Queenies Little Kingdom

Yesterday morning when my radio alarm went off….I heard the radio DJ commenting on Jon and Sherry Rivers. In my sleepy stupor it didn’t register what she said until later in the day as I was driving my daughter Gates to the orthodontist. I flashed back to the morning and remembered I had heard her say…”Jon and Sherry are going through some diffulties”. Huh? What? What difficulties? Where are they? Why aren’t they on the radio? Klove, what’s going on?

For the last eight years or more….we’ve listened to Jon and Sherry every morning as we drove to school. They are like family to us. We love them. We enjoy their silliness and funny stories. We laugh at their “normalness” and connect with them knowing they are just like us. Real people! They have touched our hearts.

I don’t want to act like things can’t happen to people. They do. It’s just difficult to take when it’s someone you’re counting on for something. For us, we count on them to entertain us on to school. We listen to the christian artist chatting with them in their home studio as if we were there having a breakfast muffin with them. It’s like a window into the lives of the musicians we love through Jon and Sherry.

I’m praying for them. Life is tough. None of us are immune to problems. Right now, I just feel sad for them. It’s not fair for me to speculate what could be wrong….but as we read and learn everyday…people make wrong choices and fall short of God’s glory. I will just leave it at that. God….please work in the lives of this family and bring them back to us soon.

We miss you …… Jon and Sherry in the morning!

Change can be hard. Especially for people like us. We tend to be “rut” kind of people. We get into habits of doing the same ole thing and like it that way regularly. Today was hubby’s last day serving the sweet folks at Brushy Fork Baptist Church (out in the country as we like to call it). After a very long eight months of no pastor….they’ve found God’s man for them. We are so very happy for them and pray that God would bless this new pastor and the very deserved church family that has called him. We know that this new stage (honeymoon) is not always easy. It can make or break a ministry. We celebrate with them as they embark on a whole new phase in their church.

After the morning worship the congregation hosted a little thank you party to say goodbye to our family. We felt so honored. It has been our pleasure (even being separated on many Sunday’s from our dad) serving them in their time of desperate need. Anybody who has been without a pastor knows….that’s very hard on a church body. We are glad God used us to minister to them throughout this last year.

We wish them great blessings and lots of new experiences as a church. We grew to love them during our time there. Now it’s on to what God has next. Our hearts are open…

Our family at the thank you/see ya later reception…

Oh yea….great job honey! That sermon rocked! You were on fiyah!

Last Sunday’s sermon was on reaching out and “doing” something for someone else. I love that idea. I’m into blessing people. It’s more fun to give than to receive, haven’t you heard? I’ve certainly been on both ends of the blessing and I have to say…..both pretty much rock!

Yesterday when we checked our mail there were two cards from friends that we’ve been privileged to bless (and them bless us). It reminded me how little things can really mean alot. Something that seems small to you may be huge to someone in need. I don’t want to miss out on those, do you? Every little thing we do or say….matters somehow to someone.

Today I feel so blessed! My heart is at peace. My kids are all happy, my husband is home relaxing (tomorrow is his last day interim preaching at Brushy Fork) and I don’t feel all stressed to get something finished. I love it when life feels this way. Don’t you? Jesus set us up for this. He came (so we can live life abundantly, remember?) not live stressed and overwhelmed. I hope wherever you are today….you feel that blessing. If you’re not, maybe you need to “do” some blessing to get some. Here’s a few ideas…

Call someone who you haven’t had time to chat with and JUST CHAT!
Take someone to lunch and pay (it can be a cheap meal…just do it)
Send someone (you know would smile) a card or a letter in the mail.
Give….if you have money…pay attention to who doesn’t & give something!
Pick up little presents here and there….give them to someone you know.
Write 10 things you love about a family member and give it to them.
If you’re a mom…of girls…have a finger & toe painting session. You’ll love the conversations.
Stop and look at your husband…and tell him how you love and appreciate him.
Help a neighbor. Return their trash cans after they’ve been dumped.
Stop and be personal with people working in your world.
Offer to pray for someone in need…don’t just say “I’ll pray for you!”.
Make a friend dinner! Or take someone dessert. Major score, ya’ll!

Be open and loving. You’re leaving a legacy! A little kindness goes a long way.

