D - LTCEaster Weekend

This year marked a huge turning point for us as a family with our first LTC experience.  Easter weekend as we have known them shall be no more.  (Moment of silence as I mourn the loss of favorite holiday traditions) That said, I really am excited about this new stage of life as we start to grow our babies into teenagers and then adults who will someday be the leaders in their churches.  (Sniff, Sniff)

Because I am really reluctant to change my routines and do anything new (Surprise!), I tried to talk my gung-ho son into easing us into LTC by not being in too terribly many activities.  So, Noah ONLY participated in Bible Quiz, Small Chorus, Service Challenge and Puppets this year. 

He started out in February(?) really fired up, but soon the tears started flowing every Sunday as he "never had ANY free time to do what he wanted to do!" His main complaint every week came from Bible Quiz.  He just HATED it!  Truth be told, I thought it was way too much to ask of a 3rd grader to prepare for a 200 question quiz over the book of Revelation with no study guide, but we decided not to let him drop out because he was committed to a team.  So.....he stuck with it.  I wound up joining the coaching team and became more familiar with what was expected of him, and he and I worked hard every day those last couple of weeks before LTC.

Fast forward to LTC weekend...... As we entered the ballroom for Bible Quiz, Noah's first event, a massive storm was forming outside.  Not 10 minutes before the event was to begin, the entirety of LTC as well as all of the guests of the hotel where the event was held were encouraged to file into the ballroom as it was the storm shelter, and a tornado was likely.  Yikes!  It was crazy crowded in there!  The whole group (I've heard 2,000) sang praises for about 45 minutes as the storm passed us by.  It was beautiful.....and mildly frightening!

Once given the "all clear," we began the test.  I was a judge at another table and was able to see Noah throughout the competition.  It was so fun to watch.  I could see the energy and enthusiasm in his body language and just knew he was loving it.  Was I ever right!  After the 4th test, he came running over to my table and told me that he had just taken the multiple choice section for his team and hadn't missed any of them.  He was so pumped and yelled as he ran back to his table that he was DEFINITELY doing Bible Quiz again next year.  Oh.....Yay????!?????!

Turns out, his team got 96 out of 200 correct.  Maybe not the best percentage, but they were proud.  His coach and I were so disappointed for them though because we think they were only 4 questions away from getting a bronze medal.  As it is, they got absolutely nothing for all that hard work.  So sad!  BUT, Noah had a wonderful first experience. 

His Small Chorus sang beautifully and got a gold...

And his puppet team got a silver.  Noah really loved puppets and did a great job as a sports announcer ("NB") interviewing a basketball team.  He was also very proud that a picture of him and his puppet wound up in the Christian Chronicle for all the world to see!

We got really lucky on Noah's schedule and were able to leave Arkansas early afternoon on Saturday.  We hustled home so we would have time to dye some Easter eggs.

Fun, as always!

On Easter morning, the kids endured having pictures made before diving into their Easter baskets.  Isn't she pretty???

They've learned to be pretty good sports about that.

At church that morning, Noah's puppet team did their show during bible hour, and then we headed home for a quick lunch.  While there, the kids decided that they weren't interested in going to the church's egg hunt that we always attend.  I was a little disappointed because I like traditions, but it was awfully nice to have a little down time on such a busy weekend.  Because it was rainy and cold outside, we had to do our own egg hunt in the house.  Odd.

We did manage to slip outside for a family pic because that is what we do.....

And we finished off the weekend by going to the LTC awards ceremony and then watching Noah's chorus perform after church.  It was such a busy time but so very important.  Noah, of course, ended up loving it all, so I have no doubt there will be many crazy weekends like this in our future.