Project 365, Week 31

This was a super fun week. The girls and I got to do a trip together and they got to do fun, stretching, character-building things. But first...

July 29

When you make a bet with your dad and you are wrong.

July 30
Our denomination has a fine arts competition, where students can compete in all manner of creative categories...singing, drama, sermons, art, writing, etc. My girls were part of a drama that cleared through regionals in March and got an invitation to compete on the national level. And so...we headed to Orlando!

As it happened, we ended up on the same flight with my sister and her crew...HUGE bonus to travel with them and stay in the same hotel. The kids (and adults) had such a great time together.

July 31
There was a nice mix of downtime and go time and wrangle-the-crew time.

Avery and Amanda's large ensemble. When it counted in front of the judges, they did the best version they had. It was a great learning experience, seeing what's out there, what's possible.

Each night there was a service for the 20,000 or so. So neat to see so many kids excited about Jesus.

August 1
Nathanael did his short sermon (1 of 445 in that category for senior high!). Love that kid!

The other large ensemble.

Maddy danced, her last year of high school eligibility after winning first place the last two years.

{Heart eyes}

We stayed in many different locations, but this was the entire group from our church!

While we were teenagers, Amy and I had an incredible youth pastor. He was young and single, full of energy and great ideas and poured into us. Anything youth group related was the place we wanted to be. He was also very gifted in the arts, specifically drama and taught us so much. We participated in fine arts and did summer touring at different churches throughout New England. We've kept in touch with him and his family throughout the years. He is a judge at nationals, so after service one night, we went down the street to the condo they were staying in for the week.

His friend, another judge, spent time talking with the kids and encouraging them in their gifts.

August 2
Fine arts wasn't the only competition of the week...there were pretty intense pool Olympics happening as well, complete with elation for winning and poor attitudes for losing. Hilarious! :)

We sat in on two hours of call backs for the large drama ensemble category. Really amazing stuff!

After service Colombo got everyone pizza and we hung out in the hotel lobby. There was another group down there and somehow dance lessons started. First salsa, then Maddy had about a dozen doing a lyrical dance. They never exchanged names but it was such a sweet, safe time for the kids and so fun to watch. All week we were amazed to witness how good and respectful the kids acted, with seemingly little supervision.

Accidental twinning, per usual.

August 3
Swimming, hanging and anxiously waiting to hear results of Maddy's dance.

She was in the top 3, for the nation!! We were so proud!

August 4
The girls and I fought through early morning security lines and caught a 7AM flight back home to see our boys.

Aiden enjoyed the afternoon at a neighborhood birthday party.