Life on the move...Blogging on hold.

So I just happened upon my own blog and saw my last post is from October! All is well, all is very good, actually. Turns out I'm learning as I live, and ministry=life is one lesson learned. Wonderfully encompassed by all things kids ministryg - GraceKids at an amazing Hudson Valley church that is growing beyond our imaginations and is fully devoted to the Holy Spirit as it is reaching our county and beyond. I'm ever so thankful that I get to be a part of this.

I do get to check out and unplug on Mondays, but it's usually spent on family, the house, and occasionally a walk with the dogs (when it's not snowing in NY, which is never...)

Perhaps I'll be able to pick up a page someday again, but I'm now at occasionally thinking about scrapbooking rather than always thinking in page titles. :) My camera is still pretty attached to me, but the pictures don't make it to pages these days. Maybe one day again - I do miss it, but am super happy where life is outside of the scraproom.

To end today, sharing my current favorite worship song. I used to say when God is done with me, He'll open up doors to let me sing again (just as He closed the doors leading me off worship team and into kidsmin years ago). Perhaps I'll see that reward in heaven, but I will continue to use car time as worship time in the meantime. :) Enjoy. And peace out, at least for a while.

Speaking of being called...

Matthew 14:

22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”29 “Come,” he said.Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Musical Monday ~ Victor's Crown

Just wanted to let y'all know what I've been singing lately, thanks to our amazing worship team. You should hear McKenna sing it, too. :) Have a great day.

Be amazed.

In case today is a tough day for you:

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.james 1:12

Musical Mondays ~ 10,000 Reasons

I hope you've heard this one by now. There was one service that I heard it going in, while in, and going out - and I listened every time. One of my favorite worship moments last week was hearing and watching 6,000 people in Georgia worshiping Jesus together. Can't get enough.

Enjoy.

Psalm 103

English Standard Version (ESV)

Bless the Lord, O My Soul

Of David.

103 

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

    and all that is within me,

    bless his holy name!

² 

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

    and forget not all his benefits,

³ 

who forgives all your iniquity,

    who heals all your diseases,

⁴ 

who redeems your life from the pit,

    who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

⁵ 

who satisfies you with good

    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

⁶ 

The Lord works righteousness

    and justice for all who are oppressed.

⁷ 

He made known his ways to Moses,

    his acts to the people of Israel.

⁸ 

The Lord is merciful and gracious,

    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

⁹ 

He will not always chide,

    nor will he keep his anger forever.

¹⁰ 

He does not deal with us according to our sins,

    nor repay us according to our iniquities.

¹¹ 

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

    so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;

¹² 

as far as the east is from the west,

    so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

¹³ 

As a father shows compassion to his children,

    so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.

¹⁴ 

For he knows our frame;^[a]

    he remembers that we are dust.

¹⁵ 

As for man, his days are like grass;

    he flourishes like a flower of the field;

¹⁶ 

for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,

    and its place knows it no more.

¹⁷ 

But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,

    and his righteousness to children's children,

¹⁸ 

to those who keep his covenant

    and remember to do his commandments.

¹⁹ 

The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,

    and his kingdom rules over all.

²⁰ 

Bless the Lord, O you his angels,

    you mighty ones who do his word,

    obeying the voice of his word!

²¹ 

Bless the Lord, all his hosts,

    his ministers, who do his will!

²² 

Bless the Lord, all his works,

    in all places of his dominion.

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

Musical Monday ~ You Are by Colton Dixon

So much to praise God for!







Wait - I haven't posted this song yet? I have a million times in my head.
My new turn-it-up-so-loud-and-sing-even-louder-in-the-car song.

Way to go, Colton.

He is your praise and He is your God, who has done these great and awesome things for you which your eyes have seen ... Deuteronomy 10:21 .

Musical Mondays ~ Need You Now

Love this song. Just love it. In good times and bad. Love it.

Need You Now (How Many Times) by Plumb

I sing this so loud in my car. So desperately. So... Plumb.

Musical Mondays ~ Where I Belong

Our lead Pastor, Pastor Jarrod Jones, is doing a wonderful series on how we're made for far more than this world - it's great for those who can't accept their mortality, let alone their immortality. Actually, so far, it's great for everyone. I hear seasoned Gracers and brand new Gracers walking away and talking about what's being given. It's simple, but not soft. Love that. Anyhow, it's a lot from Ecclesiates (which apparently I've never studied much), and it's called Rumors of Another World - did you know you can listen to any of Grace's sermons via Podcast? Check those out here.

So this is one of my current favorite songs (I get so giddy and so happy teary!) and it goes along quite well with what we're listening to at Grace every weekend. Enjoy!

Musical Mondays ~ God Bless the U.S.A.

Respecting and Honoring our veterans today - including one very special one.

