Monday, May 13, 2013

2013 Christian Heritage Conference

The Christian Heritage Conference is the highlight of the year!  We all enjoy seeing friends, meeting new people, hearing inspirational speakers, and singing the chorale.  This year there was almost 3,600 people!  There is one bad aspect: it goes by way too fast.  However, our family makes the best of it and you can see how much fun we had in the following pictures.

 Crossing the river into Washington state.

 We decided to make a day trip out of the traveling, so we stopped to shop.
Eden couldn't convenience anyone (including herself) that these sunglasses looked great on her.
We were surprised to find lots of wedding dresses and many of them were designed by "Eden".  Is it a sign from the Lord?!

 We also found this incredible Western shop filled with all sorts of fun stuff!

 Checking out the boots...

Try before you buy!
(Not like I was going to buy them anyway, but I just couldn't come up with a better caption!)

 Shiloh and the purple cowgirl hat!

 Waiting at the hitching post.

 Judah takes aim!

 Ben in a cowboy hat.

 Ride 'em cowboy!

The conference was huge!

 No wonder!  It was Dr. Voddie Bachum speaking!

I'm wondering if we might outgrow this facility one day...

Apparently this is what our family looks like during a session...

The chorale sessions are the best!  Mr. Craig does an amazing job of getting about 250 young people to sing together in four short rehearsals.

 Danny Craig also conducted one of the songs this year. 
Here Danny instructs us all in the art of fishface to enhance the vocal capabilities.

Actually it was quite hilarious!  Fortunately us Altos got off the hook when it came to actually singing that way...!

For me, the best thing about conferences is meeting other people.  And that's exactly what I did!
 Eden with Lucia M. who we get to see every year here.

 I had been corresponding with Susi K. ever since the 2012 conference, so finally meeting her in person was wonderful!

 It was a pleasant surprise to meet up with Liddy Voetberg at the very end of the first day.
I got to spend a lot of time with Madi A. (who I met for the first time at the conference) because we were two short altos!

 On the evening of the second day, the chorale performs.
 Here we are lining up on the risers (which didn't hold all of us anyway!)

 There's Shiloh in the Soprano section...

 Eden with the Sopranos (or maybe the Sopranos are with Eden... I'm really not so sure).

 Jordan with a very funny expression in the Tenor section.

Me with my "short group" in the Alto section.
(I believe I take singing very seriously.)

Mr. Craig our outstanding director!!!

 2013 Christian Heritage Chorale

 Caught a little smirk from Judah!

After the conference, we have a special tradition where we host a party in the lobby of our hotel.  This was our biggest yet and it was fun to fellowship with the other families.
There was so many people that we ran out of chairs!

 Having a great time together.
 
We might have to find another location is it gets bigger next year (which I'm sure it will)!

Elsie D... the life of the party!

One the way home we stopped at the H. family's home to visit their church.
Judah with the sword of Spirit and the shield of faith!

Tired and happy after a long and joyful weekend! 
(Thanks to Brad P. for getting this family photo.)


Let me tell you... there are two bad things about conferences: 1) It's over way to quickly, 2) You have to say goodbye.  I think that is the worst part!
On our car drive home, I told my family, "When we all get to heaven, it's going to be one big, never ending Christian Heritage Conference!"

Posted By:
~Bethany

Monday, April 29, 2013

Cowboys!

 We found these cowboys on a recent trip to Washington.....

These two fellows had mustaches...  :)
 This cowboy is a Cyber Cowboy...

And we found this little dude getting his socks on early one morning.....


Wednesday, April 24, 2013

One Accord

We have officially named our group "One Accord"!  The name is taken from Philippians 2:2 "Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind."  It's also a play on words because it sounds like "a chord" and the word "accord" means to be "in harmony".

Anyway, the Z. family put together a benefit concert and we got to play with a host of other musicians for Indian Evangelical Missions.  It was a very special evening and Elizabeth Z. did a fantastic job organizing it all!

Thanks to Evan S. for the pictures and the videos!
  
 Eden, Elanee, and Jordan look like they are suppose to be warming up, but I believe they are talking instead.  ;)

 The fun begins!!!

  The Z. family also put together a special dinner for all the performers and their families.  That was a huge blessing and very delicious!

After dinner we had our mic check...
 Yes, there is a story behind this picture.

This is serious business as I am sure you can tell. 

Eden is really serious too.

And then... the concert starts!
 Our opening number!

 Jordan introduces everyone.

 Singing.

 More singing...

And Eden gets a solo!

 Afterwards  it is time to meet and greet!

Judah having a great time!

Talking with friends.

It was such a special evening full of music, fellowship, and friends... all for the glory of God!

I will be posting some videos of the concert soon, so stay tuned!

Posted By:
~Bethany