Can I get a WOOT WOOT for Friday? Let's frag, shall we?
*We're preparing to get our sweat on tomorrow! You know we love our baby Emily (like how I say "our"?) & tomorrow, there is a Epilepsy Walk that lots of people are ready to hit the pavement for "TEAM EMILY"! (Another WOOT WOOT is needed!) Its also going to be like 95 degrees... egads! But that's OK - we'll stay hydrated, I'm planning on pouring water over my head if need be, & we're going to walk in support of that beautiful little girl & everyone else who deals, fights, struggles & WINS over Epilepsy every day!
*Netflix is my friend.... I usually, during lunch, will catch up on all my shows on Hulu, but its summer time so I dont have any shows to catch up on. So what was I to do? I pulled up Netflix & saw where you can watch all the old TV shows that are out on DVD. The girls in the youth are always talking about "Bones" - so I started on Season 1. I fell in love instantly. Being an old "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" fan anyways, David Boreanaz makes me happy... except when stories of him cheating on his wife come out! Boo on you David! But I am loving watching all the episodes of Bones. Can I say, Emily Deschanel is an odd looking woman though... dont know what it is, but she's just odd...I think its her eye brows or something...
*Ever listen to Pandora? Again, at work, I listen to that for most of the day.. (How would I work without the internet? First Netflix, now Pandora!!)... but did you know you can create a new station & for what artist you want, you can type in "Glee cast" ... & the songs from Glee - the ones they sing & the originals & even more kinda songs in that genre start to play. For all you Glee fans, you'll enjoy it...
*Speaking of GLEE... I still have not gotten the newest CD - only because they are still sold out! What is this? The new iPad? They have the regular CD, but the one with the "extras" - which includes the song "Home" by that cute little gal, Kristin Chenoweth - keeps selling out! I have a rain check for the CD... a RAIN CHECK for a CD... how crazy is that?
*Watching The Bachelorette? Then you know this man in this picture is INNNN-SAAANNNEEEE! But in a funny, entertaining, keep him on TV kinda way! He randomly breaks out in song & just reminds me of Elf - make a song up as you go along.... ("I'm singing... in a store....) Then Kasey goes & gets a tattoo on his arm to represent him "guarding & protecting" a heart. All because Ali told him he wasnt being "real"... running out to get the tattoo shows how real you are... how REALLY CRAZY this man is. .... the BEST line ever though was by Kirk who said after yet someone else picks up a guitar... "What this shows needs is another man singing"... haha!!! I almost fell off my couch & spit Diet Coke across the room simulatneously! I want him to win just for that line alone!
*SYTYCD!!!! Forget the contestants this year (...still love you Kent & Alex!)... but I'm so dang excited to see Mark back! And then Twitch came out... & Neil???? Oh man... its like a little piece of my dancing heart just jumped for joy! It definitely was no shock to me to see the bottom 3 this week were all girls. Season 7 is going to be the season of guys. Old & new.
*Talking about dancing... I heard on the radio "Cold Hearted Snake" by Paula Abdult & thought about that video. Remember when it came out & it was so "racy"... haha! Who knew what was to come in videos... with things like Lady Gaga in clothes that I dont really consider "clothes".... how different the world is... but now, are you singing "Cold Hearted Snake"? .... look into his eyes... he's been telling lies!
*And speaking of dance again... have you seen this video? Seriously - I am in awe of the moves on this kid! How does he know to move like that? Latin Salsa runs through this kids blood! I see him being on SYTYD in about 15 years...
I just read this amazing illustration that really shows the difference between a faith that we like to study, look at, think about.. & a genuine, true, honest faith...
In the late 1890's a famous tightrope walker strung a wire across Niagara Falls. As 10,000 people watched, he inched his way along the wire from one side of the falls to the other.
When he got to the other side, the crowd cheered wildly. Finally, the tightrope walker was able to quiet the crowd & shouted down to them, "Do you believe in me?" - the crowd shouted back, "We believe! We believe!"
Again he quited the crowd & shouted to them, "I'm going back across the tightrope but this time I'm going to carry someone on my back. Do you believe I can do that". The crowd yelled back, "We believe! We believe!" He quited the crowd one more time & then asked them, "Who will be that person?"
The crowd suddenly became silent. Not a single person was willing to apply the very truth that they professed to believe in....
We may believe that Jesus is the Son of God, but are we really trusting our lives with Him? Are we willing to follow Him regardless of the cost?
