Ryan's Confirmation

Ryan's year long process to be confirmed in our church, ended on May 21, 2017.  I am so very proud of his effort and commitment.  There were times that he wanted to throw in the towel, but he didn't.  He stuck with it.  He did many things to make this happen.

There were 17, 8th graders who participated in the confirmation this year.  17 is the most we have ever had in one group.  This group has always been a big one.  When they were in 2nd grade (our first year at our church) they were all given bibles.  At that time there were 22 of them.  They have since lost several kids to different churches and different things, but have always remained a large group. 

To kick off their confirmation, they had an overnight retreat at the church.  Fun was had by all!!  They shopped for ingredients and prepared breakfast the following morning for their chaperones. 

Group picture after shopping

Worship Service during retreat

They had to serve their church on several different occasions.  Ryan served during a session meeting. He served when we prepared and served Worship Snacks as a family and he did worship snack with his mentor.  He poured the baptism font water two different Sundays and had to attend several church meetings with his mentor.  He had to present a statement of faith that he wrote with the assistance of his mentor.  Plus he had to attend all of the confirmation classes which were typically two Sundays a month.  Finally, he attended a session meeting where they voted to accept the confirmands or not.  He was accepted. 

Another way he served the church is by playing the drums during a song at church one Sunday.  The choir director asked if he would mind playing and he played along with another young man who is also a percussionist.  It was fantastic!!

The confirmation group was asked to do various things throughout the year.  Massanutten Cares is a program in which our church, Massanutten Presbyterian, participates in cleaning up the church area and our neighboring Presbyterian camp and home (Sunnyside) as needed.  Ryan's group ended up at Sunnyside cleaning out an outdoor/covered sanctuary.  The girls and I were at the Sunnyside chapel at the same time.  We were rehearsing for the "Middles" youth group service at Sunnyside the following Sunday. 

The sanctuary cleaning crew--Ryan is off to the right, next to Jan--an advisor.

Ryan spent most of his time sweeping the billions of leaves that had blown in the sanctuary over the winter.

 

Ryan and Adam having a little cleaning break time.

Hungry youth chowing down on pizza at Vitos.  Ryan is on the right side of the table next to Adam (kid in green shirt)

Ryan participated in many of the activities that the Confirmands were asked to participate.  They had to do a certain amount of things, but Ryan did more than he HAD to do.  I am so proud of his service and his strength in the Lord. 

The Confirmation ceremony was very emotional as I became aware of how my child is getting older.  I know logically that he is almost 14, but the things he does to show me he is 14 is always a wake up call for me.  I still often think of him as a 5 year old.  :) 

Here are pictures from the confirmation ceremony.  In July he leaves on his first Mission Trip to Greenbriar West Virginia.  The confirmation group will be staying in a church in Greenbriar and will be helping in rebuilding the damage done by the floods. 

Each Confirmand was required to pour the baptismal font water at least twice.  Ryan did once with his mentor and then they all poured as a group the morning of the confirmation ceremony.  Here are all 17 of them coming to the front of the sanctuary so they can all participate in pouring the water.

In order for them each to "touch" the water, they passed the pitcher of water around the circle and the last confirmand actually poured it in the baptismal font.  This is the group of them standing and passing the water pitcher.  Ryan is on the other side of Zach who has the lime green shirt on.  Adam (in the blue shirt) is passing the water to Abby (in the pinkish dress).

Here is the group filing back down the aisle to go sit while they waited for their part of the service.

This is Ryan's mentor, Don Enslin, putting the cross around Ryan's neck.  This happened after he was blessed and they were official members of the church.  This part was particularly emotional.

This happened a little prior to the cross hanging.  Pastor John went to each one of them and blessed them individually.  Saying their name and declaring that they are now part of the church family.  Not just as they are attached to their parents.  In the back ground you can see Mike and Emily.  My parents and nieces were able to come as well and Lydia is there somewhere.  I think in the pink beside Emily.  It was so cute, when Ryan walked out with the group to pour water in the baptismal font, Penny (my brother's youngest daughter) said "There's Ryan!!", but in an excited whisper.  It was cute.

The group was so big so they were kind of crammed up there.  It was funny, the other side of the front of the church barley had any kids in it.  Not sure why this side was so packed.  Obviously this was during a prayer.

