The Hayes Family, Salem, VA
Keeping Up With the Hayes
The Hayes are Hokies. That’s not the number one reason they moved back to Roanoke from Jacksonville, Florida, but it’s up there. “Rob and I met while at Virginia Tech,” Jeannette says, “and love taking the kids up there for games and festivals.” Jeannette was working for Merrill Lynch and Rob was in the hospitality business, but they wanted to be closer to family and close friends. They knew Roanoke would be a great place to raise a family; they already had a closeknit community there, and, of course, Blacksburg was nearby. So to Roanoke they came. At the time, Rob and Jeannette only had one daughter, Jordan, but since then, Skyler and Audrey have come along. “Although we miss the beach, we love the change of season Virginia provides and love being close to Blacksburg to visit and go to Hokie football and basketball games,” Jeannette says. Chanting “Hokie-Hokie-Hokie-Hi!” isn’t all they do, though. The Hayes clan is pretty active: Ten-year-old Jordan plays lacrosse; nine-year-old Skyler plays soccer; two-year-old Audrey likes to swing on the tree swing in the front yard.
That energy carries over to church: Ask Jordan what she likes best about Northminster, and she’ll tell you it’s the activities and field trips the kids take—skiing at The Homestead, rock climbing, going to the water park, going to the pool parties. Ask Skyler her opinion, and she’ll say it’s Vacation Bible School with its events and fun. Audrey is right at home in the same nursery where her two older sisters were brought up. Jeannette explains: “We started going to Northminster while Jordan was very young. Some of our best friends were members there and we felt very comfortable leaving our child in the nursery with Alice—our friends’ mom... Jordan loved going to church so much that when Rob and I would want to take a Sunday off, she would get upset and beg to go! Both big girls have been with Alice, and Audrey is in her room now. They all love her.” Jordan and Skyler started singing in the nursery, and then they moved on to the children’s choir. Music is a big part of Northminster life. “Choir is wonderful because the kids really learn how to sing and read music... I love the holiday plays because they give the kids confidence in getting in front of a large group of people—and the costumes are precious. The younger kids totally look up to the older ones.”
It’s that sense of community the Hayes love and appreciate. The way the older kids help with the younger ones; the activities that keep the family engaged; and the way the church is family. When Rob’s father passed away last year, Northminster was there for them. “[O]ur whole family couldn’t believe the outpouring of cards, food, and flowers.” Fun and excitement; raising kids in a good environment; having a church family when it counts—there’s a synergy, to be sure. Jeannette sums it up: “Northminster is a warm loving church that makes me feel good.”