Merry Christmas!

Welcome to earth, O Noble Guest,

Through whom the sinful world is blest!

You came to share my misery

That you might share Your joy with me.

Ah, Lord, though You created all,

How weak You are, so poor and small,

That You should choose to lay Your head

Where lowly cattle lately fed!

And so it pleases You to see

This simple truth revealed to me:

That worldly honor, wealth, and might

Are weak and worthless in Your sight

Ah, dearest Jesus, holy Child,

Prepare a bed, soft undefiled,

A quiet chanber set apart

For You to dwell within my heart.

(Selected verses from Martin Luther's Christmas hymn Vom Himmel Hoch - "From Heaven Above to Earth I Come")

From Jon, Sheri, Abby, and Emma, we wish you and your family a blessed Christmas celebration.

Say It Ain't So!

Well, it actually happened here in Gulf Coast Texas. We had some snow! Snowfall is a rare event in these here parts. Sheri took a shot of my truck so that we would have photographic evidence. I am told the last time it snowed in Friendswood was Christmas Eve 2004. This time, we didn't get much at our house. But other parts of our community got enough to actually make snowmen. Needless to say, it was all gone by sunrise. Not a big deal for us transplants from the north. But a major event for the natives.

Christmas Musical

Last Sunday, the girls participated in our Church's Christmas musical "On Our Way to Bethlehem." They have participated in the past. But this year they REALLY participated - singing, hand motions, paying attention, etc. There is such a huge maturity difference between Pre-K and Kindergarten. We were so proud of them!

Baptism Birthday

Six years ago on this day, Abby and Emma were baptized with water and God's Word. On that day, at the font in the Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus on the Campus of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, God's Name was applied to them - entering them into the narrative of Scripture and of Christ - His death and Resurrection - and making them lambs of His own pasture.
Today, we brought out the candles that were lit for the first time on that day and took time to remember and teach what happened to them at baptism.

Here is a pic from today's remembrance:

And here's a couple of pics from Novemeber 23, 2002:

Which is Abby? Which is Emma? You decide!

Kindergartener Break

This evening after dinner, I took a Kindergartener Break. Let me explain: the girls were watching The Hefalump Movie. And in the ending credits, one of the songs is, "In the Name of the Hundred Acre Wood", sung by Carly Simon. So, I joined the girls in the traditional parade we perform as we hear this song. Abby leads Emma, myself, and our two dogs as we march to the beat in various styles - parading around the house while our sound system is blasting the song. The wonderful thing about all this is, that for a few moments, I get to be kindergartener again.

I highly recommend that all adults do this from time to time.

Here is a video from YouTube for those unfamiliar with the song.

For All You Northerners

For all of you following along who live north of us (which is most of you): this evening after getting home from work, I was outside talking with the neighbors in shorts, a t-shirt, and flip-flops.
Have a happy autumn!

Halloween

In preparation for Halloween, we did (for the first time, mind you) the carve the pumpkin thing. It was the usual messy experience of digging all the guts out. Sorry, but I don't have a photo of the finished product. But here it is in production:

Abby planned to be a fairy witch (you will have to have her explain it) and Emma was to be Batgirl. And after the long wait, we finally got to wear them - a lot. Because the girls' classes were having Halloween parties, they wore their costumes to school. And then that evening, we did the traditional walk around the neighborhood and collect candy. After trick or treating for awhile, Abby said, "My bucket's getting heavy." Which was a perfect lead in for me to say, "Well, then I guess it's time to go home." And believe it or not, they bought it!

They are now old enough to really understand and have fun with the holiday - just like I did as a kid.