Karoake at the ELKS

Last Friday night, Matt and his co-host, Brandi, were celebrity judges for a Karoake contest at the ELKS lodge. I tagged along. It reminded Matt and I of the days when he would D.J. for dances. It was fun to listen to all the "old" (from the 60's-80's) songs, and reminisce.In between competitions, Matt was coersed to sing a song himself. (It really didn't take much convincing!) He got up and sang,"Friends in Low Places" by Garth Brooks. It was so fun! He had the whole place singing along. If it were up to me, I would have voted him the winner of the karoake contest!

To end the evening, Matt, Brandi, and the other judge, sang a song. All in all, we had a great time!

Bridal Shower Cake

Last weekend, I made this cake for a bridal shower for a young couple in our church who are getting married this July. The roses are actually chocolate brown. I know they look black in the picture. Her colors are brown and green. It tasted delicious!

God With Us

The top song on the playlist to your left is "God With Us" by Mercy Me. What a beautiful song! I hope you take the time to listen to the words. It is amazing how God sent His Son to die on the cross at Calvary to cover our sins. I think of how unworthy I am. How full of sin, even on my best day. And yet, when God looks at me, He sees the blood of His Son Jesus, the perfect sacrifice, covering my sin. Jesus made the way, through His death on Calvary, for me to be in heaven with God one day. I hope your heart is touched, as mine was, by this wonderful song.

Blessing 1 and Blessing 2...

I have a nickname for Garrett and Olivia, "Thing One and Thing Two," from Dr. Seuss's book The Cat in the Hat. (Garrett being Thing One since he is the firstborn and Olivia being Thing Two since she is second-born.) Today I have a new name for them, Blessing One and Blessing Two. I was sitting at the laptop, surfing the net, when Garrett came up to give me a hug. He does this frequently, Olivia does it too. I just think, "What a blessing to have an 11 and 12 year old that don't think it uncool to hug their mom." It is truly a gift from God.

Olivia's Clown Cake

Olivia wanted to bake and decorate a cake all by herself, and so she did! Isn't "Edible Eddie" adorable? I think that she did a wonderful job for her first, from scratch to finish, cake! Way to go, Olivia!

The Race

Hebrews 12: 1-3 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and the sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured from sinners such hostility against Himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted."

This past Sunday, our pastor was out of town, and one of our "pastoral apprentices" preached the sermon. He preached on Hebrews 12:1-3 and the Race that we run here on earth. As he preached about laying aside the weights and the sins in our lives, he gave an illustration of a runner and how runners don't put on a backpack full of bricks, a snowsuit, and big heavy boots when they prepare for a race. They don light clothing, light running shoes, etc. He encouraged us to see what things "encumber" us in our race. I began to think, "What weighs me down? What hinders me from focusing on Jesus each day of this race?" I think a lot of it is everyday things, housecleaning, breakfast, lunch, dinner, different issues with the kids, internet definitely takes my focus off of God. So, how do I do the things that I need to do, because all of those things have to be done, except the internet, and still focus on God? And run this race for and toward Him? Then, as God is so faithful, yesterday I was listening to a Focus on the Family broadcast from last week. They had Emily Barnes who is an author and has written about how to keep up with home, family, etc. She had some wonderful ideas that really helped me realize that I need to be "sharing" my daily responsibilities more with the kids. Which teaches them more life skills. I tend to do most things because I can do them the way I want them done the first time. But if I don't share my chores with the kids, how are they supposed to learn to do things for when they move out? Don't get me wrong, they do chores, just not enough of them. :)

This is a lot of babbling. All to say that this whole life is a work in progress. I am just so thankful that God is faithful to continue teaching me and to not give up on me. I WANT Him to be my focus. I want to have a teachable heart. I love Him so much and am so thankful for His grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness!

Poetry Corner

Those of you who know me well, know that I LOVE poetry. I just adore it. It is calming, relaxing, and a lot of poems have a great message. Here are two poems that I was reading to the kids on Monday. I had heard the first before, but didn't ever know that there was a poem written in response to it. I really liked them and thought that I would share them with ya'll. :)

THE HOUSE BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD

There are hermit souls that live withdrawn
In the peace of their self-content;
There are souls, like stars, that dwell apart
In a fellowless firmament;
There are pioneer souls that blaze their paths
Where highways never ran;
But let me live in a house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

Let me live in a house by the side of the road,
Where the race of men go by-
The men who are good and the men who are bad,
As good and as bad as I.
I would not sit in the scorner's seat,
Or hurl the cynic's ban;
Let me live in a house by the side of the road,
And be a friend to man.

