Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Quiet

All is quiet this morning. The storm is gone and the sun is out. The only remnants of Katrina is leaves and branches all over our yard. The birthday girl that was over the other night had a tree fall on her house. It didn't really do any damage to the house though. I feel badly for the people of New Orleans and some of those other cities that were destroyed. Brock said that growing up in Louisiana, he always heard about this happenning. They knew that a big storm could potentially whipe out New Orleans. I wonder if they will ever be able to recover completely.

Also, it's guiet here because the guys left. They were gone when I awoke this morning. Yesterday, we spent most of the morning trying to get Luke's teeth fixed. He knocked a few of them out at the skatepark Monday night. However, the guys are gone now. Also, their friends from around here are gone as well. They've made several friends here, so for the past few nights, we've all hung out. I don't know if I can handle the quiet.

Tuesday, August 30, 2005

Hurricane Party

We had a hurricane party at our house last night. Donnie and Luke from Chaos on Wheels were here. Corey Martinez who is an excellant bmx rider and his new bride were here. Also, one of our friends, Stephanie, was here. Her birthday is Thursday, so we baked her a cake at about midnight last night due to the possibility of lack of power today.

Can you believe that this storm is still so strong this far inland? It is still blowing very hard this morning. Schools are not in session today because of Kristina. I can tell that we lost power at least once in the night because the clocks are blinking, but all is well this morning.

We all hunkered down here last night. We flipped back and forth between a rerun of the X-games and the weather channel. At about 2am, we finally all turned in. It was fun!

Monday, August 29, 2005

"Family"

One of the Chaos on Wheels' teams is staying with us for a couple of nights. This team consists of three guys. Two of the guys are some of my favorite people. One guy was saved at an FX last year and the other one got saved a couple of years ago just before he joined the bmx team. They have both grown so much in the Lord. Brock and Jeremiah (the founder of Chaos on Wheels) have been working with them. Now, they both feel like the Lord wants them to speak at their events and they are reading theology books.

These two don't have much of a family at home. Although they are from Minnesota, they spend alot of time in Nashville because it's an easy place to rest in between shows for a couple of days. Most of the time their shows are in the south and they cannot drive all the way up to Minnesota. Therefore, they stay with us quite a bit, and I love it!

The two guys don't have much of a place to live in Minnesota anyway. Brock and I try to be like family to them. It's really neat because they actually feel like family to me. There is not much trying on my part. We have a really special relationship with them. Last time they stopped in, one of the guys said that it was good to be home.

Sunday, August 28, 2005

Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."

Saturday, August 27, 2005

Funny or Interesting

Alot of funny or interesting things happened at these last few Freedom Experiences. One is when these two guys jumped a fence and came in the side door. They were trying to "sneak" into the event. They finally made it in rather late only to find out that FX is free. One of the leaders said, "Just come in the front door tomorrow night."

As we were doing this one illusion where Brock spray paints on a bedsheet, I realized that I got a fitted sheet and not the flat one like we needed. I realized this during the actual trick as I was taking it out of the package. I ran past the crowd and out the back and through the maze to get to our truck. I grabbed a flat sheet and ran back in hoping to make it in time. I did. Brock was still setting up the trick, but I was perspiring from my sprint.

I was getting all of the chains ready for the underwater coffin escape when I felt a drip of water. The coffin was left unattended by the guys that were filling it for the show and it was overflowing! That's the first time that has ever happened. Brock ran up on stage and placed a kink in the hose in order to prevent the water from going all over the stage equipment.

Also, during the actual chaining of the water coffin, a mentally challenged guy ran up onstage. He just stood there quietly. I didn't know why he was there until I saw him dangling a padlock from his fingers. We allow people to bring locks and chains of their own, but we usually collect them before the show. I used his lock, and he stood there with me until Brock escaped!

Friday, August 26, 2005

Fender Bender

We had a small accident yesterday. As Brock was turning right, a lady came up right beside him and Brock smashed in the front driver's side of the car. It wasn't really anyone's fault because Brock turns so wide that while making the turn, she just slipped in beside him. She was elderly and probably did not realize that you cannot get right up beside big trucks when they are turning. I felt really sorry for her.

