Come Save

Here is my new favorite song... hope you enjoy it as well. Below I am posting a few comments from her about what inspired the song.     LOVE IT!!!!!!

 

 

Summer Fun

 

It was HOT today... We did end up spending part of the day up in Atlanta at the High Museum checking out the classic car exhibit. So we managed to stay out of the heat... but this evening the boys were still hot. So, what do you do with 2 bored, hot, restless boys?  Yep, tell them to go outside and turn on the sprinkler!

The next few pictures are of the boys using the slip n slide. They are dark... it is my first attempt at using the manual focus on my camera... and I still can't quite figure all of it out. But, I guess the best way to do that is play around with it!

Just so you know, I suffered for my art here... I got a ton of mosquito bites while taking these pictures!  Devon came in the house when they were all done, and said,"Wow, today turned out really well!" Funny how a few hours of fun and laughter with your brother can make you forget the whole day you just spent arguing with him! Now they are happily getting ready for bed and sleeping in the same room together (they do each have their own room), thanks God for brothers who really do love each other!

My husband is a rock star...

"The place where God calls you is where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet." Friederich Buechner

Here is Jon's latest video! (thanks riotshark.com) I really love how it turned out. If you like the video, please repost it! If you like the song and want to hear more go to BugNogMusic.com and buy an album! The quote above is one that we came across on our way into full time missions and I was just reminded of it again the other day. I think it is so true! God places certain passions and desires in us that we can be using to further His Kingdom. We just need to ask how we can be using these gifts for Him! I know this is not always easy... trust me, it was not easy to leave a steady job, house and family in California and move 3000 miles away, but God has shown us so many things along this journey! I am still amazed that Jon is able to take his passion, his love for writing and playing music and make a full time job out of it, AND use it for Kingdom purposes. Wow... thanks God! For me personally... I am still trying to figure out what I am supposed to be doing. I love working with kids, and I do help out in church. I love to dance, and I am now on the path to bettering my skills. I never would have thought at 37 years old that I would start ballet lessons! But, God has used it, used it to touch others, and used it to teach me things. He is cool like that... :)  Are you using your passions to further God's Kingdom?  Just something I have been thinking about for myself, so I thought I would throw that challenge out there for you as well!

Frustrated

Okay, this is me getting on my soap box... A few hours ago I saw a 30 second clip from Katy Perry's new music video for "California Gurls". Now, I have loved that song since it came out... really cute, fun summer tune.  We listen to lots of different music at our house, and I personally have had tons of secular songs "speak to me" just as much as Christian songs. When I first saw the video clip, I have to admit I laughed... but I was by myself and my boys were not around. The more I thought about it, the more my stomach starting tying up in knots. My kids have sung this song in the car with me and I am positive the "melt your popsicle" line goes right over their heads (for now). This video will hit MTV tomorrow... and lots of impressionable young boys (and girls for that matter) will watch it over and over... is this really the image of girls I want to put in my boys' heads? NOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

I thought about posting the clip here... but can't get myself to do it. I am struggling with how as a Jesus following mother do I protect my boys from this kind of garbage? I know the obvious answer is not to turn music channels on (and we don't usually, unless the boys are in bed or they are watching with us). Ty knows that if he is watching VH1 on Saturday morning for the video countdown and a Lady GaGa song comes on, he is to turn the channel, and he does!  But obviously I can't control what goes on when they are at friends houses. I just pray that Jon and I are teaching them the importance of guarding their eyes from what they look at and guarding their heart and mind when they are not with us.

Now, I realize that some of you reading this might not agree with me, might think I am being over protective or just silly about the whole thing and that is okay with me.  If you struggle with this, let me know... maybe we can bounce ideas off each other. If you think I am crazy, you can let me know that as well... I won't be offended! :)

I will make it!

