They Are Home

After 6 days on a bike and one hundred ninety plus miles, the NWYC is home.  Safe and sound.  With many stories to tell.

Even to the very end, those kids were cheering each other on even though they were hot and tired and had just ridden close to 59 miles in about 6 hours up and down hills.  Amazingly enough, they were all still smiling. . .

And They Are Off

Well, if I had done this post on Sunday, like I had planned, the title would be more appropriate.

Sunday, after a crazy ballet day on Saturday, my oldest daughter and her daddy and about 28 kids and adults from our church Youth Choir left in the afternoon on their 180 mile bike ride around our state.  Their goal was to be the hands and feet of Jesus to all that they met and to sing in nursing homes and churches where they were staying.

She has been practising her singing and her biking for a couple of months just in preparation for the trip.  As I have posted before, it has proven to be challenging in areas we just were not ready for.  But, such great life lessons about perseverance and faith and strength and determination have been had up to this point!

We had her and her daddy packed on Friday, for the most part, because we knew Saturday would be crazy.  Then hubby and I, with the help of a bunch of friends, had to prepare lunch after the church service for all the bikers and their families.  So, not a whole lot of wiggle room for making sure they were ready to take off right after lunch.

NG woke up Sunday and was exhausted to say the least.  I won't go into great detail, but, at one point she wasn't sure she was up for the challenge of the coming week.  And, honestly, I didn't blame her.  But, we talked and prayed and made a plan for the week.  The plan was to just get through the most immediate activity.  Like just getting dressed and heading out to church for 9AM for rehearsal. (They were also singing in the service that morning.)

Then, once that was done, she could focus on just eating some lunch.  Then, when lunch was over, she could just focus on riding the first 10 miles to their first stop.  And so on and so on and so on.  Of course, it was a great relief for me (and for her) that her daddy was going on the trip as well.  he was hauling all of the stuff behind the bikers.

It was a hard decision for us.  Push her to go or let her opt out.  I knew if she would just get started she would be great!  So, getting her going was kind of tough.  But, our plan worked.  We took it bit by bit and by the time they were ready to head out on a rainy Sunday afternoon she was willing to go.  By the time they got to the first snack stop she was over any trepidation she may have had and daddy said she has been a trooper ever since!

They have been crazy busy on their trip.  Singing in nursing homes and churches.  Having bible time and free time.  Tubing and singing in caves to their state park ranger.  Oh yeah and biking.  Miles and miles of biking.  As of today they have biked about 130 miles.  And tomorrow, Friday, they have to bike 54 miles.  There longest day by far.

Another challenge looming is there is a tropical storm headed our way.  And of last night, there was no real plan.  They were going to figure it out this morning.  

I have a ton of pictures.  I don't know if I will post them all today.  It might be a day by day thing.  Who knows?  But, one thing is certain, I have never been so proud of my daughter or my husband.  And thoroughly encouraged by all of the teens that they have been hanging out with this week.  My husband has had nothing but wonderful things to say about all of the kids on the trip.  Well behaved, encouraging and so wonderful to all the people at the churches and nursing homes that they have been to.  The older kids have been great, great role models for NG and the two other younger girls that are on the trip.

Have I mentioned that NG and two others are the youngest.  Most everyone else is in high school!  Those young girls rock!

Setting up for the lunch for the bikers and family after the Sunday service.  A family affair.

The kids singing in the service.

Loading up the U-Haul trailer.

Biking around the sanctuary at the end of the service and then Pastor D prayed over all of them

Best buddies!

Fist pump before taking off.

Snack break.  

Riding down the road.

Water break.

Their first stop was close enough that we could go watch.  My mom was here and had not heard the Youth Group sing so we got to watch them perform again.

NG singing her solo.  She did awesome.

Evening bible study.

Heading out for day two. 

I know this week, many prayers have gone up for these young kids.  I know they have been sharpened by their circumstances and each other.  I know they have been encouraged by young and old alike.  I know they are growing their relationship with God and each other.  They are most definitely making memories.  But, most important of all, they are learning to put their faith and trust in God and learning to be the hands and feet of Jesus.  What an awesome, awesome experience . . . .