Ryan with his Mentor.  Don was really fantastic with Ryan!!  As it turns out, Don worked at Dunham Bush with my dad for many years.  I am pretty sure that everyone who resides in Rockingham County Virginia and is over the age of 35, worked at Dunham Bush at one time or another.  Myself included.  I think the only exceptions are my mom and Mike.  :)



This is the whole confirmation group, their youth pastor (John Dull--middle of the picture with glasses) minus two of them who could not be there that day.  Front Row-L - R--Adam, Emily, Ryan Munsey, Kaci, Anissa, Ryan Washington, Garrett.  Back row L - R -- Zach, Gretchen, Nick, Youth Pastor John, Jillian, Ansley, Sarah, Grace, Abby.

 

 

Confirmation group candle "Live the Light" back in the winter

Lydia and Emily's "Middles" youth group "Live the Light" back in the winter.

 

 

Passing the Sticks

I know that I have mentioned my Uncle Bill.  He is my mother's younger brother and the glue that holds our extended family together.  (Pretty sure I have an "Uncle Bill" label on the right side of the blog you can click on.)  From as far back as I can remember, my Uncle played drums in a cover band.  His band, Avalanche, tried very hard to make it big, but it never panned out.  I can remember going to see their band play in nightclubs from quite a young age.  It's kind of funny, when you think about it, that our parents took us to these night clubs when we were young--but the only thing I remember seeing there was my Uncle playing the drums.  No scarring here.  :)

He and his wife decided, many years ago, that the road life was no longer one that worked for their future.  He then went into law enforcement and is now a Major over a jail in the southern part of Virginia.  Even after he "came off the road" his band played at local nightclubs and we went to see them in areas around Roanoke and Lynchburg for a couple of years.  He retired his drums to his church and played during church services for a while.  During Ryan's first year playing the drums, we took him down to Uncle Bill's church and they played together.  This was HUGE for me!!  Seeing my son play music with the best musician I have ever known was pretty awesome!  Uncle Bill borrowed a small drum set from a friend and they played together.

Here is the You Tube movie from that great day!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_1pDm73Es0

We are now almost 2 years later and Ryan's experience level has increased, but Uncle Bill's need for his drums has dropped off.  He is no longer playing drums in church and at first decided he was going to sell them.  He told us this summer that he decided that rather than sell them, he thought he would give them to Ryan since he seemed to be one that was going to stick with drums and continue playing.  Upon hearing this, I started to cry.  The drums probably mean more to me than they do Ryan--from a sentimental standpoint anyway.  Ryan DOES love having them!  He plays them often.  They are different than the drums he plays in band, but they are good to practice for when he is part of a famous singers band one day.  ;)  Or my dream job for him--having a job on Dancing with the Stars by playing music for the dancers!!  Assuming that show is on for years to come.  He really should graduate from college first.  :)

So, Uncle Bill packed up his drums (or they may have already been packed up) and he and my Aunt brought them to our house this past summer.  They brought them the day before Ryan left for camp.  That was hard for him as he wanted to stay and play them.  :)  Here are Ryan and Uncle Bill and Mike setting them up.

Once they were set up, I kept trying to get Ryan to play and copy what Uncle Bill was doing.  He was having no part of it while people were there.  Uncle Bill said he was like that when he first started playing--not wanting to play in front of people.

Once we all left the basement, he played and played all evening.  And has been playing ever since.  Uncle Bill encouraged him to listen to songs and then practice playing what he hears in his headphones.  He has started doing that a little bit.  It is really great hearing him play songs that you can identify and know what he is playing!!  In band, I am not always familiar with the songs they play.  My lack of musical know how.  :)

Thank you Uncle Bill!  These drums are so special!! I hear my son playing them in our basement and can remember going to my Grandmas house and hearing my Uncle playing them (well, a different set of drums back then) in her basement.  And being afraid to go down there.  :)  I hope Ryan continues drumming for years and can make a career out of this!  Both of his band directors have indicated that this can happen for him as he is quite talented.  Hope he sticks with it and keeps learning!!!

Lydia and Ryan Summer Campin

Ryan and Lydia did some summer camps this year!!  Ryan always does band camp and Lydia always does Drama camp, but this year they were able to do something different.  Drama camp happened to be held the same week as the family went to Myrtle Beach so Lydia had to forego that one.  She has been doing the Blue Ridge Community College theater programs so it was not a big deal to miss.  Ryan did band camp again this summer, but he wanted to go to Brethren Woods Camp with his friends Kemper and Kendall.

Brethren Woods was a week long camp in which he could not have any communication with home for the entire week.  If an emergency had happened, they would have contacted us, but otherwise--no communication.  He was very excited to do this until it got closer to time.  He became nervous and decided he didn't want to go after all.  His friends Kendall and Kemper had been in previous years and had done the day camp, the three night camp and the week long camp the year before.  While they were a bit nervous as well, I think Ryan topped the chart in nervous.