Jon comes home tomorrow! I am so thrilled! He has been gone for almost 3 weeks, and man am I tired! It is not even that the boys are bad, they really are good boys... it is just HARD work being a single parent! I have a whole new outlook on what other people go through! Once again, God has been good... He has sustained me, given me extra patience, comforted me when I couldn't sleep at night, helped me to be loving to the boys even when I was tired and just wanted time to myself! I know that sounds selfish, and it is... but you know, sometimes I just need to have "me" time! When they go to bed at night, I am too tired to do anything fun. I had really good intentions to work on my scrapbook this month and that hasn't happened at all! Here are some things I did get done... I painted my kitchen island, cleaned out my closet and organized my filing cabinet, and cleaned out my boys rooms, planted flowers, and mowed the lawn! Pretty good! I did want to stain the back deck, but never did get around to that! oh well. Here is one of my new favorite verses. I think it speaks so clearly of what we need to do as mothers. Yes, we are tired, but if we take that new grip and make sure we are gripping God's hand, He will give us what we need, so that we in turn can raise our children to love the Lord as well. No, it is not easy... but so worth it! Thank you God for ALWAYS being what I need, for being the ONLY thing I need!


 Take a new grip with your tired hands, stand firm on your shaky legs and mark out a straight, smooth path for your feet so that those who follow you, though weak and lame, will not fall and hurt themselves, but become strong.
Hebrews 12:12,13 tlb

"Go Away Little Girl" - Tyrone Tempos

Devon had his spring musical tonight with the Tyrone Tempos. He sang a solo! He was soo cute! He said he got the part because he was the only boy who could get through the song without cracking up! Here is the video.  Hope you enjoy my little crooner as much as I do,  I am so proud of him!  I love how he grabs the mic stand at the end!

Confession time

So, here is something that struck me as pretty funny today. Today was bathroom cleaning day (wait, that isn't the funny part), and I walked into our hall bathroom and noticed something on the wall. Then started laughing. I have a white wall bucket that I change the flowers in for the seasons, okay, I know there is nothing strange about that... but it is almost the end of May and this is what my wall bucket looks like...

CHRISTMAS HOLLY! I still haven't taken down my holly! It is 90 degrees outside, but it is still Christmas in my bathroom!  Okay, there is actually more to this story. Later in the day, I went out to the front porch to finish mopping up the pollen that is still covering everything. We NEVER use our front door, even when people come over, they usually come through the garage to the kitchen door... by the way, is that a Southern thing? I still am getting used to it... I have even had people come to my back deck and knock on the back door! Okay, I am getting sidetracked a little. After cleaning the porch, I went to go back in the front door and this is what I noticed...

Yep, more holly. I should really be ashamed of myself...  Just so you all know, I did take the holly down and replace it with more suitable geraniums and hydrangea. Now my house is ready for summer! Oh, and one more thing... this was also on my front porch.

Aren't they cute! This is the 3rd year we have had baby birds on the porch, I just love them!

Nothing to report...

I have nothing to say... I had a day full of laundry, grocery shopping, sorting mail , cooking and soccer practice. I am at the end of the day, and I haven't really talked with anyone except my kids...I guess I am kinda lonely which makes me kinda boring too! hmmm... maybe tomorrow will be a better day, one can only hope!

Here is a funny picture I came across today from a few years ago!

Undignified?

 "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under Heaven ... A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance."  Eccl. 3:1,4 


Is dancing undignified? Some people think so, do you? I have always loved to dance. When I was a little girl, I loved to have the full skirts that would fly straight out when I would twirl! Oh how fun that was! As I got older, maybe Jr. High, but definitely into High School I got more into hip hop.  My friends and I would dance for HOURS! It was innocent fun, but I wasn't doing it for Jesus, I was doing it for myself and maybe to have people look at me, but definitely not for Jesus. In the past 5 years I have been able to see dance in a new way. I have been re taught who we should be dancing for and why. The bible says there is a time to dance, so obviously it can be used to worship our Heavenly Father, a way to draw us closer to him when words just aren't enough. It is also away to "clear the birds" as my lovely friend   says. It pushes back darkness, because true worship dance is only from God and for God.  King David dances in 2 Samuel.  It says he was dancing and jumping before the Lord. His wife came out and told him he looked "undignified", do you know what his response was? He said,"I will become even more undignified than this." I am sure David looked silly in his wild dancing, but especially from someone who is just watching and not joining in. He was in full worship to his Lord. I think sometimes we are too safe in our little churches to fully engage in the worship that David was experiencing. Don't get me wrong, I am in no way knocking the church. I absolutely love the church we are involved in... it is just something I have been thinking about lately. The question keeps coming to me "When was the last time you (meaning me) stepped out in courage and did something foolish for God?"   

