Wingate: One Day One Dog

Wingate University has a relatively new tradition of giving all of the students one day in the spring with no classes so they can volunteer and make a difference in the area communities.  This year we went out to participate, too!

Our project was to fill bags of potatoes..... bags and bags of potatoes.  We got soooo dirty.... but it was fun anyway!  College students are fascinating creatures.

Sunshine

Miles has taken to saying, "You got it, Sunshine" every time I ask him to do something.  I can't say I hate it.

It's definitely a big improvement on what he's usually said for the last 9 years whenever I ask him to do something -- which is nothing.  😆😮

Go-Carting

Miles has been asking for quite awhile now to go go-carting, and after working hard to learn all the material for "Memory Masters" for CC, we told him this could be his reward.  (As it turned out, a couple siblings joined in for some of the laps, too)

It was funny watching them drive round and round... they all had different styles, that's for sure!  Jinna was the funniest -- and definitely the worst driver!

Afterwards Miles got a little bonus treat -- bungee jumping on the trampoline thing!  He felt like he was flying.  :)

Conversations with JRR

Jinna at bedtime tonight:  When I was in China I was crying and you weren't there to hold me!
Me:  I know, I'm so sad we weren't there earlier.
Jinna:  You were late!
Me:  I'm so sorry.
Jinna:  Why you late?  Too much traffic??  You were driving and driving all day?
Me:  Something like that.
Jinna:  Next time, be early.

**

Jinna was talking about Heaven last night. She summarized it by saying, "It's waaaaay up there, and there's Mor-Mor and the cat and George Washington with God."

Sounds like a party with those 4!

CC Closing Ceremonies

Another year of Classical Conversations ended for us, and it was our favorite one yet!  We love the community we are in and are so thankful for the friendships and the tutors that encourage our kids so well.

At the closing ceremonies both boys were honored for achieving "Memory Master" status, which means they have now memorized all of the facts for all 3 cycles of Foundations.  Then each class did a little presentation with songs.

Colsen's class teamed up with Jinna's and the boys had a fun time being Elvis impersonators ("Elvis "The Element" Presley) as they sang a song about elements in chemistry.

Resurrection Day!

Easter was an amazing day this year, from before sun-up to after sun-down!

 Pete roused us all from our warm beds before the sun came up, announcing it was 6:50 and the sunrise service in the park started at 7 am!  We quickly put on our shoes and headed up the street.  Even though I am not usually a morning person I have to say this was one morning I enjoyed seeing the sun come up.  No better way than worshiping our risen Lord!

After a breakfast which included Resurrection Rolls, of  course, -- and a few playing of pranks, since it was ALSO APRIL FOOL'S DAY! -- we went to our regular church service and then came home to prepare for The Family coming over.

We had a big Egg Hunt in the yard for some of The Cousins.

 ...And then enjoyed some good food, good conversations, and a good game of Capture the Flag!

Holy Week

This year we really savored Holy Week, enjoying some meaningful times of worshiping and reflecting...

On Palm Sunday the kids sang at church....

On Good Friday, we joined the churches of downtown Monroe for a Stations of the Cross walk for a few miles...

Later on Good Friday some of our life group came over for a Passover-esque meal.

And on Saturday we found time to dye some eggs!

Hair in abundance

When Rayna was little I was quite concerned about her hair.  By the time she was 4 she still had very little hair, and what she had seemed very thin and brittle.  I worried she would always be lacking in the hair department.  And I prayed and prayed that God would give her thicker hair.

He answered that prayer in a "more than I can ask or imagine" kind of way!  Thank you, Lord.

Opposites attract?

Had this conversation with Colsen…

C:  You and Dad seem pretty opposite, Mom.

Me:  Really?  How?

C: Especially in your taste buds.

Me: Well that’s true.

C:  And also Dad seems much younger than you.

Me:  He does?

C: Yeah, he always seems like he’s having a mid-life crisis or something.  Like, he always wants to buy a motorcycle or do something crazy.  You seem more cautious.

Me:  Well that’s also true.

Wedding

While Colsen was off at his first yo-yo tournament, I was experiencing a first myself -- as a wedding coordinator for a day.  My friend Rachel got married and since she is very experienced with weddings (being a wedding photographer), she was able to mostly act as her own wedding coordinator... except for the very day of the ceremony.  So she asked me to step in and help with those details.

What a beautiful day it was!  The venue was quite unusual and people were all super-fun.  We had a great time!