In an effort to sum up the year twenty-eleven succinctly enough to keep your rapt attention through to the very last word, I’ve attempted to write it in Dr. Seuss style. Please do try to stay focused!
2011 has been a frivolous year
so get comfy with a hot drink and lend me your ear
Or your eyes as it were since you’re reading this script
I’ll fill you all in on our fantastical trip!
so get comfy with a hot drink and lend me your ear
Or your eyes as it were since you’re reading this script
I’ll fill you all in on our fantastical trip!
It started with buying a cozy abode
in the midst of carrying a heavy school load
We signed the papers from thither and yon
And now in Boise, we do own a home!
in the midst of carrying a heavy school load
We signed the papers from thither and yon
And now in Boise, we do own a home!
If you don’t know where Thither is found on a map,
it’s on the other side of the world where you’re at
And Yon would be Minnesota, and Idaho, and here
You take your pick, we’re not very clear!
it’s on the other side of the world where you’re at
And Yon would be Minnesota, and Idaho, and here
You take your pick, we’re not very clear!
Christmas of two thousand ten was quite strange
so thank God for in-laws we hopped on a plane
But I had to arrive in Virginia for class
The very next day so it went rather fast!
so thank God for in-laws we hopped on a plane
But I had to arrive in Virginia for class
The very next day so it went rather fast!
I rang in the new year all by myself,
with my kids in Kentucky and my love in Tibet
Well not really Tibet but I wanted to rhyme
He was in Afghanistan for a really long time!
with my kids in Kentucky and my love in Tibet
Well not really Tibet but I wanted to rhyme
He was in Afghanistan for a really long time!
Then Gramma and Grampa knew just what to do
in order to keep our two boys in school
They travelled to our house to hold down the fort
Til my classes were over and I returned home.
in order to keep our two boys in school
They travelled to our house to hold down the fort
Til my classes were over and I returned home.
A couple weeks later I was scheduled to test
and return to Virginia in a big winter mess
I was supposed to leave at a quarter to three
That would be a.m. in case you’re wondering
and return to Virginia in a big winter mess
I was supposed to leave at a quarter to three
That would be a.m. in case you’re wondering
Lucky for me, some people like snow
and the way it feels under their cars when they go
I shut my eyes tight and prayed all the way
But Scott got me safely to my airport gate!
and the way it feels under their cars when they go
I shut my eyes tight and prayed all the way
But Scott got me safely to my airport gate!
Then suddenly it was time for an awesome surprise,
our soldier would be standing in front of our eyes
Missing anniversary 21 by a day
But we didn’t care and had fun anyway!
our soldier would be standing in front of our eyes
Missing anniversary 21 by a day
But we didn’t care and had fun anyway!
We camped out for a week at our new house in Boise
and met the neighbors and tried not to be noisy
But two weeks went by way too darn fast
And on Valentine’s Day had to send him on back
and met the neighbors and tried not to be noisy
But two weeks went by way too darn fast
And on Valentine’s Day had to send him on back
The rest of February was pretty much history,
I had a few big events that almost did kill me!
But we did get through it like we knew we would
Then March was upon us like a scary typhoon
I had a few big events that almost did kill me!
But we did get through it like we knew we would
Then March was upon us like a scary typhoon
Connor traveled to Washington DC
to argue with students about world policy
His band that was named “Nothing Rhymes with Orange”
Had their very first concert at a talent show at FCHS . . .
to argue with students about world policy
His band that was named “Nothing Rhymes with Orange”
Had their very first concert at a talent show at FCHS . . .
I hope that last line didn’t throw you off
but their name is true they didn’t make it up!
And then it was April before we all knew it
A long year of deployment about to be through it!
but their name is true they didn’t make it up!
And then it was April before we all knew it
A long year of deployment about to be through it!
He came home to crowds cheering and clapping,
at 5 in the morning hard to believe it was happening
We made a video to relive the scene
and you can see it yourself at this here link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xpr1o2W7T0Q&feature=youtu.be
at 5 in the morning hard to believe it was happening
We made a video to relive the scene
and you can see it yourself at this here link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xpr1o2W7T0Q&feature=youtu.be
No sooner was he home and we were up running,
and hosting people from all over the country
“A Life Set Apart” crashed on our floor
And some people came for graduations galore
and hosting people from all over the country
“A Life Set Apart” crashed on our floor
And some people came for graduations galore
First Connor then Caleb received their promotions
And some really cool gifts as a sort of a token
But then it was time to hit the road
And into our trusty minivan we did load.
