Gifts for the President:
Gifts from The President:
Friday, October 31, 2008
Gifts!
A VISIT TO WASHINGTON D.C. TO SING AT A WHITE HOUSE SUMMIT!
Gifts for the President:
Gifts from The President:
Gifts for the President:
Gifts from The President:
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
FALL IN NEW YORK STATE
Fall in New York State is beautiful!
Bridget and Auntie Jenny
Bridget and Jane
Bridget, Jane, and Julian
Bridget and Auntie Jenny
Bridget and Jane
Bridget, Jane, and Julian
Thursday, October 23, 2008
A visit to a Wig Shop!
Jane
Julian
Bridget
Our Host Family owned a wig shop! We had so much fun trying on all the wigs! Don't they look cute?!?!?
Jane, Julian, and Bridget
Jane, Auntie Jenny, Julian, and Bridget
Jane and Auntie Jenny
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Food is more fun when you cook it yourself!
Food is more fun when you cook it yourself!
Margaret, Faulanta, and I stayed at a host family that had a Japanese heritage. They taught the girls how to cook a meal and we had fun using chopsticks!
Margaret, Faulanta, and I stayed at a host family that had a Japanese heritage. They taught the girls how to cook a meal and we had fun using chopsticks!
Thursday, October 16, 2008
BAG CHECK
On tour we have a term we use often: Bag Check
It can be used in many ways. For example, I say that "Anna, Jackie, and Sarah are my Bag Checks." This means that it is my responsibility to make sure that these specific girls have the clothes and toiletries that they need. Also, Anna, Jackie, and Sarah call me THEIR Bag Check. They know that when they need anything that they should come and see me. Another way we use the term is to say "we are going to have a Bag Check." We have Bag Check days every few months. It is usually a day we dedicate to switching out clothes for a new season. Believe me it is a chore to make sure we have enough clothes, in the right size and appropriateness, donated for our bag check! We just had a big fall Bag Check before we left Canada. Now the kids are definitely ready for some fall weather!
BEFORE!
AFTER!
Monday, October 13, 2008
GOODBYE CANADA!
MY TRIBUTE TO CANADA!
Tonight is Choir #30's last night in Canada. We first crossed the border from the U.S. to Canada last January. We have been here for 9 of the 13 months we have been traveling. I have really enjoyed our time here. We have been to amazing places and have met wonderful people wherever we've gone.
Choir #30 in Ottawa, the Capitol of Canada
Me with Jane, Bridget, and Martin
I will really miss these Loonies! These are $1.00 coins nicknamed because of the Loon.
And I will miss these Toonies even more! I was always surprised when I thought I had just a wallet "full of change" and then realized it was quite a bit of money because of the Loonies and Toonies!
Using the term "Washroom" in place of "bathroom" or "restroom" has become quite normal to me. I think I will have a hard time converting back!
And lastly....Tim Horton's!!!!! I have become quite a big fan! The last time I was at Starbuck's all I really wanted was a Cafe Mocha from Timmy's! I can hardly believe I have become such a traitor! I had never even heard of Tim Horton's until we came to SK last January and now it is one of my favorite places! We decided to have a mini Goodbye Canada! Party on the bus with Tim Horton's. Here are some pictures:
Faulanta with the famous yummy Timbits! (Donut holes!)
Ibrahim holding Uncle David's snack.... maybe a muffin????
Daniel and I enjoying a Cafe Mocha.
Goodbye Canada! We will miss you!
Tonight is Choir #30's last night in Canada. We first crossed the border from the U.S. to Canada last January. We have been here for 9 of the 13 months we have been traveling. I have really enjoyed our time here. We have been to amazing places and have met wonderful people wherever we've gone.
Choir #30 in Ottawa, the Capitol of Canada
Me with Jane, Bridget, and Martin
I will really miss these Loonies! These are $1.00 coins nicknamed because of the Loon.
And I will miss these Toonies even more! I was always surprised when I thought I had just a wallet "full of change" and then realized it was quite a bit of money because of the Loonies and Toonies!
Using the term "Washroom" in place of "bathroom" or "restroom" has become quite normal to me. I think I will have a hard time converting back!