I dropped him off on Sunday, July 17 at 6:00.  We hiked up the very long, steep hill, to the location of his cabin.  The place he would be staying for the next week.  The camp was laid out with beds lined up on both sides of the tent/cabin.  It had wooden floors and a wooden roof with a screen that went around the perimeter.  No AC and it was July.  He took several tank tops in order to keep from melting.  :)  His camp director was name Alan and was a vetran.  He was a college age young man who had been a counselor at Brethren Woods for several different years.  He made me feel very comfortable to leave my child with him.  In the cabin/tent on the other side of their camping area, was where the same age girls camped.  Their counselor was named Lydia so right away I knew Ryan would feel at home.  :)

Ryan, Kendall, Kemper

The day we dropped them off at camp.  They are in front of their cabin/tent.  Their camp fire area is to the left of Kemper and they are actually on the side of a mountain.

We had no idea, but Brethren Woods Camp has a Facebook page!  They posted pictures!!  When we realized this, we were so excited!  We would pull it up every day!  They also allowed us to email Ryan so that the email could be printed out and given to him at dinner each day. We emailed him several times, but didn't do it every day. Didn't want to do too much.  He indicated that he liked getting the notes so that was good.  The following are some of the pictures that they posted.  At the time we had no idea what was going on and it was so good to be able to see him and know that he was ok.

These were some of the first pictures we saw.  They apparently set up a huge tarp and made it into a water slide.  It looks like they had a ton of fun!!  This is Ryan coming down the water slide. 

This is Kemper making his slide

 

 Kendall and his sunglasses making their mark on the tarp.

 

This is Antoinne Washington.  Antoinne was a boy that Ryan went to school with until 3rd or 4th grade.  Then he moved. He has been coming to this camp for several years.  It was so great seeing him and Ryan being able to catch up with him!!  Until they were in 2nd grade, they thought they were cousins.  :)

 

 Waiting in line to play another water game.

One of the things he was so looking forward to was horseback riding.  They took the campers to a neighboring camp to use their horses and helmets and gear.  They had someone take them on a walking trail ride. Ryan loved this!!  We loved seeing the pictures, but were so confused as to why he had on a bright pink helmet.  :)  We figured it was because of his ENORMOUS head and that was the only one that could fit him.  :)  It does make it easier to spot him in all the pictures that were taken during the day.

Ryan made some new friends at camp.  They kept in touch for a little while, but that ended up fading off.  One of the greatest friendships and neatest people he met was Devor.  Devor was part of the deaf camp that was just down the hill from Ryan's camp site.  This group of kids really impressed Ryan and they taught him sign language.  He had the whole alphabet down and many different words.  

This is the deaf camp.  Devor is the one in the back with the black shirt on and orange shoe laces.  

Mike and I went together to pick up Ryan.  Can't remember where they were, but his sisters were not with us.  So it was just the two of us getting him.  We got to watch the closing ceremony and the little camp skits that each camp did.  Click on the link below and you will see the youtube video of Ryan's camp's skit.  It was really cute!  Love the end with Ryan and Antoinne.  

https://youtu.be/1i5lrr7DYpk

After we left camp we asked Ryan where he wanted to get dinner.  He had some really great food throughout the week, but he was excited to eat at Pizza Hut!!  It was nice that it was just the three of us.  Sorry we didn't get you too Mike.  He was on the other side of the table.  Ryan's only request before eating--going home to get a shower first.  He sure did stink!!!  :)

I missed this one!!! Trackin again!!

Not sure if you remember my post from last year or not.  Ryan participated in his Middle School's track and field team last year.  It was great!!  His events were the 100 meter race and the long jump.  This year he thought about not participating, but as the season got closer, he decided he might give it a try.  However, running was not his thing.  He decided to do shot put.  Being on the short side, he had a disadvantage in how far he could throw it.  He is strong though so he still would still put it pretty far out there.

Marching becomes him

 Coming down beside the football field to enter the stadium.  He is the first base drum.

 Marching around the track and playing.

 Standing and playing while preparing for the star spangled banner

 This should actually be above the one above it.  :)

Halftime show.  Have not started playing yet, but ready to go.  This was his second home game.  It was on September 11.  However, the first time I managed to take a camera.  He was so great!!  He marches in with a base drum and plays the base drum while in the stands.  It is crazy how they all play together and just know when to stop and when to start.  He is then in the pit for the halftime show and then drumming out as they leave the stadium.  I think that was the least amount of a football game I have ever watched as I was watching the band in the stands.  The youngest member of the high school marching band.  :)  Not even in high school!!