 See these dance shoes?                                                     
                                                                           They make me ridiculously happy. They are mine! I started taking dance lessons in January. I haven't really danced in 17 years, and never really danced for Jesus. Now I am. I have even danced publicly 2 times now! Trust me... I can only do this because I know who I am dancing for. I am in a class with other women who haven't ever really danced before either. We are learning ballet technique and then worship dance. It is amazing! I can't believe what a stress release it is for me! My friend I mentioned earlier... the one who said dance "clears the birds", she is one of my teachers. She is the leader of an OM Arts International ministry called Dancelink. Look them up. She takes or sends dancers all over the world to do work for the Kingdom. Amazing, amazing ministry, and I am so blessed to be learning from her!  So, I will end this all to say that I want to be like King David and become even more undignified for my Lord! 

Praise His name with DANCING! Psalm 149:3

Happy Mother's Day!

Today is  Mother's Day! Hope you all called your Mom's and let them know how special they are! You don't realize how much work Mothers do, until you become one!  I once heard that “Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.”  How true is that!  At church today, I also was reminded that God sent HIS OWN SON to die... could I do that as a mother? Of course I am not God (I know you are all thankful for that!), but still... I would gladly die for either one of my boys, but send one of them to die... I don't think so. 


I feel like God has given me these 2 wonderful boys to raise up. I don't care where they end up going to college, or what they do for a living, as long as they are whole heartily seeking after God. If they are doing that, I know they will be fine. I think that is my biggest prayer for them.  Of course I want them to marry Godly woman as well...who will like me!  :) Anyway... I am getting way off course here. What I wanted to tell you about was my day. I actually got a clue last night that the boys were up to something sneaky. When I went to clean up the kitchen before bed I found this note.

 You see, my son Ty is a planner. He likes to be prepared, so he clocked out his morning to make sure I would have breakfast by 7:45 am!  He got up and baked orange rolls and poured my coffee in a cute new coffee cup they got me with Jon's help before he left!  That in itself thrilled me, because I have no idea when this was planned!  

See... isn't the coffee cup CUTE!!! I love it! And of course he remembered to bring my PEPPERMINT MOCHA creamer! Such a good boy! They also had homemade cards for me, which I love to get! Then we all got ready and went to church. This is the flower I received when I walked into the church building. I love flowers... I grew up in the flower business and used to have flowers in my house all the time. Now, I have trouble spending money on them... but I LOVE them! So, this was a real treat!

After church the boys and I went to Quizno's and then just hung out at home for the rest of the day! It was fun and relaxing... just what Mother's Day should be! Hope you enjoyed yours as well, or helped make someone else's day special!

We all look a little goofy here... but I guess that is reality! 

Camera shy? I don't think so...

I took my camera outside today to capture this picture..



I loved the rainbow in the water and wondered how it would capture in a picture. I love how it turned out! Then I noticed Devon standing to the side, so I took this one...



cute, right? Well, then he noticed I was taking his picture...



And it turned into some crazy pictures... why is it that boys act so strange sometimes? They don't worry about looking cute for the camera, or anything! This happens every time I get my camera out. CRAZY! Anyway, I thought I would share this little piece of my day with you!



"Mom, Mom, take a picture of my ear!" Ummmm... okay...









Gotta love the boy!

