IFRC Family Night

One of the guys who test the microphones week in and week out and never get any recognition for it.

The Phero's didn't have a monopoly on the poetry this time, but that doesn't mean they didn't do some.

Nathanael's poem was about the Battle of Bunker Hill. Somehow I think he had the wrong war in mind when he planned his costume. ;-)

Mercy makes her poetry debut. Mom was there for moral support (and memory support).

"The Chinese plate looked very blue..." And Charity didn't realize it, but so did she.

"Casey at the Bat"

(Though I have to say, the person at the bat looked an awful lot like someone I know. And I don't know any Caseys.)

Poetry over, here come some strings.

More strings and more camo.

I love Mrs. Claytons style. :-)

(Musicians argue over this, but the piano is considered a stringed instrument by enough people that I think I dare to put it in with the strings.)

We're back to recitation. The Mills' performance really belongs in the poetry section because, after all, the Psalms are poetry.

Oh, I got this photo in the wrong place too. It was poetry, even though he did make it up himself. :-)

While Josiah was telling us about the many self-defense maneuvers he and Isaac had learned in the class they took, a sinister hoodlum was creeping up behind him.

The classes paid off.

Some shady gangsters haul off their incapacitated crony.

Next time you don't have a hammer handy, use your head - use it to realize that you should not use your head as a hammer substitute.

You think wood is something? What about four slabs of concrete!

Hey, is that pre-cracked concrete?

That won't do. Bring on a new slab.

Isaac, they work so hard to make you a nice, comfy foot-rest, and then look what you go and do to it. :-)

And that's it for the evening. Oh, that's right. You all are still wondering why there was so much camouflage around. How could I have forgotten? The answer's easy: Because I don't have any photos of the play the boys did. All I have is this photo of the boys reviewing their lines last minute (I know, not too promising is it?). Well, keep going. This is the end of my Family Night photos, but you never know what surprises lie ahead.

IFRC Boys' Skit Practice

(The Saturday Evening Post is finally, several weeks after the fact, allowed to publish some top-secret coverage brought to us by reporter Conrad Martin.)

Here is Conrad Martin now. So, Conrad, how are things coming on the play?

Thanks, Carmen. Right now I'm here in the IFRC church building. We just finished up our fifth play practice, which means just one more to go before the big day. There's a lot of excitement and camaraderie in the air around me right now.

Earlier on in the evening, my hat was at the wrong angle and...

...one of the lead actors was discovered reviewing his lines, but, other than that, the practice has been going very smoothly.

Here is our director, Mr. Mark Raine, pretty much unheard of when it comes to the stage, but he's doing a fantastic job. One of these days Broadway will want him, but I'm planning to hire him first when I start my acting company named "Narrowway."

His daughter Emma runs the sound system, puts off explosions, etc.

And, sometimes, she does some directing of her own.

I'm happy to report that most of the watching audience here tonight did not share Aaron's reaction to the play.

Most of the spectators spoke highly of the play, and I'm sure all future audiences will as well.

Well, Carmen, I see the pulpit is being moved back into place onstage. That's a sure sign that things are being wrapt up here for the evening. So I'll be saying good night.

One Sunday Evening...

...in Lancaster Cownty...

...I was playing peek-a-moo with a neighboring cow.

That same Sunday evening, we had our aunt and uncle over for homemade icecream.

We gave uncle Dale our invisible lawn chair to sit on.

Yeah, it's the trampoline again.

Unlike the lawn chair, the cat is not invisible. I bet he wishes he were.

Big brothers and little sisters...

...and big sisters and little brothers.

Either Eric shares my sentiments about soda or doesn't share my sentiments about photographers.

For once in his life, Dad had a storyless moment.

So his brother filled in for him.

When Jesse did his famous falling-asleep-upright act...

...we didn't need to look at the sky to know it was bedtime.

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And I don't need to look at the clock to know it's time to get this post finished.

God Bless.
Carmen

Hello Everyone,

This post is representative of how difficult it has been lately for me to find time to take photos. One here, another there - that's basically it. And when it comes to events, I'm finding my hands are usually full.

So here's a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Enjoy.

Some Things I Did Recently

The potatoes I was peeling the other day were so covered with eyes that I got the feeling they could see more of me than I could of them.

Another thing I did recently was fire up this ancient little laptop. It had been a long time since it had been on.

When I shut it down, I realized just how long it had been.

And What Has Phares Been Doing Lately?

Being a much happier baby due to some chiropractor treatments.

He's also been learning to "stand up, stand up for Jesus."

He's not a very happy soldier of the cross yet.

Mervin's Treasures

He takes a nap with that stuffed dog every day, and, as soon as he wakes up, he wants his tape measure.

And the hat is often on his mind.

Breakfast Table Business and Politics

At breakfast one morning we had lemonade, but it wasn't just any lemonade. (And it wasn't the fact that is was all natural that made it special either.)

"Charity, the more we drink of this stuff, the richer you become."

Says who? Says the carton.
(Check out the words above the man's hat.)

Charity drinks to her own wealth.

At the other end of the table, conversation turns to politics, and a budding orator vents his disapproval of the US tax system.

Taxes are so high these days that the government thinks we're having big families just to get tax deductions. *rips off bib* I didn't come into this world just to be a tax deduction!

A Proverbs 31 Baby Shower

Mrs. Hoffman "openeth her mouth with wisdom" just like the Proverbs 31 woman she was sharing about.

The young women...

...being taught by the older woman. That's right: a biblical model for baby showers!

I'm pleased to announce that the prophecy on the baby sleeper has been fulfilled. As of last Saturday, Jon and Monique are the humble parents (I'd be the last person to accuse them of pride :) of a little girl.

I had the honor of being Monique's "secretary" for the evening.

Who gave the beautiful quilt? I say it must have been someone who seeketh thread and fabric and worketh willingly with her hands. ;-)

Aunt Becky seems to know just where she's needed.

There were many irresistible things on the menu that night, but, trust me, "the bread of idleness" was not among them.

Mrs. Clayton - busy knitting - is proof.

Ah, posing - such a rarity on this blog.

Out in the shadows, girls gather.

Girls scatter.

And that, in a nutshell, is the story of the evening. Women gathered and, eventually, they all scattered. But, in between, they fellowshipped together, blessed one another, and were a testimony to what God will do for those who trust in him. Much thanks to you, Karen and Abigail, for your skillful organization of the event.

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Hoping you'll have a blessed two weeks,

Carmen