Happy Birthday Dad

My dad turned 67 February 25th. Since my brother is a truck driver, we usually have our celebrations on the weekends. So after church on Sunday, we went to my parents to have lunch with them and my brother, Rob.
Jory took my camera and was snapping pictures. I thought a few (of the thirty+ that he took) were pretty cool. It's fun to see what Jory was seeing and what he wanted to get pictures of. Usually I find my camera full of pictures of our cat, the TV with Spongebob on (lots of those), Jory's toy cars and trucks lined up on his dresser, lots of pictures of his teeth, up his nose, etc...
But here are a few he took today!

This is of my mom's and my brother's arm, with Rob's bowl of vegetable soup.

It just looks artsy to me!

Here's my Dad's legs under the table!

My Dad taking a drink of his iced tea.

And finally one of me!

Like I said, my brother owns and drives his own semi. I've also mentioned in previous posts how terribly he spoils my boys and always has something for them. Well, today was no different. He said he had 'playdough' in his truck for Jacen and Jory. Well, this isn't exactly the kind of 'playdough' I was imagining. It makes 'sounds' if you catch my drift... I said "I have never seen anything like this before" and my dad replied "well, you don't shop at a truckstop". True! 'Nuff said!
Here's a little video of Jory and Uncle Rob, playing with the 'playdough'!!!

ATF 2009

This weekend end, Jack, Jacen and I attended Acquire the Fire at Kemper Arena in KC. This was my 5th AFT event and Jack and Jacen's 2nd. We've also bought our tickets for next year already! Our seats, once again, were the 4th and 5th row from the stage, center section.

You couldn't ask for better seats, but I could've asked for better bands this year! Unhindered led worship again and I think that they're awesome! Friday night we seen Leeland. I really like them as well. We seen them open for Casting Crowns last year. I was excited for Jacen to see Leeland, because the lead singer has that 'skater' look to him.

But Saturday was Everyday Sunday... not too bad, but not my thing. The lead singer was obviously not feeling well and cut their session short. God bless him, he did great and gave it his all, but you could just tell he was miserable. Then Thousand Foot Crutch took the stage. Sorry! Too much head banging. Although the kids like it and that's what ATF is all about, so there you go! I lived! It will be very hard for ATF to beat their 08 event with the 'BEMA' drama and the Newsboys! That was my favorite year of all!

So anyway, we leave our town, about 1 and 1/2 hours from KC. It's calling for 5 inches on snow at home and just a 'dusting' in KC.... As you can tell by the picture, the opposite happened! Not a bit of snow in N MO!

Jadeth

Jadeth is the FCCLA President at THS. He actually has one of the largest chapters in the Nation, with over 70 kids in FCCLA. Because of his active involvement, he was one of 100 kids in Missouri invited to a day of Legislative Shadowing. He followed our represenative, Casey Guernsey, around for the day and was able to sit in on a few meetings as well.
Pictured with Jadeth and Casey is Connie Hoffman, THS's FCCLA advisor. This is the picture that was submitted for our local newspaper.

Religion Vs. Christianity

Religion spells 'DO'
You must do this or do that...

Christianity spells 'DONE'
It is finished, done.
The price is paid in full.
Christ blood on the cross set us free.

It is far easier to live out a religion than it is to live out a relationship. Religions have rules, lists of "do's" and "don'ts", rights and wrongs.

This is, however, precisely what Jesus did NOT come to teach. Jesus came to set us free from religious structure. Free from lists of behavioral practices, free from the law, and free from feeling like we can never measure up to a worldly or religiously imposed standard of behavior.

Eternally His... JMS

A friend of mine is making some jewelry with a message... I invite you to read how the jewelry line came about, then go check out her site!

http://www.newcreationjewelry.com/

FROM DISASTER TO DECOR
The stones on these pieces came from a tempered glass patio table that was shattered during a storm. When the clouds left and the sun shone brightly on the shattered mess in our yard, it glittered like precious jewels. Millions of them! How could brokenness be so beautiful? I realized it had everything to do with the sun shining through it. The Son began to show me the potential of the broken when put back into the Creator's hands. Excitement rose in me as I gathered up the fragments. As the Lord does with us, I accepted each one in the shape they were found. Washing them thoroughly, I noticed how some pieces had more dirt than others yet came out just as clean! Next was the fun part. Giving them new colors and placing them according to their unique shapes (no two exactly alike) in a place where they have beauty, value, and purpose. What once was lost had now been found!

Is this not what the Lord does with us when we give him our own disasters?

"They shall be mine," says the Lord of hosts, "On the day that I make them my jewels."Mal. 3:17

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;

Old things are passsed away; behold all thing have become new!"2 Cor. 5:17