Sniffling, sneezing, coughing aching, stuffy head, fever so you can lay on the couch and feel like someone ran over you with a bus medicine???

Christmas is one of my favorite holidays. Family, baby Jesus, decorations. And the infamous Christmas tree. For as long as I remember, we have always had an artificial tree. Looks like a real one, only it is symmetrical and the same height every year. I am very allergic to pine trees of all shapes and sizes, and that includes the wonderful Christmas trees people love to have in their homes.

My mother in law loves a real tree. Not only that, but real garland, and sprigs of pine sitting in bowls and vases scattered around the entire house. Her decorating is lovely, unless you're me. Then it is a sign of sneezing, red runny eyes, stuffy nose.

Every year I deal and go and try to sit in a room that doesn't have pine in it. Only to sit in the room with the tree for the time we do presents.

Well, this year, we all sat around the tree and hung out for several hours, mostly because the more babies being born and the more siblings that get married, the less space there is for people to move around and find a chair to sit in. So I was stuck in the tree room most of the time we were there.

By the time I dragged Shane and Cameron out of there, my nose was full, making my voice nasally, my eyes were red and puffy, running like I was crying and I was just feeling miserable.

Yesterday, we would've went to church, but Shane got called into work to get some packet made for a job so we all went with him and made a day out of it. I woke up sneezing my head off and a runny nose. My allergies usually go within 24 hours and I don't have the major inconvenience for more than that, just the day to day allergy symptoms. But yesterday was full on, drop you like a hot pan with no hot pad day. I felt miserable still and literally spent the time we were at home on the couch. Now my nose is red from wiping it and blowing it. My head feels like it weighs a ton. Ugh.

I am sensitive to medicine. All medicine, even advil or tylenol. Shane went to the store to get me some cold medicine and came home with nyquil. Now, I have taken this particualr brew before and it literally goes into my system and I end up feeling like I have been in a coma for several weeks when I wake up. Makes my head feel like it weighs a million pounds (which is more than the cold or allergies make it feel like) and while it says it is alcohol free, I am pretty sure they just fill the bottle up with pure vodka and put some flavoring in it to taste like orange.

So, today, I am in medicine head world, where everything is in slow motion and I just want to lay on my couch and stare at the ceiling. So I am changing the commercial with the catchy little ditty and making it "Nyquil, the sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, stuffy head, fever so you can lay on the couch and feel like someone ran over you with a bus medicine."

Now if you will excuse me, there is a couch with my name on it and a bus heading this direction.....goodnight!

Still, Small Voice...

December is an exciting time of year for most people. Christmas comes, winter starts, snow starts falling, the approach of the new year.

December can be a time of ending, or new beginnings.

In this year's time, there have been tears, heartache and pain. But also new beginnings, happiness and a start of something new. It was like we spent the last year with God having a quiet phase, just like He did between Malachi and Matthew. God was quiet for about 400 years. Then came Jesus. Sometimes, God is quiet in our lives. Sometimes, He lets us have a quiet period of just being still and listening for that still, small voice in our lives.


Well, december comes and goes, but some things stay the same. My God is still here with me, even if it feels like He is far away. I have learned over the last year that He is always present. No matter what we are going through, no matter how quiet He may be, no matter whether we can hear that still small voice or not, HE is here and I am not alone. I am looking forward to the next year and seeing what many things God has in store for us at College Park, in our lives and the lives around us.

Thank you God for all the many wonderful blessings in my life. I am so undeserving.

Wow, what a year.

I am so happy right now. Things are going very well for us and we are so blessed.
I think back to last year at this time and we were a hot mess. Things going on at church were stressing us out, we felt an impending doom there. I had been sick since October after having had the swine flu and that was stressful. We were trying to decide whether we wanted to move. It was a crazy time.

This year so many things have changed. We did move, only to find out we can build a house and now we are in the process of that, making a final decision and move and then staying put. Church did change. A lot changed and a lot of tears were shed, but alas, God always knows what the future holds. We left the church, meandered about for a few months, came back for about a month,thinking that is where we were supposed to be and then visited College Park Church and fell in love. We are so happy there and there are so many activities to keep our family busy with. Things for all of us to be involved in. We never thought we would have to find a new church home, but we are glad to be where we are now. Shane's job is still crazy, but he got a promotion earlier in the year and his hours are nuts sometimes! We don't see him a lot, but we cherish the time he is home to spend time with. It could be so much worse. He could be a salesman having to travel to different states during the week and never home. At least he is sleeping in our bed every night!

So much change, but in a good way. Our direction is taking us to another level in our lives and we are excited! Thank you God for all your blessings on our lives. We so don't deserve them.

Merry Christmas Friends, celebrate Jesus' Birthday next Saturday and enjoy your families.
Many blessings to you and yours.

Decisions.

I have been saving up for my Board of Realtor fees for a few months now. I have some more to save up, but by the time the Spring rolls around, I will be active again and back to my career!!

I started my real estate career out with a guy named Jed and his private real estate group. I like Jed and he is a great guy, but he has no business sense at all. So I went to Carpenter and stuck with them.

With money being tight for so many years, I couldn't really spend a lot of money marketing myself and I didn't have the money to renew my MIBOR fees year after year. So, I ended up going into referral status and moving on.

I am determined to be active again. One reason is we get a commission taken off our house with me being an active realtor, and two, I love my job! It makes me happy to see people getting a new home, whether it is their first home or their fifth.

I have been given an opportunity to go with an unknown company through a friend and was approached with a position offered in her real estate company. She manages properties and is a realtor as well, but needs to have another realtor on board. Her office is in Avon, which a decent drive from my house, but she said I can work from home and use her office equipment if I need to. I have all the stuff I need here at home and when we move I will have an extra bedroom that I was planning on putting my computer in anyway, so with a bigger desk and a fax machine, I should be good to work from home full time! That works for me, definitely! Also, I get 20% more commission per transaction than I would with Carpenter. So that kind of makes a sticking point too.

I don't particularly like going with a name that isn't known well throughout the metro area, and I won't have access to a lot of marketing tools I would with Carpenter, but all in all, it sounds like a pretty good deal.

Oh decisions decisions. I hate making decisions.

'Tis The Season.

It's December 1. The start of the Christmas month. At my house, the tree is up, the lights are on, the stockings are hung. The Christmas cookies have been made, the presents all wrapped and under the tree.

