Fourth Sunday in Advent

Suddenly shepherds, wise men, Mary and Joseph all appear and begin the final rehearsal for the Christmas Eve pageant.

Fourth Sunday in Advent

Poinsettias are brought in and unwrapped and greenery is hung. We fortify ourselves with coffee and cookies, and the sanctuary is brightly decorated.

Fourth Sunday in Advent

The last candle is lit in the Advent wreath and we wait until after the service to begin to decorate the church.

Fourth Sunday in Advent

There are only 4 days before Christmas. The tradition in the Episcopal church is that Advent is a time for preparation, Christmas begins on Christmas Day, and ends 12 days later at Epiphany .

Korean War Museum

Naturally Grant and Autumn were fascinated by all this history.
I hope you enjoyed this. I share what I have. Merry Christmas.

Korean War Museum

Here is a United Nations recognition of the various countries who took part in the Korean campaign in 1950.
A friend has reminded me that there is a Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington DC to honor those who served in the Korean Conflict. You can see it HERE

Korean War Museum

There were displays both inside and out of more modern weapons and military equipment.

Korean War Museum

This is an armored boat from the 1500's. The Korean peninsula surrounded by water required a good Navy.

Korean War Museum

I don't know the history of this, but it is an amazing drum. I would like to have this in my collection.

Korean War Museum

Paul took the family to see the Korean War Museum. Americans think only in terms of the Korean conflict of the early 1950's but Korea as a nation has a very long history of defending itself from foreign invasion. Sue sent a lot of pictures but very little explanation, but I will share a few of the better pictures and hope you find them interesting.

Usually I take most of the pictures when we travel so the role of photographer is new for Susan, however, she is taking excellent photographs. Thank you Sue!

Father and Son Reunion

There seems to ba a Hard Rock Cafe in every city were Americans congregate. Most people go there to buy the T-shirt.

Father and Son Reunion

Beth had an activity that provided day care so Susan and Paul had a chance to get out for a quick look around their part of Seoul. They will do some serious sight-seeing later I hope.

Father and Son Reunion

At last Paul gets to meet his son Grant face to face. Now begins a great adventure for these two. Paul is a good Dad.

The Flight to Korea

They were seated behind a bulkhead which accommodated a bassinet which hung from the bulkhead. Grant rode in style.

The Flight to Korea

Susan sent me a couple of pictures from the flight to Seoul. Fifteen hours in cramped seating is a long time with a newborn and a 3 year old who is not accustomed to sitting still. Beth entertained Autumn as best she could. None the less, they made it and were met at the gate by a pair of handsome sailors who swept them away.

Nativity

We bought this little Nativity scene several Christmases ago at a church sale and it graces our side table every year. It is small but has lovely detail.

Smokey and I did get out of the house today. I dropped him off at the groomer for his Christmas bath while I went to my meeting. Love On A Leash gives him a good bath leaving him clean and doggy odor free, plus they send him home with his very own personalized annual Christmas tree ornament, I need to line them all up for a picture. He has quite a collection of them by now.

Christmas Tree

Susan telephoned me from Seoul a few minutes ago. They arrived safely but are very tired. There is a 15 hour time difference so night here is noon tomorrow there - a little confusing. She promises pictures later but none yet. So I will share a few things from here.

Here is our little Christmas tree. It sits in our front window so it looks pretty from the street.

A Quiet Day

Susan called me from Atlanta this morning. They were just about to board the non-stop for Seoul. I will not hear from her until tomorrow morning when they arrive. It is still freezing cold and icy here in Tulsa so Smokey and I stayed home.

The photo is from a trip to Alaska several years ago, but it feels this cold in Tulsa.

Ready to Go

Grant sleeps a lot but gets bright-eyed at feeding time. He has a long trip ahead of him and will spend his first two years in Korea.

Ready to Go

Susan sent me a few new pictures of Autumn and Grant. They leave in the morning on a short hop to Atlanta, Georgia then a non-stop 15 hour flight to Seoul, Korea. I don't think I will hear from Susan tomorrow but hope to have some new pictures on Wednesday. She has our good camera and her new notebook computer and has promised to send lots of pictures. Smokey and I are on our own and we miss her already.

Winter is Here

A cold front rolled in. Yesterday afternoon it was 65*F (18*C) and this morning it was 17*F (-8*C) and icy. Smokey and I are staying inside today.

Christmas Play

My beautiful granddaughter Hannah did a great job and looked fabulous with her pretty blond hair specially curled for the event. She is a very lovely girl of 11 1/2.

Christmas Play

It concluded with the traditional Nativity Scene with lots of small angels and shepherds. Lots of parents crawling forward with digital cameras.

Christmas Play

I drove over to Wagoner to attend the Christmas play at the Methodist church. My granddaughter Hannah had the main speaking part. She was the MC of a spelling bee in which all the words were bible words. A little cheesy, but after all, it is a church Christmas play. It was cute, lots of singing and just the right amount of silliness.

Susan has Flown Away

Susan left early this morning to help her daughter-in-law Beth get ready to fly to Seoul, South Korea with newborn Grant and 3 year old Autumn. They are joining Sue's son Paul while he is stationed there with the Navy. Sue will return December 22. I am consoling myself with a plate of shrimp tostadas at my favorite Mexican restaurant La Hacienda at 45th and Peoria. Small family owned ethnic restaurants really offer the best food in town.

Visit with Santa

Merry Christmas to all!

Visit with Santa

Don't forget to leave a plate of cookies for Santa, and carrots for the reindeer.

Visit with Santa

Eh, what was that again? Whisper in my ear.

Visit with Santa

Have you been good? What do you want for Christmas?

