Monday, April 20, 2009

Busy Monday

9:15 and we were gathering shoes and such to head to the ribbon cutting ceremony of the new base chapel.

I'll have to get better photos of the chapel. I was a bit preoccupied with Stacia getting on and off the top of the bleachers....

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Still my favorite man in uniform (Michael - the one in glasses).

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But I did get this shot of the official moment.

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Yep, I'm learning how to use the big lens and didn't have the setting right. ::sigh:: The ribbon is cool...the fog I don't understand. It was fine in the first two shots.

Jamin got to talk to TX Congressman Conway. He told him the best new feature of the chapel is the padded seats. ::snort:: Jared (15) plans to go into politics and he also got to speak to Congressman Conway. They discussed survival tips for political life.

We toured the chapel. Stacia and Zander inaugarated the new Fellowship Hall floor with cake and punch. I cleaned it up - along with many willing helpers.

Mike spent the day tying up loose ends for the rest of the week with the Holocaust Survivors (food and such in rooms etc). We met up and picked them up at the airport. Then we got everyone settled in their rooms and headed for Zentner's Daughter for dinner. Several others met us there. I found it fascinating to listen to the stories, visit with our guests, and participate in a bit of the Jewish culture. Of course, discussion did turn briefly to recent Passover celebrations.

Tomorrow is a full day around town. I *think* I will stay home and meet up with everyone in the evening for dinner at the ASU President's home and then the session at ASU. I WANT to participate in all the festivities of the day but I know that I'll be out a LOT this week and think it may be too much for Jared if I'm gone from 7 a.m - 10 p.m. tomorrow.

For those of you who are local and don't have base access - tomorrow night; 6:30 p.m. Junell Center at ASU. I recommend arriving early. Last year they filled up the 200 capacity room, moved to a 500 capacity room, and were still at standing room only. I know that a school from Wall is coming in and another local high school is bringing students as well.

If you have base access consider attending the Yom Hashoah service on Thursday at the new chapel at 3:30 p.m. This is a memorial service for Holocaust victims.

There will be four additional sessions on Wednesday and Thursday on base. Dr. Wallen will give a history of the Holocaust at each session and one of the survivors will speak at each session: either Wanda or Walter. The sessions are: Wed 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and Thurs 8:45 a.m. and 5 p.m. The sessions are geared towards youth/adults....yet younger children who are familiar with the Holocaust may be o.k. I've taken 5th and 6th graders after we had studied WW2. Do be aware that there are some graphic slide clips during the sessions and the survivors DO tell their stories.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

5 comments:

Herding Grasshoppers said...

What a wonderful thing to do.

We have a survivor near us who frequently speaks to school groups and adult groups. (She modifies her content slightly.)

I had a chance to hear her last spring but didn't take my kids (not sure of the content) and ended up wishing I had brought them.

But then, my husband took the boys to hear a WW2 pilot who had been in Buchenwald, when he spoke a couple of weeks ago. My tender-hearted little Gunnar was literally weeping for the victims. But it was good, not overwhelming to him.

Julie

Herding Grasshoppers said...

Oh, and "PS", the photo with the 'fog'? Were you facing into the sun when you took it? It looks like reflected sunlight in the lens.

Sometimes you can shade the lens with your hand, or buy a "thing" (forgotten the name) that attaches onto the end of the lens to shade it.

DeEtta @ Courageous Joy said...

::snort:: Julie - you are good. Mike took one look and said, "you needed to use the shade" - that's the black thing that was getting in my way and so I removed it. ::snort:: I wish I could do it again. LOL

Cynthia said...

Looks like you figured out your fog issue. Nice pic of Mike. And, WOW sounds like an incredibly busy schedule this week!

Herding Grasshoppers said...

Giggling with you, De'Etta.

My dad is a great amateur photographer. When I was 15 I went on a two-week choir tour to Mexico. The day before we left, he gifted me with a used SLR camera and some detailed instructions that were a bit like drinking from a fire hydrant.

I got a few good shots in spite of myself :0) You have LOTS of good pics on the blog - you're doing great!

Julie