IHN Sunday 4/3/2010

No sleeping in this morning, everyone was up bright and early (6:30 on Easter Sunday morning), packed and ready to go to the IHN Day Center. The van left the church at about 7:05, and our take-down crew staged all the beds and bins in the hallway near the door, ready to load the IHN truck. The truck arrived at 8:00 and was away again at 8:10. After that, it was sweeping, vacuuming, and putting the classroom things back in place. We were ready by 9:00, well before the start of the church's Easter Festival.

Two of our guest families came back from the IHN Day Center to attend the 11:00 worship service with us.

Our volunteers manned the Day Center from 1 to 5 today, our next to last IHN job for the week. The last job was driving the families to their church home for the next week, Holy Cross Lutheran.

We've finished a very successful Host Week, thanks to our large corps of volunteers. Thanks also to our guests, who were some of the best and easiest to deal with families we've met in some time.

We'll do it all again three months from now. See you then!

IHN Saturday 4/3/2010

Our guests slept in today, and enjoyed a fancier breakfast than on weekdays, supplied by Susan Boatwright. Workmen were spray painting on the rear of the building. When Susan left, she found that they had "gift wrapped" her car in plastic sheeting to protect it from overspray.

The big event of the day was the Easter Egg Hunt at the Granums'.

[The photos are links; click them to see larger photos.]

Our guests are in the last photo above. Standing are Jessica, Brandy, and Clay. Seated are Brittany and her son Zaire, and Neveah, daughter of Brandy and Clay. Jessica's three children could not join us at the Easter egg hunt. Neveah is also in the second photo.

I think everyone at the Easter Egg Hunt had a really good time; I certainly did.

Tonight is the last night our guests will spend with us. Dinner was provided by Lisa Oelke.

No sleeping in in the morning -- we must take them to the IHN Day Center about 7:00 so that we can convert the rooms back into Sunday School rooms and set up the large room for FPC's Easter brunch.

IHN Friday 4/2/2010

Good Friday, the last weekday of our IHN host week.  Dinner was provided by Kathy Bangle, and the guests were tucking in when I left.  Brandy was at work at Buffalo's, and will return to the church late tonight.

Tomorrow is sleep-in day, with a fancy breakfast cooked by Susan Boatwright.  I think both things are attractive to the families right now.

All our guest families want to attend the Granums' Easter Egg Hunt tomorrow.  I'll try to take a few pictures.

IHN Thursday 4/1/2010

Maundy Thursday

I don't know whether all of the congregation members present noticed, but our IHN guests were having dinner with us this Maundy Thursday evening. They and their children were at the first table, nearest the entrance to the Childrens' Ministry Suite. I think they enjoyed the dinner, but it was probably noiser than the smaller children were comfortable with.
When the new construction is complete, we will have a different space for large church gatherings, including dinners, and this problem won't arise.
A quiet day, and anticipating a quiet night.

IHN Wednesday 3/31/2010

A quiet day and evening. Dinner was provided by Dawn and Bob Frisch. Tomorrow night's dinner with be with the First Presbyterian congregation, as our guests will be with us for the Maundy Thursday dinner.