Three Ships

 

Sue's colleague, Elizabeth took her extracurricular Girls' Choir (The Cougar Carolers) to The Mall of the Americas this morning for a holiday music performance.  On the road with the choir performing on piano was Mrs. Berg-Williams.  They performed on the mini stage outside of Sears.  (Say this in your best monster truck rally voice):"LIVE, LIVE, LIVE!  One show only at SEARS AMPHITHEATER AT MALL OF AMERICA, the Cougar [insert large cat roar] Carolers!"

I took this photo from the second level behind the stage.  I avoided using the flash to keep it low key.  Once when I filmed Sue's band at the mall, several of her students asked her who the creepy guy with the camera was. . .

 

 

Where once there were three, now only one ship floats in the harbor

 

 

We've done some night time driving around taking in the holiday lights.  This one was in the cul de sac where a house has its own radio frequency so the drivers can tune in to the synchronized light show.  Too extreme?  Yes, it was.

 

 

Sue's been working on finding some good photos to put into a mini album to take to Tanzania with us.  We want to show people what we do, who we are, how we live, what sorts of cats we have, etc.  We'll also take many copies of a family photo to give to people we meet.  We may use the one including J-1 and Milhaud from last Christmas.

 

 

Sunday was music Sunday featuring many choirs both voice and bell, a brass quintet with percussion, and a solo oboe.  This is Pastor Megan reading one of the lessons with the senior choir ready to sing.  I sat with Sue in the bell section, aka the north 40.

 

 

Here is Pastor Intern Ali reading the prayers.

 

 

And how about an action shot of some of the bell ringers in full-on bonging mode?

 

 

Between services the trombones performed light Christmas favorites in the carol sing

 

 

At the mall, Sue wasn't too upset that the amplification of the piano was minimal.  It really is hard to be hear in a noisy mall even if it was 10am on a Monday.  After the concert Sue and I shopped for a couple of things and then had the lunch special at Famous David's.

 

 

Sue has also been collecting snapshots of her students and also school supplies from her students that we'll take to Iringa to donate to the orphanages and schools that we will visit.

*****

I'll be here Home Alone for Christmas but will meet up with 87% of our family shortly after Christmas.