December

Wow, I really need to get better at this! December flew by, we left on the 17th and traveled to Portland, Oregon. We got to visit with Jon's sister and her family for a few days before driving south about 5 hours to the seaside town of Bandon (where Jon's parents live). For the next almost 2 weeks we visited with friends, partners and family. It was a really wonderful time to connect with people whom we haven't seen in the last 2 years!
There is a church there that supports us, and we were able to hold a Sunday evening service to share with them what we have been doing the past few years. It was great to be able to let them know about the work they are involved in through us. Also, to share what we are looking into for this next year. We traveled back to Georgia on Jan 3rd. It was a long trip, but good!
Can you believe 2009 is done? I can't. It amazes me how time seems to just fly by. God once again got us through last year, even with the 2 pay cuts we took...He is so good and faithful! I hope everyone who reads this, truly understands that! 2010 is going to be busy as well. We have tons of opportunity for ministry this year. Jon is looking to lead a few tours on his own again, and we are looking into a mission trip this next summer that we can take as a family. I am sure I will write more about that when we get the details nailed down a bit more...I will share this, it will involve 5 countries, and about 4 or 5 weeks (about 7 weeks for Jon!). We are praying about how it will all work out, and haven't even started to figure out the cost yet! But, God has already brought money in to go towards it! Yes, He is good!
I think we will have to start support raising again this year, not fun, but necessary! It is funny that we are starting the year with the most ministry opportunities, and the lowest financial situation we have ever been in! We will definitely need to see God move is some big ways! Well, I feel like I am now rambling. So I will just end with my favorite pictures from Oregon! Enjoy!










Oh how we miss the beautiful Pacific Ocean!

South Africa Report

Four years ago, Jon and I were sitting in church in Georgia; at that time we had only been here for a few months. A woman named Tracie got up and talked about a trip she had just taken to South Africa to teach VBS. The pictures that she was showing and what she was saying really grabbed my heart. I remember turning to Jon and saying, “That's the kind of trip I would like to go on!” Well, it took me three more years to finally go! Tracie had talked to me every year about going, but I always found a reason not to (which even I thought was strange, since I wanted to go so bad). I realized that I had a bit of fear about going that far from home by myself and being away from Ty and Devon for that long.

As you might remember, last summer the four of us lived and worked Turkey for a month, and God dealt with a lot of my fear issues there. I also heard Him tell me that I was to go to South Africa this year. So, when it was time, and the trip was presented to me again, you would have thought I would have jumped on it! But instead I let the fear control me again and I said no. About a month later, the position for a teacher still hadn't been filled, and of course I knew God still wanted me to go. Jon and I talked about it, and Jon really wanted me to go as well! So, basically we made the decision and I booked my tickets that night! There were four of us that went from our church here in Georgia. We traveled to Cape Town, South Africa, and met up with the other twelve teachers. Wow, what an awesome trip! The kids were so amazing! By the end of the week we had over 500 kids attend the camp! Most of the kids were Muslim, and the parents would drop them off for free childcare (I understand we do this as well in America – VBS hopping – but the difference is that I would never drop my kids off at a mosque to have a free morning to myself). Jennie and I co-taught a class of first-grade students (really, we had anywhere from 5-year olds to 9-year olds), and by the end of the week we had 80 students!

The highlight for me was on the very last day: I was walking with one of the little boys from our class, and we were talking about what he enjoyed during the week. He told me that he really enjoyed the Bible stories, and when I asked him why, he said, “Because nobody has ever told me about Jesus before.” Wow! I was thanking God for the privilege it was for me to be there and share about His Son with these precious children! I came home to a family that did wonderful without me, but missed me terribly as well, which is a good thing! I am hoping to go back again next year, but we will see what the year brings for us.