But what is it about Christmas that causes people to turn into a bunch of greedy fiends? Why is it that the santa decorations and the reindeer are abundant but the nativity is the one you have to really search for? Why is it that it's all about presents and what you give? It's ridiculous! Yes, I buy gifts, but they are not abundant, they are not spectacular, they are just a gift to give. I typically make homemade gifts for family and we buy a gift for one of Shane's siblings, depending on who we draw out of the hat. The nieces and nephew get a gift, and of course Cameron gets the most. This year, I picked one thing and Shane picked one thing to gvie each other. And that's it. Period. I have to finish my homemade gifts, and then I will be done for the season. I know some don't appreciate the homemade things as much as they enjoy gift cards and wrapped presents, but in my opinion, the homemade gifts are the ones that come from the heart. I have spent the last few years trying to be creative with my gifts and have done homemade cocoa in a jar with mugs and cookies, last year we made homemade cookie jars, this year I am making a non-edible gift. :) I am making wooden signs for the holidays. They may be messy in some places, the paint may not be exactly perfect, but they were made with love.

Remember this Christmas season that this isn't the season of greed and parties and counting how many presents you get, but the reason we celebrate Christmas is because of the birth of our Lord and Savior. His birth was the best gift we could ever receive and we should be thankful for God's gift to us.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all my friends out there. You are all special to me.

Pre-construction Meeting~

So we go today at 4pm to have our pre-construction meeting. I cannot wait! It is so exciting to be going through this as the buyer and not the salesperson! I am so excited to walk up to my front door, get my own key out and go inside the first time after closing. It is about 5 months away, but it is getting exciting now that they will be actually doing stuff!!

I can't wait to get in my new kitchen with the island and cook yummy food and have people over and entertain!! I love entertaining! Oh I just can't wait! This is what I have been looking forward to for the last 7 years. And especially since I became a realtor about 4 years ago! So much fun when it's you that is the buyer!!!

Okay, enough about that.
I may do a song of the day later....we'll see. Hope with a sick boy again and not sure I will have the time. I am painting some stars and snowflakes for a craft project I am doing with a friend to give away as Christmas gifts! Fun fun fun!!
Later peeps!

Singin' in the Rain/Umbrella

So I watched Glee last night and fell in love with the mash up they did of Singin' in the Rain and Umbrella. I am not going to type out the words because it is a mash up and would be rather difficult, but you should definitely look it up and listen to it!

And who knew Gwyneth Paltrow could sing?!?!
:)

We all unanimously agreed last night that this was the best mash up of the show. It went together well and both songs had something to do with rain. :)

Revelation Song

So after a two week hiatus from my blog, I am back to it. I even went as far as deleting it and not reading anyone else's blog either. I decided to go back to original thoughts and just do a song of the day like I was doing before. Here's one of my favorites!

There is nothing I love more than a powerful worship song. This song has so many memories tied to it for me. I have sung the solo, I have played the piano for it, I have sung it with my fellow worship team, I have sung it at a youth camp to guitar. It is one of my favorite worship songs to sing and to hear. I love Kari Jobe. My friend Janelle brought this song to worship practice one time many moons ago to sing one Sunday. It was awesome! We then did this song a lot. We even led worship this summer with a church in Noblesville and used this song. College Park played this song last Sunday with full choir. There is nothing I can say about this song that will do it justice. You need to listen to it if you don't know it and just listen to the words.

Revelation Song

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain

Holy Holy is He.

Sing a new song

To Him who sits on

Heaven's mercy seat.

Holy Holy Holy

Is the Lord God Almighty!

Who was and is and is to come

With all creation I sing

Praise to the King of Kings

You are my everything

And I will adore You.

Clothed in rainbows

Of living color

Flashes of lightning

Rolls of thunder

Blessing and honor, strength and

Glory and power be

To You the only wise King

Holy Holy Holy

Is the Lord God Almighty!

Who was and is and is to come

With all creation I sing

Praise to the King of Kings

You are my everything

And I will adore You!

Filled with wonder

Awestruck wonder

At the mention of Your name

Jesus Your name is power

Breath and living water

Such a marvelous mystery!

Yeah!

Holy Holy Holy

Is the Lord God Almighty

Who was and is and is to come

With all creation I sing

Praise to the King of Kings

You are my everything

And I will adore You!

Handbells! and Choir! and Church! Oh my!!

I am so excited! I may be able to participate in the handbell choir at College Park! I love playing bells and used to be director of handbells at our old church. That got cut, and I was heartbroken. I think bells at Christmas and Easter are wonderful and beautiful. Now, I go to a church where the music is exactly how I like it. Shane and I talked the other day about the music and sermons at College Park and we both agree that we enjoy it so much. It has been many months since we have felt the Holy Spirit flow through us during worship, but the last few weeks have been wonderful! Cameron even talked about having goosebumps last Sunday during the worship.

I cannot even explain how happy we are right now. Life is so good right now that I feel like if I blink it will all be a fluke and we will go back to our regularly scheduled life. But, in the meantime, I will take the good and thank God for His many blessings.

Can't wait to hear the bells play and be a part of a bell choir again. I missed playing when I was directing, but directing was better than no bells at all. And to be a part pf the choir too is just about too much excitement for my heart to handle! They perform musicals for Christmas and Easter! I cannot wait to hear the musical for Christmas and then hopefully be a part of the Easter musical!! Oh the excitement!!

:) my heart is full and I thank God.

O Holy Night.

I love Christmas. My two favorite holidays are Easter and Christmas. Third would be July 4th probably. One of my favorite things about the holidays is the music. In the Spring, you have the Jesus has risen songs. They are great. Cantatas filled with beautiful music. Love it!

At Christmas, I have a list of all the favorite songs of the season in my opinion. I consider November 1 as the first day of the Christmas season. The music starts in the stores, the trees and wrapping and ribbons come out in the stores. Thanksgiving begins. Ahhh.....love it!

Musically speaking, my all time favorite Christmas song is O Holy Night. It gives me goosebumps every time I hear it, no matter who sings it, no matter how many times I hear it. It is one of the greatest songs ever. Period.

So give me some hot cocoa and a blanket and turn up the music and I am just fine. I welcome Christmas time.

Wow!

