No weeks to go :) and :(

I'm typing at the dining room table preparing to go to a celebration gathering at OCC today, this means that our time at East Basingstoke is finished, for that matter all other KBC related activities are offically over. This past week has been a whirlwind of parties, formal gatherings, celebrations, laughing, crying, chatting, writing and hanging out. I'll work back from yesterday. The graduation or commissioning service was yesterday, it was a packed day full of meeting people and for me much music. I was given the opportunity to put together a band for the service, we were able to play with a full drum set. Mike Bilson was on drums (he's very good), Mark Coghlan on piano (he's amazing), Dan Lucas on bass (he's going to be studying music in university), Dave Latham on acoustic (he's as good as they come), Abi Jonas on violin (she plays piano, violin, sings classical, etc...) Anna Walker on BGV (killer rock voice), and Ellen Miles on BGV (someday you'll have her CD, she's that good) and me, probably the weakest musical link of the group. Anyway we fit in a short practice and then took the stage and played our proverbial socks off. Beth T gave a great commencement speech on behalf of the students, and diplomas etc... were handed out as well, it was a glorious time. After times of prayer for the students our band played one last song "Happy Day" by Tim Hughes, it was a happy day in a sad type of way. It was a blast, I felt that we rocked, it was a high point to go out on for sure. Then we chatted with the masses who were there, met some parents of our friends, said goodbye to some (Little Beth, Anna and Eric) and remembered we would see many of our friends today as well. The principal of KBC Simon and his family are leaving today for France so we had to say goodbye to them as well, that was a bittersweet time, they have been so gracious and friendly to Rebecca and I. Working backward Friday night we hosted an all KBC BBQ at our place, we counted 70 people that were here for at least some of that. If you have been to our place it is not that big, but the rain held off and 40 or so could hang in the back garden and enjoy the rare sunshine. It was great to host one last, huge party, I think that we'll continue to do so no matter what our next steps are, we have realized even more that we are socialites and love having a full house whenever possible. I think that for now I'll hold off writing about earlier in the week, rather I'll do a photo montage thing to cover the banquet, it was fab as well. Do take care,
earl