I don't post often. I am not a writer. But, I do have random thoughts that just enter my head and sometimes I jot them down. No theme. No reason. Just me.
I got a Cricut Expression for Christmas....AWESOME!! I LOVE it. It is so cool. One of the things I LOVE about it is you can cut vinly to make a stencil and than stick the vinyl onto glass....than take etching cream to etch the glass. OR, you can take the vinyl you cut and stick on things like walls, glass items, canisters...or even laptops. I have been scouring the internet for ideas (I am not naturally gifted with creativity) and I saw someone had decorated their laptop and I HAD TO DO IT!!!
So, I am sitting in my room waiting for laundry to dry and decide to see if there is anything on tv. Nope. I think...hey, I can watch a movie on my laptop with Netflix Instant Watch. So, I go to genres and think....hmmmmmm.....maybe a Romantic Comedy. I flip through the first couple pages of titles...not finding anything. Then I start getting into some raunchy titles. I am floored by the titles. Than I see some risque covers and start looking into what these are. One is an R movie about a GAY couple whose "religious" parents are coming for a visit and have no idea their son is gay...and than the other guy gets tempted into a relationship with this other "studly" guy.
WHOA!! I am not so naive to believe that these types of movies (and worse) are not made. What shocks me is how easily accessible they are!!! The covers themselves are nasty....loads with half naked women. Here I am with an almost 10 year old girl who is beginning to notice her body and comparing it to other girls.... Sierra is often on Netflix Instant Watch to see if there is something she might like to see. I got so excited earlier when I saw they had Kim Possible seasons...and Suite Life...innocent shows.
Now, I am disgusted. These movies are disgusting. It makes me fear the future of my kids....and their kids...and so on. Before searching, I came across Family Ties Season 1 was available to watch. I thought...cool. I watched the first episode and Alex Keaton loses his virginity. Dad sits across from him as Alex tells him how he thought he was in love (with this girl he had sex with just a day after meeting her). The dad explains that sex is not love and that he should know better. He does not explain how he should have WAITED. He talked about how he had rehearsed this talk with him several times. WHAT!?!! I was shocked. I had to instantly turn THAT off.
We laughed at those people who camped in caves with months worth of supplies when Y2K happened....but seeing this makes me want to sell everything and go live in a cave. Geeeez....
A couple months ago, we bought tickets to the Winter Wonder Slam concert tour. The headliner for this concert was none other than Toby Mac. Sierra is a huge fan of Toby Mac and had always wanted to see him. Also on this tour was the group Relient K and Family Force 5.
I was somewhat aware of Relient K's work, but had no idea on Family Force 5. I had always had a predetermined assumption about Toby Mac (something I do, unfairly, with a lot of people and artists...unfortunately). I always viewed Toby Mac as a guy who was full of himself with lots of attitude. My views on him have changed completely. Before the concert, our local radio station, KSBJ, had arranged for a free basketball game to be played in the court across from the Toyota Center (where the concert was being held) between their radio station staff and Toby Mac and his band! So, Sierra and I decided we needed to be there. We got there when they were in "2nd Quarter"...they were not sticking to NBA rules....lol. We got to sit pretty close and I got to see Toby Mac up close. It was so cute...they had these little 3rd and 4th grade cheerleaders from a local Christian school who would cheer...Toby Mac gave them ALL his attention. Towards the end of the game, Toby started going around the perimeter of the court...shaking fans hands. Sierra was so excited and I had camera ready. Unfortunately, he got called away when he was mere feet from where Sierra stood. She took it well...
The concert itself was an interesting experience. Before going to the concert, I decided to see who, exactly, was Family Force 5 (one of the opening bands). I knew who Relient K was. What I found out about FF5, frankly, scared me. I mean, they are Christian, so I was not fearful of that...but they are like CRAZY metal. NOT my type of music at ALL. WHOA...it was worse than I feared. I hate to sound like an old fogie, but I couldn't understand a word that was said and they were slamming their heads and just...well.....it was nuts. The girls were screaming their heads off...Sierra and I had to put ear plugs in between the girls behind us screaming and the levels of metal coming from the group. Sierra thought they were great...only cause she thought they were interesting. LOL I am including a short video I took of them. The sound is not great...my poor camera could not fully take the decibels.
