Saturday, November 27, 2010

Turkey Trot/Turkey day

They did the two miles with ease. There were so many people that you had to walk most of the time instead of run. Lindsay and I might join them next year, we stayed home to get the house and food ready for company.
My girls are so blessed to have a Dad who will do these things with them!
I am sure it felt good to get moving early in the morning!
The Sacramento River Trail is a beautiful location for such an event.
Shae has enjoyed FOOD (in general) the most this week at home, college food just isn't the same. It's back to "The Rot" this week for her!
<span class=Photobucket" border="0">

Thursday, November 25, 2010

I'm Thankful

Lindsay has really suffered while Shae has been at college. Her simple, innocent mind can't really grasp how far away Virginia is or when Christmas is. Shae was originally only going to come home in December.
But when Grandma Welms heard about how hard it has been on Lindsay (here she is in Shae's bedroom doorway) and when I told her that Lindsay asks every morning "is Shae coming home for Christmas today?", she insisted on buying Shae a ticket home for Thanksgiving.
I managed to find a ticket coming home on the Sunday before Thanksgiving and leaving the Friday after Thanksgiving. (I am already dreading the goodbyes)
We decided to surprise the girls...and we managed to keep the secret! We took a little "shopping trip" to Sacramento with the girls and Scott's parents. We stayed in a hotel and then went to the airport the next morning....to "pick something up". Scott is a private pilot and flies down to Sacramento to drop off and pick up staff kids a lot, so it wasn't unusual to go to the airport.
Scott had them come inside to "help", Anna was first to see Shae!
Then Shae walked up to Lindsay....
Lindsay jumped into Shae's arms!
It was the purest expression of JOY ever!!
We took a little ride to the mall with Shae being clung to by Lindsay!
We had to visit the Apple store and ride the merry go round.
On the way back to Redding Shae had her much anticipated first meal in California-
In-N-Out!
We drove the two hours home.
Lindsay wasn't letting Shae out of her sight!

Thank you to Grandma Welms for sending us this sweet package!
(and you don't even get to see her!)
This will be a Thanksgiving none of us will forget. What fun to pull off a surprise!

"Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift"
2Cor. 9:15
<span class=Photobucket">

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Liberty Girl

When we got to Lynchburg for the wedding Shae had the next few days planned out for us.
There were certain places she wanted to eat and places around campus to show us.
Papa stayed at The Mansion right on campus so he and Shae had a few meals before we got into town but she saved the yummy Italian place for us!
The next day Scott's dad spoke in Dr. Wheeler's EVAN class in the seminary. Dr. Wheeler's daughter, Kara, is Shae's roommate! It was a class of ministry majors, so they listened intently as the veteran of youth ministry shared.
At the end of Gordon's talk Dr. Wheeler called his leaders up to lay hands on and pray for Scott and Gordon and our ministry. It was such a special time.
Fall is so beautiful in Virginia but we missed the best week of the colorful leaves I think. The LU monogram still takes your breath away, no matter what time of the year it is!!
A "Must See" on Shae's list was the LU Baseball office. We met Coaches Daniels, Toman and Quinn whom we have heard about non-stop! Shae LOVES her job there and she LOVES the coaches. We were able to deliver the baseball blankets that day too!
I think Shae might actually like working better than doing homework!
Apparently she has some skills too!
She shared her talent of popcorn making with us, and there was a steady flow of cute boys following their noses to the popcorn machine. Smart girl, that one.
We HAD TO go find Ed Gomes on the football field while we were in town. He is one of Scott's very favorite people from his days with Liberty Football. Ed is the team chaplain and they are one lucky team to have such a dynamic Christian man working with them.
The new stadium is unbelievable!
It was fun watching the boys running plays and practicing for the next day's game.
Shae was slightly offended by the fanciness of the whole football department...even the elevator was huge and fancy!
She was a great tour guide and we had a wonderful time just seeing her in her new life at Liberty. It was so nice to see how well she has adjusted to life in Virginia {without us...}. It is also reassuring to this Mama to see that so many people are looking out for her in my absence! I hope we can go back again soon!!
<span class=Photobucket">

Monday, November 22, 2010

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Parra November 13, 2010

Scott and I attended the wedding of Joseph Parra and Jenn Dangc on November 13, 2010 in Lynchburg, Virginia. It was a very special wedding because these two met while working on our summer staff at Lassen Pines!
They asked Gordon to marry them. He has done lots of weddings of his students over the years and now he has done those of his own kids and some of his camp kids too! I took this picture of him preparing for the ceremony~so precious!
~Mr. and Mrs. Parra~
Lots of people came from out of town to this wedding. Tom Darnell came from North Carolina and brought the cutest bottles of apple cider with the couple's monogram for each guest.
Micah (Lindsay's favorite person!) came from South Carolina and these other 4 boys (the Lassen Pines dish crew) saved their summer allowance to buy plane tickets from California!
The wedding party
The reception was downtown Lynchburg at a beautiful place called" Tresca".
One of the best parts of the day for me was getting a chance to catch up with my blog-friend, Nikki! I got to meet her husband and see her precious boys too! She looked so beautiful and has the cutest hair!
Jenn was Colton's babysitter while she was still living in Lynchburg,
and he totally recognized her,
and felt right at home. Isn't that the sweetest thing!?
Joseph and his twin brother, CJ with their wives...Taylor and Jenn. CJ and Taylor just got married in September. All four of them worked at our camp the summer of 2009.
Shae walked in the wedding with Tyler...another Lassen Pines alum.
As the couple left the reception they were greeted with sparklers, such a cute thing to do! I can't wait to see the photographer's pictures! (since I obviously cannot take night time pictures)
It was a fun time, especially getting to spend lots of time with a college girl we have been missing like crazy!
<span class=Photobucket">