Wow... that title kind of sounds like poetry. No poetry here. Just a busy mom who hasn't blogged one word or picture since December! (sigh) So it's got to be a collection of winter thoughts... since spring is now here and I have to catch up fast! SO much has happened... I'll just give it to you in chunks:
Christmas was a fun but crazy blur! We fit in a few parties, school events AND a bunch of showings of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, starring Becca Gaunch at the MU Joan C. Edwards Playhouse.
Garrett finally flew home after his very first college final exams. (He did well!) We did the whole Christmas celebration which included visiting the relatives, opening gifts and the Christmas Eve service. This year, Garrett sang "Ave Maria" and it was lovely. Mostly we just tried to chill out together.
Three days after Christmas, Hannah and I boarded a plane for our very long ride... to Ryazan, Russia. This was my second trip and Hannah's first trip to Hope Church- our church, Pea Ridge Baptist has been in partnership with Hope Church for years. Their pastor and his family have visited us so Hannah was ready for this adventure to the other side of the globe. The last time I went, Hannah was in 5th grade.
We were there during the Russian Orthodox Christmas celebration. Unlike most mission trips (including my last trip to Russia), we didn't run around doing physical labor, building things or doing VBS type lessons in a different area each day where you meet a lot of people but never really get to know anyone well. This trip, we spent time with the pastors of the Ryazan region and their families. We saw their churches and how they minister to people. We saw their neighborhoods and their challenges and ate around their kitchen tables. I felt their devotion to the Lord... their broken hearts over the huge number of people around them who don't recognize their need for a Savior... their eagerness to learn more from the scripture. It was a harder trip because our goal for the trip wasn't to 'do things for them'. Our goal was to bring them materials, encourage them in their ministry and see what we could do to help in the future. It's hard to let yourself get emotionally invested... so much easier to stay busy. But, it was worth it. I feel like I have a much better understanding of how God uses ordinary but willing people who have been experienced His love to express that love to other people.
Isn't that a sweet bunch of people? I wish I could take you all there to meet them.
We spent almost every weekday in January running to or from a middle school basketball game or practice. Becca absolutely ran her little tail off! At 5' tall, she's definitely not a high scorer, but she had an important role on the team as a defensive player. She'd get a 'mean look' and block really well and many times ended up with a foul and a bruise to prove it!
With Lou working in Hurricane and me working in Huntington, and a whole host of activities on our calendar, we rarely had time to hang out. But, we would sneak a few occasions to get away. We had a gift certificate to a Tea Room... so a talked Lou into giving it a try around Valentine's Day. And he actually liked it. (I knew he would) Since he doesn't eat a lot, the tiny portions were perfect and everything was homemade and yummy. The only problem? He couldn't sweet talk the waitress out of the potato soup recipe I loved. He certainly tried!
Hannah has served on the Huntington Mall Fashion Advisory Board this year and has enjoyed it. She gets to model clothes and do service projects. February meant 'Prom' apparently... so the fashion shows began.
A late winter ritual at Covenant School is the annual Talent Showcase. This year, Hannah ran the show and I must say, it went very well. (She's pretty organized- where does she get that from?) This year, Becca really was brave and sang a solo from the musical Beauty and the Beast. It took several phone calls to Wheaton for consultations with her brother before she was 100% ready... but she did great in my opinion. Her voice is deeper than I ever thought it would be- pretty cool.
Even the event organizer got to sing a song :)
Along with the Talent Showcase was an art exhibit. Hannah drew these!!! Aren't they great?!?
Finally... Garrett made it home for his Spring Break the first week of March. It's funny how the entire dynamic of the house changes when everyone is home. I love that. (sigh) He rode the train home from Chicago overnight and I think it was an eye opening experience for him- lots of interesting people. He visited grandparents, sat beside me in the pew at church and just enjoyed some much needed downtime with us. We did have to confess that Lou had taken over his closet since he moved out :) Awkward. He took it well. We sent him back to Chicago on the train with birthday money- he turned 19 on St.Patrick's Day- and told him we'd bring him home in two short months!
Oh, how some things change and yet some stay the same. When Becca was just 2 years old, I'd take her with me to the Target at Southridge Center in Charleston where we lived and she would kick off her shoes when I drove the buggy near the shoe department. Not kidding. She wanted to try them on so she'd just flip off whatever she was wearing to let me know she was ready... fast forward 11 years. She's turning 13 and does she want clothes? No. Electronics? No. She wants shoes. Red, sparkly shoes. And they're just enough in dress code that she can wear them with her school uniform.
She had a sleepover and therefore needed a sleepover cake. Yes, each face represented a girl at the party complete with the appropriate hair and eye color. There was eating, dancing, playing games, music, coloring, swimming and well... 13 year old girls stuff.
For the last 2 years, the coming of spring has also meant the filling out of college papers, financial aid forms, scholarship essays and the like. SO much to do before the deadlines that all seem to fall on May 1st. So Hannah has known that she wants to go into Retail/Fashion Merchandising. This degree is a business degree that is specialized in teaching students how to manage/own/buy for/etc retail businesses of all kinds. With retail being such huge business in the US, we need people who are trained well to manage sometimes many operations. And... WVU and University of South Carolina both had programs BUT University of South Carolina is the #2 program in the nation and gave her a big scholarship because of her good grades. SO- we headed south to give it a closer look. Hannah has visited once before with Lou's parents but I needed to see it and ask... well, 'mom' questions. She's trying to find a Christian roommate and a group to get plugged into right away. But, the program is awesome, the weather is just like she wanted and the campus vibe is very 'her'.
And... University of South Carolina is the choice!
So, Garrett is 9 hours north. Hannah will be almost 7 hours south. We can do this. Thank goodness Becca will still be here in her own bedroom for 5 more years.
As we drove back into WV from our So. Carolina visit, it had rained and the sun was out, creating a beautiful double rainbow. Winter is over and spring really is here. And the rainbow was a double reminder that God keeps His promises. He's been faithful before and He will be again... in Barboursville. In Chicago. And in Columbia, SC. And wherever God calls Becca to in 5 years.
