willy wonka

March 24, 2019April 5, 2019 | Stacy

I’ll back track just a bit into March so that I can properly highlight the kids’ experiences with Willy Wonka at the Charles Finney school this spring.

Nigel played Mr. Salt, the father of Veruca Salt, the girl who always got what she wanted.

It just so happened that the young lady who played Veruca is the niece of my friend and co-worker, Myrna. Small world. Smile

Marie and Tabitha had roles as dancing cooks and squirrels.

They were supposed to have these silly, snooty, “French” looks on their faces.

They were so funny.

Stewart did not have an on-stage role this year. He was hired to help with audio. He did an outstanding job.

And he didn’t have to wear make-up. Winking smile

Youth Group Christmas Party

December 9, 2018 | Stacy

It was a really busy day. But there was no better way to end it than to celebrate the season with a Christmas party for the youth group. We’d spent the fall walking through Jesus’ early ministry and the book of John and this time was set aside to be silly together.

The theme of the annual Youth Group Christmas Party was Your Favorite Movie or Song. Despite the fact we’d had weeks to prepare it was in the last few minutes before the party that we threw together costumes.

As the minutes ticked by, we came up with these:

Tab was Max from How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

I was a Who from the same movie.

Marie was the mouse that the Grinch didn’t leave enough crumbs for.

Nigel paid homage to his Grinchy friend.

I wasn’t the only Who.

Our friend Megan created this beautiful set of wings and wore bells in tribute to It’s a Wonderful Life.

We played a bunch of games and ate like junk food kings.

Sometimes we don’t ask questions

November 21, 2018 | Stacy

With creative sons, I don’t always ask too much when I see them in costume. I just pray that they honor God in their art, and look forward to their YouTube releases.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Image | November 18, 2018 | Stacy

Nigel got his permit today!

August 1, 2018 | Stacy

And I made him drive home part of the way.

My baby boy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

16 years of Nigel ♥

July 3, 2018 | Stacy

This photo was taken a month ago. He pretty much looks the same.

And it’s a long way from where he was 16 years ago.

Our day was low key, and included a trip to Walmart.

And cake. There is always cake.
It is exceedingly hot out this summer (YAY!) and the frosting gave way under the ganache.

Nan, Nene, Ba and Poppy joined us for dinner.

Nigel requested and received an entertainment center that included a turntable.

Everything old is new again.

And what kid doesn’t appreciate a drawing of Jeff Goldblum from his younger sister?

Happy birthday, Nigel. Here’s to another year with him.

He opted not to run out for his permit yet. We will go for it soon.

Flower City Work Camp ~ 2018

April 6, 2018 | Stacy

Last week one of my kids asked me, “Mom, why are you always so busy?”
I replied, “Because you are, honey.”

You being plural, of course.

I firmly believe in being engaged in what they do. The last few years the boys have done FCWC. I was part of a Sidewalk Club last year and resumed my role this year.

John had his first year as a Worksite Leader.

Stewart’s college classes interfered with him taking part in the traditional way, but he was able to plug in to helping with some of the A/V needs and getting to hear some sermons.

Nigel was eager to do another year on a worksite, and we twisted Marie’s arm to participate this year.

It was ridiculously cold. And we endured one nasty, NASTY windstorm Wednesday.

Marie ended up coming home early because she was not feeling well. She even fell asleep at her worksite…

I don’t have a good photo of Nigel, but every time I saw him he was grinning ear-to-ear.

It was pretty wonderful.

Acts Cast Party

March 26, 2018 | Stacy

This was the boys’ fourth year in the Charles Finney School’s musical, and it was also the fourth year that I volunteered to be part of the cast party crew. Actually, last year I was tapped to take home all the left over items and the bag of doo-dads with the expectation that I would assume the lead responsibilities for this year’s party. I was more than fine with that because that meant they were excited about my kids coming back again!

My friend, Julie, agreed to be on the committee and we quickly fell into co-coordinating roles. I sincerely enjoyed working with her last year and it was very wonderful to have this opportunity to work side-by-side again. It was even better than it might sound, because literally NO ONE ELSE joined us!

You know how when you go into Party City there is a section to buy party gear for every conceivable party theme? Have you ever happened into their section for first century Middle East and Rome? Have you? No, you haven’t. Thankfully, Julie is super smart and looked up some items like “Pentecost” and “Fishermen” on Pinterest; and I am super desperate and looked up things like “Jail” and “Jerusalem.” And somehow we ended up with a few things.

Helium balloons with card stock doves represented the Pentecost.
We had Roman roads.
We had a jail, a well, two snazzy palm tree, and some signs our handy husbands each made pieces of.
And it turned out really, really cool.

The young man who played Peter (Benji) and Stewart (who played Paul) handed out the directors’ gifts.

And each actor received a tongue-in-cheek “award” from their directors.

These are the seniors.

And this is a God thing…. My homeschooled sons were part of a high school musical four years running. He gives good gifts.

A mountain top weekend.

March 26, 2018 | Stacy

Some seasons, we find ourselves in the valleys of life; we walk through hard places and experience painful refining.

Other times we are wholly on top of the mountain, just basking in all that is good and joy-filled and life-giving.

On Friday afternoon, it suddenly dawned on me as I dropped off my boys at the Charles Finney School that I was having a mountain-top weekend.

For starters, Marie, Tabitha and Johanna were performing in the church’s production, “Who Can He Be?” This is the same production our church did in 2012 and 2013. I was able to participate in 2012, and John participated in 2013. Marie and Tabitha were also in both of those shows, albeit as markedly younger performers. This time around, both are part of the adult ensemble and had much larger roles.

The boys and I were able to go to the dress rehearsal on Wednesday, March 21st, and I was able to watch a second time on Thursday, March 22nd.

I was blown away by the musical. Though I had been in it in 2012, I had never watched the entire production from start to finish. My sister, Kelly, also played the woman at the well.

My joy would have been complete if that was where it ended.

Oh boy – that’s only half the story.

Since December, Stewart and Nigel have been practicing at the Charles Finney School to be part of their production, “Acts – A City Rising,” a modern retelling of the book of Acts.

Stewart was cast as Saul of Tarsus/Paul, and Nigel was cast as Isaac, a zealous defender of God and persecutor of Christians.

As I dropped them off for their cast call on Friday and hurried home to get the girls ready for their performance and over to the church it dawned on me how this is the kind of joy-filled weekend I had to hang on to. Remembering just how abundantly we were blessed for this weekend should constantly remind me of how God loves us. My kids – my HOMESCHOOLED kids – get to be part of fabulous, Godly stage productions. How cool is that?

I could blow up the internet with images of the boys’ production. They put in almost 100 hours of rehearsal. Stewart met with Mr. Carl Wager many, many times as Mr. Wager helped him advance his singing abilities. I had no idea the treat I was in for as my son sang triumphantly as he conveyed Saul/Paul’s life.

As the boys and I left the production Friday evening, they asked if I had cried at the end. I confessed I had not and they were disappointed. Truth-be-told, I think I was in shock. I believe it wasn’t until after the third production that I truly grasped the full story; until that point I think I was just absorbing, “Those are my handsome boys! There are my handsome boys!”

I feel like I know the apostles so much better after this show. And I am in awe even more of how much God loves us and how He grew the church. I can barely express how moved I was by this musical. What is more, I can barely express how generous God is.