Ballet Recital - Part 2

About a month ago the girls' ballet studio had, what they called, an informal showing.  If you were a dancer and you wanted to pick a song and choreography a dance and then perform it in front of your fellow dancers and their families and your family, you could.

Both my girls decided to participate.  Each of them with a friend.  (They did fabulous by the way!)  At the end of each dance, the director of the studio opened it up for comments and encouragements etc.  It was such a wonderful time for the dancers.  They got to showcase their talents, not just in dancing but also in choreography etc.  And then be encouraged by other dancers and teachers and parents.

There were many times during that night that I wanted to say how much it means to me, and I would guess all mothers of daughters who dance, what an honor and privilege and a blessing it is to watch a daughter dance.

As I watched my girls dance again, this past Saturday, my heart just swelled with love for them and the gifts they have.  They enjoy it and they are good at it.  And it always goes by way too fast!

Love, love, love to watch my baby girls, all my baby girls, dance . . . 

That Time of Year - Recital Time

All Friday night and all day Saturday had to do with all things ballet.  It is that time of year, when the girls, who have worked so hard all year long, get to perform on stage for family and friends.

It has been 8-9 years since we first started ballet.  We took a year off after EG was born but have been at the studio ever since.  And the girls love it.  When ever the opportunity comes around to do something different, they always choose ballet.  We don't do much else in the way of organized programs and ballet fits the bill for so many different reasons.

We love the teachers, the program and the kids who hang out there.  (Boop has made friends with a few of the brothers that have to play while their sisters dance!)  My girls have met friends there that they still have.  I have met friends there that I still have!  We have seen families grow and watched the girls grow.  We have watched students become teachers.

O.K. enough of that!

Our Saturday started out with EG and her very first recital.  For as much energy as she has, she, in my humble opinion was one of the best dancers in her class.  She was intent on watching her teacher and doing exactly as she was suppose to, when she was suppose to.  She smiled the entire time and looked like she enjoyed every minute of it!

NG assisted in a class this year.  So, she got to help lead a class for the Lower Division recital (EG's age girls).  I know I mentioned this before, but, watching my last baby girl dance for the very first time and then watching my oldest baby girl lead other little girls to dance was just so profound for me!  I cried again!

The whole recital was so sweet.  I enjoy watching all of the little girls dance.  There is just something about those little princesses all dressed up in their beautiful costumes praising God through dance.

Precious baby girl.  

Recap and pictures of the big girls' recital tomorrow . . . 

One Proud Mama

I wish I had a picture, or better yet, a video.  But I don't.

Nature Girl has been singing in the Youth Choir at church.  We have a great Youth Choir, led by a godly man and the kids that sing in it are fabulous.  Last year when they sang at our Wednesday night service, I knew I wanted NG and all my kids to be a part of it.

They learn to sing and then at the end of the year they take their show on the ride via bike.  This year, they leave on Sunday and will be gone for 5 days.  They will travel 180 miles on bicycle and sing in churches and nursing homes along the way.

About a month ago, the pastor who leads all of this, asked for auditions for solos.  Nature Girl did not try out.  The following few days, as she was, yet again, singing around the house, I encouraged her to try out.  And she agreed.  I emailed the Pastor and because she had voluntarily sung a solo a couple of weeks prior, he said he didn't need to hear her again and assigned her a part.

She rehearsed her part.  Except, come to find out, it was the wrong part.  By the time we figured it out, she had a week left to get it right.  So, back to practicing.  But, because I am not musically inclined, I did not catch that she was rehearsing it wrong.  And it was a modern version of an old hymn so it needed to be right.  We found this out on Tuesday and she was to perform last night, Wednesday.

It is unusual for someone her age to have a solo.  Most of the kids are older and have been singing for awhile.  They have learned how to sing independently.  Things that NG is still working on.  Because she has never sang in a choir or had voice lessons or played an instrument she had a huge learning curve.

For 24 hours we worked and worked and worked on her solo.  The Pastor tried to help her get it right.  But she was just having some type of mental block.  Then yesterday we ended up going from one thing to another.  A 25 mile bike ride on a local trail, we got home late so had about 45 minutes to eat lunch and get to ballet.  Then by the time we got home from ballet we had 20 minutes to eat dinner and get to church for rehearsal.  So, it didn't leave much time yesterday for firming up her part.  But she did her best.  A friend listened to her and thought she had done it right.

