Queenies Little Kingdom

It was FANTASTIC! Hello Dolly, that is. If I didn’t know they were all high school teenagers performing in last night’s musical….you would’ve had a hard time convincing me they weren’t professionals. They were amazing! The audience was mesmerized and rightly so. Dolly was played by Gretchen Reece a junior in our school. Big giant kuddo’s out to you, Gretch! You rocked it girl! This morning over pancakes we were discussing the whole show and decided that every person was cast exactly where they belonged. Just incredible! Mrs. Wildey and crew you did a fantastic job with this musical. All that practice and hard work really paid off. We thoroughly enjoyed it (especially with two of our teens in it!). Great job, Gavin! And Ally…..you were terrific too!

Gavin & Ariel Rudicel (Ambrose Kemper & Ermangarde Vandergelder)

The whole cast before the judge!

Enjoy….it’s a bit shaky.

Hello Dolly from Wanda Staton Galloway on Vimeo.

This week I was chatting online in the magical world of Facebook with some old friends…….our class reunion came up. Someone mentioned our 25th reunion……like the details of it. I was thinking in my own mind, huh? What? It hasn’t been that long yet. Uhhhm, well….yea it has! June of 1984 seems like yesterday. I started counting on my fingers and toes just to prove my point and came up with that absurd number, 25! Where did all the time go? I mean, I’m still dealing with my first-born and his upcoming high school graduation (June 6, 2009). How can I even think of facing all those other 42-43 year old classmates that I haven’t seen in a coon’s age? I immediately thought, I better start jogging! I don’t look like I did at 97 lbs. with all body parts still in the right position. 🙂

Time is fleeting! I don’t feel like I’ve lived an adulthood of 25 years already. I’ve been a little busy raising some rockin cool kids and loving a great husband. I haven’t spent much time counting down the years. I’ve just lived them…..hopefully in a way that pleases God. He has been the focal point in all that I’ve been doing during these years. It’s been an honor too. I love my life and it’s because of God that I have it. So, thank you Lord.

I don’t know what will happen this year (regarding my reunion). If one is pulled together back home, I would love to go. Even looking like I’m someone’s mom…..I don’t care. I’m not going for a beauty contest. I just want to connect and share in the joy of the people that I grew up with. I want to see where they’ve been in life and what God has done for them. Mostly, I want to share what He’s done in mine. It’s worth talking about!

I love this song by Brandon Heath. While I don’t have someone particular that I needed to forgive….the message of not being who I used to be is awesome. Because I’m not who I was. I was so young and naive. I was selfish, immature and totally goofed up back then. I made stupid choices and I compromised myself and my faith. Something that I truly regret. Mostly, because of the witness that I was. A pathetic one. I would love the chance to show…..I’m not who I was!

If you’ve been anywhere near a tv then certainly you’ve heard the hoopla over the Tax Day Tea Parties all over the country. Yea, those! I have to give it to those who’ve taken time to attend and speak their hearts. Even with the criticism from the media and left in our free USA. Who is surprised by that? Not me!

I’ve heard we on the conservative right are being referred to as “radicals” and “extremist”. Isn’t that funny? If you stand up and say anything about how the government is conducting business….you’re a radical?! Oh my! It is such a jaded predicament.

I spent the day working in order to be paid a check that my family heavily relies upon. We have been touched in many ways by this economy. In one, by unemployment for four long months and another by paying out the wazooski in taxes. They still want their money even if you don’t have a job. Which only seems fair, right? But to watch our government blow through trillions of dollars for outrageous reasons is more than this conservative can stand. By the looks of the Tea Parties….many more Americans are ticked off too.

I say, God bless em! Good for them for speaking up and saying what they feel passionate about. I also say shame on you….liberal left and media who scream and shout that these folks are extremist! What a tactic! I like what Glenn Beck said….They can’t attack the message, so I guess they have to target the messenger. Brilliant!

