Thanksgiving Break and Such

A whole week off for Thanksgiving - what a luxury! One of my professors didn't even know that Truman was getting an entire week this year. This is the first year they have and, as he put it, "That was totally not on my radar. At all" (he told me this with a bewildered look on his face). I think he needed the break. I know I did - three tests and two papers the week before quite wore me out!

The weekend before break I spent in Peoria, Illinois, at a National Missionary Convention. It was great - I mostly enjoyed, the time spent with friends, talking about missions and all the possibilities we, as young people, have before us right now. God could do anything with our lives!

After the convention, most of the week was spent relaxing at home - and I do mean relaxing. I'm afraid I was rather lazy. We watched movies, and played games, took walks and naps. Thanksgiving dinner was spent at our friends the Q2s' house, along with Mrs. Hazell, Zephan, and Alida. Lots of food and laughter - friends just make everything in life that much more wonderful, don't they?

I turned 18 on Friday, with very little ceremony. Kind of humbling when you have an unassuming birthday - but I did get to go on a long walk, talk quite a bit with God, get a hug from a very special girl, receive a wonderful birthday present shortly after I was legally 18, and watch A-team late in the shed with the guys.

The weekend was very exciting - we are now the proud borrowers of a horse! When my cousin asked to hear all about it, I told her all I knew - "It's brown." If you are one of those special people who wants to know every detail, my sister and Mum both blogged about it as well. I just have some pictures. My little family of cowboys (and girls)! Aren't they precious? I think Andy was cowering in the basement at this point, asking himself what we have become. :) Just kidding - he was as excited about the horse as anyone . . . just not quite as ready to entirely forsake his California roots.

So over all, a very successful weekend home - even though I didn't shoot a gun, play racquetball, or watch Beauty and the Beast with a certain someone who has never seen it. But there's always Christmas break!

Labor Day Weekend

I was blessed to be able to catch a ride back home to Rolla for Labor Day weekend (thank you SO much Sam!). We met up with my family in Jefferson City, and I hopped in the minivan to head over to Camdenton, where I got to see the Rolla Royals’ first volleyball game! Here’s Abby, my favorite player.And the whole team, with Coach Sarah, after the game.

The girls have come such a long way from the first years of our team – it’s great to watch them play!

Then Saturday, we had a BBQ with a few friends – and with homeschoolers, a “few” friends always turns out to be around 50 people. What a great time, though! I have found that it matters very little to me just what we do when friends come over – I just so love being around them. Here are the lovely mothers – each of these ladies has been such a wonderful role model for me, and it was so nice to see them again.

Of course, volleyball was played. Thanks Dad, for fixing the net. You know, it wasn’t long ago that I was incredible uncomfortable playing volleyball. Now, I guess I just enjoy my friends so much, I’ll do anything for them. :) That, and I’ve gotten used to everyone laughing at me.

Cute girls! Oh, I miss kids so much! College students aren’t nearly as interesting.

Ashley, enjoying a turn with the Quakkelaar’s new baby. So adorable! Us older girls were discussing that holding small babies was rather dangerous for us nearly-adult aged young ladies. :) Too tempting.

And here, we have the largest poker game/fullest living room award! What a great group of people to spend time with – Thank you, Lord, for fantastic friends.

A Regency Tea

Abby and several other young ladies have had a book club this Spring Semester. They read Pride and Prejudice, and sewed Regency Period Dresses. On Friday last week, they gathered to celebrate the completion of their dresses and the book. They made butter and English Muffins, had an outdoor tea party, and went tramping in down the road and in the woods. Quite an adventure, and these dear girls were gracious enough to allow me to attend, as official "flip-flops bearer," "photographer," and "servant."

What lovely girls, and what blessed friendships they have formed! Thanks for including me in your fun, darlings!

Confessions of a Perfectionist

Abby and Zeke are in Fine Linen Drama's production of "The Pirates of Penzance," and have been rehearsing every Saturday (and some Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays too!) for the past few months.