Falling head first into Fall

Well, Fall is in full swing here in Georgia now. The colors have been breathtaking, we have had some chilly days, and a few freezing nights already! The flannel sheets feel really good! I love fall, I love everything about it, but I am never quite ready for summer to end either. I love that fall is the perfect time to start using the crock pot again, and pull out all those yummy recipes that seem to "heavy" for summer cooking (like chicken and dumplings!). I love pulling out the sweaters and boots again, and cuddling up with blankets in the evening by the fireplace with a nice hot cup of tea. The boys are back outside playing as much as possible, because it if finally not too hot! I can tell this week, they are also ready for the much needed week off of school that they are given at Thanksgiving! Just this morning Devon let out a big sigh, when I asked him what was wrong he said, "I just have better things to do then sit in school all day!" I completely understand! I feel that way about work at times... but we have to do what we have to do!

Today is the first sunny day we have had in the last couple days. Tropical Storm Ida came through and dumped about 5 inches of rain on us. The sun feels so good! I unrolled my car windows today and just enjoyed the gift of warmth! Thanks God! 2 days of non stop rain was a bit much for me to take.

I am preparing for our friend Ellyn to get here this weekend. She arrives Sunday night and is only able to stay until Tuesday morning... but I will take what I can get! Then a week later my parents arrive to spend a little over a week with us, and my younger brother David is also flying in to spend Thanksgiving with us! I also have invited 2 other families to join us on Thanksgiving. Cooking for 20 might normally have me a bit worried, but Mom will be here, so I know it will not only be fun to cook together, but pretty stress free as well! I have cooked 2 Thanksgiving meals on my own, so I am really looking forward to cooking with her again! The 2 families I have invited over are also from OM, and they are British. Keeps my stress level down, because they don't have long standing Thanksgiving traditions that I will end up disappointing! Anyway, Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays... great food, great friends and family and no presents to buy! We play games like scrabble or sequence after dinner and just hang out and enjoy each other!

2 weeks after Thanksgiving, we are leaving for Oregon. We haven't been there in 2 years, and I am very much looking forward to spending time with Jon's sister and her family again and being with Jon's parents. I know it might seem unusual for someone to be looking forward to spending time with in laws, but I think mine are great. They have really become a second set of parents for me. 2 years is too long to be away from family, but for now this is where God has us. I have realized that God is so, so good for providing people here that also feel like family. Anyway, I will not write too much about Oregon now...maybe it will give me a reason to blog more coming up!

Here is a favorite recipe

Chicken and Dumplings
1 cup Bisquick
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp pepper
Chicken pieces (I usually use legs and thighs)
2 tablespoons oil
2 tablespoons butter
1 can of cream of chicken soup
1 1/2 cups milk
poultry seasoning

Mix bisquick, salt, paprika and a little poultry seasoning in a zip lock bag. Put chicken pieces in a few at a time and shake to coat. In a large skillet brown chicken in oil and melted butter. Remove chicken and pour excess fat from skillet. Stir in soup, and milk; add chicken pieces. Cover; heat until boiling. Cook over low heat about 1 hour or until chicken in tender.

Twenty minutes before chicken is done, prepare dumpling dough (recipe below). Drop dough by spoonful onto hot soup mixture. Cook uncovered over low heat for 10 minutes; cover and cook another 10 minutes. To serve, place dumplings on platter around chicken; pour gravy over top.

I sometimes double the soup and milk to make more gravy (I never said it was a healthy meal!)

Dumplings:
2 1/4 cup Bisquick
2/3 cup milk
sprinkle about 1/4 teaspoon of poultry seasoning
sprinkle about 1/2 teaspoon of parsley flakes

Stir together until a soft dough forms.


soooo good!!!!

AFRICA!!!!

Okay, I am actually here in South Africa. A land that I have always wanted to visit! I feel like I have gone to the ends of the earth! It is so beautiful, but there is something so familiar about it! It really reminds me of California. I have seen huge calla lilies (like the ones I used to have growing in my backyard in San Bruno), seafoam statice, birds of paradise, and California poppies! The weather is very similar to San Francisco. The first day we were here it was sunny and warm. The next day it rained all day! Today has been windy, but sunny. I have really loved all of it! Yesterday we drove to Hermanus Bay to a whale festival. We sat out on the cliffs and watched all the whales swim by. I couldn't believe how beautiful it was! I saw 2 mothers with their babies. Today we went to church at Westwood Baptist Church. The service was amazing. The service was about sacrificing all to Jesus...not giving Him the left overs. Then we got to go to our classrooms to set up for VBS. Tomorrow we start! I am so excited to meet these kids and tell them about God's love for them. I know the enemy is not happy about us being here, because we have already experience things being stolen, and a few injuries. I am not sure that I will be able to post pictures after all, but I will get some up when I get home. Well, right now I am sitting in an internet cafe, and it is time for dinner. I will try to update again in a few days! God is so good, and I am so happy to be here for Him!

