Uno Voce Trip - Pigeon Forge

Uno Voce had another road trip this year - and the FLEC orchestra joined in this time - and the destination was similar to last year in Pigeon Forge, Marysville, and this year a special performing event at the Biltmore in Asheville.  Amy went along as a chaperone - but as there were more kids this year the bus was full, and the parents had to drive themselves.....and with a 13-hour drive each way Amy decided that perhaps she would take advantage of the cheap Allegiant flights out of Sanford up to Knoxville which would allow her to work both Friday and Tuesday instead of driving the 13 hours!  Brilliant idea in her mind, and two other lady friends thought so as well so it became a threesome!  On the way back, Kaleb managed to sweet-talk Amy into flying back with her (thankful for the cheap Allegiant flight!) so that he could play in the FCSL semi-final soccer game (which ended up being rained out, but he was still happy to have a 1hour flight instead of a 13-hour drive!)

We had such a great time together - Amy, Natasha and DeAnna - this was at the Biltmore.

With the fact that there were 75 people on the trip, we ended up with a massive house rented in Pigeon Forge at the top of the mountain overlooking the valley -- it could sleep 88 people!  Thankfully Amy was able to get a room with one of the other moms DeAnna, her daughter and another young lady -- the four had a great time chatting at night as we went to bed.  The house had two floors, balconies, a media room, game room, and a hot tub.

What a beautiful view!

Taking our standard selfie with the view behind us

Plenty of space for our group gatherings!

During one of our worships, someone glanced out the window and discovered that we had some bear visitors!  It was a wild hit for everyone to run over to the windows to catch a glimpse!

Mama and baby bears...

Craning to look out the windows

David Ellis was our chef extraordinaire - the food was delicious!  Thanks Dave!

Teaching one of the kids how to make biscuits from scratch - delicious!

Every year a pastor comes and handles the worships each day - this year we had pastor Freddy who was tremendous - fascinating stories of God working miracles in his life - kept us all enthralled for sure.  On one of the final nights, he led out in communion.  It was one of the most special memories of the trip watching the kids take part in the foot washing with each other and the bread/wine.   

The media room was the location for the evening worships

And the balcony was the location for the mornings

Praying after they "washed" each other's feed with wet wipes

Meanwhile the bread and wine was set up in the form of a cross upstairs at the kitchen table

Everyone gathered around to partake

The kids enjoyed hanging out at the house, playing various games and making memories together

Teaching the kids to play Pit

And the wild chaos as the spoons were being grabbed - the most exciting part of the game!

And some hand clapping/talking game that when someone missed their turn they would get a paper plate of whipped cream in their face (treat or torture, probably depends on whether you love whipped cream! 😋)

On Sabbath, the kids performed at Marysville church and then afterwards they fed us a delicious lunch.   That afternoon, we went to a nearby state park for a short hike to a waterfall  -- we enjoyed the lovely cool weather!  Thanks to Tim for orchestrating the afternoon outing!

The group at the state park

The waterfall that we reached at the end of our hike

On Sunday, it was a 2 hour drive over to Asheville for our visit to the Biltmore where both groups performed and then we ate lunch.  The property is so beautiful, it would be fun to go out and stay on the property for a long weekend.  The Biltmore manager told our dear Miss Esther after the kids sang that they have had countless choirs over the years sing outside of the Biltmore and this group was one of the top groups they have had, even over professional choirs!  What a compliment to the group.

The people waiting in line received a real treat listening to the kids sing

Tim mimicking a meme of disappearing into the bushes at Biltmore

Afterwards, we enjoyed taking some group pictures outside of the mansion

The 8th graders in Uno Voce
Daisy, Lily, Emma, Kaleb, Caylie, Lena and Jaeda

With the fact that the house was on the top of the mountain, there was no way that the bus could make it up those roads.  Therefore, the parents who drove became the shuttles. Amy had rented a vehicle in Knoxville as we flew so she drove up and down that road countless times each time we went anywhere to shuttle the kids up and down the mountain.  Those windy roads were not stupendous - give her the flat prairie roads where you aren't worried about hitting someone around every turn!  By the end of the trip though the roads were somewhat familiar and not quite so sketchy and tense.

Off we go with a bunch of kids down to the bus

One morning Kaleb and his friends managed to sweet talk Mr. Tim to go down to Starbucks for a treat

Thanks Mr. Tim

And in a random picture, caught Kaleb being a knight in shining armor and helping the young ladies with buckling up their shoes again after taking them off for lunch.  Sweet kid - some young lady will be very lucky to win his heart someday in the long future!

While Amy and Kaleb were on the trip, Karis and the remaining kids went out to Surf Safari which is a youth group retreat from church.  The weather was lovely, and Addison enjoyed hanging out with Blake H.   We have enjoyed getting to know their family over the last year.  Kindred spirits!

She has disappeared!

Another Zbaraschuk On the Road!

