Beach Boys Meet Mulan

Rehearsals continue for Vacation Bible School, the music this year is my favorite! In night four with Lydia, we have Paul, Silas, Timothy (Caleb) and Luke singing 'Philippi' to the Beach Boy's 'Kokomo.' Sing with me, you know the words, "Derbe and Lystra, oh I want to take you, down in Macedonia let's go spread the gospel, to the Gentiles, baby why don't we go . . ."

Another favorite is from the night about Rahab where Joshua sings, "I'll Make a Spy Out of You," to the tune of the song in Mulan, "I'll Make a Man Out of You."  Fabulous!  Should be another great year! 

Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where he found a disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman and a Greek father.  Acts 16:1

Jimmy Buffet Concert

Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band continued their “I Don’t Know” tour tonight at the Toyota Stadium in Frisco, TX.  Jon and I were bummed that ZZ Top did not open for the show because of a shoulder injury.  Buffett played a dozen song and then after a six minute set change he continued on with another dozen songs. 

The set list included 'Five O'clock Somewhere,' 'Stars on the Water,' ' Son Of A Son Of A Sailor,' and 'Cheeseburger In Paradise' and a song he wrote for Willie Nelson, “Railroad Lady” for the final encore.

Jerry Jeff Walker was the opening act for the show. He performed 12 songs including “Trashy Women”, “Mr Bojangles”, and “Sangria Wine”. Jimmy Buffett and Mac McAnally joined in on the song “Something About a Boat”.

A Jimmy Buffet concert is apparently an all weekend event.  Many of the concert-goers camped out on Friday night to set up their own tikibars and tailgating parties.  Parking places renter for $200-$1200 for the weekend.   It made for a tough time to find a parking spot but great people watching!

Jon and I spent our honeymoon in Key West, vacationed in the islands of Cozumel, Progresso; so the concert made to a fun flash back to beachy themed songs and Caribbean music.  It made for a great 26th anniversary date! 

So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that tied the rudders. Then hoisting the foresail to the wind they made for the beach.  Acts 27:40

Our Great Big Book Signing

Today we headed to our local Barnes and Noble to see former first lady Laura  Bush and her daughter Jenna at the book signing for Our Great Big Back Yard. 

We had it on good authority that Mrs. Bush would be reading their new children's book, Our Great Big Backyard, a picture book tribute to our national parks. The Bush ladies were at a Dallas book signing last weekend, this weekends event was advertised as a book reading with crafts and events for young children.

It turned out that our 'good authority,' a Barnes & Noble employee was wrong or things changed.  There was no first lady, and the local Children's librarian read the story. I pulled the picture from last week's press event of the authors, maybe we'll catch up with them at another event. 

For you shall go out in joy

    and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and the hills before you

    shall break forth into singing,

Isaiah 55:12

Through the Looking Glass

We quickly ran and made our food pick ups this morning for Metro Relief and then headed to the mall to meet up with friends to see Alice Through the Looking Glass.  It's the continuing story of Alice in Wonderland who finds herself back in Underland.  Her dear friend the Mad Hatter is in a funk over the loss of his family. Alice steals the Chronosphere from Time to save the Mad Hatter's family.  

We had great plans of meeting for the first showing of the movie debut, but our plans were altered.  The schools in out area took off for none of the built in snow days so they were off today and the theater was packed.  Our group was able to get into the noon showing, so we spent a little time at the book store in the mall.  It worked out just fine because we were planning to stop there afterwards anyway! 

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face.
Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
I Corinthians 13:12

Right Up My Alley

Jon has the rest of the week off because we had anniversary plans but my back issue called for a plan B.  Our plan B included a visit to the outdoor amusement park Sandy Lake, similar to Tulsa's Bell's. Dallas is still having a lot of rain and the park was closed.  So we moved to plan C, bowling at Pinstack.  

Pinstack is the shiny new bowling alley near our house. They offer bowling, laser tag, ropes course, arcade and great dining.  Jon and the kids bowled three games wearing those stylish red and blue Brunswicks finest shoes. We can highly recommend the party trays with wings, mac & cheese pops, loaded potato skins, fried mozzarella, tortilla chips & roasted jalapeño salsa! Yum, the mozzarella cheese sticks were my favorite! 

He asked for water and she gave him milk;

    she brought him curds in a noble's bowl. Judges 5:25

In Sickness and In Health

Today Jon and I celebrate twenty-six years of wedded bliss! It doesn't even seem possible for that much time to have passed.  Like all good husbands, Jon took off work for today and the balance of the week for us to spend time together. 

Not every anniversary can be a cruise in the south Caribbean.  And this year was a take of the vows, "in sickness and in health."  After all what doesn't scream twenty-six years like a few x-rays and a pre-op appointment! 

I have a sprained sacroiliac joint with idiopathic scoliosis.  The translation for that is I have a S-curved spine, and currently have a pain in my bum at the left sacroiliac joint, causing swelling and inflammation.  The solution is surgery, well at least the insurance company calls it surgery, it's an out-patient procedure at the hospital. 

