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.