And it all comes down to this...
In one of our nightly devotions on tour this year we talked about the Old Testament account of Queen Esther. Born into slavery after the Babylonian captivity of Israel, Esther rose to queen of the kingdom and found herself in the impossible situation of potentially facing death with either of two choices she was faced with. Facing those circumstances, she was asked the question, "And who knows whether you are come to the kingdom for such a time as this." What she came to understand was that God had created her specifically to be in that exact place at that exact time, and for a purpose. His purpose.
Lutheran Vanguard--and every individual member of this band--has been created very specifically by God to be right here, right now. And after hearing the kids last night during senior skits and senior speeches, they know it. They know that they've been given certain gifts to be used to glorify their God, they have prepared well, and tonight they get to let their light shine!
This is a very special group of young men and women, and tonight should be a show for the ages!
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Back in Wisconsin!
Well, the band is back in our home state! The trip has been awesome but I have to say, the band feels good about being on familiar ground. We're warming up for tonight's show in Milton, WI and it's nice to some faces we recognize...Green Berets, Lighthouse Brigades and all the other bands. Tonight should be a good show.
Finally the answer to yesterday's question about how many miles we traveled in one day from Nashville back up north...440 miles!
Bye for now, and we hope to see you at one of our last 3 shows of the season. The band has worked so hard to get to this point and it really shows. Try to make the finals in Whitewater on Saturday night...the stadium is absolutely beautiful and Vxnguard will be at their very best.
See you soon!
Finally the answer to yesterday's question about how many miles we traveled in one day from Nashville back up north...440 miles!
Bye for now, and we hope to see you at one of our last 3 shows of the season. The band has worked so hard to get to this point and it really shows. Try to make the finals in Whitewater on Saturday night...the stadium is absolutely beautiful and Vxnguard will be at their very best.
See you soon!
Nashville Tour
One of the highlights of our time in Nashville had to be our tour of the historic Ryman Auditorium. Originally built as a church, it became the first home of the Grand Old Opry in 1943. We got a special backstage tour and got to visit green rooms (dressing rooms) of some of the biggest names in country music history including Johnny Cash and Hank Williams, and Dolly Parton and Minnie Pearl. Just 2 weeks before our visit Taylor Swift had used one of the rooms on our tour, and we're pretty sure that some of her glitter was still on the make-up table. (You might want to check eBay when we get home for a sale on famous glitter!)
As for today, we just finished rehearsal so now it's lunch, packing up, then we hit the road for Wisconsin and an evening field show. Hope to see some of you there!
As for today, we just finished rehearsal so now it's lunch, packing up, then we hit the road for Wisconsin and an evening field show. Hope to see some of you there!
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Vanguard Tour...north bound
Well, we pulled out of Nashville and began the long trip back up north this morning. What a few days it has been! The kids really seem to have enjoyed Nashville, but I also think it feels good to be getting nearer to home. And I know they were happy to get their instruments back out and run through the show a few times.
Tonight we're back in Crete, IL again for an overnight stay and some rehearsal time before we head for the Green Beret show tomorrow night.
So...how about a quick quiz about our travels today? How many miles did LVW put on today between Clarksville, TN (just outside Nashville) and Crete, IL?
A) 440
B) 519
C) 601
Check back tomorrow for the answer and another update on the last few days of the 2013 tour.
Oh, and one more thing...Jeremiah Wallander absolutely loved Nashville. It wouldn't surprise me one bit to see that young man make it big there someday if that's what he decides to do!
Tonight we're back in Crete, IL again for an overnight stay and some rehearsal time before we head for the Green Beret show tomorrow night.
So...how about a quick quiz about our travels today? How many miles did LVW put on today between Clarksville, TN (just outside Nashville) and Crete, IL?
A) 440
B) 519
C) 601
Check back tomorrow for the answer and another update on the last few days of the 2013 tour.
Oh, and one more thing...Jeremiah Wallander absolutely loved Nashville. It wouldn't surprise me one bit to see that young man make it big there someday if that's what he decides to do!
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Vanguard Tour day...??
Wow...the days have become a blur of fun and music and miles on the road. Where to begin?
Since the last update we've made our way from Chicago to Traverse City to Ohio to Nashville, TN.
Traverse City was a quick in and out compared to past years, with one field show and one parade, but the kids had a blast. They even got to spend a few hours walking around the Cherry Fest grounds. From there it was on to Ohio and Cedar Point Amusement Park...the roller coaster capital of the world. We had a blast and it was a well-deserved day of fun for everybody.
Then came the highlight of the 2013 tour...Nashville. It's hot down here but there's so much to see and do. Our time here included a tour of the historic Ryman Auditorium, where virtually every big name in country music has performed, and a catered dinner (pork and chicken from Hog Heaven) at Centennial Park (complete with a life-size replica of the Parthenon!)
We're up and out of here early tomorrow for the trip back to Illinois, but I thought I'd leave you with some quotes from the kids about the tour so far. And be sure to keep checking FaceBook for pictures!
"I love it! (Maddie Thorne)
"I like amusement parks and it was fun to be with my friends." (Adam Schwartz)
"Honestly, I'm not even kidding...Traverse City is the best." (Phillip Roethlisberger)
"I'm having so much fun I can't even think straight." (Drum Major Hailey Johnson)
Since the last update we've made our way from Chicago to Traverse City to Ohio to Nashville, TN.