And lastly....Tim Horton's!!!!! I have become quite a big fan! The last time I was at Starbuck's all I really wanted was a Cafe Mocha from Timmy's! I can hardly believe I have become such a traitor! I had never even heard of Tim Horton's until we came to SK last January and now it is one of my favorite places! We decided to have a mini Goodbye Canada! Party on the bus with Tim Horton's. Here are some pictures:
Faulanta with the famous yummy Timbits! (Donut holes!)
Ibrahim holding Uncle David's snack.... maybe a muffin????
Daniel and I enjoying a Cafe Mocha.
Goodbye Canada! We will miss you!
Lakeside Park Carousel
LAKESIDE PARK CAROUSEL
STILL JUST 5 CENTS A RIDE!
Can you believe you can still get something for 5 cents?!?!? I can't even find a "cent" symbol on my laptop keyboard! We had a nice ride on this carousel before leaving St. Catharines.
Halima and Auntie Beth
Washo and Auntie Jenny
Jane
STILL JUST 5 CENTS A RIDE!
Can you believe you can still get something for 5 cents?!?!? I can't even find a "cent" symbol on my laptop keyboard! We had a nice ride on this carousel before leaving St. Catharines.
Halima and Auntie Beth
Washo and Auntie Jenny
Jane
NIAGARA FALLS--ONE MORE TIME!
NIAGARA FALLS--ONE MORE TIME!
AUNTIE JENNY AND JACKIE
WE JUST HAD ANOTHER CONCERT CLOSE TO NIAGARA FALLS IN ST. CATHARINES AND OUR HOST FAMILY TOOK US TO SEE THE FALLS ONE MORE TIME. IT WAS GREAT TO BE THERE ON A BEAUTIFUL SUNNY DAY!
JACKIE AND HALIMA
AUNTIE JENNY AND JACKIE
WE JUST HAD ANOTHER CONCERT CLOSE TO NIAGARA FALLS IN ST. CATHARINES AND OUR HOST FAMILY TOOK US TO SEE THE FALLS ONE MORE TIME. IT WAS GREAT TO BE THERE ON A BEAUTIFUL SUNNY DAY!
JACKIE AND HALIMA
Sunday, October 12, 2008
A TRIP TO THE FIRE HALL
A TRIP TO THE FIRE HALL!
My host family's Father took Peter, David, and I to the Fire Hall where he used to work. He even took us for a ride!
Peter
David
My host family's Father took Peter, David, and I to the Fire Hall where he used to work. He even took us for a ride!
Peter
David
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Family Night with the ACC!
FAMILY NIGHT WITH THE ACC!
My Dad and Mom drove me up to Ontario last week after my 2 week vacation. They specifically wanted to take me back to "see the kids one more time." They couldn't believe how much the kids had grown since last November when they saw us when we were in Iowa. The funny thing was that Stacie, who is a new chaperone with us, had her parents visiting at the same time. Her parents flew up all the way from Texas to meet the choir for the first time. I think the children enjoyed the extra attention and just liked spending time with our families.
Mom and Dad with the boys and Uncle David
and with the girls
Jackie was especially excited that my parent's dog, Lady, also came along for the trip!
My Dad and Mom drove me up to Ontario last week after my 2 week vacation. They specifically wanted to take me back to "see the kids one more time." They couldn't believe how much the kids had grown since last November when they saw us when we were in Iowa. The funny thing was that Stacie, who is a new chaperone with us, had her parents visiting at the same time. Her parents flew up all the way from Texas to meet the choir for the first time. I think the children enjoyed the extra attention and just liked spending time with our families.
Mom and Dad with the boys and Uncle David
and with the girls
Jackie was especially excited that my parent's dog, Lady, also came along for the trip!
Saturday, October 04, 2008
Michael W. Smith - A New Hallelujah live
So I'm trying really hard to not be jealous of this one! Watch this video to see Choir #31 perform a beautiful song with Michael W. Smith!
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Okay. Hold on to your hats. Take a deep breath. I feel inspired to blog about my feelings at this interesting time of my life. I'm not sure where this blog is gonna take you.....