God is always so good!

I want to share with you about an opportunity that I have been given this year. Actually, it is an
opportunity that I have been given before, but this is the first time I have accepted it! Let me start by
giving you a little background info:
About a month after we started going to our church here in Georgia (and about 3 months after we
moved here in 2005), I listened to a lady talk about a trip to South Africa that she just got back from.
The purpose of the trip was to help run a Vacation Bible School for kids in a poor township outside of
Cape Town. She and her family had been doing this for 15 years at this point. I remember her talking
about loving on these kids and teaching them about Jesus, and looking at the pictures of the sweet
faces, and I turned to Jon and said, “Someday I would like to take a trip like that!” Well, over that next
year, I got to know Tracie and her family better and was invited to go along the following year. I really
wanted to go, but fear held me back. I wasn't ready to travel internationally (which at that time I hadn't
done yet) or leave my family for 12 days. Again in 2007 I chose not to go, even though I knew in my
heart that God wanted me to. As most of you know, 2008 is when Jon, the boys and I lived and worked
in Turkey for a month. God dealt with a lot of my fear issues on that trip. On our flight home, Jon and I
had many hours to sit and debrief the trip. I really felt God tell me that I was to go to South Africa this
year. I felt it so strongly, and yet when the trip was first brought up to me again about a month ago, I
was looking for reasons not to go. The fear was rising up again. There was also the possibility of
another ministry trip that Jon and I might be able to do together, but at this point that has not come
together, and I've decided in any case to not let that stand in my way.
The group that is going to South Africa has needed a helper for the first grade class (which is the age
group I LOVE to work with) and here, a month later, they were still looking for this helper. Again, I
heard God tell me that I was to go. I do feel like God kept anyone else from filling that position so that
I would be able to do it. Jon and I talked about me going and prayed about it. I wanted to make sure
that he would be okay with the kids for 12 days while I was away, and I wanted to know that he would
support me in doing this trip. Which of course he does, because he has wanted me to do this for the past
few years! I have a great husband! :)
So that brings me to the reason for this letter. I have decided to go. I am asking you to please pray for
me while I am away. I will leave on September 23rd and return home on October 4th. This is the first
trip I have taken by myself and the longest I have ever been away from my family!
I am really excited to see what God has planned during this trip. I can't wait to spend time with these
kids and teach them, and also see what they have to teach me!

Summertime!

Well, it is summer here in Georgia. High 90's with humidity just as high! The last week my kids have hardly even gone outside to play, it is just too hot for them (unless we are headed for a friends pool!). We started off our summer this year with a much needed vacation. We were on a plane as soon as the boys got out of school at the end of May. Our first stop was the Bay Area, just for about a day! Basically it was just a stop over on our way to Hawaii. We were blessed enough to spend 12 days on 2 different islands with my parents. What a blast! Jon and I went to Hawaii for our honeymoon, but haven't been back since...and that was 16 years ago! The boys got lots of beach time and body surfing! They were at a great age to do something like this! It was also great to be able to spend time with family again! It had been a very busy first part of the year for Jon. He had already been to Turkey/Lebanon for 2 weeks, 2 different trips to California (5 days each), and Germany for 3 weeks. So it was nice to have some quality family time. We were only home for a week when Jon had to leave again. This time it was Hungary for 2 weeks. As I write this, he will be getting on a plane in about 4 hours to come home. It has been a strange 2 weeks. I thought it would be easier with the boys out of school and Jon gone...no schedules or night time activities that we had to go to. But, I have found it to be the longest 2 weeks EVER! The boys have been good, but it is not easier when they are out of school! Hopefully this will be the last time for awhile that Jon will be gone. I have really been focusing on the bible verse, "This is what the Lord says to you, "Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but Gods" 2 Chron. 20:15

