First, we had the Chicago Staff Band, which is a great Salvation Army band out of (you guessed it!) Chicago. We had the honor of having them come last year as well and it was so moving to hear them play. I was brought to tears several times last year and this year was no different. Music seems to bring me closer to God than most other times. It's a way of worshipping that speaks to me. I think King David had something going there when he sang and danced for God! Last night's rendition of "God Bless America" was beautiful and emotional and truly uplifting.
Because the band was spending the night and playing the next morning they needed people to help house them. We were fortunate and blessed to have Mr. Jeremy (L) and Mr. Brian (R) stay with us last night. They took up the kids' rooms and the kids slept in their sleeping bags in ours. The kids LOVED having them stay and asked them all kinds of questions and told them all about Yetis and lots of other silly things. They didn't want to see them go this morning. When I was a kid, we had lots of visitors. Visiting pastors and missionaries, friends of my parents, family - so many stayed with us over the years because of dad's ministry and it was always fun for us kids to meet new people. I was excited that my kids would get to experience the same thing.
After we dropped the guys back at the church we quickly ran out for breakfast and got back in time to enjoy the service with them again. Again, the music was amazing and just such a great way to worship and prepare for John's departure.
After the service we headed down to the fellowship hall to have a lunch together for the Sabbatical Send-off. The cake says it all!
As everyone was getting lunch ready downstairs, the fellowship team had made up sack lunches for the band and asked the kids to deliver them. You'll see Livie and Pete in the background there. Livie made a note for Mr. Jeremy with sad faces and tears to tell him she would miss him. It was really cute. :-)
Roy and Cathy, our fantastical food creators (is that a unique enough term for them?), made up the meal today. Roy even made up a kids' buffet complete with chicken nuggest and dinosaur-shaped pb&j sandwiches. I helped serve.
My friend Donna and I got a quick picture from our other friend Debbie to commerate the day. Donna and her husband James made all our sabbatical videos leading up to today. I would love to find a way to upload today's version, because it was HILARIOUS! It was done in a silent movie style and cracked us all up! They are such talented people!
Several people got up and spoke with blessings for John and John too talked and shared his thanks and his excitement about his leave. He's going to be doing a lot this summer while he's away, thanks to a special endowment grant we were approved for. I'm very excited for him!
We gave our hugs and promised to pray for a wonderful time of renewal and relaxation for him and his family. This is our pastor, John and his wife Debbie with his mom and sister. What a great way to celebrate something so important. And, to do it with people we've come to care so deeply about has made it that much more special. It was a great, fun-filled, powerful weekend!
After the service we headed down to the fellowship hall to have a lunch together for the Sabbatical Send-off. The cake says it all!
As everyone was getting lunch ready downstairs, the fellowship team had made up sack lunches for the band and asked the kids to deliver them. You'll see Livie and Pete in the background there. Livie made a note for Mr. Jeremy with sad faces and tears to tell him she would miss him. It was really cute. :-)
Roy and Cathy, our fantastical food creators (is that a unique enough term for them?), made up the meal today. Roy even made up a kids' buffet complete with chicken nuggest and dinosaur-shaped pb&j sandwiches. I helped serve.
My friend Donna and I got a quick picture from our other friend Debbie to commerate the day. Donna and her husband James made all our sabbatical videos leading up to today. I would love to find a way to upload today's version, because it was HILARIOUS! It was done in a silent movie style and cracked us all up! They are such talented people!
Several people got up and spoke with blessings for John and John too talked and shared his thanks and his excitement about his leave. He's going to be doing a lot this summer while he's away, thanks to a special endowment grant we were approved for. I'm very excited for him!
We gave our hugs and promised to pray for a wonderful time of renewal and relaxation for him and his family. This is our pastor, John and his wife Debbie with his mom and sister. What a great way to celebrate something so important. And, to do it with people we've come to care so deeply about has made it that much more special. It was a great, fun-filled, powerful weekend!
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