And some really cool gifts as a sort of a token
But then it was time to hit the road
And into our trusty minivan we did load.
Because we had been through 48 states,
we circled around to add one to the slate
And through the great state of New Mexico we drove
Adding a whole extra day to our trip up north
we circled around to add one to the slate
And through the great state of New Mexico we drove
Adding a whole extra day to our trip up north
Where another school graduation to see
of former students we both used to teach
We left our youngest with my parents in Oregon
And the rest of us Arnolds got on the road again
of former students we both used to teach
We left our youngest with my parents in Oregon
And the rest of us Arnolds got on the road again
And to Minnesota we quickly did go
and stayed with Corey’s parents while there was surely no snow
and when it was over, we headed back south
Making an almost perfect square of our route.
and stayed with Corey’s parents while there was surely no snow
and when it was over, we headed back south
Making an almost perfect square of our route.
In early July we found out a secret
But weren’t really sure how the kids would take it
The Army was sending us to Korea you see
Though Connor was leaving to attend BBC.
But weren’t really sure how the kids would take it
The Army was sending us to Korea you see
Though Connor was leaving to attend BBC.
Caleb took all this news quite well
In fact, he thinks it’s going to be swell
To live over in Asia away from the states
As long as one day to Alaska we make.
In fact, he thinks it’s going to be swell
To live over in Asia away from the states
As long as one day to Alaska we make.
In August we said our good-byes to our first born
And Caleb and I started at a new school in Hoptown
Little did we know what an impression it would make
And on our last day, our hearts did break!
And Caleb and I started at a new school in Hoptown
Little did we know what an impression it would make
And on our last day, our hearts did break!
But in the meantime lots of stuff happened
Like strong bonds with soldiers and Thanksgiving weekend
Where we got to see Connor with a manly full beard
I’m not going to lie, it was really quite weird.
Like strong bonds with soldiers and Thanksgiving weekend
Where we got to see Connor with a manly full beard
I’m not going to lie, it was really quite weird.
But Caleb has left his mark in each class
using dry erase markers and his artsy sass
Many a white board within HCA
Has been transformed into a sort of display.
using dry erase markers and his artsy sass
Many a white board within HCA
Has been transformed into a sort of display.
If you’re curious at all and would like to see it
I highly recommend you add me on facebook
Where I keep a whole album named after him
Displaying his craft as only he can.
I highly recommend you add me on facebook
Where I keep a whole album named after him
Displaying his craft as only he can.
I’m glad to announce just two days before Christmas
That my master of arts degree I did finish
And now it is just a matter of filing
the paperwork in order to prove I’m not lying.
That my master of arts degree I did finish
And now it is just a matter of filing
the paperwork in order to prove I’m not lying.
In all it has been a fabulous year
And God has been faithful, our prayers He does hear
Especially the ones we pray about you
Hoping for you His salvation too.
And God has been faithful, our prayers He does hear
Especially the ones we pray about you
Hoping for you His salvation too.
But if for some reason you still aren’t sure
Perhaps some proof would provide some allure
There is an empty tomb out Jerusalem way
That our Savior did lie in once for three days.
Perhaps some proof would provide some allure
There is an empty tomb out Jerusalem way
That our Savior did lie in once for three days.
But since death could not hold him down as they say
He got up from his death and just walked away
Leaving a baffling scene to unravel
And a story that over the world has traveled.
He got up from his death and just walked away
Leaving a baffling scene to unravel
And a story that over the world has traveled.
For centuries the question has begged to be answered
“What happened to the body of Jesus of Nazareth?”
And though we didn’t see it in our time or place
I’ll paraphrase Thomas when he saw Jesus’ face,
“What happened to the body of Jesus of Nazareth?”
And though we didn’t see it in our time or place
I’ll paraphrase Thomas when he saw Jesus’ face,
“Is this an imposter wearing these wounds?
Everyone says you were laid in a tomb.
You can’t have survived but You’re obviously here,
My Savior, My God, You really are here!”
Everyone says you were laid in a tomb.
You can’t have survived but You’re obviously here,
My Savior, My God, You really are here!”
And because of his and 500 others
We can believe the word of these brothers
That Jesus who was born in a stable one day
Was killed but now lives to take sin away!
We can believe the word of these brothers
That Jesus who was born in a stable one day
Was killed but now lives to take sin away!
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| February 2011 R&R; Christian Children's Ranch |
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2012 from the Arnold family!
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| Connor grade 12 Photo by Phil White |
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| Photos by Scott Hollingsworth |
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| Caleb grade 9 |
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| Thanksgiving 2011 at Nashville Parthenon |
