Courageous Joy

Christmas Program

Sunday School began at 9:15 and was a final rehearsal for the program. Stacia, Zander and I went to Mike's office where we were joined by Martin (3/4 Mandy's son) and Mandy. It was fun to chat.

Chapel was about to start when I realized I had forgotten the camera. This was Cy's last program....Mike is gone...I HAD to go get the camera. Several said they wondered where I was going....they saw me as they were coming to church and wondered if I'd dropped the kids and left the program. ::snort:: Zander, Stacia and I zipped home, collected the camera and zipped back to chapel. We arrived back just as the meet/greet was ending. {G}

In the program various children/youth read lines....we sang songs with them and Nolan, Arielle, Malin and Martin decorated a tree. The various symbols of a tree were presented. This tied in so well with our focus at home on the meanings of symbols...they talked about trees, stars, lights, ornaments, candy canes....it should be easy to finish up the lap book this week. LOL

I got the most awesome compliment about the older three boys from our Religious Education Coordinator's husband...it was timely as Zander was rolling around in the aisle - not acceptable at a chapel ::snort::. He concluded by saying, "You and Mike are doing an excellent job with your children and I wanted to be sure you heard that." I suppose all can tell Zander is a handful right now. ::snort::

The children/youth all did a great job. I was proud of all of them. I was also glad I went back and grabbed the camera. Stacia fell asleep and I couldn't handle the Nikon, Zander and her...so Debbie took photos for me. She HAD her camera and if I'd known that I may not have run home...but my lens is bigger - so it all worked out well. LOL

After the service, we had a reception. This service has most of our Golden generation attending - as well as many students. It's the traditional service. I joked with them that I was going to have to begin attending this service because THEY get all the food. They have a fellowship each week. Seriously, we will be attending this service for at least a few weeks, as the contemporary service breaks. Most of the students go home for Christmas/New Year. Even the children were happy to be in a spot where others were happy to see them. {G}

Here are a few photos:
Josiah

Mikey (far left, friend Debbie's son) Jamin (tallest) & Jared

They decorated tree with symbols as older children spoke about the symbols (Nolan- left, Arielle right)Isn't Martin adorable?


1/2 group shot (Scottie- Deb's other son on left, Cy - tall boy Matt - Mandy's son)

Maryn (Martin and Mandy's daughter) wrote a piece on Christmas. She did an excellent job - encouraged us all to be Christmas Trees (pointing to God and well o.k. you'd need to think of all the symbolism) throughout the year.