There happened to be cops at the intersection, so they pulled over. They said that it happens alot at this particular intersection. I watched from inside the truck as Brock conversed with the cops. They were just laughing up a storm! After the lady had already left, one of the officers motioned for me to come over. I though that he wanted me to give a statement about what I saw. Nervously, I walked over to the cop. They started laughing and said that Brock needed some assistance. I looked over and Brock was handcuffed. After finding out he was an illusionist and escape artist, they had put him in their handcuffs. This was the first pair of handcuffs that Brock could not escape out of. He's been able to get out of several police officer's handcuffs before (not because he was being arrested...just because they were goofing around like yesterday). I don't know if the paper clip that he was using was too flimsy or the handcuffs were a new kind. Whatever the case, we all got a good laugh including the officers.

Thursday, August 25, 2005

Night Three of FX

We squeezed 3,400 people in that little gym here in Harlan, KY last night. It was amazing! We took down our curtains and performed in the round last night. They almost turned some people away, but Brock said that we will fit them in somehow. People were sitting on the floor and standing everywhere! Several more were saved. Everyone was so grateful that we came to their small town nestled in the mountains. This town has 3,000 people in the city and 25,000 total in the county. That means that we had over 10% of the town there last night. Harlan will always remember the Freedom Experience!

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

Night Two of FX

It was even more packed last night! They were parking over at the hospital and all of our overflow was taken. Tonight, I don't know what we're going to do! Fifty-six people were saved last night. Pray that tonight more people will give their lives to Christ than the last two nights combined.

Yesterday, we noticed that there were signs saying "ATV Parking" all over town. We also saw four wheelers going down the road and at the gas station. The leader that was with us said that so many people had their driver's license revoked that they drove ATV's all over town. We are in the middle of nowhere Kentucky.

These are the towns we like to come to for FX. We can impact the entire city. The only event that they've ever had was a Mylon LaFever concert in 1982. Therefore, they are very appreciative and coming out by the hundreds each night.

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Night One of FX

Last night was awesome! It was standing room only and 46 people gave their lives to Christ. We saw the power of God at the prayer service Sunday night and at the show last night. However, the venue doesn't have air conditioning so it's HOT! Also, the bmx riders, Brock, and I am really exhausted. Pray for strength for everyone.

Each town has a different personality. This town is very passive. At the school assemblies, the students were slow to act. At one school that consisted of 4th through 12th grade, Brock told the volunteers on the stage to pick a prize from the ground. They just stood there, so Brock said anybody in the crowd could get them. About 50 4th graders stormed the stage dog piling on top of the prizes. Then, none of the teachers did anything about it, so I had to go out there and tell them to sit down. It was nuts!

Also, smoking is a big problem here. I walked into one of the bathrooms at the school and could barely see due to the thick smoke. We also saw students smoking outside in between classes. They have several tobacco farms here, so smoking boosts their economy. Isn't that sick?

Monday, August 22, 2005

Adventures in Driving the Big Rig

Luke, Donny, and I had a crazy time driving here. One of our tires were completely flat when we left yesterday morning, so we had to find a gas station with an air pump. Do you know how difficult it is to get our Freightliner into a little gas station? At one spot, they wanted me to back up the truck...I don't back! Needless to say, it took us forty-five minutes to get some air in a tire.

Then, a vent on our truck kept flying up slightly just enough to let all of the cold air conditioning escape leaving us HOT. We taped it down with duck tape. Every few hours, the tape would melt away and the vent would fly up again. So, Luke would have to get up on top of the cab and tape it back down on the side of the road.

One time, we were turning into a Walmart and the car in front of us stalled. We were trapped behind them. After the light turned green and red a few times, Donny and Luke ran out to try and push her car. They pushed her car and then it started going down an hill. The speed of the car picked up and I watched as Luke hung onto the driver's side of the car and Donny ran behind it. Luke ended up climbing in the driver's seat and the girl had to jump over into the passenger's side. It was very laughable!

The Livin It that Brock went to Saturday was the best so far. Around 200 people gave their lives to Jesus! Please pray for our team as we begin another FX.

Sunday, August 21, 2005

The Ultimate Caregiver

Brock flew to Nebraska for a show yesterday while a couple of the bmx guys and I began driving to Kentucky for our next Freedom Experience. We stopped off in Nashville just for the night. After we ate dinner, I walked across the parking lot to the bookstore in order to get a new book. On the way, I called Brock. He told me that one of our friends called and said that his wife who had been pregnant with their first baby for 8 weeks had a miscarriage this weekend. The most difficult part about the situation is that he is a musician and was gone for the weekend. Also, they are from Colorado and have no family here. My heart broke for her because she is one of my dear friends.

