On Saturday, I took 12 of my students to Independence Court, an assisted living center (nursing home) to perform. This is the second time I've done it. Leading this field trip is an energizing experience. Being there with students is an interesting position to be in ... taking a group of 10-12 year olds to play for people who are in their seventies and eighties ... and here I am somewhere in between. It helps me to think about what I would have liked to do when I was 12 and what I would like to accomplish by the time I'm eighty. May God help me not to waste my time here on earth and use every day as an opportunity to glorify Him. If I get permission of the parents, I will post pictures of the students playing. But for now, here is a picture of me before the field trip and the turkey cupcakes the activity director prepared for the students. 
Tis the season ... the Christmas tree is up at the Gaylord.
Here is a picture of Charlie (the show writer at the Gaylord), Dominic, Jeff and Brett. These are the guys that I get to perform with every week.
On Saturday (11/22), my Mom and the Prestons came to see me perform. The Presonts have known me my enitre life. They enjoyed the food and the performance. They even said they may come back and bring their grandchildren.
I'm looking forward to this week. Yesterday at our men's accountabiliy meeting, Kris encouraged us to lead our families to be thankful on what God has done. There is so much to be thankful for this week: knowing Jesus as my Savior, having an incredible wife, a Church that rocks the house down by helping me love Jesus more, a great family two jobs that I enjoy (especially the one where I get to hit buckets), and the hope of becoming more like Jesus each day.
Mari also made some great chicken one night ... she served rice with artichokes and black olives ... very nice.
Speaking of Mari ... her schooling is going great. She has been teaching in the classroom almost every week. For one of her lessons this week, she taught linking verbs.
On Thursday night, my Dad took Mari, Ed (my bro), and Neesham (my younger sister-in-law) to see Frost/Nixon at the Kennedy Center. The first 45 minutes were pretty boring, but the rest of the play was very interesting. Here is the trailer of the up coming movie version of the play.
Spiritually speaking this has been a good week. However, I have been struggling with self-righteousness (especially when I'm driving) and laziness. I am looking forward to CJ's mini-series on laziness. Also, I am asking God to help me grow in humility and dependent discipline. May this weekend be a refreshing time of “... having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you ...” (Eph. 1:8) I need God to enlighten my heart to the gospel, which is my hope. This song by Martyn Layzell has been ministering to me lately.
This is probably the end of a song called, 'Mambo Italiano.' We are in the restaurant called Pienza.
This is Juliana and Jason + Isaac. We celebrated Jason and Juliana's wedding on Saturday. It was a very happy day. They were both in our small group from Church.
Here is Allison, Kate P., Hye Joon, and Annabel. They are all in the same small group Jason and Juliana used to be in. It was great to celebrate with everyone.
This Alba, with Mari and myself. Alba is in the same small group ... this will be the last time I mention the small group that Juliana and Jason used to be in ...
Here is Kate W., Alba, Jessica and the bride.
My wife and the bride.
The happy groom!
And the happy couple.
On Sunday, the same small group went to Centreville VA to hang out @ Cox Farms. 
One of the first activities we did was go on a hayride.
This was cool, the tractor pulled us through a middle of a small lake.
They also took us into a barn with some cool painted people and lights.
Toward the end, they had a real cowboy come up to the tractor.
Yep, there was a pumpkin toss, and here's how I threw the pumpkin.
For me, the hayride was one of my highlights, but the second best part of the day was seeing a 1000 pound pumpkin crushed.
There is it goes.
Here we are at the end of our day on the farm.
This is Mari and I outside of our room at the Gaylord National where I took her to celebrate her birthday which was 10/13. It was neat to be a guest at the hotel instead of just a performer. The hotel is very nice, and we had a great time.
Same picture, but just w/o the flash so you can see the big window in the background. Below are some pics ... I'll just conclude w/ a rap up.
It's cool to celebrate a brithday a few months after. Happy B-day Mari! If you went through all these pictures, you are a true friend. I should have some award for you, but instead, I just say thanks for being interested. Have a great day ... and, I should have some new video and pics of the Bucket + Pienza shows from my friend Dan next week.
