Concerts #2, #3, and #4

Concert number 2 was our church's adult choir Lessons and Carols program. If I had to pick a favorite night of the year, this would be it. Every year this program becomes more and more meaningful and emotional to me. I pray the music was just as illuminating to listen to as it was to sing.

I wish I could highlight every piece we sang. I've been doing much thinking about these lyrics the past couple of weeks:

As the dark awaits the dawn, so we await Your light.
O Star of promise, scatter night, loving bright, loving bright, 
Till shades of fear are gone.

As the blue expectant hour before the silv'ring skies,
We long to see Your day arise, whole and wise, whole and wise,
O lucent Morning Star.


As the moon reflects the sun until the night's decrease, 
May we Your healing light release, living peace, living peace, 
Unto Your holy dawn.

Shine Your future on this place, enlighten ev'ry guest,
That through us stream Your holiness, bright and blest, bright and blest;
Come dawn, O Sun of grace.
We await Your light.

So beautiful. It expresses perfectly this "now, but not yet" time of waiting. Someday...

Concert #3 was Caroline's choir program at church. The first grade choir sang 2 pieces and did a fantastic job. I accompany this choir. They are such a good, sweet, big group! I can't wait for the spring concert! I have to say that the most fun part of helping out with children's choir is getting to work with my own and my friends' children!

She looks so grown up! Can she really be old enough for a choir robe?

Concert #4 was a program at Caroline's school. The girls have been studying Mexican Christmas traditions and made a special Las Posadas procession at chapel. They made "lanterns" and got to dress up as a nativity character of their choice. I think out of 60 girls, 50 were angels. Here's ours:

Wings and halo look familiar?

Caroline's first grade class - the Ladybugs

(I'm going to sum up a few concerts/performances. They include gigs as a handbell ringer, accompanist to a high school choir, pianist for a nursing home program, and organist. 'Tis the season to make LOTS of music!)

Choir concert #1

Helen had her preschool choir concert at church last week. It was so sweet. She did a great job, but was a little distracted by all the costumes and excitement. She told me she really wanted to be a "fairy princess ballerina", but I convinced her to be an angel.

She was so excited to finally get to put on the wings and halo.

With her sweet friends Coleman and Caleb

She did do a little bit of singing (in between a whole lot of wiggling)!

A birthday, a trip to the farm, and a revival

Our weekend could not have been packed with three more diverse activities!

First was Elizabeth's birthday party. These two have been friends since they were born. I love that they are growing up together. Elizabeth's party was packed with all the things little girls love - princess costumes, tiaras, jewelry, glittery cookies, manicures, pink punch, and giggles.

Elizabeth was feeling particularly silly!

Saturday afternoon we headed out to the Halford's farm for a fall festival. I think everyone's favorite activity was riding the horses, even though for Caroline cooking her own hotdog over a campfire was probably a close second.

Caroline was in heaven! She listened intently to everything Dr. Halford said and did a great job! She was so proud of herself!

Helen loved it, too. She said, "I was so brave riding the horse!"

Dr. Halford is so great with all the kids.

Then Sunday afternoon, I joined my fellow church choir members at the Victorian Village Tent Revival. We sang a few pieces and then walked over to The James Lee House for a special reception and tour. My sweet friend and organ mentor Jennifer and her husband are in the middle of planning a huge renovation to the house. Hopefully, the B&B will be up and running by late next summer! It's going to be so beautiful and I can't wait to see it!

The original part of the house (now the back) was built in 1848. This front facade was added in 1878.

The girls are standing in front of one of the two magnificent marble fireplaces in the parlor.

It was a busy and fun weekend! Now I need a nap...

Fall break

The girls had fall break over this past weekend. We didn't go out of town, but stayed in and enjoyed some Memphis activities.

Peter had school on Thursday, so I took the girls to do something we wouldn't attempt with him in tow: painting pottery. They had so much fun. Caroline painted a cross treasure box and Helen picked a piggy bank. Helen was very worried about leaving Piggy behind to go in the fire, but I'm happy to report we picked him up and he was just fine. I treated them to lunch at Cheffie's afterward.

Friday, we got up and headed to the Licterman Nature Center. We had such a good time exploring and strolling around the lake there. It was a beautiful morning. Caroline participated in a 1st and 2nd grader group project at school several weeks ago. They designed and built a scarecrow. She was so proud to see their hard work on display.

 

Monday was the last day of fall break. I was grateful for an email from my friend Brittany inviting us to join her and her boys and some other friends at the zoo. My usual Monday morning activities are the grocery store and laundry. I'm so glad I neglected those tasks for a fun time with friends at the zoo!

