Labor Day

Happy Labor Day weekend! We went to the county fair last night. I rode the tilt-a-whirl a couple of times. It's my favorite ride! Brock watched me. (Nobody else seems to like that ride.) Then, we watched a motocross race there. It was fun!

Today, we are planning to have our craziest Party with a Purpose yet. Some of my friends said that August is the only month that doesn't have some sort of holiday. So, they created their own...Be Your Own Superhero Day. We are all meeting at a Mexican restaurant after church in our superhero costumes. We are going to explain each of our superhero powers and our "story." Then, we will vote on the best girl and guy. I'm sure that I will have videos and pictures to share with you for days! We are raising money for a missionary in Africa.

On Monday, Brock is planning to ride his dirtbike with the guys, and I'm going to the girls' house to swim at their pool. When Brock gets done riding, he's going to meet up with me at the girls' house where we'll grill. Do you have any plans this weekend?

Top 5 Wildlife

1. Sea turtles
2. Starfish
3. Sharks
4. Crabs
5. Snails

Top 5 Memory Making Moments

1. The ministry time that Brock led after Steph shared.
2. The time of repentance backstage.
3. The time I was able to spend with my sister and Barbara.
4. The chocolate tastings at Superwow.
5. Having some of our community at camp with us.

Me, my sister, and my mom at my sister's baby shower.

Top 5 Fun Times

1. The party at our house near the 4th of July
2. The crazy night at Destin Commons with the Superwow staff.
3. Rides down the zipline.
4. The day we rented a boat with the Superwow staff.
5. Freezing at camp when Brock blew the airhorn.

Some of us on the boat.

Top 5 Desserts

1. Key Lime Pie at Flounders in Pensacola, FL

2. Dutch Crumb donuts at the Donut Hole in Destin, FL


3. Any kind of cake at the Modeca Market in Seaside, FL (we ate 6 of them)

4. Any kind of dessert at Marina Cafe (we tried 5 of them)


5. The chocolate covered toffee apple from The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Shop

Top 5 Restaurants

The top 5 restaurants from the summer are:
1. Marina Cafe (which is where we are in the video below)
2. Dewey Destins (the place where we sat right on the dock and ate fresh seafood caught that day)
3. Bombay Masala (Where Barbara, Lindsey, and Jacob had their first try of Indian food)
4. McGuire's (an Irish place where people are tricked by the bathrooms)
5. LaHacienda (a great Mexican restaurant where we stopped to eat with Brock's family)

Top 5 Beautiful Places

1. Sunset on Fort Walton Bay


2. Estes Park, CO


3. The Black Canyon in Montrose, CO


4. Fort Walton Beach, FL


5. Seaside, FL

Summer's Gone

Summer is officially over in my mind. We did some school assemblies last week, and my mom's students start on Monday. That means that it's over...maybe not the season (I think that it goes through Sept.), but the break is over. Some of you might be glad that school's beginning. Some of you parents enjoyed the extra time with your kids but are glad to get some free time back. Some of you enjoy getting back into a routine. I was always ready to begin a new year with new experiences, new classes, new people awaiting me. Brock said that he never was excited about going back to school. Maybe some of your kids or you students share Brock's opinion.

Our schedule is set up kinda the same way as when we were in school. We do different kinds of shows during the summer meaning camps and festivals. With this comes a different schedule. When school starts back up, we begin doing our normal shows. I think that most everybody still has a school sort of schedule in some ways. Even if you don't have kids in school, or you are not a student yourself, you still are more laid back in the summer. Most people take more vacations in the summer.

Isn't it funny how the summer is the slowest, quickest time of your life? It seems to crawl by and fly by all at the same time. I don't know why that is. Time's a funny thing.

Anyway, I always evaluate the summer at the end of it. I've comprised a top 5 list of different things from this summer that I'll be sharing with you this week...

Butterflies

Over the last 5 years, the Lord has used butterflies to show me His presence. One day, as I was mowing, I was talking with the Lord, and a butterfly kept flying around me. I thought that was strange because I figured that the noise of the mower and my constant motion would keep away a butterfly. This butterfly was persistent. I felt as if the Lord was saying that He was always with me. After I got done mowing, I sat with Brock on the back patio. As I was telling Brock about the butterfly, it showed up again. This time, it came and landed on me. It just sat there for a while.