Thank you for making it possible for me to sing this song. :)

Musical Mondays ~ On the Pontoon

My current favorite song.
Our 2012 super summer song.
My ringtone at the moment.
6yo Daughter knows every word!
#JustForFun

On the Pontoon by Little Big Town

Musical Mondays ~ Nostalgia in Rainbows

Back to Blogging...
Nah, I didn't have much time to blog over the summer. or clean my house. or remain organized. but family time is so much more precious, isn't it? No regrets, here!

I guess I'm feeling a bit blessed today. :)

As school is back in session in two days, we say farewell to summer. Nostalgia strikes like a hot iron and I find refuge in sweet songs like this.

Enjoy!

Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole

I know it's on Finding Forrester, but does anyone remember the heartbreaking episode of e.r.?

p.s. What a Wonderful World is one of my absolute favorite songs ever - especially a Christmas version of Sleep Well, Little Children/What a Wonderful World by Kristin Chenoweth.

2 Corinthians 9:15

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁵ Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

and gifts!

Musical Mondays ~

Hey! Happy summer, everyone! I know I have a lot to catch up on, and I promise I will do so over the next few weeks; but for now, it's good to be home and enjoying summer!


Wanted to clue you into a song that has struck me hard the past few months - got me thru end of school, June planning and July SummerQuest VBS. It's a song that plays and makes me want to just turn it up LOUD, take a knee, and block the rest of the world out. As the matter of fact, I have done just that!

Enjoy: How He Loves (Us) sung by David Crowder

Musical Mondays ~ I am her Sunshine ☼

This is my mom's song. Her song to me. Her song to all of her grandkids. Enjoy. ☼

The one you hear on my Playlist is 'You Are My Sunshine' by J.C. Wilson. I'm such a sucker for anything with a ukulele in it, I've considered doing a ukulele series of Musical Mondays...

Musical Mondays ~ Edelweiss

So my dad will probably kill me if he knew I was spotlighting him, but I thought I'd do two musical weeks devoted to my parents. My dad is pretty amazing. He's got a heart of gold. He's got a heart for Christ and a heart for faith. He rarely expects a thank you yet he taught us to say it all the time. Most of my personality comes directly from him, probably my forehead, too (thanks, Dad). He's not afraid to make mistakes. He rarely misses a teaching moment. He never sensationalizes anything unless it's the truth. He always seemed to know everything about everything - he's still the one I go to for answers I can't find anywhere else.And yet, as a former pilot for 40 years, he was the one who had me convinced that he knew every type of airplane flying in the sky, no matter how high or small, simply by calling it a B-1-R-d; and yes, it took me until I was about 21 to figure that one out...

I also don't know why this song reminds me of him. Not sure if he sang it to me. Not sure if it's because he plays guitar (self-taught, I might add). Not sure if it's our European living experience when I was little.

I invite you to turn off my Playlist (at the very bottom of my blog) and listen to this YouTube version of Julie Andrews and John Denver singing Edelweiss - it melts my heart!

So here's to you, Dad, my number one fan. I appreciate you more than you'll ever know!

Musical Mondays ~ The Revelation Song

Please note that I wrote this blog post last Thursday, scheduled it for four days later, and added the song to my blog lineup that Friday. There are no coincidences. Our amazing worship team used this song {last} weekend, and I certainly didn't want to take away from the fact that Bonnie, Jeff and the team worshipped with this song to its higher level. The fact that I would love to sing it to the masses one day is completely unrelated to this weekend's team performance. 3-25-2012

----------------------------------

I know it's not that old, but this has got to my most favorite song ever. Especially the Kari Jobe (album) version. I seriously play it so loudly in my car, I'm surprised I've never gotten in trouble over it. :)

It is a dream that I might one day get to sing this with a band. One day - the right one, at the right time - perhaps...

Musical Mondays ~ Legacy

Ohh, I just love this song. It's always been about leaving more than just picture and paper for me, and certainly teaching children about salvation has opened my eyes as well.

If you want a little more... please see the podcasts somewhere between #46 & #59 for a really neat series our lead Pastor, Jarrod Jones, spoke about. Enjoy.

Musical Mondays ~ Grenade

I just love this song. Can't get enough of it. I don't know if it's the passion in the words. I don't know if it's the anxiety in the vocals. I just love it. And Delilah, from The Sing Off, has performed my favorite rendition, by a mile further than any other.

Enjoy.

