So many of you know that we just got back from the Caribbean. It was definitely time well spent and now Jeremy is on his way to the UK by way of Houston, TX and Saskatchewan, Canada. After they have finished their tour in the UK they head to Alaska!! What?! Might as well continue the world tour=}. They played last night in Houston for the KSBJ audience and I guess it went really well. They interviewed the guys live in the afternoon and again after their show at 10pm. I tuned in at 10pm and had a great time listening!
I've got to say that I am so blessed to be able to travel with them (I work for World Vision and get kids sponsored during their shows). But there are times when I do have to stay home and unfortunately this long tour is one of them. If you want to get more tour details you can log onto downhere.com and check out the schedule. I must say I can't help but dread times like these. For the most part I am more of an optomistic, glass is half full, kind of person...but when it comes to being apart from my husband for three weeks it is hard for me to maintain that attitude. I have been praying that the Lord would help these next few weeks fly by for me somehow and he has definitely answered my prayers. This weekend is crazy busy as I will be going to see Amazing Grace, the new movie that comes out today, then babysitting in the evening. Then on Sat. I have two Cinderella parties to do (I dress up as Cinderella and put on Birthday parties for children as a side job) which really fills up my day. I'll be working all next week and then will go visit a friend of mine in AL who just had a baby. Then the following weekend the same friend is coming up to visit me. I am also starting to do Cinderella parties at the Rec. center and they start the second weekend in March. I just want to use my time wisely and make the most of my time alone and really journal and blog and read and sew and other domestic things=}. So I'm trying not to get too busy at the same time. That's kind of a hard balance for me. This morning my Bible reading for today was from Psalms 39. The parts that stuck out to me were verses 4 & 5 -
"Lord remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered, and that my life is fleeing away. My life is no longer than the width of my hand. An entire lifetime is just a moment to you; human existence is but a breath."
These verses create a sense of urgency for me. We only have so much time to learn about and bring glory to God with our lives. How will I choose to do that with the time I've been given. These next few weeks for me will be to use my time wisely and not just mope around until Jeremy gets back. And I guess that can translate into our lives as a whole. Jesus is coming back so let's use our time wisely. Spend time with Him and be others-centered and have an eternal perspective on life. That's my two cents from what I learned this morning! Thanks for reading.
Oh and please be praying for safety for Jeremy and the band and also for health. Marc is not feeling well right now. With all the travelling they are doing it really takes its toll on their bodies. Thanks guys!!
Friday, February 23, 2007
Monday, February 19, 2007
Images of Paradise!
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Fun Day at Sea
Well, it's 8:20am and this is really the first time I've been able to sit down with my computer since we've been on the boat. I know, it's hard to believe... but it's true, and it's been REALLY nice! Erin is up in the spa enjoying an early Valentine's Day gift, so I thought I'd try and get some work done while I can.
There's lots to tell you about, and we'll post pictures later on. But we had quite a memorable day yesterday so I thought I'd fill you in en route and provide you with some entertainment for the day. Yesterday morning I got up early and hit the gym first thing. We arrived in Freeport at some point in the middle of the night so we were docked. When I got back to the room I opened the curtains and woke Erin up and then jumped in the bathroom to have a shower. Just as I finished disrobing, I hear Erin shriek and yell, "Jeremy, get out here - get out here now!"
Well, it turns out that the window washers chose to wash our window at the most inopportune time (for Erin - I suppose it was GREAT timing for them!). Let me just put it this way: I wasn't the only one to see Erin's backside yesterday morning! We had a good laugh afterwards... and needless to say, the curtains have stayed closed when we're docked since.
That was the first episode - later on that afternoon we played our show. Well, it turns out that my fly was down for the whole show! And all the guys knew about it but didn't think to tell me about it (Glenn did look back at me and smile a couple of times - but I thought we were laughing about something completely different!). Of course, no one in the audience could see as I was sitting behind the drums... but it definitely seemed like an appropriate episode for the way our day was going!
Good times had by all - we're having a "fun day" at sea today, so it should be a great relaxing day. An opportunity to enjoy all that the boat offers and not feel like you should be getting off and taking in all that the stop has to offer. More to come later - take care!
There's lots to tell you about, and we'll post pictures later on. But we had quite a memorable day yesterday so I thought I'd fill you in en route and provide you with some entertainment for the day. Yesterday morning I got up early and hit the gym first thing. We arrived in Freeport at some point in the middle of the night so we were docked. When I got back to the room I opened the curtains and woke Erin up and then jumped in the bathroom to have a shower. Just as I finished disrobing, I hear Erin shriek and yell, "Jeremy, get out here - get out here now!"
Well, it turns out that the window washers chose to wash our window at the most inopportune time (for Erin - I suppose it was GREAT timing for them!). Let me just put it this way: I wasn't the only one to see Erin's backside yesterday morning! We had a good laugh afterwards... and needless to say, the curtains have stayed closed when we're docked since.
That was the first episode - later on that afternoon we played our show. Well, it turns out that my fly was down for the whole show! And all the guys knew about it but didn't think to tell me about it (Glenn did look back at me and smile a couple of times - but I thought we were laughing about something completely different!). Of course, no one in the audience could see as I was sitting behind the drums... but it definitely seemed like an appropriate episode for the way our day was going!
Good times had by all - we're having a "fun day" at sea today, so it should be a great relaxing day. An opportunity to enjoy all that the boat offers and not feel like you should be getting off and taking in all that the stop has to offer. More to come later - take care!
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Cruisin' it!
