Christmas services were beautiful last night. The music at Mt Olive was the best I've ever experienced, with a string and piano quartet from one family's children, the bell choir and Jessica, on her amazing trumpet, accompanying the organ and piano for carols, and a most gracious rendition of O Holy Night by Melinda H, now Melinda K for these many past years, with two sons of her own.
I have always loved to hear Melinda sing. She is among my top five favorite church soloists. Marion did a wonderful job supporting Melinda on the piano. Melinda has a high and very clear voice, and motherhood has only enhanced the warmth of her melodies.
Lauren took some pictures for us, and he got a great one of the quartet, but they are other people's children and I am reluctant to paste their faces on the Internet without their parents' approval ... so I won't.
Our young acolyte in the picture above is the oldest of the children, and he's dressed in the Norwegian attire of his father's heritage. He played the piano, and he was extremely competent - never missed a beat or a note ... nor did his siblings on their stringed instruments. Such a special gift to our Christmas eve services.
We left just after communion, when the service was nearly over, and headed to Hope United Methodist in RB, and enjoyed being there, as well. It's interesting that after the wonderful music program at Mt. Olive, Hope's music seemed almost ordinary, but it was thoroughly enjoyable. Hope had a wonderful young tenor, though, and he has a lot of promise. His voice was strong and pure. He sang Ave Maria, and his melody seemed to be somewhat flawed. I hope this young man, perhaps in his early to mid 20s, continues to train. Tenors usually mature in their late 20s or early 30s, and this fellow could give Josh Grobin or any of the current popular classical singers a real run for their money.
Musicians are a wonderful gift to the church! I am always blessed by experiences of good church music, such as we experienced at both churches last night. The musicians and their music made it a real Christmas for me.
Lauren took some pictures for us, and he got a great one of the quartet, but they are other people's children and I am reluctant to paste their faces on the Internet without their parents' approval ... so I won't.
Our young acolyte in the picture above is the oldest of the children, and he's dressed in the Norwegian attire of his father's heritage. He played the piano, and he was extremely competent - never missed a beat or a note ... nor did his siblings on their stringed instruments. Such a special gift to our Christmas eve services.
We left just after communion, when the service was nearly over, and headed to Hope United Methodist in RB, and enjoyed being there, as well. It's interesting that after the wonderful music program at Mt. Olive, Hope's music seemed almost ordinary, but it was thoroughly enjoyable. Hope had a wonderful young tenor, though, and he has a lot of promise. His voice was strong and pure. He sang Ave Maria, and his melody seemed to be somewhat flawed. I hope this young man, perhaps in his early to mid 20s, continues to train. Tenors usually mature in their late 20s or early 30s, and this fellow could give Josh Grobin or any of the current popular classical singers a real run for their money.
Musicians are a wonderful gift to the church! I am always blessed by experiences of good church music, such as we experienced at both churches last night. The musicians and their music made it a real Christmas for me.
I'll post the final batch of Christmas pasts photos today, because tomorrow will be the start of a new year for me, even though New Year's is a week away. I'll start cleaning up pieces of projects I've left laying around, books I've half read, to do lists scattered here and there, and get organized to begin again next year. My Christmas starts at Advent and ends the night of the 25th. The journey of the Wise Men, for me, is the beginning of something new and wonderful, and I want to take that journey in my life as soon as Christmas day is done. It's time to move forward.
So, here they are:
1971
Scampi's in this one, so I have to assume we bought her in 1971. She was such a bundle of sweetness, and so protective. She didn't like anyone getting close to her family, and she'd nip at them.
Scampi's in this one, so I have to assume we bought her in 1971. She was such a bundle of sweetness, and so protective. She didn't like anyone getting close to her family, and she'd nip at them. And she would rough house with you, Donna. Do you remember when you and she were rolling around on the floor and you called her "Chump," and she bit you on the arm? (You were older, then - in fact, it might have been after we moved to California, and you would have been an older teenager) That was so funny!
You and Den, in your picture above, look like you're about ready to burst into orneriness! This might have been the year that Den tossed Scamp in the bathtub with you, put a paper cup down the toilet so that Dad had to totally remove the commode to clear it, and whatever orneriness he could think of. Ah, I loved it that we were a real, normal family. Too much perfection, and I would have known you two weren't my kids! I have such memories!
1972
Both sets of grandparents, along with Uncle Steve, visited us that Christmas. I remember my Mom's big bee hive hair dos. She loved dressing up and fancy. She always had marvelous taste. She could never figure out how she birthed a plain Jane like me, but she took it in good stride. I saw another older woman with her mother at Hope last night, and for a few moments, I thought about Mom and wished I had her with me this Christmas. She and Pop went to Hope for a while before they settled into their long and warm relationship with the Baptist church here in Poway.
I'll finish up with pictures of our extended family for Christmas that year, including Scampi, and of the four of us.
Those days were rich, golden days.
You and Den, in your picture above, look like you're about ready to burst into orneriness! This might have been the year that Den tossed Scamp in the bathtub with you, put a paper cup down the toilet so that Dad had to totally remove the commode to clear it, and whatever orneriness he could think of. Ah, I loved it that we were a real, normal family. Too much perfection, and I would have known you two weren't my kids! I have such memories!
1972
Both sets of grandparents, along with Uncle Steve, visited us that Christmas. I remember my Mom's big bee hive hair dos. She loved dressing up and fancy. She always had marvelous taste. She could never figure out how she birthed a plain Jane like me, but she took it in good stride. I saw another older woman with her mother at Hope last night, and for a few moments, I thought about Mom and wished I had her with me this Christmas. She and Pop went to Hope for a while before they settled into their long and warm relationship with the Baptist church here in Poway.
I'll finish up with pictures of our extended family for Christmas that year, including Scampi, and of the four of us.Those days were rich, golden days.
Merry Christmas. May there be many, may they all be merry, and may they provide wonderfully warm memories for many, many years!
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