Thursday, April 29, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Freedom
So as I mentioned the other day, I got to go to the Women of Faith conference last weekend with my mom and Barbara. I really needed it! The time away, the encouragement, laughing at stories until I just about peed, crying, worshipping, learning... great time.
I was incredibly surprised that one of my favorite people at the conference was Mandisa, the finalist on American Idol a few seasons ago (before I began watching, actually) who now has a successful career in Christian music. I had told Barbara even that if we missed Mandisa, that would be okay. I'm generally not into the loud black-gospel sound that I thought she represented. Shame on me.
Miss Mandisa - wow. She began with some fun songs and then spoke candidly about experiencing freedom in Christ ~ a journey I've been exploring with Barbara and others in the area of food for years now. She also shared some personal stories, some which made us laugh and others made us cry, and her absolutely beautiful music. The lyrics - just wow.
So I bought the CD (mind you I couldn't even tell you the last CD I've purchased) ~ entitled Freedom, of course ~ and brought it home. This morning I spent 15 minutes trying to free it from the cellophane and plugged it into the stereo, and Grace and I got on our feet and began to dance. We praised God and moved our bodies to songs like "My Deliverer," "The Definition of Me," and "Freedom Song." We really pumped up the jam when the final fast song came on, "Dance, Dance, Dance."
And at my encouragment, Grace let loose. She's got, as she says, moves. At one point she sat on the floor and began to spin herself around. "Look, Mom! I can do crack dancing!"
Indeed.
"You mean break dancing, Grace?"
Yeah, yeah, that's it.
The last song on the album, by the way, is a beautiful song about grief - "You Wouldn't Cry." The story behind it is heartbreaking but the song is so beautiful and encouraging. It reminded me of Abigail, Barb's granddaughter, who just recently went to heaven, and Nate and Jamie's little one. It reminded me of Grandma, and it reminded me of Kyle. I hope you'll check it out and listen to it... and smile for them. I can't wait until we're all reunited in God's presence.
I was incredibly surprised that one of my favorite people at the conference was Mandisa, the finalist on American Idol a few seasons ago (before I began watching, actually) who now has a successful career in Christian music. I had told Barbara even that if we missed Mandisa, that would be okay. I'm generally not into the loud black-gospel sound that I thought she represented. Shame on me.
Miss Mandisa - wow. She began with some fun songs and then spoke candidly about experiencing freedom in Christ ~ a journey I've been exploring with Barbara and others in the area of food for years now. She also shared some personal stories, some which made us laugh and others made us cry, and her absolutely beautiful music. The lyrics - just wow.
So I bought the CD (mind you I couldn't even tell you the last CD I've purchased) ~ entitled Freedom, of course ~ and brought it home. This morning I spent 15 minutes trying to free it from the cellophane and plugged it into the stereo, and Grace and I got on our feet and began to dance. We praised God and moved our bodies to songs like "My Deliverer," "The Definition of Me," and "Freedom Song." We really pumped up the jam when the final fast song came on, "Dance, Dance, Dance."
And at my encouragment, Grace let loose. She's got, as she says, moves. At one point she sat on the floor and began to spin herself around. "Look, Mom! I can do crack dancing!"
Indeed.
"You mean break dancing, Grace?"
Yeah, yeah, that's it.
The last song on the album, by the way, is a beautiful song about grief - "You Wouldn't Cry." The story behind it is heartbreaking but the song is so beautiful and encouraging. It reminded me of Abigail, Barb's granddaughter, who just recently went to heaven, and Nate and Jamie's little one. It reminded me of Grandma, and it reminded me of Kyle. I hope you'll check it out and listen to it... and smile for them. I can't wait until we're all reunited in God's presence.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Numba Twooo
Yesterday I woke up with a feeling of refreshment and a light heart despite being still tired from traveling this weekend to a Women of Faith conference with Barbara and Mom. We went to the late service at church (something we rarely do!) and then went to Black-Eyed Pea for lunch.
I sat between the two younger ones. After we'd been settled into the booth by the hostess, Grace in the corner on Ro and Pop's side remembered I'd promised to sit by her. Chris, in the corner on my side was a little... um, how shall we say it?... displeased to have to crawl under the table to change places with Grace.
Because I'd also promised to sit by Josh.
And then Grace had to crawl under the table again, as Josh slid down on the seat and I slid down on the seat so that I could be between them.
No Chinese firedrills in a restaurant, with all 6 of us and Pop on the end, you know.
So I'm sitting there and Josh says to me, "Mom, feel how soft my hands are," as he rubbed them on my right forearm back and forth.