Wow. That's all I can say. We went to College Park again yesterday morning. We weren't going to go as I woke up with a bad headache and generally not feeling good. On an antibiotic, so hopefully this will cease. However, we woke up and decided to go ahead and go. It's nice going to a big church because there are 3 services. 8:00, 9:40 and 11:20. So we went to the 11:20 service. My mother in law had already said it was full orchestra and full choir and that we would be sorry we missed it. Well, we decided to go and I am so glad we did! It was awesome!

When we spent time leading worship before at our other church, we would try to pick songs out that would go along with the sermons, and whatever God was putting on our heart. I know Eric does this. He is great at his job. He mixes it up every single week. One week you may have three or four people on the praise band, other weeks, you have full choir backing up the praise band. Other times it is seven or eight people. Either way, it is great! And they do songs that are still relevant. Not all new songs. Not all old school songs. He mixes it up and it works.

College Park must be doing something right. They have very little debt, they are paying cash for the expansion that they are doing right now, and are hoping to be able to continue to do so. They seem to be good stewards of their money. They just broke 6 million dollars so far this year. I couldn't believe that when I read it. Wow! They are obviously doing something right at that church. In hard economic times, it is important for churches of any size to be good stewards of their money.

One thing I love about it is that when you walk in the doors, you see Jesus everywhere! His name is all over everything! And when you walk into the sanctuary, there is a massive cross hanging in the background of the stage with lights shining on it! It is beautiful. I think all churches need to have at least one cross somewhere in the sanctuary. But that's my opinion and I prefer a church where they have a cross. Some people don't, and that's fine too. I just like that they make church about nothing but Jesus. Applications you can apply to your own life. Mark makes you think and challenges you. He reminds me a lot of my father in law when he used to preach.

I always said I wouldn't go back to a big church. We went to ZPC for a while several years ago and just didn't fit in, but we were in a different season of our lives then. We went to New Life Community Church for about four years, but when the takeover happened, we just didn't feel like we fit in there either. I think our season there was over and it was time to move on. We tried to come back and fit in, but we just don't. We are more old fashioned than we originally thought I guess. We enjoy some of the older worship songs, we like full choir sometimes, we love the orchestra. We are just older spirits than some others I suppose. And I think that's okay. We don't fit in. No big deal. We move on and find the church we have been looking for. I just wish we had been invited to visit College Park this summer, maybe we wouldn't have set ourselves up for pain and hurt by going back to our old church only to leave again. I am sure the people from that church are looking at us with anger or hurt, and for that, I am sorry. But for the people out there that really know us and really cared about us before, I am sure they still love us and are happy we have found a place where we belong again.

Seasons change and sometimes we have to move on even when it hurts. I am just glad we have found someplace we can get involved, all three of us, and fit in and enjoy the service. That's hard to find sometimes. I am so glad my mother and father in law invited us to their church again.

Praise God for all that He does in our lives.

Lead Me To The Cross

Nothing better than a great worship song. Sing out to Jesus!!

Lead Me To The Cross

Savior I come, quiet my soul.

Remember redemption's hill, where Your blood was spilled.

For my ransom

Everything I once held dear, I count it all as loss

Lead me to the cross, where Your love poured out

Bring me to my knees Lord I lay me down

Rid me of myself, I belong to You

Oh lead me, lead me to the cross

You were as I tempted and tried human.

Your word became flesh bore my sin in death

Now You're risen!

Everything I once held dear, I count it all as loss

Lead me to the cross, where Your love poured out

Bring me to my knees Lord I lay me down

Rid me of myself, I belong to You

Oh lead me, lead me to the cross.

To Your heart.

To Your heart

Lead me to Your heart

Lead me to Your heart!

Lead me to the cross where Your heart poured out

Bring me to my knees Lord I lay me down

Rid me of myself I belong to You

Oh lead me, lead me to the cross.

Sometimes I just have to sit with my eyes closed and listen to some good worship songs to get rid of the murkiness of life. When people disappoint you, when you are angry at someone, when you have been done wrong, when you are sad, sing out a song to Him. YOu certainly can't do it all on your own! You need Jesus!

If We Are The Body.....

The first time I ever heard Casting Crowns was when I heard the song "Does Anybody Hear Her?" It caused the tears to swell up in my eyes, because I was that girl they were talking about. So I began listening to their other songs and was hooked. I love this song and its words have such meaning to them. When we were looking at churches this past summer, if I had walked into a church and found that nobody spoke to me, or they were looking at me like I didn't belong there or something like that, I would be apt to move on and not look back. We only went to one church that was like that. I won't say which one, but I expected a different result. Some were nice, some were not. It's okay though. We have found where we belong now.

If We Are The Body

It's crowded in worship today

As she slips in, trying to fade into the faces

The girls teasing laughter is carrying farther than they know

farther than they know.

And if we are the body,

Why aren't His arms reaching?

Why aren't His hands healing?

Why aren't His words teaching?

And if we are the body

Why aren't His feet going?

Why is His love not showing them there is a way?

There is a way

A traveler is far away from home

He sheds his coat and quietly sinks into the back row

The weight of their judgemental glances

Tells him that his chances are better out on the road

If we are the body

Why aren't His arms reaching?

Why aren't His hands healing?

Why aren't His words teaching?

And if we are the body

Why aren't His feet going?

Why is His love not showing them there is a way?

Jesus paid much too high a price

For us to pick and choose who should come

And we are the body of Christ

If we are the body

Why aren't His arms reaching?

Why aren't His hands healing?

Why aren't His words teaching?

And if we are the body

Why aren't his feet going?

Why is his love not showing them there is a way?

If we are the body

Why aren't His arms reaching?

Why aren't His hands healing?

Why aren't His words teaching?

And if we are the body

Why aren't His feet going?

Why is His love not showing them there is a way?

Jesus is the way!

Next time you sit in service and look at someone and think badly of them, don't look at them with disdain. Don't stare at them and make them feel uncomfortable. Because that is only going to drive them away. You are supposed to be showing love like Jesus would when someone walks into your church doors. If Jesus walked into your church as a plain man, would you turn your back on Him just because his shoes have dust on them? Would you look at Him with disdain because He had on something you didn't like? Or maybe He didn't fit into your cookie cutter mold of who should go to your church? WWJDIHWM (what would Jesus do if he were me) ponder that for a while next time you think about treating someone like that just because they may not be your cup of tea. Would Jesus turn you away? Never.

