Held

Penny the Supermodel

2011-10-19T16:35:00.000-07:00

Meet Penny. The coolest, weirdest cat ever.

I thought I would take a picture of her weirdness since for some reason she was relaxing on the legos...maybe it was like acupuncture or something.

Anyhow, she suddenly started posing and intentionally looking beautiful. Seriously.

And she just kept posing...

Check out the lip pucker in this shot...

She decided she wanted another photographer when I wouldn't pull the fan out to blow her fur a bit.

But she is a cool cat anyway.

And yes, of all the things I could have blogged about after the months I have been away from it, I did just blog about my cat. Weird, I know. ;)

The Ice Storm, The Interview, and the Cow-Moving to Texas

2011-05-24T15:30:00.000-07:00

So...here we are! :) We arrived on the 2nd of February. We literally slid into town during a record breaking ice storm! It was quite the trip. Chase and our dear friend Dan, left driving the U-Haul and Dan's suv all loaded down. A few hours later, my wife (her nickname) Jen and I left with our passel of 6 kids, ages 6 and under.
Yeah. We are crazy. But it was so wonderful of these amazing friends to help us move to our new home. And I really enjoyed being able to have a looooong visit with one of my dearest friends. Plus, trial and error has taught us that two moms and six kids are actually easier than one mom and three kids. Ask the people who work at Ikea. Long story.
Anyhow...it was snowing when we drove away from our home and was storming on the east side of Albuquerque.When we stopped there for gas, I was interviewed by a news reporter about how it was, traveling in the storm. The second he turned on the camera I completely lost my mind, and Jen had to whisper to me all the answers to everything he asked, including, "What is your last name? Can you spell that?" So whether or not my clip actually made it on the air I don't know, but I doubt it. ;) But we did share with him that we had seen lots of vehicles slide off the freeway and that the blowing snow was a serious menace.
We got back on the road and several hours later, we made it to the Texas, NM border!!! :) Our drive took considerably longer than the men, because we took an excruciating amount of potty breaks. The next day, we wised up and put all the kids in diapers-yup we did. All six. And the drive went considerably faster. ;)
It was a pretty scary drive. The roads were insanely slippery and it was SO cold!!! The temp was in the negatives the whole time. At one point I couldn't see to drive because of all the mud caked onto my windshield. So I pulled over and Jen dumped a cold bottle of water onto the windshield and before I could wipe it off, it froze. At least it was clear though, so we got back on the road.

In Wichita Falls, we stopped for some lunch and to see my Aunt Debbie and cousin, Jason. It had been years since I had seen them and they had never met my kids. We slid into the parking lot, slid into McDonalds and let the kids play for a bit while I got to visit! ;) It was so nice seeing them again, they are a couple of the sweetest folks ever! I just love them! And it is so nice that they are only a few hours away and we get to see each other every now and then. :)

We got back on the road and caught up with Dan who had had car trouble. We ended up following him all the way to our new home town. It was terrifying. He drove a bit faster than I was comfortable with and really pushed me to just get there. But I was glad he did. ;) We had a couple of close calls, the one I remember the most was when a semi came into our lane and tried to push us off the freeway...scary. But God took SUCH good care of us. We got to the Day's house safe and sound...and exhausted.

This may be one of those you-just-had-to-be-there things, but I have to tell you about something Harmony said. Keep in mind that we had been driving through Texas aka Cattle Country for EVER. We saw cattle EVERYWHERE! Even the day before in New Mexico...lots of cows. Lots. For hours all we saw were cattle and fields. On the evening of the second day we were driving the car and all six kids were quiet. I think the boys were all sleeping. (Which explains the quiet.;) Jen and I are chatting it up when all of the sudden from the back of the suburban, Harmony exclaimed, "LOOK!!!! A COW!!!!!" We died laughing. We were wondering where she had been that whole drive and how she missed all the cattle. I still have no idea...

I was nervous about staying with the Day's. They so graciously provided several rooms and a bathroom and the whole house basically at our disposal! But I had never met them and wasn't sure how it was going to work. Especially with my three little ones and Jen's three little ones...all of which had been on lock-down in a car for two days. But the kids were great and the Day's were AMAZING!!! Mr. and Mrs. Day are some of the most fabulous people ever and are now some dear friends. After Dan and Jen left (which I don't want to talk about... :( ) We stayed on with the Day's for a month until we moved into a rental right across the street. I told you, they are awesome! I am not sure anyone else could have handled us for all that time. Thank you Dan and Jen! And thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Day!!! We love you all so much! Thank you for all you have each done for our family. We have been so blessed by each of you. :)

And we are loving Texas (except the tornados we are currently dodging...) the people and our church and the area....we just LOVE it here!!!

One Enchanted Evening!

2011-01-27T17:25:00.000-08:00

When I first moved to Show Low, Arizona I didn't have much in the way of friends. I had my new husband and had a new church family. Three weeks into our marriage we got pregnant with my Pink Princess!

And then it started...friendship! I started having things in common with the women around me and many of us became fast friends! There was particularly a group of us that I dubbed "the Fab 7" several years ago. Through the years our group has grown and our circle of friends has grown but like the ladies of Wisteria Lane (I did-I just made a Desperate Housewives reference!) the seven of us have remained friends and stay close.

During the packing and moving process I have been reminiscing about all of the things we have been through and done together...

Pretty amazing really, in the last six years we have

had babies,

lost babies,

lost parents,

battled cancer,

dealt with our pasts,

been through counseling,

been through several moves,

struggles in our marriages,

struggles with our teenagers,

struggles with each other,

started homeschooling our kids,

stopped homeschooling our kids, (:

and just life in general.

But what struck me as I reminisced and what is so amazing to me is how faithful God has been through everything. Here we all are-

still alive,

still friends,

still married,

still in this church,

and more in love with our Lord than ever before.

How amazing is that? He answered those prayers that we prayed together countless times. I think those are some of my most treasured memories. Apart from all the play-dates we had when our kids were smaller, and the bunko parties, and the movie nights...(Ok, so we have had some serious fun together!!!) I love remembering the times when we got together for coffee and to pray. To pray for our families, for our husbands, for us as moms-some of the most powerful times we shared. And the times we got together just to pray for Deana and her cancer. I just get chills. I have been taking Deana for granted lately, but it really wasn't that long ago she was fighting for her life and we were all terrified of losing her.

What amazing, special friends I have here. I will miss them so much! And yet it is so exciting to be able to move somewhere new and make MORE friends!!! :) Whoo hoooo!

So back to the evening I was originally posting about: (:

When the rest of the group found out I was moving, my amazing friend Deana (the planner extraordinaire!) decided that before I left we needed one last dinner party with the gals that started it all. Everyone pitched in and threw me SUCH a lovely party!!! They went with an Italian theme and we got to use a clubhouse up in Pinetop for our festivities! :) (Thank you Stacie!!!)

These were SO yummy!!! Thank you Misty!!!

Isn't this lovely???

Seriously beautiful!!!

Drinks and hor d'oeuvres

Shay's famous spinach dip!!!

Then in case the dinner wasn't enough, I got PRESENTS!!!!!

Here is the frame Dawn made for me and they brought pictures of us to put in there. :) BEAUTIFUL!!!! Dawn, you are AWESOME!!!

And LOOK how cute this gift bag is!!! Turns out that it held the coveted "Lynell Original Apron"!!!!! I have been secretly pining for one for YEARS!!!! You can read about it and see it on her (fabulous watch-out-Pioneer-Woman) blog: http://wranglersandribbons.blogspot.com/2011/01/crafting-therapy.html I have pretty much been wearing it non-stop since!

Chatting it up:

Besides seamstress, she is also a fab photographer !!! Seriously, watch out Pioneer Woman!

Main Course: YUMMO!! Deana makes the BEST Italian food!!!

And Dessert: ohmygoshamazing! :)

There was SO much laughter and food and visiting! It was a totally wonderful night!!! I am so blessed to have these woman in my life. And I love that while they are so sad I am moving, they are praying I make new wonderful friends in my new church and new home! :) They are just awesome!!!

I LOVE you guys!!! Thank you so much!!!

Adventures with Dawn and Gina-Hutch Makeover Day!!!

2011-01-26T21:10:00.000-08:00

Do you remember when Dawn and I turned my china cabinet into the entertainment center??? It started out looking something like this:

And then we turned it into this:

Well we have been dying to finish it! We have had visions of painting it and adding some kind of super fun print to the back but we hadn't done it yet. Well I came back from Christmas in Texas with the PERFECT print for the back...and then when we decided we were moving to Texas, Dawn and I HAD to get one last project in! She was totally awesome and bought the paint and supplies as a going away present too!!! She is just the greatest! :)

So one day I started in and spray painted the hardware black. :)

And then did a light sanding...

Then Dawn got to work filling holes...

We picked this amazing color! At first I was planning on going a pale teal-ish route. Then was thinking a raspberry would be a huge and fun punch of color...and when I saw this color on a card I didn't like it. It wasn't until I saw it sampled on some walls with some black accents that I went "Oooooohhhhhh" and we fell in love with it!

We chose Martha Stewart's "Washed Denim" but then when we got to Home Depot, we had them match it to the Behr's Ultra Paint and Primer Combo Paint. LOVE that stuff and the color was PERFECT!!! (Not to mention considerably cheaper!)

So two coats later we started putting the fabulous backing on:

This is actually wrapping paper from Target! I found a very mangled roll but couldn't find another one anywhere so I took it up front and got it for a mere dollar and a half!!!! :)

We just Modge Podged it up there and it was scary because wrapping paper isn't fond of being modge podged...but up it went and it eventually it dried and looks like this:

This pic is a little blurry...I was balancing precariously on the couch between boxes and electronics and holding stuff up and ...anyway the pic is blurry. Sorry! But doesn't it look just AMAZING??? Every time I walk through the room I smile. Dawn is so amazing to help me with this...and be my friend...and hang out with me every week...and keep me sane. :) She has just been such a huge blessing and encouragement to me. I LOOOVE you Dawnovan!!! :) You are just awesome!!! I will SO miss you! As soon as we get settled I am going to have to get you out to see me and help me decorate! ;) I love you!

So dear Readers, Dawn and I can't decide...should we rough the hutch up a bit and do some black staining or leave it how it is??? HELP!!!

Books to Read in 2011

2011-01-20T09:25:00.000-08:00

Since I became a mom I have been pretty terrible about getting books read. Unless it is Fancy Nancy or Dr. Seuss I am just not reading all that much. And it has been ok to take a few years off and have babies, but now that the kids are getting older I want to set some goals and keep in mind some books I want to read.