Remember that old saying, “We’ve come a long way baby?”. Well, it’s changed a bit these days. We’ve got a long way to go, seems a little more fitting. Hang on…fellow Americans, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.

I know it’s getting to the play outside season and somebody’s gonna really love winning this. Go to Dad Blogs and see The Big Spring Contest. You will want to sign up for this…..if you have any munchkins that is. Hurry!

A few years back, hubby spent weeks out of his summer working on a playhouse swingset for our three kids. He wanted to build a dreamy funzone for them to climb up into and play. It turned out great but always seemed to be needing something more. This prize……doesn’t look like it needs anything except some kids crawling all over it.

This little party place from Kid’s Creations!

And this! Woot Woot!

Be sure and follow the directions. Maybe you’ll be swinging and taking some sweet pictures this summer! Yay!

I didn’t grow up in a Christian home. It was more like chaos and confusion than a safe-haven. I learned some of the hardest lessons during that time. Trust, forgiveness and unconditional love were foreign to me. I still carry a lot of the scars from that life even though I’ve been a Christian for 27 years. My habits, my personality, my upbringing still stick with me in many ways. I can feel the negative effect they have on me when I’m weak. I’ll call it, the pit. It’s where I don’t want to be and I bet if I asked you….you’d say the same about something in your past too. Isn’t satan crafty?

I’ve met other women that have been stuck in the pit. Maybe it was a childhood of sexual abuse that led them there or the loss of a loved one. Either way, they were trapped and held hostage by the enemy pit. I have a friend that deals with migraines. She’s been pretty much held prisoner by these headaches for all of her adult life. When I spent time talking with her…..I found she was also mistreated as a child and then went on to marry a very unloving and cold husband. She was in a pit! Not only was she in it….but she felt she could never get out. To aggrevate the situation even further her adult children live their lives totally contrary to what God expects of them. To say she feels a bit hopeless would be an understatement. The pit! It’s slimy and dangerous!

My own pit encounter’s have been many. You’d think it wouldn’t be so easy to fall into one, but that’s not so. Each of us are susceptible to them. Some believe that depression is just a pit. While I think it can be, I do believe that depression is a REAL thing and if you’re in it….get medical help. God has provided us that help and we should utilize it for our benefit. The same goes for counseling. There used to be such a negative stigma linked to seeking help that way. Nonsense! I have met some amazing Christian counselor’s over the years and I know many who have made major life changes through the help of a counselor. Sometimes just finding a mentor to talk to can help. I’ve had that too. Seek out someone wiser and trustworthy if you can’t afford counseling.

What are some ways to fall into the pit? See if any of these describe something you have felt in your life. Friend, if you are a pit-dweller….I pray that you will see it and grab ahold of something now to get out. I love the words of David in Psalm 40:2, “He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand”. Oh yes, He did! And He will for you too.

Pit Makers!
Growing up in an alcoholic/drug abuser home
Losing a child
Watching a loved one suffer
Divorce/rejection/extramarital affair
Sexual abuse/rape
Mental illness
Physical/emotional abuse
Dysfunctional home
Birth of a handicapped child
Financial ruin/bankruptcy/job loss
Watching someone you love go to jail/prison

Lord Jesus,
I pray for my friend reading this post that feels like they’ve fallen in the pit and can’t escape. I know through you and your power that no pit can hold her. God pull her out and fill her with your hope. Let her feel your unconditional love and grace on her life. You Lord do lift us up and set us on firm ground. Thank you Jesus!
Amen.

We don’t usually take Sunday pictures….except on Easter and then we usually forget and have to get dressed again. Not always, but it has happened. Today we remembered and here’s the proof. I hope you enjoy them. Church was awesome! Celebrating a Risen Savior is worth all the praise and worship. Pastor Bob has such a great heart for sharing the good news. We love him and we pray God blesses him and his family. We understand how difficult his job can be. He makes it look easy….but we know otherwise.

Thank you Jesus! Your death means we have eternal life with you. Something we do not deserve. You are our King! Forever!