Queenies Little Kingdom

I know what you are going to say….when I tell you that tonight was another concert! Is that all this chic does? Go to some show put on by her kids? Good grief, lady! Well, after this last week it would seem so. I’ve been to 4 different “shows” that one or two of my kids are performing in just this past week. Whew! I’m exhausted! Not to mention I turned another year older in the midst of it all! Geez!

Gates hasn’t even had her big shin-dig yet. She is in show choir at the middle school and her group is called “Una Voce” (one voice). This is a great year for her. She’s in 8th grade so that right there makes her rank as big dog on campus. Her choir teacher is brand spanking new and THE MOST FUN!!! Yay Mrs. Thompson!
She is doing all sorts of exciting things with the group. So we are very excited for their fall performance (Oct. 28). Go Miss Gates! Can’t wait to see those beautiful costumes.

We watched sweetboy do his thing with both bands tonight. He plays the baritone (a funny looking tuba/trumpet thingy) and is darn good at it, ya’ll! He plays trumpet and owns two of them, but changed to baritone last year sometime. He’s versatile like that. Talented dude! I’m so glad my kids all love music…..it’s in their DNA!

This Friday night is senior night at the game. Sweetboy thinks I won’t be able to deal with it. Pshaaw! I got this! I can do it. We still have all school year to love on him and take care of him and pay his bills. 
What’s a little honoring seniors going to do to me? I’m rock solid on this. I can take it! Oh shoot! Who am I fooling? I’m nuts about this kid! I may cry a little. He’s my first baby, ya’ll! He’s been so precious his whole life….I’ve loved mama’n him. Congratulations to you son! Go class of 09!

Some tonight pictures!

Jazz Band (fancy pants band) heehee

Marching Band…..tuba guy to the left? Is sweetboy’s BFF, Gavin Regan! Yea, I said Gavin! 🙂

I loved their newest song addition…..Ozzy Osbourne’s Crazy Train!

Just 2 months ago I bought Ally a certificate for piano lessons. Our local radio station hosts a monthly auction live and if you’re quick on the dial you can catch some really great deals. The certificate was for first-time students only and it was just $25. I knew she would love it. Plus, it was with her Middle School choir assistant, Mrs. Stormes and she loves her.

After her third lesson (they only last 30 min) she excitedly hopped in the car announcing that she would be having a recital in October. Huh? What? Already? I didn’t realize she was a prodigy on the piano….and really she’s not. But she assured me she would be ready. Even though we only have an ancient keyboard for her to practice on.

Then hurricane Ike passed through our dear town of North Vernon (YES way up in Indiana) and wiped us all out for a week. Causing every home in our county to lose electricity. So she missed practice that week. But she was able to go last week and put her final touches on her music choices. Her performance was awesome! We are so proud! Way to go Ally!

Here is our Miss Ally…..LIVE and IN CONCERT!

Song 1–Soon I Will Be Halloween
Song 2–Down The Haunted Staircase
Son 3–Halloween Night

Enjoy!

Ally’s Fall Recital 08

What is it about your birthday? You don’t want to brag about it and seem all fishy for “Happy Birthdays” from people. But you can’t just ignore it and act like it’s just another day. Cause it’s not! It’s your birthday! The day you were born! It’s significant in so many ways. If I wasn’t born think of all the things that wouldn’t be…..my marriage, my kids, my friendships, my wacky weirdness, my issues, my testimony…..and on it goes. None of that would be. So, thank you God for making ME!

Today has been a normal Sunday. After church, my entire household found some hole to crash in and slept the afternoon away. The week seems to catch up to us on Sunday and we literally R E S T !! My dear hubby and I went outside and did some rock removal work. We moved giant rocks from one location in our yard to another. Yesterday, he hung my swing up that has been in our barn for 7 years (waiting to be hung) and now I can sit out by the creek and enjoy the view. Happy Birthday to me!

