Giving it all to Him!

I finally got to sing with Ryan! Ashylnn snapped these 2 pictures as a favor to Wendy B. so I was really thrilled when she told me she had them. Even though I was extremely nervous I'm so glad I was able to do it. This will always be one of my most huge accomplishments as far as stepping out and doing something WAAAYYY outside my comfort zone. What a terrific memory this will always be for me and the boys. These songs will forever have special meaning to me.  (Ryan is sporting the tie I made for him.  Kyle forgot, so he is going to wear one of his next week)

My goal for this summer is to learn to sing harmony. I'm so glad and blessed to have loving and patient sons who encourage me to do things I've never done, but always wanted to.

The Unlovely One

And here's the latest song that Ryan finished. This is what he said about it's making:

"I was asked to write a song about hope and a reason to live... And as I thought about it, my mind turned to stories from people I've known - some close to me, some not; some even from my same school. With all the addictions, depression, cutting, and suicidal thoughts so prevalent in this world - thinking you're not beautiful, thinking no one loves you - I wanted to write this song not to dismiss those thoughts as trivial and overly dramatic but to acknowledge them as real and powerful and to offer a look at a hope in the midst of all that pain. Whatever you think, I have found a hope in my very best friend, Jesus Christ, who has saved me from all kinds of crud. And I want you to know that He is ever so willing to kneel by your side, take your hand, and weep with you, too... You'll never be alone in this world again."

Praise God for His grace.

Born Is The King (It's Christmas)

Here's the fun song I told you about the Ryan did at the Grace Christmas Eve service.

gift making, picture hanging, banjo playing fun times

Ok, now that Christmas is over, I can post about the ties I made. Kyle wanted a handmade gift, so that's what I chose. There were so many fabrics to choose from, it was ridiculous.  I picked out 2 for Kyle.  1 red one, that I forgot to take a picture of, and 1 black one.  (Darryl made Kyle a very beautiful pair of cuff links!)

I ended up getting a new sewing machine out of the deal, to make up for the one I used to have.  I am very happy to have a new one!  Here is the beginning of making the first bow tie.

And the finished product.  I will have to get pictures of them actually tied into a bow tie.

And this is the fancy one I made for Ryan.

Next time I will make a narrower one though.

I hung up some pictures...

I learned it's better not to use an aerosol can to do it.  This can punctured when I did the pictures in the bathroom.  The entire can emptied out!  It was pretty shocking.

Darryl painted both bathrooms upstairs.  It was a mad rush to get things done and back together before the boys got home.

cute picture...

Ryan got to play the banjo at Grace church last night.  I still have to post the video from that!

the best gifts

As promised, here are our memories from today's trip to Dana's house. Pat cooked dinner for us, which was so generous. We had a really nice time visiting with Dana, Ethan and John, and Pat. It takes Ethan a while to get comfortable enough with us to let us hold him, but that is understandable since we've only met him twice. I know he doesn't remember us. So, we just take it very slowly. He is so sweet and precious and I'm so glad we went. It was a very nice Christmas. The first picture is Ethan with the blanket and stuffed dragon we got him.

Blanket and dragon inside the tent...

Ethan's Nanna... (Pat)

Ryan playing while we did some Christmas tunes together.

Kyle was plumb wore out... lol :D

DJ had a fun time.... sorry about the evil looking eyes.

A nice family picture with Ethan.

A family picture with Dana and Ethan...

The boys with Emmit.

Ethan and happy Grandma :D

Happy birthday, Jesus!  Thank you for such nice gifts for today.  And thank you for salvation.

Christmas gatherings

Here are some nice shots from this week.  This first one was taken at Grace Church when we went for their Christmas Eve service.  I will be posting a video of Ryan's solo performance.  It was so cool! 

Ben and Isaac were VERY excited to see Ryan and Kyle.  He invited them to come over after church for a play day, but for some reason it didn't work out.  Kyle taught the adult Sunday School class on Sunday.  He did an awesome job!!  Dr. Kyle .... hehe

A very nice picture of Ryan and his lovely Sara before he came home for Christmas.  Aren't they cute?

We are headed to Dana's today so I'll post later!  Merry Christmas everyone!

these are a few of my favorite things...

Anyone who is on Facebook knows that my wonderful sons are home for Christmas break.  It is so  fun to have them here.  I am doing things I don't normally do....like giggling.  It is so much fun to be happy and silly.  My boys sure do bring that out of me.  I am loving having them here.  

Yesterday Kyle had the opportunity to teach adult Sunday School at church.  He did a fabulous job!  He has been asked to do it again in a couple of weeks.  Next week Ryan is leading worship.  Kyle will be on djembe.  I'm so excited!  

We took a couple of pics after church.  So anyway, this year we got a LIVE Christmas tree.  We put it in the freshly painted family room.  Looks awesome.   There are only a few gifts under the tree this year.  Oh well.  It'll be the best Christmas ever.  Tomorrow we are going to Dana's for dinner.  I promise I will post pictures!

Here is a picture of Ryan with his Tae Kwon Do people.  He recently earned his red belt.  I think the next one is the black belt.  He is going to start teaching (coaching?) it. 

And here is Ryan and his girl friend Sara.  I haven't met her yet, except on Skype.  Looking forward to meeting her in person next time we are in Michigan.  

