Then Sings My Soul

This week's songs are from an amazing bass player/singer whom we have had the privilege of meeting on multiple occasions. Mr. A has done sound for him a couple of times at a church. He is also the brother of some dear friends of ours. His name is Bernard Harris. He has played bass for artist such as Nicole C. Mullen, Mandisa, and many others. With playing with such major artists, he could have an ego but he is extremely down to earth. If your church is ever looking for someone to perform for a concert or show, look him up. He will not disappoint!

Bernard's love for God is evident. He is in worship while playing. I love seeing him in concert! I have posted two videos one of him singing one of my favorite songs, "I can't imagine" and one where he is just playing the bass to his rendition of "Amazing Grace." I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.


I Can't Imagine


Amazing Grace

Check out these blogs

I love blogging. I know I don't blog everyday like some, but when I do I love it! Part of it is like journaling to me where I can write out my feelings and thoughts while the other side of it for me is keeping family and friends up to date with what is happening in our lives. Recently (and not too recently) I have found some of my dear friends have blogs also. Some have purposes and plans while others are like mine that just kind of document life around them.

I encourage you to check them out. I have them list below and also on my side bar in case you can't get the links to work.

Beloved Mama - Great friend who I have reconnected with in the last year. She has a great insight on families with young children and just a heart for women's ministry. Her blog makes me laugh with what is going on with her boys and challenges me on my daily walk. www.belovedmama.blogspot.com

Beloved Mama Prays - Same friend, different site. If you ever have a prayer request please go there and there is a group of men and women (mostly women) who are ready to pray for your request. Also, if you have a praise post that. God is good and it is important to not only come with our request, but thank Him when it is answered! www.belovedmamaprays.blogspot.com

No Crying over Spilled Milk - This girl is practically a sister of mine. She is one of my sister's best friends and she practically lived at our house. When my kids were little they called her Auntie Kuna. She is a youth and worship leader and has an awesome passion for missions, worship and youth and how they all work together. www.nocryingmama.blogspot.com

Fit Mama, Fit Family - Written by the same fabulous women on No Crying Over Spilled Milk. This one focuses more on nutrition, exercise, healthy living and general health. www.fitmamablog.blogspot.com

You'll Get Through This - This is a very new blog written by another dear friend. This blog is honest and challenging. God is going to do something with this blog. www.youllgetthroughthis.blogspot.com

Go visit my friends' blogs. I think you will be encouraged just as I have.

Happy Birthday, Mr. A!

Today is my honey's birthday! I love this man more and more each day. He actually has today off which is unusal. We are going to just do some errands and hang out. Tonight he and I are going to go see Dark Knight and go to dinner just the two of us.

Happy 30-something Babe! I hope you enjoy your day just chillin' with the family.

In honor of his birthday I am going to post "our song." You may think this song is a weird song to have as a couple but it kind of fits us - different. This song use to play constantly while we were dating/engaged. You couldn't turn on Top 40 radio stations without hearing it. We didn't have dancing at our wedding, but we joked that this would have been our first dance. We would have shocked everyone. Our girls ask us what our song is and we say Two Princes by Spin Doctors. It is just kind of us.

I can't get the original version of the song to embed so here is the link to the video on You Tube: Two Princes by Spin Doctors

This is a different version that was done on Sesame Street when KA was a baby. We knew that they had hit the big time when they appeared on Sesame Street.

Summer's half way over and I haven't started having fun yet!

It is the middle of July which mean summer is half way over. Where has the time gone? What's worse is I haven't done anything fun yet for summer! When you think of summer you think of a few things: BBQ's, beaches, fireworks, family vacations. We haven't done one of those things or anything that resembles summer besides swimming at our community pool.

This summer has been a bit unusual as the month of June/first part of July was dealing with my health/gall bladder issue. I was watching what I was eating so no BBQ's. The 4th of July I had just been discharged from the hospital and was on major pain medication so even if my family had shown me fireworks, I don't think I would have remembered it.

The beach thing is difficult because the beach is a minimum of 2 hours away. With gas prices, it just doesn't make sense to go for the day. Besides growing up in CA I have spent my fare share of summers at the beach. Last year we went down for the day on Father's Day with some friends which was a lot of fun, but it seemed like a huge production just for a few hours. I know the girls would love to go again as would I, but if I am going to go to all the trouble of packing all the stuff and driving down, I want to be there all weekend not just a few hours.

Family vacation - what's that?! The last family vacation we had was last Spring Break when we went to Walt Disney World. That was a lot of fun, but we just don't have the money or time to do something that big right now. Besides, AJ started back to school yesterday, I don't have anymore vacation time, and Mr. A's job really doesn't allow for much vacation time. We have talked about doing some kind of small weekend trip somewhere but when and where we have no idea.

