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Oh Happy Day!

This past winter, Punky and I were picking out the music for our Spring Concert, Call Her Blessed, with the Children's Choir. We knew we were doing the concert on Mother's Day and wanted a great finale! One day, Sharon over at Good, True and Beautiful posted a *Just for the Joy of It* post that had a video of "Oh Happy Day!" I knew right then and there that this was the song to sing for our grand finale!

So we went to work on the version from Sister Act II. We had three girls come together to sing the solo part of the song. The Drama Queen is in the yellow on the right, coming in as the third soloist. She was pretty sick the weekend of the concert, running a 102 fever, but she still managed to pull of that high note! Hubby finished editing the video last night, so here is the long awaited video!

Special Memories

I was sitting here in the dark tonight with the Drama Queen, listening to my son’s music. I played it several times.

She finally asked,

“Mommy, why do you keep playing it over and over?”

“Because,” I said, “It takes me back to a special memory.”

“What’s a special memory?”

So I told her, “A special memory is a memory of something special that has happened to you, or with you and someone else. It can be anything, but it brings back that special moment.”

“But why is this song special, Mommy?” she asked.

So I told her about the song and the memories it created the day that the Talented One played it for me. And no matter what, I’ll always consider it “our song.” And when I”m tired, or he’s just there playing, sometimes I can ask him to play “my song” and he does. I don’t have to tell him which one or why, because he knows. And he plays it for me. And I think back to that first time, when he played it for me over and over. And so, sometimes, I just like to sit and listen to it over and over.

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So she asked again, what kind of special memories I have. And I told her about one I have of the Smart One. He was younger, and it was just the two of us and we were listening to praise music in the living room. And a song came on. And he just lifted his hands up in praise to the Lord. He lifted his face up and closed his eyes and just sang and swayed back and forth, with his arms outstretched and his face shining as he sang along. I honestly don’t even remember what song it was; but the moment..wow. I’ll never forget that moment.

And so we talked of why I want to keep homeschooling her for now; so that we can created special memories together. ‘And we talked of things we’ve done together. And we talked about just knowing, some day, that there is that one special memory we can share and how she’ll have other special moments with other loved ones; maybe even her own children some day. And we talked about how important it is to just stop sometimes, and grab that special moment; make a memory, because you won’t ever get that chance back. Grab it while you can.

“Mommy, why can’t we go back?”

“Because, those moments only happen once. We can’t do it again.”

And she asked me, “Mommy, can you be there with me when I have my baby, so we can have that special memory?”

I’m not sure what her future husband will say about that one, but I know, when she has that precious baby, I’ll be reminded of this night. The night when we sat and listened to the Talented One’s beautiful music and talked about grabbing the moments in life that we can and making those moments count.

Because tonight, we made our own special memory.

 

 

Dream Crushers

I am one angry mom. Why is it that some people think it is OK to be mean just because they are the adult and children’s feelings don’t matter? Or that because they are teenagers, they must not have any feelings?

Our family has visited a local music store on several occasions. We’ve bought music and instruments from them, recommended them, and more. The Talented One loves to go in and play their pianos. He’s always been welcomed. I’d say one of his biggest dreams is to one day own a Baby Grand Piano. He will take any opportunity to play since we don’t have one at home. He’ll go to church early so he can play. He’ll stay late so he can play. He’ll visit music stores so he can play. You see, we don’t have one. We have an 88 key digital keyboard. It’s nice, it works, and he spends hours on the thing! I”m talking at least three hours a day! Playing beautiful, classical music. And making me smile.

I am in awe sometimes at how God chose to bless me with a child who can play so beautifully. With his heart. He doesn’t play to impress. As a matter of fact, he has been our *hidden* talent up until recently when we finally talked him into playing for our children’s concert. It was beautiful. This week we received some rather disturbing news. As we sat together as a family that evening, just being together, the Talented One went over and played; without his ear phones, allowing us to just listen. And relax. And enjoy. A gift from our Lord for sure.

So you can imagine my hurt for my son when he called me on Saturday and asked to come pick him up right away. He just wanted to come home, he said. I knew something was wrong, so I asked my husband to please go get him. He did. I worried. They came home. And my heart broke. So much so, that I’m still stewing about it this morning!

He was in the Family Music Center store playing the piece he’s been working on this week, when the manager came up to him and started yelling at him. She proceeded to tell him that he was disturbing the customers in her store and that he doesn’t know how to play the piano and that he is *no good.* She commanded him to leave the store. He did. In tears. There was more said, but I’ll stop.