Oh yeah, Ryan's music prof asked him to go to Florida for a music seminar thingy in Feb... I forget the details.  But it is a very special honor to be one of 2 that were chosen to go!!  It's so cool!!

another year sucked up by time

Ryan's band (Heavenly Ethnicity) did a concert last month, and I guess I forgot to write about it....what a bad mom! Here is one picture of the handsome group. I will say that the concert was probably great, at least from the feedback I got from folks who went, but unfortunately Darryl and I didn't get to actually hear it. There was a problem with the live feed.  I'm still so proud of them for doing it.  I know they all had a fun time doing it.  Next thing will be doing a concert at Grace.

Hilary and Kyle...happy, smiling.  Nice.  I will get to see Hilary and her friend Hannah soon. Kyle is bringing them home for the spring break, along with another friend (Travis).  It's going to be quite a week!  We will have to work out sleeping arrangements over Christmas while the guys are here.  Only 2 more weeks and they will be home.

Here's a picture of Ryan.  I think this is in one of the recording rooms at GBC.  So profesh looking, huh?

It's going to be so sweet to have them home.  Ryan is going to try to get me back on track with my life.  I have let piano fall by the wayside.  I hardly know how to practice voice lessons anymore...and I have put on a ton of weight.  I am really not doing good at all.  It just seems like it's one thing or another that distracts me and pulls me off course.  And now with Christmas right around the corner, there's not much hope for me to be able to sing with Ryan at church like I had planned.  Singing with Ryan would be so amazing.  It's what was keeping me going!

Kyle has introduced a new subject to Darryl and I for Christmas.  The subject is: make your own gifts.  So that is what we are doing.  It has been fun trying to figure out what on earth to make.  I'm really getting excited about it though.  Think this will be a good thing.

I think I am getting trees for my family room on Sunday this week.  Really excited about that too.  It's going to look really cool.

So, this morning I was fooling around on Facebook and I realized I was wasting time.  It's like I scroll through to read stuff written by people I hardly know, and it's such a dang waste of time.  Kyle had told me he's pretty much off of Facebook now, except for once a week, so I wrote to tell him that I agreed with him about how FB is a waste.  This is what he wrote me back:

Yeah, My professor called it a dopamine addiction.  Things that seem new and different release dopamine in your brain, and that is good b/c it motivates you to make changes in your life & the world.  But unfortunately FB offers sort of a quick-fix of dopamine as we scroll, hindering our desire for real change.

Wow, and yes indeed that is what it does a lot of the time!  So I think I am going to wean myself off of it and get on to better, more productive things.

I started working out again.  Can't believe how much weight I put on again.  Life really sucks sometimes.  I can really see why people give up and just start eating whatever the heck they want when they get older.  It's tiring, and frustrating to keep this up.

Well, CBC again tomorrow.  Funny how fast the weeks go by.  I am not a fan of the Christmas holiday time.  I don't know how to decorate the house.  I really don't like crowds of people, or shopping.  Not a big fan of parties... b/c all's ya do is eat junk food and make small talk.

Last night I couldn't sleep.  So much on my mind.  And after a month and a half my stupid back is still messed up!  I don't know when it is ever going to be totally better...

Next time maybe I will post about my favorite memories from 2012.  Any guesses?  It's been a weird year, that's for sure. Every year gets a little weirder.  Pretty soon Ryan and Kyle will be bringing their wives and kids home to visit.  Yeah it's getting closer.  Oh, and Kyle wants to get his doctorate in Biblical Studies.  Awesome, I know.

Ryan kinda has a girl friend.  Very exciting! Her name is Sara.

I'm not checking for typos today, maybe tomorrow.   I just needed to "talk".  Sometimes I just need someone to talk to, someone who is actually interested in my life.  I'm glad I have God.

1 Peter 5:7  Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

"how's my driving?"

I was in charge of CBC this week because PK was still in the hospital. I think it went well. I mean, I know there were a few problems (I accidentally skipped a song, some leaders, whom shall remain anonymous, don't seem to ever stop talking, and some don't want to participate, and some don't even tell me they aren't coming!), but overall I guess it was ok.  A few of the leaders did tell me the lesson was good!

Game time...

So Darryl and I went to the car dealer on Thursday and after a few hours of paperwork, I drove this sweet little Forester home.  I know, right?  Who would have thought?  (I took this picture before they washed it.  It looks beautiful now) I really LOVE how this thing drives!!  Turbo engine and AWD...hehe, so this is our "winter car".  Come on, let it snow!

 

Having my pastor being so sick really made me step back and think about things.  Like, how do I treat people?  Am I showing love to others? Or do I take them for granted?  Am I forgiving?  Do I appreciate them?  God, I want to be nice to people.  I want to be kind to them.  Please help me do that. 

Luke 6:31 "Do to others as you would have them do to you."

family room

Here's one view of our family room.  I am hoping to get a couple of nice trees for the corners.  I think it will look nice!  I know I'm not very good about remembering to post pictures of the completed rooms... oh well.  haha... maybe I'll take another one after I get the trees in here.

Right now Darryl is painting the master bath.  I have not been in the mood to paint for a while now.    With all the paining I did earlier, I guess I just had enough.