Since then, the Lord has sent me a few butterflies. One time, I was running on an unfamiliar road that was sparse of people. I got a little nervous until I saw that butterfly right there flying beside me. I even had one come up to me last week during our hectic schedule in Georgia.

I know that it's not the same butterfly every time. However, it looks exactly the same. It's a gorgeous yellow with brown and reddish spots. It's simply perfect!

The other day, I was out on the back patio doing my Bible study. That butterfly came out of nowhere and landed on my hand. He sat there for about 5 minutes and then flew away. After another minute or two, he flew back over to me this time resting on my study guide. He did this a few times, sometimes on my hand or leg and other times on my study guide. It's my little indication from the Lord that He is there for me.

The Pressure of the Olympic Competitions

I cannot imagine the pressure that the athletes in the Olympics are under. They practice and train for hours daily for years for this one event. When it comes to swimming or the running, it's such a short time of competition. Did you see that guy last night break the world record for the 200m run? That was less than 20 seconds of his life, but it was the most important 20 seconds. In the last Olympics, there was a girl who was running the marathon and doing well (maybe 2nd place or something), yet 3 miles before the finish line, she just had a breakdown. She couldn't handle it.

We have other friends who are in competitions like Kevin Johnson, motocross rider who won a gold at the X Games. He races almost every weekend, and he knows that his livelihood all depends on if he wins races. That's a lot of pressure.

You've heard me talk about the pressures of live performances before...how 30 minutes onstage is equivalent to an 8 hour work day when it comes to stress and physical pressure. (That means that we worked overtime last week doing 10 shows in 4 days). However, I feel like it's nothing compared to the pressure of these athletes. It's cool that they are the best in the world, but I don't think that I could do it even if I was the best in the world at something. It's just too much pressure!

The Olympics

I'm enjoying watching the Olympics. Last time, I didn't even really know that it was on. This year, I'm watching it every chance I get. I love the swimming, track, and gymnastics. What are you watching the most?

It's incredible to think that you are seeing the best in the world at that particular sport. Their bodies are incredible. It makes me feel really guilty as I'm sitting on the couch eating my chocolate as I watch. They train so many hours.

I know one thing...that McDonalds commercial is fake. There is no way that they even touch McDonalds. Have you seen it? They hold that chicken sandwich like it's an alien. The only one who actually takes a bite is the body builder. He might be a little more lax in what he eats. I bet the others threw their sandwich in the trash after they shot that commercial! What do you think about the Olympics?

Pics from Blairsville

Brock performing at a school assembly


One of the volunteers onstage got a bag that was malfunctioned. Two bags were stuck together, and Brock thought that it was so funny! He paused his show in order to get a picture.


This is where we ate dinner every night with Lindsey and Shannon. We sat at the same table at our hotel every night and had family dinner.


One night while we were eating, this couple came in. They are Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson Davis.


This little guy, Tommy, sat by Brock during the entire service Sunday morning.

Blairsville, GA Shows

We did 10 shows here in Blairsville, GA. Over 7 hours of that was unique material. I feel so blessed that we have that much material. In fact, we didn't even do some of the big illusions that are exclusive to the Freedom Experience. So, we probably have 10 hours worth of unique shows.

I remember when we first got married, and we barely had an hour long show. That's how the ping pong balls and underwater escape were birthed. The underwater escape began by Brock getting all chained up and jumping into the deep end of the pool at camps. Wow! Things have changed a lot in 10 years.

The shows went well. Lots of people showed up despite all of the other things (like a rodeo) that were going on. It was a good week here in Big Foot country!!!

Big Foot Found in the Blue Ridge Mountains

Blairsville, GA---Night 1

We made it through yesterday. That's the toughest day of all. First of all, we had to get up early to go to the school assemblies (some of you are saying, "Quit your whining! I get up early everyday!"). Both assemblies were great! However, there was a bomb threat during the first assembly. They didn't make the students leave, though. They simply had the teachers go through the school..."sweep" the school, as they called it. We didn't know until after it was over. We only noticed that the teachers kept leaving. That was a first!

Then, we went to the venue and set up for the show. This took longer than I expected. We were setting up for a solid 3 hours. Thank goodness for Lindsey! She set up the merch herself. Then, Shannon came in right before the show started and took care of our music cues. It's a great team.

