Mission Trip

I could not be more proud of my girl, Hannah. She has chosen to spend her spring break on a mission trip to Knoxville, TN. At this writing, she didn't have best friends going on the trip, but was still brave enough to sign up anyway. I have a feeling she will come home with some best friends, though.

Saturday morning I loaded her in one of two church vans headed for Tennessee. I have to tell you what an unnerving feeling this is. I don't have a problem with her being away from home. She has been going to summer camp since 1st grade. This is the first time I have put her in a vehicle and sent her across the country. At camp, I take her, get her bunk all set up and know exactly where she is. Needless to say, I spent a lot of time in prayer on Saturday!

Luckily, the kids were allowed to have their phones and electronics for the car ride. I heard from Hannah Sunday morning. Due to traffic and construction they did not arrive in Nashville, their first destination, until after midnight only to find out the hotel had given away their rooms. They finally settled into another hotel across town at 1:45 a.m. I'm equally thankful that I was not the adult driving that van as I am grateful that they arrived safely.

Today is the first day on the job site. I'm told they are working on houses: light repairs, painting, yard work, etc. I can't wait to hear all about this trip from Hannah's perspective. These types of mission trips weren't made available to me when i was growing up.

Hannah told me this wasn't a "real mission trip" because they were only working on houses and not walking around telling people about Jesus. I didn't argue this point with her, but I am excited for her to connect the dots this week. Those kids and workers are the face of Jesus this week giving their time and resources to help others. And, I suspect, some Jesus conversations will take place.

A Star Is Born

After years of living in her big sister's shadow, Abby has finally found her niche. She auditioned for the talent show this year singing "Back To December". Here is the link to watch her performance on You Tube.

She did so great. After a dress rehearsal and 2 performances, she started loving that stage! As luck would have it, our music minister and friend, Jon Ward, coincidentally asked her to sing with him this week at church. She was beyond thrilled. He sang Casting Crown's "Slow Fade" and she had the child's solo at the end.

Her Juju and Paki took her shopping for the occasion. They dressed her from her headband all the way down to her shoes. I told her she should ask to sing more so she could get more clothes. She said they made it clear this was special because it was her first time. Shucks!

Click here to see Abby. She's at the end, but don't skip ahead because Jon is great.

She got to sing in both worship services and really did great. She's got the bug now. She asked me this afternoon if she could start singing in coffee shops and hotels. Um, I think we will stick with church and school for awhile!

Flies, and Frogs, and Locusts OH MY!

This is one of those cute stories that I'm sharing with you that's really more for me. I don't want to forget it.

Daniel has started a little contest in our house to encourage the girls to have their quiet times each day. Sunday was the first day and Ellie Grace wanted to read about Baby Moses being hid in the basket. She had that story that very morning in Sunday School and she thought that would be a good place to start. I couldn't agree more.

On Monday night at dinner she told us ALL about what she read. EVERY. LAST. DETAIL. It was actually quite impressive, but took a good 20 minutes. So, after dinner she decides she's going to continue reading on in Exodus since the first night went so well.

After about 15 minutes she came downstairs crying and tossed her fuzzy purple Bible onto the coffee table. She said through her tears, "I don't understand anything that's going on. There's flies and frogs and I have no idea what He's doing." Bless her heart! That precious little 7 year old girl was reading about the Plagues in Exodus. She sat down with me and we read through every single plague and capped it off with the Passover.

Now at camp when she sings, Pharoah Pharoah, Whoa, Let my people go, she will have a whole new understanding for it! How lovely are the feet of those who bring good news!!!! Even little feet!!!