It’s so much more special to me to receive a creative-thought-out gift than something mass made from the store. That’s not saying I wouldn’t love a kickin’ shopping spree….but these days….lack of positive cash flow nip that idea in the bud! Maybe when my kids are grown and gone. Or not! Until then, I’ll take the gift of working in my yard or building something that we’ve been wanting. Mostly, I’m thankful for another year….even if they seem to be coming faster and faster. I can’t believe I’m 42! Huh? How?

Way back when…..1970 (4)

Today….2008 (42)

Hosea 10:12 NIV
Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you.

Go find your birthverse here: BirthVerse

If you are in the mood for some household bling!!! This is the contest for you ladies!
I want this baby! Not only is it one of the world’s greatest products, it’s PINK!!

Go now…..it ends soon! Like October 15th.

Bloggy Giveaway site has some of the best contests.

http://www.donttryit.com/bloggy_giveaways/2008/10/oreck-vacuum.html

I love to watch my kids perform! It is always a blast to see all the hard work on show night. Gavin did not make “Touch of Class” choir last year. They go through a grueling few weeks of practices learning all sorts of music and choreography. Then at try-outs only a select few are actually chosen (10 boys + 10 girls). This is the elite group of our high school. Needless to say, he was crushed! This was his senior year and he had worked really hard.

Skip ahead to school starting. He had moved on and so had TOC. Around 3 weeks ago the director came to him asking if he would be interested in joining them afterall?! One of the boys had danced himself into a serious knee injury and needed surgery. He would need to learn 15 songs and 12 dances, Q U I C K !! He didn’t even have to think about it….he said, “Sure!”. He’s amazed them all. Not only that he’s one of the top voices, he sings tenor I. Can you say, WOW? Go Sweetboy!

Ally tried out for TOC as well. She was only a freshman and honestly….it’s quite hard to be chosen that early in the game. She was selected for concert choir and while it wasn’t her first choice…she is making the best of it. Her group did a great job tonight. They have a classy look and sound marvelous! This is great experience for her and if she works hard chances are high that she will move on up. I’m so proud of her! She sings soprano but has been switched around a bit to sing II soprano. Which shows her range and capabilities. Woohoo! Miss Ally!

Here are a few highlights from tonight. Wouldn’t you know…..my memory was FULL!!! Crazy!

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Gavin & Touch of Class

Do you ever get like me and just feel like a failure? This seems to really pop out when I’m in the middle of something important (like a serious Bible Study). I know that satan is working overtime to flub me up…and what better time to mess with me than when I’m in the middle of growing stronger in my faith. He’s crafty that serpent!

This week our lesson focused on using sweeter words. Beautiful idea! I flunked! By this morning I picked up that instead of me being patient and loving (as would have been THE RIGHT thing to do!!!) I was harsh and accusatory. Over simple things! What is wrong with me? I realized that my week of sweet words was a complete waste. I wasted every chance to love my peeps on being frustrated and overwhelmed with my life! Grrrr, that convicts me to the core.

The whole idea behind this study is to LIVE LIKE I WAS DYING!!!!! DUH! I’m dying! You’re dying! But neither of us is living like that. Life is so busy and stressful. We take the important stuff for granted. We worry and focus on the fleeting stuff……jobs, cars, stuff, getting more stuff and how to pay for it all. People are important to us….but we neglect them in our own twisted ways. I know this because I do it.

I’ve watched as people suffered loss in their family and heard them say, “I wish I had told him I loved him and what he meant to me!”. I don’t want to say that. I want the people I love to know without a shadow of a doubt how I feel. I love them and I cherish every moment with them. I have always tried to be real and open with my friends and family. I think they know how I feel about them…but just in case…..I’m going to step it up a notch!

Next week is our last time to meet as a study group. We will be brainstorming throughout this week to reach out and show someone extravagant love. You know…blessing someone for no reason at all and doing it in a big way. I’m feeling so excited about it. I can’t wait to hear the ideas and to actually do something that shows our love as a group. Is there someone that you could reach out and bless? Maybe your pastor…..it is pastor appreciation month! Show someone love this week!

Psalm 19:14 “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord….”

Some of our LLYWD group….we had some missing tonight!