Queenies Little Kingdom

Our sweetboy has an amazing opportunity!  The High School Jazz Band is going to New York City this year.  The trip will be in March during our spring break from school.  They will be performing in the atrium of the IBM Building on the second day of the trip.  It is going to be so exciting!  We are so happy for him and for the honor of being chosen to go.

He now has the task of raising the funds for the trip.  The total cost is $850.  All monies must be turned in by January 17, 2009.  This is where you come in.  The program allows for friends and family to log in and make donations to each student.  With each donation, this puts him one step closer to his goal of seeing the big city of New York.  If you or someone you know would like to rock a teenager’s world….then go here and make magic happen.  Thank you for even considering it.  We know the blessing of giving and of receiving! It’s amazing!

www.music-travel.com

Select the MTC online logo at bottom (click individual)

log in email— gavin@glory2him.com  (password–dwgagml7)

Select Make payment—enter amount and follow directions to finish.  It only takes minutes to do.

Again, thank you for any donation that you feel led to give.  There is no set amount, you may give even $5.  I really like this system and pray that you will too.  God is so good!  We trust Him with this exciting adventure and know that He will make it happen.  Bless you for being a part!

Here’s the itenerary of the trip: (Did I mention….they are traveling there by chartered bus?)

Sunday

Breakfast at the Lighthouse Restaurant.  Overlooking the beautiful skyline of New York City.  A NY Waterways Harbor Cruise.  They travel from Midtown to the Upper West Side, Harlem, Central Park, Upper East Side, Lincoln Center, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Fifth Avenue and of course all the colorful ethnic neighborhoods.  WoW!  South Street Seaport.  They will visit Ground Zero before checking in to their hotel.

Monday

UN Building Tour.  They perform at IBM Building for the crowds there.  Next on to Times Square for shopping and sightseeing.  At dinner they will be actually meeting stars from the Broadway Show that they will be attending that night.  End the evening with the Broadway Show (I WANNA GO!!!!).

Tuesday

Radio City Hall.  Afternoon free.  Spend time in Chinatown for shopping and touring.  End with dinner at SPQR (a local authentic italian restaurant)….this ain’t no Olive Garden, ya’ll.

Wednesday

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour.  Visit the Empire State Building.  Then head to Broadway and 34th Street to the world’s largest department store, Macy’s.  End the night with dinner at Hard Rock Cafe.  Then they hop back on the bus to travel back to Indiana!  Whew!  A whirlwind of activities.  I wish I could go!

With the latest news on our country’s finances, listening to my friends and co-workers issues, and facing my own giants. It’s no wonder our lives are S T R E S S E D !! Hubby’s final conclusion to the hives and swelling is stress. He’s over the top with it! Not having a job for four months and having the bills to prove it will do that to you. I’m praying for relief!

Today, I spoke with 3 different friends at work (all at different times during the day) and each one of them told me of the major stress they are under regarding their mortgages and bills. I thought I was alone! Not so. I knew completely how they were feeling. It is overwhelming! Jesus, come on back! We’re ready!

On to something I can’t believe I am even going to say….. Yesterday, my husband’s young 22 year old cousin shot two men, killing one of them. It has been proven by videotape to have been self-defense but that doesn’t make it any easier to take. They were at a party and a fight broke out. The two shooting victims attacked the cousin, beating him up pretty badly. A weapon was obviously his choice of protection. I’m broken-hearted for the entire situation. The authorities are not going to charge him and have asked the family to get him out of the state. The victim was a known drug dealer that had been eluding police for some time. The prosecutor’s are concerned for the cousin’s life.

I can’t fathom this as a parent. My kids aren’t party kids. They have had rules to follow and standards to uphold as a member of my family. Sometimes, I’ve thought….we’re too hard on them.
But not really. Consequences are more painful the older you get. Why not hold them to the fire while they are young and the costs aren’t so high? Give them boundaries! Teach them to honor and to understand the value of other’s.

After a day like today….I can’t help but feel like the sky is falling. God, I know you are there….and I trust you. Help us make sense out of the craziness going on in our world. Show us your ways and make us more like you. Bring your glory forth and reign down your mercy. We love you, Lord. We need you, Lord.

