Area Competition in Belton

Hannah twirling her flag (leah is behing her)
The Clifton band has such great community support and that really showed on Saturday when the band left town to perform at area competition in Belton. Fans lined the road and then the Clifton VFD led the band buses through town for the kids to see all the people and signs that were made. I was proudly displaying my sign that I made in about 15 minutes. One side read " CHS Band - Leave NO Doubt" and the other side read " Hannah & LAEH" Yes you read that right. I proudly showed Clifton and my daughter that I did not know how to spell her name!!! After we arrived in Belton I was still waving my sign proudly with LAEH being shown to everyone. Oh well, we can now say it is a family joke! The band performed and was invited to the Finals. 24 bands competed and Clifton was ranked #1 and 9 bands then performed in the Finals. Clifton and 3 other bands will be going to State on Nov. 5th. Clifton was again ranked #1. We will leave on Sunday afternoon to travel to San Antonio. The band marches on Monday at 4:47 in the Alamodome. 19 bands are competing for State 2A. Finals will began at 7 and we hope that we are one of them. We will stay again on Monday evening and depart from San Antonio on Tuesday to Acuna Mexico to build houses (4) with Grace of Giving. A big week next week for Preacher and Honey.

What A Weekend

This past weekend has been one of the best of the year for the Blanton's. Where do I start. Friday night our football team beat Crawford (big rival) 13-6. We are now 2-0 in district. Ryne and Rebekah came home. Saturday Keith and I traveled with 6 other couples to Dallas for the annual trip to a Cowboy game. Keith surprised me with a spa visit which was a 'frist' for me. I had a Thai massage, an aromatherapy bath and a leg wrap. They were very gental with me and it all felt very good. Keith and the guys played golf. We had dinner at Bennihana's. Hannah & Leah attended a wedding in Waco. Their good friend Mesha was her sister's maid of honor. The girls danced and ate and had fun. On Sunday Rebekah and Ryne treated Hannah & Leah to a movie at the drive inn and spent some quality time together. We enjoyed watching the Cowboys beat the Vikings. Rebekah and Ryne stayed Sunday and Monday with us and we had a very good visit. Hannah played her last JV volleyball game and they finished the season with 1 loss (to Crawford). We are now preparing for the Area Band contest Saturday. Clifton marches at 5:45 and if we make the finals, that will began at 7:30.

The Band is Moving On

The band marched in Regionals on Tuesday. They received a Division 1 ranking and the opportunity to march in the Area competition on Oct. 27th in Belton. All the bands will march and then receive their rankings. Clifton will have to receive a 1 and be selected to march in the finals. Of the 7 bands marching in the finals, the top 3 will go to State competition in San Antonio. We looked really good on Tuesday but they didn't not play their music as well as they can. I know that they will continue to improve. This is Hannah's last year for State as schools only compete every other year. Hannah's freshman year they won 7th at State. Thanks to Dara, Mr. Patrick and Beth for coming out on Tuesday to show you support!!!

More pics from Philly & NY

In the pic by the 'little' Statue of Liberty, Kristen is in blue, Joell has the dark hair. They also saw a off-broadway show "stomp", enjoyed NY style pizza, played in central park, ate philly cheesesteaks...and more.

Sarah's trip to the Big Apple

Truitt had a fall break this past weekend. Kristen Nielsen, Sarah's room mate and good friend is from Philly and her parents invited Sarah and Joell to come with Kristen home for the break...their treat! What fun. This was Sarah's first ever plane ride. They traveled to NY on Friday and saw all the sites and then spent Saturday taking in historic Philly. Being the history buff, Sarah really enjoyed seeing Liberty Hall and the Liberty Bell, however the REAL treat was to run up the stairs that Rocky did in the original ROCKY movie. All had a very good time. Thank you Mr. & Mrs. Nielsen for hosting the girls to such a wonderful fall break. And to Kristen and Joell for being such good friends to my Sarah. And to Sarah, for being my daughter of whom I am very proud!!

The Giant Killers from Clifton Texas

On Saturday, the Clifton HS Band marched in Glen Rose TX at the Paluxy Valley Mraching Invitational. 20 Bands competed - 4 1A, 9 2A, 3 3A, 3 4A and 1 5A schools were represented. This is a state contest year for the 2 & 4A bands. We begin that quest with Regionals on Tuesday in Waco. Clifton is marching to the Music of "Cirque Du Soleil" which is why the made-up faces on the flag corp. This is very difficult music to play and to march to. They gave awards for each division and then the top 7 bands were asked to stay and march again in the finals. Clifton's goal was to make the finals. Clifton won the following division awards - Outstanding Band, Outstanding Drumline, Outstanding Flag Corp, Outstanding Drum Majors and a 1 in music (that's the best you can get)!!! These were all the awards offered! We were so excited. Clifton was selected to march in the finals against the 5A band, 2 3A bands, and 3 4A bands. We were so excited to be the smallest school to make the finals. Our kids were hot and tired, but wanted to thank the community and the band backers for the new uniforms and drums that they purchased this year. They were determined to march and play well. They did not disappoint and when the announcer read the 2nd place band he said " The Giant Killers from Clifton Texas..." because we were the David in the battle with the Goliath's!! What fun. The band from Springtown (4A) were the first place winners, which means that Clifton did very, very well!!! You will hear more from the band later this week.

Leah & her Amazing Band Letterman Jacket

"For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power, and love and self-control." 2 Timothy 1:7
Last year Leah practiced long and hard for her Region Band tryouts. She knew her music well and practiced daily. Leah was insecure about her talent and wasn't very confident going in to play for the judges. Leah froze and was not able to play for them the way she played at home. She was very upset and very disappointed. God has really taken this part of Leah's life and changed her completely!!! Praise God! She earned her Letterman Jacket as a Freshman and told me then that she wanted a scripture verse on the back. She chose 2 Timothy 1:7 because it is a constant reminder to her that God did not give her that spirit of timidity, but of power and that she has the confidence in her God-given talent to succeed. Leah is not only playing her clarinet for marching band, but playing tenor sax in jazz band and taking piano lessons. You Go Girl!! I'm very proud of you.

WOW Weekend and other family news

Hannah & Leah were invited to attend WOW weekend with FBC Clifton this weekend at Latham Springs Baptist Camp. The girls had a great time and really enjoyed the speaker. He retold the story of the prodigal son and ask the question "What is the most important line in this story?" Most of the kids, Hannah & Leah included, said when dad opened up his arms to welcome his son home...the speaker disagreed and said that the most important line was this "and the son came home." Think about it. Dad couldn't open up his arms if the son wasn't there. The son had to make the choice to come home and he did...and that is the most important line in the story. Funny how your kids can come home and teach you things that you thought you already knew!! Keith and I had no down time as we were busy with church stuff and trying to get some work done to the house. Greg & Dara were in Longview this weekend and saw Ryne & Rebekah and reported that they are doing well. Sarah is having a hard time with Hebrew and is concerned that this will be a very low grade for her. On the positive side, Sarah will travel with her room mate to Philly this weekend to visit Kristen's parents. They have several things planned for the girls. It should be fun.

Homecoming Events cont'd...

We had such a good time with all the kids home. Grandmother (next door) came. Greg and Dara Beard came and their daughter Diana and her husband Chad and their precious kids Ethan and Carley also came to cheer for the band and Hannah. We had a super surprise with Aunt B and Uncle Bruce coming with their kids Rob, Daniel and Laura. It was good fun and lots of catching up on family. Here are more pictures.