So here goes:
The List So Far:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1578565812/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d14_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-6&pf_rd_r=1R3T3J9YRPF57S1XAGYZ&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938731&pf_rd_i=507846
I started this one technically in 2010 but I haven't gotten too far just yet. ;)

http://www.amazon.com/Green-Goes-Everything-Healthier-Cleaner/dp/1416578455/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295464178&sr=1-1
Apparently this book is everything you never wanted to know about toxins being in your food, water, clothing, mattresses, cleaning products etc....all the chemicals we put in our systems every day and how to avoid that. :) Stay posted, I will write a post someday on all that I have been learning and why I love Arbonne. :)

http://www.amazon.com/Joyfully-Home-Young-Ladies-Vision/dp/1934554502/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295464201&sr=1-1
Totally looking forward to reading this book! I LOVE her blog! Her dad's book:

(which I gave away before I even finished reading it...I need to get a new one! LOVE this book!)
http://www.amazon.com/What-He-Must-Be-Daughter/dp/1581349300/ref=pd_sim_b_1
totally changed our church in so many ways! Fathers stepped up and became better leaders,(but not dictators) parents got more proactive in the dating-courtship process and families are just getting closer! Awesome!!!

http://www.amazon.com/Bonhoeffer-Pastor-Martyr-Prophet-Spy/dp/1595551387/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295464219&sr=1-1
Ok so my husband actually got this one for Christmas...but I think I am going to borrow it for a bit! ;) I LOVE World War II History and the fact the Hitler killed him a couple of days before the war ended-just out of spite is intriguing.

Right now in my devotions, I am going through:

http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Spiritual-Gifts-40-Minute-Studies/dp/0307458709/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295465097&sr=1-5
I am really enjoying it too! :) I love Kay Arthur! Her books, "Lord, I Want to Know You" (on the names of God) and "Lord, I Need Grace to Make it Today" (about grace and applying it to your life) were huge in my life and taught me sooooo much and changed my life drastically. :)
So I think the next devotion book I will do will be:

http://www.amazon.com/Lord-Help-Grow-Spiritually-Strong/dp/0736925988/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1295465124&sr=1-1
Looks good! :)
I also want to do this one this year:

http://www.amazon.com/My-Utmost-His-Highest-ebook/dp/B0049U4WA6/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295465344&sr=1-4
I have heard SO many good things about this book! I am really excited to read it...and who knows...after Bonhoffer and Chambers I just may be up to reading some Tozer! :)

http://www.amazon.com/Duggars-Counting-Raising-Americas-Families-How/dp/141658563X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1295467042&sr=1-1
Someday I will write a post on the 20 and counting things I love about the Duggars...but for now, I want to read their book! :)

http://www.visionforum.com/browse/product/?productid=96752
I am dying to read SO MANY of the books that Vision Forum has to offer...this is just one of them. ;)

My "Fun Reading" List:

http://www.amazon.com/Pride-Prejudice-Jane-Austen/dp/1936594293/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295467131&sr=1-3
How sad is it that I have never read this book?!?!? This is the year!

http://www.amazon.com/Mansfield-Park-Penguin-Classics-Austen/dp/0141439807/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295467176&sr=1-1
Ok, silly reason for wanting to read this one...I have taken several "what Jane Austen book is your life" quizzes on facebook and Mansfield Park is always the answer...I must find out what this means. ;)

http://www.amazon.com/Jack-Dog-His-Victor-Brodt/dp/1452839948/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295467940&sr=1-1
I am SO looking forward to reading this one! It was written by some dear friends!
You MUST read the AMAZING reviews this book has gotten and read it for yourself! I am thinking I will start this one next!

Alright...so besides the books I flip through on cooking, cleaning, gardening, and other homesteading topics, this is my list. Pretty daunting considering the only things I read through completely last year was "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan and the "Lord I Need Grace..." one I mentioned earlier. Ok, that isn't quite true...I am having plenty of others come to mind... anyhow. FUN! I love to read!

Does anyone else have anything they plan on reading this year???

Steps

2011-01-18T17:11:00.000-08:00

That song, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delighteth in His way. Though he fall he shall not be utterly cast down for the Lord upholdeth Him with His hand." has been encouraging to me today and I thought I would find more verses on "steps" since ours are rather "unsure" at the moment. ;)

Job 34:21

“For his eyes are on the ways of a man,

and he sees all his steps.

Job 31:4

Does not he see my ways

and number all my steps?

Psalm 37:23

The steps of a man are established by the Lord,

when he delights in his way;

Psalm 37:31

The law of his God is in his heart;

his steps do not slip.

Psalm 119:133

Keep steady my steps according to your promise,

and let no iniquity get dominion over me.

Proverbs 16:9

The heart of man plans his way,

but the Lord establishes his steps.

Jeremiah 10:23

I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself,

that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.

1 Peter 2:21

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

And the kicker...

Proverbs 20:24

A man's steps are from the Lord;

how then can man understand his way?

Miscellany Monday-When the Husband is Gone...

2011-01-10T19:29:00.000-08:00

Yay! I thought it had been so long since I had joined in on miscellany monday that I really should today! :)
Click on the button to read more miscellany and post your own!

So this afternoon (because it was afternoon by the time I could do it) I jumped in the shower. Once I got in the shower I realized:
1. My husband went out of town and took his razor (which I have been using-he just LOVES that we are that close.;) and I forgot to put mine back in the shower.
2. A baby that had been exploring my house earlier that morning had taken my shampoo out of the bathroom and into the living room and I had forgotten to put it back.

So...conundrum: do I now wet and naked go traipsing through the house to retreive said items or do I wash my hair with my body wash (!!! I know!!!) and not shave since the Hubster isn't home anyways....
Well, I went with the body wash and no shaving...so if I look unusually frizzy and hairy when I run into you at Wal-Mart later I apologize and now you know why. ;)

Funny, I thought going without shaving would be freeing and liberating.
It isn't. It is poky, uncomfortable and I shouldn't raise my arms to wave hello even in a short sleeved shirt. I may just shower again later. ;)
   ~
After my shower, I pulled out my new uber comfy aeropostale workout pants and threw them on. Notice I called them "workout pants" instead of "sweat pants." Sweat pants sound dowdy...workout pants sound dowdy too, but dowdy with a purpose. ;) Workout pants convey mental images of me in a perfect pony tail effortlessly jogging around the block with my dog and jogging stroller-even though I may only get some painting, packing, and photo editing done tonight when I get back from Wal-Mart. Although taking all three kids to Wal-Mart in Show Low and all the snow out there could be considered light exercise. So there we go. Maybe I will even let the dog ride along.
   ~
Last night, the kids and I played Just Dance on the Wii. There is seriously nothing cuter than watching my three munchkins dance to that game! It is also funny the songs that are their favorites. All three kids LOVE "Cotton-Eyed Joe" which is the one they do best at.
Harmony's favorite is the one she calls "The Football Dance" I have no idea why she calls it that because it is the disco song and dance "That's The Way (Uh-huh) I Like It." Maybe the character's afro looks like a football helmet???
Evan loves "The punching one" aka "Eye of the Tiger" which Chas calls "I am a tiger."
Chas also requests "Pump up the Jam" which I think she thinks is talking about the jam that goes on a sandwich.
They don't like it, but they dance to the Beach Boy's "I Get Around" just for Momma. :) What sweet babies! :)
   ~
I posted this on Facebook the other day, but should document it here in my journal...a week or so ago my extremely mild-mannered son came STOMPING down the hall way. I could tell in his step he was unhappy about something. Then he stomped up to me and angrily yelled, "MOMMA!" Taken aback at this unusual behavior, I asked him, "What is it baby?"
He angrily yelled back "I LOVE YOU!!!!" And then he stomped off! I sat there stunned for a second and then had to laugh. After a second I yelled back, "EVAN!!! I LOVE YOU TOO!" He stuck his head around the corner and yelled "I LOVE YOU!" Like he was still angry. And now it is our bit. We randomly yell angry I love you's back and forth almost every day.
Today the girl's tried to join in, but he got really upset that they were moving in on our bit. He told them to "shhhhh!" LOL Having a boy is so much fun! :)

Being a mom is so much fun! :)
Happy Monday!

~Gina

So we are moving!!!

2011-01-06T10:01:00.000-08:00

I thought I would answer a bunch of questions and in a nut-shell tell you about the circumstances leading up to this!

So the news: We are moving to Texas!!! Telling the teens last night was one of the worst things EVER. So awful.

But here's the story:
Yep, out of the blue Chase was asked for his resume three times in a week! He didn't even have one so we whipped one up, talked to Pastor Steve and sent them out. Fairly quickly two of the options were shot down but the church in Princeton, Texas was seriously considering us. If you are wondering how and why they heard of us, some of you might remember Lynn Hoskins. She used to come to our church here before she moved to Princeton. She said that one day the Lord just impressed on her heart that she should be praying for me and Chase. She didn't know why until two months later when their youth pastor resigned! A light went on and she talked to Pastor Stan about us. They received a bunch of resumes but really liked us. (what's not to like???) We exchanged questionaires, had a skype conference call with their calling committee, and Pastor Stan and his wife Julie were able to come and visit Calvary awhile back. It "just happened" that they were going to be in New Mexico for a missions trip anyway. ;) So we talked with them and asked a bunch of questions and answered a bunch of questions. Pastor Stan met with Pastor Steve and they had a good talk. Next thing you know, we left early for Christmas in Houston in order to go to the Youth GroupChristmas party in Princeton, Chase was going to teach Sunday School the next morning and give his testimony in the church service. We LOVED the teens...the church...the community and felt right at home. The church was going to vote on whether or not to call us the following Wednesday night and we would pray about it some more.
Well as it turned out, two people voted undecided and everyone else voted yes to calling us! Which is still amazing to me...anyhow. We prayed some more and sought counsel some more and talked to Pastor Steve again. We asked what his thoughts were and if he had peace about us leaving. He expressed that it was the last thing he wanted, but through the whole process he had never been able to find a problem with the pastor or church or process or us leaving. In fact, he told us that two months prior to Chase being asked for his resume (which we realized later was the same time God told Lynn to pray for us) Pastor Steve felt like God was telling him that we would be leaving soon...

So we prayed about it some more, felt like this was something that God had completely orchestrated from the beginning and we accepted the position.

Funny too because our major three concerns and prayer requests for our family have been: to be closer to the Ward side, to get Chase back in school for his Master's degree, and to have a better schedule with more time to spend as a family or down time. We have really been wanting to start family devotions and the best time is in the morning except that that is the worst time because Chase's days start anywhere from 5:15-8:00. It just hasn't worked...and it doesn't help that he typically works 70 ish hours every week. Our kids are young and we need more time together.
Well guess what? All three of those were answered by moving to Faith Baptist in Princeton! Chase will have time this fall to go back to school and the commute would be MUCH shorter than if we were in Show Low. Chase's parents are about 3.5 hours away from Princeton...and they are hoping to move closer at some point. And Faith is SO relaxed! Life just moves more slowly there and there aren't as many hours needed in the office.