I called her as soon as I got off of the phone with Brock before I was even in the bookstore. As I was leaving her the most heartfelt voicemail that I could possibly come up with, she called me. She said, "I know where you are. You are in the Borders Bookstore parking lot. I know because I'm in the parking lot and saw you walk by on your phone." I told her that I was calling her! I ran to her and through my arms around her. She cried. I cried. She said that she was just thinking that she didn't know what to do. She didn't want to be alone, but she didn't know who to call. She was just driving around. We talked, cried, and laughed the whole night. I ended up staying at her house last night. Her husband is coming in this morning so he'll be with her today.

I thought about how sweet the Lord was for ordaining our meeting. Her husband was so worried about her. He wanted to be there to take care of her, but the Lord is the ultimate Caregiver. He's the only One that knows exactly what you need even if you don't. Brock was probably concerned about me driving the truck with two young guys who had only a few hours experience driving our truck. However, the Lord is taking care of me...He always does!

Saturday, August 20, 2005

FX III

This was a great Freedom Experience! There were about 300 people who made decisions for Christ! Here are some of their stories:

One included a father who came to pick up his son from the event. His son was back with the counselors talking with them about Jesus. The father ended up becoming a follower of Jesus right there and hadn't even attended the event! A tough guy that was practically dragged to the event by his friend ended up breaking down to one of our leaders and surrendered to Christ. Some youth who were dropping the f-bomb quite often throughout the show ended up back in the counseling room becoming a Christian.

A counselor led a young girl to Christ the second night. On the last night, the girl came back and brought her boyfriend and family. She went back to the counseling room and sat by the counselor again and watched as she led more people to Christ, one of which was her boyfriend! There was a lady in the audience who had lost her three daughters in an accident 10 years before. The girls were playing in a hole that caved in killing all three. The mother had never grieved over it. She had held it in for 10 years! Last night when Brock came out of the water coffin, she felt as if her chains were coming off. She began to cry and upened up with one of our counselors. She said that she felt free for the first time in 10 years last night!

Friday, August 19, 2005

FX II

The second day of FX, I always get a little discouraged. I guess because it's not the first day with a fresh start kind of feel, and it doesn't have all of the excitement of the last night. Yesterday was no exception. We did three school assemblies which took the whole day. Then, we went to the venue and set up for last night's show.

I wasn't the only one that felt this way. One of the bmx riders, Luke, was very uneasy right before we began the program last night. He said that he felt as if he was being attacked by the enemy in his mind. If you are not really focused while flipping your bicycle in the air, you could mess up badly or get injured. You must be on your game every single time. A few of us layed our hands on him and prayed for him right before showtime. One of the guys prayed that he would ride better than ever. I started agreeing with that prayer. I thought that if Luke rode extremely well, it would encourage him and let him know Who ultimately has the power if we only ask. Our prayers were answered. Luke said excitedly that he pulled tricks that he thought he couldn't pull during the show! We all thanked the Lord for answering our prayers.

Overall the show went extremely smooth. Many more were saved last night as well!

Thursday, August 18, 2005

FX I

The first night was fabulous!!! Brock prayed that the room would be full on the first night. We've never had that happen before. Last night was a first! It was standing room only. Plus, there were hundreds of people who came to know the Lord. For a first night of FX, it was great. For the first night of FX with a whole new crew, it was excellent!!!

Wednesday, August 17, 2005

Being Positive

Even though I woke up yesterday with bad sinus problems and Brock somehow got a catch in his back, I decided that I was going to be positive. The hotel has no elevator service because lightening struck it a few days ago. Also, I missed the continental breakfast because it closed so quickly, and the light over our bathroom sink doesn't come on. So, in spite of having to walk up and down the stairs outside, being really hungry, and getting ready in the dark, I'm going to be positive. I need to be positive because at Freedom Experience, things always go wrong.

At FX, the enemy attacks in multiples. For example, lots of the team has health problems. Several band members are sick and the riders get hurt. Epuipment breaks before the show---amps blow and a bike breaks in two. Several people have car accidents on the same day, etc. This time, one of the bmx team's van's transmission went out. The production crew's transmission went out, and our manager's transmission is going out. However, I've just put it in my mind that no matter what happens, I'm going to remain positive!

