Friday, April 25, 2014

Blogging IHC '14

I'll spare you--and me--the excuses for my lack of writing.  It's been a busy year and it wasn't at the top of the priority list.  But I miss it!  I really, really do.  I'd like to trim a few other things out of the schedule and keep the blogging.  (Can I start with giving up laundry or cleaning the toilet? Or unpacking?)

God helped in a wonderful way at IHC this week.  If you had told me a week ago that we would survive it this year, I would have laughed at you.  Or more likely, I would have cried.  That's what I was doing in an Indy dressing room not too many days ago, because I was completely overwhelmed.  There was too much to do, and not enough hours in which to do it. 

Somehow, all of it came together, hilariously and imperfectly, but beautifully.  Old friends and new ones stepped to help with the sound system and crowd control, taking pictures and teaching the Scripture.  People sent gifts to help with expenses, and loaned us supplies; strangers encouraged us and little people loved us.  I even managed to play on the platform and LIVE!  :)

The kids were amazing, and funny, and sometimes effervescent.  In case you're not familiar with it, effervescent is an old Indian word for "who gave that boy Skittles and a Redbull?", which is similar to scintillating, which is another old Indian word, for "that little girl has gone to the bathroom 7 times in the past hour.  Should I be worried or jealous?  I've had to go potty for 3.5 hours." 

Our boys were a huge help, and I am very proud of them.  Of course, I think the annual IHC picture may feature a photobomb from a boy in a horse costume, but they are Gene's children, after all.

We got no exercise at all, unless you count that I got into my control top hosiery every morning without help.  And we ate so much junk food that my feet look like marshmallows and I really, really need those control top pantyhose now...

The sermons--oh, the sermons and the music this year were worth any amount of weariness.  I dragged myself to every evening service wondering why I was there, and left feeling like God had meant some part of it for me.  Every.  Single.  Night.  (Except for a few brief moments when I was asleep in church; I am hoping they were not captured by the livestream cameras...)

And then it was over and I didn't really want to go home.  I whined my way through the cleanup of the Children's Chapel and wished it could last a little longer and I could visit with a few hundred more people.  I would probably have lingered and savored the glow, but life has a way of providing special little reality checks.

Gathering up the last armload of our supplies, I came within feet of exiting the chapel before I noticed a breeze and realized that a good portion of my skirt was wadded up with all the costumes I was carrying!  If I had waddled out like that, it would have been our last trip to IHC ever.  We would have had to change our names and move away...

That was it:  a sign from God that it was time to go home.  And so we did...    :)









3 comments:

  1. Very good post. Glad to know who the little person was all dressed up like an animal. =)
    Jesus DID help y'all and we really enjoyed the program! Our children were SAD they couldn't be there in person to attend your children's meetings, but we were SO Glad that we at least could see the main services!!!
    HILARIOUS about you catching your skirt in the armful of customs. GLAD you caught that before you walked out in front of everyone. =)
    Many blessings, and take a couple extra naps this week...just because you DESERVE them after ALLLL you did. =)
    ~Heather in Argentina~

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  2. You are my favorite blogger I do believe and I think you need to do it every single day just to give me something to laugh and cry about at the same time!! Love you blond friend!!

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  3. So good to see you all at IHC again this year. You did an awesome job with the kids and way to go playing the piano on the platform! You rock!

    So glad you caught your skirt malfunction in time! This year was the year for wardrobe malfunctions it seems! ;)

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