My family in the past year has had some changes in life. I am finishing my last year in college, if I finish writing the Greek paper. Also in seven months, I will be getting married to a wonderful guy, who studying to be a minister as well.  Michael has introduce me several new things like Canadian bacon, Canadian money, the Canadian Flag, the Canadian national pastime (Well, he is Canadian). I have grown to love the Canadian national pastime which happens to be hockey. Oh, Canada does have their own football league, but I don’t understand American football so that might not be an interest of mine.

There are different ways to count down the days of Advent. At one church, they gave out  a bag with 25 pieces of candy. The only way you got the candy was if you read the scripture per day. Other people used a calander with windows that open up to show a surprise. My family once did the 12 days before Christmas (we received a lot of gifts one year). But the Argot kids also do an Advent Navity.

The idea of the Advent Nativity came after coming home from church or just looking at the toy Nativity next to the TV. Anna and I decide that all the Christmas characters where too close to the manger and that wise men were had to go back east. We decide to do a progressive nativity in which each week, telling the Christmas story found in the Gospel. Between December  20-24, Mary and Jospeh are moved everyday to Bethlehem,to the arrive of Jesus’ birth. Jesus and the shepherd does not appear until we return from the Christmas Eve’s service. The wise men do moved during the Advent season but in little steps. During the 12 days of Christmas, they hurry to reach the child by Jan.6, on Epiphany.

Why do an Advent or a progressive nativity? Because it reminds us that the  Christmas story was not rush. Sometimes during Christmas, we fail to wait and slow down to not only Christ’s first coming but his second arrive in the future. The children of Israel had been waiting for their Messiah since the prophets spoken about it in the Old Testament. Advent, in a sense, is preparing us to celebrate Christ’s first and soon-second coming  arrival.

It was cool to see how the other Christians worship on Sunday morning.  Several times during the service I did get lost , because lack of a bulletin and a structure of a mass has more elements parts of the service. But I can say, the sermon or homily was interesting to hear. The Lectionary readings for this week came out of John 6:60-69 and Ephesian 5:21-32 and the priest did wonderful job using both passages of scpritures to explain why taking the Eurcharist (Communion) imporant.

The passage of the Gospel (John) can be the most interesting, diffcult, hard to wrap our minds around, what Jesus had to the crowd about being the bread of Life. Jesus states that those people that drink his blood and eat his flesh would be in union with him and the Father. When a person receive the Eurcharist  they are united with Christ, who gives us eternal life. But the priest also mention that if a person has a problem with his brother, the two parties should reconcile with each other before taking Communion. Before taking Communion in the Wesleyan Church, the pastor will ask the congregation to examine their hearts and relationships with God and man. If the any guilt of sin on a person they should not take communion under false pretense  and fall into to more sin. There could be more explaintion and/ or dicussion about what John wrote in in this particular passage. What I like most about the sermon is that taking Communion is more than remembering Christ death on the cross, but the eteranal life in heaven.

The whole problem started when my mom went to her ordination meeting with several members of the DBMD (District Board Ministries Development). When the topic of children came up, she told the truth about having an 12, 17 and 20 year old. Pastor Moe Diggs could not believe that she was telling truth, even with the DS Pastor Reynolds  shaking his heads with in agreement.

Fast forward to the present. The past week I got to meet Pastor Digg at the District Conference ( My social highlight of the year). I produce two forms of id, SWU id and driver’s license, to confirm that I was twenty-one. Pastor Diggs looked at my mother and said she looked too young to have two college students. Plus he added that we have good genes that make us look young.

To play in the rain and don’t care if you get totally soak!

In the aftermath of a rain storm, having a tea party with mud cake

Playing dress up in mommy’s or daddy’s clothes or making a mess of your mother’s make up

On having that special blanket, toy or piece of clothing

That you had to take everywhere.

For the joy in finding surprises in life

Always asking questions, but still enjoyed the mysteries.

To run barefoot in the grass, stones, carpet, concrete, or any surface

That our feet did touch.

When running from boys meant that they had cooties,

 And if they touch you, you need a cooties shot.