Traverse City was a quick in and out compared to past years, with one field show and one parade, but the kids had a blast. They even got to spend a few hours walking around the Cherry Fest grounds. From there it was on to Ohio and Cedar Point Amusement Park...the roller coaster capital of the world. We had a blast and it was a well-deserved day of fun for everybody.
Then came the highlight of the 2013 tour...Nashville. It's hot down here but there's so much to see and do. Our time here included a tour of the historic Ryman Auditorium, where virtually every big name in country music has performed, and a catered dinner (pork and chicken from Hog Heaven) at Centennial Park (complete with a life-size replica of the Parthenon!)
We're up and out of here early tomorrow for the trip back to Illinois, but I thought I'd leave you with some quotes from the kids about the tour so far. And be sure to keep checking FaceBook for pictures!
"I love it! (Maddie Thorne)
"I like amusement parks and it was fun to be with my friends." (Adam Schwartz)
"Honestly, I'm not even kidding...Traverse City is the best." (Phillip Roethlisberger)
"I'm having so much fun I can't even think straight." (Drum Major Hailey Johnson)
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Vanguard Tour day 3
Today's the day! One of Vanguards all-time favorite events has arrived...the Cherry Royale Parade!
Folks in beautiful Traverse City love Vanguard, and we love them! This parade has traditionally been the final performance of the Vanguard season, but this week the Cherry Festival fell a week earlier than normal so we still have a week of Vanguard left after we leave Michigan. But it's still a bitter sweet day for us, as this will be our last parade of the year. And for the senior members of the band, it's the last parade of their LVW careers. If you're lucky enough to be in Traverse City this year you're in for a treat because the band looks and sounds great! (Little tip: stand on the tight side of the street and stick with the band until the end of Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is, and hang on to your hats!)
Be sure to check out the LVW site on FaceBook for some cool videos and photos.
Once the parade is done today, we're off for some fun time in downtown Traverse City at the Cherry Festival grounds before loading up the busses for Monroe, MI and an overnight stay at Zion Lutheran Church.
And finally...the kids are REALLY excited about tomorrow when we head to the roller coaster capital of the world: Cedar Point Amusement Park! Check back in to this blog for an update and hopefully some photos of the day!
Folks in beautiful Traverse City love Vanguard, and we love them! This parade has traditionally been the final performance of the Vanguard season, but this week the Cherry Festival fell a week earlier than normal so we still have a week of Vanguard left after we leave Michigan. But it's still a bitter sweet day for us, as this will be our last parade of the year. And for the senior members of the band, it's the last parade of their LVW careers. If you're lucky enough to be in Traverse City this year you're in for a treat because the band looks and sounds great! (Little tip: stand on the tight side of the street and stick with the band until the end of Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is, and hang on to your hats!)
Be sure to check out the LVW site on FaceBook for some cool videos and photos.
Once the parade is done today, we're off for some fun time in downtown Traverse City at the Cherry Festival grounds before loading up the busses for Monroe, MI and an overnight stay at Zion Lutheran Church.
And finally...the kids are REALLY excited about tomorrow when we head to the roller coaster capital of the world: Cedar Point Amusement Park! Check back in to this blog for an update and hopefully some photos of the day!
Friday, July 5, 2013
Vanguard Tour day 2
Hip, hip, hooray...3 parades in one day!
We made it...Vanguard celebrated America's birthday in grand fashion by marching 3 parades in the northern Chicago suburbs in 1 day. At 10:00 am we were in Lake Bluff, IL followed by Deerfield, IL at noon then Northbrook, IL at 2:30.
Anybody remember the Fourth of July last year?? These same 3 parades were all marched in temperatures over 100 degrees, and as hard as we tried to keep the kids watered, we still had a half a dozen or so go down from the heat. But I'm happy to report that this year the temps peaked at 80 degrees and all the kids did great! As a matter of fact, they seemed to get stronger with each parade!
I'll bet they were picking up energy from the crowds, who were absolutely in love with LVW! We've added some super crowd-pleasing moves, including an ending to Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is that practically has the band sitting in the crowd's lap by the last few notes!
After the parades we headed for Navy Pier on beautiful Lake Michigan for some well-deserved R&R, then it was on to Illinois Lutheran HS for the night.
We'll be up in the morning for the trip to Traverse City and the Cherryland Classic field show. Should be a good one!
Check back in tomorrow for more news on the best band in the world!
We made it...Vanguard celebrated America's birthday in grand fashion by marching 3 parades in the northern Chicago suburbs in 1 day. At 10:00 am we were in Lake Bluff, IL followed by Deerfield, IL at noon then Northbrook, IL at 2:30.
Anybody remember the Fourth of July last year?? These same 3 parades were all marched in temperatures over 100 degrees, and as hard as we tried to keep the kids watered, we still had a half a dozen or so go down from the heat. But I'm happy to report that this year the temps peaked at 80 degrees and all the kids did great! As a matter of fact, they seemed to get stronger with each parade!
I'll bet they were picking up energy from the crowds, who were absolutely in love with LVW! We've added some super crowd-pleasing moves, including an ending to Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is that practically has the band sitting in the crowd's lap by the last few notes!
After the parades we headed for Navy Pier on beautiful Lake Michigan for some well-deserved R&R, then it was on to Illinois Lutheran HS for the night.
We'll be up in the morning for the trip to Traverse City and the Cherryland Classic field show. Should be a good one!
Check back in tomorrow for more news on the best band in the world!
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