Christmas Highlights

1) Making it to Bartlesville, OK on $65!
(So thankful gas was down with all our travels)

2) Brenton as Kip passing out cookies to the Benware neighbors

3) Bonfire at the Benwares

4) Seeing our two new Benware nieces for the first time
(Sadly, missing pictures of one niece due to the camera dying)



5) Giving my sister's little baby a good knock on the noggin'
(Ollie's Response: Goodness Kel, you gave Jaylon another head!)


6) Dr. Mario wars with the Dongell family

7) And of course, all the good family time!

Merry Christmas from the Benwares

Grove Park Inn

Recent Date Night:
Or should we call it our new summer hang out... We visited this beautiful Inn after having heard about it from friends. We quickly realized we'd never visit the spa with their prices hitting the top of the charts, which would be expected if one owned the 13th ranked spa in the world.



previous pictures provided by: www.groveparkinn.com

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The Infamous Gingerbread Contest at The Grove Park

1st Place


Brenton's Favorite


Another One of the Many

Music Moves

provided by: www.selahonline.com

Last night was the second to last event at The Cove for the year. After registering guests, I slipped into the back of the auditorium to hear Selah for about half an hour. I have to say that their cds don't do them justice. The singers voices were amazing; they so purely sang a variety of hymns accompanied by the piano.

I have realize over the last year or so how much music moves me. I was sitting in the back getting teary-eyed, like I do every Sunday during worship. My thoughts were taken back to a lady who stopped through registration and grabbed a few tissues. I joked with her that she couldn't plan on crying in advance and she told me she was emotional due to being pregnant with her third child. Sadly, I have no excuse. Music just moves me. Maybe, just maybe, it's because music fills in when words are not adequate. It can be majestic, worshipful, moving, holy, and some many other things that I often don't have the words for.

Also during registration, I met a lady who told myself and the volunteers about her conversion experience. She mentioned she had been ostracized from her town in another country upon becoming a believer. After being unwelcomed or safe in her town, she came to the states as a mail-order bride. While standing in the back of the concert, I saw her moving more joyfully and worshipping more passionately than anyone else in the auditorium. That could partially be her personality, but I bet she understands freedom and joy more than most of us, or should I say Christians, in America.

Decorating the Tree in the Admin. Building

The call to head to the lobby, away from my cubicle, was more than welcomed last week! The ladies upstairs, and Don, patched together a Christmas tree full of frosted leaves and poinsettias. While there was no Christmas music, the lobby filled with laughter and chatter pretty quick.



A few of my co-workers hung around to create mishievious displays in the other lobby decorations and others stopped by just to join the light-hearted fun. It felt like the end of the semester Christmas parties in elementary school. Everyone was ready for a fun afternoon break after focusing so hard this past seminar season. Whether we were creating mayhem or stuffing the tree with plants, it was a much needed breather.

When Your Friends Borrow Your Camera...

Well I figure if I am subject to surprise, my friends are also! The ladies I work with are loads of fun and keep me on my feet. That's for sure.

Today I asked two co-workers to take a few pictures in the training center for my bro-in-law. I rarely get up now since seminars are over, but I told Brandon I'd help him out with his sermon props. (Hope I'm not jumpin' ahead too much brotherman.) I just had to share the fun. As we were leaving, I ran into the two mischievious ladies and could tell more went on than I was currently aware of. Sure enough, as you're finding out, they went on a fun little adventure for me. That's what friends are for and that's how blogs get to be so interesting!