"Wow, they are, Josh. Are you using lotion on them?"
"No," he said. "Ketchup."
...
Which reminds me of something else Josh said recently. I was taking his buddy home from a playdate, and a man on the sidewalk was shooing his kids out of my way. He wore a baseball cap and a t-shirt that said SHERIFF.
Josh said, "Sheriff? He can't be a sheriff."
Um, k? Why not?
"Don't sheriffs have bigger mus...taches?"
I sat between the two younger ones. After we'd been settled into the booth by the hostess, Grace in the corner on Ro and Pop's side remembered I'd promised to sit by her. Chris, in the corner on my side was a little... um, how shall we say it?... displeased to have to crawl under the table to change places with Grace.
Because I'd also promised to sit by Josh.
And then Grace had to crawl under the table again, as Josh slid down on the seat and I slid down on the seat so that I could be between them.
No Chinese firedrills in a restaurant, with all 6 of us and Pop on the end, you know.
So I'm sitting there and Josh says to me, "Mom, feel how soft my hands are," as he rubbed them on my right forearm back and forth.
"Wow, they are, Josh. Are you using lotion on them?"
"No," he said. "Ketchup."
...
Which reminds me of something else Josh said recently. I was taking his buddy home from a playdate, and a man on the sidewalk was shooing his kids out of my way. He wore a baseball cap and a t-shirt that said SHERIFF.
Josh said, "Sheriff? He can't be a sheriff."
Um, k? Why not?
"Don't sheriffs have bigger mus...taches?"
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Memaw's Coming Tonight Tonight! Memaw's Coming Tonight!
This Miss Grace has been singing all day long.
Over and over.
We only have about three hours to go.
And I'm already sleepy. By the time dinner's done, I'm zonked right out. Hope AI is good tonight so I can not be more sleepy by 9:30 when I leave for the airport.
There hasn't been a whole lot of news on this end... life is busy, that's all. Spring has sprung and we got up to about 68 today. Overnight it seems yards have turned green and the tree buds have started to flower. I shaved my legs and wore shorts in public and we bought Grace some summertime shoes.
That girl is growing like the proverbial weed! At nearly 4 years old both Josh and Christianne wore no bigger than a 4T. Miss Grace is wearing a 6 already! We had to buy her some PJs too because the 2T nightgowns she has been wearing barely come to the top of her panties. I know, I should've bought them long ago, but she's only recently been on a PJ kick. None of us are really PJ people.
Christianne performed today for a professional musician and once again received high praise. She hasn't received her scores yet but I'm excited for her. She seems to be quite good at playing that horn. I wish she believed that about herself!
We're down to about the last 5 or 6 weeks of school. Josh has at least 3 field trips coming up and Chris has 2 that I know about. Lots of projects and portfolios have been assigned - things we should be working on but you know us... a lot will be done at the last possible minute. I am ready for school to be out only because I'm tired of taking them to school at 6:30 and going back to take Josh to the other school at 8:30... lazy, I know. But then school will be out and the bickering will begin.
Pop is doing pretty well. He enjoyed the sunshine the other day and got out and walked a bit. We're going to try to take in a softball game tomorrow afternoon - Utah plays here at Colorado State. Deb's old teammate (I mean former, of course) is their coach now, so it'll be fun to say hello and enjoy (hopefully) some more sunshine and ball.
What's new in your part of the world?
Over and over.
We only have about three hours to go.
And I'm already sleepy. By the time dinner's done, I'm zonked right out. Hope AI is good tonight so I can not be more sleepy by 9:30 when I leave for the airport.
There hasn't been a whole lot of news on this end... life is busy, that's all. Spring has sprung and we got up to about 68 today. Overnight it seems yards have turned green and the tree buds have started to flower. I shaved my legs and wore shorts in public and we bought Grace some summertime shoes.
That girl is growing like the proverbial weed! At nearly 4 years old both Josh and Christianne wore no bigger than a 4T. Miss Grace is wearing a 6 already! We had to buy her some PJs too because the 2T nightgowns she has been wearing barely come to the top of her panties. I know, I should've bought them long ago, but she's only recently been on a PJ kick. None of us are really PJ people.
Christianne performed today for a professional musician and once again received high praise. She hasn't received her scores yet but I'm excited for her. She seems to be quite good at playing that horn. I wish she believed that about herself!