So anyway...our prayers were answered...not like we were thinking but I guess we should have been more specific! haha! ;)

Anyway, in case you are wondering, Princeton is just north of Dallas. It is a town about the size of Show Low but with 1 million or so people in the surrounding like 20 miles. I like Princeton because it is small enough it really has a country feel but I would only be 15 minutes away from THREE Targets and a Hobby Lobby and a Whole Foods, and a couple of malls! AWESOME!

So our last day at Calvary is the last Sunday of January...I believe Chase is preaching that day. We pull out of town on February first and our first day at Faith is the first Sunday of February.

I am excited about the new teens and new church and being closer to the in-loves, but I am really very very sad about leaving all my friends, our teens...and what I believe is the best church and pastor ever! Calvary and Pastor Steve are not perfect...but I have never seen or experienced better. (Or anything even remotely close!) We have been soooo very blessed and even spoiled here! I would like to take Calvary and just combine it with Faith so I don't lose anyone! :)

It is also hard because we have no idea what we are moving into! We really want to buy this house: http://www.movoto.com/real-estate/homes-for-sale/TX/Princeton/1100-N-6th-St-402_11484404.htm But we can't buy anything (or rent anything other than a 750sq. ft. apt) until our house here sells. We are hoping to get it on the market next week after we finish up some projects we have had going . Please pray!!!

It must just prove that I am a girl to be so excited and depressed about the same event! Because I AM excited too! I have been missing the Princeton teens since we left...they are just a great group of teens! I am really excited to work with them and their parents! It is just hard to say goodbye and pack up everything I guess.

Anyhow, enough rambling...I need to get back to packing! ;)

HELLO BLOG-LAND!!!

2010-11-10T14:05:00.000-08:00

Oh my goodness, I have SO much to blog about and so little time! :)
I am still working on my breaking generational sins series and also my rock-music series. Hopefully I will be able to wrap those up soon! So stay posted! ;)

In the meantime though, I wanted to share that I have been so encouraged in my walk as a youth pastor's wife. I feel that I have been through so many transitions since I became a youth pastor's wife. It was never something I had even considered or thought about. Since I was a small child my focus has always been on children. I loved kids of all ages and was so very burdened for them. I went to Bible College planning on being a missionary who worked in orphanages in other countries. I still have a heart for orphans and missions, but as my relationship with Chase developed while we were in college, God showed me that I was called to Chase. I was called to be his help-meet in whatever ministry he entered. The first of which has been youth ministry...

I jumped into this really naively. I expected teens to be grateful, courteous and lovable! HA! Plus, I didn't like teenaged girls when I was one!!! To top it off, I was pregnant all the time and still holding onto a life of legalism instead of God's grace.
It was pretty miserable. I enjoyed aspects of youth ministry and I loved the teens and wanted to help them...but it did not go well.

As time went on and I went through counseling and received grace and truth into my life, things got much better. I started to fall in love with youth ministry. I enjoyed having teens in our home and in my life. I loved the opportunities to talk one on one with the girls and let them know that I understood what they were going through. I hated it when they left for college. I miss them.

I say all this, because I realized a few weeks ago that this process has progressed even further. One afternoon I got a frantic phone call from one of my girls. I couldn't make much out at first except "Help...Don't know... Nervous...FREAKING OUT!!!!" I tried to calm her down a bit so I could figure out the issue. It turned out that this young lady had been asked out on her first date! She and this young man had been getting to know each other and he was spending lots of time with her family. The young man had approached the girl's dad and asked for permission to take her out.
"And he said YES?!?!?!" I was shocked.
"I KNOW, RIGHT?!?" She was pretty shocked too.
The dilemma was that she wanted to dress up a little bit, but not too much and she wanted to be cute AND modest. Would I please help???

And that was a turning point. She came down and we went through my closet, we freaked out, we reminisced, she tried on 10 different outfits and we finally came up with something perfect. I still haven't gotten it back yet! lol!
We talked about purity, standards and the future. It was awesome.
It was the kind of relationship I have always wanted to have with the girls but didn't know how to get there.
As I was sending her back down to her house, she asked if I would come down when they were leaving for their date and take a picture. Of course I said yes!!!

This fabulous young lady is currently in Ethiopia...helping out in orphanages and a women's home. ( Don'tcha LOVE it???)

Please be praying for her, for this short-term trip, and that she brings me home a baby. ;)

Then last week, I was approached by one of the young men in our youth group. He is interning at the church a day or so a week. He is finishing up high-school then plans to attend a Bible College where he can pursue youth ministry. :) He has been courting one of my teen ladies for about a year and a half. They are making plans to get married this summer before they leave for Bible College together. SO cute! I am head over heels for this young lady. She is just phenomenal. So talented and intelligent! She knows her Bible frontwards and back and has a real relationship with Him.She writes some of the most amazing hymns. Just beautiful. Anyhow, the fabulous young man asked if I could help in the "popping the question" process! My job was to get her to the proposal spot, then act as chaperon/photographer! How cool is that???

I LOVE my ministry! :) It still has rough days and times when I wonder if I am making a difference at all. But God just keeps equipping me and teaching me and making me a more usable vessel. So yeah...I am excited.
The way He works is truly remarkable...

The Adventures of Dawn and Gina- The Re-Purpose Addition

2010-08-11T20:55:00.000-07:00

Totally cool, our adventure started when Dawn came over today to see me and gab and visit and such and she was admiring my newly re-decorated dining room! A Fabulous friend gave me the benches that now act as Dining Room chairs so my table is more in the corner and out of the way.

Anyways Dawn noticed that my hutch was no longer in the Dining Room and hadn't realized she had walked right past it! It was shoved in the corner between two couches until I could give it away or figure out what to do with it. I just didn't have the room for it. Dawn just looked at it and in a matter of minutes had come up with a plan of how to make it more usable for me! We took a few measurement and then suddenly sprang into action, and pulled off doors, pulled out shelves, moved the piano, stained some wood, found a new shelf, figured out the miles and miles of wire and cord that is our entertainment center and voila!!! (Sorry, bit of a Run-On Sentence!)

Here is the " entertainment center" before...

Talk about crowded, cluttered, crazy and not so cute!

We were temporarily using the piano as a entertainment stand because we needed to get the piano out of the bedroom to give piano lessons! HA! Kind of awkward giving kids piano lessons in the bedroom...not a good idea.

Plus, we really didn't have anything to put the tv and such on...so the piano was an ok fix for the time being...even if it did look pretty bad.

Here is my hutch backed into a corner until I could find a purpose for it. Before I took this picture, the inside was equally crowded, cluttered and not-so-cute as the entertainment system...

Here the hutch is in the process! We took off the doors, removed the lower glass shelf and moved it across the room!

Soon after, we recruited the help of Dan and Craig to come and help us drill the big holes the wires would all go through and to firmly attach the upper shelf we stained. Thanks guys!!!

And here we go!!! :) I have moved my pictures and shelf from the wall and added my Willow Tree Nativity Scene (because it is just too pretty to only use at Christmas!) on the very top! Everything fit PERFECTLY!!!!

Sooner or later we are going to tackle this puppy again and give it a makeover! Maybe a gray color (or white, or black) with some distressing and an AMAZING wallpaper back??? Totally excited!!! :)

Plus, I now have even more stuff to put out in the Yard Sale I have coming up! I LOVE de-cluttering!!! Who knew???

Now where do I put this piano???? :)

Breaking Cycles of Generational Shame and Abuse- Statistics and Profiles

2010-08-10T14:09:00.000-07:00

Just the other day I was accused (by others and myself!) of being paranoid and looking at the world through the lens of shame and fear. But the more I think about it and the more research I do, I am deciding that I am NOT paranoid, but am working to break the generational cycles of shame and abuse and I am NOT looking at the world through the lens shame and fear but the lens of experience.
Experience can be a thorough teacher. In my case it has taught me that enough is enough-I don't want my children caught up in generational sins, experiences and lifestyles that are contrary to God's Word. I want my family and home to be healthy, happy and informed.

Today let's be informed! :) I wanted to share with you some statistics and profiles of abusers so you too can break or prevent cycles of shame and abuse.

Statistics on Abuse:
(Taken from http://www.darkness2light.org/KnowAbout/statistics_2.asp )
The statistics are shocking

1 in 4 girls is sexually abused before the age of 18. (96)
1 in 6 boys is sexually abused before the age of 18. (96)
1 in 5 children are solicited sexually while on the internet. (30, 87)
Nearly 70% of all reported sexual assaults (including assaults on adults) occur to children ages 17 and under. (76)
An estimated 39 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse exist in America today.(1)

Even within the walls of their own homes, children are at risk for sexual abuse

30-40% of victims are abused by a family member. (2, 44, 76)
Another 50% are abused by someone outside of the family whom they know and trust.
Approximately 40% are abused by older or larger children whom they know. (1, 44)
Therefore, only 10% are abused by strangers.

Most children don't tell even if they have been asked

Evidence that a child has been sexually abused is not always obvious, and many children do not report that they have been abused.
Over 30% of victims never disclose the experience to ANYONE.
Young victims may not recognize their victimization as sexual abuse.
Almost 80% initially deny abuse or are tentative in disclosing. Of those who do disclose, approximately 75% disclose accidentally. Additionally, of those who do disclose, more than 20% eventually recant even though the abuse occurred.
Fabricated sexual abuse reports constitute only 1% to 4% of all reported cases. Of these reports, 75% are falsely reported by adults and 25% are reported by children. Children only fabricate ½% of the time.

Consequences of child sexual abuse begin affecting children and families immediately. They also affect society in innumerable and negative ways. These effects can continue throughout the life of the survivor so the impact on society for just one survivor continues over multiple decades. Try to imagine the impact of 39 million survivors.

Profiles of Abusers:

(taken from http://www.childluresprevention.com/pdf/Profile-of-Molester.pdf )

How many victims does a child molester average?

Interviews guaranteeing complete confi dentiality and immunity from prosecution, conducted by Emory

University psychiatrist Dr. Gene Abel, uncovered that:

Male offenders who abused girls had an average of 52 victims each.

Men who molested boys had an astonishing average of 150 victims each.

Only 3% of these crimes had ever been detected.

How do child molesters get into situations where they can exploit children?
Few child molesters are able to resist their powerful urges to initiate contact with children and will go to great
lengths to do so. Common strategies include:
-Befriending parents, particularly single parents, to gain access to their children.
-Offering babysitting services to overextended parents or caregivers.
-Taking jobs and participating in community events that involve children.
-Attending sporting events for children and/or offering to coach children’s sports.
-Volunteering in youth organizations, offering to chaperone overnight trips.
-Loitering in places children frequent - playgrounds, malls, game arcades, etc.
-Spending time in Internet gaming and social communities, learning the online interests and lingo
of youngsters.
-Becoming foster parents.

