#GraceWins

#GraceWins. I just loved the theme for this year's SonPower singing, recording and serving trip for my youth age girls! I am desperately trying to get one of the t-shirts to wear. The shape of the cross on the shirt is made up of words written in dark gray that name all kinds of sin. Adultery, anger, depression, coveting, jealousy, selfishness, gluttony. Just to name a few. But right smack in the middle of the cross, in red letters is #GraceWins.

Ok, so enough of that! ;) Now just a few pictures of my people doing their thing last week. Wish the pictures were in some type of order but I don't know how to move them around. ;(

(NG serving at a daycare)

(Nightly devotions. Many nights around 10PM)

(Lovely lunch buddies in the park)

(Matthew West came and performed for the kids)

(Sweet LM helping to clean a Christian grocery store that helps the homeless and low income families)

(LM doing ballet and volleyball at the same time)

(NG at the daycare with her new friend)

(No teenage trip would be complete without a selfie or two)

(NG working at the grocery store)

(The massive cross outside of the church they stay at all week)

(Where ballet meets volleyball.)

(Favorite pass time this summer - volleyball)

So, thankful for the adults who feed these kids and drive them around and guide them and protect them. And still have time to take a few pictures. Fun time had by all . . . . 

Youth Groups

Many moons ago I was a skeptic of church youth groups. I belonged to one when I was a preteen/teen and things did not go well. I never really fit in. There were a lot of different reasons for it but when you have unpleasant memories, you tend to make other decisions based on those memories.

Not to mention I just thought God made the family and dog gone it, we were going to do everything as a family. Enter in a Wednesday night worship service with a youth choir that my oldest would potentially be a part of the following year. Those teenage kids were singing their hearts out and for many of them you could just tell in their young faces they were praising Jesus with their voices. I really was blown away. Not just that, but when you watched them, all of them, they were just really great friends. And interacted so well with each other.

So, the following year, when NG entered middle school we allowed her to attend youth choir. Just an hour, once a week. That year she did her very first bike trip and sang a solo and friendships started to blossom. Hearts started to grow. Including mine. For those kids.

That following year, we allowed her, ocassionally, to go to the youth gathering which was right after the youth choir. Hubby would go up or I would hang around. We saw the kids and how they interacted. They included all walks of life. The older kids in the group would encourage everyone to participate in whatever they were doing. I liked what I saw.

The following year both girls were attending youth choir and youth group every. single. Sunday. This year they are participating in almost everything the youth kids do. We have watched first hand these kids grow, move on, and invest in each other, in their church and in their community. NG will be with some of the same kids almost every day for a whole month with camp training, VBS, out of town choir and then working at camp.

At first that would have terrified me. And it still does a little bit because my first born baby is growing up. But, all I have seen from her is growth and a desire to do the things that she knows God wants her to do. She cares for people, she realizes that she has a responsibility to be a good example. She makes mistakes but she is a little bit quicker to own them. She is beginning to understand that pretty much whatever she does affects some one, some how.

We, as parents, could have done most of it. Given life experiences. But, it has been such a blessing to have it reinforced by peers, other adults who travel and teach them, by older kids willing to invest their time and talents.

My babies are gone for the next week. And I know they have a ton of growing to do (don't we all) but I also know they will came back just a little bit changed. And most of it for the better . . .

Silent Sunday - Beach Days

Our Wisconsin Trip

This is how my oldest arrived in Wisconsin, Birkenstocks and capri leggings. Not sure what she was expecting. It didn't take long for her to find shoes that covered her whole foot and pants that covered her whole leg.

Hopefully in the next couple of days I will be posting pictures and thoughts of our adventures in the Frozen Tundra. It had not snowed until about a week before our travel date. And the weather, while we were there was unseasonably warm! It was a wonderful trip seeing the sights, visiting with an old friend and spending lots of time with Gpa and NK.

