December 7, 2014

Beautiful Sunday With a Surprise Ending!

December 7, 2014

 

I must admit it was very hard to get up after the late night at the parade in the other end of the valley.  We did make it to church on time for Sunday School, but I was not feeling real good and our class room was too hot for me, so I left and ran a couple of errands, got Mom's mail, cut a couple of her rose buds, put gas in her car, and then went home for a bit before returning to church for the worship service.  It was the Sunday for the Christmas adult choir musical.  Ron took some photos for me from the balcony and did a great job.  We have to laugh about the fact that if either of us is asked the use the camera or the cell phone of the other, we are at a total loss as to what to do with it.  He did a great job this time.

In the bottom right of this photo you will see me sitting with a couple of my grandchildren as the choir members pass out the ornaments.  The ornaments carried the same silhouette that was behind the choir with the word Believe on the manger with the baby Jesus.

Our guest soloist was Brian Arnold who presented a concert at the Winter Texan
Banquet last year and just happens to be newly engaged to our choir director's youngest daughter.

As they have done for the past several years, the choir members passed out Christmas ornaments to those present,  I love that tradition.  I must say that this was my favorite presentation in a long time.  It is strange that I would say that since I could not enjoy the melody of the music, but it was such a good reminder of the reason for the season to each of us.  Many times we may invite friends to a special musical presentation at our church but for the most part, those who are there know the story of Christmas through and through.

What  was different about this musical was the skits. There were several very simple skits done off to one side with two chairs around a small table.  Each skit presented a real life possible situation where we as Christians can share God's love, comfort, truth, and help to those around us who may be hurting, searching, or mis-informed.  In this first one there was a mother and daughter.  The little girl had been at the parade with us the evening before, and of all those playing a part, she was the most at ease.  She did a great job. 

The skit showed how a parent might have to deal with a child who at school is being told God does not exist.  There were skits about answering questions from co-workers at the office, about sharing with someone who might be near death, about some of the tough questions in the Bible.  It was just very well done.

We are always among the last to leave after church and as we were loading in the car at 1:00, our daughter-in-law got a  call on her cell phone from Mom saying she would be on the plane to come home at 9:40 in the evening!  She couldn't get us because we were in church.  It seems my sister who had been caring for her had come down with the FLU and Mom needed to get away from exposure to it.  It was hard for her to leave without a proper good bye to my sister but it was the wisest thing to do.

We went to Wendy's for lunch and had a good time with the grandchildren.  Then we parted ways for them to all go home for naps and for me to make arrangements for a lady to stay around the clock with Mom.  I bought some groceries for Mom and Ron helped me with that and with clearing the front walk of the constantly falling leaves.  The lady who will help Mom (Carmen) arrived to help vacuum and dust to get ready for Mom's return. 

Our daughter-in-law Barbara went to the airport with me to pick Mom up.  That was one happy lady who got off the airplane!  We brought her home and Carmen was here with Ron waiting for her.  She was so glad to be home.  This morning Mom didn't know when she would come home and now she  is back and delighted to be here.  What a nice surprize here just before Christmas.