This morning’s sermon was titled, “Love Deeper”. It’s all part of our study, Live Like You Were Dying. I was running a little late for worship, I went in after the music had started. So, of course, all eyes were on me as I made my way to an empty spot to sit. Awkward! But, no biggie! I quickly pushed the world aside and fell into worship……sorta.

The reason I say sorta is…..I’m stressed about some stuff. I have a few issues that are stealing my joy and one of them has to do with church. I won’t go into details, but know that I covet your prayers for this situation. Dang that satan! He’s wicked obnoxious!

As Pastor Bob began preaching, he asked a simple question. Since becoming a Christian, is your heart growing bigger and SOFTER or is it smaller and HARDER? I knew right then….God was sending me a red flare! ALERT!!! WANDA WARNING!!! BEEP, BEEP, BEEP!!! I’d like to believe that my heart is soft….but friends, it’s not! I’m guilty of being a total jerk! I can be coldhearted and unforgiving! If I’m wounded or hurt by someone….my flesh instinctively wants to hurt back. I’m weak and I admit it. I fail, horribly!

While I listened to him speak the truth, I prayed for my hard heart. I asked God to forgive me for my inability to love other’s like He has instructed me to do. I want my heart to grow soft and be usable by God. It made me think of my new class on Wednesday nights. We didn’t know anyone in the group. But I realized, God has us just where He wants. He has strategically placed each person in that class for a reason. For hubby and I….we have work to do. God is relying on us to reach and touch these people with His love.

He ended the service with two steps to loving deeper.

Step 1) Do the unexpected! He used the story of Mary washing Jesus’ feet with the expensive nard and then wiping it with her hair. That was unexpected….and extravagant! How do I love extravagantly? What do I give up that matters to me to show God just how much I love him? Not much. I’m weak. I hoard my treasures and live selfishly oftentimes.

Step 2) Do the unaffordable! Same story of Mary….but this time using the expense of her gift. Judas complained that it could’ve been sold and the money used to feed the poor. We all know that Judas was wanting the money for himself. What do I give up for the love of God, monetarily? Do I give everything I have? Do I share with those in need and do I give my very best? That was the model given to us by the early church. The believer’s were one in heart and mind….no one claimed any of his possessions as his own….they shared everything they had. Seems like we’ve lost that in our world today.

I ran into a sweet older couple from church at Wallyworld on Friday. After we finished our conversation I started to walk away when the husband turned back to me and said, “I’m really proud of you!”. I stopped and said back, “Huh, for what?”. He then shared that someone in my new class was telling them all about hubby and I leading LLYWD. She told them she loves it and is so excited to be in there with us!!! What a sweet love message from God! Thank you, Lord. I needed that!

Then, tonight. As I was working on this post, an email came through from a very unassuming person in my class. A couple. It was a sweet note of encouragement to hubby and I. Also, they wanted us to know just how much they are loving the class. What a blessing! I’m feeling extra deep in the love of God.

The city park was all abuzz this evening. Our little town had big visitors! The Lt. Governor, Becky Skillman and the Republican candidate for Congress Mike Sodrel were here for a “Hog Roast” and chat-us-up session. This brings out the party people (when I say party….I don’t mean the woohoo party people…I mean the REPUBLICANS!!!). The shelter house was packed with follower’s of the “right” kind. Heehee, the right kind, get it? Oh, I am so funny!

The political signs were everywhere. I hadn’t seen the McCain/Palin yard sign yet….it was there! I have one outside right now to prove it. Thanks to hubby! I have been wanting one for my yard for weeks. When hubby was pastoring a local church we couldn’t endorse a candidate without suffering some serious backlash. Well…..that’s not the case anymore! So…….this REPUBLICAN is flaunting it loud and sassy! Go ahead…drive on by my house, I’ll be the one sporting that fancy sign that says just how I feel about this here election! BAM! There, I said it! And it felt GOOOOOOOOOOD!

