M.O. Choir Concert & Party (12/14/08)

This afternoon was Mount Olive's Christmas Choir Concert. I love the music! Brett was singing with the Children's Choir. Jim was up in the balcony videotaping the concert. There is typically two times for the concert, afternoon and evening performances. With only one performance, the church was packed! Logan, Katherine, and I sat with Pastor Wangerin and his mother. I don't know how much Pastor saw of the concert. There was a pillar in front of him, but the sound was beautiful to the ears. Afterwards, Mrs. Wangerin leaned over to Katherine and said that she thought that Katherine was almost as tall as her. So when we walked with Mrs. Wangerin to the Narthex, I took this picture of them. My 8 year old is almost as tall as our 87 year old friend.

After the concert our family was invited to a "church" party. Friends from church host an annual Christmas party at their home (which is only three blocks from M.O.). They have a Brindled Great Dane named Ava. Our children love playing with her!

Logan eating with Mr. Bartz. He and I walk Monday-Friday at church.

Decorating the sanctuary and Logan's band concert (12/13/08)

December brings many activities. Some days/weekends are busier than others. This morning our family decorated the sanctuary at Mount Olive. The Rupes were moving into their new house, so Kyle and Ella joined us.

Brett, in a Detroit Lions fleece sweatshirt, hanging a chrismon high on the tree.

Tonight we were at MLHS for the band's Christmas Concert. All the different groups: Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Clarinet Ensemble, and the Marching Band, sounded nice, and Logan did a good job with his trumpet in the Concert Band and the Marching Band.

Logan is the one in the middle with the white dress shirt.

Birthday Breakfast for Jesus (12/6/08)

What a night...Kyle and Katherine were sick! Katherine was so disappointed that she was going to miss Birthday Breakfast for Jesus. I was just as upset. I had decided that this would be the last one that my friend, Sue, and I would be in charge of organizing. And I wasn't there. My knight in shining armor came to the rescue. Jim helped Sue make the pancakes and helped with anything and everything Mrs. Lange needed. Pastor Wangerin stopped over and took Logan, Brett, and Ella. Logan was one of the youth servers. Brett was a Wise Man for the pageant, and Ella got to sit with Pastor for breakfast and the program.

Kyle and I definately bonded this weekend! We sat on the sofa reading and watching Veggie Tales together. I, also, discovered that Kyle loves my waterbed.

Kyle and Ella visit and BBJ Set-up 12/5/08)

Kyle and Ella Rupe visit and Birthday Breakfast for Jesus

It has been a long time since the last entry, so allow me to share some Scheuer highlights. We set up the gymnasium for Birthday Breakfast for Jesus. We were blessed with many helpers, young and older. Kyle was kept busy placing ornaments, made from one of the "Circles", onto a tree.

All done hanging ornaments, Kyle thought I was a comfy chair.

New laundry tub and Advent Aglow (11/30/08)

Jim's Dad drove from Oconomowoc, in the snow, to help with the "demolition of the laundry tub." I have before and after shots, but was unable to be home for the fun of taking a sledgehammer to the heavy, old thing.

dryer, and heavy, porcelin, laundry tub, and washer
dryer, washer, and little laundry tub with room to fully open the bathroom door

Advent-a-Glow at Mount Olive

To save time, I decorated my table after Bible class this morning. I went to get Mrs. Wangerin (Pastor's Mother) for an afternoon/evening with ladies. She is a wonderful woman, who is devoted to taking care of her husband daily. I'm glad she was able to get out for a couple hours.

I was blessed to have five, fine, Christian ladies sit at my table.

Mrs. Wangerin having a slice of lemon cake after finishing an assortment of goodies. One of us is going to get in trouble for her eating so many sweets.

I love standing next to someone who is shorter than me. That doesn't happen every day! After the program was over, Mrs. Wangerin helped me clean up. She asked me if she could do something. I said she could take the coffee cups to the kitchen. She picked up three cups, looked at me, and asked, "Where's the kitchen?" She got back and put the rest of the coffee cups in the now-known kitchen. On our way to see Mrs. Wangerin's husband, she says, "By the way, did I tell you that when I went out in the hall, I saw the door with the sign, Kitchen? I know where the kitchen is now." She's funny!

Katherine piano practice and Gaba get-together (11/29/08)

Katherine diligently practing the piano, without being told to do it!

Saturday, we got together at Latif & Ruth's house. Daut, Cyrus, Bedull, and Ali were there, too. We had left-over turkey and stuffing plus Ruth's home-made turkey soup and wheat bread. It all tasted very good! After supper, we went downtown to see the Christmas lights at Cathedral Square. It was a nice evening!
Bedull and Ruth

Katherine, Logan, Uncle Daut, Ali, Cyrus, and Brett

Brett, Katherine, Ruth, Latif, Cyrus, Daut, Fatime, Ali, Bedull, and Logan

Cousins Ali and Logan (Freshmen)

Cousins Brett and Cyrus (6th graders)

Happy Thanksgiving (11/27/08)

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Church wasn't until 10:00 A.M., so we started our day by relaxing in bed...all five of us: Jim & I, Brett, Katherine, and Lucy. Logan was in his own bed. We still ended up rushing to get out of the house in time for church. It happens every time. Our family loves Thanksgiving and enjoyed attending Mount Olive's Thanksgiving Service. Our choir and instrumentalists were exceptional!

After church we drove to Oconomowoc for dinner with the Scheuers. There were only seventeen of us. That is not many for a Scheuer get-together! Grandma told Logan he could sit at the "grown-ups" table. We had a nice dinner. Dessert came after the dishes were clean. Sarah, Katherine, and Elsiana helped Grandma dry the dishes and silverware.

Grandma washed while Katherine and Sarah dried.


Elsiana helping with drying duty.

Before we all left Jim and Stephen were to bring up the Christmas tree from the basement. The two funny guys brought up this "heavy" one first.

Jim and Stephen with the "Charlie Brown" Christmas tree.

Stephen and Jim carrying up the "real" Christmas tree.

Logan, Brett, Sarah, Isaiah, Ben, Grandma, Ryan, Grandpa, Elsiana, Katherine

On our way home we stopped at Daut's house. Sue was at work, but the kids were able to play with Cyrus for an hour. They also got to visit with their Uncle Latif.
Cyrus, Jim, and Brett

Brett and Latif

As tradition has it, we went home, changed into comfy clothes or pajamas, and watched "Miracle on 34th Street." Jim made popcorn. I looked at the ads for tomorrow. It was our time to spend together. It was a perfect ending to a busy Thanksgiving Day.