I am home on "vacation" for a couple weeks. First of all, isn't it strange for me to say I'm taking a vacation to go HOME? Most people take a vacation to get away from home. It's just one more indication that my life is weird! Anyway, it is an interesting time to take a break from tour considering we only have 3 months of tour left. I think I possibily may have skipped taking a vacation if it hadn't been my Grandmother's 90th birthday. However, I felt it was very important for me to be home for that special event and also to see all the people that just got their feelings hurt when I just mentioned that I almost skipped a vacation (yes, I have missed ALL of you and am so glad to be home to see you!). So anyway, it is a strange time to be home, taking a break, when I think about the fact that in 3 short months my tour will be over and the 34 people who have become my traveling family will all go to their various homes across the world.
Before coming home I knew I had to mentally prepare myself for the one big question I knew I would be asked over and over again.
The question: "What are you going to do when tour is over in December?"
The answer: "I don't know."
Yes, It's true. I don't know.
A few weeks ago, at God's prompting, I pulled out my "Experiencing God" book from the bottom of the suitcase I store on the bus. If you have never read it you should. It has some awesome truths about God's plans for His people. Today I was reading the chapter called "God Pursues a Love Relationship with You." Here are a few things I underlined:
*He created you for a love relationship with Himself. That is the very purpose of your life. This love relationship can and should be real and personal to you.
* If you want God to reveal Himself to you, you must love Him and obey Him.
* "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength" (Mark 12:30). Everything depends on this! Everything in your Christian life, everything about knowing Him and experiencing Him, everything about knowing His will depends on the quality of your love relationship to God.
So I was just thinking about that and how it fits into my thoughts about my "after tour life." I really don't know what God has planned for me yet. In some ways I feel a sense of urgency to "figure it out". In other ways it is just exciting to be waiting for Him to reveal His plans for me. When I am completely honest with myself I realize it's a little frightening to consider that I don't know what's next. I like having my life planned out. I don't want to worry about how I will take care of my responsibilities like my house and health insurance. Or wonder how I will ever be able to fix my car that is falling apart or buy a new one. Then I remember, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matt 6:33) The author of Experiencing God describes it by saying "Out of His love for you, He will provide all else that you need-when you love Him and Him alone". So today I am basking in that Love from my Father and loving Him back.
I am home on "vacation" for a couple weeks. First of all, isn't it strange for me to say I'm taking a vacation to go HOME? Most people take a vacation to get away from home. It's just one more indication that my life is weird! Anyway, it is an interesting time to take a break from tour considering we only have 3 months of tour left. I think I possibily may have skipped taking a vacation if it hadn't been my Grandmother's 90th birthday. However, I felt it was very important for me to be home for that special event and also to see all the people that just got their feelings hurt when I just mentioned that I almost skipped a vacation (yes, I have missed ALL of you and am so glad to be home to see you!). So anyway, it is a strange time to be home, taking a break, when I think about the fact that in 3 short months my tour will be over and the 34 people who have become my traveling family will all go to their various homes across the world.
Before coming home I knew I had to mentally prepare myself for the one big question I knew I would be asked over and over again.
The question: "What are you going to do when tour is over in December?"
The answer: "I don't know."
Yes, It's true. I don't know.
A few weeks ago, at God's prompting, I pulled out my "Experiencing God" book from the bottom of the suitcase I store on the bus. If you have never read it you should. It has some awesome truths about God's plans for His people. Today I was reading the chapter called "God Pursues a Love Relationship with You." Here are a few things I underlined:
*He created you for a love relationship with Himself. That is the very purpose of your life. This love relationship can and should be real and personal to you.
* If you want God to reveal Himself to you, you must love Him and obey Him.
* "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength" (Mark 12:30). Everything depends on this! Everything in your Christian life, everything about knowing Him and experiencing Him, everything about knowing His will depends on the quality of your love relationship to God.
So I was just thinking about that and how it fits into my thoughts about my "after tour life." I really don't know what God has planned for me yet. In some ways I feel a sense of urgency to "figure it out". In other ways it is just exciting to be waiting for Him to reveal His plans for me. When I am completely honest with myself I realize it's a little frightening to consider that I don't know what's next. I like having my life planned out. I don't want to worry about how I will take care of my responsibilities like my house and health insurance. Or wonder how I will ever be able to fix my car that is falling apart or buy a new one. Then I remember, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matt 6:33) The author of Experiencing God describes it by saying "Out of His love for you, He will provide all else that you need-when you love Him and Him alone". So today I am basking in that Love from my Father and loving Him back.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
ONE YEAR AGO
ONE YEAR AGO......
