Tumbleweeds and Whooping Cough

Due to an outbreak of whooping cough, the church play has at least one new cast member!

The drama is "Tumbleweed Junction", and
HANNAH NOW PLAYS THE PART OF...

...an old spinster woman who is constantly collecting money for the orphanage.

She's also getting to pull together "scene change" music. If the epidemic lasts any longer, it appears that the cast may also gain a new Cowboy! Could that be SAMUEL filling in for a sick cowhand? For those who are interested, the production of "Tumbleweed Junction" will take place on
April 9-10 at 7:00 p.m.
At Grace Baptist Church in Whitewater Kansas.
Admission is free. All are welcome.

Our prayers are with those families who have sick kids. Get well soon.

Our new church

We are grateful for God's leading for us. We have finally found a church home, and rejoice in the ability to worship God with a wonderful group of people. The church is "Grace Baptist Church" in Whitewater Kansas. If you recognize the name, it is the same church that we attended many years ago when Rebecca and Rachel were babies. We have enjoyed renewing old friendships, as well as making new ones. The kids have gotten involved with a drama production that they will be performing in April. The young people have been a joy to get to know.

We've been privileged to be able to have some of the families in our home, as well as visit others in their homes. These have been rich times of fellowship and encouragement.

Here, the kids play ping-pong, while the adults visit together. Hannah has found a friend who enjoys much of the same things that she does. She also plays the mandolin, and they look forward to doing some music ministry together.

MOVING DAY FINALLY ARRIVES!

That long anticipated day...Dan and Rebecca finally have their farm, have done the necessary rennovations to the house, and are ready to move in. The crews met at the mobile home out past El Dorado with trucks, vans etc.

There was last minute packing......but someone needs to give those babies attention!
YES BOTH OF THEM!
Charity went with Hannah and Sarah to pack the day before, and stayed the night so they'd be there to help in the morning.
After the crews left to unload at the new house, a group of ladies stayed behind to clean...
and clean...
How clean can one house be? (Thanks Shari, for heading up this hard-working crew!)

They left the home sparkling...

and ready for whoever needs it next.

Meanwhile, back at the farm, the men arrive and start to unload.

furniture and boxes began to fill the new house. A few of the younger girls and I cleaned up the kitchen, and made sandwiches and other goodies for the workers.
I decided to put in a few "before and after shots" of the house, since there was so much remodeling and updating that was done.

THE FRONT DOOR ENTRY BEFORE:
AND AFTER. (A new wood floor- donated and installed by mister fix-it himself, Mr. Jeff Flora)

Here we see the eat-in kitchen, painted a pale blue with a country border...the utility room is also much brighter. This is the living room BEFORE:
and AFTER:

The walls are textured and painted a green, but they still plan to glaze the paint job. The carpet was just laid the week of the move.

Although they kept the red carpet in the office for now, the walls have been primed, and are soon to be textured as well.

Once the boxes are gone, and they are more settled, I'll post a few more "before and after shots, for everyone who'd like to see.

This is a video clip of Esther seeing her new room for the first time...

Now they are in, but getting settled and unpacked is a DIFFERENT MATTER altogether.

May you make many happy memories in your new home.

SAMUEL'S FINAL ORCHESTRA CONCERT

Friday night before the concert, the kids rehearsed their program on the stage in the Century II Concert Hall. (Sarah is on the left)

This is a short clip of the Brandenburg Concerto by Mozart at the rehearsal.

Sarah- playing in the Chamber Orchestra

During the Youth Symphony portion of the concert, the organization, sponsored by the Wichita Symphony Society,memorial funds and vendors, sponsored and handed out several scholarships. Samuel was surprised and honored to be the recipient of a string scholarship donated by Senseny Music. Hannah, after the concert visiting with friends.

"Our Kids" after the concert... (ok, so Amanda isn't TECHNICALLY our kid, but close!)
At least Daniel thinks so. Sarah with a few of her friends after the concert. Congratulations on another Season of Youth Symphony. Samuel, you will be missed!

If you are interested in hearing some of the music from the concert, the Flora family recorded the concert and put it on youtube. Here are the links if you'd like to hear them.

This is the link to the "Brandenburg Concerto" performed by Sarah's Chamber Orchestra. Sarah is the 2nd girl in on the front row.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Q6_Cernups
This is a piece called the Egyptian Legacy from Last Semester.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azuYrfLqwDY


This was the finale piece performed by the Youth Symphony. Samuel is in the front row of the viola section-middle, and Hannah is in the middle of the violins, on the left, third row back.

Both Hannah and Samuel have "close up" shots in Aaron Copeland's "Rodeo".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REPvn_BtHDk&feature=channel
Capriccio Italien Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzCfNAusR78
Capriccio Italien Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFTgtaGtUjA

Girl's day out

The girls, Rachel, and I took Ethan and Jonathan and spent a LONG day doing "girl things" together.
We loaded the boys into their car seats...

It was so fun to spend the day with my favorite little guys.
We brought a DVD player to the beauty shop so that Ethan would stay occupied...Well, it didn't work. He stayed occupied alright!

Charity chased Ethan around for a while.
"Whatcha doin' Hannah?" "Hey, what's a guy to do? They took me to a BEAUTY SHOP of all places!"

However, the rest of us, including the hairdresser, enjoyed watching the animated Pixar movie..."Ice Age".

The haircuts began... ...and continued... 4 of us got cuts and styles... Charity didn't want her hair any shorter than mom had already cut it. The "Geautiful Birls" and boy.

Lovely, Hannah.
Afterwards, we had lunch, spent time shopping at Goodwill, then went home and spent some time admiring our Goodwill clothing purchases.
Jonathan particularly raved over the beautiful hair and clothing...see???

I think he is saying..."Grandma, you look lovely today".