Hmmm....

So we went back to College Park Church yesterday with my in laws. It was awesome. The music was awesome. Not just awesome, but throw your hands in the air and praise Jesus kind of awesome. The sermon was about divorce and it was awesome too! He talked about sexual immorality is the basis of most divorces and that our culture leads you to believe that it is okay to have affairs and be sexually immoral. He basically said that sexual immorality and television shows like "Modern Family" are what is tearing this country's morals apart and tearing the Christian nation down. Strong words. Powerful. He was very passionate about what he was saying.

I feel like Pastor Mark brought up a good point yesterday. "Same ex" marriage goes against all things God intended Marriage to be. In the bible it states, one man, one woman, they become one flesh. God is the basis of marriage. If you put two women or two men together, it takes God out of the marriage and it is no longer moral.

I don't agree with the gay lifestyle. I never claimed to be okay with it. I am very offended by it being spread all over everything in our culture. As a Christian, I feel like it is so biased. The gays can sit and berate Christians and call us intolerant, biased, homophobic, hypocrits, etc. and somehow that's okay, but as soon as we open our mouths it's a whole other ballgame. It's sad really, when you think about much the gay movement has deteriorated our culture and country. It used to be different, now, the gays are falling over each other coming out of the closet, but before, it was very faux pas to be gay and frowned upon. I just don't understand it. It just seems like it is shoved in our faces on tv so much and I find it offensive. Ugh.

As always, these are just my opinions, not trying to offend anyone, but using my blog for my soapbox.
:)

Nieces!

I never thought I would have an opportunity to be an aunt, since I am an only child. But marrying a large family like I did, I am getting lots of opportunities to be an aunt!

My first nephew was Jackson and he is now 2 years old. He is a bundle of energy and such a sweet cutie!

My first niece was born just a little over a month ago to my other SIL Ashley and her name is Riley. She is so precious.

My second niece will be born tomorrow to my SIL Anna (mother to Jackson) and I am sure she will be just as precious!

It was so many years between us having Cameron and the rest of the siblings to start having babies that it seems weird. Poor Cameron will be 15 years old when these kids are getting used to running around and being ankle biters and the first one they will go to is him! I think it iwll be great for him. Cameron loves kids and maybe he'll get the opportunity to babysit some too!

I am so excited to be part of a big family and be able to be called an aunt. I hope Cameron is as lucky to marry into a big family too.

Welcome to the world Bridget! Can't wait to meet you!!

Be Glorified.

We went to my in laws church yesterday, College Park Church. We have visited with them a couple times many years ago, and didn't really care for it that much because it is such a huge church.

Yesterday, the worship leader, a guy named Eric Anderson, did a song called Be Glorified. I don't have the words to it, but it was awesome! Shane and I both had chills and couldn't sing for being choked up! They had full orchestra and full choir and it was so powerful! We loved it! The words of the song and another song they did with dancers on stage were wonderful! I loved the worship service so much! I felt the Holy Spirit flow through there and it was great.

What made it even more grand was that we were there with family. Shane's family has been trying to get us to come to College Park to visit for years. We were reluctant to come at all since it was big and we had had our own experience with big churches. But yesterday, we went and it was nice to sit with family and visit with them after church, since we don't see them as often as we see my family.

So, we may very well visit with them at their church again sometime, maybe at Christmas time when they have full choir and orchestra and cantatas, which is the type of thing I love about church at that time of year. The music, the decorations, the birth of Christ.

Later!

Pleurisy

So, today's post is not about a song, but about life in general.
We sat for four hours yesterday at St. Vincent ER in Carmel with Shane. I was at my MIL's house doing bible study when he called and said he was going to the ER for his chest pains that was radiating into his left shoulder. So I didn't really get a chance to fully grasp what Beth Moore was saying in the bible study lesson because I was worried about Shane. When I got to the hospital, I was floored. He was laying in a gown, oxygen on, IV going, EKG patches were hooked up, he had just gotten back from a CT scan. I was freaking out! But, after it was all over, Doc came in and said everything was clear, no heart issues, no blood clots in the lung, no tumors or anything, blood work was fine, he just had a nasty case of pleurisy.

Now, pleurisy, if you don't know anything about it, is like rug burn of the lung. If not treated or if you don't breathe deeply, can turn into pneumonia. I had a nasty case of it right after I had Cameron and it was awful! Mine wasn't in my left side though, mine was more in my back.

So, anyway, he is resting all weekend, deep breathing every hour and half hour, taking anti inflammatory meds. It is hard for him because he does not have a high pain tolerance at all, so they give him pain meds....ugh.

So, our adventure yesterday had a much better outcome than I expected and all it is is lung rug burn. :)

Come to Jesus

Have you ever listened to a song and just fell to your knees and cried? This song does that to me. The words in this song are so true. I can't tell you the number of times I have just sat and listened to this song over and over again or played it on the piano and just sang out to Jesus. In every situation of your walk with God this song can pertain. There are times of pain, hurt, joy, happiness, sadness, overwhelming gratitude for God. All these emotions are carried out in this song. It doesn't matter what you may be going through, this song has it all.

Come To Jesus

Weak and wounded sinner

Lost and left to die

Oh raise your head

For love is passing by

Come to Jesus

Come to Jesus

Come to Jesus

And live

Now your burden's lifted

And carried far away

And precious blood

Has washed away the stain

So Sing to Jesus

Sing to Jesus

Sing to Jesus

And live

And like a newborn baby

don't be afraid to crawl

and remember when you walk

sometimes we fall

So fall on Jesus

Fall on Jesus

Fall on Jesus

And live

Sometimes the way is lonely

And still can fill with pain

So if your sky is dark

And pours the rain

Cry to Jesus

Cry to Jesus

Cry to Jesus

And live

Oh and when the love spills over

And music fills the night

When you can't contain

Your joy inside

Then Dance for Jesus

Dance for Jesus

Dance for Jesus

And live

With your final heartbeat

Kiss the world goodbye

And go in peace

And laugh on glory's side

And fly to Jesus

Fly to Jesus

Fly to Jesus

And live.

Fly to Jesus

Fly to Jesus

Fly to Jesus

And live....