I know I am complaining when I should be finding a way to make summer last. It just seems like the days are flying by and I haven't been able to enjoy any of them. I miss the lazy days of summer where you can just sit back, relax and not worry about what is happening next.

OK... I vow to not let the rest of this summer pass by me. I will figure out a way to BBQ, have some friends over, and enjoy those long summer nights. This is something I am just going to have to plan to make sure that it happens.

Confused and ready for direction

I feel I am rather flexible when it comes to most things. I can go with the flow and even when I really don't care to. However recently God has been shaking things up in our lives and I have no idea what is going on. I feel like a piece of driftwood being tossed to and fro by the waves of the ocean. I have no idea where I am going and I am out in the middle of the ocean where land is not visible in any direction.

Most of you know that about a year ago, Mr. A & I left our church of 3 years to help a new church plant. The church we had previously been at was a good church, but it never felt like "home" or where we would be permanently. Both Mr. A & I were in different ministries that we both enjoyed doing, but we never felt like this is what we were called to do. Both of us have hearts for outreach, youth, doing things more outward focused and this new church plant was everything that we had prayed for. We finally felt like God was opening the door for what He called us out to NC to do. We were so excited!

1 year later, we are now just confused and bewildered. The "church" now has two families - the pastor's family and ours. We all sat around and scratched out heads - NOW WHAT? We came up with 4 different scenarios and are still praying on them. We all don't feel like we should completely turn our backs on this not out of pride, but God hasn't told us to stop. Some of you reading this might say well with two families the answer should be obvious - God has told you to stop. Honestly though we really haven't had God tell us to go anywhere else or abandon ship. So again - WHAT NOW!?!

We agreed to go to churches together in the meantime. Today we went to a church that wasn't bad, it just again wasn't
"home." Worship was good - very spirit filled and anointed. The pastor was good and his topic was relevant. They have a good children and youth program which fits our needs, but I don't know. I don't want to be a complainer. I don't want to be a church snob. I just felt like we were going through the motions.

I had prayed in the car the entire way down that God would show us something. God would guide us to what we were suppose to be doing. If it was just to sit and be feed that we would sit and be fed. If we were suppose to see something, that God would reveal it. I left more confused then when we started.

I don't want to do anything without God's stamp of approval on it. I don't want to try and take over from what God is trying to do but I have no idea what that is. Are we suppose to walk away and find somewhere else? Are we suppose to try and make this work? If we are suppose to make this work, how do you do that with two families? Do we become more of a ministry organization that helps other churches? Do we do something totally out of the box? God had given Mr. A & our pastor almost identical visions about something more community driven vs. a church as this whole thing was starting. Are we suppose to pursue that without being a church?

What about our house? While we love the size of our house, we are close to nothing. Every friend we have made, every thing that we do is no where close to our current home. We tried putting our house on the market and after a year of almost no bites we decided to take it off the market. We still would love to move. For one reason, the housing market is cheaper down there and you get more property for the money which is something that definitely interests us. Another reason is while we have a great home almost no one comes to visit us because we are so far away. Even at our last church, we lived the farthest away. It was so out of the way for people to come to. Are we suppose to put our house back on the market? Are we suppose to do something up here?

I don't feel like God has turned His back on us at all, but I do feel like we are out here alone at times. I know God has a purpose and a plan for our lives, I wish He would give a map with some clues on it if nothing else. I am trusting that God is going to show us what to do and where to go. I know God has called us out here but for what I am not sure.

All I can do right now is PUSH - PRAY UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS!

Beloved Mama sent me over this beautiful tree of happiness... I can't wait to plant it on my blog! The rules of the game are to list 6 things that make me happy and then to send off 6 trees for others to plant on their blog...

1. My Savior - Yes, i know that will probably seem like the obvious answer for #1, but truly Jesus makes me happy. In this crazy world where nothing seems to make sense and everything is about things in the pit of despair, Jesus is my joy!

2. My husband, Mr. A - This man can bring a smile to my face just thinking about him. 13 years of marriage and he can still make me blush and turn all gooey inside. He truly is my best friend.

3. My 2 girls, KA & AJ - They can drive me batty with all the fighting they do, but I wouldn't change them at all. We are getting into the real moody, hormonal times right now, but they can be so much fun too! They do make me happy...

4. The Beach - Growing up in So. CA, the beach is where I went to think, hung out with friends, just live. I don't miss going there everyday, but when I am there, the smell, the wind, the sand between my feet is home. The beach is a minimum of 2 hours for us which makes it more special now. When I do see and experience the ocean, it takes me back to all the memories I had growing up.