Tuesday, August 16, 2005

Driving to FL

Today, we drive to Pensacola, FL to begin a Freedom Experience. One team of Chaos on Wheels is here in Nashville. Part of the team was going to ride with us while the second team drove down and met up with us in Pensacola. They called last night. The second team is stranded somewhere in Missouri with a blown out transmission. That's not good. So, we will be using this team for FX.

I'm a little nervous about this FX simply because alot of the usual people will not be there. David Mackle who sorta runs the FX will not be at this one. Inhabited will not be there. We'll have a different band whom we've never worked with before. Now, Jeremiah from Chaos on Wheels will not be there. He's been to everyone since the beginning! Pray that everything still goes very smoothly and lots of lives are changed forever.

Monday, August 15, 2005

A Childhood Song

Lately, this song that I learned when I was a child keeps coming back to me. The lyrics are:


Did you ever talk to God above
Tell Him that you need a friend to love
Pray in Jesus name believing that God answers prayer?

You can whisper in a crowd to Him
You can cry when you're alone to Him
You don't have to talk out loud to Him
He knows your thoughts.

On a lofty mountain peak, He's there
In a meadow by a stream, He's there
Anywhere on earth you go, He's been there from the start.



That really seems to sum up the meaning of prayer doesn't it? Sometimes, we need to have faith like a child.

Sunday, August 14, 2005

Sleep

4am
Sleep is such a wierd thing. You have to have it. Friday night, both of us had little sleep and we had worked out very hard. Therefore, we were exhausted yesterday. So, we took a nap yesterday afternoon. I was asleep for almost two hours and Brock slept for probably an hour and a half. So, here we are in the middle of the night wide awake! I don't know what to do. We don't want to miss church. However, it is 4am and Brock hasn't slept at all. I don't think that I'll be able to get him up in time for Sunday school. If I did wake him up early, he'd want to take a nap this afternoon. I slept for a couple of hours tonight, but then I woke up wide-eyed.

7:45am
I woke up on the futon in the office where I last left Brock working here at the desk online. He's now in bed. So, I think that I could wake him up in time for church and he'll just be slightly tired...but we cannot nap today! I don't want to start a vicious cycle!

Saturday, August 13, 2005

Road Manager

We had almost hired a guy that was going to be our new road manager. We've been praying all week that if the Lord didn't want him to work for us, that he would decline. Everything seemed great on his end last weekend when he came with us to the Texas show. He was selling his business this week and then he would go on the road with us. However, even after the papers were drawn up and the buyer only needed to sign the dotted line, it didn't go through. Therefore, the Lord revealed His plan for this young man and for us.

Now, we are still left without a road manager. We really need one for the fall and spring. In fact, this conference tour that we are attending is counting on us having another person to help out. Please pray that we find the right person to be our road manager.

Friday, August 12, 2005

Alone Time

Brock is in North Carolina performing at a Livin It. I don't really enjoy going to the Livin It shows...too much testosterone. However, it's fun for Brock. He gets to hang out with the guys and ride his skateboard, bycycle, and sometimes dirtbike. In the process, I get some alone time which I treasure since I rarely get it.

I've got my cd changer loaded with Toby Mac, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Inhabited (if you don't have that cd yet, you must get it! It's great especially the song "One More Night.") My plan today is to bake cookies, finish cleaning, go to the gym and work out and lay by the pool, and go to my friends' house for a party. (That's why I must bake cookies...for the party) Then, sometime tonight, my family will be coming in. It'll be fun!

Thursday, August 11, 2005

Domestic Abilities

My sister, brother-in-law, and his parents are coming to stay at our house this weekend. Therefore, I am scrambling to get everything cleaned up. This takes me alot longer than most people. I'm not exactly domestic.

Most women have a knack at getting out that stain from your favorite shirt or cleaning the floors so well that you could eat off of them...not me! I'm taking my shirts to my friends and saying, "How do I wash this?" You might say that it's because I am never home, but I have always been this way. That domestic gene just skipped right past me.

I've learned alot since we've been married. For example, I can cook if I follow the recipe to the letter. My mother-in-law saved us by giving me a cookbook with some of her and some of my mom's favorite recipes. However, they often get calls from me asking how much exactly is a dash of salt or 6 scoops of sugar. Even then, Brock usually does most of the cooking. He is a great cook. He never uses recipes. He just goes to the spice rack and starts dumping on the spice!

Is there any hope for me or do I need to hire a cleaning service? I'm the queen of straightening. Everything will be picked up, but don't look too hard in the corners. Plus, when I come off of the road for two months, the last thing I want to do is start cleaning. However, no matter how clean you leave your house, it's dusty and may even have alot of spider webs after you're gone for a long time.