Much to my consternation, at all of the past few rehearsals, there have been 2-7 people carrying around their very own cameras, snapping shots of whatever they please - you'd think that the era of digital cameras had just dawned or something! Now, I'm not going to lie, this makes me quite frustrated - I miss the theater days when you could wear whatever you wanted, not fix your hair or makeup, and not expect to see your photos all over facebook and the blog world the next morning (or even that same evening, depending on who it is that is taking the pictures).

Okay, I was just teasing. I love the fact that people take photos of the rehearsals - especially since I am much too lazy to bring my own camera and snap a few shots. However, I wasn't teasing when I said that there are a lot of people taking pictures. And, because of our modern-day social networks, namely facebook and blogs, these photos are available for "stealing" whenever I would wish.

But (and here comes both the confession, and the perfectionist part), I cannot for the life of me, bring myself to sort through the photos and post any! Why, you might ask? Several reasons:

1. There are simply too many. I think I could probably find about 20 different close-ups of Nathan Brown singing on stage, taken by 3 -4 different photographers. Now don't get me wrong - I have nothing against looking at Nathan Brown (he makes a rather dashing Frederic, in my humble opinion), but in my perfectionist world, I could not simply pick the first one I spotted. Rather, I would feel compelled to compare each of these photos, and pick only my very favorite one to post on my blog. Can you imagine, going through that process with each and every one of the lead roles, as well as each scene!? Ahhh!

2. Chronological order is also incredibly important to me. So is organization in general. Umm. . .like incredibly important. Like. . . I wouldn't ever, ever imagine posting random pictures from the scenes if those photos weren't organized by scene, in the order in which they happen. This takes time, and patience, especially because it is sometimes hard to determine which scene photo comes from. I get a headache even thinking about it.

3. Then there is the fact that, after the performances, we will have so many more pictures. . . and guess what - these are going to be of exactly the same people, the same songs, and the same scenes. However . . . the actors and actresses will be in costume, with props. The set will be beautifully painted and the lights will be working as fully intended. So why take the time to sort through rehearsal pictures, when I can wait and do the same thing, but have the result be much more aesthetically pleasing?

4. But the first, primary, and most incredibly compelling reason - I'm lazy. :D

Check out the Nisbetts' blog, The Riefers' blog, and Ashley's blog if you want a sampling of the photos that are out there. I'm going to work on compiling and posting sometime in the near future, once I conquer my laziness.

Your favorite perfectionist,
Becky

Christmas Parade . . . ish

Last night, the kids participated in a Christmas Parade in the city (town, village?) of Sullivan. They are in a home-school band there, and have quite enjoyed learning new instruments. Here are some photos which I stole from our dear friends the Nisbetts, without permission. They know where I live, and are more than welcome to come over and reprimand me for it. :) Mark, Nathan, Sarah, and Rachel Hickle, Me, Abby, Zeke and Isaac, all drove up together early so that the kids could line-up (Sarah and Rachel are also in the band). Our parents came together and arrived as the parade was actually starting. The kids did great, considering how cold it was!

Here are the younger kiddos, dressed as Snowmen, and riding on the float. Nathanael Nisbett, Isaac, and Anna Nisbett. Isaac was overjoyed to be able to participate, great thanks to Mrs. Kay.

The lovely Hickle girls, Rachel and Sarah.

Abby, very indignant that the picture has been taken, but still excellent on her trumpet. I am so proud of her, and how far she has come since they started several months ago!

Zeke on the bass drum (far right). An outside instrument if I ever heard one. An outside instrument which is currently residing inside our home.

Mark and I, shortly before we decided the car was much warmer.

(How is it that I look so much colder than he does?)

Nathan was also with us, but was. . .otherwise detained. . . at this exact moment. ;)

Fifth - Tea Time and Presents

The tables were set. . . 14 places for fourteen beautiful young ladies.

Pouring the tea. . .

Led by Miss Elise Hamacher, these ladies sang Abby the most beautiful Happy Birthday song I have ever heard. Their voices blended to create a melody that was heavenly to say the least. It was my favorite part of the evening. :)

Sixth - The Trampoline