Musical Mondays ~ This is the Stuff

(As seen on Facebook, plus two I previously forgot:)

1. We leave early for open gym(nastics) to give Matthew a chance, he doesn't want to participate. 
2. I go to the Verizon store to hook up the replacement phone and get a text from one of Doug's friends. Verizon hooked my phone up with Doug's #.
3. Verizon says they need me on the phone to switch it back, but not on either one of our #s.
4. I go back to the gym for McKenna's class and now she doesn't want to participate.
5. So back to the Verizon store (you all can imagine how much I love traipsing around Newburgh) and they switch our numbers, but they can't hook Doug's back up. I bring him home a new sim card. 
6. Matthew dropped his iTouch in the yard of Milo's breeders so we had to turn around and go back to find it.
7. I get home and fine 3 pages of extra homework for Matthew. yay.
8. We're playing with Milo in the kitchen and he just hauls off and pees on the floor right in front of us. (?!)
9. Working on the replacement phone and
(a) most of my contacts' phone #s are gone.
(b) my replacement phone (lower half, keyboard) isn't working!
(c) my brand-new case broke.
You can tell I've been working on my temper bc so far I've held it together pretty well... and I'm thankful for what went WELL today! (Doug did all the laundry, kitchen is spotless, my car didn't break down lol, well behaved minis all day and very little bedtime resistance...)
*sigh. I wish I liked wine.


Good thing I'm taken care of.

Musical Mondays ~ Arms Wide Open

I've gotten the most hits on this blog on an old post titled 'Live your life with arms wide open...' I'm guessing people are looking for a place to fall? I've been intentionally living with my arms wide open, leaning and falling into the arms of Christ for at least 5 years. Before that, I was as living just as well (He has always, always been there), I just wasn't quite as aware.

So in honor of that post and this one, please enjoy
'Unwritten' by Natasha Bedingfield



p.s. I really like 'Arms Wide Open' by Creed, but that's just not where I'm at right now!

Musical Mondays ~ Fly, Fly Away

Heard this song on the Sirius Broadway station last week and immediately fell in love with it. I'm so sad I missed this show, I think I would have really enjoyed it. From the Bible, the "rock" references hit home the most. From life, "fly" references click with me. My grandmother's favorite animal was the butterfly and she passed that love to the rest of her family way before butterflies were in fashion. I can't tell you how much I've learned from the traits of that butterfly. Ӝ


Fly, Fly Away sung by Kerry Butler from Catch Me If You Can

Men who you call real were really fakes who left me nothing
But this man you call a fake gave me something real
I've known cruel men with Christian names that taught me manners
But this man without a name taught me how to feel
People only saw the doctor, lawyer, Indian chief
But he was just a lonely little boy to me
With his sweet and gentle touch he sure unlocked my soul
So in return I surely want to help to set him free
Yeah, now I wanna see him fly, fly
I'll be your alibi, my baby
Fly, fly, fly away
We didn't get to say goodbye, goodbye
No need to tell me why, my baby
Maybe it's because you'll fly back home to me one day

When I was a child, my eyes were clear, I saw the good side
That's the kind of second sight that doesn't last too long
But when I was lost, I heard a voice that brought me healing
That's the kind of special hope he brought me with his song
They only saw the magic tricks, the smoke and mirrors
Was I the only one to ever see the boy?
So now they want to clip his precious wings and bring him down
But in his heart and soul's the kind of good they can't destroy
Yeah, now I wanna see him fly, fly
I'll be your alibi, my baby
Fly, fly, fly away
We didn't get to say goodbye, goodbye
No need to tell me why, my baby
Maybe it's because you'll fly back home to me one day

Baby, when you're in the clouds, please keep a lookout
Maybe, darling, find a hideaway for you and I, you and I

And now I wanna see you fly, fly
I'll be your alibi, my baby
Fly, fly, fly away
We didn't get to say goodbye, goodbye
No need to tell me why, my baby
Maybe it's because you'll fly back home to me one day
Maybe it's because you'll fly back home to me one day

Maybe it's because you'll fly back home to me one day

And I'll be waiting for you there
You'll fly back home to me one day.

Musical Mondays ~ He Reigns

I was blessed to sing on the worship team for one year at GraceOC before God gloriously rerouted me towards the children's ministry. As I mentioned before, I grew up singing in churches - I started when I was about 8 years old. Recently I shared with a friend how three musical ministers or worship leaders have played a mentor role in my life.

One of my favorite experiences was learning and singing this song. I just love how it encompasses and spreads love to many, many lands (Orange County and beyond, anyone?) I can listen to it over and over and over again, except for the fact that it might make me drive a little too fast. :)

p.s. I just found a kid version of this song via Group's vbs, Pandamania and will share it with the GL_at_GraceOC kids one of these weekends!

Newsboys singing He Reigns:

Musical Mondays ~ how it all goes

It was a perfect morning. No request proved too difficult.

Where is my library book, I can't find it anywhere? On your desk.
Can you open my GoGurts? Without scissors, all 3.
Cream cheese on a bagel and lunch in a bag as he walks out the door.
Lunches packed, backpacks on, scooted out the door five minutes early.

Just to name a few.

The rest of the day might not have gone so well, including two sick dogs and an expensive trip to the vet, but still - if it had to be done, Mom got it done that day!

Made me think of all the Mom songs out there -
http://youtu.be/RxT5NwQUtVM is a funny one.
But we all love to feel appreciated so I'm posting this one for now:




Proverbs 31: 30
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, 
   but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. ...and read the rest of Proverbs 31, too!