Today is the first day of our 7 day western Caribbean cruise on the Carnival Cruise line! it is a "Christian music cruise" with Come Alive Cruises... you can see more info at www.comealivecruises.com. Downhere is one of the guest artists along with Casting Crowns, Rebecca St. James, Tait, and Paul Baloche. We are SOOOOO excited!!! This is such a gift for us and it came at such a great time as Jeremy will be gone for 3 weeks after the cruise - on a tour in the UK. So some good quality time will be wonderful! And I really believe this cruise is a bit of a reward (Ok a huge reward!) and an encouragement for the guys and all their hard work.
We won't have much internet access on the boat so I'll post pictures and comments to fill you in when we return. We would appreciate your prayers for health and safety... thanks!
Monday, February 5, 2007
downhere's song #1 on KLOVE!!!
Yes folks that is correct. After about 40 straight weeks of being on the top twenty countdown on all the KLOVE stations across the country they have arrived at #1 for A Better Way. You can see for yourself at www.KLOVE.com/music. After traveling with these guys ever since the song was written and seeing how its message has impacted many lives, I am so glad to finally see it get this kind of recognition. Way to go Jason Germain for your creative writing and for being sensitive to the Spirit moving in you to write this beautiful song. Way to go guys! God is good!
You can get your own copy of the song on the album "Wide-Eyed and Mystified" online at downhere.com or at your local Christian bookstore!
This is my proud plug for my hubby's band=}!
You can get your own copy of the song on the album "Wide-Eyed and Mystified" online at downhere.com or at your local Christian bookstore!
This is my proud plug for my hubby's band=}!
Sunday, February 4, 2007
Extreme Southern Hospitality - God is Good!
Wow! Am I feeling spoiled or what?! These past two weekends have been spent in Alabama and Louisiana leading worship for Disciple Now youth retreats. The weekend before last we were in Sylacauga, AL which is about 45 mins or so outside of Birmingham. (We'll post about this past weekend in LA later on this week.)
We all stayed in the same beautiful host home where the wife was an excellent cook! I think that must be a qualification for wives in the deep south. Hopefully it's just the deep south otherwise I've got some serious catching up to do=}. As soon as we arrived on Friday she had quite a lunch buffet spread for us with delicious desserts to follow. We were told to eat light because dinner was even more elaborate, so I did my best to not completely stuff myself. The next morning they even cooked us a full breakfast. We were taken care of and well prepared for our long run (more to come on this later).
Anyway that weekend was such a great worshipful weekend for me. Even though I hear downhere lead worship quite often it never gets old to me. I think God uses the same words and melodies to breathe new meaning in my heart. The venue where they played was a gym that had a track that went around the top of it. I was able to watch them lead worship from the track and kind of be "on my own". I also had a view of everyone worshipping... that was pretty cool! One of my favorite songs that they use to lead worship is How Great is our God. During that song I saw a little girl, probably about 4 years old, come onto the track from the door nearby. She was dressed in a pink tutu with pink tights and leotard. And she began to dance to the song. She was right on the beat and danced so childlike and beautiful. On these lyrics:
she would stand on her tip toes and lift her arms up over her head like a ballerina over and over and look toward Heaven - and I just lost it. The tears started coming. She was the expression of the way my heart felt at that moment.. and should feel more often. I would have felt silly dancing in worship like that even though my heart wanted to. Her dance gave me a glimpse of what I will be doing for eternity with Jesus. And I also saw it as a reminder to have childlike faith - praise God and express your heart no matter what or how silly you may look to others. And in doing so God will see it as a beautiful dance and rejoice over you! The rest of the weekend went on and I just kept seeing her in my mind. And now I think I will whenever I sing that song.
God also kept on blessing us through our hosts. Jeremy and I went for a long run on Saturday - which felt great by the way - and came back to a steak dinner waiting for us! What a way to finish an 8 mile run... and 13.1 for Jeremy! We were definitely spoiled by this family. If we are ever in Sylacauga, AL again we have a place to stay.
We all stayed in the same beautiful host home where the wife was an excellent cook! I think that must be a qualification for wives in the deep south. Hopefully it's just the deep south otherwise I've got some serious catching up to do=}. As soon as we arrived on Friday she had quite a lunch buffet spread for us with delicious desserts to follow. We were told to eat light because dinner was even more elaborate, so I did my best to not completely stuff myself. The next morning they even cooked us a full breakfast. We were taken care of and well prepared for our long run (more to come on this later).
Anyway that weekend was such a great worshipful weekend for me. Even though I hear downhere lead worship quite often it never gets old to me. I think God uses the same words and melodies to breathe new meaning in my heart. The venue where they played was a gym that had a track that went around the top of it. I was able to watch them lead worship from the track and kind of be "on my own". I also had a view of everyone worshipping... that was pretty cool! One of my favorite songs that they use to lead worship is How Great is our God. During that song I saw a little girl, probably about 4 years old, come onto the track from the door nearby. She was dressed in a pink tutu with pink tights and leotard. And she began to dance to the song. She was right on the beat and danced so childlike and beautiful. On these lyrics:
Name above all names, you are worthy of all praise, my heart will sing how great is our God
she would stand on her tip toes and lift her arms up over her head like a ballerina over and over and look toward Heaven - and I just lost it. The tears started coming. She was the expression of the way my heart felt at that moment.. and should feel more often. I would have felt silly dancing in worship like that even though my heart wanted to. Her dance gave me a glimpse of what I will be doing for eternity with Jesus. And I also saw it as a reminder to have childlike faith - praise God and express your heart no matter what or how silly you may look to others. And in doing so God will see it as a beautiful dance and rejoice over you! The rest of the weekend went on and I just kept seeing her in my mind. And now I think I will whenever I sing that song.
God also kept on blessing us through our hosts. Jeremy and I went for a long run on Saturday - which felt great by the way - and came back to a steak dinner waiting for us! What a way to finish an 8 mile run... and 13.1 for Jeremy! We were definitely spoiled by this family. If we are ever in Sylacauga, AL again we have a place to stay.
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