Recital

Yesterday our music students gave their Spring Recital.  

Here are most of the students who played (some of them left before the picture was taken).

I love the pictures of the tiny children and the huge piano!

Nicolas played "Ding Dong Mouse"

Livy played "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"

Nathan played "Alleluia, Alleluia!"

Hudson played "Cripple Creek"

Chloe played "Song of Joy"

Makayla (accompanied by her mother) played "Fanfare Minuet"

Nicholas played "The Clowns" by Kabelevsky

Will played "Marine's Hymn"

Caleb played "Phantom Parade" by Fletcher

Molly played "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"

Stanton played "Prelude in D minor" by Clementi

Megan played "Rondino" by Merle Isaac

 

Hannah played an "Old Fashioned Song" by Leroy Anderson

Mikayla played "Concertino" by Perlman

Erin played "The Brook" by Schubert

Katie played "Gavotte" by Lully

Andrew played "Musetta's Waltz Song" by Puccini

Jonathan played "Jocularity" by John Thompson

Wyatt played "Country Dance" by Weber

Hannah played "Claire de Lune" by Debussy

Katie played "Amazing Grace"

Here are some video highlights from the recital

Olivia

Nicolas

Patrick

Bethany

Kyra and Edyn


Katie Beth

Rebekah

Joy, Delie, Anna, and George

Michaela, Kevin, and Conrad


Laura and Rebekah

A Special Announcement

On Thursday we babysat for the Gallaghers while Hope went to have a sonogram.

While the children were drawing with chalk on the driveway, Patrick wrote this message.

In case you can't read it, it says 

"Is it a boy?

Is it a girl?"

Since James had to work that day, Hope asked the nurse to write the baby's gender and seal it in an envelope so she and James could open it together that evening.

Then James ended up having to work really late.  :(  We were all so ready to hear the news!!!

When James finally got home, he came out after 11:00 and wrote the answer to Patrick's question on our driveway.  :)  We loved the way they announced it to us!

We are very excited about welcoming baby William Alec in September!

My Precious Livy

Two years ago today I babysat this dear little one for the first time!

She was so tiny - just 27 months!!

I have really enjoyed being with this precious child!!!

June 2011

I can't believe it's been two years already!  Time flies when you're having fun!

April 2012

Here are some videos of Livy taken in the summer of 2010

I have REALLY enjoyed teaching Livy!

God has gifted Livy with an amazing mind!  Here's a recent video clip of her reading.

Here are some pictures we took of Livy in June 2010...

...And some recent pictures we took at Shiloh - April 2012

Whenever I read Philippians 1 I think about Livy.

Here are some excerpts from that chapter.

"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
Always in every prayer or mine for you...making request with joy...

...being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you

will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ...

...Even as it is meet for me to think this of you...because I have you in my heart...

...For God is my record how greatly I long after you...

...and this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgement; That ye may approve things that are excellent; That ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ... 

...Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God."

I am VERY grateful to....

-God for bringing Livy into my life!

-My family, who have all welcomed Livy into our home and love her dearly.

-Livy's family, who (in spite of my MANY faults!) have so graciously allowed me the privilege of spending so much time with her!


I LOVE YOU, LIVY!!!!

Race!

Several of us ran a 4-mile race at Shiloh Battlefield last week

Rebekah was delighted because little Nathaniel, one of her very special buddies,

was able to "run" with her this time! 

Here they are, registering that morning

Amanda pins David's race number on him

James Gallagher also ran the race.  

His precious family was there to cheer him on... and to cheer for us, too!

Here is Rebekah with Nathaniel, all prepared for Nathaniel's first-ever race!!!

An eager Patrick waits to see his Daddy off...

...and so does a sleepy, cold Nicolas...

...and precious baby Emma, all cozy in "Aunt" Emily's arms.

Deborah stands by to watch the race, with our little cousins, Allie and Olivia.

(Allie's mom, our cousin Amy, came all the way from Parris, TN to run this race with us!)

The runners prepare for the race.

The horn blows...

...and everybody's off!!!!

Because they had a stroller, Rebekah and Nathaniel started at the very
 back of the 132 racers to prevent becoming a hazard to them.

-Look at Nathaniel go!!!!!!!!

(Born 13 weeks prematurely, with Cerebral palsy and a heart condition,
Nathaniel's running this race proved our God's marvelous healing power!)  

Sarah (who took the pictures), Deborah, Hope, and a crowd of darling little ones

stood by the track to watch the race in the cold... 

...and so did Emily with baby Emma
The kids were excited to "meet" a fuzzy new friend!

The runners have passed;  Deborah takes some of the kiddos for a little stroll while they wait.

In the old Shiloh Church 

HOORAY!!!  

Here comes the first runner!  -Crossing the finish line in 24 minutes and 39 seconds!

And here comes David!!!  The first of our clan to finish,
he crosses the finish line in 34 minutes and 1 second!

Amanda finishes in 41 minutes and 9 seconds!

Our cousin, Amy, finished in 41 minutes and  22 seconds, but somehow we didn't get a photo of her finish :(

Rebekah and Nathaniel cross the line in 41 minutes and 28 seconds.

 Just look at Nathaniel's smile!

Melissa finishes in 45 minutes and 8 seconds!

Waiting for the awards ceremony to begin, Allie and Livy found another furry friend

Here is our clan (four Smiths, plus our cousin Amy, James G, and little Nathaniel), 

trying to rest and catch their breath, now that the race is  over! 

The awards ceremony begins...

...and Nathaniel receives a trophy!!!

David receives a 1st place trophy for his age group!

Amanda receives a 3rd place trophy in her age group...

...and Rebekah receives a 3rd place trophy in hers.

We all had a wonderful time racing... or finishing, I should say! :)