We're down to about the last 5 or 6 weeks of school. Josh has at least 3 field trips coming up and Chris has 2 that I know about. Lots of projects and portfolios have been assigned - things we should be working on but you know us... a lot will be done at the last possible minute. I am ready for school to be out only because I'm tired of taking them to school at 6:30 and going back to take Josh to the other school at 8:30... lazy, I know. But then school will be out and the bickering will begin.
Pop is doing pretty well. He enjoyed the sunshine the other day and got out and walked a bit. We're going to try to take in a softball game tomorrow afternoon - Utah plays here at Colorado State. Deb's old teammate (I mean former, of course) is their coach now, so it'll be fun to say hello and enjoy (hopefully) some more sunshine and ball.
What's new in your part of the world?
Monday, April 12, 2010
A Good Way to Start The Week
Painting the Church
There was a Scottish painter named Smokey Macgregor who was very interested in making a penny where he could, so he often thinned down his paint to make it go a wee bit further.
As it happened, he got away with this for some time, but eventually the Baptist Church decided to do a big restoration job on the outside of one of their biggest buildings..
Smokey put in a bid, and, because his price was so low, he got the job.
So he set about erecting the scaffolding and setting up the planks, and buying the paint and, yes, I am sorry to say, thinning it down with turpentine.
Well, Smokey was up on the scaffolding, painting away, the job nearly completed, when suddenly there was a horrendous clap of thunder, the sky opened, and the rain poured down washing the thinned paint from all over the church and knocking Smokey clear off the scaffold to land on the lawn among the gravestones, surrounded by telltale puddles of the thinned and useless paint.
Smokey was no fool. He knew this was a judgment from the Almighty, so he got down on his knees and cried:
"Oh, God, Oh God, forgive me; what should I do?"
And from the thunder, a mighty voice spoke...
(you're going to love this)
"Repaint! Repaint! And thin no more!"
There was a Scottish painter named Smokey Macgregor who was very interested in making a penny where he could, so he often thinned down his paint to make it go a wee bit further.
As it happened, he got away with this for some time, but eventually the Baptist Church decided to do a big restoration job on the outside of one of their biggest buildings..
Smokey put in a bid, and, because his price was so low, he got the job.
So he set about erecting the scaffolding and setting up the planks, and buying the paint and, yes, I am sorry to say, thinning it down with turpentine.
Well, Smokey was up on the scaffolding, painting away, the job nearly completed, when suddenly there was a horrendous clap of thunder, the sky opened, and the rain poured down washing the thinned paint from all over the church and knocking Smokey clear off the scaffold to land on the lawn among the gravestones, surrounded by telltale puddles of the thinned and useless paint.
Smokey was no fool. He knew this was a judgment from the Almighty, so he got down on his knees and cried:
"Oh, God, Oh God, forgive me; what should I do?"
And from the thunder, a mighty voice spoke...
(you're going to love this)
"Repaint! Repaint! And thin no more!"
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Status
(What's on my mind?)
Munching on KitKats, drinking Pepsi, listening to worship music, and scrapbooking wonderful memories - perfect day.
Munching on KitKats, drinking Pepsi, listening to worship music, and scrapbooking wonderful memories - perfect day.
Friday, April 09, 2010
Really.
So I've taken to listening to a classic rock station in the car lately. Classic meaning 1980s, which both offends me and comforts me. I'm offended that I'm already to the age where the music I grew up on is considered "classic" and yet I'm comforted by listening to all that familiar music.
Anyhow, music sticks in my head long after I'm done listening to it. I'm sure that happens to you guys, too, right? Sometimes I don't even have to hear something to get a song stuck in my head ~ last night when I went to bed I had a song from my old Disco Mickey Mouse cassette circa 1979 stuck in my head - "Welcome to Rio."
I could go on. But I won't.
So I was humming, singing softly, be-bopping around the kitchen the other day to the tune of "Don't Need Nothing But a Good Time" and Josh was watching me. That, of course, made me break into full voice:
and then I scooted up to Josh, shook my hips in a totally cornball way, and with great drama and a Vanna-esque showcasing of my body, I finished off
And Josh looked me up and down, looked straight in my eyes, and said somewhat sadly, "Really?"
Anyhow, music sticks in my head long after I'm done listening to it. I'm sure that happens to you guys, too, right? Sometimes I don't even have to hear something to get a song stuck in my head ~ last night when I went to bed I had a song from my old Disco Mickey Mouse cassette circa 1979 stuck in my head - "Welcome to Rio."
Welcome, welcome to Rio!
Welcome, welcome to Ri-i-o!
Welcome, welcome to Rio!
The tropical hotspot, saludos amigos!
I could go on. But I won't.
