Spirit Midwest 2009

So this last Saturday was "Spirit Midwest". It's a cool deal. Many different bands play and admission is free (I love free!). One of the bands that played is headed up by our junior high and high school worship leader at my church. He rocks. We went to see them play. They are FANTASTIC. Just can't say enough about the music they write and the way they play. God has big plans for these kids....yes....kids. Under 25-ish in my book is still a kid. :0)

One of Mark's tattoos....

Brandon....if you scroll down to some older posts you will notice that Brandon is the same kid who lead VBS with Mark. He is a lot different in this setting than in a room full of little kids! :0)

Leah has a beautiful voice!

The fans....

Justin is the worship leader I told you about above. Very gifted, heart for God kind of guy. The kind you hope your daughter grows up to marry someday.

They are laughing while playing! I think that's cool since that means they obviously enjoy what they do!

Had to throw this one in....when Justin really gets into the music, he sings from his tippy toes. :0)

It's so cool to see what God is leading these kids to do. They will be nationally known someday and you will all say you "saw them here first"!!! :0)

It's happening....

....and I can't stop it.

We've been getting a ton of college information for Alli in the mail these last few months. One college in particular has the corner on marketing by mail. Makes sense to me why their tuition is so high....they spend all that money on mail pieces that I just toss in the garbage!

Anyway, killing trees is another post.

Recruiting my daughter for college is this post.

It's happening and there is NOTHING I can do to stop it. I can, however, stick my head in a bag when I start to hyperventilate at the thought of my baby leaving and being an adult. That is, AFTER I pull my head out of the sand for a split second to see what is happening around me.

Argh. Who said our kiddos get to grow up, anyway? That person needs to be tortured. Ok...I kid, I kid. I'm just THAT mom not looking forward to THAT kid going to college!

I don't want her to grow up because I want to keep her around forever. I don't want her to move away because I will miss her. I don't want her to be on her own because I will be lonely. See the pattern?

This is about ME, ya know. Selfish old mom not wanting anything to change....even if it is for the better.

Guess I should just get used to it. She is entering her junior year of high school and it has only just begun. I can make it a fun process for everyone or go kicking and screaming all the way. Unfortunately, if I go into a prolonged state of temper tantrum it won't stop her from growing up.

Pooper Snickel.

So....I get to choose. I will choose to be proud of my kiddo for growing up and making good choices. I will choose to support her, coach her and guide her in the best way I can. Here is Mark's response to me when I told him I CAN'T HANDLE THIS:

"...let's look at this from a different perspective. These letters and emails are confirmation of your success as a mother. You have raised her right and positioned her for success in life after high school. You have succeeded as a mom. GOOD JOB!"

So now you see why I like this guy? He IS right (in an annoying "I WANNA HAVE A PITY PARTY AND YOU WON'T LET ME!" kind of way). I should be celebrating her future and looking forward with pride at the world she has before her.

And I WILL remember these words and give them right back to him when Sarah is preparing for college. I'll be just as supportive, honey. :0)

"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." ~ Proverbs 22:6

Point of Grace VBS 2009 ~ Day 4

Day 4 is Salvation night....the night we learn about Jesus. In my group of 11 I had 2 girls pray the prayer of salvation (the other 9 had previously done so)!!! WOOT WOOT! Nothing like being there when someone accepts Jesus! Even when they are only 10 years old!!! God IS so good!

Tonight is the last night....I am POOPED so while I'm glad we are almost done (working full time during the day then partying HARD at night can wear an old lady out! I'm just sayin'!), I'm sad to see it end.

The girl below sings in the high school worship band that has been leading us all week. She is going into 8th or 9th grade. Not even kidding.

Best worship leader ever....Justin. I like how he sings/plays from his tippy toes. :0)



Different perspective of Justin....taken during rehearsal.

Worship time.....it's CRAZY in there! :0)

Jacob....he is a NUT. Used the cross key chains they made during craft for EARRINGS! Cracked me up.

Julie my 4th grade girls leader (a.k.a PARTNER IN CRIME - We both get a crack out of embarrassing the girls....only now the girls scream and holler with us!)

See an earlier day...this is the little kid who brings his own pretend guitar and ROCKS OUT with the band every night! He is on the BIG screen! When he noticed his eyes got HUGE. :0)

"What did you learn tonight, buddy?" ...the reply..."ummmmmmmm....." Guess he didn't pay attention. :0)

BUBBLES!!! Everyone loves BUBBLES!

Brandon EATING bubbles....maybe he loves them a little too much. :0)

So it's been an awesome week of GOD, JESUS, KIDDOS, LAUGHTER, MUSIC, FUN and best of all we got to model for our children what it means to love God and serve one another!

WOOT! WOOT!

Point of Grace VBS 2009 ~ Day 1

I go to a church where FUN is always included. I go to a church where you come AS YOU ARE....and God will meet you right there. I go to a church where it doesn't matter what clothes you wear, what kind of car you drive, how well you sing (or don't) or which weary path life has taken you down.

My church is AWESOME.

It's FILLED with God and people who live for Him. It's overflowing with adults, teenagers, kiddos and pastors who have a desire to meet you and love you....for just being YOU.

Now don't get me wrong. It's not perfect. People come and people go for whatever reason suits them. When they come we hug them and welcome them. When they leave we hug them, we shed a few tears and we wish them well.

The building is nice and the grounds are well kept. To me....it looks like a goofy looking mini-mall.

Oh, don't get me started on how the back side looks like Bart Simpson's hair.

Anyway, you wanna know the BEST part of my church?

It's not the building or the pretty flowers or the AWESOME music (we have a lead pastor with pipes like none I've ever heard) or the sermons that speak right to your heart right there where you sit. Nope....those things are great, but....

IT'S THE PEOPLE.

God's people. It's how God uses each and every one to serve Him and share His message. It's the love that people genuinely have for each other. It's how God, each and every day, lifts the roof off that place and fills it up with HIMSELF. You can see it in the eyes of the kiddos. You can feel it in the hugs you get from friends and often times even strangers. You can hear it in the sound of the worship team shaking the rafters with praise to Him. You can. I'm not even kidding.

I love my church.

And I love how God is reaching 600+ kids this week through VBS. 600+ kids hearing God's word, praising Him with awesome music that makes you jump and dance, seeing how so many adults (AND TEENAGERS!) give of their time and talents to lead by example....to glorify God.