One year ago I was at the airport to greet 26 sleepy eyed kids and 3 chaperones! They had just flown into Chicago from Entebbe, Uganada. I remember waiting at the airport feeling as if they just couldn't get there soon enough! Every second waiting felt so long! They walked out looking so tall and proud wearing their new ACC shirts. I was so happy to get those 26 hugs!
They got on the bus and had their first ride on the bus we now have made our "home away from home". They had many questions about the many vehicles they saw and all of the tall buildings in Chicago. We drove to Cedar Lake, Indiana where we would spend a few days at a camp before venturing out for our first real concert.
That first night was full of surprises for them! They had come to America with just the clothes they were wearing. We showed the children to the rooms where they would sleep. On each of their beds was a duffle bag with pajamas and a tolietry bag. We made a lot of noise trying on new pajamas and having the kids take showers for the first time! I remember Jane and Jackie "enjoying the hot water" and dancing in the shower!
It wasn't long before the shouting and laughter turned into quiet as we told the kids goodnight and they headed off to bed.
I went to go peek in on 14 little girls that were fast asleep. I stopped by each bed praying for each of those precious ones. I could hardly believe that God had sent them to me.
Today, one year later, I am at a host family with 8 of those little girls. Words cannot express the amazing joy and love these children have brought into my life. I think I will go peek in on them and pray for them once again............
One year ago I was at the airport to greet 26 sleepy eyed kids and 3 chaperones! They had just flown into Chicago from Entebbe, Uganada. I remember waiting at the airport feeling as if they just couldn't get there soon enough! Every second waiting felt so long! They walked out looking so tall and proud wearing their new ACC shirts. I was so happy to get those 26 hugs!
They got on the bus and had their first ride on the bus we now have made our "home away from home". They had many questions about the many vehicles they saw and all of the tall buildings in Chicago. We drove to Cedar Lake, Indiana where we would spend a few days at a camp before venturing out for our first real concert.
That first night was full of surprises for them! They had come to America with just the clothes they were wearing. We showed the children to the rooms where they would sleep. On each of their beds was a duffle bag with pajamas and a tolietry bag. We made a lot of noise trying on new pajamas and having the kids take showers for the first time! I remember Jane and Jackie "enjoying the hot water" and dancing in the shower!
It wasn't long before the shouting and laughter turned into quiet as we told the kids goodnight and they headed off to bed.
I went to go peek in on 14 little girls that were fast asleep. I stopped by each bed praying for each of those precious ones. I could hardly believe that God had sent them to me.
Today, one year later, I am at a host family with 8 of those little girls. Words cannot express the amazing joy and love these children have brought into my life. I think I will go peek in on them and pray for them once again............
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Niagara Falls
NIAGARA FALLS
To celebrate 1 YEAR of tour we took the kids to Niagara Falls for a day! It was a little bit rainy but it made the day even more fun considering how much fun the kids were having with the ponchos they wore (plus they looked pretty darn cute!). We even took a boat ride on the Maiden of the Mist. It was amazing to see, hear, and feel the falls so closely! Once again I am in awe of the beauty the Lord has created in our world!
Faulanta and Auntie Jenny
Jackie
The whole group!
Auntie Jenny and Peter with the Falls behind us!
Auntie Jenny and Sarah
Joseph
To celebrate 1 YEAR of tour we took the kids to Niagara Falls for a day! It was a little bit rainy but it made the day even more fun considering how much fun the kids were having with the ponchos they wore (plus they looked pretty darn cute!). We even took a boat ride on the Maiden of the Mist. It was amazing to see, hear, and feel the falls so closely! Once again I am in awe of the beauty the Lord has created in our world!
Faulanta and Auntie Jenny
Jackie
The whole group!
Auntie Jenny and Peter with the Falls behind us!
Auntie Jenny and Sarah
Joseph
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