When God asks if we will be that person who steps out in faith, what will our response be?
I know all you parents have them... those cute little impressions of the hands and/or feet of your babies. I've even seen where you can do impressions of your pets feet...or paws... however you want to look at that. Ricky & I even put our hand impressions in our new concrete when we moved into our home with the date that we laid it to mark the changes in our home.
Impressions....
They can be an odd thing. You can get an impression off of people immediately - they say that the "first impression" makes all the difference. There are even classes & studies & books on how to make that first great impression.
But what happens when someone MAKES an impression of you for others?
Someone goes & tells someone what they think of you, what they see in you, completely their own views or opinions... just like that child's hand impression that you have in clay, I think even those impressions are making dents in someone else's opinion of you... Then, you never really had the chance to make your own first impression, do you?
Impressions... yeah, they can be a funny thing...
I always have enjoyed getting to learn about others, to watch & listen & talk to people myself to make my OWN impression of them...
For those who have formed impressions off what others say, remember, you too are making your OWN impression on people...
But like all you mommy's & daddy's know... those hands & feet probably dont fit into that little clay work of art anymore. They've changed, grown up... they are the same hands, but not really... there's a lot more life in them - a lot more work that came out of them - they have a new different story to add...
I guess we need to remember that while first impressions make a difference, they can change... guess we all need to keep an open mind to that...
"Dont lose your grip on Love & Loyalty. Tie them around your neck;
carve their intials on your heart.
Earn a reputation for living well in God's eyes & the eyes of the people" -Proverbs 3:3-4
So many of you have prayed for baby Emily over the past year. If you aren't familiar with her story, please run on over to her mommy's blog at http://ourbeautifulemily.blogspot.com/ (I tried to do the link, but Blogger is being a BOOGER)
Emily has been battling Infantile Seizures over the past 7 months. She has had many hospital trips, many long days of seizures, many nights with no sleep... & many days of successful fighting, many days of strength being shown, many days of love being lavished on her by people who care for this baby, & most importantly, love being shown by her parents, my friends, Erica & Joe...
But this weekend, we got to celebrate... Emily is one year old! Her birthday was actually last weekend, but Erica & Joe didnt want to intrude with Carly Sue's graduation, so they scooted the party up another week...
AND... the biggest news of all... we got to celebrate that it has been over 2 weeks since that little baby has had a seizure!!!!! A miracle in itself & one we're praying keeps on going... Joe & Erica are giving thanks to God for EACH day that Emily doesnt have to face the seizures, they call "Monsters"... I'm telling you, stop by Erica's blog, she can explain, with such heart, the daily things they go through...
But how can I go to such a fun celebration & not take pictures? You know I cant.... So as you look at this little baby's face, can you lift up a prayer for her? And a prayer for her parents... & a prayer for her doctors & all the people researching on this disease... & all the people who are dealing with this in their own children every day...
You have to know... I totally want a tutu just like Emily's to wear... & you KNOW I would actually wear it too... wouldnt the world be a more beautiful place with tutu's?
This is Angie... she & Erica have been best friends since they were young kids... & have stayed friends through the years... isnt that fantastic? Friendships like that are so special....
Erica & Joe have been such a big part of the youth in our church & all these kids have loved Emily since the day Joe & Erica announced they were pregnant... love seeing these kiddos love this baby with all their heart...
Look at this cake!!!! Yep, my sister-friend Lynn made this specatular creation... she's becoming quite the cake decorator & designer! It was perfect for a Princess....
Happy Birthday Beautiful Princess Emily! You are loved by so many...
Its Friday.... & I'm grumpy.... dont know why. I've been grumpy all week actually. Maybe some fragging will help cheer me up....
*Some of you have already heard, but we got to spend most the Monday morning (& by morning, I'm talking 12:01 AM kinda morning - not like the nice 10:00 AM kind of morning) in the emergency room again with Ricky & his chest pains. And as usual, they didnt see anything. They sent him home with a holter monitor on that he wore for 24 hours. That does nothing to ease his mind though. He can feel these things but they tell him everything is alright... so now, he's just convinced he's going to die in his sleep. That's always fun to listen to every night this week... sigh... can you all say a prayer for Ricky - his heart - the doctors who see him - just the whole situation... please & thank you!
