Anyway, back to square one.
The girl van (and Daddy) took off Thursday afternoon around 2. Abi and I had a house to clean in the morning so we wanted to have ample time to get home, pack, and get ready. The boy truck left at 6 am that morning as they wanted to climb Vedauwoo that afternoon.
We girls (and Daddy) were driving halfway, then stopping at a hotel in North Platte for the night. We had a very leisurely morning, taking off around 9:30. It was only about another 3 1/2 to 4 hours to Cheyenne from where we stayed.
The SOP directors decided to have a music teaching Friday afternoon for those that wanted to listen. Earl spoke for awhile on the differences in music, i.e., rock, country, CCM, etc. Then, he had us listen to a message by a Mennonite man who had been rebellious in his youth. He shared about the draw the different kinds of music can have on people. I was pretty tired throughout the whole thing so I wasn't paying the best attention. :)
After that, we practiced until 9 pm or so. We were so exhausted!
The next morning, we arrived bright and early to begin a new day of practice. The night before Earl had us just run through most of the songs. Saturday was reckoning day. :)
Practice went very well. I think just about everyone has said that this was probably the best SOP yet. It seemed like everyone was very engaged and eager to present the songs as nearly perfect as we could.
That evening, instead of practicing till late, they had planned a pizza supper, then games afterward. It was a fun relaxing twist to an already long weekend! After supper, Dave had us gather around the dining room in one big circle. If he pointed at you and said "right," "left," "you," or "me," you had to say that person's name within 3 seconds. Thankfully I was never pointed at. :) Once that game was over, everyone was dismissed to go play volleyball, or whatever recreation they felt like. A bunch of us ended up sitting around on the floor by the coat racks discussing music. It was a very interesting conversation. :)
Around 7:30, we were called in for a time of prayer. They split us up into prayer groups of about 10 people in each. We were instructed to share about a song that had blessed us, then pray for the programs on Sunday. I really enjoyed that! It just seemed to cap the practice time off so well by drawing our eyes to the One we are singing about, for and to.
As Lyle Stutzman always reminded us, "We are singing to an audience of One."
Sunday morning found us at church bright and early to practice one last time before the morning service began. As the program progressed, you could just feel the presence of God there among us.
The theme this year was "Heaven." As most of you know, MJ Miller, a young man from Cheyenne Christian Fellowship, was killed in a tragic car accident last year. A couple of the songs were dedicated to him, "Going Home" and "Home." As we were singing "Home" I don't think there was a dry eye in the room!
We had to be on the road at 2:30 for Loveland, CO where our next program was being held. It started at 7, but Earl wanted us there extra early so that we could work out any kinks that might have sprung up. In some ways, the evening program was better. I, for one, didn't feel like everyone put as much heart into it, but as far as the inflection or dynamics goes, we did a lot better job than in the morning!
Early the next morning, we left at 6 for home. Josh and KK wanted to stay to climb Vedauwoo again, so the rest of us tootled our way home, arriving home sometime after 4 pm. Were we ever glad to be home!
I've been struggling to catch up on sleep. Over the time we were gone I really didn't get a whole lot of sleep, maybe on average 4 1/2- 5 hours or less, every night. I also didn't have much of an appetite, so by the time we got home, I was about done for! Today I'm finally feeling a little more normal, but still not quite back up to par. It sure didn't help that we had a full schedule of cleaning the day after we got home. About 3/4 of the way through our first house, I was feeling pretty rotten. Mom said later that I looked like a sheet. :) We've been cleaning everyday since we got home. Such is life. I quote Mom again, "Don't worry! We'll rest in heaven!"
Oh, and, I'm sorry, I can't upload any of the program songs as Blogger won't accept them. They go over the size that it allows for videos...
A double decker Oreo!
Abi and I asked Dad to get us some snacks for the road. He. got. snacks.
Enjoying the bounty. :)
When we got to North Platte, Dad had us chose a place for supper. In an almost unanimous vote, we chose Cold Stone Creamery ice cream for supper.
Dad snapped a picture with his phone of us eating our naughty supper. :)
This is Abi's ice cream. Irene got a fruit something or other, Dad got a sugar free ice cream, and Annetta and I got the best... Coffee lover's. It was amazing! I'd get it again in a second!
After our supper of ice cream, we decided to have french fries for dessert. :) I love this picture, though I know certain people won't be too happy with me for posting it. ;b
When we got to our hotel, our first and biggest concern was checking for bed bugs. Thankfully, everything was all clear!
They say that you should keep your luggage off the floor at hotels. That will minimize your risk of getting bed bugs. We thought it was hilarious how our stuff just stair stepped all the way to the highest point! :)
We were rudely awakened early Friday morning to a lightning storm that produced nickel size hail.
As we were driving out of the hotel parking lot, we spotted a Ranger that beats all Rangers! Ry, I think this one's got your purple Ranger beat all hollow.
The guys practicing their song.
This was Aaron's song. Earl had him lead it. He did an excellent job (I'm sure it had something to do with the phenomenal singers...)
Getting arranged on the risers.
Practicing...
Abi in a sea of altos.
The basses
The sky was gorgeous on the way home!
That evening, Henry got it into his head that he should arm wrestle Aaron. I'm sure you can guess who won (multiple times too!) without me telling you.
Dad had to get in there and teach them a few never fail arm wrestling moves. There was also full body wrestling going on, but that's another story. :D
Ian can play the piano beautifully! So can Stephen, actually.
Strongs wanted to get a group picture, but some of the boys were late, so we just snapped individual group pictures. I never did get the boys', though. It was hilarious how many cameras were pointed at us! There had to be at least 5 or 6!
That evening at the church in Loveland
These girls were supposed to help the guys on their song.
The cooks had packed a sack dinner for us.
Everyone is stuffing their faces!
KK was making faces at me as I went through the line. :)
Somebody discovered this newspaper clipping on a bulletin board.
Leandra Baca and I got to be good friends that weekend. We were singing buddies for a good part of the time. Both of us were feeling quite silly by the end of the last program. :)
Oh, and of course, I couldn't resist slipping a few pictures of the sweetest little girl around in. She got to spend the day with us on Tuesday.
She finally succumbed to her sleepiness and dropped of in Grandma's lap.
