It's Easter Week Kinda Wonderful

So our wonderful week began with a hilariously busy Palm Sunday weekend. Torn in Two, the band Garrett sings in, opened for a big nationally known band called Big Daddy Weave that was on tour and performing at a local church.

We spent the day setting up and met 'Big Daddy'...aka Mike Weaver. Nice Guy. We actually talked about his family and how he watches HGTV with his wife because he loves her. He even showed me pictures on his phone of their family room that she had redecorated. Garrett sang to a crowd of probably 800. Then he ran (literally) to a Sunday school classroom, threw on his suit and drove to meet Hannah and friends at dinner before the Covenant Spring Ball (aka Prom).

I had helped her get ready earlier in the day and Louie and I 'tagged' as he dropped her at dinner and I saw Garrett's performance. (sigh) Anyway, I drug them both out of the restaurant to get a quick picture. Don't they look nice? Not bad for a $4.99 dress! Hannah created her own earrings and hair clip! (I think I may need to find an occasion to borrow the hair clip- it's very cool!)

Hannah was on the Dance committee and because there were a few 'glitches' (aren't there always?) I think the evening started out a bit stressful. That happens sometimes when you're in a leadership position. But, the music started and before long, it was awesome. The theme was "Decades". It started with current music, then there was 'time machine' music that took them back to the 20s music... then the music progressed to the 30s, 40s and so on through the decades until the end of the evening.

Monday, Becca had her big moment! She WAS Mary Todd Lincoln for one hour on stage at Covenant School. The 6th grade class told the story of the Civil War through the lives of the characters they portrayed.

They also sang a few songs. Becca had a solo and a trio. She sang a portion of "Dixieland"... not in the upbeat way its often sung, but in the way it was written- mourning for a lost time and place. I took the rest of the day off and we took her class to an old pharmacy/soda fountain for lunch, then to Ritter Park to blow off some steam. They make me laugh. One minute they're practically teenagers... the next, they're on the playground!

We absolutely HAD to color eggs because we ALWAYS DO DURING EASTER WEEK according to Becca... and so, we did and it was fun... and messier than I remembered!

Hannah and Garrett did their share, too. Aren't they marvelous?

They day before Easter, Louie and I tried not to spend much time apart. He's been terribly busy learning a lot about Allstate and such and getting things ready for his office to open, so we haven't gotten to just hang out much. But I snuck (or is it sneaked?) away for a while to help out with our church's community Easter Egg Hunt. It was awesome! There were SO many kids there and most I didn't know. It's rained and rained for weeks, but for about 2 hours, the rain held off as they scoured the back hillside collecting little plastic shells of goodness! They also heard the Easter story and were told loud and proud that 'they are important' and that 'Jesus died and for them'. :) We even took our 5 year old neighbor since she was just hanging out that day.

So on Resurrection Sunday morning, I grabbed my Sunday school lesson- one I couldn't wait to share- and we hurried and even fussed a little as we put on our Sunday best for church. It ended up being an GREAT day... great Sunday school, great sermon, great family time.

He has risen... He has risen, indeed!

April showers... bring May flowers!

I'm experiencing 'motherly guilt'. If you are a mom, you know what I mean. I diligently blogged on Becca's birthday, March 14th and on Garrett's birthday, March 17th. But here we are, one full week after Hannah Grace's birthday and I'm just now getting around to posting a blog about her. (sigh) No Mother of the Year awards for me this year. So... last Wednesday, April 6th, we celebrated because Hannah Grace Gaunch turned 17 years old!!! I skipped my afternoon teacher meeting and we headed to Panera for a late lunch. It was mid-week and Louie was training for his new job, so we knew it would be a low-key celebration. But, she loves their soup and it was her choice.

I cannot believe she is 17 years old! She is an 'A' student, is too independent for her own good sometimes, looks older than 17 (hate that!), is super creative, and can do absolutely anything she sets her mind to. Hannah hasn't nailed down a career path yet, but is starting to narrow down where she might like to attend college next year. She is taking the SAT in about 8 weeks and we are planning her first college visit road trip for after school lets out for summer. Hannah recently received a place on the WV Youth Ministry Planning Team. This is a group of 8 youth who help plan four large youth events during the 2011-12 school year. Louie also had a place on this team during his senior year of high school. One of the reason (not excuses, exactly) that I didn't acknowledge Hannah's birthday on the blog on the actual day was because of the crazy week we had. In addition to work and school, Garrett's band, Torn in Two, performed at our church last week with 2 other groups as a fundraiser for a mission trip.

(We also have had a lot of important details to take care of as we prepare to open the insurance agency in the next few months.) Torn in Two has a HUGE opportunity this weekend. They will play at a youth event before a national Christian band named Big Daddy Weave. Their lead singer, Mike Weaver, will speak at the event. Oh, and did I mention that Hannah's first responsibility on the Youth Ministry Planning Team will be that day... and it just happens to be the day of the Covenant School Spring Ball (aka Prom)? Yep. Garrett will sing his little heart out, run off stage, throw on a suit and head to prom. Speaking of prom, Hannah and I got the deal of a lifetime on a prom dress- this is how much we paid at a nice department store for a knee-length, dark plum colored dress with a rhinestone accent at the waist...

$4.99 plus tax. Apparently it was on clearance from last year's batch of dresses. (Yeah!) Aaahhhh... life in our house is fun. Sometimes the activity is like a light sprinkle and sometimes its like a downpour! During our daily morning routine in Kindergarten, we change the date on our calendar- this month, we are marking the days on that calendar with a pattern of little construction paper clouds, umbrellas, and raindrops. The kids always chant, "April showers bring May flowers!" After all this 'downpour' of activity in April, I wonder what 'flowers' will pop up in May? We've been getting graduation announcements ready to mail and Garrett's cap and gown are ready to be picked up. (He will have to try it on at home to check the length... I'll TRY to be good and not cry) Garrett is receiving mail regularly from 'his college' now. We have an official "first day he needs to be on campus" now... it's so real! He's so fortunate that he's going to be able to participate in a one-week orientation prior to classes beginning that will really help him get mentally and emotionally ready for college life and being away. (Yes, they have a 2 day parent version when we drop him off-to teach us how to say goobye!) We even had another milestone this week- we mailed Wheaton College our first check... one of many to come!

What else? Oh... did you know that its the 150th anniversary of the Civil War? Everyone in my house does. We are totally emersed in the Civil War because Mary Todd Lincoln (aka Becca) is living in our house. She will be in a huge presentation, complete with costume, speaking part and solo next week. We've heard facts, watched documentaries and shook our heads at how they dressed. I can't wait to see her in action. All this as we prepare our hearts for Easter- my favorite time of the year. I teach an adult Sunday school class with Louie and we are doing a 10 week series that I am loving. We're looking at the historical and cultural context of 'Easter story'. It's caused me to go back to scriptures I've read my whole life and see them in a fresh new way! I love my life- proms and family and concerts and work and such... but I know that I never want to forget my true purpose and my 1st love... my Savior.