What is the most common method used by child molesters?
Most victims of abuse are groomed over a period of weeks, months, or years. The Affection Lure is used both offline and online to seduce unsuspecting youngsters in need of love and attention. Child molesters have repeatedly told me: When there’s a physically or emotionally absent parent in the picture, it makes the child more vulnerable than ever.

Wouldn’t a vigilant parent be able to detect a child molester, just by their actions?

Not necessarily. Remember, sex offenders who prey on children:
-are notoriously friendly, nice, kind, engaging and likeable.
-target their victims, often insinuating themselves into that child’s life - their family, school, house of worship,
-sports, and hobbies.
-are professional con artists and are expert at getting children and families to trust them.
-will smile at you, look you right in the eye and make you believe they are trustworthy.

Also, keep in mind that 23% of all sexual offenders were under the age of 18.
I also learned from the U.S Department of Justice that the overwhelming majority of sexual abuse incidents occur in the home as opposed to a school, store, outside, etc. (http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/227763.pdf )

Here is what Dr. Phil says about it: (and I am not saying he is a good source for all your problems, but I agree with him and his research here.)

(http://www.drphil.com/articles/article/266)
Dr. Frank Lawlis, chairman of the Dr. Phil advisory board and Dr. Phil's mentor, offers some insight into the development of a sexual predator:

"The typical sexual predator is very immature in his or her understanding of intimacy. It is like they really want closeness, but they lack the skills to feel satisfaction and trust. These feelings of frustration erupt into anger many times, and it is in this stage that the individual can become dangerous. Their acts are desperate. They try to find intimacy and caring for themselves, but when they can't find it in appropriate ways, they demand it or find a child who has little resistance," says Dr. Lawlis. "It is common to find parents of sexual predators also weak in skills of affection. Consequently, they cannot train or offer to meet these needs for their child. And then the cycle continues."

There are some common characteristics of sexual predators. If you're worried your teen may be a sexual predator, look for these warning signs:

Refusal to take responsibility for actions and blames others or circumstances for failures

A sense of entitlement

Low self-esteem

Need for power and control

Lack of empathy

Inability to form intimate relationships with adults

History of abuse

Troubled childhood

Deviant sexual behavior and attitudes

From the book, Protecting Your Children from Sexual Predators, by Dr. Leigh M. Baker.

Other Tips on Spotting a Sexual Predator:

Often offend where they won’t get caught — when they have misdirected people’s attention
Often married or in relationships
Offend when the victim is handy
Not always strangers, often family members, family friends and neighbors
Most attracted to adults
Good manipulators (seduction is an integral part)
Overly self-indulgent
Arrogant
Sexualize, objectify women
Users of various kinds of pornography
Typically known as rationalizers, intellectualizers, justifiers
Great helpers — are there to lend a helping hand — prey on people in need, when they can insinuate themselves in your life
Use stressful and vulnerable situations to get in — they find a need they can fill and they use that to get next to the victim

Dr. Phil reminds parents they must watch everyone in their child’s life!

In the future we will discuss what makes healthy homes and healthy children. :)

But we do also have to realize that there is a balance between doing what you can to protect your children:

-being educated

-being godly

-being watchful

-having a healthy relationship with your children

and trusting God with the matter.

I know of many parents that did their best to protect their children and sexual abuse still happened. You have to trust that even if the unthinkable does happen, it did not escape God's notice and He works all things together for good to them that love Him and are called according to His purpose. It is totally an opportunity for the Lord to produce holiness in your life and the life of your child, and it is an opportunity to experience who God is in a completely different way. Let's not forget Who His Son was and the abuse that He experienced on our behalf.

Let's Break These Cycles! Who is with me????

Miscellany Monday- and Day Ten!

2010-07-12T17:10:00.000-07:00

I am linking up again with Miscellany Monday!!! I LOVE reading other's miscellaneous thoughts and happenings! Too fun!

So anyways, here is a taste of my randomness!!
1. Where I live, we get some serious monsoon rains and I am in HEAVEN. I LOVE rain. The smell, the look, the way it cleans everything up and makes it greener. I love that it makes our hair soft and the dog fur soft. So amazing!
But lately it has mostly been teasing. BIG beautiful, gray clouds, some lightening and a few sprinkles. SO COOL! But torturous nonetheless. I am still waiting for the daily multiple down-pours of water that usually comes during monsoon season. SO EXCITED! One of the things I love about where I live. :)

2. Last night after church, my sweet boy Van fell out of the Suburban. He has the hardest head I have ever known anyone to have and it HURT. He somehow fell face first even though my brother and I both thought he hit the back of his head. It really looked like it.

Here he is soon after... :(

Poor baby. He bit his tongue, scraped and bruised up the right side of his face and hit HARD. He was upset for a really long time...I felt SO BAD! I took him home and read online about concussions and symptoms to look out for. I fed him M&Ms (which has NEVER happened before) he got to stay up late with Mommy and watch some Elmo and then Mommy shows. Then he slept in our bed so I could keep an eye on him and wake him up to make sure he was conscious and so on. He is doing better today but looks worse I think. His right eye has gotten really swollen and bruised...I think it is going to be a pretty good shiner. And yes, that is a barrette in his hair to keep his hair out of the goop. Last night when I put this pic on facebook, he kept pointing to it and saying, "Evan, ouch. Evan, owie." And I felt bad all over again.

3. My middle daughter Harmony hit her private part on a chair this morning. It took me awhile to figure out what she was talking about because she was calling it a "diamond." ????? "Mommy, I hurt my diamond!"

I am not sure where she got diamond! lol! I try to teach my kids the proper wordage for their body parts because I heard that pedophiles are less likely to mess with kids that call their anatomy by the proper words because it indicates that the family talks more openly and honestly than others about sexuality, and safety regarding sexuality. But despite my best efforts, my oldest daughter Chastity has always called it a "Gyna." I could spell it with an i, but then it looks exactly like my name.
Awkward.
Today though, my oldest daughter was concerned about Harmony's "diamond" and asked about it. Only now Chastity is calling it an "angina." (Isn't that a heart condition????)

Someday maybe they will get it right, but until then I will be glad that unlike my stinkin' adorable niece, my kids don't call the UPS man, the "penis man." LOL
My sister was getting REALLY concerned who the "penis man" was and then they figured it out...
Sorry if you were offended. ;)

4. I have been participating in a 30 Days of Music challenge! I did miss yesterday, but today I am on day TEN!!!
Here is the list again in case you want to join in:
day 01 - Your Favorite Song
day 02 - Your Least Favorite Song
day 03 - a song that makes you happy
day 04 - a song that makes you sad
day 05 - a song that reminds you of someone
day 06 - a song that reminds of you of somewhere
day 07 - a song that reminds you of a certain event
day 08 - a song that you know all the words to
day 09 - a song that you can dance to
day 10 - a song that makes you fall asleep
day 11 - a song from your favorite band
day 12 - a song from a band you hate
day 13 - a song that is a guilty pleasure
day 14 - a song that no one would expect you to love
day 15 - a song that describes you
day 16 - a song that you used to love but now hate
day 17 - a song that you hear often on the radio
day 18 - a song that you wish you heard on the radio
day 19 - a song from your favorite album
day 20 - a song that you listen to when you're angry
day 21 - a song that you listen to when you're happy
day 22 - a song that you listen to when you're sad
day 23 - a song that you want to play at your wedding
day 24 - a song that you want to play at your funeral
day 25 - a song that makes you laugh
day 26 - a song that you can play on an instrument
day 27 - a song that you wish you could play
day 28 - a song that makes you feel guilty
day 29 - a song from your childhood
day 30 - your favorite song at this time last year

Today is, a song that makes me fall asleep...I got nothing.
So I guess instead I will share a song I sing to my kids at bedtime...I once told the kids that I sang this song to them when they were each in my tummy and now they want to hear it all the time. I do skip the first verse because that is more for teenaged girls than in-utero babies and small children. ;) But he did write this for his teenage daughter so...anyways!

"Fingerprints of God" by Steven Curtis Chapman

chorus:
And I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know it's true
You're a masterpiece that all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of God

verse two:
Never has their been and never again
Will there be another you
Fashioned by God's hand
And perfectly planned
To be just who you are.
And what He's been creating,
Since the first beat of your heart
Is a living breathing priceless work of art.

Happy Monday!!! If you want to share your own bit of miscellany, click on the typewriter button above to link up!!!

Day Eight-I LOVE that I am an American Child

2010-07-10T13:44:00.000-07:00

So today is Day eight of the 30 Days of Music Challenge... the theme today is "a song you know all the words too." I picked this one.
I LOVE Phil Vassar. I LOVE that he writes most of his songs and they have stories behind them. I LOVE that he can play the piano like nobody's business and the piano is heard more than in most other country music.

I LOVE this song. It is seriously in the top ten of my favorite songs. The emotions it emits in me are just crazy. It makes me proud to be an American. It makes me sad for all the loss we have endured through wars and such. It challenges me to be a better American-to not take for granted my freedoms, and to thank God I was born in my country. Love this song...and yes, I know all the words.

Phil Vassar- 'American Child"

A full week of music! :)

2010-07-09T10:35:00.000-07:00

Today is Day SEVEN! :)

day 07 - a song that reminds you of a certain event

I guess I should have done yesterday's song about the car accident today...but oh well! I will pick a new even today!

So today I will use a song my friend Rachel played for our teen girl's on last years Young Ladies Retreat. Our theme last year was "Beautiful Bride" and this song fit in so well with Rachel's lessons on modesty and honoring God in your relationships.
The video portrays well exactly what goes on in the modeling industry and all the "fake-ness" that entails. :)

LOVE this song!
More Beautiful You by Johnny Diaz

Day Six...Somewhere...

2010-07-08T13:53:00.000-07:00

30 Days of Music!!! Today is:

day 06 - a song that reminds of you of somewhere

It has almost been a year since we were in the roll-over accident. Crazy. If you want to read the whole story, go check it out over here: http://heldbythefather.blogspot.com/search/label/car%20accident

But this is the song we were listening to when we wrecked. On highway 87 at mile marker 222 (or 333!) I always think of this song when we drive by...and then I say another prayer of thanks.

Fun with my new camera!!!

2010-07-08T10:24:00.000-07:00

Today my photographer friend, Tina http://www.tinastephensphotographyanddesign.blogspot.com/ held a Playdate/Photoshoot! SO much fun and lent itself to lots of photography practice! :)
Here are some of my favorite shots from today...