5. Sunrise/Sunset - Give me a colorful sunrise or sunset and I am in heaven! The only thing I am missing on my house is a front porch/back deck where I can have a rocking chair and watch. Sometimes when I see the colors of a sunrise/sunset I am just breathless. I especially love a sunrise/sunset at the beach, but I do also love a good summer night with the sun going down and the fireflies coming out. That has become my new summer favorite!

6. A good bonfire with friends - Again this all goes back to #4 & #5, but I love bonfires. For our anniversary my husband asked me what I wanted and I told him a bonfire with some friends. Unfortunately we are in some of the worst drought conditions ever so that made it impossible, but I love a good bonfire or fire pit with friends talking the night away. Add some Smores and it makes it even better! I am trying to convince Mr. A to make sure we have enough space to put a fire pit in at our next house.

3 people to pass this gift on to:

1. Melissa
2. No Crying Mama
3. Tula Mommy

You are Holy

This song has been playing a lot on the Christian radio stations around town recently. I love the way the girls are singing something totally different, but it all sounds perfect together. It just sounds to me what like heaven will be like...all of us praising differently, but sounding perfect together.

I just love listenting to it! Michael W Smith hasn't been at the top of my favorite singers since I was in middle/high school, but this song has just grabbed me! I have included the lyrics in case you can't understand every word or want to sing a long below.



You are holy (You are holy)
You are mighty (You are mighty)
You are worthy (You are worthy)
Worthy of praise (Worthy of praise)
I will follow (I will follow)
I will listen (I will listen)
I will love you (I will love you)
All of my days (All of my days)

(Guys)
I will sing to
And worship
The King who is worthy
I will love and adore Him
And I will bow down before Him
And I will sing to and worship the King who is worthy
And I will love and adore him
And I will bow down before Him

(Girls)
You are Lord of Lords
You are King of Kings
You are mighty God
Lord of everything

You're Emmanuel
You're the great "I AM"
You're the Prince of Peace
Who is the Lamb

You're the living God
You're my saving grace
You will reign forever
You are ancient of days

You're the Alpha, Omega, Beginning and End
You're my Savior, Messiah, Redeemer, and friend

(Both:)
You're my Prince of Peace and I will live my life for you.

You are holy (You are holy)
You are mighty (You are mighty)
You are worthy (You are worthy)
Worthy of praise (Worthy of praise)
I will follow (I will follow)
I will listen (I will listen)
I will love you (I will love You)
All of my days (All of my days)

(Guys)
I will sing to
And worship
The King who is worthy
I will love and adore Him
And I will bow down before Him
And I will sing to and worship the King who is worthy
And I will love and adore him
And I will bow down before Him

(Girls)
He is Lord of Lords
He is King of Kings
He is mighty God
Lord of everything

He's Emmanuel
He's the great "I AM"
He's the Prince of Peace
Who is the Lamb

He's the living God
He's my saving grace
He will reign forever
He is ancient of days

He's the Alpha, Omega, Beginning and End
He's my Savior, Messiah, Redeemer, and friend

(Both:)
You're my Prince of Peace and I will live my life for you.

(guys)
I will sing to
And worship
The King who is worthy
I will love and adore Him
And I will bow down before Him
And I will sing to and worship the King who is worthy
And I will love and adore him
And I will bow down before Him
(girls)
You are Lord of Lords
You are King of Kings
You are mighty God
Lord of everything

You're Emmanuel
You're the great "I AM"
You're the Prince of Peace
Who is the Lamb

You're the living God
You're my saving grace
You will reign forever
You are ancient of days

You are Alpha, Omega, Beginning and End
You're my Savior, Messiah, Redeemer, and friend

(Both:)
You're my Prince of Peace and I will live my life for you

Updated Blog

I had been MIA due to life swirling around me, but I am back and made a few updates recently. Don't want you to miss them so I will link to them here:

KA's 13th Birthday
Operation Restoration
SDFA + Facebook = FUN!
Bye Bye Bye Gall Bladder

Bye Bye Bye - Gall Bladder

All I can hear as I type that in my head is N Sync's song, Bye Bye Bye!

I tried writing this post a couple of days after surgery and literally nothing made sense - not one sentence. So a few days later now that I am off the pain medication I can clearly write this post.

Yes it is gone! My gall bladder has left the body!

I am not doing too bad considering I had a body part removed. I think the worse part was waking up from anesthia. Not that I have a problem with anesthesa, but I was in a lot of pain. It hurt to breathe. They were telling me to take deep breaths but I couldn't. Everytime I breathed in this enormous pain would shoot in my side. The nurse asked me if I needed pain meds - YES! I was praying hard that either the pain meds kick in or God would take the pain away. Finally after about 30 minutes the pain subsided and I was doing much better. THANK YOU JESUS!

