Pro-Life Oratory Contest 2013



 

 This is the stuff that I had piled (neatly) on the school table Saturday night so that I would not forget to take anything with me.

Water, certificates, judging sheets, tally sheets, rules, more rules, ideas, entry forms, winner forms, timers . . .
Still had to get the table clothe and some brownies.

We held our contest at Bible Baptist Church in Royston. What a wonderful place to hold stuff.

I was a little stressed about our judges because my 2 judges became 1 judge the beginning of last week. I made frantic phone calls and e-mails. Had word sent to all retired teachers in 2 counties and the whole Franklin County Rotary Club.
NO takers.

Saturday morning I pulled out the big guns and called our precious friends, Mr. and Mrs. Bridges. So, Mrs. Bridges called her son, Mr. John "Chip" Bridges, State Director of Agricultural Education, and told him to do it. And he DID!

I figured that I could be that 3rd judge and quit stressing.

But then, a dear lady from Community Bible Study, and also a retired teacher in Stephens county called me, "Do you still need a judge?" "YES! You wanna help?" "Maybe." But that "maybe" was a yes and I had my last judge, Mrs. Sandra Clark.

So they sat with my sweet, little pastor, Rev. Jason Defoor and judged our contestants.

All TWO of them.

I was hoping for six, expecting four, and got two. But at least that made it a little competitive.

First up was Miss Abby Harrison. A homeschooler and daughter of the Hart County, Lake Hartwell Right to Life Chapter.

 Her speech debunked certain attitudes about the horrors of abortion.

Then, Mr. Will Smith, IV. Also, a homeschooler.

He spoke about euthanasia and the elderly.

I was so proud of them both. (We'd have more pictures but again, my camera battery died - poop).
The scores were tallied and . . . drum roll  . . . Abby won first place by 3 points.
They both got some money and a certificate and we are sending them both to the state contest in two weeks. Because we can. Abby from Franklin Co. and Will from Hart Co.

UPDATE here's a picture of the judges judging

Couldn't have picked a better panel of judges. Just goes to show that God works
all things for GOOD - only I think these several people are pretty GREAT!

In other news  . . .
Saturday the children and I got to go spend the afternoon with our dear friends the Petitts. The boys tried to beat each other to death with swords, Anne played with my new hair cut - and made it look really good. The littles played in the sand - and everywhere else. The big girls wondered around, sometimes following us, sometimes keeping up with littles, and sometimes running through the woods with the boys like wild Indians (or angry Romans or Medieval worriers . . .)
And we all got to love on little Chance. I can't believe how much he's growing and learning. And what a good hugger!
I reminded Anne that she's not updated her blog - so she told me to do it. So, its in the works and when I'm done I'll share the link with you all.

Gene is doing GREAT in his schooling. He is still taking Math (the class before the class you have to take before you can take an actual collage level math class - but he is now doing math for fun and understands his dorky wife a little better). And an Evangelism class - which he loves.
Two classes at a time keeps him a part-time student, keeps the money flowing, and is all he (we) can handle.
He is still preaching every Friday evening at the Nursing Home - and we all go. At the end of our time he goes around and speaks and prays with each one in the room. Week before last a man prayed for him. It was lovely. This week, a lady got saved!!!! And it's the only time we'll see her. She was just between other places. So, ya'll pray for Mrs. Donna and her New life.

We took Spring break last week and this week we are back to the old routine. Mostly. Today went well. Mostly.
And now its time to find something to eat for supper.
Ya'll be good.