It's over... but just beginning

Well, the term has just ended, and it's been a helluva week. Craziness from start to finish.

The final countdown began in earnest on Saturday evening, with about 10 of us in the kitchen preparing dinner (pizza) and about 9 different things to cover Bellevue's contribution to the final high tea smorgasbord. I made chocolate meringue pies, which is always exciting because I only do it for final high teas and it's one of my very favorite desserts.  Mmmmm. The stress finally got to a few on our crew, and we ended with a giant, floury bang.

                 Jesse & Kay                                         Charlotte & Stephen

I have to include the next pictures, because (as those of you who have been here well know) they are so very indicative of the way Bellevue functions. Prior to the flour fight, Stephen was busily weed-eating (or whipper-snippering, if you ask Karryn), and the machine broke. So of course, he attempted to fix it. Using packing tape. Below is the 'fixed' tool, and then another shot about 2 minutes later.

On Sunday after chapel, everyone gathered in Bellevue for food, ping-pong and performances by our unbelievably talented students. We had everything from Nate reading a story he wrote about his life in the Adirondacks, Tim & Clay doing a bizarre skit about cowboys and indians, Julian and Matt seranading us, and the list goes on. We ended with a slide show put together by Tori, Madeline & Jessica (after about an hour or so of technical difficulties. Every time, this happens. Long live PC people!) which was absolutely fantastic. Oh, and Josh & Madeline put together a little techno song (listen here) on which you can here many beloved l'abri voices and catch phrases.

The Day In Photos (Much Abridged)

 

Preparations under way (Jason - Amelia, Me, Kay)

 

Madeline and Clay supping in the great outdoors. What an amazing afternoon....

 

 

 

 

 

Charlotte & Nate showing their French skills  -  Julian on guitar

 

Clay and Tim's skit  - Vincent and Jason intruducing...

the piece de resistance. a neo-expressionist Polish performace piece with Vincent on piano and Jason (aka Sasha Veranova) prancing. See the video below...

Today we spent the entire day cleaning Bellevue, preparing to greet the members who will begin arriving tomorrow for their annual meeting. We're all about three steps past exhausted, and I know the next week will be another full-on experience, so if you think of it, pray for those of us who will be doing all of the background cooking, cleaning and generally making sure things work smoothly - as well as the members themselves, as they meet and discuss the work of l'abri as a whole. And now, back to the kitchen to prepare raclette for our helper dinner. Sayonara, y'all.