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

Francine Rivers

Normally, I read two books at once. One is fiction and the other is a nonfiction Christian book that teaches me more about the Lord. However, when I read my favorite author, Francine Rivers, it serves two purposes. Although she is a fiction writer, her books teach me more about the Lord. She has written a series about the woman in the lineage of Christ. She adds alot of fiction, but keeps the facts involved as well. It really brings the people in the Bible to life. I still continue reading a nonfiction book to help me during my personal Bible study.

Right now, I'm reading a book from the Mark of the Lion by Francine Rivers series. These books are the most amazing books that I have ever read. Although they are fiction, they are teaching me more about what it was like during the time that Jesus walked the earth. This series takes place about 40 years after Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead. The apostle John is in the story, but every other character is fiction. However, you can tell that she knows her history. She has a whole glossary in the back of words she uses to describe something from that time that is now obsolete. Sometimes, I get so involved with the characters that I start praying for them. I have to remind myself that these characters came from this lady's imagination!

Tuesday, August 09, 2005

Day Off

Today, Brock and I are going to have a Happy Fun Day. We had a very long weekend and need some relaxation. We're planning on riding our bike up the Natchez Trace Parkway to Franklin. Then, we will maybe work out and see a movie. Tonight, we plan on eating at the Mirror restaurant. They have this awesome dessert called white chocolate soup. It sounds strange, but it's excellent!

This is the kind of day that is difficult to take off. Others don't know that we are electing to take today off. Most people get the weekends off. This is when we are usually working. I told some people that are work related not to call us today unless it's an emergency. However, that term "emergency" is relative. Everyone seems to need to know something right now! I'm going to heed the words that Margaret Becker said a couple of years ago. "You're not doing brain surgery here. Nobody is going to die if you don't return their call today."

The middle of the week is my favorite time to take the day off. I look around and see how others are working and I'm not. You see, on weekends, I see alot of people off and I'm working my tail off! It's just the way it goes.

It is difficult for me or Brock to take any time off because there is so much that needs to be done. However, it is my understanding that if you don't take some time to relax and unwind, you will explode at every one around you (I tend to do this lately) or implode by burning out and not caring anymore (which is even worse than exploding). We have to be sharp and healthy as a person in order to do well at our job.

Monday, August 08, 2005

"...And He Didn't Have Any Pants On!"

Yesterday, we went over to some friends house to celebrate someone's birthday. One person was talking about how awkward it is when you are trying to tell a funny story and nobody is laughing. You keep adding comments to make it more humorous and you just dig yourself deeper and deeper. Some people say, "You had to be there." Some say, "I'm an idiot!" My best friend in college would always add, "...and he didn't have any pants on!" That seemed to work everytime. Adding these few words to any story makes it funny. I told the whole party about the pants comment and we had a fun time using it all day. So, next time you are telling a funny story and your audience is giving you blank stares, just add, "...and he didn't have any pants on!"

Sunday, August 07, 2005

Internal Clock

Last night, I set the alarm for 7:45am. After I was settled in bed, I realized that I actually needed to get up at 7:30. This morning, I woke up with a start and looked at the time. It was 7:28am. I do that everytime.

I always woke up about 5 minutes before my mom woke me in the mornings. I used to think that it was because I woke up at the same time every morning. However, I have no routine now, and I still wake up in time. I usually turn off the alarm right before it goes off. Once, I woke up one hour early and wondered why. Then, I realized it was daylight's savings time. My internal clock is more accurate than I am.

Everybody has an internal clock. I just trained myself early. It started when I was little and a group of us went camping so that we could see Haley's Comet. You were supposed to be able to see it at 4 or 5 in the morning. When I asked how we could wake up to see it in time, a lady named Mrs. Snyder taught me how to wake up when I wanted. She said just to think about what time I wanted to wake up in the morning just before I go to sleep and it would happen. Ever since, I rarely wake up to the sound of an alarm clock. You should try it. See if it can work for you as well.

Friday, August 05, 2005

Road Trouble

We are on our way to San Antonio, TX---a long drive! We picked up our truck from the repair shop yesterday only to find out that they had backed it into something and put a hole in the side of it. We put it in the shop in order for the air conditioner to be fixed. However, at about 3pm yesterday afternoon, we were sweating in our seats again.