I love a good trick! I love a good friend even better. Today is my BFF Marilyn’s big 40th birthday! Yes…she’s catching up with me (yea right!). I have pulled a sneak attack on her and blog-jacked her with some lovin!
I would love and she would too if you would go on over and give her some special birthday wishes too.
Thanks friends! She’s really worth it!

Happy Birthday Marilyn! God really blessed me when he gave you to me!

I’ve only been blogging for the last 9 months (unlike during a pregnancy time has flown by). Over this period of time I have learned a thing or twenty. One of which is the “WHO’S WHO” of conferences to attend. Lysa Terkeurst’s ministry (I like to call her the P31 lady) hosts a fabulous event each summer called She Speaks. Now from what I’ve heard this is the place to be if you are the slightest bit interested in becoming a better you! The event is designed to empower God’s women for His ministry (whichever it may be that you are particularly called to). It has a little something for everyone. If you are called to speak, write, lead or just to make some serious life changes….this might be where you need to spend the last weekend in July this year. Don’t wait! The conference fills up quickly and you will have to wait a whole year for another chance.

Right now Lysa is hosting a little contest for some lucky blogger to win a free trip to this year’s conference. It’s going to be well worth the effort I promise. Go by and see for yourself. But hurry, the deadline is this Friday 3/27. Good luck!

WHY I WANNA GO

I’ve had a passion for women and ministry my whole adult life. When I married my husband almost twenty years ago, I thought I was taking on the life of a policeman’s wife. Little did I know that within a few short years and three babies later I would end up at a Southern Baptist seminary (not to become a preacher’s wife)…just surrendered to the “call”. Hubby was certain that it would not be to pastor. Oh how funny God is! Yea, he’s been a pastor ever since that first semester of college. I’ve learned not to question God or think anything is out of your reach. He can and will do the unexpected whenever we least expect it. I’m living proof.

My ministry started early in our marriage by leading a stay-at-home mom aerobics class at my church in south Florida. This was a great outreach tool that I was privileged to be a part of. I couldn’t have done it without the dedicated ladies that came and rocked babies and preschoolers every Tuesday and Thursday morning. It was only the beginning of what would spark my love for women. I have taught all ages from bedbabies to senior women throughout our serving in different churches. But my real love remains the same, women. I want to help women live victorious for Christ.

I have been told by my closest friends that they believe they will see me on a stage someday (Maybe they are right….I’ll be sweeping up after Beth or Lysa). I can’t tell you how that scares me! I’m really a chicken! I feel a little anxious even writing the words down. I would love to have the courage to actually do that. When I heard about She Speaks this past summer, it seemed like the conference I needed to attend. I read the many testimonies and felt a connection to the women that shared what God had blessed them with while there. I want to better me. I want to branch out of my little world and step out in faith…..and see what God has in store for me out there. I have a message…..I need help delivering it. She Speaks sounds amazing!

I don’t even need to tell you how exciting the blogging part sounds. It makes me so happy just thinking about it. I have been faithfully reading the blogs of many that will be attending and leading during the conference. This would be an incredible opportunity to meet them in person and glean from their deep knowledge of the blog-o-spere. It would be an honor! I’m psyched! I will be praying for the P31 gals and all who will play a part in leading the conference. God will be working through each of you…..I know He will. I just hope I’ll be there to share!

Last weekend was the big performance by Una Voce (Gates middle school show choir) at our local Park Theatre downtown. It was fabulous! I would’ve posted all about it when it happened except vimeo and my computer were not behaving nor were they getting along enough to successfully upload the videos. Temperamental little boogers!

The group brought down the house with their sweet dance moves and great singing talent. Mrs. Thompson is not afraid to step out and get funky! I love her enthusiasm and her cool song picks. She’s got a great personality and it show’s in her choices of music as well as in her students. They seem to love showing it all off.

Here’s a video of Gates singing the first solo in Footloose. The lighting doesn’t seem to be right, sorry! But you can still hear her great voice. You will have to watch her closely….she dances around. Towards the end of the song she’s the one on the far right.

Untitled from Wanda Staton Galloway on Vimeo.

Great job, Gates! We are so proud of you. You’re a great kid and you can sing and dance too! We love you!