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.

We have caught Shinobi doing this multiple times in the past twelve hours:

We will be in a different room and walk into our bedroom to find him curled up in a ball on top of Jonathan's velvet mushroom ottoman thing (there are sentimental feelings attached to it, don't ask me). This new little trick is so ridiculously cute, to us at least, we just about die laughing. I have no idea why he started doing this!

He is almost two and a half years old and we really like this age. He has figured out ways to communicate with us and does it frequently. Last month we signed him up for his second year of visiting nursing homes as a therapy dog. We are taking him to Jane and Karl's house to play with his best buddies Lincoln and Scout on Sunday. He stayed with them while we were in Hawaii and I think it was the equivalent of a "Men's Retreat" for him because he returned to us much more dog-like. We are so glad to have him!

We had some friends from college visit us last weekend. The Bartletts and the Provenzolas were on a road trip to Disneyland and stayed with us Saturday and Sunday on their way back to Oregon. We took them to downtown Palo Alto, Fisherman's Wharf, and Alcatraz. It was a real treat to get to see them.

We have started a home group with some of our friends that meets on Thursday nights. We call ourselves The Thunderwolves. Who wouldn't want to be in a bible study with a title like that right?! We are learning about the Kingdom of God for the first couple months and intend to be outreach and service minded. It is so encouraging to have a good base of friends here who love the Lord.

I want to share one of my favorite old hymns, it has been rattling around in my head lately. Enjoy!

1. What a friend we have in Jesus,
   All our sins and griefs to bear!
   What a privilege to carry
   Everything to God in prayer!
   Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
   Oh, what needless pain we bear,
   All because we do not carry
   Everything to God in prayer!
2. Have we trials and temptations?
   Is there trouble anywhere?
   We should never be discouraged—
   Take it to the Lord in prayer.
   Can we find a friend so faithful,
   Who will all our sorrows share?
   Jesus knows our every weakness;
   Take it to the Lord in prayer.
3. Are we weak and heavy-laden,
   Cumbered with a load of care?
   Precious Savior, still our refuge—
   Take it to the Lord in prayer.
   Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
   Take it to the Lord in prayer!
   In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
   Thou wilt find a solace there.
4. Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
   Thou wilt all our burdens bear;
   May we ever, Lord, be bringing
   All to Thee in earnest prayer.
   Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
   There will be no need for prayer—
   Rapture, praise, and endless worship
   Will be our sweet portion there.