We didn't have a lot in attendance last night. I think that it's because it's a school night and the school we did the assembly in was a middle school about 15 minutes away. One girl at the school said that she was coming that night. Then, she said, "Oh wait! I can't drive!" Today will be better. We are in the schools in the area, and tonight begins the weekend. Pray that lots of people come.

Blairsville, GA

Pray for us this week. We are doing a lot of shows in Blairsville, GA. The shows include: four school shows on Thursday and Friday, and two shows on Sunday morning, as well as a show every night Thursday through Sunday. Pray for strength for us. Pray that this town will be changed by the power of the Lord.

The good news is that we have Lindsey the fire eater with us. Also, Shannon is coming in tomorrow to help us. I'm so excited to have her helping us!

Going Postal

Tuesdays are meeting day for Brock. This means that it's errand day for me. Brock hates running errands, but I actually enjoy it. It gives me some time to myself. I purposely take my time and browse a little if I feel like it.

I try not to be one of those demanding customers...you know the ones that expect the salesclerk to bend over backwards for them. However, today, I got perturbed with the ladies at the post office. I went to the envelop section because I needed to mail a few dvd's, and I didn't have any padded envelops. They were out of almost everything on the shelf. I thought that maybe they had more in stock in the back. Since there was a long line, I asked the lady at the counter while she was in between customers if they had any in the back. She looked at me very annoyed and said that they would check for me in a minute.

After a couple of minutes, I got in line. When I reached the counter, another lady "helped" me. She said that whatever they had was on the shelf. If it wasn't there, they didn't have it. She was very annoyed with me as well. I didn't speak rudely to them or anything. They were more rude to me, and they weren't apologetic at all. Oh well! I went to Kmart to pick up some envelops, and I went to another post office. Now, I know to get the envelops ahead of time and go to the post office in downtown Franklin (they are nicer). Is this why they say "going postal?"

Baking

I told you that lately, every time that we're home, I get in the mood to bake. I don't really enjoy making big meals, but just baking. Last night, I decided to make something. I only had a few things on hand, so I decided to make oatmeal cookies. I had all of the ingredients...I thought! When it came time for the oatmeal, I realized that I only had a little left. It was only 1/3 of what I needed. I had already blended everything else.

This is the time when I don't really like that we live out in the sticks. I had a decision to make. Was it worth it to drive the 15 miles there and back to the grocery store? Or should I take out 2/3 of what I'd already made and just make a small batch of cookies using the oatmeal that I already had?

What would you have done? Keep in mind that it was 7:30pm. By that time of day, all discipline is out the window! You better believe that I drove the 15 miles or whatever it was to get the oatmeal!

Rock the Desert

Rock the Desert this last weekend was great! The people are so nice in west Texas. The food was great! Lots of friends were there...Brad Fogarty, Group1Crew, Outcast bmx guys, and others. It was fun!

On Saturday, it was extra hot...over 100 degrees! That was a little tiring, but everyone was out there sweating together. We had another show that afternoon there. I had on black flip flops and they looked completely brown by the end. It was so dusty that I felt like I had dirt in every crevasse. I took a very long shower at the end of that day.

Everyone was so pleased with Friday night. So many people came to know Christ. They flooded the ministry tent. Brock really has a gift at grabbing everyone's attention (even in a big field, outside, with thousands of people, and so many distractions) and holding it long enough to share the simple, clear gospel. He was in his element Friday night, and when it was time for the Holy Spirit's part (the invitation), He shined of course!

One of the Best Shows Ever!!!

We are here, in Midland, TX, at a huge festival called Rock the Desert. This was the line-up:
Group1Crew
FamilyForce5
Brock
Newsboys
Wow! Those are some of my favorite people. We stepped onto the stage, the air was cooler (it had been hot, but when the sun goes down, it cools off in the desert). There were people as far as the eye could see (about 15,000 people...the most we've ever been in front of in one night, I think). We had so much fun with everyone! I helped get the volunteers onto the stage. Then, Brock shared the gospel. I didn't know that the "holy hush" as I call it, could happen with such a large group, but it did. The talking and moving stopped. Then, many people poured into the ministry tent saying that they were ready to give their lives to Christ that night. We ended with a bang on the motorcycle. What a night!

Today, we are doing a smaller show in a side tent. Then, we fly out super early tomorrow. West Texas crowds are some of my favorite!