Other fun summer things...Ty turned 11 last Sunday! I can't believe he is growing up so fast! What a fun loving young man he is becoming. He has such a great heart. He is really developing a love for music as well. He saved up all his birthday money and bought himself a new ipod nano (it's blue!). Today he spent most of the day getting all his music on it. It was fun to watch him, but I kept wondering where my little boy went! He starts middle school in August and is very excited about it. He doesn't seem nervous at all...even though his 2 best friends are going to 2 different private schools! I think that is a good sign that he is confident on who he is. What a joy he is!

We are also eagerly waiting for later this month when some good friends are coming out to visit us here in Georgia! We love getting visitors and showing them around our new hometown! They are from San Bruno and used to the fog, so we will see how they handle Georgia heat in July! Yikes!

I will end this with a few pics of Hawaii and a video of a song that I heard today. It is an old Amy Grant song from Lead Me On. I had forgotten all about this song, and it came up on my shuffle today and stopped me in my tracks! I remember listening to it as a teenager and having lots of romantic thoughts about being married to a musician. I also have always loved music and thought it would be cool to marry a musician...well that is what God gave me. I now know that is it a lot harder to have a spouse who travels...but I love the way that Jon is following God, and leading our family. Anyway, enjoy this oldie but goodie!








okay, I couldn't find a video for this song, but here are the lyrics

When I was younger
I used to dream a lot
Staring into my coffee
About how you'd love me
And write me poetry
And want to be with me, yeah
Well, Momma done told me
You might wander far, yeah
But nobody warned me
The road would own your heart

And so I'm saying
If you have to go away
I will be waiting by the phone
And if you have to go away
I'll put your records on
Pretend you're still at home

Now that I'm older
I sit at home a lot
With the kid we've got, yeah
The radio's playing
He really loves his wife
I hear the D.J. saying
Well Momma done told me
You might wander far, oh
As long as you hold me
More than you hold that guitar
I'll keep on saying

If you have to go away
I'll leave your shoes beside the bed
And if you have to go away
I'll want to be with you
I'll be with me instead
If you have to go away
I won't be sleeping very well
But if you have to go away
I will be loving you
Till it's cold in hell

Maybe you'll write me this time
Maybe you'll call on a static line
Saying don't you ever worry your pretty mind
Cause you and me are gonna be fine

And so I'm saying
If you have to go away
I will be waiting by the phone
And if you have to go away
I'll put your records on
Pretend you're still at home

If you have to go away
I'll leave your shoes beside the bed
And if you have to go away
I'll want to be with you
I'll be with me instead
If you have to go away
I won't be sleeping very well
But if you have to go away
I will be loving you
I will be loving you
If you have to go away


If You Have To Go Away by Amy Grant

100 years

Have you ever heard that song "100 Years" by Five for Fighting? I have been obsessed with it lately. I think I listened to it on my ipod about 5 times in a row when I went to bed the other night. By about the 3rd time I was totally crying (and yes, I still listened to it 2 more times!). I have had a lot on my mind lately about my life, and how fast it seems to be going. Part of me just wants everything to stop so I can enjoy it, but another bigger part of me really is enjoying every minute of it! Does that make sense? I think a big part of this is watching Ty finish up elementary school. Here 6th grade is considered middle school, so next school year he is changing schools. This has both excited me and terrified me at the same time! Terrified me because I remember middle school years (we called it Jr. High). They were awful. That strange place of still being a child, but wanting to be so grown up at the same time! Trying to be cool with my friends and thinking I knew more then my parents. These were the years that I tried smoking for the first time and tested out the occasional swear word. The pressure of wearing the right clothes, and having the right hairstyle was exhausting. But it is also exciting to me because Ty is such a sweet, smart, caring boy. He is the one to befriend the underdog and I love that about him! He loves God and isn't afraid to let people know that. I just hope and pray that he doesn't lose that! I dread the day when he doesn't want to hug me in public.