Sweetboy performed at the event with the school’s Jazz Band. They kicked it off, which means, I missed it because I was still raking those dang leaves and limbs from my backyard. I had the time confused too. Oh well, he did come back and eat. So we were able to see him then and he was able to hob-nob around in the crowd. Several local candidates were there. It’s good strategy to campaign and hand out their signs and pins as well. It’s a great way to get to know them and ask them any questions you might have. A friend of ours had on the cutest little George W. Bush bobblehead pin. It was so cute! I think I need one of Sarah Palin!

I wish more than best of luck to all these candidates. I pray for them and for their families who are sacrificing to serve you and me. Each of us must know, you cannot please everybody all of the time. This public service work is not the most rewarding work a person can do. These people need our love and support. But most of all they need our prayers and God’s guiding hand. Our country needs leaders that live by standards that are in alignment with God. Pray with me as we head to the polls this year.

I say that with lots of encouragement! Our team, the Panthers??? Well, they haven’t won a game all year. They only won one game last year, and the year before that…..well, it was ugly too. It’s just not their victory sport, I suppose. But basketball???!!! That is war! This is Indiana, ya know? I love basketball season here…..it is awesome!

Today has been fun at school. It was Panther pride day, so everyone was dressed to kill in their best spirit clothes. Red, white and blue was all over our high school. The pep session was a blast too. I love that my two oldest are students at my school. It’s fun to be a part of their lives all day each day. When we first moved here, they were all three in elementary school. Time sure flies by. Sweetboy will graduate this year and I will miss him terribly when I have to go back to school without him there. He’s everywhere there…….oh the letting go! Stings!

Sweetboy @ Pep Session….he wears many hats at these games!

Ally and Lea…..looking so cute!

Touchdown bell…… only rang once on homecoming!

Victory or not……we still party like rockstars at the homecoming dance!

Update:
We lost! 21-7 Panthers tried but just couldn’t stand up to BNL. They were a tough team. The great fun stuff about homecoming still went on. The king and queen were chosen, the dance was the bomb and everyone made it home safely after a long day. It was a great homecoming!

Did you know that you have the power to save someone’s life? You do. It’s easy too. Go check this out. It’s the National Marrow Donor Program and they are working hard to save the lives of people all across our nation. Just log on there and join. The process is easy and takes just a few minutes. We did it and even had them send us the home testing kit. Hubby’s is sealed up and ready to go in the mail back to them.

We have a very special friend who is fighting for his life right now. He’s 22 and a senior at Purdue University. His name is John and he has Hodgkins Lymphoma. He is just a normal guy. Doing his thing; going to college, hanging with his buddies, dreaming of a future….wife and kids on a farm. Then he had a sore neck. Came home for the weekend….mentioned the neck hurting and then had a little congestion. His mom is my sweet friend and co-worker at school. She thought no big deal, go see the Dr. before you head back to school and get a prescription. Then, life as they knew it ended.

By this time he was showing more signs of something not being ok. They began treating him and trying everything in their power to get rid of the evil attack on his young body. A nightmare that no parent wants to face. Please visit his site and read his story. He is a precious kid. To meet John is to love him. He’s a committed Christian and has done everything right. He’s protected himself by remaining pure before marriage. He doesn’t drink or party. He’s just a good kid! He wants to live and do the things all young people dream of. Just imagine!

Today was one of those days for his mom, Carol. She has been so strong throughout this whole ordeal (I cannot tell you how I admire her!!!). She has researched and beat the streets with this kid all over Indiana. She’s hauled him hither and fro to appointments and treatments…..doing what any good mama does. But she was worn thin today. Please pray for her. This is a battle that wears everyone involved down. Cancer is a killer in many ways. At this very moment they are anxious to find a donor for John. Time is of utmost importance!

That’s why I’ve invited you to check out the marrow donor site. If you feel God nudging you in that direction, friend…….GO FOR IT!!!! You will not regret it. Go and see for yourself. Help save someone like John or maybe even someone that you know. I wish for a match for John right now. God you can do anything! I claim your authority over this disease and for perfect healing for sweet John very soon.

John Romine