UNPLANNED FLORIDA VACATION...

A couple of months ago my husband mentioned that he would be attending a conference in Orlando, Florida.  As it happens it was our Spring Break, so we (myself and the boys) were fortunate to join him.  I realized it might be one of the last times we would spend a school vacation with the boys since my oldest son is graduating from college.  I didn't do a bit of planning this time, even though it's been 13 years since we'd been to Disney World as a family.  I've just been so busy with other things!  I think I also knew you can't make an 18 and 22 year old do hardly anything - turned out just fine.

Another reason the boys wanted to go:  both of the boys have friends living in/near Orlando!  Of course they wanted to see them!  One is a character at DW and another a student at Rollins College in Winter Park.  They got to see both of them, and in fact our DW friend has a lot of benefits let's say...and we enjoyed them while Dad went to his meetings.

Since we were getting in free, we weren't able to get Fast passes, but it was still fun!  (I had to keep reminding myself that as the Fastpass people ran by us as we waited and waited in lines) We also ate pretty well, which is something we never would do otherwise!  In the past we would eat cheap after paying so much for the tickets.  So we just basically enjoyed the parks slowly, waited a while on some of the more popular rides, and had a great time.  Our friend was really into the parades and shows, while we probably would've concentrated on rides.  Funny how letting someone else show you around changes your perspective.  But we loved it, and just enjoyed the parks with no real agenda other than riding a few rides and seeing the new parade.

 The boys and their goofy friend!

The hubs got to join us for a little bit!  We loved Toy Story Mania!

New parade!

 Our friend had to "work" in the afternoon, so we went by and visited him!  

At Epcot the Flower & Garden Festival was going on and the topiaries were gorgeous!

The boys were so much fun and I was glad they let me hang around with them!

One night the hubs took us to Celebration, FL to eat and look around.  It's a Disney planned community that is gorgeous but the neighborhoods feel a little "stepfordish."  Personally I never saw but a little of that creepy movie, but the neighborhoods do seem a little too clean and unreal...

The last day we visited the boys' friend who goes to Rollins College in nearby Winter Park, FL.  It just happened to be his birthday so we treated him and ate on Park Ave. - a great area with shops and restaurants near campus.  It was a gorgeous campus with palm trees and Italian architecture.  I'm not sure how anybody gets studying done in such a cool atmosphere...

PRETTY LUNCHEON TABLES...

Well the year has just wrapped up for my Thursday morning Bible study!  This school year we studied three short books:  Philippians, Ruth, and Esther.  It was a good study and I'm amazed when you think you know a Bible story what more you can learn!  We ended our year with a luncheon where every group decorates their own table in any way they choose...

This is most of my Bible study group this year.  After studying Ruth & Esther, I declared our table "Rustic Elegance," with thoughts of Ruth the laborer and Esther the queen.

I was excited to use the doilies on top of the burlap.  They were donated to our Women's Fellowship Committee at church by a woman whose mother had made lots of doilies.  When her mother passed she didn't want to get rid of them but she had way too many, so she asked me if the church could use them.    I made place cards for everyone with a verse from a song on them and little doily flowers from Hobby Lobby.

This hot pink and black table was a large group and their leader made little framed monograms for each lady in the group at their place settings. 

 This table was about royalty (Esther) using a purple and gold theme.  The framed verse challenges us as women to "wherever God has placed you to be useful for Him!"

Pop of green table

             The "Ruth" table and the "Esther" table!

 Love this navy and orange color scheme!

 Easter table!  Lots of fun color!

The wheat table (Ruth)

Persian treasures (Esther) table

SURREAL MOMENT...

Watching my son on stage this time was very surreal.  It was wonderful but didn't seem like it was him!  I was watching a grown man this time.  A preacher man who was married with a troubled teenager.  He was struggling with his own grief and for once in his life didn't know what to do about a tough situation in his life, until he cried, "HEAVEN HELP ME."  It was a beautiful song.

It was a wonderful message for anyone who might be struggling making decisions.  Footloose is a show not only about teenagers but also about parents.  I hope my son got some insights as he played this role!

Treasuring these moments in my heart...

OFFICIALLY FINISHED...

The musical is over, and my volunteer job I've had now for about 8 years is too.  I have loved it, but it's time to move on...I'm feeling the 7 year itch!  I'll be graduating as my baby does soon!  It's been wonderful to be able to volunteer as all three of my kids went through the performing arts department at the high school.  I didn't do much when my daughter first started high school, but within a couple of years I got locked into doing the production meals for the cast & crew for the plays, musicals, and Follies talent show each year.

I learned so much from taking care of this!  Scheduling caterers and restaurant food pickups, negotiating prices, getting other parents to volunteer by serving or making dessert, getting out the parent letters and collecting money, it's been a job!  But it's also been very rewarding to see the kids enjoy the meals, laugh with other parents and teachers, and getting lots of hugs as I encourage the kids.

I'm thankful today for the opportunity to serve 

and finding my niche the last 8 years!  

EAT, SLEEP, BREATHE FOOTLOOSE...

That is the advice from my son's musical director the past few weeks!  It is what I've been doing with the meals for the cast and crew this week, too.  The show opens tonight and I can hardly wait!  The few scenes I've gotten a look at while being up there the last few days has me giddy.  I have watched most of these kids the last four years and seen them grow and mature.  I've watched them play different roles and sing songs and applauded them as they performed.  Not only that but my son has a great role, Reverend Shaw.  He plays the concerned preacher, the angry parent, the town influence.  The last show of my son's high school career and it's bittersweet for sure.

For this show I've been making little mementos for the cast.  The hubs cut the wood squares for me and I decoupaged tissue paper on each one.  There's a quote on each side.  When they're finished they'll have a bead and a little hook on the top, so it can be a Christmas ornament or even a rearview mirror decoration.  I chose two memorable lines from the musical.  Lines that even have meaning for us, living our lives today.

Enjoy "Footloose Philosophy":

  - Reverend Shaw

 - Ren

So if you haven't see the advertising anywhere, consider this your invitation!

  

Footloose

March 6, 7, 8

EMHS Auditorium

7:00 p.m.

$10 adults

$7 students

Open seating

COLLEGE MARKETING...

This place impresses with it's cool stuff!  He was so excited to receive it - he knew what it was before he even got it open.  Another one of his friends hung his in his car.  I think they're going to have a great time this fall!

TROPHY ROOM...

This week was luncheon for our Bible study at one of our member's houses and we got to tour her husband's trophy room!  Pretty cool, huh?  (Or maybe you're thinking creepy)  One of my favorite things about it was the Patchwork Africa piece on the wall made from different pieces of fur. It's always fun to get to go to other houses and learn a little more about each one's personality.

What does your house say about you?  I think mine probably says "comfortable" or "well-worn" - HA!