My Pink Princess

My Purple Princess

I had so much fun today!!!

A Bushel and a Peck...

2010-07-07T20:18:00.000-07:00

So for the 30 Days of Music, it is now:

day 05 - a song that reminds you of someone

I had a hard time picking one (I guess I always do...huh?) but my favorite out of those is this one...
On one of my last visits to California, my Great Grandma Dorothy sang this song over and over while she was holding my babies (her great great grandbabies!) She sang it and kissed them and talked to them and loved on them. She prays for them and she misses them. My great grandparents are some of the most amazing people I know. I miss Grandpa so much and I can't imagine what it is like for Grandma...they were married over 70 years when Grandpa Joe died. And while I know that Grandma was singing this song for my kids, I think she was probably singing it to Grandpa too...

Martha in My Head-Base Cupboards

2010-07-06T14:16:00.000-07:00

So yesterday started my time going through the Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook, and like I said, I am starting in the kitchen! :)

Since we remodeled my kitchen, I had been moving back in slowly. Unpacking my boxes of kitchen junk and finding a new home for it in my amazing new kitchen! It has been a few months though, and my cupboards that at one point were amazingly clean and super-duper organized are now a disaster! I am still not sure I want to show you the before pictures because it is pretty horrendous. Let me just tell you that I have several well-meaning people that occasionally crash at my house (or live here) and they try to help putting things away by putting them in all the wrong places. So after awhile, I gave up and figured I would clean and re-organize when I got my cabinet doors! Well, several months later and after one financial set back after another, I still don't have cabinet doors! (The new date is by next month! ;) So anyway...again...the bottom cabinets were a disaster! Let me also add that I babysit 9 month old twins and have no cabinet doors....'nough said!
Ok, so if you have read all of that, hopefully you understand why they look like this: (if you don't understand then you can leave! ;)

BLECH!!!

Double Blech...

So in comes Martha Stewart!!! (And another book I found...but Martha is waaaay better!)

And now my bottom cabinets look like this:

All of my small appliances are in one spot!!! I shined them all up and cleaned the cupboard out!

In this cupboard, are my mixing bowls, pots, pans, bake-wear and pitchers!

Now all I need is to do some paint touch up and some doors and drawer fronts!!! YAY! Also, if I really want to be all Martha about it, I need to put down some shelf liner. I will have to see if I still have any.

Ok, so did you know that you need to remove your cabinet doors and drawers around your oven when you are running your oven's self-cleaning cycle??? Otherwise they could be damaged by the heat! :) Or so says Martha. ;)

I do have one more bottom cupboard under the sink, but I am compiling Martha's "Kitchen Cleaning Supplies" to go under there. :)

So I hinted to my husband that I really really REALLY want a label maker for my birthday that is coming up. I have wanted one for years and have spent hours daydreaming about all the things I would love to have a label for and how much better life would be if my home had labels...I am tingling from excitement!!! When I worked in an office I used a label maker all the time and I have really missed not using one the last few years...

Anyway, that may be crazy, but I am excited! :)

Today I am learning about and focusing on my sink area. I have already learned a bunch of stuff. Apparently I have been cleaning my sink wrong all this time. Bummer. :) Thank goodness for Martha! :) I am starting to hear her voice in my head. I wonder if I can watch her somewhere on Netflix???

I hope so! That would be a good thing!

p.s. After all that fun in the kitchen, I also cleaned my desk and did some re-organizing there too! It looks FABULOUS! :)

Day Four of Music! Must watch these!!! :)

2010-07-06T09:50:00.000-07:00

Here is the list again in case you want to join in:
day 01 - Your Favorite Song
day 02 - Your Least Favorite Song
day 03 - a song that makes you happy
day 04 - a song that makes you sad
day 05 - a song that reminds you of someone
day 06 - a song that reminds of you of somewhere
day 07 - a song that reminds you of a certain event
day 08 - a song that you know all the words to
day 09 - a song that you can dance to
day 10 - a song that makes you fall asleep
day 11 - a song from your favorite band
day 12 - a song from a band you hate
day 13 - a song that is a guilty pleasure
day 14 - a song that no one would expect you to love
day 15 - a song that describes you
day 16 - a song that you used to love but now hate
day 17 - a song that you hear often on the radio
day 18 - a song that you wish you heard on the radio
day 19 - a song from your favorite album
day 20 - a song that you listen to when you're angry
day 21 - a song that you listen to when you're happy
day 22 - a song that you listen to when you're sad
day 23 - a song that you want to play at your wedding
day 24 - a song that you want to play at your funeral
day 25 - a song that makes you laugh
day 26 - a song that you can play on an instrument
day 27 - a song that you wish you could play
day 28 - a song that makes you feel guilty
day 29 - a song from your childhood
day 30 - your favorite song at this time last year

Ok, so today is "a song that makes you sad..." I don't typically listen to songs that make me sad because I prefer songs that make me happy, but there are a few songs I listen to if I need to cry or something. ;) Also I have noticed that the most emotional songs for me are the ones having to do with our soldiers, war and our country. They get me every time.

Just TRY to watch this whole video and not bawl....I challenge you! :)

And here is another one that gets me every time "Does Anybody Hear Her?" by Casting Crowns

And because I just can't leave you bawling and convicted (although that is not always a bad thing...) here is a song I ran across that was a FAVE of mine in Highschool and my friends and I spent sooooo much time watching this video, rewinding it and watching it over and over and over again...and laughing until we cried...these guys play crazy so well. lol!!! They had a blast making this video and you can tell-A teen guy's dream, right???

N'Sync's "I Drive Myself Crazy"

this video should give you some insight into why I am the way I am...

30 Days of Music-Day Three

2010-07-05T11:00:00.000-07:00

Here we are again! If you have missed what is going on the last couple of days, click on the "music" link under labels. :)

Today is day three! And after yesterday and my least favorite songs, I am excited to share with you a couple of songs that make me happy....

Here is the list again in case you want to join in:
day 01 - Your Favorite Song
day 02 - Your Least Favorite Song
day 03 - a song that makes you happy
day 04 - a song that makes you sad
day 05 - a song that reminds you of someone
day 06 - a song that reminds of you of somewhere
day 07 - a song that reminds you of a certain event
day 08 - a song that you know all the words to
day 09 - a song that you can dance to
day 10 - a song that makes you fall asleep
day 11 - a song from your favorite band
day 12 - a song from a band you hate
day 13 - a song that is a guilty pleasure
day 14 - a song that no one would expect you to love
day 15 - a song that describes you
day 16 - a song that you used to love but now hate
day 17 - a song that you hear often on the radio
day 18 - a song that you wish you heard on the radio
day 19 - a song from your favorite album
day 20 - a song that you listen to when you're angry
day 21 - a song that you listen to when you're happy
day 22 - a song that you listen to when you're sad
day 23 - a song that you want to play at your wedding
day 24 - a song that you want to play at your funeral
day 25 - a song that makes you laugh
day 26 - a song that you can play on an instrument
day 27 - a song that you wish you could play
day 28 - a song that makes you feel guilty
day 29 - a song from your childhood
day 30 - your favorite song at this time last year

I don't know if I can pick just two songs that make me happy...but here goes.

In the secular music arena...It would definitely be this song from the movie "Enchanted" which is a favorite movie of mine...

In Christian Music it would be Toby Mac's "Made to Love." I LOVE waking up to this song....totally makes this anti morning person wake up happy and with perspective...

So anyway, now you can start your morning happy and with perspective!!! :)

~Gina

Julie/Julia/Gina

2010-07-04T19:19:00.000-07:00

SO after hearing eight or so people (I am not really exaggerating) tell me that the movie Julie and Julia was "Ok...you would really like it" and endlessly pondering what exactly that meant. I sat down and watched it today during the kid's nap-time. And they were right and wrong....I did really like it, and it was much better than OK. ;)
It was so easy to identify with both of them, I even tried to use the "I must have ADD so I am not a good housekeeper" line on my husband...suffice it to say that he didn't buy it and was a bit angered that I even teased like that. LOL! Plus, since I love to blog and read blogs, that stuck a chord with me also.

If only I had the self-discipline and desire to cook my way through a Julia Child's cookbook! I am sure I would learn SO much!!! But learning cooking is really not something that is a major priority right now. Every now and then I will go through a "cooking craze." And after a couple of days of spending my remaining time washing dishes and cleaning the kitchen, I remember why I don't like to cook that much. It isn't the cooking that I don't like, it is the clean up. And when you really cook, you use all kinds of dishes, utensils, and appliances and really...I hate cleaning all of those. So I don't usually cook much that requires more than a skillet, spatula, cutting board and knife. I would someday like to be known for my cooking, but I have other things on my plate right now.

But it did get me to thinking that I should be working more diligently in areas that I do have on my plate and are interested in. So......I pulled out my ginormous book of Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook. This baby is over 700 pages long....and it contains EVERYTHING you could ever want to know on Homekeeping. So while I won't set a goal of going through this book and applying it to my home in just one year, ( I don't want to almost lose my husband after all...) this book is staying out and I will start trudging through it. I think I will start in the Kitchen which is way cool because my kitchen needs serious "homekeeping" help. :)

I will try to keep you updated on what I learn and maybe you could join me. :)

~Gina

30 Days of Music-Day Two

2010-07-04T14:06:00.000-07:00

Ok, so here we are for the 30 days of Music challenge! :)
Here is the list again...

day 01 - Your Favorite Song
day 02 - Your Least Favorite Song
day 03 - a song that makes you happy
day 04 - a song that makes you sad
day 05 - a song that reminds you of someone
day 06 - a song that reminds of you of somewhere
day 07 - a song that reminds you of a certain event
day 08 - a song that you know all the words to
day 09 - a song that you can dance to
day 10 - a song that makes you fall asleep
day 11 - a song from your favorite band
day 12 - a song from a band you hate
day 13 - a song that is a guilty pleasure
day 14 - a song that no one would expect you to love
day 15 - a song that describes you
day 16 - a song that you used to love but now hate
day 17 - a song that you hear often on the radio
day 18 - a song that you wish you heard on the radio
day 19 - a song from your favorite album
day 20 - a song that you listen to when you're angry
day 21 - a song that you listen to when you're happy
day 22 - a song that you listen to when you're sad
day 23 - a song that you want to play at your wedding
day 24 - a song that you want to play at your funeral
day 25 - a song that makes you laugh
day 26 - a song that you can play on an instrument
day 27 - a song that you wish you could play
day 28 - a song that makes you feel guilty
day 29 - a song from your childhood
day 30 - your favorite song at this time last year

So today is my least favorite song! I do a secular song and a Christian song and both of them came to mind pretty quickly when the "least favorite song" topic came up....