But, because of her inexperience and my lack of musical knowledge we just weren't sure.  So, we decided that even if it was not exactly right, she was going to sing it with confidence because she did her best.  And any decision as to whether or not she was going to sing was just going to be the best for everyone involved.  Although it would have been hard to take, I knew she would understand what was best for every one involved.

Once again, she rose to the occasion and accepted the challenge ahead of her.  About an hour before her performance last night, she went into the music Pastor and sang her solo again. (If she didn't get it right, he was going to have someone else sing.)  She was nervous and scared and didn't want to fail.  We prayed and read scripture and just talked about how even this was in God's hands.  It was a wonderful teaching and encouraging moment for both of us.

A few minutes later, she came out and told me she did it!  I was so proud of her.  Not because she can sing, because I know she can.  But, because once again she did not quit.  Because she could have and everyone would have understood.  When the kids were rehearsing before the program last night, and I heard her part coming up, I sat in the doorway and peeked in.  When she was almost done with her solo, I let her see me.  And when she was finished I jumped up and down and gave her a huge smile.  I know I embarrassed her.  But, I needed her to know how proud I was of her.

She is a fighter.  She is determined.  It hasn't been pretty these last few weeks with all the challenges she has faced.  But, we have used these moments to point our focus towards God.  To work together as a mother and a daughter and as a family.  And God has choose to bless us in some pretty mighty ways.

She has her faults.  As do I.  As do all of us.  I am thankful for her in my life.  I am thankful for all my children.  They challenge me but they grows me to be more like Christ.  Who could ask for anything more . . .

Comfort Food PW Style

Maybe because it is warm weather here or maybe because I didn't make this just right or maybe it is because we have had better beef stew.  I don't know.  But, last weeks recipe was PW's beef stew and it was OK.  I will say, two of my friends made it and they LOVED it.  Chances are it was just me.  Hubby had some good ideas that might improved on it for next time.

It had all the right ingredients and it really wasn't very hard.  And as you can see it looked delicious.  Maybe it just needed a tad more salt.

Now the dessert we had was crazy good!  It is Pots de Creme.  I am not even sure I spelled it right.  Anyway, it was coffee and chocolate chips blended together to make a wonderful mousse and then I added a heavy cream topping.  It was so easy but, oh, so delicious.

I am not sure how many recipes we have done so far, but it has been super fun taking this challenge.  I am so much more confident in the kitchen which has helped tremendously with my every day cooking.  And we all have tried things that I am not certain we would have never eaten before.  

Now, I think, we are probably on to some of the little bit harder recipes.  We will see how that goes . . . 

The Netherlands

I am positive I have way more fun than the kids do for our annual Geography Fair.  It takes all I have not to be totally in charge and put my little fingers into all the aspects of it!  I do my best to let them do most of the work.  But, it is soooo hard.  I just love it so much!

Anyway, this year we chose The Netherlands.  We had just gotten through reading Hans Brinker, or the Silver Skates and I had just read Windmills of War.  Both books were set in the Netherlands so it seemed an obvious choice.

We learned so much about the country just by reading the books.  Things like much of the country is below sea level hence the need for so many dikes and windmills.  The dikes to keep the water from coming further inland and one of the original purposes of windmills was to pump water.

Did you know that tulips are not native to the Netherlands but they are from Turkey.  And tulip is a Turkish word for crown or something like that.  Cheese is as staple in many of their meals and there are almost as many bikes as people.  Holland is a region of the Netherlands.

Boop built a windmill out of Legos but I forgot to take a picture of it.  I thought it was super cool!  Hubby was on a call a couple of weeks before the fair and he noticed a man had a pair of wooden shoes in his garage. He asked the man if he could buy them and the man said sure.  So, we had a pair of wooden shoes to display.  Up until fairly recently, the people of the area actually wore them.  Much like steel toed boots.

All of the people that attended the Geography Fair were given a colorful map of the world.  On that map were places to put dots on the countries that had been "visited."  The kids had a great time going around to each display and trying to figure out where the country was on their map.

We all had a great time.  We look forward to participating again next year . . .