APC goes live to Amman

In a historic technological leap, the Christmas program at APC connected via live video feed to us in Amman, Jordan. We made the "sacrifice" of staying up until 3AM to be a part of the Sunday evening festivities! We did a trial run with Jaime & Johnathan on Friday afternoon to make sure all the connections worked... there was no second try on this surprise! Jaime connected to us and then we appeared on screen, much to mom & dad's delight.

For the record, the hard part was made simple by our friends at Apple and that oh-so-easy-to-use iChat that comes as part of every Mac's OS. (An absolutely shameless plug, I know...) We're so totally excited that such a group is coming to see us... it's still six months away and already I'm planning like it's next week. Jaime & Bonnie came to see us in Prague in 2004 and it's only fitting that the 'rents come see us in the "Holy Land."

Many, many thanks to all those at APC and the family and friends in the community that are making this trip possible!

Scott

WE"RE GOING TO JORDAN

As most of you know, our second grandchild is due in April and will be born in Amman, Jordan. Glynnda and I were discussing a trip to Jordan to get in on all the excitement. We had not bought tickets yet but the process really got serious when Mark, Margie and Mikelle expressed an interest in all of us going together.

Well, word about our plans had gotten around and our APC church family was very anxious for us to go. Sunday night after the Christmas program on the 20th, they arranged to have Scott and Suzi live on SKYPE and projected on the big screen. Then they presented us with the results of their efforts. It was more than enough funds for our round trip tickets! What a tremendous surprise and demonstration of love and support for our family.

Scott has given us a proposed agenda and schedule. I told him we would stay for two weekends and at least fourteen days. This is going to be so exciting.


We are still amazed by this outpouring of love and generosity. What an incredible gift!!!

Vernon

Tis the Season

The McGarvey's are all hard at work during this busy season as always. I'm actually sitting in the dress rehearsal of our Christmas program at APC right now! Little angels and shepherds are scurrying about. Mary just literally stuffed baby Jesus in the manger...."Gently lay him down Mary. Pat Baby Jesus and look at him like you love him." (That would be Mama coaching the 6-year-old on infant care.) The show is tomorrow night, and I'm sure it will go off in its usually adorable hilarity we've all come to love.

Scott and Suz are having fun with their own Christmas programs a world away. So we're each doing what we always do just in more languages on more stages now.

We started off the season with a trip to the Fabulous Fox in St. Louis to see the Nutcracker. Jessi and I went to the ballet while our boys escaped to the Galleria for dinner and massages! All four of us were happy with the start of the season. (The boys were just as happy to NOT be dressed up at the ballet as we were to be there.) There may have been a bit of twirling and leaping as Jess and I left the theater. (No bouncing from me this time though!) Check out the photo of Jess, Jaime and little sweet pea at his/her first ballet.

The next event was my Christmas Arts Council Concert, "Cocoa and Carols."  The venue was packed and people left smiling, which is always a plus. I'm grateful for my fun, second career as an arts administrator.

Johnathan finished his semester and we now have a whole month with no trips back and forth to St. Louis twice a week. He will graduate with his Masters in Counseling in May from Missouri Baptist University. I'm so proud of him and his 4.0. He studies more than I ever did.

Mama's piano recital is another of our holiday traditions, and she pulled off another heart-warming afternoon filled with beautiful music. She promises to do better and actually teach MY children to play, so we'll keep our fingers crossed for another generation of musicians in our family. I did manage to grab a photo with the star of the show after the event.

Mama and Daddy attended a holiday organ concert at Trinity Methodist last week and everyone enjoyed seeing Daddy looking so wonderful as always.

They also hosted the area ministers and wives (30 people at the Lodge) for dinner this month as well as Mama's annual Christmas APC ladies luncheon. The Lodge looks amazing with a new paint job, roof, windows and soffits. But I'll let Daddy talk about that. He's been quite busy getting the Lodge ready for the holidays.

Mama and I started a new tradition this year. We decorated our houses together and had such a great time. We knocked out our houses in half the time and had twice as much fun!

And of course, we're all preparing for our two biggest gifts early next year. We have 8 more weeks until Johnathan and I are officially parents. What a wonderful adventure this pregnancy has been. I've loved every second of it. Mama, Daddy and Johnathan have all taken turns getting to go to my appointments. Of course everyone went to the ultrasound to see our little addition perform on screen. We do have a little performer already!  It's in our genes, right?

We're looking forward to Christmas at the Lodge this next week. It's going to be a full house on Christmas Day with Ted, Ray, Stuart and his new wife, Laura, Bonnie, Helen and Len, Mark and Margie and the girls, Grandpa Don and Grandma Pat, and of course all of our Moberly gang too.

We did stop last night to have a great family night with Johnathan and me and Mama and Daddy. We played games and ganged up on each other in Rook and Chinese Checkers. These are the good ole days, for sure!

Merry Christmas to all of you and we hope you're having a wonderfully joyful, busy season just like we are!

Jaime

THE SIX MONTH CHECK UP

November 25, 2009

Yesterday was my six month check up with Doctor Schlossman at Missouri Cancer Associates. I had no problems to report or questions to ask. My weight was 175.6 pounds without my shoes. An increase of 20 pounds.

The blood test proved to be routine. No abnormalities and no concerns. On my last check up in May I was low in iron. It is back to normal.

Doctor Schlossman checked out my abdomen and my glands for signs of swelling or pain and there was nothing abnormal. Because I am self pay, the office has agreed to discount my bill by forty percent if I pay up front. That saved me $142.00.

While I was recovering a variety of people came to minister at the church in April, May and June. I will forever be grateful for their wonderful assistance. I have assumed a full schedule again at church with the exception of the Wednesday night bible study. Several areas of ministry that had to be expanded during my recovery are still in place and it is a good thing for all of us.

On the home front, I was able to resume lawn care duties in August and help with reroofing the house in September. Dustyn Tallman and I put in six new windows and Johnathan and I painted the house this month. We have accomplished a large amount of work and the results are very satisfying.

This is the best Thanksgiving of my life! I am so very blessed in every way. I look forward to next year as God continues to prove His faithfulness to us. God is good.

Vernon