On February 6, 2016, Lauren took a long-shot and auditioned for Southern Nazarene University’s homeschool symphonic honor band. I say, “took a long-shot”, because she has only been playing the trumpet for a little over a year. We knew the competition would be fierce, after all, homeschoolers from all over the state were auditioning! We were thrilled – ecstatic really – to hear that she made it! She was eighth chair out of nine total, but she made it!

On Friday, April 22, she and one other girl from our regional band went to Oklahoma City to practice all day with the honor band. They spent the night and then rehearsed all morning of the 23rd, to perform that afternoon! The only drawback was that none of our family could attend this exciting event with us. I was seated near the front and center of the auditorium to get good videos for our loved ones. Actually, Terry and I were both videoing at the same time just in case something went wrong.

Lauren is near the back of the group, so she is not visible to the camera. I couldn’t help but get a lump in my throat as I heard my dad’s trumpet being played in such a grand setting. His melody, charisma, and enthusiasm can still be heard through his granddaughter.

I think he would have been proud.

There was a slight glitch in our recordings, so the “Salvation” piece is in two parts. The second part is here:

I want to thank the wonderful people of Bethel Baptist Church for their tremendous encouragement to Lauren. They have invested in her life, in all our children’s lives, as if we were their relatives, too. But then, I guess we are family, the best kind of family, God’s family. From the bottom of this mother’s heart, I thank you.

With love,