Monday, June 30, 2008

My Men are Amazing

Yippee, huge boxes, a child's playhouse!



I thought I had it good when I was growing up and had a dad that could fix anything. Unbeknownst to me, I married a man who can fix anything too. So why pay for installation for our appliances when these two amazing men are here? Well, maybe because tomorrow they are going to be VERY tired. They installed a fridge, dishwasher, microwave and gas range today. They even had to cut tile to get the dishwasher all the way in. They also moved my fridge from the kitchen (full of food) to the garage!! Yippeee. Drinks will be cold for company. It's been a long day. I'm thinking a massage is in order for my man. Know anyone who can come over? ha!
10pm and all is well!

Sunday, June 29, 2008

New Artists...God-given Talent!


One thing I loved about going to the Saddleback conference again this year, is the opportunity to hear new artists and their new releases. I am always amazed when I can sing along with a song I have never heard. It's either well-written, a great melody line or Spirit charged. I think it's all 3!
That happened with a song by the cutest little spunky female artist named Meredith Andrews. Her new release is The Invitation and you can get the album on iTunes or her website. I loved all her songs, but You Are Not Alone (on my playlist on the right) and New Song We Sing will be in your head ALL day!

Friday, June 27, 2008

Back from Saddleback



I can't decide what was more amazing about my week at the Saddleback Worship Conference.

Worshiping God with amazing musicians....
Hearing from His Word every day....
Learning more about worship and the church....
Bringing my daughter and my cousin's son and seeing them soak it all in....
Seeing my nephew catch up with us...
Dancing, singing, clapping, praising....
Laughing until my sides hurt....
Having a Starbucks every day...
Making new friends and deepening old ones...
Did I mention worshiping God with phenomenal music? That must be the winner because I mentioned it twice! It was ALL good!

My nephew Jake (lives in LA at the Dream Center)
and my cousin's son Michael (from North Dakota)

More to come... favorite artists, favorite new artists, what I learned..

Monday, June 23, 2008

Worship Here We Come!

Click the image to get to their site and see all the amazing artists
and teachers that will be there.

Year #2 for Alex and me to go to the Saddleback Worship Conference in Lake Forest CA. We're so excited! And we get to pick up my cousin's son Michael, flying in from North Dakota, where he leads worship this summer at their church in Boden.
Refreshing, renewing, challenging. Thank You Lord for this opportunity and be with our families while we are there.

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Big Blessings

Sometimes we receive small blessings and sometimes they're big. And even the smallest blessings can turn out to be big. It's all perspective isn't it? Our new pastor at SBC has been doing a series on "the Old Made New". (download a sermon here) It has been challenging and renewing! Our biggest battle, that only we Christians face, is that of the flesh versus the spirit. We have the power of the Holy Spirit in us, but do we give It control? We are fleshly beings, so this is a difficult battle, but necessary that we look at it as a battle. God can work through us when we give Him control! So seeing the small blessings each day, is much easier for me when I am letting the Spirit live through me. Seeing my children help each other and build each other up, is a small, often over-looked act, to the world. To me it becomes a big blessing. Uncle Roy getting to the hospital because of chest pains, at first seemed like a small blessing. He'll be alright, his enzymes aren't too high. And 4 days later, he's had a successful quadruple by-pass. Those chest pains turn into a huge blessing, saving his life even!

In CA a few weeks ago, we were dreaming about new appliances, ours having come with the house, were showing their age. We became interested in the Electrolux line (who doesn't love Kelly Rippa?) and the rebate they offered looked like a great blessing. Thursday night we went to Loew's with the intention to buy said appliances, and they said they can't get them, maybe 30 days!! That didn't sound promising. But it turned out to be blessing. We checked on line at Sears, the other distributor of Electrolux, and they had everything in stock. So we made it a family night and headed to Sears. And there, staring me in the face was another blessing. On a red sign, 12% cash rebate! Ending today!! How excited are we?? It ends up that we'll have a new dishwasher.. FREE! Thank You Lord for large and small blessings!

"Items are larger than they appear" thank goodness!

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Happy 48th Mom and Dad!

We love you Mom and Dad!
Thanks for the wonderful example you are.
Keep making each other laugh!

Praying for You Uncle Roy

Roy and Garene here at the zoo in 2007

Uncle Roy had a heart attack! Wow! Please pray for my sweet uncle as tomorrow morning they take him by ambulance to Bismark to have what may be a double by-pass! WOW!

O Father, the Great Healer, keep him in Your care.

Giving the doctors the wisdom needed to help him recover.

In Your perfect will.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Godly Fathers Doing God's Call

My Favorite Man

My father

My father-in-law Bill

My brother and his daughter Emilee with Lizzy and Emma

My brother in law Doug

My Uncle Roy
My Cousin Todd
Happy Father's Day... Love you all!

Friday, June 13, 2008

Let the Games Begin

After a week with a tea party and a baby shower, it's time to buckle down and get organized. All I did was clean and tidy this week. Of course I left my camera at the shower last night, so the point and shoot will have to do.This book case above was at the top of the stairs, now it's at the bottom. One less thing to move when recarpeting. I kind of like it here. This used to be a little reading nook anyway, it might stay there. I think the only furniture I continue to justify buying,is book shelves. I don't think you can have too many books. They're a treasure for the heart, mind and soul.
This bookcase also will have to go. We have WAY too many DVDs. (this isn't even close to all of them, they seem to be in every room. I think they're breeding.)
This is my desk in the boys' room, aka; the home school room. It just collects things there. All the upstairs furniture will have to go in here to recarpet. So this is my battle ground this weekend. Stay tuned, more fun to come...

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Keepers Tea Party


It was our last Keepers meeting until the fall. We hosted a tea party and scrapbooked some Keepers pages.

It was a lovely time, the girls came dressed for the occasion. So sweet. My eldest daughter even served the girls so I could have some chat time with the moms. The girls had her hoppin'. Vanilla tea, black currant tea, scones, quiches, cookies, tarts, etc. Yummmm.

I didn't even take a tea picture, maybe Dawn or Susan has one I will add later.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Fun Singing


These kids blessed my socks off this week. And last night we sang for 1/2 hour after the Bible school/music camp program. The parents were so supportive and grateful too. Love you guys!!!

My fiddlin' girl, except she played "Humble Thyself"! And her new Takamine guitar. What a blessing! Cowboy hat? Don't know whose that is.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Music Camp week


Tomorrow is the last day of music camp at our church. I didn't think it would be so much fun. I have 20 kids that like to sing!! What a blessing.

Here's a blog set up so you can read more about our week. More to come tomorrow.

SBC Music Camp 08 Blog

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Billy Graham and My Sis-in-Law

I wish I had posted this earlier! Sorry sis. But here's a link to watch the preview for Sheri Rose Shepherd (married to my little brother Steve) on the Billy Graham special that aired last night. Go God.

Billy Graham Special on ABC

or go to their site HERE

BBQ, swimming, volleyball, and movies....

Alex and Ellianna, cute stripes!
Alex and Miss Anissa, the birthday girl!Samuel loves his buddy Dexter

Fun with friends who are like family.

Wise words for Lizzy, and hugs, from Auntie Otto
Our teens, Alex, Ali and Kelsey
Emma with little frog Ellianna

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Bein' a Kid