On Sunday December 2nd, Mom Kim, Kensley, Lauren, Sara and Reagan went to Ashburn to help with their Initiation. On the way up everyone was listening to Christmas music and got in the holiday spirit. Once we got to the lodge that we had never been before, Ella showed us to the bathroom so we could change. We had to walk down very twisty stairs to reach the bottom of the lodge. They were very scary but fun at the same time. We were warned that we had to be within two steps of the person in front to successfully stay upright. Before the initiation the pledges had their meeting and it was adorable. Then initiation began. Everyone did an amazing job and we’re so happy to have a new sister, Riley. They had very good food down stairs and we got presents for helping out which we are so thankful for. On our way home we all clustered together to sleep but it didn’t last long before mom Kim turned Christmas music back up. Lauren was half asleep and really wanted goldfish so we made her dance to the music to earn them. I had so much fun with my Rainbow sisters and advisors and can’t wait to watch Riley grow with everyone else. 

With Rainbow Love And Service,

Reagan

Monte Carlo night 

Manassas Assembly held an absolutely phenomenal fundraiser on November 3rd. Kensley, Mom Kim, Mom Toney, and I showed up in our fanciest attire. We had boas and lucky charms. We were ready to get our gamble on! We walked in on a red carpet and got our photos taken. Then we were give $500 in funny money that we exchanged for chips to play at the tables. There was roulette, black jack, and craps. I spent most of my time at the black jack table watching people’s money rise and fall. Delaney’s stepfather joined halfway through the night and managed to get up to $7000 in chips then lost it all on one play! At the very least, the fundraiser taught me how easy it is to lose money! I ended up breaking even with $500. Manassas had raffles set out and you could purchase a ticket for every $250 in chips you had. Unfortunately I didn’t win anything, but the experience was the real prize. I made sure to hit up the mashed potato bar and get a nonalcoholic cocktail from the bar tender. I also enjoyed the live entertainment. There were many people that got up to sing and play instruments. Kate did a great job setting everything up and they raised a lot for breast cancer research. It was a wonderful evening to support a good cause! 

With Rainbow L&S, 

Lauren Ann

Scholarship bowling

After the Manassas sleepover, we all awoke to a delicious breakfast made by the advisors and mom Paula put me to work designing lane sponsor signs. Once we finished eating, Sara, Reagan, Kensley, and I made our way to the bowling alley. We set up a lane with Gigi and Delaney from Manassas and began to bowl. There were gutter balls and strikes and everything in between. I mingled around while others bowled and helped cheer on my fellow rainbow sisters. However it wasn’t just the girls doing well, the adults showed up to show out this year! Dad Clancy even got a turkey which is three strikes in a row!! Some of the girls got food from the concessions bar and others played arcade games. Everyone seemed to have a great time and as we wished each other goodbye, we talked about how next year’s bowl-a-thon was going to be even better. 

With Rainbow Love and Service, 

Lauren Ann

Smithfield’s Pumpkin Meeting

Smithfield invited Hampton and Tidewater to their annual pumpkin carving meeting and they did not disappoint! We showed up first with our pumpkins ready to carve. Sara and Reagan dressed as characters from Peter Pan and I was a lifeguard. Sara gave me a pumpkin of hers since mine had rotted and I had to cut it up to salvage it. I ended up transforming it into a coconut piña colada sculpture. My pumpkin Sara gave me made everyone laugh because it was a pie pumpkin. For those of you who don’t know, a pie pumpkin is not for carving and it was practically impossible to carve through the skin. I struggled and everyone laughed but it wasn’t because I was weak because even Eli from Tidewater couldn’t cut through it! We all ate pizza as we worked and had many good laughs. We then rode to the local nursing home and dropped off our pumpkins so they could be used to decorate the grounds for the elderly. Hampton always has a great time when we attend Smithfield’s meetings and enjoyed our second year carving pumpkins with them. 

With Rainbow L&S, 

Lauren Ann