And. . . Christmas

Candle light service at midnight. Stan (Jim’s grandson) is on the left side—top row, right. David (Jim’s other grandson) is assisting with scripture reading and is standing next to our pastor—center, right. Kittilu, Natalie and I were enjoying the view from the balcony.
Christmas morning breakfast. We slept until 8:30 :-)

We didn’t have a stocking for Dad so we used one of the boy’s soccer socks and that seemed to work fine. Among other things, he’s been enjoying peanuts, fresh fruit, and a book of cross word puzzles. Merry Christmas.

Christmas Eve

Poppy reading Luke 2 on Christmas Eve.
More Christmas carols :-)

David, Natalie and Stan open one gift--New pajamas (but don't tell them)

A delightful pear :-)

Dad enjoys fresh fruit from the Pacific Northwest--sent by Robin and Louise.

Third Sunday of Advent

“Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished (Luke 1:45). Today’s message focused on Mary’s magificat, reminding us all of the wonder and miracle of Christ’s coming.

Dad’s hearing doesn’t do well in situations that require sound-systems. He enjoys singing, reading scripture, and all aspects of participating in worship but I am afraid that much of the preaching gets past him—because of the hearing thing. I’ve taken to outlining the sermon on a sheet of paper so he can follow the line of thought but that’s got to get old for him.

Poppy enjoys the music and music is often a big part of our Sundays. Today, Kittilu (Poppy’s daughter in-law) played in an atrium ensemble between services. She’s the one in the red top in the photos. Natalie (his grand-daughter) was the “bearer of light” lit the advent candle. Later, Kitti helped lead the congregational singing—mostly carols today.

Mexican food for lunch.

Now we’re home. Poppy’s doing the crossword in today’s paper. Not a bad day in all.

Game On

Dad and I spent the afternoon at Wiser Gym watching the Lady Panthers. Here, they came from behind to beat Pittsburg (KS) State 87-74. Woo-hoo!

We always sit behind the visiting team's bench. Dad loves watching the coach's drama. A couple of weeks ago, one got out of control and was ejected from the game--very exciting.

My Mother's Bible

I love it that my Dad keeps Mom’s Bible. It’s the one he chooses to read and take to church. It may be because he lost his Bible or that it's worn out or something, which is believable, but I’m going with the other guess—that he just likes keeping Mom’s Bible.

It’s a genuine Schofield, leather bound Bible with F. Willine Maxson stamped on the front. Now that’s a narrative all by itself. (I want to insert something here about a God, Schofield, and Mom trifecta that informs and empowers Dad’s ministry but I probably shouldn’t.)

I’ve always thought that, together, Mom and Dad represented what is good about American Evangelicalism. Dad studied at Wheaton, Dallas, and Fuller. Mom went to Moody Bible Institute. In short, it's like Luke 10:27 (Love God with your heart, soul, mind, strength and your neighbor as yourself) was institutionalized and then operationalized through Jim and Willine Maxson. I still think about that whenever I see him with her Bible.

Second Sunday of Advent

Lot's of activity today. Dad started the day in Sunday School hearing about Christmas in Holland. Then Christmas choral music in the atrium with coffee and bagles. We gave our Christmas musical during the worship service. Dad sat with our son David and some good friends (the rest of us sang in the choir).

Lunch at the Bread Company.

Natalie's Christmas piano recital followed by cookies and punch. We're home now and Dad's in his room.

On Remebering Stuff

For Dad (and all of us to a certain extent) memory is an issue. It’s always interesting to notice what he remembers. He may not remember, really, what happened from one day to the next but sometimes something will trigger a memory. For example, it’s Christmas season now so there’s lots of seasonal music playing—lots of references to “joy.” Dad heard “joy” and said “joy, joy. . . Joy Baker. Joy, June, Jeff Baker and Jeff Baker Jr.” and off we went into a series of stories about good friends from our days in Ventura, CA. You know? I haven’t thought about the Bakers in years.

A more recent memory has to do with Jim and Rachel Wisehart. Jim and Rachel have been attending lots of weddings lately. Apparently, Jim created an elaborate structure in the back of his truck (a wooden frame of sorts) that would allow the entire wedding party to climb into the truck bed (wearing formals) and be transported from the church to the reception hall. This is a vivid memory for Dad and he tells the story in great detail.

Yesterday we went to the Christmas parade in Springfield. This evoked memories of Dad’s marching days in Fort Worth. He thinks they positioned the trombones in the front of the band. Christmas lights remind him—again of Fort Worth, TX—when they used to drive around to see Christmas decorations. I chimed in with my own memory of “Candy Cane Lane” in Ventura but that one didn’t scan. Oh well. I could tell you more stories but that’s about all I can remember right now.

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Dixie's "Arrangement"

Our dog’s name is Dixie. We have an arrangement. She stays outside during the day and sleeps in the back hall during the night.

Poppy and Dixie have another arrangement.

Eggnog Shakes!

My Fair Lady

I meant to post these photos earlier--Dad arrived just in time to catch Stan in his high school's version of My Fair Lady. Stan played the part of Freddie--the love sick bachelor who sings "On the Street Where You Live" (among other things--tenors are always in demand). There is a dramatic strain running through the Maxsons that can be traced as far back as Papa (Jim Maxson's father) or further. Until a cure can be found, it will continue to pop up from time to time.

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First Sunday of Advent

It was a cold weekend in Springfield. Lots of snow and ice. As you know, from the earlier photo, Dad and I spent some time on Saturday shoveling snow.

We had a good Sunday of worship and music. Our son Stan is quite musical so Dad got to see his grandson play French horn in a brass ensemble in the atrium between services. Later, Stan played in a bell choir during the worship service. I played for communion later in the service. I think Dad enjoyed his time in church.

After church we went out for Mexican food and got home to relax for a little while. In the afternoon, Kitti took the kids sledding and I took Dad to Drury for Vespers—mass choir with string quartet, harp, and brass choir. It’s the big event for our concert choir. It was well attended in spite of the weather. Then back to church for choir rehearsal. Dad enjoyed some time in the church library while we rehearsed.

Today is quite cold and everyone has left for school. Dad will be home with Dixie. I think that Dad’s time in our house must be like taking a drink from a fire hydrant. It’s either all on or all off. Dad is enjoying the blog. I printed off Charlie's post--he's read it several times.

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Snow Day

If you follow your weather news you know that Missouri got a bit of winter weather--enough to consitute a snow day! Here's the "before picture". My camera froze up before I could get the "after" picture but you can assume that it looked great when we were through.

Navy Pilot

Thought I'd add this picture of Dad next to the Waco, Navy Trainer. His time in the service fell somewhere in the middle of his college career at Wheaton College, IL. He spent some time training in St. Louis and Texas A&M. Later he served as an air traffic controler on Guam before returning to finish his college degree.