My least favorite secular song is
(Drumroll please!)
"Redneck Woman" because YUCK. Catchy music, but the lyrics make me want to climb on a soap box. Soooooo many things I could say about that disgraceful awful song. Anyways....

My least favorite Christian song is "Take Me In" by Kutless. Blech.
There is nothing lyrically wrong with this song, it is taken from Scripture. But I HATE the music and the repetition. I cringe every time we sing this song in church. I just hate it....

I know, I know...I have now made several enemies based on these two song choices, but this is my blog...so there. ;)

Happy Independence Day!!!

Caffeinated Randomness: If I Were

2010-07-03T13:17:00.000-07:00

Today I am copying Angela from

She did a fun thing called, "If I were...."

If I were a flower, I would be a Gerbera Daisy

If I were a song, I would be "Amazing Love, How Can It Be?"

If I were a movie, I would be "Little Women"

or P.S. I Love You, or Newsies, or Bringing Up Baby, or It's A Wonderful Life, or She's The Man....I'm sorry, I can't pick just one!!!

If I were a place, I would be a Forest with a stream just a couple of blocks from a Super Target. ;)

If I were a book, I would be "The Notebook"- which as much as I liked the movie, the book is way better! :)

If I were a holiday, I would be whichever one comes next...so for now, Independence Day!

If I were a time of day, I would be 10 p.m. when the truly godly people come to life. ;)

If I were a drink, I would be a Chai. Because...hello!!!

If I were a food, I'd be Oreos....lol

If I were a gadget, I'd be my DSLR camera.

If I were a piece of clothing, I would be a cute, comfy tank top.
like this one from Target! :)

If I were a pair of shoes, I would be flip flops more than likely. I am just not that fancy and I like to breathe....

So spill it! What would YOU be??? Leave a comment or join in and link up by pushing on the button above! :)

30 Days of Music-Day One

2010-07-03T09:51:00.000-07:00

So my friend Kristen at http://www.bringingupbenjamin.com/2010/07/30-days-of-music-day-one.html is doing a 30 Days of Music! Sounds fun! I know I am on the road a couple different times in the next 30 days, but I figured I would do what I can because this is fun! :) So each day you listen to the song in that day's category and I let you know what it is! :) And actually I will do two songs, one in the secular category, and one in the Christian category...

day 01 - Your Favorite Song
day 02 - Your Least Favorite Song
day 03 - a song that makes you happy
day 04 - a song that makes you sad
day 05 - a song that reminds you of someone
day 06 - a song that reminds of you of somewhere
day 07 - a song that reminds you of a certain event
day 08 - a song that you know all the words to
day 09 - a song that you can dance to
day 10 - a song that makes you fall asleep
day 11 - a song from your favorite band
day 12 - a song from a band you hate
day 13 - a song that is a guilty pleasure
day 14 - a song that no one would expect you to love
day 15 - a song that describes you
day 16 - a song that you used to love but now hate
day 17 - a song that you hear often on the radio
day 18 - a song that you wish you heard on the radio
day 19 - a song from your favorite album
day 20 - a song that you listen to when you're angry
day 21 - a song that you listen to when you're happy
day 22 - a song that you listen to when you're sad
day 23 - a song that you want to play at your wedding
day 24 - a song that you want to play at your funeral
day 25 - a song that makes you laugh
day 26 - a song that you can play on an instrument
day 27 - a song that you wish you could play
day 28 - a song that makes you feel guilty
day 29 - a song from your childhood
day 30 - your favorite song at this time last year

So Day One: My Favorite Song

In the Christian category, "At the Foot of the Cross" by Kathryn Scott

In the secular category, it would have to be Taylor Swift's "Love Story"

Alright, so there you have mine! What are yours???

A Boy, a Dog and a Chair...

2010-06-23T19:03:00.000-07:00

...and a "pillow fight."

Halpert and Evan are both boogers...but I believe the "pillow fight" was started by Van...

Van playing Wii

Good boy!!!

Showing Hal some love...

I am not your pillow, Kid!

LOL!

How do YOU like being a pillow????

Yeah! Not fun, huh???

Phew! Glad that is over!

Not quite...Van is back at it!

ROFLOL!!!!! I love the feet in the air!

Again, let's see how you like it...

Oh Van, you are sooooo comfy!!!

Lesson learned-for now...

The End

He is my Favorite...

2010-06-23T13:53:00.000-07:00

This Week at Holy Experience, Ann wrote a BEAUTIFUL post on Love letters, and her husband. Then she asks for us to link up with our own stories of Marriage and Love Letters. YAY! Two of my favorite things!!! :)

Way back in our Bible college days, Chase and I were starting to become an "item" and the summer break was quickly approaching. My parents were not thrilled with the whole "item" thing and my dad told me we should use the summer as an opportunity to take a break and not speak to each other-ALL SUMMER. At that point we believed that my parents had my best interests in mind and so we obeyed. (I will admit that this particular excercise was very good for us.) We said goodbye and I drove off campus and back to Palm Springs. We both agreed to keep a notebook journal for the other and we would exchange notebooks when we got back to school in the fall. What was one of the hardest summers in my life (I was disowned and shunned by my parents that same summer) is one that now has some of the fondest memories because of the notebook of treasures I now have from my Husband.

Riding in a hot, windy, crowded bus to a Dodgers Game= Good times!

He gets embarrassed when I bring the old notebook out and read him all the cute things he told me, but it is one of the finest treasures my home holds.
He shared what he was learning from God's Word, his dreams for the future, how his ministries were going, how much he missed me and random details from every day. No kidding...every day! Even I (the "writer") didn't write in the notebook every day! But he did. Also, I am thinking not many people have love letters that include so many uses of the word "spiffy." ;)

Here are just a few of my favorite lines:

"My Bible reading goal this summer is to read Romans once every four days, James every three, the Timothy's every 5 and 2-3 chapters a day in the Major Prophets..." Goodness the ambition! Pretty sure he met his goal too!

"Well, it's time for me to go my pretty lady. I miss you and I love you. I will see you when I see you and I will think of you 'til then. Bye. ~Chase"

"Also I Timothy 6:6-8 encouraged me. It hit me in a way that is not expected though, especially vs. 8 about 'having food and raiment let us therewith be content.' It just helped me for some reason about this summer. So yeah. And then James 5:16, but that one always gets me."

"...So I love you, goodnight. And I will see you in like 91 days (at the max, and that is only if I don't come back early.) Bye my pretty lady. Chase
p.s. I'm thinkin about you always, remember that, ok? Good stuff then. Bye." LOL! Isn't he so cute?!?!

"And now it is time for Daily Devotions with Chase Ward..."

"...It's like-come on, I'm 19! I can't drink and I don't want to drink. What? Do I look like an early boozer?!? So that was interesting, but dinner was great. (And don't worry, I had tea to drink.)" ROFLOL!!!

"Well, I will tell you about my day in my Gina Journal (as my mom calls it.) So here goes..."

"My Mom said that we can be your family..."

" I miss you so much, you have no idea. I wish you were right here, but you aren't and you won't be for awhile. But it is worth the wait..."

"I love you, you have no idea how much I love you. I have never said that to anyone but you...I love you Gina." There is so much to be said for being a man of integrity and purity. There are those kind of men out there! Who knew?

I can't read the notebook without smiling from ear to ear. Such beautiful silliness. After my parents stopped talking to me, Chase's family got wind of it and his parents had him call me and make sure I was OK. I have never been more thankful for support as I was at that moment. Oh the drama. :) In then end, it all worked out and we are on our way to living Happily Ever After...

These days neither of us make time to write love letters back and forth very often. But I know more than ever how much he loves me.
It is amazing to look back on our history as a couple of kids who were friends, then best friends, then a couple, then a married couple, then parents! This fall marks six years of marriage. I know, 6 years seems like nothing compared to so many marriage veterans out there, but it has been quite the ride so far! I look forward (with excitement and fear-ha ha!) to what the future holds for us kids. Still no one actively shows me the love of Christ like my Husband. He is an amazing Leader, Teacher, Counselor, Worker, Servant, Student of the Word, Daddy and Bestest Friend.
Jesus provided the best man I never imagined possible. Chase is my favorite.

To link up your own letters and Marriage stories....visit:
http://www.aholyexperience.com/2010/06/how-to-write-love-letter.html

I Heart Faces-Celebrating Teenagers

2010-06-21T10:28:00.000-07:00

Wow, it has been so long since I participated in I Heart Faces! Sad! Things have been a bit crazy around here lately. :)Anywho, I decided I had to make time for it this week because the theme is Celebrating Teenagers! :) I LOVE to celebrate teenagers and I have some pictures of my teen girls from last year's Young Ladies Retreat that I love.
Here is just one:

Caitlin listening to a lesson...what a beautiful young lady!!

For more pictures celebrating teenagers, click on the I Heart Faces box above...

Here is a weird, creepy and lame post for you! :)

2010-06-17T20:53:00.000-07:00

So my brother informed me (without ever reading my blog. I am not sure he even knows it exists...) that it is weird, lame and creepy to just post random things about your life online. So here we go...I will try to hit all the categories for you. :)

This week at our church is N.B.T. (Neighborhood Bible Time.) Basically it is VBS from the 1950s. I enjoy NBT, don't get me wrong. I am just not sure why we are doing VBS from the 50s. I am assuming there is a good reason and I just don't know what it is. ;)

Anyhow...I am teaching the Missionary Story to the Kindergarten class this year. SO FUN! I am having a lot of fun with the Kindergarteners-one of whom is my own Pink Princess!
Also some missionary friends of ours were up in our area, teaching in this class with me. SO FUN to talk to them, ask them endless annoying questions, attempt witty answers, and get to know them better. I am totally excited about their church plant. Hopefully we will go help them soon!

Every year there is a coloring contest in NBT and Chastity entered, being the budding artist that she is...she was chosen as a finalist for her grade and went up on stage for her coloring to be judged with the other finalists, grades K-3rd!!! I was sad because her picture was pretty good, and I knew she would just LOVE to win, but she was going up against 3rd graders! They had the kids turn around and hold their pictures up so we could vote by raising our hands and the kids wouldn't know who did or didn't vote for them. Now if it were left to the artistry itself, Chastity would probably come in third....but would the audience agree??? They asked for votes for my Chastity last and I was shocked that he counted so many votes! Apparently...there is a good possibility that Chas will win based on popularity!!! LOL!!! We will find out tomorrow for sure but either way, I am sooo proud of her!

One thing that has become tradition around here during NBT is that my house fills with teen-aged girls. I ask them to come to my house every night during the week because the Teen NBT is in the evening and they get up early to help with the Children's NBT during the day. Plus...it is fun to see how exhausted they get when they don't sleep for a week, play crazy athletic games and chase kids that whole time! Ahhhh....bliss! ;) It really is fun to spend time with them and visit a bit. Now if only they had a better grasp of the words "Straighten up the living room before you leave." We would be set!

