New Music = Happy Girl

It's Spring Break here this week, which is another name for MUD.

Whoever decided this should be the week for a SPRING anything in Minnesota should be flogged with wet gloves. We woke up this morning to a light dusting of snow. 'Nuff said.

But a little sunshine came my way when I realized 2 great albums came out today on itunes. Israel Houghton's "Power of One" and Mandisa's "Freedom".

The song "Just Wanna Say" on I. Houghton's album is my favorite song to job to on the treadmill right now. (And I use that term "jogging" loosely, people.)

Mandisa's website has some groovy things like her video weight loss diary. Her goal is to lose 100 lbs! She's very real and honest about her struggles - it's really interesting. She's been on an amazing journey since American Idol a few years ago.

Oh, and as far as sunshine goes, I'm going to get a big dose pretty soon. My friend Beth W. in Michigan is meeting me out west for some "girl time" next week! Just the two of us!

That has definitely kept me going this week with all the kids home and no chance of heading outdoors. (A sure prescription for insanity in my book.)

God Loves Choirs

I had the amazing blessing of hearing our church singing this morning. It was so beautiful. The instruments were down and it was just their voices, raised in thankfulness to the Lord.

I was supposed to be leading, but they sounded...just...amazing. I had to stop singing to just listen for a bit.

It was this chorus of pure worship -- "dwelling place" by tommy walker was the song -- and they know it so well, so they were singing strong.

Oh man, feel like I got a glimpse of heaven today and all I can say is, I want more!

Glorious, Wondrous, Slushy Spring

Today was one of those days that make you feel happy to be human, happy to be American and all that blather. What's that quote? Spring is when you feel like whistling, even with a shoe full of slush. That about describes it.

It sat around 60 degrees this afternoon and so we were all drunk with sunshine, watching the snow melt and laughing at the poor neighbors down the road who appeared to have major flooding issues. The driveway is steep, but ya gotta love the run-off.
So, minus the bike and the leaves and the overall green-ness of this picture, it looked like this today, with me, Daniel, Jonathan, and Hope in her stroller, sitting in front of the garage and sucking down freezy-pops like it was the middle of July.

Greg got off the school bus after a bit, and Jonny yelled to the bus as it drove away, "THANKS FOR BRINGING BACK MY FRIEND, GREG!!"

Perfect day indeed.

Six Years Of Big D, as of March 14th

Dear Official Big Kid,

I am crazy about you! Have a wonderful 6th Birthday. Thank you for being your sweet, meticulous self. You are so much like your Daddy, it's outrageous.

LOVE, your thankful Mama

Someday Has Come

First of all, Blogger makes it really hard to post and present pictures the way you want to. That said, I am happy to show you our very own Extreme Home Makeover. Well, that's exaggerating. Aaron painted a wall.

But it wasn't just any wall. It was the wall that had been literally BEGGING for color the day we moved in. And everyday I would look at this wall and think, "someday, baby, someday." It felt a little like living in an igloo with all that white, but I would tell myself it was better than flowery wallpaper that needed to be stripped (right, Syna? :).

The primer was a dark gray because, well, if you know me, I have this thing for...RED

Once the primer was on, it looked navy blue, and I almost fell in love with that, but I'm glad I stuck to my first instinct. Ah, red. You bold fresh thing, you.

Still haven't decided if I'm happy with the collage on the wall, but whatever. It's just so warm and yummy now. Yup, I know that's a wimpy chandelier in below picture. It's days are numbered. The picture above has more of the deep, brick red I was hoping for. Aaron's doing one last coat since there's still a little bit of streak.This project wouldn't have been complete without a little drama from baby girl. She got too close to Daddy and ended up looking like a bad horror movie. Isn't this picture awful? She looks like she grabbed a GINSU KNIFE! AND IT TASTES GOOD, TOO!
Thank goodness it's latex.

Seriously?

Every now and then, a simple moment blows you away.

Greg brings home a lot of papers from school, and I go through each one, curiously checking on my boy and how he's progressing.

And BAM - I came across this little assignment:

Write four sentences about something beautiful you have seen in America. Tell what it looks like and why you like it.

Greg wrote: "I have seen my Mom, Jenei. She has makeup, perfume, and nail polish. I would find her at home. I like her because she's so sweet!

AAAAHHHHHH!!!

When People Love You

When you are growing up, you are blessed if you have parents and family members who love you, who cherish you. But since you are a child and you are the center of your world, you take their love for granted.

But when someone loves you who doesn't "have" to -- meaning, they choose you, they delight in you, and you aren't even related to them -- well, that just blows you away.


This is Jim and Violet. They were my youth pastors when I was a bratty Junior High kid. They didn't have fancy programs or play in rock bands, but they had the most important thing. Love.

And when I say "love", I mean they didn't just say it; they showed it. They took us roller skating (cool in the 80s, trust me) they let us sleep over at their house, eat their food. They listened to our petty problems and stayed up all night with us at Lock-In's.

They were so real and warm and available to us. I'm so thankful I was able to be under their influence for a season of my life. Especially a season when I was asking if I really mattered, if knowing God and following Him was real.

I recently found Violet on Facebook and I was delighted to see they are still in ministry, continuing to disciple and love others.

How wonderful Heaven will be for those whose influence has no end!