School Activities are Taking Off
It is finally feeling like fall, but change has been happening around our house for the last few months.
Abigail, Titus, and Ashley are all off to college, and doing well navigating the new freedoms and responsibilities adulthood is bringing them.
Heaven is rocking her senior year. She had a sousaphone solo in the marching band show, and she did amazing. She is working at the local nursing home in dietary and seems to be enjoying getting to know the residents. She is also working on being Miss Gulch in this year’s musical, the Wizard of Oz. She is busy but is doing well handling the pressure.
Grace is embracing being a junior this year. She has stepped up at home, in cheerleading, and at work, which is awesome to see. She is also in the musical. In band this year she was the drum major and did a great job with the two movements she conducted. She is rocking her schoolwork and is also being a great taxi service for us.
Mirlanda has made some big strides in connecting with us, and it is such a blessing to have her talking, laughing, and being involved. She helps with a special needs kiddo at our afterschool program on Wednesdays and does a great job of being both kind and maintaining boundaries for him. She also has received the “Christian Character” and “Neatness” awards at SCS. The Supervisors have told us of several times she was a good leader and friend. It is fun to see them bloom, once they make peace with where they are planted.
Hunter is all sports, except when he hits the stage. Then he’s all goofiness. Hunter was plagued by injuries this football season but is healed up and ready to hit the hardwood for basketball. He is also in the musical and has several roles. We can’t wait to see his theatrical debut. More than that Hunter has stepped into the oldest male role in our home well. He is a dependable helper and is working to set a positive tone for the young men on site.
Ezra ran Cross Country this year and did well. He medaled in several meets. More than medaling it was fun to listen to him ask, research, and talk about how he could reach goals he was seeking. He is also gearing up for the fast and furious middle school basketball season. Ezra will also be gracing the stage in this year’s musical as many of the extra fun characters in the Wizard of Oz. He continues to be a quiet friend and influence both on site and at school.
Izzy came to our home in August. She is settling in and has done pretty well. She enjoys playing with the dog or board games. She also likes to get the other kids to ride the tandem bike with her. She can be quiet, but we’re hoping she begins to come out of her shell soon. She has made some friends at school and youth group.
Luke is enjoying his last year of Tri- County. He continues to take piano lessons and is learning lots. He continues to be a leader at church and school. He is enjoying being one of the older kids at TCCS. It is hard to believe our baby is almost done at TCCS. We’ve had a kiddo there for the last 20 years.
Trey is our other new addition. Trey has struggled from early on and we continue to be consistent and loving, while maintaining rules, boundaries, and expectations.
Kirk stays busy with maintenance on site. There are several small projects that have gotten ignored during the building of the new houses, but thankfully we have had a couple fall groups that have helped get those checked off the list. He’s also had a lot of bonding time with Trey on days when school is not an option for Trey.
I try to keep all the schedules straight, and make sure everyone gets supper wherever they land for the evening. Fall usually means packing supper for kids going from sports to musical practice, as well as a few band competition meals, and of course a cast party and snacks. I also keep busy with the animals. We have 170 butcher chickens we are going to dress them in early November. We are thankful for Mike and Ruth Smith who come and help us each fall. They are amazing, and we appreciate them so much.
We couldn’t do what we do without you. Your prayers carry us through. Your financial support makes it possible for kids to be kids, and us to be available at any time. Most of all the kids learning that there is an army of people who love, pray, and care about them, because that’s what Jesus said to do, is a priceless example of the Gospel in action.
Blessings, The Moore’s