Fall Break and Thanksgiving 2009

Fall Break: Friday afternoon before Bethany's fall break she found a cheap ticket to fly from Memphis to Akron Ohio on Saturday, after realizing it would be a great time to travel to Grove City again:) The three of us walked the 2-mile Mission March in the morning--all winning trophies in our age categories!--and then Bethany and I drove to Memphis. Since we already had an appointment there for a wedding gown-fitting, I took her to the airport to catch her flight after the fitting. Unfortunately she had to spend the night in Atlanta due to a late plane, but she did make it to Akron early Sunday morning! Josh picked her up at the airport and Bethany was able to spend the next 3 days visiting friends in Pittsburgh and Akron and Grove City. Then Bethany was able to drive on Wednesday with Hannah and Josh on the already-planned trip home for their Fall Break. Hannah and Josh returned to Grove City on Sunday.

Thanksgiving: Hannah flew from Pittsburgh to Memphis to spend Thanksgiving week here at home! On Saturday we all attended our sweet friend Claire's wedding to John--well, Bethany was a bridesmaid, so she did more than attend:)--and then Bethany drove to Nashville for the night. Early Sunday morning she flew to Hartford to spend Thanksgiving week with the Mayos in Massachusetts.

Casting Crowns and Matt Redman in Memphis

October 15, 2009, Memphis Tennessee, Willis and Melodee in front row seats on the right side of the stage. We very much enjoyed the concert and once again--see post from May 2008--the Lord is confirming the truth of His Word.

This time Melodee DeVevo read the scripture: Psalm 103: 1-5 "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."

I had read Psalm 103 that very morning! (I can't explain why, because since it was the 15th, I believe I also read Psalm 105; I rotate through all 150 Psalms over the course of several months.) And then, on Sunday October 18, Wally read Psalm 103: 1-5 in morning worship.

Homecoming 2009 at Grove City College

A homecoming is intended to be a time for the alumni of a college to return to their alma mater to reconnect with friends, current students and old classmates. I didn't attend or graduate from Grove City College, but this was my fourth Homecoming; my purpose has always been to visit at least one child who is a current student. But for the first time, Bethany could attend as an alumna!

We both enjoyed time visiting with other graduates and especially with our most special current students Hannah and Josh! (Current student Ben did check in via Skype from Argentina while we were on campus.) I was especially glad to get to know Hannah's roommate Amy better!

Happy Birthday Willis!

Not that many months ago, Willis and I thought we would have an empty nest and consequently it would be just the 2 of us celebrating his birthday on September 24. However, God has provided this wonderful year of Bethany living at home and working at Right Choices before she gets married next June. Also, Willis's dad came to Tennessee in June to celebrate Hannah's graduation and stayed! He lives at Dyersburg Manor where Willis visits every day. (Willis has quite the group of friends there.) We're glad Mr. Chapman can be with us for Sunday morning worship and Sunday lunch. Willis also brings him over during the week and so, the four of us celebrated Willis's birthday together. Other greetings were sent from afar: Nathan's from Germany, Ben's from Argentina, and Hannah's from Pennsylvania. (Actually Ben even joined us on Skype while Willis opened his gifts. Isn't technology amazing!)

Saying Good-bye to Hannah at Grove City College....and travels beyond.....

The tradition of the August trek to western Pennsylvania continues! Four years ago we traveled to move Bethany into the dorm for her freshman year at Grove City College. Two years ago we did the same for Ben. This year--oh, how happy we are!--it was Hannah's turn. The slight modification to our tradition was that Bethany--graduated from GCC in May, now living at home and working at Right Choices of West Tennessee for the year--accompanied her sister in the move-in. (Of course she also relished the opportunity to spend some time with a certain GCC Senior man when he arrived on campus!)

Ben is currently studying at the University of Buenos Aires (well, Ben, let me know if that's not the correct name for your current school!), so actually Hannah will be the only Chapman on campus this semester. We all think she will just blossom at this wonderful college and she'll be able to establish her own identity there. And then Ben will join her in January. In the mean time Josh is keeping his eye out for Hannah and we're grateful for his attention.

Willis and I traveled to Philadelphia--via Lititz PA in both directions;)--for visits to Valley Forge, the Liberty Bell, and Independence Hall. Also City Hall. And King of Prussia Mall. And Philly steak sandwiches!

Perhaps I should mention that if any reader is experiencing deja vu at this moment, please check out September 1, 2007 post. You would be right!

