Someone finally contacted me and said, "WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO UPDATE YOUR BLOG?!!" It was good to hear that someone actually visits and keeps track! The Thomas' have been wonderfully busy living life, loving, learning and growing together.
Buddy's death slowed us all down for about a week, and things kind of snowballed, but we are back in the saddle now. We have been working hard at getting projects accomplished, both school and otherwise. The kids have had papers and projects they have been working on, and Tom and I have been busy with household maintenance. The garage is now clean, the yard has been "winterized," the new floor in the basement is complete, the carpets have been shampooed, the storage unit emptied, and lots of organizing and purging has taken place. How did we ever amass so much stuff??!!
Amidst the school work and household maintenance, we've enjoyed some wonderful activities. Well, most of them wonderful. The kids and I made a trip to Florida in October to be with my mom who had a pacemaker implanted. That wasn't so much fun for her, but it was wonderful to see her and my dad. She is doing well by the way.
I've posted pictures below of a few happenings in the last month.
Our friend, Jim Breton, who we met while camping in Williamsburg this past spring, stopped and stayed for a few days in McDonough while on his way to Florida for the winter. We stoked a fire in the backyard and made s'mores for old times sake.
S'mores weren't enough for these guys -- Tom went in and dished out some ice cream to further enhance their sugar high. Thank you for a great weekend Jim! We can't wait to see you again!
His Master's Voice Concert Choir, Concert Band, and Jazz Band that the boys are a part of had their first concert of the year. Here is the choir during their performance. These are all homeschooled students by the way. Andrew sings second tenor (and will need to drop down to baritone VERY soon), and Christian sings bass. If you click on the picture, Andrew is in the back row, second from the right. I think Christian's head is right above the music on the organ.
The Concert Band during their performance -- Andrew is just above the tympani. Christian plays the trumpet, and Andrew plays percussion.
The Jazz Band, which is directed by one of the students. Their director, Mr. Himebook gets to play with the students! They sounded incredible!
Andrew with fellow percussionists, Tyler and Mason.
Sarah continues to do that which she loves the most -- riding. Here she is riding Boss, who was being a real monster this day. She would take him up to the bars to jump, and he would abruptly stop right in front of them. It is by God's grace that he did not catapult her over his head!
He decided to go over THIS time.
Despite what a monster he can be, Sarah still loves to ride Boss.
Sarah with her coach, Peggy.
The HMV Jazz Band was invited to play at a harvest festival sponsored by a local church.
There are two boys in the bands and choir that looked really familiar to me, but I knew I had never met them. In fact, I kept staring at them (hoping that they wouldn't notice) while I tried to place their faces. Their dad pastors the church that was sponsoring the harvest festival, where it all came together for me.
During the festival, I look over and I recognize a gentleman I have not seen in YEARS. It is Stu Boice, whom I knew from afar when I went to Olivet Nazarene University in Kankakee, Illinois. I knew him from afar, but he was a good friend of my late husband, Brad. He is the pastor of Harvest Worship Center, the church that sponsored the festival that the boys played in. How amazing is that?! Stu, his wife Tammy and I, all grew up in Michigan, went to college in Illinois, and now our boys play music together and we live just a few miles from each other here in Georgia!
So THAT'S why Spenser and Parker looked so familiar to me -- they look a lot like their dad! It was really great to see Stu and his wife Tammy, and for the kids to meet one of their Daddy Brad's friends from college. The Boice's were amazed at how much Christian and Andrew resemble Brad.
Christian and Spenser Boice
The Boice Family - Taylor, Stu, Tammy, Spenser and Parker
We celebrated the courage and faith of the Reformers -- Martin Luther, John Knox, John Wycliffe, John Calvin, etc. -- that launched the Protestant movement with a Reformation Celebration at church. We ate a yummy dinner together, enjoyed incredible desserts brought by the ladies, encouraged those who shared a talent the Lord has blessed them with, and answered questions regarding the Reformation sufficiently for Pastor Rogers so that no one faces church discipline for being ignorant. ~wink~ Everyone was encouraged to wear period dress, but only the younger members dressed up. Here we are guessing who each child dressed to represent. Sarah dressed as Lady Jane Grey, queen of England for only 9 days in July of 1553.
Tom with his little buddy, William Coppock. Precious!
The newest member among our church family, Levi Anthony Lindsey, only 3 days old.
Levi's mommy, Meloney, is who we gave a shower for in September. If you jump over to September's posts, you'll see a picture of her pregnant with whom we thought was Lily, but Lily came out a Levi!
The boys at our church love to get together! Here they are doing I don't know what, but they had a great time!
And last, but not least, I wanted to introduce you to my brother, Jeffrey Umbaugh, Principal of Wilkinson Elementary in Middleburg, Florida. Here he is, pictured with his two assistant principals, Emily and Diana. Moments like these make me soooooooooo proud to be his sister!