Relient K was what I expected. They have a kind of alternative type of music that is a bit easier for me. I am not a huge fan of theirs, but they were a welcome relief from the noise of the first band! They played Christmas music, which was cool. I liked their take on some classics...they did O Holy Night...a fave of mine and they kept it as a nice, slow ballad. We enjoyed Sleigh Ride that had this little cartoon with it (one of their band members created this).
Finally came Toby Mac (finally someone I at least knew from when Sierra listens to him). The experience with Sierra and Toby Mac was one I will never forget. I mean, I know she really loves TM and listens to his cd a lot. She knows all the words. One thing I had never seen her do...or even knew that she did do...was worship! She always tells me how worship is her favorite part of church...but I thought it was because at church they make it fun with great songs, great movements, and all. But, I was wrong. She throws herself into the worship experience. She raises her hands to the Lord in complete surrender. I couldn't help but tear up. During one part of TM show, he was playing some song or another and she had surrendered herself to worship and one of the ushers came up to me and asked "is this your daughter?". "Yes," I replied. He said it was amazing and wonderful to see a girl her age praying and worshiping the lord.
On the way home, I asked her about that. Was this just a one time thing or does she usually do this at worship. She said of course she does. She told me how her teachers at Woodsedge encourage them to worship and surrender themselves. It was such a precious view into my daughter's faith. I never question her salvation...and I have been seeing some fantastic glimpses into her spiritual side more and more in her prayers and her actions in everyday life, but to watch your child just surrender herself to praising her heavenly father......WOW! I had sat through the first half of the concert uncomfortable...texting Matt and telling him how HE should have brought her to this concert. In the end, I wouldn't have missed the experience for the WORLD!!
You betcha! We had snow yesterday. It was so exciting....especially for those of us who have NEVER seen snow!!! Yes, I am 34 years old and I have never seen snow (well a few years ago, I saw maybe a total of 6 snow flakes on Christmas Eve...I think they melted before hitting the ground). Yesterday, I could say with certainty that I saw snow FLURRIES!!
There were squeals that could be heard down the street as all the kids and parents ran outside to enjoy this rare treat. Sierra said it was a miracle (she had prayed for snow for years). Daniel was unimpressed...he was probably the smart one, choosing to stay indoors rather than standing on the cold, wet ground.
Unfortunately, this wonder was short lived. Much to Sierra's chagrin, when she woke up this morning, the snow was all gone...nothing but mud in it's wake. But, we told Sierra not to be so down. This is a rare occurence for Houston. We need to be happy that God granted her prayer...even if it was for such a short time!
I have stuggled with some things with this blogger site for some time....and with the push of just one button, I solved it. lol Who knew??!!! So, I will let blogger off of this small irritation.....this time.
You will notice in my blog list, there is a LONG list of blogger sites. If you are innto crafting or scrapbooking, I recommend you visit these. I am not into scrapbooking...too much time and discipline for that. BUT, I do LOVE a good craft. I am not near talented enough, but I hope with practice, it will come to me.
I am not sure if I am experiencing the normal phases of grief or if I am under attack spiritually...i.e. that is Satan has seen an opening to attack me emotionally.
When I found out my dad had died...and how he had died...I had a normal breakdown. I cried and wailed and sobbed and all of that. However, my grief seemed to go down some within a week or so of his death and I found myself feeling comforted in knowing how he had died in the way he would have wished to go.
Lately, I have felt like a huge weight has been dropped on my chest. I keep getting reminded that he is gone. Maybe it is the holidays...maybe it is the normal cycle of grieving...I do not know. This week has been a tough one for me, regardless of the reason.
I am married to my husband, Matt. We have been married for almost 14 years. We have 2 kids, Sierra (age 12 1/2) and Daniel (age almost 7). There are no more kids in our future, unless God sees otherwise. We feel complete with our one daughter and one son. I am blessed to be a stay-at-home/homeschooling mom.
