Goodbye Youth

First it was a kid at church who called me an old lady.
Then this morning I pulled a muscle in my back just standing up...yeah...
THEN....as I was fixing my hair...I found two gray hairs. Nooooo!

Old people have gray hair. I'm not supposed to have gray hair yet! Don't get me wrong, I'm not opposed to having gray hair...just not at 25!

Ok, now I feel nauseous.

Goodbye Youth! I shall miss you...kinda.

Mittagessen Delicatessen

Subway has been one of my favorites for a long time, because it's fast food without the grease and it tastes good, too. But...Subway, I'm sorry, you're being bumped down on the list because of the delicious "Mittagessen Deli."

The only problem is, I only get it a couple times a year when I house/cat-sit for my Aunt and Uncle. This is tragic.

My city used to have Schlotzsky's  (my all-time favorite sandwiches), then it left. Then Quiznos. I was a little undecided about Quiznos, then I loved it, then it left. So I had to settle for Subway, for years. If only I could convince the nice people of Mittagessen Deli to drive an hour to deliver a sandwich to my house. Hmmm....I'll just have to eat my fill while I'm here....Mittagessen  every day!

Mid-week Bible Study

We now have a mid-week Bible Study at my church. My Pastor is leading it using a book by Mark Dever called "What is a Healthy Church?" It meets at 6pm every Wednesday. I know...Wednesday night, so typical of a Baptist church. :-) The choice was made based on how many people could attend - a toss up between Tuesday and Wednesday - and Wednesday won.

Anyway, I think the study is going to be interesting and eye-opening. I, like many others, have a desire to see our church (a people, not a place) rise above what we think church should be and instead look to see what God says church should be...

...continually seeking to be God's kind of church.

New Bible Studies

We're starting 2 new Bible studies at my church. The adult and teen Bible classes have merged into a men's and women's class for the next 12 or so weeks. The women are using a book by Ann Spangler & Jean E. Syswerda called "Women of the Bible." The men are using a book called "Twelve Ordinary Men" by John MacArthur.

I'm a little jealous of the guys because they get to do a John MacArthur study! (I may wear a fake mustache or pretend like I'm doing some really important technical stuff over by the sound system so I can listen in on the guys study...lol) I'm really looking forward to the women's study, too. I've been wanting to do a 'women of the Bible' study for close to a year now, so I know this one will be good. It's nice to have just the women together sometimes, partly for the fellowship and partly because there's a lot more we can talk about when it's just the girls.


(If you're interested; here's the church email -  info@edgewood-danville.org)

Just Dance for health

I have a Wii and I recently got Just Dance 2. It's SOO fun! People who are avid dancers are always in great shape. When I was little I took a year of ballet - thanks to my siser-in-law - and I danced ALL the time to whatever music that was playing...while walking to the fridge, while brushing my teeth, while eating at the dinner table...but other than that I have NO dance experience whatsoever and it really showed haha.

Dancing is an unbelievable workout, but fun at the same time which tricks you into thinking that you're not actually working out. My favorite thing is "just sweat" which gives you 3 easy to hard programs to track your progress during the week. A relative of mine has only been doing it for 2 weeks and has already lost weight and a few inches around the waste.  Good job!
I'm already thinking about buying Just Dance 3.

Harmless Basketball

I've been going to my nephew's home junior high basketball games this year. I think they're still undefeated. Woo!! I'm so glad I decided to record some of the game, because I got him(#15) making an awesome shot! Then I almost dropped the camera while screaming...

Music to my ears

I had a great time with the music last Sunday. The visitors outnumbered our people two to one. It was great! (Although, it would have been even greater if more of our people had attended.) I love to sing praises to God with a bunch of other followers of Jesus. Also, to not feel like I'm singing a solo up front is always a good thing for me..hah..

We generally have several women (because we can't get the men up there) that sing with me on Sunday mornings.  We were missing one of our girls last Sunday and it felt like part of the family was gone! The truth of that is that church is family, real family. It's so easy to love people who follow Jesus because we have everything in common, that is...we both know Jesus.

