Christmas 2017

Hungarian Chicken Paprikash with dumplings

my gang

beets

Watching you watching me

the gang + Janelle

Janelle's gnome

Yeah... Christmas 2017 has come and gone.

Hilary and I made a Hungarian Chicken Paprikash which turned out fabulously!   

We enjoyed having Janelle join us for dinner.  Afterward, we played some fun games.  

It was a nice Christmas!

Christmas Praise Service

Here we are singing last Sunday evening at the Christmas Praise Service.  It was a very special night, singing with my family.  What a joy!!

December Front & Center

**updated to add all the videos**

Ryan and I did 6 songs at Front and Center this month.  I almost ended up not going, so I'm glad I went!  I'm not sure if I'll be able to sing next month (after my surgery), so we'll see.  I'm thankful that so many people at Frontline love and support me, including my pastor who also sang at Front and Center that night.  It's such a different world from the environment I came from. 

Here are all 6 songs we did.

(first set)






(2nd set)

October F&C videos

**Post edited to add a few more songs from that night.**

last singing for a while

It's a pretty bad picture, but it's the memory that counts.  I wanted to post it as a reminder of the last time I'm singing until probably February.

So, I have to go in for surgery in about 3 weeks, and I've decided to take it easy leading up to it.  All I really feel like doing is laying down.  Standing for any length of time is very uncomfortable.  

I actually wish it was happening sooner so I didn't have to have all this time to think about it.  I admit that I am not looking forward to going through it, but I do look forward to eventually feeling good again.  

5 Favorite Things

Gretchen and me

JoAnn and me

My 2nd time to the ladies 5 Favorite things party at church.  It was nice.  Next year I need to bring something more special.  My gifts are lame.  I always think I'm going to make something crafty but then when it comes right down to it, I don't.  Yep, lame.

Breedlove guitar

Darryl took me Christmas shopping.

I brought this home.

What should I name it?

It was love at first sight.  This guitar is made from beautiful solid Myrtlewood, hard rock maple, and African ebony fingerboard.  It's insanely gorgeous and sounds amazing.  I got to play it at church this morning too.  It made playing the very difficult chords a bit more fun.

Birthday worship leading

Yesterday, for my birthday, I had the great opportunity to lead worship at Frontline.  Last time I did it, I was co-leading with a girl from ATD, but this time I was flying solo.  It went almost flawlessly...haha.  Seriously, it went very well!  My son, husband, AND pastor were all very proud of me, and I got some wonderful feedback from people I admire and trust!  Glory to God!

I also got a surprise from my pastor before the service started...he went up front and sang Happy Birthday to me... and got everyone to join in.  That was so darn cool - and special!

Last night we all went to Logan's for a steak dinner.  It was delicious and fun.  I had a fabulous birthday.  The people that love me made it so special.

God has certainly brought me a long way from the stagnant environment I came from.  People would tell me I couldn't sing or play guitar, and especially never ever should I expect to lead worship!  But God did not agree.  He put joy back in my life even after I'd been tossed aside with no hope.   I'm so thankful that the Lord picked me up and wiped my tears and brought me to a new life where I am able to grow and flourish, and blossom into the worshiper and musician that I have yearned to be.  Thank You, Jesus!

Plans for the Vegh's

I sure have been lax about keeping up to date here.  Oh well.  I kinda forgot.  So, anyway, here are a few things I have pictures of.  The first 3 are from our last open mic and the last one is from a Sunday morning at church.

Ryan and I just completed recording a CD for the church's jail ministry.  It came out really nice.

I'm going to be leading worship at church on my birthday.  My first time going solo.  Yeah, yikes!!

Hilary and I are also planning some kind of birthday celebration since our birthdays are the same day.  Not sure what yet.

Then Thanksgiving plans.

Then Christmas.  

Then we might be going to Arizona in February.  

After that, Ryan and I are planning a trip to Kansas.  For some wacky reason, I've always wanted to go there, so he volunteered to be my travel buddy.

Then we'll be heading to Budapest, Hungary.  It's so crazy that we're actually going there.

All sorts of crazy plans in the works in the Vegh household.

Awaken the Dawn

Awaken the Dawn has now come and gone.  What a wild and crazy experience it was.  I felt as though time didn't exist.  Normalcy didn't exist.  There was music, worship, and prayer 24/7 for 3 1/2 days.  All 50 states were represented.  Not all the states had enough worship leaders, and Michigan had a lot, so we were asked to help out with 4 different states:  Michigan, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Alaska.  Sometimes we'd be there singing and playing in the middle of the night.  One night Ryan and I slept under a tree for a few hours.  We mostly lived on snacks and Food Truck food.  I was so dehydrated!  Using porta-potties got very old!  It was hot and we were dirty and sweaty most of the time.  The shower at the church only had cold water.  The drive down there was horrific with 5 hours of heavy rain and seriously dangerous driving conditions.  So many things that were not ideal.  But overall, it was a tremendously cool experience, and I'm so glad that I decided to go brave it out.

God was truly glorified and Jesus was lifted high.  The worship was so amazing that at certain times I'd look up and expect Jesus to break through the clouds to come get us...and I was sure hoping and praying that He would.  Lives were touched.   Hearts were broken.  There were some humble speakers that really spoke to my heart.  Again, I'm so thankful I was a part of this awakening.

I was too terrified to take the van ride back home, so my wonderful husband flew me home.  He took me out to eat to get some "real" food in me.  I'm still a little foggy, but I'm sure with a bit more sleep I'll be better than I was before I went.

Art Prize with Ryan's new gf

Ryan and I enjoyed Art Prize with his girlfriend, Kiana.

The Door is Always Open

What my mind feels like...

Ryan and Kiana

a person in hell

and another

and a 3rd, and Ryan signing the guestbook

Grand Rapids

Lots of news guys there

Lincoln made from pennies

throwing our cares away

horses from barbed wire

from spoons, forks, knives, etc.

gold thread

poet doing personal poems for visitors

one-liners everywhere

floating on the river

carrying a burden

one of a kind