Anyway, back to the song. The writer goes through years of his life, remembering different things. It made me go back and look at my life. I got married when I was 20. I have no regrets about that, I don't feel like I missed out on anything. But my early 20's were with Jon, and we were still becoming who we are now. You still are changing so much during those years. My later 20's was spent having my babies. The years up till about 31 are a blur. Lots of diapers, baths, rocking in the middle of the night, singing, you know, all that stuff that goes along with babies, and toddlers. Again, I loved every minute of it! Now I am in my early late 30's, and the boys are much more independent of me. Which I know is a good thing, it means I did my job somewhat well when they were younger. I like having actual conversations with both Ty and Devon. They make me laugh, and yes, they still can make me mad and need discipline, but for right now, it feels like a really good place. They are such good boys. Jon and I are at a different place now too. We have been married 16 years, and no it wasn't all easy, but he truly is my best friend and I can't imagine my life without him! Funny, how all this came out of listening to a song. Story of my life...music plays a huge part of how I deal with emotions. Maybe that is why I married a musician!

We are finishing up our last days of school. The boys get out on Friday. Next year holds a lot of unknowns, but I think I am finally ready for them! Someone told me not to long ago when I said I wasn't ready for Ty to move on, that when the time came, I would be ready. I didn't really believe her at the time, but now I do. Bring it on!

Why I love being the mom of boys...

Okay, I totally stole this from someone else's blog ( Passionate Homemaking) but I love it, and I wouldn't be able to put it into better words! Being the mom of boys is never boring!





Boys are so sweet. Boys love their Mamas like crazy. Boys think their Daddys are the best. Boys….ah boys. Boys bring such joy.
Whoever said that only little girl clothes are cute…and that you can never find any cute little boy clothes…never saw all the adorable outfits at my blue baby showers.
And I dare say…there’s a little something to be said for being able to run a comb through their hair real quick before dashing out the door. No bows or braids or hair doo-dads to keep track of.
I love how boys play (now that I’m used to it!). Our house is usually noisy, rough and fast…there’s not a lot of tip-toeing or sitting down quietly to color pictures at the table.
Generally…I find that the male greeting (between my boys and all of their friends who come over to play) has little to do with words…and a lot to do with grabbing onto and pulling one another down to the floor into an immediate wrestling match.
I’ve learned to look the other way…smile…and shake my head about so many things that I used to fear would turn into a trip to the Emergency Room. Boys play rough…they can’t help it. They make noise…it oozes out of their pores.
Rolls of wrapping paper become swords or light sabers. Toast and grilled cheese sandwiches are chewed into the shape of little guns. Math books become drums. Little pink erasers become race cars.
Everything (everything) becomes a competition…who can finish their milk first…who can put their jammies on the fastest…who can get from the kitchen to the living room without touching the floor.
It’s one big, loud, ball game at our house all day long…and I wouldn’t trade it for all tea parties in Boston.
I consider it a huge honor to be the mama of boys. Boys who we pray will grow up and be Godly leaders some day. Boys who we pray will be Godly husbands and daddys some day.
Oh…and some day…I’ll have daughters. Some day…four (2 in my case!) of your daughters will grow into godly young ladies who will marry my sons. I’ll take them shopping and we’ll cook and do hair together.
Until then…I’ll just continue to feed mountains of mashed potatoes and huge stacks of pancakes to all these boys while they make all the noises with their armpits that they are so good at making and while they laugh at all the things boys can’t help but think are funny.
They are…boys.
Boys who have completely and totally won my heart.

Dark Gives Way

I promise to blog more by Monday...(maybe on Monday). But I wanted to let you all know that Jon just released his newest CD, Dark Gives Way. Go to our website and order a copy (please)!

www.BugNogMusic.com