I am thinking we should have a Carey Grant marathon tonight...An Affair to Remember, Bringing Up Baby, The Philadelphia Story, Father Goose... We will see how much they get through before giving in to the sleepiness! :)

On a gross note: (men beware) I thought it was funny that most the girls have been asking for chocolate the last few nights (with desperate pleading voices and when I didn't have any went to great lengths to acquire some candy bars) and then this morning were asking for "feminine products." Those "scientists" that claim that our cycles don't align when we all hang out together are full of bologna. Have they ever lived in a girl's dormitory??? Or been to my house during NBT??? Because if they would experience it they would be singing a different tune!
Speaking of a house full of girls that are needing chocolate and feminine products, maybe should pray for us.

One of the bad things about NBT is how little we see my husband this week. A couple of years ago, the girls and I were pulling into the driveway at church for the Teen Rally when Chastity exclaimed, "Look! We came to see Daddy at Daddy's house!!!" It was sad. Chase really felt badly and made a concerted effort to spend more time at home.
Last year wasn't so bad but this year has been rough on my little man Evan. Evan is getting to where he ADORES his Daddy and needs extra "guy time" with Chase. So he has cried himself to sleep the last two nights asking for Daddy to come home. :( Just rip my heart out... Seriously rough. If just for this reason, I am so glad NBT is only once a year!

The award ceremony for NBT is tomorrow afternoon. It is always fun to sit and clap for the kids. I hope all my Kindergarteners get lots of prizes! I had such a fun class! Despite everything, I always enjoy this trip back to the 50's at what we call Neighborhood Bible Time.

I also thought I would share some blog posts that really had my Laughing Out Loud this week! Enjoy!!!
http://www.strivingfor31.com/2010/06/things-that-make-this-pastors-wife-say.html

http://wranglersandribbons.blogspot.com/2010/06/auctioneering-skills.html

http://wranglersandribbons.blogspot.com/2010/06/sunday-chuckle.html

http://www.forloveorfunny.com/2010/06/this-is-what-happens-when-a-man-decorates-a-bathroom/

Gina

Miscellany Monday

2010-06-14T20:52:00.000-07:00

It's that time again! :)

1. Last week we went to Utah and had a blast! We spent time on quads riding up the mountain and through streams and small ponds...even mud pits! So fun!!!!!

2. So yesterday was the most amazing day ever! Let me back up-I have been getting discouraged about my love of taking pictures. A couple of months ago I took a babysitting job watching nine month old twins and a four year old girl. So I was watching 6 kids 4 and under. Not as difficult as I was expecting, but I was totally ending the day completely exhausted. But it was ok, because I had a goal: a dslr camera. And I knew I was totally helping out their foster mom so it was a win-win situation. Until summer came and I only watch them half as often so it is taking longer to raise money for my new camera. And to boot, my current camera is getting more and more difficult to use. The screen broke last fall at Young Ladies Retreat and a couple of months ago my ~~stupid, ornery~~ super cute Basset Hound Halpert got on my desk and knocked my camera off which broke the door that holds the batteries in. Yeah. So to take pictures I have to hold my batteries in while looking through the little eye-hole. (Yeah, I am high tech and know all the lingo.) It is a good thing he is cute.

Anyhow I haven't been taking pictures much and it was taking FOREVER to get my new camera. Plus, I have lots of things coming up quickly. I am supposed to be doing a couple more practice infant photo shoots, my brother's senior pictures and pictures of our family adventures this summer. So anyway, I was getting discouraged. I only had a little over half of what I needed to buy one of the cameras I was looking at. Sad.

BUT THEN....I have this friend and somehow the topic of camera buying came up. Then she said, "You know, I have these lenses that are in the pile of stuff to throw away in the garage. Could you use them maybe?"
I responded very sweetly with sincere gratitude, and said "THROW AWAY PILE?!?!?! YOU ARE GOING TO THROW AWAY CAMERA LENSES???? DO YOU KNOW HOW EXPENSIVE THEY ARE?????"
She got them out for me and wow. She gave me two lenses that I looked up on Amazon and it would have cost me around $600 for those same lenses. CRAZY. It is a good thing she is cute.

But now that I have lenses, not only do I have enough money to buy a dslr body, but it picked out the brand for me since I couldn't decide between and Olympus and a Nikon. The lenses are Nikon so there you go! Really helps when you can't make a decision to save your life! SO last night, I spent my blood, sweat and tears and ordered my camera! Isn't it just amazing how God provides, even for the little stuff that in the grand scheme of things is sooooo not a big deal? But He knows my heart and He loves me and He cares about what I care about. Even though He created the universe and keeps it all running. Who am I??? Nobody. Crazy.

So now I am saving for this super cute camera bag/purse that should keep things like the screen incident of Retreat 2009 from happening again. http://www.epiphaniebags.com/#/details-green/ I love that it doesn't look like I am carrying around very expensive equipment but I can have it on hand when needed.

Then I am going to buy a replacement point and shoot camera for the everyday stuff. :) I am excited.

Also, until I find a better place, my lenses are being stored on top of the refrigerator...away from doggy paws and kid fingers...where do you guys keep your camera stuff???

Wow, that was a really long number two. Sorry! It has been so long since I blogged!!! :)

So yesterday would have been a perfect day except...(I know, there is always something and watch out...here comes a little drama.)

Last night as I was screaming and jumping up and down about my new camera. Apparently a spider saw me and he was intrigued by the whole thing. That creepy, yucky, scary, big nasty spider really wanted to come visit even though I kept trying to squish him with stuff. Smack! Missed. Smack! Got a leg! Smack! Missed. Smack! Another leg! This spider was moving incredibly fast despite the fact that he was severely wounded and missing two legs. Smack! Got him! He was smooshed on my desk and I couldn't decide if I should rejoice or call my husband and tell him about the traumatic incident.

I decided I would clean the dead spider up in just a minute...and I went back to doing the happy dance. Until....I looked over and he was gone. Gone. Couldn't find him anywhere.

Now it is getting scary. I have always believed that angry mostly dead spiders gather up their family members and come at you while you are sleeping. Since I tend to only be good at maiming them, it is only because of the grace of God that I am still alive today. I always have visions of spiders with their big ugly fangs coming at me while I sleep in bed completely oblivious that these mean spiders are growing rapidly and are looking to devour me.

Ok, I need to stop talking about it now.

I did survive the night, because I am hear to talk about it with you today, but maybe that just means they are waiting until I have forgotten about the whole thing and want to catch me unawares.

Anyway, I always thought I was the only one who thought this way until I saw this from my favorite show Gilmore Girls....

If that doesn't work, go here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGqhWBcguWY

I am pretty sure they stole most of this scene from me...

I have plenty more to talk about but I will give it a rest for now! Be sure to join in by clicking on the button above. :)

May your Monday's be merry and your spiders be small. (Or non-existent would be even better.)
Gina

Caffeinated Randomness: On Life

2010-06-05T13:14:00.000-07:00

So strange...today's theme (at least in my head) seems to be all about life. I was already thinking about it. How unexpectedly life changes, how sometimes it ends without warning, things like that. A man I knew unexpectedly died a few weeks ago, leaving a wife and three kids. Thankfully he had accepted Christ a month before he passed which was just amazing. Such a picture of God's mercy. His wife had been praying for his salvation for years and the Lord waited until he accepted Him before taking him. So very sad for the family, but amazing for him.
Then a couple of weeks ago, an old friend was in a horrible accident. He has always been kinda crazy and loves the outdoors. He fell over 800 feet in a snow-slide and sustained multiple injuries. He was flown to a hospital and no one was sure how it was going to end. It wasn't looking good...but God is amazing and gave him a will-power for a reason. Go read about it over here: http://navanpowers.com/
This morning, my aunt posted on facebook how her daughter Renee's best friend had been hit by a drunk driver last night. This hit especially close to home since Renee was killed by a drunk driver last August at the age of 25. Her friend is fine but banged up and not feeling well. They even caught the drunk who drove off and he is in jail.
Life. I have often wondered why God takes home the people He does. I know He has a reason and He is God so He doesn't make mistakes, but it doesn't keep me from wondering what the big picture is. Why do some of these things happen at all?
I emailed Navan's sister about Colloidal Silver to help with the healing and reduce the scarring. I told her briefly about how my mother in love used it on my father in love when he was in a horrible motorcycle accident. Dad also, medically speaking should have died. It was only because of God that he is still here today. But it got me to thinking about how different life would be without him. I would never have even met him. I get upset that the kids don't get to see him as much as we all would like...but instead I should be glad that they know him at all. I am so thankful that I know him. He is wonderful-which is why I get upset when we don't see him. I hate the distance between us and family. Grrrrr....
Anyway, back to life...so to go with the theme of life, today I read chapter two in the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan. It is entitled, "you might not finish this chapter" and of course....is talking about life.
Here are some quotes: (just a small, small does-not-do-the-book-justice glimpse)
"On the average day, we live caught up in ourselves. On the average day, we don't consider God very much. On the average day, we forget that our life truly is a vapor."
"Worry implies that we don't quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or living enough to take care of what's happening in our lives.Stress says that the things we are involved in are important enough to merit our impatience, our lack of grace toward others, or our tight grip of control.Basically these two behaviors communicate that it's okay to sin and not trust God because the stuff in my life is somehow exceptional. Both worry and stress reek of arrogance. They declare our tendency to forget that we've been forgiven, that our lives here are brief, that we are headed to a place where we won't be lonely, afraid, or hurt ever again, and that in the context of God's strength, our problems are small, indeed.
Why are we so quick to forget God? Who do we think we are?"
"From start to finish, this movie (about life and the universe, all of history and the history of what is to come) is obviously about God. He is the main character. How is it possible that we live as though it is about us?...We have only two-fifths-os-a-second-long scene to live. I don't know about you, but I want my two-fifths of a second to be about my making much of God. First Corinthians says, 'So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.' That is what each of our two-fifths of a second is about...It is easy to become disillusioned with the circumstances of our lives compared to others'. But in the presence of God He gives us a deeper peace and joy that transcends it all."
"The point of your life is to point to Him."
"As the author of Ecclesiastes wrote, 'It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart."
"Friends, we need to stop living selfish lives, forgetful of our God. Our lives here are short, often unexpectedly so, and we can all stand to be reminded of it from time to time. That's why I wrote this chapter to help us remember that in the movie of life, nothing matters except our King and God. Don't let yourself forget. Soak it in and keep remembering that it is true. He is everything."
Colossians 1:16 For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.
Life is happy. Life is sad. Life is short. Life may or may not be how I think it should be for me or the people around me. But life is His. It all belongs to Him. Please be praying for Navan and Renee's friend Tonya for healing and peace. And then thank God for whatever life you have right now. Pray that it points to Him and make some needed adjustments in your life along with me. I would love to say with Paul "I have learned in whatever state I am in to be content."