I see from my house by the side of the road,
By the side of the highway of life,
The men who press with the ardor of hope,
The men who are faint with the strife.
But I turn not away from their smiles nor their tears-
Both parts of an infinite plan;
Let me live in my house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

I know there are brook-gladdened meadows ahead,
And mountains of wearisome height,
The the road passes on through the long afternoon
And stretches away to the night.
But still I rejoice when the travelers rejoice,
And weep with the strangers that moan,
Nor live in my house by the side of the road
Like a man who dwells alone.

Let me live in a house by the side of the road
Where the race of men go by-
They are good, they are bad, they are weak, they are strong,
Wise, foolish-so am I.
Then why should I sit in the scorner's seat
Or hurl the cynic's ban?-
Let me live in a house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

Sam Walter Foss

CROWDED WAYS OF LIFE

(Written in reply to The House by the Side of the Road,
by Sam Walter Foss.)

'Tis only a half truth the poet has sung
Of the "house by the side of the way."
Our Master had neither a house nor a home,
But He walked with the crowd day by day.
And I think, when I read of the poet's desire,
That a house by the road would be good;
But service is found in its tenderest form
When we walk with the crowd in the road.

So I say, Let me walk with the men in the road,
Let me seek out the burdens that crush,
Let me speak a kind word of good cheer to the weak
Who are falling behind in the rush.
There are wounds to be healed, there are breaks we must mend,
There's a cup of cold water to give;
And the man in the road by the side of his friend
Is the man who has learned to live.

Then tell me no more of the house by the road;
There is only one place I can live-
It's there with the men who are toiling along,
Who are needing the cheer I can give.
It is pleasant to live in the house by the way
And be a friend, as the poet has said;
But the Master is bidding us: "Bear ye their load,
For your rest waiteth yonder ahead."

I could not remain in the house by the road
And watch as the toilers go on,
Their faces beclouded with pain and with sin,
So burdened their strength nearly gone.
I'll go to their side, I'll speak in good cheer,
I'll help them to carry their load;
And I'll smile at the man in the house by the way,
As I walk with the crowd in the road.

Out there in the road that goes by the house,
Where the poet is singing his song,
I'll walk and I'll work 'midst the heat of the day,
And I'll help falling brothers along-
Too busy to live in the house by the way,
Too happy for such an abode.
And my heart sings its praise to the Master of all,
Who is helping me serve in the road.

Walter S. Gresham

AWANA Derby

Last Saturday was the AWANA Derby. This was Olivia's first time racing in a derby. Due to some "issues", she used a car that Garrett had raced as a Boy Scout. She repainted it and named it "Fire Ball." When we got to the derby, we found out that she could only race it in the "rent a wreck" race because it had previously been raced. She was disappointed, but held it in pretty well. As it got closer to racing time, the judges decided it would be o.k. for her to race since they hadn't made it clear that it had to be a car that hadn't raced previously. She ended up doing pretty well. She got second place in the "open" category. Grandpa Mike rented a "wreck" (a derby car that had raced in a previous AWANA derby) for her and she won first place with that car. It was the shape of and painted like a cell phone.
At the left, Kate Beck in first place, Olivia Davenport in second place, and Sam Larkin in third place. In the bottom photo, ? in second, Daniel Larkin in third place and Olivia in first.

Happy Easter

Here are Olivia, Nook, and Garrett, waiting to open their Easter baskets. This year was difficult as I couldn't buy the cheap $1 store things to fill their baskets. Well, I could have, I would have just ended up throwing it away or putting it in a yardsale, which would have been like
throwing money away! So, I bought
them new swimsuits and new shirts. It was
a fun morning. Then, Olivia still wanted an
Easter egg hunt, even though Garrett is now officially "too old" for that. I am glad that Olivia still wanted one. They are both growing up so fast!