Jordan Takes Center Stage...

...This time in front of the Mt. Hood Pops Orchestra!  Do you remember this post?  If you do, then you remember that Jordan won the Young Artist Competition and would be playing the first movement from Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor with the orchestra.  After a few rehearsals with them and lots of practice time, the big day rolled around!  All of us were super excited... especially Jordan if you couldn't already guess.

We had a glorious day and Jordan did such an amazing job!
 Sit back and enjoy the pictures from our day!

 We pulled into the parking lot and saw all the musicians heading in for the dress rehearsal.

Before they headed in, we prayed for Jordan.  We prayed that God would bless his performance and so that he would be a witness for Christ.
After prayer, Daddy and Jordan followed the other musicians inside... things are getting close!

A while before the concert I came backstage to see how they were doing and just to say "hi".

This program is going to be aired on Comcast TV up here!

The concert hall is filling up and the orchestra is taking their seats.

There were some symphonic pieces and then this girl played a bassoon solo.

We were delighted to see so many wonderful friends that came to the concert.

 At the intermission they wheeled out the piano and Daddy helped with that!

Then the program resumed and we waited in anticipation for Jordan's solo.

Jordan walks out on stage!!!

God answered our prayers for Jordan as he did an amazing performance!  During his piece, the audience became so captivated that you could have heard a pin drop.  Afterwards he got a standing ovation!!!
Before his piece, they had a narrator reading bios and history on the pieces.  When he read Jordan's bio he read the quote by J.S. Bach that Jordan likes to include in all his work: "The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God."  It was very powerful to hear that projected over the hall!

The full orchestra.

 

 Jordan comes out for the curtain call and receives a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

After the performance Eden and I ran backstage to congratulate Jordan and also to get a picture with "The Him" as Mr. S. kept saying!  :)

Mr. C was coming up with some good photography ideas... ;)

 Judah showing off his missing tooth!

 One very proud Daddy!


Elanee S, Yvonne S, and Shiloh out in the courtyard.

Mommy and Jordan waving goodbye to friends.

Some of our group was able to head off to a restaurant together for celebration and fellowship.


 Our updated family photo.

 Lest you think it was easy to get us all smiling, standing right, and looking at the camera at the same time... think again!

This one is my favorite!  I love my fun family!

As we headed out to the parking lot, we were surprised by hidden paparazzi photographers in the bushes!  I think it was an am-bush!

Handsome Ben.

Judah sprints to the car!

 The wonderful parents at their table.  We are all blessed to have such God-fearing parents!

 At one point, all the sisters tried on their brother's glasses!

Eden looks at life with a whole new prescription!

Mahala C. gives Noah's glasses a try... They look pretty good on her!

 Pretty Havilah enjoying herself!

 Judah is just too much! 

Mmmmm!  Yummy ice cream was a hit!

 Uh oh.  Eden and Mahala C. are up to something!

 Next thing we knew, they had somehow got free cookies from the waitress!  The cookies didn't last long.

 
At the end of a glorious day.

We had such a blessed time of fellowship and fun.  It was truly an honor to spend this special evening together.  A big thank you to all the special friends who attended this concert.

We are so thankful for God's hand of blessing over this entire event.  May He be praised and glorified!
"Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven."
~Psalm 148:13

Posted By,

~Bethany

Thanks to Evan S. for the majority of the pictures!  You captured such good memories.

Judah the Little Dancer!

While cleaning the house, we were listening to some music.  Next thing we knew, Judah was dancing around the room showing off some fancy footwork!  Can you believe it was all impromptu?!

Oh, and he asked to wear that kilt!  :)

Posted By:

~Bethany

2012 Christian Heritage Conference Part 2

Here is the (very late) Part 2 to our wonderful weekend at the 2012 Christian Heritage Conference!

 The Keynote was Dr. Voddie Bachum.  He was (as always) excellent!

I was very excited because I got to meet him!  

 Listening intently to the opening session.

 My wonderful parents.

 Like last year, us siblings sang in the Choral.  It is such a great experience to work together with other young people, under the direction of Mr. Craig.  He is a wonderful director and every year he pulls it all together in only four one hour rehearsals!  This year was too much fun as there ended up being tons of humor and even a few practical jokes!

This year, Eden also joined us with her high Soprano voice.

 There was about 230 singers in all!  The largest group yet!!!

The Alto section... 

(That's where I always am!)

 The Choral deserted Elanee!

Well, not really... :)

After every session there was time to fellowship with the other young people.  We had so many wonderful conversations.

 Jordan and I auditioned for the Music Night and by God's grace, we were selected to perform!  We were so excited to be a part of it!!!

Tuning up.

 It was sooo good to slip in a few moments of practice during the day.

After our rehearsal, Jordan and I rushed off to a mic check.  In the meantime, here is what the little ones were up to:

 Cuties!

Havilah and her missing two front teeth!

Awww!

Brad P. gave them a quick lesson in photography...
 This is the result:

 A budding young photographer!

 Adorable brothers.

 Some of the instruments backstage.

 Jordan opened the program with his rousing "Stars and Stripes Forever" arranged by Vladimir Horowitz.

We played for over 3,000 people!!!!!!!!  

It was so neat to be backstage with the other performers.  We were all praying for each other and encouraging each other as we sought to bless others and do our best for the glory of God.

 Jordan bows.

There are his hands on the big screen... booming away!

I played right after Jordan.  It's always great to have him as my accompanist! 

 Listening to the hauntingly beautiful intro of "Schindler's List".

 Putting everything I had into my performance.

 I love this angle!

There we are right after our performance!  To God be the glory!

The next evening we all performed with the choral.

 There is Mr. Craig as our director and Cris Rodgers as our accompanist.  They both did an excellent job!

 Yvonne S. and I are right in the middle.  It was so tight that I had about three girls reading off my music!

 Shiloh and Elanee S. in the middle there with Eden, Kathrina B. and Hannah H. on both side of her in the upper LH corner.

 Evan S. and Jordan with the basses.

 That night we had a big get-together at our hotel lobby with the P. S. and H. families.

The big girls!
Unfortunately, I never got to meet the whole H. family because I was so exhausted from the two days that I totally crashed and didn't feel too good.  My dad took me back to the hotel room and I almost slept for 11 hours!

Faith H.

Eden with her two friends... Grace P. on the far left and Hannah H. in the middle.

It was such a glorious two days and we were so thankful for the wonderful time spent and all the good memories that we made!
Praise the Lord!

Special thanks to Evan S. for all the Professional looking shots!

Posted By:

~Bethany