Our first date plus 27 years

Even though we had known each other for over 4 years, our first date was July 31, 1982. I hadn't been in Woodlake very much during the previous 3 years, and to be perfectly honest, I hadn't even thought about Willis during that time. (I think Willis would agree that he hadn't thought very much about me either!) When I graduated from Cal Poly in June and planned to live at home for the summer before returning to work on my teaching credential in the fall, I had no thoughts of dating ANYONE in Woodlake.

In God's providence, Willis ran into Mother at the grocery store in the spring and asked about me. (Just because he's a friendly guy!) And then he "just happened to drop by" when he was out in Elderwood in late June and I was home. To be honest I was impressed by how much he had grown up in the previous 3 years. Willis's mother's illness took him to San Francisco for most of the month of July, but we did make and keep the July 31 date. We went to see "E.T." at the (single screen) movie theater in Visalia and ate ice cream at Swenson's. I came away from this time together thinking "I am going to marry this person!" And Willis was thinking the same thing!

The next afternoon, Sunday, we went on a motorcycle ride up to Badger and bought sodas at the store. Fast forward to 2009: on the 27th anniversary of our first date, we rode Willis's new (to him) motorcycle over to the Java Cafe where we ate ice cream and drank coffee.

Our children laugh about this, and in most cases I would not recommend it, but we got married March 26, 1983, and by God's grace we are more happy now than we were then. (We certainly know each other better!) I love you Willis!

Ideal visits Tennessee

Following Walk to Emmaus meetings, Ideal was ready for us to pick her up to have a "girls' weekend" in Nashville. We had a great time together and then Ideal returned with us to West Tennessee.

We're thankful The Upper Room is in Nashville and that provides more trips for Ideal to our part of the country!

June Travels

While Willis faithfully worked at home in Tennessee, Melodee traveled from coast to coast during the month of June. On June 10 I flew to California--well, Reno, Nevada since that's the nearest (3 hours south!) airport to Alturas--to visit family. Johnny did come with Carolyn to pick me up at the airport and to return me to same, and I did see John Jr for like 5 minutes one day, but primarily it was Carolyn and the parents:).

We took Mother to lunch at Subway one day and we went to the Rite-Aid and the Holiday market each a couple of times, but otherwise it was a low-key time to hang out together, visit, look through some scrapbooks, and tell some stories. And film the telling of the stories. Thank you Daddy!

Oh, but I can't forget to mention the Saturday morning drive out to Cedarville where we stopped at some yard sales, Carolyn found some shoes to buy at a funny little store in a funny little building, and we visited the cemetary where we located graves of the infamous Monchamp family. And I would really be remiss if I didn't share about the evening festivities: over 2 evenings we watched "Around the World in 80 Days". Truly a classic!

A week after returning from California, Hannah and I embarked on our trip to Pennsylvania and Massachusetts and beyond. Dubbed "the Senior Trip" Hannah and I participated in Grove City College new student summer preview on Monday the 22nd and drove to Harrisburg PA that evening.

On Tuesday we visited Hershey Chocolate World, drove to Philadelphia to see the Liberty Bell and take the tour of Independence Hall--providentially we ended up in the over-flow line at just the right time--and by day's end had arrived at the Mayo home in Springfield Massachusetts! Bethany had been there since the day after Hannah's graduation; our two Seniors decided this would be a good opportunity for a trip together. It was great to have 5 days at a wonderful home base from which we could take day trips all over New England--you can really travel to and in and through a lot of different states in just a few hours!

Primary destinations were Northampton, MA and Jonathan Edwards' church; Brattleboro, VT; Newport, RI where we toured The Breakers; a day exploring lots of Boston sites; a beautiful day in Kennebunkport, ME. And yes, I learned that one must travel "through" NH to get to ME and "through" CT to get to MA!

Our time with the Mayos--and the Mayhews too--was just the greatest! We so appreciated their welcoming hospitality.

Dyersburg High School 2009 Commencement

Our fourth and final graduation from Dyersburg High School was a wonderful celebration for our family. It was so great that Nathan could be here from Germany to see Hannah graduate and of course spend the time together. Bethany had come home after her graduation, and Ben arrived home from his mission trip to the Dominican Republic. (Plus a side trip to Haiti, but we won't discuss that here:/) And Grandpa Ralph, Aunt Ideal, and Josh were with us as well which was a bonus!



