The play

Our trip to Wisconsin was to see Hannah in her final musical, this being her senior year.  She was the wicked step-mother in Cinderella!  Doesn't she look wicked?!

This version was not the Disney version but Rodger's and Hammerstein's Cinderella.  There are 2 balls in this story.

Before the program; visiting with friends in the orchestra pit.

We were not allowed to take pictures but Jill sent me a link to some photos.

As we were watching, I noticed Allen with tears running down his cheeks. "Look, Deb!  It's my mom!  She looks like my mom!"  (Not the mean, angry pictures of this stepmother, mind you.  Allen's mother was the sweetest woman and I didn't hear any disparaging, cruel thing come from her mouth!!  She just looked like her!  With Hannah's wig being an updo, like Al's mom, it was more like her. )

I noticed it also and fought tears.  Mom has been gone for 33 years, and yet times of grief hit.  Mostly memories make us smile or laugh, but this time it was grief.  Yet, we do not grieve as those without hope.  Mom is still alive - with Christ!

Here are some photos of Allen's Mom.

Hannah's middle name is Kathern, after Mom.  Kathern, Katrina, Katarina...those are all variations in our Graber line going back a few centuries.  Our daugher, Jill's middle name is Katrina.

She is such a great actress!

I got a kick out of the horses.  Their props are something else!

Photo ops afterwards ~

Cinderella and Claire

The prince and Claire

Hannah's good friends

Jill, the wicked step-mother and Adam's sister, Stacey

Giving autographs

This girl was terrified of Hannah. Hannah was so stinkin' mean and frightening!  I assured the girl that she was really nice.  I was surprised she wanted her autograph, though.

Even Papa got an autograph!

Sophia and her friends

What an incredibly enjoyable time, watching Hannah.  The Lord has gifted her for sure and I am excited to see how she will use those gifts to honour Him!

Another road trip

I was home less than a week before we left for Wisconsin.  During that time home, I enjoyed going to church in person for once and going out to eat with friends afterwards.  Since I was home for Halloween, I was able to hand out treats to some pretty stinkin' cute trick or treaters!  I also handed out cards that said "Whoooo cares for you?"

"Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares for you!" 1 Peter 5:7

* * * *

I took a meal to new parents, enjoyed teaching the young mothers, taught the little Cubbies at Awana and attended my "older women's" (or maybe I should say "wise women") Bible study.  How I love my dear friends!  I packed a lot into 6 days!

Then it was time to go see our daughter's family in Wisconsin!  We left before the sun was up.

It was raining.  The weather map showed rain the entire way!!  

When we looked at the weather map however, it showed that east of Cameron, Mo, there was no rain, so we chose to head east on highway 36.  We were able to drive on dry roads for almost 6 hours.  Had we gone through Des Moines, we would have been driving in rain the whole way!!

Rivers are drying up.  We NEED the rain for sure!

I wouldn't mind exploring that house!  I can imagine a big family with lots of children running all around.

At Macon, we pulled off the road and decided to try this local place called Raspberry BBQ.  When the parking lot of a local joint is full, you know it is a good place!

SO GOOD!!  And fast, friendly service!

Highly recommend if you are ever on that stretch of road!

They were also playing "our" music from the 70's, like Creedence Clearwater Revival.  

We shared a pulled pork sandwich and tater tots.

The sign in the bathroom cracked me up.

We drove into Quincy.

The Mississippi is so low that barges are not running.

I love old architecture!!

We angled across toward Rockford, Ill. going east of Moline on 88.

Americana

At Rockford we ran into a heavy downpour and heavy traffic.  Not too fun.  But God protected.  We took another new road.  We had not intended to do that on this trip, but we discovered Highway 26 out of Janesville that went to 151, bypassing Madison.  

We got to Jill's after dark and we let ourselves into the garage to unload out of the rain.  Sophia was at work and the rest were at Hannah's senior play, where they were working (parents help out with tickets, concessions, etc.).  Kobi was so excited to see us and ran "zoomies" around and around!  He was living up to his name "Yorokobi" which is "joy" in Japanese.  We took him with us to pick Sophia up from work.  Jill and Claire came home and Adam's sister, Stacey showed up surprising the girls (we knew she was coming).  Hannah and Adam didn't get home until we were already in bed.

The next day we had hoped to go to The Little Farmer, which is a fun fall place to go!! but it was raining.  Claire "performed" her ballet and tap for us.

A soup kind of day.

Stacey took the girls and picked up some HUGE cookies from Crumbl Cookies.  Oh my!!

We cut these in sixths and shared them.

We had a relaxing day then went to the play in the evening.  

(Next post!)