Miscellany Monday

2010-05-24T14:10:00.000-07:00

Yay! I love random posts! Fun stuff! I hope you will join us over at lowercase letters and link up to your own miscellany monday!

1. Ok so it needs to be said. Lost was mind blowing. I LOVED and HATED the final episode. I don't want to spoil anything for you if you haven't seen it, but hurry up and catch up because wow. Amazing. I miss it already. :)

2. I super duper scored at a yard sale this last weekend that raised money for Children's Camp! I got two pairs of shoes for me that are basically brand new, (!!!!) a slew of Nancy Drew books, a bunch of dinosaurs for my dino obsessed son, three pairs of pants for my youngest daughter, a couple of shirts, an ab lounger, play purses for the girls, a couple of other random books and toys for under $50. Whoop whoop! :)

3. So one night last week, I fell asleep with a song stuck in my head. I had heard it at the grocery store while I was shopping and it got stuck there. Wouldn't you know, ALL NIGHT I tortured myself with this song I hardly know. I don't even know what it is called, and it wasn't even words...it was some kind of la di do da di do stuff....but ALL NIGHT. In the background of every dream...it played. When I realized I was only dreaming and should get some real sleep-it played. When the song ended, I woke up and it would start over. It was one of the worst nights ever. I almost prefer nightmares-but not quite. Totally annoying.

4. So the fragrance oils I ordered came in the other day and I LOVE them! I am enjoying mopping and wiping things down! Yay! I added some to my homemade laundry soap and I am in heaven. Amazing. And much better than Febreze as much as I love that stuff. :)

5. I am over half way done saving for my dslr camera!!! Good thing, too because my current cam is really on it's last leg. It's screen is broken and I have to use the viewfinder for everything. Plus the dog knocked it off my desk awhile back and now I have to hold the battery lid shut while I take pictures. SO I really haven't been taking many pictures lately...

I am a little worried about the craziness that is likely to ensue when I get my new camera....the paranoia that will surround this non-living thing because of how much it cost and how many babysitting hours it took to buy it. After the cam is bought you know I am saving up for a fancy schmancy camera bag that is gorgeous and will protect my youngest child. Now this ~~camera~~ child needs a name. Hmmmmmm....

6. I miss church. I haven't been in forever. Evan has been sick the past two Sundays and so I stayed home with him. Normally I listen to our church on the radio when I am home with the sickies, but I took the opportunity to sleep instead. But now I miss church. :( Don't you love having a church family? Mine is truly amazing.

7. Before I make my coffee, I will close with a quote from Gilmore Girls, only the best show ever (well....it and Lost are on equal grounds but two different types of show....)

Lorelai: "Oh, I can't stop drinking the coffee. I stop drinking the coffee- I stop doing the standing, walking and the words-putting-into-sentence-doing."

Happy Monday!

Christian rock: Glorifying or the Devil's Handiwork? Part 3- Rhythm

2010-05-23T12:51:00.000-07:00

Hopefully you made it through part two. I know it was kind of hard to get through. Sorry! I am hoping to make today's post more enjoyable to get through. :)
If you need to catch up, click on the Christan rock label on my sidebar.

First, in order to understand that one of the main arguments against Christian rock or CCM comes from "rhythm" you must understand the three main components of music.

For my music students in home-school co-op I put it like this:
In order to make a lovely song, you need the right ingredients. You must follow the recipe:
Ingredient #1 is melody. Melody is simply one tone or note one after the other in a pattern.
Ingredient #2 is rhythm. Rhythm is sounds or silences that make up the timing behind the melody.
Ingredient #3 is harmony. Harmony is adding several more sounds to the melody in order that it takes on a fuller, broader sound.
There are 3 more ingredients, but these are the most important to what we are discussing right now.

I illustrate this by playing "Jesus Loves Me" on the piano. The first time I am demonstrating the melody. I play the notes one after the other with no rests, or holding notes.
JesuslovesmethisIknowfortheBibletellsmesolittleonestoHimbelongtheyareweakbutHeisstrong
The melody.

Then I add the rhythm and sing and play it normally.
Jesus loves me this I know (pause) for the Bible tells me so (pause) little ones to Him belong (pause) they are weak but He is strong (pause) yesssss Jesus loves meeeeeeee....etc.
The rhythm.

Then I play all the notes in the hymnal. The chords, the fill-ins etc. And it sounds the way you sing it in church.
The harmony.

These three things are essential for good songs of any kind. Otherwise you just don't have a song.

The Bible clearly mentions melody, but not how some would tell you.

Isaiah 23:16

Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered. (5059) nagan-to play a stringed instrument, Jermusician;

Isaiah 51:3

For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody. (2172) zimra-singing, song

Amos 5:23

Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols. (2172) same as last

Ephesians 5:19

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; (5567) psallo-to sing hymns, sing songs of praise.

Here is a quote from a anti-Christian rock website... http://www.av1611.org/cqguide.html

But "what saith the Lord"? Does the Bible give us any indication to the type of music we should sing? Did the Lord God who made heaven and earth, who created music and sound, who put so much emphasis on music in His Word — did He forget to tell us what is Christian music?
Not hardly. Thank God — He has given us instructions for our music. Thank God — we can BURY "once and for all" the ridiculous LIE that — "the Bible gives no instructions on the type of music for a Christian to listen to. It's all a matter of preference and culture."

Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet MELODY, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered. Isaiah 23:16
For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; jothe d gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of MELODY. Isaiah 51:3
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making MELODY in your heart to the Lord; Ephesians 5:18-19

The Lord God refers to music as — MELODY! According to God — the emphasis of Christian music is the MELODY — not the BEAT! How is it, that the CCM world keeps "parroting" — "the Bible gives no instructions on the type of music for a Christian to listen to. It's all a matter of preference and culture"? Is it because they can NOT read 5^th grade English? Or is it — they do NOT care what God says! I've shown many CCMers Ephesians 5:19, and nearly all coolly, reply, "Aw, It don't really mean that". In other words — "I don't care what God says — I'm gonna rock 'n' roll"!
I'm reminded of the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, as he described some people, much like the CCMers, who "having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not?"

17 And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neitherUNDERSTAND? have ye your heart yet hardened?
18 Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember? Mark 8:17-18

So far we've seen:

1. MELODY is the main theme of music.
2. Rock music emphasizes the BEAT.
3. God defines music as MELODY. (unquote)

Well I am sorry, but God does not define music as the melody if you look into the Hebrew and Greek. If it is based on those verses he and I mentioned, then God "defines" music as singing or playing songs of praise and hymns.

Before this, he talks about part of what is wrong with rocky rhythm is that it has to do with body movement and a physical response.

If you are musical at all you know that any music can bring out a body movement and physical response. How many classical songs make me want to jump up and grab my husband in a waltz? Or even just sway along to a hymn? March to patriotic songs?
You have probably seen the rocking violinist or pianist...
Body movements and physical responses are a part of music. They don't have to be there, but they can be there for any type of music.

He claims that body movement are fleshly and carnal. But what about the dancing seen in the Old Testament?

2 Samuel 6:14 And David danced before the LORD with all [his] might; and David [was] girded with a linen ephod (3769) karar- to dance

Psalm 150:4 Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! (4234) mahol- circle dancing, round-dancing

Ecclesiastes 3:4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; (7540) raqad-to skip, dance; to leap about, dance;

Jeremiah 31:4 Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin Israel! Again you shall adorn yourself with tambourines and shall go forth in the dance of the merrymakers. (4234) same as above

Jeremiah 31:13 Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry. I will turn their mourning into joy; I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow (4234) same as above

Now, don't get me wrong, I am not saying that all dancing is holy and for the Lord.

In the New Testament that is shown clearly when a young woman danced for Herod and it was clearly a vulgar, inappropriate dance and resulted in the be-heading of John the Baptist.

What I am saying is that music evokes feeling and movement. Music is physical.

Just because something appeals to the flesh doesn't make it sinful. Chocolate appeals to my flesh...I love it, I want it. Now in and of itself, chocolate isn't sinful. Eating chocolate isn't sinful, but when I eat too much. When I eat unhealthy amounts or it becomes a priority over God and my family...that is sinful.

I hope you don't find this crude, but let's talk sex for a minute. Obviously sex appeals to us physically. God created sex and wants us to enjoy it so it isn't a sin in itself. Outside of marriage in any form sex is a sin.

It is the same with music. Music of many types appeals to my flesh: CCM, Classical pieces, Irish music, Big Band music, lullabies, etc. It doesn't make them wrong or sinful.

However- if they are not in line with:

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."

and

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

then they would be sinful. ;)

If I needed to worship with music that my flesh didn't find appealing, I would be stuck worshiping with screamo, rap and R&B. No thanks.

Somehow I don't think God is more pleased with us when we are unhappy. No, our purpose and His purpose is not for us to be happy-not even close, but our God is a God of joy and He gives us that joy in every circumstance-especially when we are praising Him.

I Chronicles 15: 23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth!
Tell of his salvation from day to day.
24 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
25 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and he is to be held in awe above all gods.
26 For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
27 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and joy are in his place.

28 Ascribe to the Lord, O clans of the peoples,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!
29 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come before him!
Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness;
30 tremble before him, all the earth;
yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.
31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice,
and let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!”
32 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
let the field exult, and everything in it!
33 Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy
before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth.
34 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!

Nehemiah 12:43 And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.

Psalm 16:11 You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 5:11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
let them ever sing for joy,
and spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may exult in you.

Psalm 33:1 Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous!
Praise befits the upright.

Psalm 47:1 Clap your hands, all peoples!
Shout to God with loud songs of joy!

Psalm 63:5 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,

Psalm 84:2 My soul longs, yes, faints
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and flesh sing for joy
to the living God.

Psalm 92:4 For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work;
at the works of your hands I sing for joy.

Psalm 95:1 Oh come, let us sing to the Lord;
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!

2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;

let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

Psalm 98:4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!

Psalm 105:45 So he brought his people out with joy, his chosen ones with singing.

Psalm 126:2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”

Anyway, you get the idea because there are plenty more.... ;)

The other main argument about rhythm is that it is not to overpower the melody. Since we disproved that God was not really saying "melody" I don't think we have to worry about that but I will say that if the rhythm is overpowering the melody than musically-speaking it isn't a good song. Melody should always be predominant.

Thoughts? Am I leaving out anything? If there is something I am failing to mention that you would like discussed, let me know!

More to come!