Hubby picked him, drove to the store and went in to talk to the manager and find out what her version of the story was. No, he wasn’t being belligerent. No, he was not being rude. Nope, he wasn’t being disrespectful. In her eyes, he was just a teenager in the store playing the piano piece incorrectly, so she felt it was her duty to tell him he was disturbing the customers and didn’t know anything about playing the piano. And yes, she did tell him he was *no good.* And she didn’t care that she’d crushed his dreams. And it didn’t’ matter, because she is the “manager” of this “family” music store.

Well, this family won’t be attending that store anymore.

But, this family will continue to encourage our son. We will continue to remind him of how God has blessed him with an amazing gift; one that is to be shared so that others can enjoy His music. It doesn’t matter what this woman might think. What matters is what God has placed on his heart.

Here is my son, playing his heart.

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Christmas Memories

I wasn't sure what this Christmas would hold for my family. It's been a tough year all around, so focusing on the true meaning of Christmas is what has kept me going. And I'll have to admit, this is probably one of the best Christmas's I can remember. Would you like to know why?

My older brother showed up. This may not seem huge; but in the past 9 years, we have seen him all of three times! My kids were thrilled that he came! When B-boo found out, she came running down the stairs screaming, "Uncle Mando is coming, Uncle Mando is coming!"

As if that wasn't enough; my parents showed up. I always know they'll show up, but this year, there were health issues involved and it seemed like it may not happen. Then, while taking a break from shopping, I called to check on her. And she was happy. I told B-boo, "Grandma and Grandpa are here." She asked how I knew and I replied, "She's not crying anymore."

My husband's whole family is also here now. This means that the cousins that adore each other get to spend their Christmas together. It just doesn't get any better than spending the best part of the year with those that you love.

And there was cookie baking. Lots of it.

And then there was the little things.

Like the jacket that I knew B-boo wanted so bad. For weeks I would stop by the store to see if they still had it and if it had gone down in price. They still had it, but it was still too expensive. So I waited. And waited. And finally, when I could wait no more, Mom and I went to get it. It was gone. I was almost in tears. And then Grandma found it; on the clearance rack, marked down only an hour before. 80% marked off!

And in return? Poor B-boo had been dragged all over town with me for well over a year looking for the perfect sheets for my bed. It had to be dark purple, California king sheets. Impossible to find! I finally found a store that carries them, only they were sold out. And yet…

…there they were on Christmas morning; from B-boo. She had found them. And I slept like a baby last night, on my new sheets! I almost cried, that she would do that for her mom.

There was the origami calendar for the Smart One. He loved it! (We should really change his name to Mr. Paper!)

There was the clothes for the Talented One; and the ability to find ones that he loved at the price we could afford!

There were homemade picture frames, pj's and cheese and Yankee candles that I love!

And so much more that I could go on about; like the precious friends that have overwhelmed us with their blessings of goodies and candles and generosity.

There was the brisket from my hubby; my brother will probably never be the same again! (That and the fact that he had his first ever In & Out burger!)

There was the gift from my brother. He bought my kids a Wii! We thought that the Drama Queen would jump through the ceiling she was so excited. She just kept jumping higher and higher screaming, "We got a Wii, we got a Wii!"

And there was Grandpa playing Wii tennis; and hitting his grandchildren in the head with the remote and the laughter that came with it!

And the teenagers explaining to hubby how to play…and which buttons to push, and why he did it wrong…and why we need Wii fit.

Because our arms are sore, but the rest of our bodies aren't.

And there's the slumber parties…and us not knowing which child is staying or going or who's house their going to! 

And my beloved son telling me I look like Madame Blueberry in my new purple pajamas. (Yes, my favorite color is purple.)

But I forgave him, because he did this.

These are the things that made my Christmas.

Photoless Moments

I did not even take one picture this weekend. And that’s a shame…because I had so many photo opportunities! 

There was the Josh Stevens Foundation event. Isa rode a pony. We rode a train. We had ice cream, snow cones and hot dogs. There was a balloon release. There were smiles and tears. I did not take a capture a single moment.

There was our youth summer kick-off party. Lots of photo moments. Forgot to bring my camera in. And you know what’s worse? I made my poor husband find it and bring it to me. My bad. I did get to visit and ate an amazing chili dog!

There was the dog climbing up on the outside table and trying to get in through the window. Definitely a photo moment, but I was still mad at her for breaking into the house and invading the trash.

There was my youngest daughter singing in church this morning. “The Wise Man Builds His House Upon the Rock”….Nope, didn’t capture that one either. My husband managed to record it on video though. He’s such a  good man.

I’m a photo nerd. I love to take pictures. I have tons and tons of them. Really, I do. But, I was a total slacker this weekend. I hope my memory stays in tact if I’m going to start missing my photo opportunities!

At any rate, here’s the photo moment my husband managed to capture!