Welcome, Omaha
Sunday, July 8, 2007
It was Elizabeth’s 22nd birthday. It was also Sierra Lincoln’s 22nd birthday. And it was Spurgeon’s and Rebecca’s first anniversary.
On the other side of the world, Carrie-Bri and Eve were preparing to return to Sydney.
After church and meatball subs, OLeif napped on the couch in the basement at the house, and Mom and Collette sat with Puck on Mom’s swing under a tree in the back yard.
At youth that evening, there was a big to-do in waiting for a church youth group from Omaha, who would be pulling in at about nine o’clock that evening. Their guys would be staying at the church and the girls would be going home with the Popples. Collette assumed that they were heading toward a mission trip destination. But she never heard for certain. Things were usually up in the air that way.
After Jimmy led a discussion on John 9, everyone ran over to the silo and played Bounce-the-Ball-off-Augustus’-Head until Ben-Hur (apparently) popped the big blue ball on a spike sticking out of the silo.
Back inside, Augustus had his own idea of how to welcome Omaha. “When they get here, we should get out some Barbies and say ‘Welcome! Let’s play with Barbies!’”
While they waited, Ben-Hur pumped up the party by turning on a CD of some black soul-dancing music.
Mollie sat on the floor next to OLeif who was holding Puck in his lap.
“Whaaooo,” said Puck.
“Excuse me, Puck, I’m trying to talk about my feelings here,” said Mollie.
“I wish I was black; I really do,” said Ben-Hur.
“Ohwha tagoo siam,” said Augustus, over and over.
Susie tried to help him understand what he was actually saying.
Ben-Hur wailed on his music stand guitar.
Augustus drew fancy letters into ridiculous messages on the white board for Omaha, including:
‘Praise Omahallah.’
Rose complained about work.
Sunrise sat Indian-style in the middle of the floor, watching everything, perhaps just a little in disbelief. (Sunrise continually reminded Collette of a younger Kitts.)
Then Omaha arrived. Before they had time to unpack their bags…
“You wanna go play in the silo?” Augustus asked them.