So next time you feel like Jesus is far away, come to Jesus. Next time you are grateful to Him, Sing to Jesus. Next time you fall, Fall on Jesus. next time your skies are dark and rain pours over you, Cry to Jesus. Next time your heart is so full of joy, dance for Jesus. We all have moments when we cry to Him, when we dance for Him, Sing out to Him, fall on Him. Jesus loves you no matter what.

So come to Jesus and live.

On My Knees

Okay, here's an old Christian song that I found on my Ipod today that I haven't listened to for quite a while. Sometimes I just need to listen to a good old school song to get my mind in a good Godly mindset. You don't have to pray on your knees, but sometimes, there are circumstances that pushes you down so hard you fall onto your knees crying out to God for help.

On My Knees

There are days when I feel the best of me is ready to begin

Then there're days when I feel I'm letting go and soaring on the wind

Cause I've learned in laughter or in pain

How to survive

I get on my knees

I get on my knees

There I am before the love that changes me

See I don't know how, but there's power when I'm on my knees

I can be in a crowd or by myself or almost anywhere

When I feel there's a need to talk with God

He is emmanuel

When I close my eyes, no darkness there

there's only light!

I get on my knees

I get on my knees

There I am before the love that changes me

See I don't know how, but there's power in the blue skies!

In the midnight

When I'm on my knees

I get on my knees

I get on my knees

There I am before the love that changes me!

See I don't know how but there's power,

When I'm on my

When I'm on my

When I'm on my knees.

Sometimes getting on your knees and looking up at God is so healing. Let Him wash His love over you. Ask Him for forgiveness and let Him hold you while He helps you pick up the pieces of life.

Going Public!

Wow...I put my website on facebook to let someone know about my blog and now I have all kinds of people trafficing here! Yay!

I always had a private blog and only let a few people read it, but I decided that since I am doing the song of the day theme, why not go public?

So...


If have read my blog for the first time today, welcome! These are my thoughts, mostly songs I enjoy. If you ever have a question about something I have written, feel free to ask me, I don't bite. I will always tell you the truth, even if the truth hurts. :)



I am a quirky and unique girl and once you get to know me, the real me....you will either love me or hate me, and I am okay with that. I won't change to please people and I won't be someone I'm not.

With that being said, enjoy reading. I enjoy writing and will continue to do so!

Nothing Without You

In March of this year, as our church was preparing for a door to be closing and new one to be open, Shane and I and our wonderful partner in worship, Janelle, had the opportunity to do this song for two straight weeks for worship. It was the last two weeks they were leading worship before it got taken over by the new Pastor. This is such a powerful, yet intimate song to God. I love this song and love to play and sing it when I am feeling like I need alone time with God. The week after the new pastor came to our church, Janelle, Shane and I recorded this song at the church so that Janelle could send it off to the person in charge of the Camp Meeting at Anderso University. She had always dreamed of singing in it and she hoped by recording this song that she would be given the opportunity. I listen to this version more often than the Bebo Norman version because I love to hear Janelle sing and this song was so powerful when it was done at our church. You could just feel the Holy Spirit in the sanctuary. As it turns out, Janelle got to sing after having sent this song off to the person in charge and got her dream of singing at the Camp Meeting. We were not attending the church at the time, but hearing about it made us so happy for her.

Nothing Without You

Take these hands and lift them up

For I have not the strength to praise You near enough

See I have nothing, I have nothing without You

Take my voice and pour it out

Let it sing the songs of mercy I have found

For I have nothing, I have nothing without You

And all my soul needs

is all Your love to cover me

So all the world will see

I have nothing without You.

Take my body and build it up

May it be broken as an offering of love

For I have nothing I have nothing without You

And all my soul needs

is all Your love to cover me

So all the world will see

I have nothing

But I love You

With all my heart

With all my soul

With all my mind

and all my strength that I can find

Take my time here on this earth

Let it glorify all that You are worth

I am nothing I am nothing without You.

My favorite part of this song is the bridge "But I love, with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my mind and all the strength that I can find" Beautiful words spoken to God. Thank you Janelle, fo sharing this song with Shane and I.

Defying Gravity

Have you ever been told you cannot do something? Someone brings you down to their level because they don't want you to to be able to do something they could only dream of doing? My favorite version of defying gravity is sung by Lea Michele on Glee. I love her voice and she sings it wonderfully.

Defying Gravity

Something has changed within me,

Something is not the same

I'm through with playing by the rules of someone else's game

Too late for second guessing

too late to go back to sleep

It's time to trust my instincts

close my eyes and leap

It's time to try defying gravity

I think I'll try defying gravity

Kiss me goodbye I'm defying gravity

And you won't bring me down

I through accepting limits

'Cause someone says they're so

Some things I cannot change,

but 'til I try I'll never know

Too long I've been afraid of

losing love I guess I've lost

well if that's love it comes at much too high a cost

I'd sooner buy defying gravity

kiss me goodbye I'm defying gravity

I think I'll try defying gravity

And you won't bring me down

I'd sooner buy defying gravity

kiss me goodbye I'm defying gravity

I think I'll try defying gravity

and you won't bring me down

Bring me down.

So next time someone says you can't, tell them they can't bring you down and do it! With God, all things are possible. Good luck!

Desert Song

Today's song of the day is Desert Song by Hillsong.
The words are great. Whne you are feeling like you aren't close to God and you need to get back to Him. When things aren't going the right way. When you feel lost and alone.

Desert Song

This is my prayer in the desert,

When all that's within me feels dry

This is my prayer in my hunger and need

My God is the God who provides.

And this is my prayer in the fire

In weakness or trial or pain

There is a faith proved of more worth than gold

So refine me Lord through the flames

I will bring praise!

I will bring praise!

No weapon formed against me shall remain!

I will rejoice

I will declare!

God is my victory and He is Here!!

This is my prayer in the battle

When triumph is still on its way

I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ

So firm by His promise I'll stand

I will bring praise

I will bring praise!

No weapon formed against me shall remain

I will rejoice

I will declare!

God is my victory and He is Here!

All of my life

In every season

You are still God

I have a reason to sing!

I have a reason to worship!

I will bring praise

I will bring praise!

No weapon formed against me shall remain

I will rejoice

I will declare

God is my victory and He is Here!

This is my prayer in the harvest

When favor and providence flow

I know I'm filled to be emptied again

The seed I've received I will sow.