Then, after dinner, we came out and noticed that the framing that holds the propane tank was hanging down almost touching the ground. When I went to the back of the trailer to get a strap, the shelf holding the trusses up near the ceiling of the trailer had broken and the trusses had fallen. Luckily, a guy, Jay, was with us and helped Brock tie up the propane tank and secure the trusses temporarily. We don't have any time to stop and get anything repaired because we have to do a show in San Antonio tonight. Now, I'm holding my breath everytime we hit a bump because I'm just scared that the propane tank will hit the ground! This is not the greatest trip so far.

Thursday, August 04, 2005

Prayer Requests

I have a few prayer requests to share with you. Brock and I have both noticed that whenever we place any prayer request on this blog, it gets done! These prayers are for other people:

1. Our friends who were just recently divorced.

2. A worship leader, Michael Farron, is trying to decide what to do career-wise. He's making some critical decisions and just wants to do whatever the Lord wants him to do.

3. Brock's mom is having trouble with her arm. The problem is in her neck and she has already undergone 2 surgeries to correct this problem. She is in a lot of pain. Plus, she had to quit her job---doctor's orders. Therefore, they are in a financial bind.

4. A friend whom I sense is not very happy right now. She is a young mom.

5. A couple who wants to move to a different location. Pray that the Lord will open doors elsewhere.

6. My friend, Biz, who had a miscarriage and then a molar pregnancy. This is where the baby never forms. Now, because of the molar pregnancy, she has a chance of getting cancer. She also cannot try to get pregnant for another year. Pray for comfort for her and her husband.

Wednesday, August 03, 2005

Stats from the Summer

This is funny. Brock is putting this in our newsletter. These are our statistics from the summer:

62 days on the road and performed in front of 50,000 people.

10,138 miles driven which is the distance between NY and LA 3 and a half times.

52 hotel rooms our favorite being the Hilton in Daytona Beach.

104 restuarants---Some of the best were: Barbara Jean's on St. Simons Island, GA, Marina Cafe in Destin, FL, Canopies in Panama City, FL, Uno's in Daytona, Fish Out of Water in Watercolor, FL, Steamboat Bill's in Lake Charles, LA, Pappasitos in Houston, TX, and Gill's Crawfish Kitchen in DeRidder, LA.

549 bottles of water consumed---If you stacked all of these bottles end on end, they would be the length of 1 and a half football fields!

325 dumb magic jokes our favorite being "Can you make this gut disappear?" To which Brock responded, "Call Jenny Craig."

2 trips to the laundry mat---However, we did have to go purchase new underware toward the end of the summer!

Tuesday, August 02, 2005

Our Fall Schedule

I was just updating our wall calandar with our fall schedule, and it is crazy! In August, we get a slight breather, but September through Thanksgiving is booked solid. However, I'm excited about spending alot of time on the road. I sense that next year at this time, things will be different. I don't think that we will be travelling as hard or in the same way in which we are currently. Therefore, I'm going to take advantage of the road now.

Randy Elrod wrote in his blog a couple of days ago about "Moments and Minutes" (randyelrod.typepad.com). He talked about how minutes get you by whereas moments change you. I can be very task oriented. Sometimes, I don't take the time to savor the moments in life. This year, I intend to do so while on the road. I actually began this thought process at the beginning of the summer. As a result, the summer was more fun and I was less stressed. I didn't know quite what this particular thought process was until I read Randy's blog the other day. You should take the time to read it.

Take time to savor a moment this week. Maybe it is some precious time spent with your children. Maybe it is listening to your favorite CD and really drinking in the lyrics. You could have an extra special worship time with the Lord. You could go to a quiet place out in nature and breathe in the fresh air. Whatever it is, do it. Enjoy just being alive even in an average week of your life.

Monday, August 01, 2005

We're Home!

We're home now. So many things have changed. Some of our close friends moved into a new house. Another couple found out that they are going to have a baby while a different couple got divorced. When I went to the grocery store, I forgot where everything was and what we like to eat at home. Also, I didn't know any of the songs on the radio. I began unpacking and I did not know where I usually put certain things. It's crazy how many things change and how much you forget in a couple of months.

However, it's good to be home. We had some people from our class over for burgers last night. We just wanted to thank them for taking care of our house and lawn while we were away. It was fun! Then, we had so much food left over that we are having some of the Chaos on Wheels guys eat lunch with us. They are in town for a few days.