They will do a camera scope and x-ray while injecting an anti-inflammatory and pain medication into an area about the width of a dime. It will be performed at the hospital with an IV cocktail and recovery should be about :30 minutes and then I can go home.  The spinal surgeon said I should have relief for several weeks.  I will have physical therapy twice a week for six weeks following the procedure. 

This will be a walk in the park compared to the multiple cervical neck fusion with titanium plates and screws that I have done earlier. I'm fortunate to have the same spine surgeon performing this procedure and feel very comfortable with his skills.  I'm very lucky to have Jon and Frankie to take care of me next week, because I'm not a very good at being still! It's a blessing that Abigail will be at camp and I don't have to be responsible for running her places.  It's also great to have Caleb home to make those runs to the grocery store for me on his way home from work. After two years of back trouble, I'm looking forward to a little PT and I'll be good as new!  

Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,

    and your healing shall spring up speedily;

your righteousness shall go before you;

    the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Isaiah 58:8

Super Women of Faith

With the school year ending, Summer is quickly approaching and with it are a few of my favorite things including Vacation Bible School.  At the Church of Christ on McDermott Road we host an evening VBS for youth and adults.  

Classes are offered with age appropriate lessons complete with games and lesson reinforcement's for the kids.  Each evening finishes off with a twenty minute musical production of the days lesson.  Like the last ten years, I've written the play for each night and other great team members have prepared the music, props, and costumes.  

Our theme this year is 'Super Women of Faith.'  Night one will feature Rahab; night two will highlight Ruth; night three will be Mary and we will finish off night four with Lydia.  I love that we track the lineage of Christ through Rahab and Ruth to Mary the mother of Christ and then conclude with the first Gentile believer in Europe, Lydia.

I will narrate part of the story on stage as the 'Mom' along with my kiddos 'Michael' and 'Carolyn.'  Abigail will be on-stage with me as Carolyn.  Caleb will be in each night's story playing various roles like Joseph, Timothy and others.  I like that Caleb was cast as Timothy, especially since my Dad's mother was named Eunice and my Mom's grandmother was named Lois! Talk about Super Women of Faith!

Right now we are rehearsals twice a week, the music is fantastic, I'm looking forward to seeing it all come together!   

I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother
Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.  2 Timothy 1:5

You Had Me at ;)

I get practically giddy when one of the kids ask for my help with some sort of craft project! So you can imagine my excitement when Abigail said she wanted a little help with t-shirts for Camp Blue Haven.  Every year camp has a 'Twin Day' and each year Abby, Tate and Abigail wear something matching, last year they went as M&M's.  

This year the girls decided to go as emojis.  The girl's priced t-shirts and iron on transfers and were afraid that it wasn't very economical for a shirt they would only wear one day, enter today's craft project.  Abigail and I visited Five Below, our local dollar store, and purchases three emoji pillows.  Next we bargain shopped for black t-shirts. 

The next few hours were spent with a seam ripper!  Abigail used my Brother Serger to run a rolling napkin hem around the faces.  We were able to use a light weight Wonder Under to position the faces on the shirts and then Abigail hand-sewed the faces to the shirts.  

The picture in the lower right corner is the finished t-shirt project.  From left to right: left (Blowing Kisses) is Abby; center (Tears of Joy) is Abigail; and right (Smiling face with heart eyes) is Tate! 

The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you.  Numbers 6:25

Floaties, Flip Flops and Fastballs

The end of the school year brings lots of parties and celebrations, tonight was the end of the year festivities for the CHANT Chargers softball team.  The girls enjoyed a pool party with special honors for the three graduating seniors. It was also an evening to say thank you to the coaches who have given up so much of their time to work with the girls.  

The water was still a little chilly for most of the players, but the younger siblings didn't mind at all!  Frankie feel in love with the sweetest Basset Hound that seemed pretty fond of her too! 

Looking forward to next year with this great group of girls! It is really a night and day difference in the relationships and general attitudes of this team of Christian home schoolers versus the other select teams Abigail has played on.  The select team help hone her skills but this high school team really enforces the reason why team work is important! 

We know that for those who love God all things work together for good,

 for those who are called according to his purpose.  Romans 8:28

Team Captain (America)

Several of our friends have gotten together to see most of the Marvel super hero movies.  Today we took in the latest installment in the Avengers series, Captain America: Civil War.  

In this movie a disagreement over international oversight of the Avengers fractures them into opposing factions—one led by Steve Rogers and the other by Tony Stark. The movie has huge overtones of big government and global over sight, but it also has great action sequences!  

Sissy did not like the Avengers fighting, at all! Fortunately she is a big fan of hanging out with friends and the ice cream at Baskin Robbins after the movie!  

Gracious words are like a honeycomb,

    sweetness to the soul and health to the body. Proverbs 16:24