 Gasp - can it be true, can 15 years have passed since Kaleb was born?  How can this be so fast when we vividly remember the diaper days and the days of no sleep?!  But alas, it is true - Kaleb has turned 15 and immediately went and got his driver's license.  Congratulations Kaleb!

With Johnsons living in their RV in the backyard, Aunt Kelli came in and decorated both Zachary's door and Kaleb's door for their birthdays - super fun and special to be celebrated on their special day!

Kaleb did his driver's education course through FLVS, so he will get 6 hours of free behind the wheel driving instruction - very good deal!  

Very first time behind the wheel

Amy's Aunt Ev (mother to cousin Jeff who lives here in town) came to visit for about a month.  We were delighted to be able to have her over to visit - we are blessed to have family who has multiple reasons to come down to Orlando - whether it is to visit family, or to just have vacation!

We had her over twice while we were here, but the first time Amy forgot to get a whole group picture so it was just the two of us.  Love you Aunt Ev!

In other news, Kent Johnson's birthday was on April 16th (lots in April between the boys' birthdays, our anniversary, and both Kent and Kelli's birthdays!).  We were happy to help celebrate with their family and Kelli's parents.  Happy Birthday Kent, may God grace you with many more.

Erik and Addison are in the front two chairs so a bit hard to see but we had a good full table!

Random picture:

The end of Kaleb's soccer season is upon us - it was a great time and we've enjoyed watching these boys grow up!

Easter weekend

A dear friend of ours - Heather H - has a heart to have the passion play available to our communities each year and she has launched it at Southern University in Collegedale when she was there 25 years ago (still going strong) and launched it in Orlando last year.  What an incredible blessing to be part of something that could be spreading the news of Jesus' incredible love and grace.  We were gone last year, but this year we were in town and Amy helped volunteer to hand out the t-shirts to other volunteers before we went through as an audience participant mid-morning.  It was truly remarkable, and brought tears to our eyes even though we all know the story of His saving grace well - but when you are reminded of it, it just brings a fresh sense of gratitude again to your soul

Our group that went through Risen included Blake as he joined us. 

Our friends the Hazens in the marketplace

Mima was in the marketplace as well

The trial

Addison was glued to the front of the crowd as we went from scene to scene to absorb all of the details- this is as Jesus carried His cross to Calgary.

There were even camels there!

Our prayer is that someone's heart will be touched by His saving grace - we pray that it leads even just one person to God!

Easter Sunday we had the fun of joining the Grodack Easter brunch.  It is a lovely chance to reconnect with folks who we don't see all that often, but is always fun to visit and see how their lives are going.  The kids enjoyed the easter egg hunt - even the big boy Kaleb and his little puppy dog basket from when he was a little tyke! 😁

She found a prized egg with money!

Precious puppy!

Playing in the backyard in addition to the egg hunt

Random pictures:

Since re-doing our pool Zachary has been having friends over to hang out in the pool and hot tub (yahoo, money well spent!) - and they make up crazy pool games - don't ask us how these games work but they seem to be having fun!

One lazy sabbath found two dads enjoying a quick catnap out on our deck!😆

One teen boy does not seem like he would make a comfortable mat but apparently Dad doesn't care -- or maybe this is some new kind of therapy!?

Zach Turns 17

AHH, Zachary has turned 17 - one more year and he will be old enough to vote - where does the years go!  It reminds me to treasure and savor each year because it flies by. His birthday is the same day as our beloved Aunt Kelli and thus we had a combined cake event that evening as they are living in their RV behind our house.  We will be sad when they leave, it has been fun having them!

Home birthday the evening of his birthday

Happy Birthday to you both - a dear friend for many years!

That Friday we held a birthday party for him at Top Golf with his close group of friends. 

Amy, Kaleb, Cristian, Erick, Blake, Aiden, David, Zach, Luke, Black B, Ruben, 

Ice cream cake

Our long-time friends the Deiningers' son Luke was born three days after Zachary, and as we were all together at Top Golf on Luke's actual birthday, we got him a strawberry chocolate cake to celebrate his 17th birthday as well.  

Happy birthday boys!

We are proud of you Zachary - you have a soft heart, try to do the right thing in life, are respectful, have integrity, dependable worker, responsible in life, and look out for others.  We are proud to call you our son.  Love you kiddo - may God richly bless your life's journey and stay close to you all the days of your life.

And in typical silly fashion, Karis gave us a moment of levity with a silly face as we waited to clear out of the Top Golf venue - he always keeps us laughing and calm.  

In other news that weekend, Kaleb had his Pathfinder campout.  The year is coming to a close so they had their final campout this spring.  

Helping hands for food meal prep!

And in random pictures - Addison went with Grandma and Grandpa to Scott's farm to get some fresh corn on the cob so took the opportunity for a few fun pictures.  Blessed to have active, involved grandparents so close - we just wish both sides were close to us as well - but that likely would be having our cake and eating it too - so we will be grateful for what we are already blessed with!