Monday was a full and exciting day!  We headed into the city for some shopping and sight-seeing activities.  Small groups headed out to explore Chicago before meeting up at the famous “Bean” for a photo op.  Sweatshirts were a popular purchase as the day was a little cold and windy- which we later learned is NOT the origin of the nickname “Windy City”.  Isaac particularly enjoyed his fun-filled day at TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, and H&M (talk about taking one for the team)! Dylan’s Candy Bar and the Chicago Cubs Store were also popular stops, and some of our girls chose to revisit their childhood at the American Girl Store- Chicago.
After some fun photos in Millennium Park , we enjoyed an architectural tour of Chicago via boat.  We had a great tour guide who was well versed in the rich architectural history of the city.  He dispelled the urban myth of “Mrs. O’Leary’s cow” and we learned the likely cause of the Great Chicago Fire was just no rain and plenty of wind…complicated by a wrong address given to the Fire Department!
Dinner at Gino’s Pizza was followed up by a walk to Hancock Tower and a sky-high (although a little cloudy) view of Chicago. Most were brave enough to try the “Tilt Tower”, although it left a few of the chaperones a little “green”!
We had about an hour drive to our hotel in Hobart, Indiana and settled in for the night very quickly.  Sadly, that left us no time to explore the list of “Top 25 Things to Do in Hobart” that Ben Shackleford, Sr. so carefully Googled for us on the way.  Guess we will have to make a trip back someday!

​Here are a couple of links from our Crystal Lake performance!

Little David, Play Your Harp.    https://youtu.be/q04OpsLm32w​

Prayer for Humility.      https://youtu.be/Qp40BSyw-qg

We had a full day today at the Museum of Science and Industry, Lincoln Park Zoo, and the Navy Pier. The kids were well rested after a long day on the road yesterday that culminated in an amazing dinner and concert at First Congregational Church in Crystal Lake, Illinois.  We had a full house and a rousing standing ovation after the concert.  Their church family was so welcoming and generous.  The kids went home with church members for our first homestay of the trip and arrived back at church this morning with tales of going fishing, out for ice cream, trips to a local donut shop, and fun memories with their host families.
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Click on or copy these links to see some video:https://youtu.be/k8D-_pskBlw

https://youtu.be/saCepT8Wcf0

https://youtu.be/rb6WEs3a7d0

We got a little soggy loading the bus this morning, but all were still in good spirits. We started the day at the Museum of Science and Industry, where we learned about too many things to list.  Popular exhibits were the Hall of Mirrors, Glaciers, Natural Disasters, and "You-the Experience".  There was plenty to see and do!
By the time we departed for the Lincoln Park Zoo, the rain had stopped and the sun had come out.  We got to spend several hours at the zoo before the fog rolled in so we headed to Navy Pier for dinner.  The weather made it a little difficult to enjoy the view, but a few still braved the Ferris wheel and we all enjoyed dinner and an evening of fellowship.  All in all, a successful two days!
We are tucked in safely at the hotel, getting rested for our services tomorrow at Ridgefield Crystal Lake Presbyterian.  

We started the day with a trip to Churchill Downs, which was much more interesting than some of the kids had anticipated. The museum was fun, and we enjoyed seeing the hats, touring the track, and most of all, playing the virtual race games.  I think we have a few jockeys in our midst, and some have even added seeing the Derby live to their bucket list (I understand they need to start saving now). We were careful to avoid stepping in any hidden "surprises", lest we make Wednesday‘s beef jerky incident smell like a bed of roses. After lunch in downtown Louisville, we headed to Waterfront Park for some recreation time. Many of the kids, and a few adults, walked the bridge and can now say, “I’ve been to Indiana!”

Later that evening, the choir sang their second concert at the Salvation Army Service Center in Louisville. We had a lovely dinner of baked chicken, mashed potatoes, vegetables (much needed), and salad. We even had the opportunity to learn more about the mission and ministry of Salvation Army. Our kids really felt the love from our hosts and our audience.  After the concert, we served ice cream to the clients and what a gift it was to see our kids in action serving others. They were witnesses and a part of memorable fellowship, and heard the stories of those amazing individuals. 

We made it back to the hotel in plenty of time to let out a little energy in the pool and we even managed to make it to bed at a reasonable hour (although...I can hear a few giggles as I write this).
Thankfully tomorrow is a long bus day with plenty of time for a nap!

Lessons learned from our 8 hour travel day:

1)    You should definitely splurge on name brand deodorant.

2)    Beef jerky opened in a contained space has quite an impact.

3)    Hand carved ham stations at dinner set quite the standard for the rest of the tour.

4)    A missed opportunity at the kangaroo petting farm next to the truck stop - even though we hear kangaroos can be quite savage.
5)    Tai Chi class with Issac at a rest stop is a great stress reducer.

Our concert at Harvey Browne Presbyterian in Louisville was amazing.  We arrived about an hour late so had to eat fast and warm up, but dinner was amazing.  The kids started with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables to balance out the fast food we ate for lunch.  The chancel was designed by an acoustician and the sound was incredible.  The artwork in the church was gorgeous…especially the cross that was a compilation of smaller crosses created by each member of the congregation. It was nice to see some familiar faces in the congregation (family of singers) and we had a great audience!
We made it safely to hotel by 9 pm (just in time to overwhelm the pool).  The kids got a great nights sleep and we are off to Churchill Downs!  Tally Ho!

Check out some of our first videos and photos below!

After a spiritually moving communion service with family and loved ones, sixty-six Chapel Choir members and ten chaperones consisting of parents, volunteers, and Shallowford staff piled into two Coach busses to embark on a 10-day choir tour to "Tell God's Story". The crew will visit and share their voices with a handful of churches along the way, as well as, build relationships and experience many firsts together as Shallowford's Chapel Choir.

As of 10:00 am this morning, our faithful singers started their journey six hours north of Atlanta to Louisville, Kentucky where they will perform their first official tour concert at Harvey Browne Presbyterian Church. While in Kentucky, the crew will also visit a Louisville favorite -- Churchill Downs Racetrack and Museum -- home to the Kentucky Derby!

Stay tuned for daily blog posts and pictures to follow along as our loved ones make their way their way through Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina to their farthest destination, Chicago, Illinois!

>>> 2018 Chapel Choir Tour Itinerary  <<<

One way to deal with the Texas heat -- spend the day at Schlitterbahn Waterpark.  The day went something like this:  apply sunscreen, ride lazy river, reapply sunscreen, ride dragon's revenge, reapply sunscreen, ride bahnzai pipeline, reapply sunscreen, ride cliffhanger chute, reapply sunscreen, ride boogie bahn --- you get the idea... enjoy the pics!!

On to Lake Charles tomorrow - looking forward to seeing the Villaumes!