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March 29, 2006
Happy New Year!!!
But 2006 is already a quarter of the way over...
Happy Spring!!!
And hasn't it been an interesting one so far...
Happy Birthday!!!
To everyone...
Happy Wednesday!!!
Hope everyone is having a good one...
There, am I all caught up? Contrary to what you may be wondering, we are all alive and well. Well...relatively well ~ in spite of a cold we are sharing amongst ourselves...we are such a giving family when it comes to that!!! Jeremy and Jesse are both a bit gimpy at the moment due to leg injuries, but they will recover eventually. One of them hurt his ankle playing volleyball. The other tried tightrope walking without the right equipment. I'll let you guess which was which!!! I certainly do...uhhhh.....appreciate the "encouragement" some of you have given me to update this journal. I really do thank you for your interest. A special thanks to Merrie and Mandy....you know why!
As a quick note, before I really get started....*drum roll*...we have a new "blogger" in our family. You can check out John's blog here ~ http://myblog.johnsleatherworks.com. Now, here goes...
Spring is here, and actually started weeks ago. Weather is so unpredictable here in Oklahoma (yes, we like to think it's just an Oklahoma thing, and that the rest
of the world has normal seasons and weather patterns!). It snowed last week, and was 70 degrees and sunny yesterday. Birds are singin' and buds are blossomin' and
it looks like it may rain today!!!! After months of extreme dryness we are grateful for every little drop of moisture.
Our big news and major project this month is the new stage that we've built on our place. Mom came up with the idea some time ago, but it has been put into action and we've had our first concert!!! Let me tell you about it...
I guess it was back in January that we really seriously started thinking about this new scheme of Mom's...to provide a venue for bands that are traveling through, and a wholesome, family-friendly opportunity for our people in our area to hear some great music and meet some outstanding people. John built the stage and most everyone worked on fixing the old kennel into a backdrop for our concession stand. Restroom facilities were worked out, everything raked and cleaned and by the day before the concert it was all coming together...and freezing cold! Mom was certain that the weather would be fine, but I ~ oh me of little faith!!! ~ had to set up an indoor back-up. Thanks, Debbie, for working with me on that!!! Still, after all the work, and just the fact that we really wanted to have it at our place, we did not want to give up our "dream". Then, too, we kept asking ourselves, "If this is God's will, why would He have us go through all this work only to have it somewhere else? Could it be that we are out of His will?" Keeping a constant eye on the thermometer, and having the gracious consent of the band to go ahead with it, we made the final decision just hours before the 7 o'clock concert was to start. We finished final preparations and everything looked great, from the paper lanterns behind the concessions to the mason jar candles hanging from the bridge. Lemon Poppy seed Cake, several different homemade cookies, brownies, and Grandma's Hello Dollies were waiting to be eaten, along with coffee, hot chocolate or tea, soda and water. The sound was tested, the band was warmed up and ready, and at 7:00...there was no one there but Grandma and Grandpa, the Barnes, and us. "Now if this is God's will....?????" For five heart stopping minutes, I tried not to be too disappointed...tried not to think about all the "whys", tried to stay cheerful and upbeat and surrender everything to God all over again. Then they started pulling in, and before we knew it, we had a wonderful, enthusiastic crowd of 70-80 people...a great first time attendance!!!! It wasn't too cold, and the whole evening was one of those that will stand out in my memory as being really special. Oh, me of little faith!!! It's amazing how God tests His children. Looking back, I can just hear Him, "This was My will, why can't you just trust Me? You don't have to see everything in advance...just be obedient to Me, and I'll take care of the rest!" ...when will I learn?
Second Wind did a fabulous job playing, even though it was a bit chilly. Their music is so entertaining and at the same time, uplifting. We enjoyed having the Thompson family stay with us for a very short visit, and look forward to the next time. The audience was great, especially when the children got up and started dancing to the music. Everyone seemed to have a lovely time, and we are looking forward to next time. If you are not on our mailing list for information on these concerts, but would like to be, please click here. And be sure to tell your friends about it, too!!!
We are having a hard time coming up with a name for our stage. If you have any ideas, please let us know!!!
The weekend before Second Wind's concert on the 25th, we headed down to Mineral Wells, Texas for a GospelGrass festival. It was a great weekend, and so much fun to see some "old" friends and make some new ones. Here are a few pictures from that event.
The weekend before that, I went to Texas with my friend Alicia. We set up a booth for the company she works for, Cowboy Gear, at a roping down in Boerne, and then had a couple of days to sight-see before coming home. It was a great trip, including a visit to Wild Seed Farms near Johnson City, and an especially nice visit with some dear friends of ours down south. Springtime in the hill country of Texas...but a bit too early for the bluebonnets.
February's highlights...
We had a great time of fellowship in Missouri, even though we brought a horrible flu-like cold germ back with us, as well as some dear friends from the Northwest. Our friend, Kent, took these first three pictures of us from the event there. Thanks, Kent!!!
The Zwonitzer children did a great job on this song that Israel wrote for his parents anniversary... not a dry eye in the whole place, I don't think. What a blessing that was!!!!
And the Uptons...or Mount Maaziah...did beautifully, too. We are so excited to be the proud owners of their newest CD. You should check it out at their website ~ www.maaziahmountain.com. It's great!!!
The Zwonitzers videoed the gathering, and Jeremy and John were excited to run cameras for a bit...
Of course, there was time for some volleyball and ultimate frisbee, as well as singing and games and laughter and good company.
Earlier in the month we FINALLY got a good snow, and after two years of planning for our SnowFlake Party, it happened. (It wasn't much snow, but for something as "flaky" as having some "flaky" friends over and eating a bunch of goodies, including a gingerbread house and homemade marshmallows, it didn't take much!!!) Goodies, games and great friends...who could ask for more!!!
January ~
The absolute highlight of January was our "secret" just-family trip to Colorado. Things had been so hectic, and would you believe the youngsters of
our family don't remember us taking a family trip without instruments or concerts set up?!?!? So Dad decided he wanted to take us all up for a week of playing in
the snow. Jesse couldn't come, it wasn't complete, but we still managed to have a great time. We skied and sledded and some of us even snowboarded! We read, hung
out and did nothing! We took walks to nowhere and stared out the window just enjoying looking at the snow.
Tera was the only one who brought her instrument, since she had arranged to have a couple of cello lessons from Hannah Alkire, a cellist she has admired for several
years now. Hannah was so nice, and the highlight of the trip, for most of us anyway, was the wonderful evening in Denver when Dad took us all to dinner and then to
an Acoustic Eidolon concert. Acoustic Eidolon is Hannah on her cello and her husband, Joe Scott on guitar and guitjo (you'll have to check out their website to
see what a guitjo is!). It was so much fun, and we were all excited when Hannah dedicated the last song they played, "Oh, My" (Tera's favorite AE song) to "their
new friends, Tera and her family from Oklahoma"! They say they will come visit us sometime. We hope they do!!!!
The snow was great for skiing, but it was cold and blowing!!! These pictures speak for themselves, really.
Hope you've enjoyed them...and enjoy your day!!! Thanks for checking in! May our Father bless and keep you all!
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