Every year at our church, a second year intern is asked to give the sermon for the Thanksgiving service. This year Jonathan was asked to do it. It was very enjoyable to witness him hashing out the sermon for weeks in advance and refine it and the result is a message that is very much from his heart. If you would like to listen to it, you can through our church's website.

We are so thankful for everyone and everything in our life and pray that we can really see them for what they are: gifts from God that we don't deserve.

Jonathan went to Oregon for five days to visit. While he was away, Mary came to visit me. We went to Natural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz for part of the time she was here. Every year thousands of monarch butterflies migrate to the park and we got to see some of them. It was gorgeous!  

We also did some shopping and eating and sight-seeing.

We have enjoyed following Duck football more closely this season than we have in the past. The only game we missed was while we were in Hawaii. We had the privilege of seeing them play at Stanford Stadium with the Bell family (including baby Sophie, she slept the whole time. What a champ!) It wasn't my favorite game of the season, they lost, but it was sure fun to be a part of the commotion.