These words speak volumes to me. The first time I heard this song was when we were leading worship with two spectacular women that are so full of God. Mimi brought this song to practice one Thursday night and said the women were singing a special song. I fell in love with it the first time we sung it. I needed to hear it at the time. God never said it was going to be easy. God never said He was going to let us lead a life full of joy and never have to cry or feel pain. He does tell us that He is here and with us. This song tells me that I am not alone when I feel alone. God is always with me, standing right beside me, with His strong hands holding me up when I feel like I am going to fall flat on my face. When all things are awry, He is there with me, telling me it's going to be okay. Telling me that He is here to hold me when I cry and envelop me with His strong arms. He loves me even when I don't think I deserve it. He forgives me when I do something I need to be forgiven for. He helps me walk with my head held high even when others judge me. I highlighted my favorite words of this song. I will listen to this song in the car sometimes and just raise my ands in the air during the bridge. I am sure to others I look like a complete nut, but I don't care. Definitely one of my favorite Christian songs of all time.

God is my victory and HE IS HERE!!!

What a Wonderful World

Louis Armstrong. Need I say more? He is awesome! I love old music from the 50's. I am a big band and swing lover, I love the malt shop oldies. I love old music. Sometimes I think I love it more than I love Christian music! Here's an oldie but a goodie.

What a Wonderful World

I see trees of green, red roses too

I see them bloom for me and you

and I think to myself

what a wonderful world

I see skies of blue, and clouds of white

the bright blessed day

the dark sacred night

and I think to myself

what a wonderful world.

The colors of the rainbow

so pretty in the sky

are also on the faces of people going by

I see friends shaking hands

saying how do you do?

they're really saying I love you

I hear babies crying,

I watch them grow

They'll learn much more

than I'll ever know

and I think to myself

what a wonderful world

Yes, I think to myself

what a wonderful world.

Just think if everyone thought like this? So happy and makes me frolick in a meadow with flowers everywhere. It is so sugary sweet and I love it! So many songs have such heartbreaking words and so many songs full of hate and anger. It is nice to go back to a time when songs were full of love. Ahhh......take me to a time where women stayed at home and made homemade food and had cookies and milk for the kids when they came home from school and kids ran down the street to play with friends and husbands came home and kissed their wife on the cheek and read the newspaper while supper was cooking. Everyone sat at the table and ate together.......women volunteered at the school and ran the PTO and life was so much simpler. Take me back to that time....I would take it anytime.

I Dreamed a Dream

Okay, I know I said song of the day, not songs. But this song is great. Another Les Miserables song. Fantine sings this about how her daughter is not with her and how her man left her with this baby to fend for themselves. She ended up having her daughter sent off and paid the people to keep her for her.

How many times have you dreamed and it didn't come true? Or you dreamed so big that you didn't think it would ever happen? Never underestimate what God can do. He can make what you think is the impossible become the possible.

I Dreamed a Dream

I dreamed a dream in time gone by

When hope was high and life worth living

I dreamed that love would never die.

I dreamed that God would be forgiving

Then I was young and unafraid

And dreams were made and used and wasted

There was no ransom to be paid

No song unsung no wine untasted

But the tigers come at night

With their voices soft as thunder

As they tear your hope apart

As they turn your dream to shame

And still I dream he'll come to me

That we will live the years together

But there are dreams that cannot be

and there are storms we cannot weather

I had a dream my life would be

So different from this hell I'm living

So different now from what it seems

Now life has killed the dream I dreamed.

What was the last dream you had that thought was impossible? Did God make it possible?

Song of the Day 10/9/10 "Monster"

Have you been made to feel like a monster? Have you ever been demeaned and made out to be the bad guy? Ever felt like you can't win no matter what? We all have. This song by Skillet really makes me feel better when I am angry. Loud rock music with a good beat makes me feel better when I can't get rid of my bitterness, or my anger. If I am mad, I can rock out for a while with my Ipod and feel so much better. That and a lot of praying! :) This song speaks to me sometimes when people who don't really know me or the whole story tend to make me out to be some kind of uncaring hideous monster.

Monster

The secret side of me, I never let you see
I keep it caged but I can't control it
So stay away from me the beast is ugly
I feel the rage and I just can't hold it

It's scratching on the walls, in the closet in the halls
It comes awake and I can't control it
Hiding under the bed in my body in my head
Why won't somebody come and save me from this, make it end?

I feel it deep within it's just beneath the skin
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I hate what I've become, the nightmare's just begun
I must confess that I feel like a monster

I, I feel like a monster

I, I feel like a monster

My secret side I keep hid under lock and key
I keep it caged but I can't control it
Cause if I let him out, he'll tear me up break me down
Why won't somebody come and save me from this, make it end?


I feel it deep within it's just beneath the skin

I must confess that I feel like a monster

I hate what I've become, the nightmare's just begun

I must confess that I feel like a monster.

I feel it deep within it's just beneath the skin

I must confess that I feel like a monster

I, I feel like a monster

I, I feel like a monster

It's hiding in the dark, it's teeth are razor sharp

There's no escape from me, it wants my soul it wants my heart

No one can hear me scream, maybe it's just a dream

Maybe it's inside of me, stop this monster!

I feel it deep within it's just beneath the skin

I must confess that I feel like a monster

I hate what I've become, the nightmare's just begun

I must confess that I feel like a monster

I feel it deep within, it's just beneath the skin

I must confess that I feel like a monster

I've gotta lose control, it's something radical

I must confess that I feel like a monster

I, I feel like a monster

I, I feel like a monster

I, I feel like a monster

I, I feel like a monster

Yep, next time someone makes you angry, turn up the volume and dance like nobody is watching....

Song of the Day

So I have decided to revamp my blog and change things around a bit, shake things up a little.
So, I am doing a song of the day. I will choose a song that speaks to me or is catching my attention, the lyrics and talk a little about it. Should give you something to think about. :)

Today's Song of the Day is On My own from Les Miserables. I love musicals and may end up doing a lot of musical numbers on here.

On My Own

On my own, pretending he's beside me.

All alone, I walk with him 'til morning

Without him, I feel his arms around me

And when I lose my way I close my eyes and he has found me

In the rain, the pavement shines liek silver

All the lights are misty in teh river

In the darkness the trees are full of starlight

And all I see if him and me forever and forever

And I know, it's only in my mind

That I'm talking to myslef and not to him

And although, I know that he is blind

Still I say, there's a way for us

I love him, but when the night is over

He is gone, the river's just a river

without him the world around me changes

the trees are bare asnd everywhere the streets are full of strangers

I love him but ever day I'm learning

All my life I've only been pretending

Without me, his world will go on turning

A world that's full of happiness that I have never known.