It was a good fall break. I'm already looking forward to the next day off of school so we can have another Memphis adventure!

Best family photo ever

We went to an artist reception for our friend David Butler and a lady at the gallery offered to take our picture. I have no hopes of ever replicating the success of this picture! You may be seeing it in your mailbox December 2012. And December 2013.

We love David and his sweet wife Hillary, who is also an artist. Our families' lives are interconnected in some pretty neat ways and we are blessed to call them friends.

Beach week 2012

We had so much fun at the beach this year! Our week started out a little iffy because of tropical storm Debby. Luckily, she turned in a different direction. We had one nasty, rainy day and one cloudy day. The rest of the week was sunny and beautiful.

We spent as much time on the beach as possible. Bryn and I had a shopping day and the guys had a fishing day. We were all sad to leave and I'm counting down the days until my toes hit the sand again!

Peter's first wave

Peter needed a little nap on the beach.

 

Peter loved the beach. He crawled around in the sand and splashed in the surf. He ate a lot of sand.

Our last day at the beach Caroline got stung by a jellyfish. It was pretty traumatic at the time, which is why I was glad she made this light-hearted drawing of the jellyfish when we got home. She talks about it now with a little pride in her voice. I'm hopeful that one bad experience hasn't ruined swimming in the ocean for her.

 

June 2012

I've let so much time elapse between posts that I honestly don't know if I need to go backward or move forward? I think this quote from an excellent recent read is somewhat applicable:

"Life, too, is like that. You live it forward, but understand it backward." -Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

Thanks, Laura! I've already started your next recommendation! :-)

Looking back at the month of June...

A certain little boy keeps growing.

Caroline had a Senior K class program and graduation, shared moments with sweet friends, and had an awesome 2 weeks of swimming lessons.

The girls had a blast at gymnastics camp (especially Helen).

That's a lot of fun to pack in to one month. And it doesn't even include our week at the beach. It's hard to believe summer is half over. I'm certainly going to do my best to ensure we enjoy every last, hot minute of it!

Graduation

Caroline got to participate in graduation this year. St. Mary's pairs graduating high school seniors with a senior kindergarten flower girl. It's a really sweet tradition. Several times throughout this spring semester Caroline got to have little dates with her senior, Hannah. They had picnic lunches and a special chapel together and frozen yogurt outings. Caroline became quite enamored with Hannah. I think they were a good match!

Both of them looked so beautiful.

I made Caroline's dress. It was so much fun! I'll show you some of the "behind the scenes" details in another post.

I spent some time doing Caroline's hair. She was thrilled to have curly hair for a day.  When she said her prayers that night, she thanked God for letting her have curly hair that day! It's the little things in life...

Caroline and Shelby have been friends from day one of JK. I look at this picture and see them taking a similar one 12 years from now (sniff, sniff). They have a really special friendship and I pray they will be friends for life.

Caroline has had the most incredible teachers this year. I am so thankful she has had these two women to guide and challenge her not only academically, but spiritually as well. It is a huge blessing to know that the Godly virtues we are striving to instill in her at home are also being reinforced at school. God has been so good to put faithful, beautiful, strong, grace-filled believers into her life outside of our home.

We are very proud of Caroline!

Boston girls' trip

I'm a lucky girl. I just got back from a fantastic weekend trip to Boston! One of my dearest friends, Brittany, is living in Boston for a year while her husband does a fellowship. I'm doubly thankful - Brittany is such a sweet friend and a fantastic tour guide and my husband is amazing for taking care of our three kids all weekend by himself. Can't wait for the next girls' weekend!

Check out Brittany's post on our trip. She's got a few more pictures and details of our weekend.


We took the Freedom Trail tour.

We ate...

(The Beehive)

...and ate some more!

(Mike's Pastry - cannoli disappeared like some kind of magic trick after I took this pic)

We shopped at Quincy Market and found comfy and cute new shoes.

(Apropos footwear - a very interesting stop)

We saw lovely buildings and gardens.

 

We found the resting places of some very famous Bostonians.

(Samuel Adams actually had nothing to do with the beer other than in name.)

We became Red Sox fans by proxy.

I had a fantastic time. It was so good to hug my friend's neck and experience a little bit of her life. She was an awesome tour guide. She has really immersed herself and thrived in Boston. I'm so proud of her.

I missed my littles and was so extremely happy to see them waiting for me as I exited the airport terminal. I brought back a couple of Boston surprises.

(Need a better picture! It's so cute, but I think he'll be 5 before it fits!)

I've got to say that my husband is the greatest. He was completely unfazed by my absence. He was 100% behind this trip and I am so grateful. He and the kids even had a little adventure of their own...

(Mud Island River Park)