It was GREAT!!!

The Thanksgiving Concert was so wonderful!

The children and young people were awesome!

If you have been reading here since the concert
last year you may remember that I was much less
confident in the days and hours leading up to it
but that went well too.

I remembered that any time I started to get
jittery. I also decided that we had put our
work into it and by the time last night rolled
around whatever the students did with it was
up to them.

There were "things", of course, that were a little
uncertain, at times. Like one dear choir director who
had an emergency and then walked in to her seat at the
very last minute, literally, before her choir was up to sing.

I was soooooo thankful that she got there in time.

I had prepared the next director to take her class
out of line, but that would have made it look like
we were forgetting the other class and messed up the
lady doing PowerPoint and all of that. But, thanks
be to God, my friend was able to make it in time.

By the way...her choir was great!!!
They are just too cute!

Here are some pictures...

Our fearless leader and her husband welcomed
everyone.


That would be Mr. and Mrs. Rabe.
They looked great and had a wonderful
introduction.

That is the fireplace set that the teens
made sitting behind them.

It was a huge hit!

It is made completely from huge sheets of cardboard
that Mikey brought home from work. We then hauled
them into the church where we have co-op.

Pieces were formed each week to build it
and then last week we took it all over to
our church to paint. Emily Rabe and Josh S.
came and helped my guys get that done.

Jonathan designed the stone and I think it
looks great! My artist!


Warren and Mikey made the fire.
It was so cool!


A very young choir.
They were so sweet.
I love those little fluffy dresses.
Chelsea just won't wear them anymore...pout!



Second and third graders as directed by my dear friend, Tamara.
She is the Professional music teacher.
She would intimidate me if she weren't so nice.

My high school girl's ensemble.
Ask anyone...they Rocked!



Their rendition of In Christ Alone was such
a blessing. There were many tears shed...at
least that is what I hear....

I love these girls...so much!

Then about these monkeys.
The fourth to 6th graders.
Who sang loudest and strongest?
Those boys who "hate to sing!"
Check out those suits!
Brings tears to my eyes just to think
about it. They are such a blessing.


Some of these boys told their parents that they like
thier music class!

Who knew????

I hoped!

I even took up the offer of another Mom who was willing
to join us each week on her free period to be the
"enforcer" so that I could spend my time teaching all
of the students instead of just correcting the resistant ones.
Must have worked. These guys did great!!!!!

It really is a team effort every time there is something
of a success. Never, in a million years, could one person
make something like this happen.

Our family is so blessed to be involved with a group such as
this one.

We are there... because eight years ago I went to a different grocery store,
a half hour from our home, on a day that Robin was there too.
In the line directly in front of us...she gave the invitation
to check it out. What a lovely stroke of.....Providence!!!!

"Come Ye Thankful People Come...
Raise the song of Harvest Home!"

I am ready for Thanksgiving now!!!

Oh Yes!!!

Have a great day.

The Moms and I are headed to a Greater Vision concert tonight
after I get some cleaning done around here, the bulletin made,
candles boxed and ready to go be displayed on our way, practice
music with Pastor Mike and anything else that "pops up"!

Becky K.

Samuel's Story

I wrote this for the Thanksgiving Program.

A sweet young man with some acting experience
will be doing it as a monologue.

Hi! I am Samuel. My Grandparents were on the Mayflower and
have told me all about that first Thanksgiving Day. It was an amazing
day...one that would probably surprise you...and me.

Why should these people who had suffered so much loss offer thanks?
I mean, Grandma told me that of all of the people she knew that had
made the journey only a very small handful survived that first winter.
It was really tough. Grandma took in a child of friends who lost their
lives to sickness that first year.

But, you know, Grandma said that somehow they knew they were going to
make it. She knew that God was with them and that it was He that deserved the thanks and praise for keeping them this far. She said it was a calling and that
she was ever grateful to be out from under the hand of the Church of England.

Grandma said that when Grandpa went out, in preparation for that great meal, to
hunt the turkeys, with the other men, it was the first time she had seen his shoulders up and straight in a long time.

Grandpa had been so busy with the necessary things of life...the things he didn't talk about much.

But on that day as he headed out to search for meat, for a meal of praise, his head was high and there was a spring in his step.

I guess thinking on our blessings does that.

It makes us confident and happy.

One thing Grandpa did talk about was seeing those 90 Indian friends come to dinner. It really was God's blessing that a friendship had been forged and that Squanto, Massasoit and Samoset had offered assistance in planting, hunting and fishing as everything was so new to my Grandparents and their friends.

