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?
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