I love him,

I love him

I love him, but only on my own

This song is so full of emotion to me. If you have ever had the opportunity to see this musical, it is full of heartbreak and pain. War and broken people. Eponine sings this to the love of her life, Marius, who happens to be in love with Cosette. Eponine goes to the battlefield in search of Marius and ends up getting shot and dies, but not before she gets a chance to tell Marius how she feels. So sad.

Sometimes, you can look at songs that are not Christian based, and apply them to God. She goes and gets herself shot and then with her dying breaths, she tells him how she feels. How many people never take the opportunity to know God or tell Him how they feel until it's almost too late? God is so good to us. He is so mighty. He is the love of our lives, or should be. I can't fathom a life without Him in it.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's song.....

You've got to be kidding me....

I have never gotten what I wanted. Ever. I was not the sterotypical only child, getting everything I wanted, being all selfish and self centered.

So when we got a mortgage pre aprroval back that said "Congratulations on your new home!" I was wondering where the candid camera people were hiding.

That easy? You've got to be kidding me!

7 years ago, we had a house. We were young and bought a house that was in our price range, but wasn't affordable. We couldn't afford it by any means and the repairs that needed done to it we weren't able to do. So when we found mold, it was devastating. The mold specialist came in and took a good couple hours to go through my house, top to bottom.

"You want the good news or the bad news?"

That's always what you want to hear....

"The good news is, it is fixable. The bad news is, it will cost you about 50k and you have to move out while we take your house down to a skeleton and start over."

We filed bankruptcy and foreclosed on our house. There was no way we could afford that, and even if we could've, it wasn't worth it in a 76k house.

Fast forward 7 years later and here we are. We have worked our rear ends off the last 7 years to make things right with our credit. It was very hard to do when Shane barely made enough to get us through, there wasn't a lot extra to save. He fell and broke his ankle right after we moved to Westfield and we had to live off of worker's comp. Even though I worked almost full time then, we couldn't make ends meet. We talked to banks and looked at our credit to see how much the points would go up or down. It was a long, slow process, but we finally got to where we need to be. Shane's credit is good enough to get a mortgage and mine isn't far behind. We heard the mortgage "experts" telling us, get credit cards, that's the fastest way to raise your score, but we refused, willing to wait to get a house rather than get credit cards and end up in a worse position.

Patience paid off. After 7 years, we are finally going to be able to buy a house. The house we always dreamed of.

I have always wanted to build a brand new house and now I get to! I wanted a ranch, with a front porch, 3 bed, 2 bath, fireplace, etc. Now, I get to have that dream!

Our home is called the Bradford. It is built by Arbor Homes. It has a front porch that we can sit chairs on and look out over the front yard. It has 3 bed, 2 bath and we have opted for the bonus room upstairs. We have a big kitchen that we are getting an island put in with three seats on the bar area (how perfect right? 3 seats for 3 Frye's!) I am also getting a wood burning fireplace. We got on a corner lot and it is close to the future amenities center and the woods. I couldn't ask for anything better. God is so good to us.

This comes at a time when I am still unsure. We have went back to our church home, but sometimes I feel like an outsider looking in. Some people won't even speak to me. Or making me feel guilty for having left to begin with. I feel like that is just a little immature on their part, but who am I to judge? While some have been warm and welcoming, I still feel like an outsider. I don't want to get involved right now at all, in fact, I signed up for an affinity group that I am not even sure I want to be a part of. I really just don't want to get involved right now in any capacity and this is getting involved in my book.

One thing I can be thankful for is not having to be involved in the student ministries. That was the area we were suppsed to be in charge of before we left, but somehow that got taken out of our hands. I was livid at first, because it didn't seem fair to Shane that something I did or said was taken out of context and he wouldn't get a chance to show Matt what he could do with the SM. It was my fault for trusting people with my feelings and now I know that things are better kept to myself. However, at this point, I am glad we aren't involved. I like Scott and think he is doing a good job with the kids. I am really glad to be free from responsibility. I don't have to sit at the church until all hours of the day and night waiting to lock up after everyone goes home or having to sit in the office and do nothing while Shane teaches. We can drop off Cameron, and then head off for a drive through the country, go get a milkshake or a car wash and then pick him up when they are finished. It is nice.

So anyway, I wonder in all this uncertainty in our life, how it is still possible for us to have this wonderful exciting thing happen to us? We were still faithful to God while we were not in our church home, but things were so awry and crazy for us and so unsure. But through all of this, God has still blessed us and given so much to be thankful for. Health, happiness, grace and forgiveness.

A bible study I am involved in with my MIL and SIL's has a five statement faith pledge. I am learning it and living it.
1 God is who He says He is
2. God can do what He says He can do
3. I can do all things through Christ
4. I am who God says I am
5. God is alive and active in me.

Instead of whining and complaining, start believing and receiving! Because I can tell you, the believing and receiving is so much better than the whining and complaining!

:)

Slushies anyone?

Right now, my favorite show on tv is Glee. I didn't watch it until it was halfway through the first season. I don't watch a lot of tv, so it didn't occur to me that it might be something I would be interested in. Another teenage tv show on primetime...whoopee.

However, that show takes me back about 16 years ago when I was 15 years old and in the Glee Club. While I would never ever in a million years want to go back and relive high school, it is fun to see that Glee is still around.

So many times in life, I feel like the kids from Glee, getting a slushie thrown in my face by the "popular" kids. Getting made fun of, told I am a loser, etc. Seems to me like some situations are just like high school. People out to be #1 in some phantom popularity contest. People who will beg, borrow and steal to get a glimpse of what's it's like to be popular. Not me. I never played that game. I was popular in my own group. The band kids, the glee kids....and that was pretty much it. But I also didn't sit around and make fun of others to win at some stupid popularity game either.

I walk into situations all the time when substitute teaching where it is sad to me to see certain kids made fun of, called losers, nerds, geeks, whatever, just because of their choices of activities. It breaks my heart to see a band kid walk down the hall and the football jocks and cheerleaders are trying to trip the band kid to make them drop their instrument. They don't see the real person, they see the stereotype. He/She is a band kid, so they must be nerds, He/She is in the glee club, they must be losers. He/She is a cheerleader/football player so they must be so cool.