Hannah gave an excellent speech. (Maybe I can include it here?!?) We are so proud of her, of her dedication and hard work.

What are the Odds?

At our early May staff meeting as we celebrated birthdays, MCG shared that she would be 31 years old on May 31 and SMW said, "Yeah, I'll be 28 years old on May 28." Now, that must be a pretty rare occurrence, but it gets better!

It dawned on me that Nathan will this year be 24 years old on May 24. Then MCG came to the office the next week with yet another "golden birthday": her pastor had announced that his son's birthday was that day--he was 17 years old on May 17!!!

So, what are the odds of this happening?!? Someone out there must know enough probability and statistics to figure this out. Anyone with the answer?

Grove City College 2009 Commencement

Grove City College: May 15 Baccalaureate, May 16 Commencement. Don't you just love those 2 words?

Bethany's four years at Grove City College have been rich and full. She has worked very hard, and we are so very proud of her. We praise God for His rich blessings in her life!

Bachelor of Music: Bethany Ideal Chapman, Cum Laude, Honors in Music, High Honors in Christian Thought. (Josh will graduate in 2010.)

Parents' Weekend at Grove City College

April 30/May 1: Willis (in his new haircut to match Ben!:) and I traveled to Grove City College for Parents' Weekend, our third. (We had missed the 2007 weekend to attend a wedding in California.)

On Friday night we enjoyed dinner with Bethany and Josh and Walt and Pat Mayo, hearing all the details of Josh's proposal. (Yes, Bethany is engaged to be married!)

Following dinner we attended the Spring Concert Band performance.

On Saturday we participated in--as in past years--Bethany's Theta Alpha Pi Sorority luncheon AND--for the first time--Ben's Beta Sigma Fraternity cook-out.

Saturday evening was All-Campus Sing. Ben sang with his fraternity and Bethany directed the Rho housing group, her third and final performance. (As a matter of fact, it was during these rehearsals in spring 2007 that Bethany and Josh met.)

...including a unique tradition

Immediately following All-College Sing--well, really just as we were still talking about how great their song was--Josh was grabbed up, hoisted on shoulders, and carried off across campus to be thrown into Wolf Creek as the entire throng chanted--appropriately--"Wolf Creek". This is a tradition at Grove City College when a young man gets engaged. And the young woman brings the towel with which to dry him!

The timing was perfect for Willis and me and Walt and Pat to be able to join in this tradition as Josh had executed a perfect proposal event on Monday and we had heard all the details and celebrated with Josh and Bethany on Friday.

Josh's conversation with us back in January to ask for Bethany's hand had been so sweet. Josh is truly an exceptional young man and he and Bethany together make an exceptional couple. We praise God for this priceless gift.

Two Announcements

The night of the Honors Banquet arrived Thursday April 23, and the much anticipated announcements with it. We wondered if we would hear along with everyone else where Hannah would be in school next year, but she did tell us on Wednesday night: she's going to attend Grove City College! We could not be happier.

And, along with the Top Ten, Hannah was announced Valedictorian of DHS Class of 2009!

A visit to Furman University

It's certainly true that a student can only attend one college at a time, but the process of discovering which college that is can take some time. We know that God in His providence has the exact right place for Hannah to be next year. Hannah really wanted to visit Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, the 6th school to which Hannah was accepted. So, in April, on the weekend before the Honors Banquet, we traveled to visit Furman!

And, on our drive back through Nashville, we were able to worship with Ideal at The Upper Room and spend the afternoon with her.

Easter

Easter in Dyersburg--the dogwoods planted throughout the city are beautiful in April. The beauty was perfect for Easter on April 12.

Christ is risen!

He is risen indeed!

2009 Youth Choir Tour

Our sixth and final Youth Choir Tour took the 3 of us along with 47 other students and 20 other adults to Atlanta, St Simon's Island in Georgia, Hilton Head Island in South Carolina, and then to Camp Twin Lakes in Rutledge, Georgia "The Change" was presented in 4 churches and 1 school, and we completed several work projects at Camp Twin Lakes. And we had some beautiful beach time on Hilton Head Island!

What a great tour! Of course each one is unique and meaningful, but this one was extra special. Maybe because it's Hannah's senior year, maybe because of all the seniors who have been together, many of them on all 6 tours plus Acts of God tours plus church activities and school activities, etc. (This is an exceptional group of seniors!) We had a wonderful week together.