The doctor kept me in the hospital over night so they could monitor my pain meds and just overall health. I didn't get much consistent sleep just a lot of small naps here and there. Mr. A came and picked me up on July 4th (the day after my surgery). They said their pharmacy was closed for the holiday but I could go anywhere and pick up my pain medication. So we headed off to Wally World only to find out their pharmacy was closed for the holiday. I looked at Mr. A and almost cried. The hospital had given me pain meds before I left, but I knew my next dose was in about 2 hours and we couldn't find an open pharmacy. Finally we headed to another small chain that had a pharmacy that was open - THANK YOU JESUS! Twenty minutes later we were heading home.

I have been doing pretty good at home. I am starting to eat a little more. I have been really cautious about what I have been eating as it use to cause pain, but I have to be even more careful now since I have no gall bladder to help process the food. Mr. A has stayed home with me and been a great nurse. The girls have been pretty good to...a little forgetful when it comes to hugging or wanting to run into me on the couch but all in all they have been great too.

Thank you for all of your prayers! They have been felt. Thank you to our friends, The Thompsons, as they watched our kids while I was in the hospital. We really do appreciate all you did! You guys were an answer to prayer.

SDFA + Facebook = FUN!

I have recently signed up with Facebook to connect with old friends. So far it has been pretty fun catching up with people I haven't talked with in awhile. I joined when some friends of mine started up a group on Facebook for our old youth group. I saw so many of my friends and people I missed talking with, I had to join.

Our youth group was something special. I know most people would say the same, but truly our youth group was something special. We had great youth leaders who set the tone for what we were going to do. We had retreats, conferences, game nights, etc like most youth groups, but our leaders really set the bar high for us to strive for. We had youth leaders who cared about what was going on in our lives and took the time to make sure we knew that.

They wanted us to be outward focused which is hard to do in those teenage years. However hard that was for them to do with us made lasting impressions on all of us. We had groups that went to senior citizen homes and sang songs, we feed the homeless at the Rescue Mission, we went an played with kids who were in hospitals...the list goes on and on.

Our youth group had fun! Growing up in So. Ca is was hard not to. We hung out at the beach, we did activities all over the city, we ate lots of food, and the best part - TOLIET PAPERING. Really don't ask me who started it, but we had all out TP wars my entire middle school through high school years! Had a sleepover, we went toliet papering. We toliet papered everyone including the senior pastors house on numerous occassions. It was just something that our youth group did and everyone had fun doing it - including our parents!

Yes, I know all I have been talking about is fun and games, but we did have a great spiritual side to. Our leaders, Mike and Kristi DeVito, were the best leaders we could have asked for. The challenged us on our walk with Christ and our walks with each other. We also had an awesome leader named Kara Eckmann who now goes by Kara Eckmann Powell (married name) who started off as a youth intern and moved into Middle School Pastor. For me Kara was a mentor for me. She wrote me while she went away to college and kept in touch with me when she came home on breaks. She invested her time in me and that is something I have never forgotten or taken lightly.

We had many adult helper/leaders that stood beside us through the years - Denise, Dan, Kathy, Jeff, Pam, Nate, Brent, Tom, Laurie, Nina, Steve, Lynn...the list goes on. They all gave a little bit of them to help us. Forever we are grateful.

My husband and I cannot go into a church without thinking these words:

If not you, who
If not now, when
If not here, where

These words were thrown at us all the time. We could spit them back when asked, but somewhere with us spitting it back, it sunk in. My husband and I are permanently stained with DeVito and Eckmann's challenges for us to not just sit by and watch but be active, living participants in the church and in our everyday lives.

My girlfriend Rachel and I laugh about how DeVito has ruined church for us. We go into a church and we can't just sit there. We are always looking for a way to help. Trust me, we slow down and listen, but we can't just sit back and watch. We also laugh that now that we work with youth we can't just let them sit back. We want them to be active both spiritually and physically. We are raising the bar on for our students and lovingly helping them strive to reach it. We are holding our youth accountable just as our leaders did for us. Because if I don't do it, who will. If I don't do it now, when will it get done. And if I am not going to do it here in my youth group, where is it going to happen?

Thank you Mike, Kristi and Kara for your time in our lives. I hope you see how much of an impact your lives, time and hearts created with us. Just look at that Facebook page and see how many of your students still love you and loved those times together. Look at how many of your students are still serving the Lord. Look at how many of your students are in some sort of ministry opportunity now. That is all your seeds being planted day in and day out. It wasn't easy, but look now. This is just a small sample of what heaven is going to look like. The ripple effect of what you did is going to continue on and on.

I love you all. Thank you for your devotion and love.

I am a life that was changed!