Stay tuned for my amateur pictures of the winter wonderland. And what Florida kids do in the snow . . . 

Shout Out to My Big Girls

For about six months now I have been serving breakfast once a month in an economically challenged part of town. A bunch of churches in our area have partnered together and for the last 14 years they have been serving breakfast to the homeless and the surrounding neighborhood.

A couple ladies from my church have agreed to take on the fingernail, card sending and coloring table. Just kind of ministering to the kids in the area. It is tough getting up at 6:30 on a Saturday but it is only once a month and honestly when I get down there and start serving I am always thankful I made the effort.

Anyway, because of our crazy Fall Saturday schedule, the two big girls needed to go with me. They were out late last night with their youth group and I am confident I was asleep before they were. In any event, I had to wake them at 6:45. They kind of moaned and groaned a little bit and it took them a few minutes to get it all together but not once did they complain! Not once did they whine and ask why. They were groggy and not overly talkative right away. But never a scowl even when they couldn't find their ballet stuff. (Of which I told them to get together the night before.)

I treated them with breakfast at McDonald's. And they went and served with me and never frowned or rushed me to leave to get them where they needed to be. They engaged the kids we served and helped with what they could.

For those who know me, I am super hard on my kids. My expectations are probably too high. But, this morning they lived up to those expectations and as I dropped them off at ballet I just told them how much I loved serving with them this morning!

When weariness hits this afternoon, it will probably be a little bit different story. But, I will take what I can get, when I can get it. Happy Saturday! . . . .

In a Nutshell

I could go on and on about the girls bike trip this year. But, it would take too long and I wouldn't finish so I decided to just write down the few memorable moments they shared with me so we would have it down for posterity.

The first biking day was hard. Really hard. Little Mama didn't make it along with two other girls. They were a couple of the younger riders. It was super hot and crazy hilly and 50 miles. Daddy used his parental discretion and had LM get in the truck. Had it not been for her hospital stay 10 days prior he might not have been so gracious because he knew she could do it.

They next day they spent the whole day in a really nice, really huge retirement community. Their Youth Choir director went up to what he thought was an outside restaurant type deal filled with Vietnam Vets. He asked if the kids could sing for them. Turns out it was a bar and while the kids were signing all of the people passed a hat and collected like $70. They insisted that our pastor take it and walk down the road and buy all the kids ice cream!

Next, they "opened" for a local band called Randy and the Rockets or some such name. They really couldn't stand on the stage because they would have needed a permit. But, while the concert goers were waiting for the main attraction, the kids sang off to the side.

That night they performed for a dinner show. (I think it was that night.) Members of one of the church bought spaghetti dinners and the kids served it and then sang their performance. They people very graciously recorded the whole event and put it on Facebook.

The next day I was a mess because it was another 50 mile ride and I wanted LM to succeed. I knew she could do it. I also wanted the other two girls to finish the ride that day. I spent all day praying and checking Facebook to see what I could see.  Finally daddy called and I knew she had done it. Along with the other two girls. I was so, so thankful!

LM shared with me that instead of thinking about herself on her second 50 mile ride, she concentrated on encouraging those around her. Taking the focus off of her and putting her focus towards others. And it worked! She said it was an "easy" ride! The night before, the student leader of devotions, talked about encouraging others. Not just how encouraging others can help one another but in an off hand way it can bless you as well.  And Little Mama was paying attention!

The last day was a short ride, 30 plus miles to the beach. When they arrived, they stuck their front tire in the Atlantic, sang one more song to some people on the beach and had a great time just playing around.

A few of us moms drove the four hours to get them. Literally pulled up to the beach and loaded them up and headed back for home. I had a car full of girls. I thought they would sleep. They didn't. They talked and laughed and reminisced the entire time!

Nature Girl was worried that it wouldn't be as much fun as serving at the children's home last year. But she worried for nothing. She liked how last year they biked some where and stayed for a bunch of days. Getting to know kids and serving. But this year NG said she really enjoyed the fact that they got to sing a whole lot more. They sang at least once a day, if not more.