*I finally got to see Avatar... & loved it. It's such a beautiful movie visually. I can see where it would be amazing in 3D ... but I get so motion sickness or if anything weird is happening with my vision, I'm down for the count in nausea - so 3D is not smart for me. Ricky said during one of the big battle scenes, "This reminds me of Star Wars & the Ewoks fighting"... um, ok... but the rest of the night, whenever Ricky & I would see each other in the house, we'd jump & land in a stance & hiss like they did.... if only I were blue... & had "feelers" on the end of my hair...
*So you Think you can Dance!!!! I think its gonna be the guys year! I love all of them - sad when some other great guys didnt make it... but I just love the adorable little Kent Boyd. I also love Alex Wong. I hope he makes it far only because he gave up his place in the Miami Ballet & not sure if he can get it back (Miami Ballet - you all are losers for making it hard on this guy!).... Anxious to see how it works this year with only 10 people - & bringing back some All-Stars? Comfort? Thumbs down... Mark? BIG thumbs up... TWITCH? ALL THUMBS UP!!!
*Two word... Salma Hayek!!! Have you all seen the video of her freaking out over the snake coming on the set during an interview? I literally watched it like a dozen times & had tears coming out of my eyes.... ONLY because I know, if that were me, I'd be the exact same way!!!! I hate snakes. But her climbing all over Maya Rudolph is the best thing EVER!
*When I heard they were remaking "The Karate Kid" - I just rolled my eyes. But now, I want to see it! When the original came out, that was when I was actually IN martial arts so I loved it - even the corny kick in the end, which I think everyone did for months, or maybe even YEARS, afterwards. But I gotta hope for one thing in the new movie - that the guy who played Johnny will make an appearance in this one! "You're the BEST... around... nothings goona keep you down"... oh yeah, singing that in my head now as I'm wiping on, wiping off....
*I just finished reading "The Help" (you can see my book blog for the full review) - but I had to mention it here too because I just LOVED that book! Anyone else read it? Did you love it as much as I did? I so love when a story has me so entranced that I cant put the book down... over 400 pages just whizz by
*I am beyond EXCITED... I just got in the mail yesterday my Bible Study... my awesome, amazing, adorable friend Dawn had the idea to do this study amongst some friends via blog world. You do the work book & you're supposed to "meet" every other Tuesday with a group. Well, God laid on Dawn's heart to expand it to where we can "meet" in blog-land & do this study together. So we've got some ladies joined up ready to do this together & Dawn will be posting on her blog her thoughts & questions & we can even put things on our own blogs. I'm just ready for God to speak through this study & these other ladies. If you are interested in joining us, its not too late.... go visit Dawn - you should do that anyways because she's just plain awesome, amazing & adorable (cant stress that enough - haha!) & come get some studying going on!
OK, so fragging did help me with my grumpiness... Try it! Frag away & see if it helps your day become a little brighter! Happy Fabulous Friday!
Glee is done with its first season... what are we going to do over the summer? I kept all the shows on my DVR, so I can replay all I want... But I saw on Entertainment Weekly the other day, they had their top 10 favorite Glee performances. There was like 2 I agreed with - but most of my favs & my ALL TIME fav was left off... so I'm doing my own Top 10 Glee Performances... see if you agree...& if you havent ever watched Glee, maybe this will get you interested, or you can click on some of the links & take a listen.. & fall in love too!
10. - Home - Performed by Kristin Chenoweth - I love EVERY song she sings & was torn between this one & the one where she did the version of "A house is not a home" with Will... but I just loved this one because here is a lady who played Glenda on Broadway & was singing a song from "The Wiz"... & this song brought tears to my eyes... most of these songs that made my top 10 made me cry - that's how I know they were awesome! ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4NbPkYQtJc&feature=related
9. Imagine ... When they had the School of the Deaf signing the song, that was enough for me, but add in the Glee crew & their voices AND the signing - Oh yeah, that was a moment that stands out. And the pride on Mr. Shue's face when he sees his kids connect the hearing & unhearing worlds together... a top fav! ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cIviLZ8-TM
8. I'll Stand by You - by Finn... when he was singing that to his unborn daughter, which actually WASNT his daughter (gotta love a little bit of drama), who wasnt a little teary eyed when he was looking at the ultrasound picture. ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--lw9yST1g0
7. Like a Virgin - I actually cant stand this song, but loved the way they did it with 3 different couples singing it. I loved that Santana got a break & we actually heard her voice too, & girl can SING! And who didnt love that Rachel & Emma had on basically the same night gowns from the 70's - Rachel's complete with a capelet! ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvcLV7ha_LI
6. Total Eclipse of the Heart ... Rachel along with all her men...Oh, the pain in Finn's eyes.. Puck feeling a little played... & Jessee & his dancing with Rachel in the ballet studio... all wrapped up with "turn around, bright eyes"... how could this 80's song NOT be on my top 10 list? ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xzodrj18TA&feature=related
5. Dont Stand so Close to Me/Young Girl... Oh yes, this mesh up was awesome! Mr. Shue had to sing this to Rachel who developed the crush of all crushes on her teacher. Thinking he would sing this song showing her how he really felt was awesome. With Emma sitting there swooning just as much as Rachel, I think I coulda pulled up a chair & swooned right along.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XNA9Pri9Nk&feature=related (The actual clip from the show... LOVE IT!!!)
