Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone! This was a busy semester and the break is turning out to be the same, but at least we got out to our parish for Santa's visit.

 

 The boys enjoying some snacks.

 John and David with Santa

 David playing piano with Aina.

 Three of our graduates at commencement with Robert.

Most of our department posing with our recent graduates. Note me in the back with my snazzy hat.

Farewell to our Friendship Family Daughters

Two of our three friendship family daughters are returning from Lander after one semester (one will stay for a third). Before they left, we visited the Connie Maxwell House's Christmas celebration and rode on a horse-drawn carriage. The other pictures are from our dinner at Ruby Tuesday's.

Trip to Atlanta

We traveled to Atlanta so I could present at the American Academy of Religion conference. Scott and Juliet were kind enough to put us up (put up with us?).

 

 Arlene, Juliet, and Kylie during Thanksgiving break. I'm not sure why John is covering his ears.

 The kids playing with rc cars (Scott and Juliet kindly gave one to John)

 Scott and Bryce before the big Colts/Falcon game.

 John enjoying Scott's phone.

 Arlene an Juliet together.

 

Korean American Catholic Conference at DePaul

 

This last weekend I went to Chicago for a conference on Korean American Catholicism.

 

 

Having a delicious Korean meal with the presenters. Jim is on the left, with Fr. Simon (the organizer) in the center an Fr. Paul (the first diocesan Korean American priest) on the right. He had great jokes. For instance, what do you call a cow that has a baby? De-calf!

 

 The bottom of my whisky glass--the picture is meant to encourage you to drink.

 Breakfast at the rectory. More Korean food!

 

The poster for the conference.

 

 The conference room before it began. We had over thirty in the audience, a good number.

 Dinner afterwards.

Mexican food!

I had a good time with old friends and learned a lot, but was glad to get back home safely to my family.

Halloween and John's Birthday

 John wanted a McDonald's picnic while watching Garfield for lunch, so being the birthday boy, it had to be done.

 King of the birthday

 Getting ready to enjoy some sparkling wine

 Opening a gift

 Our friendship family daughters visiting for Halloween

 A generous neighbor had a smores station, so our friendship family daughters got to have their first American Halloween and smore

 Our friendship family daughters and David in front of our home

John, the train engineer, enjoying his birthday cake

Miscellaneous Autumn Fun

 I helped organize volunteers for the Railroad Center so I was invited to the opening of the executive car. Dad came with me. State Senator Floyd Nicholson holds a plaque given to him by museum director Stacey Thompson.

 The restored executive dining car.

 Dad and mom with David during our parish Halloween party.

 Arlene and her friends at the party.

Arlene, John, and David doing the cake walk.

Apah's 70th Birthday Party

Friendship Family

Our with our friendship family daughters, Minkyung, Joo Young, and Hye Min. We had a good time skating and then went to DQ.

Spelling Bee

 Our parish team (Our Lady of Lourdes) won the first annual Healthy Learner's adult spelling bee. Presenting us with the trophy is our state senator.

Here are links to the full story: http://healthylearners.com/adult-spelling-bee-a-success/spelling-bee-ariel-indexjournal-1stplace-our-lady-of-lourdes-catholic-church-img_9348/  
and
http://indexjournal.com/news/Greenwood-adults-spell-for-charity

Pictures of our host daughter Jisoo and Minwook

Fun with our friendship family daughter Hye-weon