To see the Hand of God... Providence, they used to call it in the lives of these men leading and guiding them to just the right places and times.

Grandpa would shake his weathered, gray head and just chuckle at the way God works. He said Squanto had been taken to the Old World after being taken as a slave and knew something about our ways.

It amazed him that this man would then turn around and help them.

"Must be God!" That's what Grandpa would say. "Must be God!"

Things are Coming Together

My Friends,

(I know you are all saying
that these days...wink!)

Things are coming together for the
Thanksgiving Concert with the Co-op.

The choirs know their songs...The cabin
prop is just about finished. We should
be getting the final painting touches on that today.
Transporting it and getting it set up
will be the next challenge.

You should see the Silk fire that Warren and Mikey
made for inside this cabin fireplace. It is so realistic!

I met with the Church's sound person yesterday and she was so
sweet. We got to peek at lighting and the PowerPoint. I am
excited! It looks so cool! It should be a fun night.

Now all I have to worry about is the dress rehearsal.
This freaks me out...all of those Moms who will think
that it should be done this way or that way. We won't
be able to use every one's ideas, and anyway, I do actually
have a plan.

So, if I stand strong it should all be good.

Well, I have much to accomplish today, so I had best
get to it.

Have a great one!

Becky K.

Keeping all of the Balls in the Air...

So far, I have nearly dropped
several of the balls I am attempting
to keep juggling in this thing called
life. If I can just hang in there through
this week, and next, some major things will
be accomplished...

Jonathan and Chelsea will be done working...
this brings much relief. I enjoy the drive
but don't need that added stress of wondering
about their schedule...will it change...must check
the computer...etc.

The Fall Concert will be done as of Next Friday,
the 14th!

Getting these two things done and behind me will
free up several gigabytes in my brain.

Oh, Warren would be proud of that analogy.

But seriously, every waking moment I have thoughts
just swirling and doubts about how it will all be accomplished.
Sigh...it will be accomplished and it will be fine!

I even had a nightmare about the concert that one young boy
stood up to sing and could not do it. Couldn't remember how
the song went so I stumbled to the piano and I fumbled over
the keys in an attempt to help him and just made things worse.
I know this won't happen because there are no young men singing
solos...whew!

Just a stage to set, music levels and sound to work out, teenage
girls who are afraid to sing out during their solo parts...little
stuff like that.

Anxiety...it will pass.

I must get back to my candle factory... in the kitchen. I have
several orders to finish up for delivery today.

I hope you have a great day.

I'll be popping in to read here and there.

Don't forget to join my Followers, if you are so inclined.
It is fun to see those who read here. It gives me another
quick way to get to your blog and for others to discover you.

Blessings,
Becky K.

Another Award and Thanksgiving Music

Alicia has surprised me with yet another award.

Wow! What a week.

Thank you, Dear Alicia.
I was just at Alicia's Blog to get the link and, oh my, she is ready for fall. Love the new look, Alicia!

I am going to offer this to any reader
who has commented in the last month.

You know who you are...and Kelly that
means you too. I have been loving your
posts! Great job at getting your blog
underway!




Girls At The Piano

I met with our other Co-op Choir director yesterday
to see what options she had picked up for music to
use in our Thanksgiving Concert. We were supposed
to go together to look at music but that was during
the time that I was so terribly sick...so bless her
heart she went alone.

We have never done a Thanksgiving Concert so it will
be fun and different. The music is challenging and I
am willing to learn some of it, however, we only have
nine weeks to work with the choirs before the performance
so I have decided that we will do two complicated pieces
per choir that I direct and one praise chorus done chorally.

One of the more challenging pieces will be performed by three
choirs combined. Of course this adds to the complexity of
the entire program so I am beginning to feel it in the pit
of my stomach. However, I am sure that our kids will pull
it off.

This will be my second year directing the 4-6th grade choir as well
as the High School Ensemble. Both have more members this year than
last so that is comforting. Why? Couldn't tell you...it just is.

I look forward to including some short drama pieces and American
Sign Language into the program. We will have involvement from
all classes beginning with the Preschoolers. They can do nothing
wrong. Soooo cute!

I am sure that as things progress
I will be commenting here about it.
Whether I am panicked or pleased.

Well, I think I hear life calling me away
from the computer...

so...

You have a blessed Day...

"see" you soon!