Smiley Sunday---Early Morning Goodbye
We went to church this morning very early---6:30 to be exact--- to be there for a send-off for the youth group's mission trip to Pass Christian, Mississippi as part of a hurricane relief program. My younger son, as I posted here last week, is part of that group.
He was up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and ready to go with his necessary things packed right on time. (OK, as you can see from this picture below, maybe he wasn't very bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. He still looks very sleepy in this photo. He was up and ready on time though. I thought that was pretty good for a teenager at 6:30 on a Sunday morning.) This is him in the back seat as we are on our way to meet the group at our church.
At the church, three vans were loaded with sleeping bags and pillows and duffel bags and the other necessities for the trip. One of the vans was an extended one with extra seating.
Necessary papers, phone numbers, and information about the itinerary and such were passed out to both those participating in the trip and to their families staying here in town.
Just before the youth group left, we all held hands and formed a large prayer circle. We went around the circle one by one and each offered up a prayer. Some asked for blessings on the group and on those they are going to help. Others asked for safety during travel and during the time spent working in Mississippi. More prayers were offered up that this will be an enriching experience for both the youth and the adult chaperons, as they serve as the hands and feet of Christ by putting up drywall in houses built as part of the relief effort for victims of hurricane Katrina.
The photo below shows my son in the extended van just before they left for their trip. He is a little more alert now and it is daylight out. About 7:30 this morning they were on their way. They are hoping to reach their destination around midnight tonight if all goes well.
They will stay there in Mississippi for a week and return here Saturday evening so that they will be home for Easter Sunday.
I am smiling about my son's willingness to participate in this event.
I am also smiling because he has had a good week. Earlier this week he participated in a track meet for the very first time. He is giving discus and shot put throwing a try on the junior high track team. He also wants to try pole vaulting as his older brother did. So far at track practice he has just been working with the throwers so those are the events he participated in during the last week. He will begin learning how to pole vault after he returns from his spring break mission trip.
Discus throwing went very well for him at the meet. Out of thirty-eight competitors, he placed fourth, and a further reason to celebrate was the fact that of the top four, three of them were from his school's team.
Also, this past week, he received a letter from the director of the Toledo Youth Orchestra inviting him to audition with his upright bass for that group. Yes, he has had a good week, and his joy is mine as well.
I hope the past week for you has given you reason to have a smiley Sunday today too.
He was up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and ready to go with his necessary things packed right on time. (OK, as you can see from this picture below, maybe he wasn't very bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. He still looks very sleepy in this photo. He was up and ready on time though. I thought that was pretty good for a teenager at 6:30 on a Sunday morning.) This is him in the back seat as we are on our way to meet the group at our church.
At the church, three vans were loaded with sleeping bags and pillows and duffel bags and the other necessities for the trip. One of the vans was an extended one with extra seating.Necessary papers, phone numbers, and information about the itinerary and such were passed out to both those participating in the trip and to their families staying here in town.
Just before the youth group left, we all held hands and formed a large prayer circle. We went around the circle one by one and each offered up a prayer. Some asked for blessings on the group and on those they are going to help. Others asked for safety during travel and during the time spent working in Mississippi. More prayers were offered up that this will be an enriching experience for both the youth and the adult chaperons, as they serve as the hands and feet of Christ by putting up drywall in houses built as part of the relief effort for victims of hurricane Katrina.
The photo below shows my son in the extended van just before they left for their trip. He is a little more alert now and it is daylight out. About 7:30 this morning they were on their way. They are hoping to reach their destination around midnight tonight if all goes well.
They will stay there in Mississippi for a week and return here Saturday evening so that they will be home for Easter Sunday.I am smiling about my son's willingness to participate in this event.
I am also smiling because he has had a good week. Earlier this week he participated in a track meet for the very first time. He is giving discus and shot put throwing a try on the junior high track team. He also wants to try pole vaulting as his older brother did. So far at track practice he has just been working with the throwers so those are the events he participated in during the last week. He will begin learning how to pole vault after he returns from his spring break mission trip.
Discus throwing went very well for him at the meet. Out of thirty-eight competitors, he placed fourth, and a further reason to celebrate was the fact that of the top four, three of them were from his school's team.
Also, this past week, he received a letter from the director of the Toledo Youth Orchestra inviting him to audition with his upright bass for that group. Yes, he has had a good week, and his joy is mine as well.
I hope the past week for you has given you reason to have a smiley Sunday today too.