Back to Ephesians

After the looong holiday season, we're back to the Ephesians Study at my church. I enjoyed the in between series "Family Issues." It was definitely a series that hit home, as we all have families, and we all can relate to having struggles within our families. But...I was so excited to get back to the Ephesians Study. Next Sunday we're ready for week 15! 

More Strings

Fender Squier SA-105

I bought 2 new (used) guitars! My sister-in-law's Father owns a resale shop and they had an acoustic and an electric for sale.

The acoustic has a beautiful sound, definitely an upgrade for me. (But not quite as pretty as my old one :-)

I think these will definitely benefit and enhance the music ministry at my church.

Gibson Epiphone something?

I don't know how to play electric, but I'm gonna have fun trying. Don't have an amp yet, but...I tested it after church yesterday and it does work. I just need new strings for both of them.

My fingers are so sore from playing for hours yesterday. I just couldn't put it down! lol

Soon to be...

...Mama


Someone sold my personal information to a bunch of people!

I've received phone calls about free baby stuff(that I signed up for??)...phone calls about purchases essential baby stuff...they sent mail about baby clothes...mail about baby toys...mail about insurance because I have a "little one" now...

I do NOT have a baby. I am not going to have a baby any time soon! How do I make them stop?!

Prasso - I will Cast my Cares

Katie(piano) and me(guitar) singing "I will Cast my Cares" at the Ladies Prasso Group. It was recorded with a cell phone, so the quality is not great.



"I will Cast my Cares"  by Stephen Altrogge

Jesus, I'm frail, I'm so very weak
My faithfulness fails, my courage will flee
But You are my rock, my shelter and shade
When I'm burdened down, You'll carry the weight

So I will cast my cares on You

Yes, I will cast my cares on You

I will rest within Your arms

Knowing I am safe from harm

I will cast my cares on You

When I'm overwhelmed and I cannot stand

You hear every cry and You lift my head

I'm desperate for grace and mercy anew

I must have Your strength, Oh I must have You

Weed Wackety

Today, I wacked my first weed. I will say right now....it did not go well.

First of all...the weed wacker is 6 feet long and weighs more than me. Secondly, it requires a 10 step process to start it. Thirdly, once it is running, it vibrates enough to dislocate your shoulder.

So...my dad was patient enough to show me how it's done. I had to pull the cord thing, then there was something about a choke, a throttle...feathering something...and that was the easy part. I just noded and say ok a few times. Then I had to pick up the 6 ft. 50 lb military grade weed wacker. Every time I got close to a weed, the weed wacker tried to spin out of control. I had to hold it at an angle...it's 6"...I'm 5'3"..How do I do that?! After that it was..."you're not close enough, faster! you have to hold the throttle...get closer...you can't get the weeds you're not close enough...throttle...too close! too close! throttle...here let me do it...throttle, closer...too close! too close!.....you tore up the end."

Seriously though...that thing was vibrating so bad I couldn't feel my arms, they just hung straight down as I walked into the house.

Harmless, M.D.

(that's what my hair looks like at the piano)

In our last monthly church business meeting, I was really surprised. I was officially made the Music Director and the church secretary at my church. I've been doing the music there for maybe 5 years and since my brother became the pastor I've been a secretary, kinda.

So my question is...

Now that I am "officially" the Music Director, can I put "M.D." after my name?

I want a shirt that says this...

Google+

So, Google+ is awesome! It's only been up and running for a little while now and already it has millions of users. I'm really excited about this because I think it's going to overpower Facebook....finally. For those of you who don't know, Google+ is a social network...except it's smarter. They have "circles" which are very cool. With circles you can post what you want to different circles(groups of people) you create.  Hangouts look very cool, too. I haven't had the chance to try this feature yet, but I'm hoping I can get all my siblings to try Google+ so we can 'hangout' online even though we live in different states. We'll see if I can talk them into giving it a shot.

I love Google.

Beauty Secrets of the Bible

(click to view on Amazon)

I got a new book a couple weeks ago called "Beauty Secrets of the Bible." So far I've only tried a couple 'recipes' in it.  I absolutely love homemade beauty products. In today's world a girl could easily spend hundreds of dollars on beauty products ranging from shampoo to a good quality hand cream, body scrubs, etc. I do NOT want to waste my(God's) money on unimportant stuff like that. No way!