The biggest or only fear of all was the boogie man

And at the age of 5,

You are perfect size to sit in daddy’s or mommy’s lap and talk to them all the time.

Sure, being a grow-up is fun,

With all the responsibilities, headaches and worries

What time do I have, now an adult, to act like a kid?

I will confess when there was heavy rain at school,

To actually play in the rain, without an umbrella.

A couple days ago, I enjoyed having my fingers tie dye,

While making cards for the Army.   

Even with the responsibilities as a grow-up,

I think my inner child want to come out.

Of dreams and love that they always mean.

There is only one line to be sung today,

And very few notes to swing the heart away.

As dances have movements, so the song will as well

Of memories and stories to cherish beyond the years.

Sure as two people can dance, so two hearts can sing,

In two different parts, that let the melody ring

Truth of the poets and the writings of long ago.

As the dance comes to a stop, so must the song no long go on.

The people shall part and said adieu,

But not to the memories of me nor you.

We cherish the moment from afar,

Never glance back at music sheet again.

            Never have I been so lucky to be friends with all of you in my two years of SWU.  

Life will be so boring, so calm, so not interesting with you guys not around.            

To those that life will be in ministry; may God be will you as you work with the church.           There will be ups and downs but there is a joy in the work to be done.

             To the seniors that made us laugh, there is nothing to be said.After all, there was plenty smiles to go around. Remember skit nights, long nights talking and just being friends. 

The friends that enlighten us through songs and music of sound We will miss those people that roam the Newton-Hobson and Folgers all the time.

   And for last, SWU will miss everyone that leaves their classrooms.

Sure, there will be freshmen to take your place and your mail boxBut there will be no one like you. Congratulations Class of 2009!

It all began when I walk Harriet from Bower building to the SWU newest building on campus. Like other classes, I tried Harriet to a bench or a pole and leaving an apple to busy her when I was inside. However, it was Tuesday which means I’m in Newton-Hobson Chapel & Fine Arts Building for about 3-4 hours straight, 9:25 to 12:35. I would have to visit Harriet right before chapel, and hope she stayed there until after choir. Harriet was secure to the bench between my 9:25 class and chapel so there was no worry that she would escape. Until the pig came into choir.

 No one seems to know how Harriet got inside the building or in the rehearsal hall for that fact. Actually everyone in choir but the choir conductor realized that there was a extra singer that day.  We all tried to get his attention, however the conductor was worried about the choir singing the right notes than an animal. Only at the start of the “Hallelujah Chorus” did Harriet made herself known, by letting out a squeal (it was almost in tune and in the key). The tenors and basses went to capture the pig which made me dash before them. I explain to the professor that I was the pig’s caregiver for the week, and was sorry for the interruption. The professor allowed Harriet, who fell asleep later, to stay in the room. After choir, I forgot that Harriet was with me and headed out to lunch. Unfortunately that was the beginning of our problem.

Since Harriet slept in my room, I have notices that she is a heavy and quiet sleeper. The only thing woke her up was loud noise. Music makes her fall in to dream land not wake her unless a big band. Thanks to the jazz band, Harriet made a loud squeal and dash right out the door. The band leader, with a group of students, ran after the pig.

“Close all doors!” a professor shouted, “We can’t allow it to escape.”

The only people on the lower level of the building were music majors trying to practice in peace. Some of the guys came up to form a blockade one hall, so the pig would not escape. However, Harriet found some way to enter the elevator and went up to the second floor up. There she walked quietly to SWU chaplain’s office, lied down and went to sleep. The music majors ran up the stairs and into the hallways, looking for a pink animal. Around this time, I realized that Harriet was not with me, so I return where I last saw her. The thud of footprints above me, signal that Harriet was no longer in basement. We searched every room trying to find the pig; the chaplain asked what we were doing. I try to explain that I was missing a pig and that my friends were helping to look for it. With his hand on the chin and looking straight at me, “I’m sorry, but I have not seen your pig. However I will look out for your four legged friend.” And with that Harriet popped right next to him with a grin, with an oink, left the building. Luckily there was no damage to Harriet, me, my friends or the building and that how Tuesday ended. The End.