She Made It!

My baby girl called tonight to let us know she is (finally) a full member of the Ko Jo Kai service club. She has been pledging and going through initiations for what seems to be an eternity. I'm not sure how you can possibly keep your grades up while going through all the "stuff" they had to do, but I'll just trust she did...or has enough time to fix it before semester end.

Her dad and I got to write a "blessing" letter for her. This was a surprise to her and given to her tonight as part of a gift. What a wonderful experience.

I would like to propose that we write letters to those we love deeply. What a treasure to have something like that. To have people tell you what they appreciate and love about you. How you have impacted them and what they admire about you.

I did have to completely re-apply the make-up for the day after writing her letter, but it was such a good experience for me.

Maybe we could all take the time to sit down and share on paper how valuable someone is to us.

Blessings!

Football

My husband is very easy to please. Not demanding. Always wanting to make sure those around him (particularly his kids) are happy.

So, when daughter has friends over, she gets the front room T.V. to watch movies with them. When son wanted to watch his Discovery Channel shows, front room T.V.

However, it's just me now, with Lex, and the truth is, I record anything I want to watch and so whatever he wants to watch is fine with me.

Football, (pro and college, but particularly college), baseball, Nascar. I've seen more games and races in recent months than I have in my whole life combined! The truth is, I've learned quite a lot and have been enjoying the experience.

Friday night, our Fresno State football neighbors gave us two tickets to sit in the parent section of the FSU vs. BSU game. Big game. Stadium was packed. It's different watching a game where you know players. It's a little more personal. It was difficult for me to watch those boys get hit. (Of course, they did some hitting of their own!)

Now, as of last night, baseball season is over for now. Is there something else to take it's place, or am I just left with Nascar and Football?

Blessings...

Officially Old

Now that the kids are both away at school, my husband and I have found ourselves doing what any normal old couple does.


We eat dinner on T.V. trays and watch Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune.

Last night, we both decided we were bored. Tired of coming home and "plopping" without feeling productive after work.


Tonight, we went to run errands and go have a nice dinner together where we actually faced each other and chatted. (I mean chatted with each other and not with the T.V.)


It was wonderful, and then it happened.


As we were leaving the restaurant, our sweet young waiter thanked us again and told Lex...."have a nice evening, sir" We walked out a little further and the nice adorable hostess said, "goodnight, sir"


I heard Lex groan. "I've been 'sirred'", he said. "I'm officially old."


Oh...don't worry, honey. If we hurry we can catch the end of Dancing with the Stars!


Blessings!

BAD MUSIC!!

A few days ago, I had a post titled "Moving Music".



Today, my post is titled "Bad Music".



Yesterday, I had to have a little procedure done that hurt like crazy. Not just a little hurt, and I have a high pain thresh-hold mind you. A big hurt. For about an hour I was enduring some big pain...but what was even worse was the hour preceding.



The unknown is always a bit scary, isn't it? So, after they prepped me, the nurse said, "Let's turn on some music to relax you."



Aahhh...I thought...how wonderful. I love music. I need music. Yes, music is the key to my staying calm here.



I was wrong. As she left the room, she mentioned that sometimes the music has a "mind of it's own...kind of a now you hear it now you don't" she said as she left the room laughing.



I would love to tell you what they were playing, but I can't. I didn't recognize it. Country, Rock, Elevator, Classical, Punk, Christian, Heavy Metal, Jazz, Rap? Nope. None of those. It was some kind of disturbing new age kind of thing that you would hear in the background of a movie where something very horrible is about to happen. But, the nurse was right about one thing...it did keep cutting in and out.



I was in that room for about 30 minutes unable to move listening to that horrible stuff. I had to consciensciously decide to breath slowly and think about something good. I couldn't sing, or hum, because of the awful noise coming (or not coming) out of the little ceiling speaker. So, I thought of scripture. Over and over I said things in my head that comforted me.



Then, when the doctor and nurse came back in, they laughed at the "weird station" playing. I told them I thought it sounded like the soundtrack from a horror movie when somebody is in the basement and about to get slashed.



They both laughed and told me I was very funny, left the station on, pulled up the tray of evil looking utensils, and proceeded.



OUCH!!



Blessings.

Moving Music

I listened to a concert on DVD by one of my very favorite groups ever...


I know you probably expect something worship-like or christian-eze, and although there are numerous songs and artists I enjoy in that realm of music, I do believe my favorite all time group is the Eagles.


My big brother brought over their Farewell Concert I last night and we watched and listened as those amazingly talented boys played and played.


Good music, I mean really good music, can bring me to tears.


I'm the same girl who at a very young age, ran out of the room crying as we watched the ending to Cinderella on our T.V. My mom came to see what was wrong and all I could say through sobs and tears was that "her dress was so pretty", but now, I know it was a combination of the dress, yes, but even more potent for me was the amazing music that played in the background.


I am likely to have a tear or two at a beautiful symphony. I cried at Josh Grobin when he sang "You Raise Me Up". I cried when our children at church sang "What a Friend We Have in Jesus". That's just a sampling of what touches me deeply.


But if you get the chance, listen to those Eagles sing "There's a Hole in the World Tonight" written on the eve of September 11. The harmonies are absolutely amazing. Tight, Crisp, Beautiful. And the key change...oh my goodness, the key change!


http://eagles-there-039-s-a-hole-in-the-world-t-mp3-download.kohit.net/_/175194




Pass the tissues please!

Fellowship

The ZOE weekend in Nashville was wonderful.

Great speaking. Listened to a new speaker (new to me) and thought he had a beautiful gift of preaching.

Roof raising singing. Thoughtful lyrics...some wonderful new songs to pass on to the folks here in Fresno.

Great class sessions (I heard, but wasn't able to attend due to my personal "job" for the weekend).

But truly, the very best part of the conference, after 10 years of attending, is seeing the folks who I don't get to see often. It's such a beautiful part of the gathering...watching people see each other from across the foyer, the auditorium, the parking lot...yelling out to one another and rushing to grab a hug and catch up on life's happenings.

I was blessed to see my children. They were flown in to handle various jobs/tasks...and did a most excellent job, if I may say!

So, I guess, if the best part of the conference was the fellowship, the worst part, probably would be the moment in the Dallas airport when my husband and I went one direction to catch our plane to Fresno, and the kids went the opposite direction to catch their plane to Abilene. But even that wasn't too bad, because with my children were three of the most amazing people I know who happen to live in Abilene and love my kids. And, I know if my children need anything, they can call on these or any other number of people at ACU.

The family of God is a priceless gift that I am truly thankful for.

October 1...

Hard to believe it's October.

Looking forward to the Nashville ZOE Conference this week. And then, in January the West Coast ZOE Conference here in Fresno. It will be here before we know it! Make plans to join us in January. It is a beautiful, intimate, enriching weekend that will bless you in so many ways.
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Elder selection is winding down at church. Just a few more weeks and we'll have new elders. We had an interesting "social" time yesterday after church/class allowing people to talk with the "candidates". So very interesting. People I've never seen dress up before were wearing suits! And, smiling! And they were even on time/early to services! Hopefully, if these folks become elders, they will continue their new road of goodness.

Without giving them too much grief, I think a "spotlight in the face" isn't such a bad thing every once in a while. We get complacent, lazy, comfortable, don't we? Sometimes, it's good to have to examine yourself because you know everybody else is going to be examining you!

So, whether we're an elder candidate or not, maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to dust off our good clothes, smile a lot more, complain a lot less, and get to church not just on time, but early so we can greet and love on each other as we worship and serve together.

Blessings!