A lot of people don't realize that they can make half of that stuff at home using simple ingredients like sugar, baking soda, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, oatmeal, olive oil, and honey. If you make it at home it won't have all those ingredients that you can't pronounce, no fake coloring, no preservatives....only good, healthy ingredients that your skin and body need. My sister-in-law told me a lady at her last church hosted a "Beauty Secrets of the Bible" party for the women at the church. I might just have to do that, when I'm done with this book. Hosting something like that would SO not be my kind of thing (or hosting anything for that matter), but I think it might be fun. 

The Heart of the Artist

Last Sunday I went to my "house-sitting" church (my adopted church when I house-sit for my Aunt & Uncle). I decided to go talk to the music director after the service. I had a few(a ton of) questions for her. She was SO kind and encouraging. She gave me her email and a book to borrow called "The Heart of the Artist" by Rory Noland.

I've never felt adequate or qualified to run the music ministry at my church, and I'm not! When the last piano player moved away, I was the only musician left, so I took the reins. BUT...God helped me to see that He didn't care if I had a degree in music ministry or any experience at all for that matter. He opened my eyes to see that all I needed was Him; all I needed was to trust my God and He would take care of the rest.

Follow my blog...I'm not asking

I just "followed" my own blog...does that make me self-absorbed?

See what I've been driven to?

Only 3 followers, so I was pushed to step across that line...from those people that enjoy hearing their own voice to following my OWN blog!

We all know it's dangerous to leave me to my own thoughts for too long, so....click the "follow" button on the left!

Do it...you know you want to...

Storms of various kinds

Yesterday, a nice sunny day turned into a thunderstorm which turned into a hailstorm. With hail the size of quarters, I ran out and grabbed a piece and stuck it in the freezer...why? I don't know.

So THAT was extremely boring, I'll try something a lil more interesting.

A friend from high school and her husband are going to be helping out with the music at my church for a little while. It's going to be a huge relief and blessing.  It's awesome to pray for years for something and then hear God say, "Ok, you have waited on Me, now the waiting is over."

Why is it hard to wait on the Lord sometimes? It shouldn't be. He's omnipotent, omniscient (all-powerful, all-knowing) and He knows what is best for His children, WHEN it's best for them.  Yet we, as followers of Jesus, fight that sometimes and want things now, because honestly it would make things easier (so WE think). Ultimately, we are a self-centered people.  We think we know what's best for us. Even the most unselfish person you've ever met is, at the end of the day, self-centered. It's being human.

We're studying the "Idols of the Heart" at my church and we've seen that our heart is a 1-throne heart.  It only has room for 1 king at a time, 1 ruler. We tend to seat ourselves on that throne more often than we think. Remember that time that you heavily sighed because someone asked you to get up and help them with something...just when you sat down after a long day of working hard?? Yep, that's because in that moment you were serving "self" instead of God.

Praise God that He is patient with us, and understands temptation (Jesus Tempted by the devil).

I'm not home right now, so I can't listen to my church's sermons first hand, but I've been listening to them online here.  http://www.audio.edgewood-danville.org 

Can't wait for "Idols of the Heart" part 3!

Forever learning...

Sadly not my guitar,
but I'd love to have it!

I got an acoustic guitar for my birthday a few years ago, and I've gone back and forth with loving it and then letting dust collect on it. Every time I house sit for my aunt and uncle, I always bring my guitar with me and fall in love with it all over again. My fingers are in PAIN from all the playing I've done the last few days.

I have a lot of songs to learn for church. My friend, who just finished college, is now home and can play piano while I'm on guitar. We have a tiny church, so 2 instruments are a real treat....ya, I know...sad, but I'm really excited about it.

Current Getty songs I'm learning for church...
    "Power of the Cross" - Keith & Kristyn Getty
    "Behold the Lamb" - Keith & Kristyn Getty
    "All around the world" - Keith & Kristyn Getty

Just for fun...
    "Dream a little Dream of Me" - Mama Cass
    "My Hands are Shaking" - Sondre Lerche
    "Yours to Hold" - Skillet

Try, try again...

Well, I guess I've decided to try blogging again. I used to blog consistently, got tired of it, now I'm back!