Stereotyping goes on outside of school too. Even as a 31 year old adult, I find myself in situations on occasion where I am the on the outside looking in on the cliques. I feel like I have walked into HS again where the football jocks and cheerleaders are standing there and I am the kid from Glee just anticipating the slushie getting ready to be thrown in my face. Some people won't even talk to me sometimes because they automatically think I am some stuck up snot because I am quiet. What they don't see is that there is a wall between me and them and if they are willing to ge tto know the real me and start chipping away at the wall, they may actually see that the person inside the wall is actually a pretty nice person. :) Now, ask me my opinion, no matter how tall the wall is around me and you will get an honest answer, but there is always a wall.

Being an outsider isn't fun. I have been an outsider too many times and can tell you how it hurts. I was the kid with no siblings, which was deemed weird. I was the kid who read all the time, which they deemed me a nerd. I was the kid with hand me down clothes, so I was deemed poor. I was the band kid and glee kid, so they deemed me a loser. I was the girl who got pregnant Senior year, so they called me a slut. And it hurt. If they had just stopped and talked to me, instead of making their judgements about me, they woudl have been able to see that I am not that bad of a person to get along with.

So next time you start to look at a person, whether you know them or not, whether you knew them for years, then didn't see them for a while and then saw them again, whether they have been friends with you before but the friendship drifted apart for some reason, don't automatically give them a title. Don't judge them before you know the season of life that they are in. Don't sit there and call them losers, nerds, sluts, mean, or dorks. They say walk a mile in someone's shoes to see the real person. I say walk a mile with that person and get to know them. Don't jump to conclusions about them, because you never know, they may just be your next best friend. :)

Don't throw a slushie....drink it.

Until the Whole World Hears...are you ready?

Casting Crowns is one of my favorite Christian bands. Shane and I have sung a couple of their songs at church before. Before the new pastor came, our plan was to incorporate another of their songs in the worship songlist, but alas, it didn't happen.

So imagine my surprise when we went to our old church on Sunday and the opening song was one of their newest songs, and one of my personal favorites, Until the Whole World Hears.
The words are powerful. My favorite verse if the second one.

Until the Whole World Hears

Lord I want to feel with Your heart, see the world through Your eyes

I want to be Your hands and feet, I want to live a life that leads

Ready yourselves, Ready yourselves

Let us shine the light of Jesus in the darkest night

Oh ready yourselves, Ready yourselves

May the powers of darkness tremble as I praise His rise!

Until the whole world hears what we are calling out!

Lifting up Your name for all who hear the sound

Like voices in the wolderness, we're crying out

and as the day draws near, we sing until the whole world hears!

Lord let Your sleeping giants rise, catch the demons by surprise!

Holy nation sanctified, let this be our battle cry!!

Ready yourselves, Ready yourselves,

Let us shine the light of Jesus in the darkest night

Oh ready yourselves, Ready yourselves,

May the powers of darkness tremble as I praise His rise!!

Until the whole world hears what we are calling out!

Lifting up Your name for all who hear the sound

Like voices in the wilderness, we're crying out

And as the day draws near, we sing until the whole world hears!

....Sing until the whole world hears!.....

I want to be Your hands and feet, I want to live a life that leads

to see You set the captive free, until the whole world hears!

And I pray that they will see more of You and less of me,

Lord I want my life to be a song You sing!

Unitl the whole world hears what we are calling out!

Lifting up Your name for all to hear the sound

Like voices in the wilderness we're crying out

And as the day draws near, we sing until the whole world hears!

Wow. Their songs can bring tears to my eyes, make me raise my hands in the air, make me drop to my knees. I love their music!

Now, are you ready to sing until the whole world hears??

Money Hungry? Or Jesus Filled?

There are so many people out in this world that are only out to make a dollar. All they care about is money, how much they have, how much you have, how much they can make, how to spend it. They look at others and see what they have and decide they must have the same thing, no matter what. They will work themselves into credit card balances of well over the means of what they can afford and then wonder how they will pay it back. They will spend every dollar they have in their pocket to buy the bigger house, the better car, the best of the best, the brand name this and that.

I ask you: What is the point?

They spend money because they are empty inside. They have a need to fill up their life with "stuff" so they can meet the need to feel better about themselves, be looked at as sucessful or wealthy. But how truly wealthy are they?

I live in a 1630 sq. ft. condo. I love it here and it is just the perfect size for the three Frye's. We don't have a fancy car. We don't have expensive furniture or brand name things or the newest latest greatest tech equipment.

But you know what I do have? A full life, a full heart and a life with Jesus. He is all I need in this world to be happy. I don't have to worry about what others think about me, because I know Jesus thinks I am pretty special. I don't need to worry about what others think about my clothes or my car or my home, because Jesus is my center focus, not "stuff". All these other things don't matter.

I hate to see people that worry about image and what others think of them. They are the most unhappy people and they fail to see that what they have, is not what they want, they yearn for more but don't know what it is they yearn for. IT'S JESUS people!!!!! He wants to love you, He wants to hold you and give you the things you need in this world!

Don't be money hungry....be Jesus filled!

A new song to sing....

Meredith Andrews. Darn her and her beautiful music and powerful words. I love to sit with my MP3 and listen to her beautiful voice singing to me about God. If I am being still and listening only to music, I can be moved to tears by her songs. Messages of God being with us, not being alone, having a new song to sing, etc.

I have been feeling impatient lately, wondering where God wants us to be. What church are we supposed to be at? What place will we have there? We have visited a couple churches, and there are still several more we want to try out. I just want to be at home again. I long for the joy of walking in on Sunday morning and getting a hug from a close friend, people stopping me to chat, going up on stage and singing or playing piano, sticking around after church service to see who we would go to lunch with. I miss that so much.

We feel like God is telling us it is time for a new song to sing. Where that is, we dont' know yet. We are trying to be patient and trusting that God will lead us to the place we are supposed to be. Where we can have a new song to sing. A song that is perfect for us again. It won't be the same song as before, but it will be better, because it will be where God wants us to be.

I will sing a new song. It will be something beautiful, just the way God intended it to be sung. And one day, we will be back at that comfortable place. Friends and people chatting with us, finding us to see where we want to meet up for lunch. Just like our old song.