The trip is in the books. More memories made. They days of these youth are not being wasted that is for sure. . . .

(There are well over a hundred pictures. These are just a few in random order. I don't think I will ever have them all. I am not even sure I have seen them all.)

Ballerina Days

Not only have the big girls been preparing for a bike trip but all of them have had recitals in the last couple weeks. I love, love, love to watch them dance. I know I have said that before but it just never gets old. All three of them have improved a great deal this year.

EG would like to do something else I think. Although she isn't exactly sure (nor am I.) I think she finds ballet a bit confining. Next year she may try ballet/tap. We shall see.

For now we are taking a much needed break over the summer . . .

And They Are Off

I will be sharing a lot of pictures on Facebook of our church's Youth Choir Bike Trip. I dropped a bunch of them off yesterday afternoon around 4. They got organized, did a sound check, ate dinner and performed for the church's Sunday night service. Then it was devotions, getting set up for the night and in bed by 10. Up at 5:30 I think it was, traveled down to the beach, sang for the park ranger, put the back tire in the Gulf of Mexico and off they were off.

Fifty miles today. Maybe singing tonight. Service projects tomorrow at a huge retirement community and then some R & R. Then back on the road Wednesday for another 50. Singing that night and then Thursday on the road for 30 and front tires in the Atlantic.

Just a brief overview of what I know is going on. I will get periodic updates from hubby. So, so thankful he is on the trip. Such a great group of kids (and adults) who are so willing to serve in this awesome adventure of Coastal for Christ . . .

Wedding Bells

Welcome to the family Alex Corder!  

So, when Alex posted on FaceBook or Instagram "Jamaica with my beautiful wife." or something along those lines, it kind of threw me for a loop!  Oh wow, he is married too!  (Weddings are mostly about the brides, right?)

Then, the other day my mom sent a group text "How is your husband?"  I automatically thought about mine.  Then I realized "Hey, we BOTH have husbands now."  It has been great thinking about it all!

The pictures are in no particular order because I have copied them from others who have taken the pictures! I have a bunch more that I need to go through and will post more soon.  Hopefully.

It was a rainy day and it was an outdoor wedding.  But, very wisely, my sister made the decision to have the reception inside.  But, still wanted to get married outside.  We braved the drizzle and it was beautiful and so special. I actually felt it made it more intimate.

The preacher did an awesome job in reminding me that marriage isn't about ourselves but about our spouses. And most importantly about Jesus.  It was a really great reminder for me.  And an awesome beginning to marriage.

The photographer was phenomenal.  Hubby was wondering if she would hang off a tree just to be able to get the picture exactly right!

I think this First Look is kind of new.  And, of course, it takes me awhile to get with change.  But, after watching them, although I am not sure we were suppose to, I get it.  So sweet to enjoy each others company before the ceremony.  Who said the groom can't see the bride before the wedding anyway??

Birthday girl!  Nature Girl is fourteen and so, so sweet to share her day with her favorite aunt!  Sissy did a great job in making sure she wasn't over looked.  She was sang to twice.  Once in the dressing room and then once at the reception.  A great birthday cupcake.

I loved getting all dressed up.  Hubby had the option to wear a suit instead of a tux but I insisted on the tux. He hasn't worn one since our wedding! We had a great time!

Mr. and Mrs. Corder!  Such a handsome couple! Love them to pieces.

Yay!!  Love their smiles!

My hubby had the honor of walking her down the aisle and giving her away.  Two of my favorite peeps!

Had to have a family photo with us all looking so good.  Hubby gave Sissy away, I was a bridesmaid, big girls Junior Bridesmaids, EG flower girl and Boop ring bearer.  I loved that we could all be a part of her big day.

Rehearsal dinner the night before.  

Crazy that it was too weeks ago. . .