What a Band it!

 I am not sure if I mentioned in a prior post that Ryan was asked to be part of the High School Marching Band this year or not.  We are SO proud of him!  He was one of three 7th graders who were asked to be part of the high school marching band.  I was a little nervous about him doing this with these older kids, but in seeing the band kids at my high school (Spotswood--where I work) I have realized that they are such a great group of kids!  They work together so well and really seem to be accepting of each other and have each others back.  There is one song that he does where he carries a base drum.  This is what he carries when they are in parades and marching in to the football games on Fridays (when they start).  (Picture with base drum at bottom).

During competitions and halftime shows, his band director has put him on an instrument that I am sorry to say I don't know of the name.  It has multiple instruments on it and he plays them all at the same time pretty much.  It is amazing to watch him!  He even has to switch sticks in the middle and play something else.  We have been completely blown away at the way he has taken to this and has really enjoyed his time with the band and learning this new and challenging stuff!!!  Never had a music lesson in his life and Mike and I have NO musical ability!  All we can figure is that he has my Uncle Bill's blood running through him pretty thick.  :) 

This is a picture of Ryan and Blake.  Blake is a Junior at East Rock High School (where Ryan will go to high school and where he is part of the band.)  Sadly, he will be gone by the time Ryan is a Freshman, but this is the greatest kid!  I have never seen him with a hat on before yesterday so you can't see his face too well.  He always helps Ryan disassemble this instrument he plays and they walk together as Ryan waits for Blake while he gets his xylophone packed up and they walk together.  He talks to Blake more than any of the other students and I love that he is looking out for my little guy!!  Wish Blake was a tall Freshman or Sophomore so that they could be at East Rock together.  No such luck.  :)

Can't wait to show you pictures and movies of the actual band events!!

A public one? Really?

When I was 8 years old, my parents had an in-ground pool put in our backyard.  It happened that the pool was installed very close to my birthday that year so I always felt the pool was a little bit more mine than my brothers.  Although, I doubt he would agree with that.  Having the good fortune of your parents putting a pool in just for you on your birthday, creates never having a need to pay to go swimming.  Then deciding to live your adult life within 30 minutes of your parents home, you continue to not have to pay to go to the pool.  It is great!!!  In my 30 plus years of life, I have gone with a friend to the pool just a small handful of times.  Three times that I can actually remember.  Vacation is different.  It is a public pool, but it comes with the cost of your vacation.

My children  have all been to a public pool with a friend at least once.  Two of them have gone to Swift Run pool in Elkton.  There is a high dive there (my parents don't have one of those--just a regular diving board) as well as a couple of slides.  Again, my parents just have a little kiddie slide that we move to the edge of the pool and throw water on it ourselves.  This is not an issue for me.  I LOVE going to my own pool.  Ryan and Lydia have shared their stories of Swift Run pool with Emily.  Emily has been to public pools, but apparently they only had diving boards that were "not all that high."  So sad.  :)

I have fought them tooth and nail to NOT go to Swift Run pool.  It is about 15 minutes from our house so I feel if I am going to drive that far, I may as well go to my parents pool.  Emily has been dying to go on the high dive and I can remember LOVING the high dive that was at the JMU pool where I took swimming lessons as a kid.  The first time I went off of it, I was two or three years old and my mom said they just held me over the water and dropped me.  Obviously I survived and continued to go on my own.  So, having this memory made me want to see that she have the same experience . . . so yesterday we went to Swift Run pool.

$24 for the 4 of us to swim for the day!!  $24!!!  Is this a common amount for public pools?  $6 a person seems like a lot especially since you have to be a certain height to go off of the diving boards and slides.  Ryan and Emily were tall enough for everything, but Lydia was too short to go off the big sliding board.  This caused a bit of a problem, but Ryan and Emily did not go down this slide all day or anything and Lydia was still able to go down the smaller slide and all the boards.  I still felt she should have at least been only $5.  The owner did not agree.

They all did have a great time so I took some pictures to document this trip to a public swimming pool.  :)

 Lydia on the high dive.  Sure wish she would not hold her nose when she does this.  :)

                          Ryan on the high dive

 Emily running off the high dive while Ryan and Lydia look on.

                              Ryan and the big slide





















The splash he made while coming off the slide and skimming across the water.

This is my favorite.  Emily coming off of the big slide, Ryan getting out of the water and getting ready to go on something again and poor Lydia watching her and wishing she could be tall enough to go.  :(