So I was humming, singing softly, be-bopping around the kitchen the other day to the tune of "Don't Need Nothing But a Good Time" and Josh was watching me. That, of course, made me break into full voice:
Don't need nothing but a good time
How can I resist?
Ain't lookin for nothin but a good time...
and then I scooted up to Josh, shook my hips in a totally cornball way, and with great drama and a Vanna-esque showcasing of my body, I finished off
And it don't get better than this!
And Josh looked me up and down, looked straight in my eyes, and said somewhat sadly, "Really?"
Wednesday, April 07, 2010
UPR, by Joshua
INTRODUCTION
UPR* is an acronym for “Unconditional Positive Regard.” Remember that now.
THE BORING MIDDLE BIT
Wouldn’t you hate it if you were auditioning for The President, only everyone was too
busy texting, dancing, screaming like a girl, or drowning to notice a thing you said? Well, that’s what happens day-to-day, and where UPR comes in to save the day. YAY FOR SUPER UPR!!!!
But seriously, UPR is a way to revolutionize the hairy, disruptive, brutal thing we know
as “society” (play scary and/or dramatic music here). Unconditional Positive Regard, the very
subtle and utterly unnoticeable extended bit of UPR, means that we should have positive regard towards anything and everything, no matter what the condition may be. This would be helpful, seeing as a lot of my classmates have little to no regard, positive or not, towards anything.
Quite unfortunately, it is little known, and very limited, even though the current state of
the world is desperate for something of the like. It could balance the long lost balance of power, restore the world to its unity as once before. UPR is a fun word for kids, and one with meaning to adults.
THE MORAL OF THIS STORY
Moral: UPR= GOOD. Not UPR=BAD.
Original essay by Josh Wiggins
Proofread by his dad
*UPR is pronounced Ooper in this case. It would be “Super Ooper”
Sunday, April 04, 2010
He is Risen!
He is risen, indeed!
I pray that as we celebrate this amazing day with family and friends today, our minds are fixed not on Easter bunnies and eggs, but on the most incredible event that ever occurred in the history of mankind!
Makes me wanna sing a song:
He is risen! He is risen, indeed!
Have a blessed Easter!
I pray that as we celebrate this amazing day with family and friends today, our minds are fixed not on Easter bunnies and eggs, but on the most incredible event that ever occurred in the history of mankind!
Makes me wanna sing a song:
Everyone needs compassion
A love that's never failing
Let mercy fall on me
Everyone needs forgiveness
The kindness of a Savior
The hope of nations
Savior - He can move the mountains
Our God is mighty to save
He is mighty to save
Forever, author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave
So take me as You find me
All my fears and failures
Fill my life again
I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in
Now I surrender
Savior - He can move the mountains
Our God is mighty to save
He is mighty to save
Forever, author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave
He is risen! He is risen, indeed!
Have a blessed Easter!
Thursday, April 01, 2010
Happy April!
I love jokes. I love to tease people and make them laugh, especially my kids. My favorite thing is to close the garage door on Christianne ~ it doesn't come near her but it makes her scream every time. But this morning, on April Fool's Day, I got nothin'. :(
I'm probably just overstimulated from the past several days. It's been kind of a whirlwind here with the kids and Ro on Spring Break.
On Monday night we took advantage of the mild weather and went to the drive-in. We saw How to Tame Your Dragon - cute! It was chilly but that meant no mosquitos. Kids had a blast and it was just a good time.
On Tuesday we took the kids to Fort Fun and had a great time, especially since the place was practically deserted. The kids did a huge slide over and over, raced go-carts, did laser tag, and more. 
Chris actually did a great job, staying in her own lane. Josh - well, his face says it all, doesn't it? 
Yesterday we got Pop to join us on our outing to the Downtown Aquarium in Denver. We had such a great day. And can't you just see how much he enjoyed it?
The kids fed the manta rays (nasty! That's Josh's hand below) - and Ro got bit. Chris tried to climb a coconut tree... but no coconuts were to be had for her. And Grace got her face painted. It was sure a fun day.
On today's agenda: Pop's doctor appointment, planting some seeds for our garden, swimming at the Chilson, and I have to do Pop's taxes.
Today is also Maundy Thursday, the day that commemorates the washing of the disciples' feet and the Last Supper, sometime after which He would be betrayed. Time to focus on these events, to understand what they mean to us thousands of years later, to consider His betrayal and suffering and death ~ to consider His love for us.
Easter is approaching ~ commemorating, to me, the most exciting day in history!
He is risen! He is risen, indeed!
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