Visit with Santa

Santa is visiting the Christmas party for the New Hope Ministry which is for kids who have a family member who is incarcerated. You may recognize Mrs. Claus, my lovely helper.

Asbury Methodist Church

Sue and I are out and about today doing some Christmas shopping. We passed Asbury and marveled at it's size. This is their new building, and the smaller structure on the left is the "chapel". This photo does not show how enormous this place is.

Sunset over Riverside

Susan took this picture earlier this evening when she was out. I was a sluggard today but am feeling some better.

Feed a Cold

Doctor Susan decided that my cold needed a good breakfast and since she offered to buy, I had no choice but to agree. She took me to the new "Jimmy's Egg" at 41st and Peoria.

Additions to my Blog List

I stayed home again to nurse my cold. I am determined to feel better by tomorrow. My theory is that if I go to the doctor and spend money for pills I will feel better after 3 or 4 days. If I stay in bed and take vitamin C and aspirin I don't spend money and will feel better in 3 or 4 days.

The day was not wasted however, as I put together this year's Christmas letter. Our arrangement for the annual epistle is that I select photos and Sue writes the text. It is ready to go to Kinkos and should be mailed by the end of the week.

My other small accomplishment for the day was to add 4 music blogs to my Blog List. I have followed "The Rest Is Noise" by New Yorker music critic Alex Ross for several years. Recently I have been reading 3 other music blogs; "MMmusing", "think denk", and "Feast of Music. I read them because I am interested in all things musical and because they are well written and very readable. I also added "Steamboats Are Ruining Everything" which is hard to catagorize but very interesting. I hope you will take a look and enjoy them too. Why have I selected these out of the many great blogs out there? Whim. After all, this is my blog.

A Good Day to Stay in Bed

Sue and I are both puny with colds and coughs and have spent a good part of the day in bed. Smokey is interested in Susan's new notebook.

Tulsa Toy Run

After the motorcycles went by Mike and Amber brought Gavin by the house for a left over brisket sandwich and an early Christmas present.

Tulsa Toy Run

They roared by for a long time. This guy has a kids bicycle tied on the back of his motorcycle.

Tulsa Toy Run

The route runs up Riverside and my favorite spot to watch the bikes go by is in a folding chair at the end of my street.

Tulsa Toy Run

Mike and Amber came to watch Mike's mom Carla and stepdad Dave ride.



The annual Tulsa Toy Run is a gazillion motorcycles riding up Riverside Drive taking toys to the OSU Center downtown to contribute to the Salvation Army's Christmas program. It has grown to such a size that it is now split into two Saturdays to keep the size manageable.

Coffee Hour

After the service we gather in the narthex for coffee and cookies. It
is an opportunity for people to get acquainted.

Family Dinner

Here we are, all together. At left is Josh, Cara's son, my son Luke, and his girlfriend Cara. Standing is my son Adam, his wife Judi, their daughter Hannah, and in front of me is their daughter Sarah. To the left of Sarah is David's fiance Renee, to the right of Sarah is my son David. Next to me on the sofa is my foster son Mike and his wife Amber and their son Gavin. I have a beautiful family. Behind the camera is my dear wife Susan who made it possible for us to enjoy this nice meal together. Thank you Sue.

Family Dinner

My 3 sons are grown and busy with their own lives. It is hard to get everybody together for the holidays. Saint Nicholas falls between Thanksgiving and Christmas and turns out to be a good time for a family dinner. I cooked a large beef brisket and a side of pork spare ribs, Sue fixed beans, corn, and a nice fruit salad. The kids brought bread, wine, and dessert and we had a full table.

Saint Nicholas Day

It has to be said that not everyone is impressed by Santa Claus. She did warm up to me later.

Saint Nicholas Day

Tomorrow, December 6 is Saint Nicholas day in our calendar and I must confess to having portrayed the old gentleman on many occasions. A dear friend in Dallas is a costume designer and very kindly created a beautiful Saint Nicholas cope and miter for me over a dozen years ago and I put it to good use every year.

What I really like to do is appear in church as if a visiting bishop and tell the children just who I (St Nicholas) am, and how I came to be known in this country as Santa Claus. It is a good story and as I explain about Santa I remove the cope and switch to a Santa hat. It makes a nice connection from the historical Bishop Nicholas to the now rather secular Santa Claus. The kids love it because I end up giving them candy.

The HOW Crew

We hired a crew from the HOW Foundation to do a fall clean-up. They cut down the dead stuff in the flower beds and raked all the leaves both front and back. We are all neat and tidy. They did a good job.

Funeral for Baby Conner

Since this one of the rare occasions when I am wearing a suit, we asked a friend to take our picture. Susan always looks nice.

Funeral for Baby Conner

Conner was the infant grandson of some dear friends at our church. Born October 20 he died unexpectedly in his sleep very early on Thanksgiving morning, November 27. It is very sad to see a little coffin not much larger than a shoebox.

Sue cooked a big beef pot roast and took it over to the family yesterday. Fr. Rick did the service in the chapel of the funeral home. The church has prepared a meal for family and friends after the service. I don't know how people get through something like this without a community to support them.

Packing Marjorie

Mike and Amber are doing all the work and won't let us pay them what it is worth. We will enjoy a nice dinner when we finish. Thanks guys.

Packing Marjorie

We have rented a Uhaul truck and our friends Mike and Amber are helping box everything and move it to a rental storage. Hopefully this will be the last time to move her things.

Packing Marjorie

Susan and her brother Alan worked hard to move all of their mother's things to an assisted living apartment. It is very nice but Marjorie didn't feel comfortable and neglected using her walker within the apartment. As a result she fell and cut her head and the center said they could not provide for her. Now she is in a nursing home where she receives better care but shares a room. She doesn't like it but we have run out of options.