4. Smile (Charlie Chaplin version)... this song just tugs at my heart anyways, but add in the clip of the kids getting ready for their hard earned year book picture... & then to see all the football players making fun & marking up the pages... "just smile"... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4bp3RYHFEA
3. Keep Holding On ... Who doesnt remember the long hard sigh of Quinn - who doesnt remember the look on Kurt's face as he spins her around, looking like he wants to cry right along with her. The gang was letting Quinn know they were behind her with this pregnancy & the looks on all their faces was so awesome. Finn taking his hands & holding both Rachel's & Quinn's hands was so moving too... A definite top 3 on my list! ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALQi34kLpo8&feature=related
2. Defying Gravity... Rachel had been singing this song since she was a child - her signature song so she was prepared to take it on, but had to step back as Kurt too could knock it out. Trouble was, Kurt's dad was just learning of the sexuality of his son & Kurt didnt want to make it harder on his dad then it had to be. So what does a Glee member who loves his dad do? Throw the note that we know he can hit.... oh, the agony on Kurt's face... What a song to remember...& when Kurt looks at Rachel on the line "you wont bring me down" & looking at Mr. Shue on "I'm done excepting limits, cause someone says their so"... who wasnt rooting for Kurt then? ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUdvtfecTIA
1. I Dreamed a Dream... Yes, my #1... I cant imagine anything ever topping that. Idina Menzel - enough said! The words of this song & with the story of a mother giving up her daughter for adoption & the two of them singing it - holding each other on the floor ... I have yet to watch the scene from the show & not tear up. I think every week should have a Idina song on it... Bring in Kristin Chenoweth & do a "Wicked" show... maybe THAT would be the only things that tops this song for me. ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7fWz4WBNs4
So you have any favorites that didnt make my list? Are you a Gleek? If not, WHY NOT? :) Are you counting down until the next season starts? I know I am...
I told you earlier that I had to tell you more about Mighty Mac & Jordie...
Our Children's Minister at our church found a need & with her family, they set out to fill that need.
Ever heard of Bibleman? If you have kids in a church, you probably have. He's a super hero kinda figure that teaches about God & about the Bible & does it in a way that grabs kids attentions. You want Bibleman to come visit your church or the kids, you can do that. But our little church couldnt afford him. (Not a slam to Bibleman, by the way.... I dont want any masked man showing up at my door beating me with a Bible now). But honestly, for small churches like ours, it really is a cost we couldnt afford - as many churches, especially in these economic times.
(Mighty Mac & Jordie under over)
In steps our Children's minister, Sha & her husband Bobby... they came up with this idea for Mighty Mac. Getting more of their family involved,, their daughter, Jordan, aka Jordie, is the partner of Mighty Mac & they are superheroes out to help kids learn about God. The costumes are fantastic, there is a villian, which is played by Bobby's brother, there is music, laughs & a wonderful lesson that is taught when these caped crusaders come onto the stage.
(Getting help from Chas who gives them some Scripture to help them in their quest)
They really wanted to be able to expand this ministry where more people & churches, like ours, could have the same kind of experience of having someone like Bibleman come & really get to these kids....
(Here comes the villian who wants to make sure a little boy doesnt clean his room & disobeys his parents)
As an adult, you would love it too... This family has the best sense of humor & incorporate it in their skits. Like, the downfall of Mighty Mac & Jordie is MUSIC... it makes them dance & they cant stop, which lets the villian get away... (check out the video at the bottom for a part of it)
Isnt it cool when someone sees a need in a church community & steps up & does something about it? I know one day, Mighty Mac is going to be a name you all hear... you can say you heard it here first!
