVENTure!

love ya,

Karina and Dan