(Jordie giving scripture to the little boy & praying over him so he can now know the truth of what God says)
By the way, Jordie (not just a sidekick) is the amazing young lady in our youth group that you've seen her beautiful pictures she had painted me through the years... A talent all in of itself... but as you can see, get her on the stage & she's a performer!
(After the skit, Mighty Mac & Jordie explain to the kids in more detail what they can do to listen to God)
If anyone is interested in having Mighty Mac & Jordie come visit your church or camp or school, let me know - I'll get you in touch with them... you wont be sorry!
Its no secret I love books... I am constantly talking about them, reading one, carrying one around, even have my own blog on books I have read this year.
There is just something about being in a room full of books to me - the stories they hold, the knowledge they can share, even the smell from the musty pages of old, & the crisp of the pages of new...
Sunday, flipping through the Bible, I came across one of my favorite scriptures - the ending of the Gospels:
There are so many other things Jesus did. If they were all written down, each of them, one by one, I cant imagine a world big enough to hold such a library of books. -John 21:25
Think of the biggest library you've ever been too... & think that it wouldnt even be a smidgen of the books that would hold NOTHING but information of miracles that Jesus did...
Doesnt that blow your mind? I know it does my little ole brain...
And I wonder why they didnt write all of the things down that Jesus did. Did they just get use to what he did. Like, "oh, there's Jesus again getting ready to heal someone"... "Here comes Jesus - he'll make sure we have enough food"... "Jesus is getting ready to come & talk again, lets go listen" ... all things they just took for granted & didnt feel like they needed to make note of because it was so ordinary?
Or maybe the things that are shared in the Bible about Jesus - maybe those things should be ENOUGH for us... I mean, there are already quite a few amazing miracles in there... Hello, rising from the dead trumps everything - (holla!!!!) But maybe if there were all these other things Jesus did, maybe it would just confuse us, make us question why he did that miracle, & why for that person....
I know my Jesus could do ANYTHING... that's enough for me...
But I'd still just like to sit in that library full of stories of His miracles.... it would be a readers dream...
Its been a busy week (aren't they all) - so let's see where all the clickin' lead to this week...
Sunday - I have Super Heroes for friends!!!.... This is actually at church. Its Mighty Mac & Jordie... I want to do a whole blog entry for them because they are just SUPER... But I had to put this picture in... wanted to show my massive guns... dont be afraid... I wont unleash my super muscles on anyone - unless provoked.
Monday - Memorial Day left me puzzled... we didnt have air so I just sat in front of a window fan & finished putting this puzzle together. I'm getting addicted to doing puzzles lately - does this mean I'm getting old? Doesnt take a lot to entertain me...
Tuesday - oops... I guess going back to work after a long weekend & no air made my brain fry - no picture
Wednesday - What an amazing gift.... One of the girls in the youth made this for the pastor of our church. It is made out of clay - & you can tell a little bit, but those are words written all over it - scripture actually - her favorite verses. Isnt that just amazing! People that have that natural artistic talent just blow my mind.
Thursday - NO!!!!!!!.... I took my daddy for knee surgery on Thursday (thanks for all the well wishes for him via Facebook, text & Twitter) I had to laugh because before they do surgery, the doctor will come in & write NO on the leg they are not doing surgery on, & YES, along with the docs initials on the correct leg. The nurses checked it was on there before they took him back. I guess it makes sense because in the pre-op next to us, the doc went in & said "We're doing you're right leg?" - the man was like "UMMMM - no, its the left"... yeah, exactly why they have to do this...
Friday - I love my parents!!!... so I'm sitting at work & around the corners come flowers! It was funny because I instantly thought, as did everyone in the office, that they were from Ricky because he's been torturing me with no air... Nope - they were from my parents... I should have know - see the blue flower. I've told you before how blue is my mom's signature color... Do I have the best parents in the world? The answer to that is a definite YES!
Saturday - Carly Sue Graduates!!!... Carly Sue isnt her real name - the Sue isnt the real part - but I've always called her that through the years... I love this girl! Ricky & I sat next to her momma, my buddy & pal Lynn, & the rest of her family, & we were just beaming with pride too - pride of just knowing this young lady. You want to know about some of the kids that holds the future in their hands? Rest assure, young ladies like this will give you hope... good values, a heart bigger then anything, a love for God - just know that you'd love this girl too!!! Congrats Carly! Now onto College!!!
Hope you've had lots of click worthy moments in your week....
