The Masked Musician

Going through photos on my computer this weekend, I came across these two pictures, both taken within the past two years.

They call Colt (our 23 year old son) guitar ninja at church because they say he’s awesome on guitar. (I agree with them....am I allowed to say that since I'm his mom)?  The guitar is the instrument he’s playing on the praise team right now.

However, he has also played the drums on the praise team as well…..he was masked again….this time…..as Spiderman. :)

He really does play without a mask (most of the time).

He has now been living on his own in his apartment for nine months and I sure do miss him around here.  I miss hearing him on his guitar late nights in his room.  And I can't believe I'm saying this, but I even miss those LOUD drums upstairs.  We've always encouraged his music though, no matter what how loud.  :)

Music is Colt’s passion and gift. I’m so glad (and thankful) that he uses his musical talent for the Lord!  :)

Faithful Friday - "Somewhere in the Middle"

Happy Friday! Joy (my daughter) was trying to come up with a special way to set aside at least one day a week to share her (our) faith with the blogging world. She came up with Faithful Fridays. And Mandie of Life in the Craft Lane with Mandie, was nice enough to create a free button for her to use. We’d like to invite you to participate too. Just grab her button below and share about your Christian walk, whether it be just something inspirational or uplifting, a devotional, scripture or a thought or something God laid on your heart, something God has done for you lately, or even prayer requests. Then just leave a comment HERE on Joy’s blog letting her know you are participating, and we’ll come visit you too! It’s encouraging to read about fellow Christians’ Walk with the Lord.

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As we headed home from Alabama this past weekend, I volunteered to drive for the first half. As I did (and everyone else was snoozing), I was listening to one of my Casting Crowns CDs. They just happen to be at the top of the list of my favorite Christian artists. I love their song writing! During the drive, I listened to one particular song many times. It was a quiet moment for me.

Remember how I told you in a previous Faithful Friday post that music can speak multitudes to me – a sermon really? This time it was a convicting one. As I listened, the words pierced my heart. And that’s what I want to share with you today.

The song is titled Somewhere in the Middle. Just listen to the words of this song:



I love that chorus. Just imagine each one of these things………..fearless warriors in a picket fence, reckless abandon wrapped in common sense, deep water faith in the shallow end. What a waste all of those things are if not used to their full potential.

Somewhere in the middle is not a good place to be. If we are there, it probably means we’re compromising or we’re moving into gray areas.

God tells us in His Word that He’d rather that we be one way or the other – not in the middle, or straddling the fence:

"So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth." Revelation 3:16 NIV

“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” Matthew 12:30 NIV & again in Luke 11:23 NIV.

That pretty much says that when we’re in the middle – lukewarm – it actually makes Him want to spit us out (that denotes being very displeased with us). Do we really want that? If we aren't with him or gathering with him, we're actually scattering (causing more harm).

I wonder why it’s so hard for us to just be completely sold out to the Lord without wavering or worrying about what others will think? Too many times, we are just like that chorus said: seeing how close we can get to complete surrender without losing control (it’s never comfortable to give up our control). Compromise can be a good thing obviously, such as in a marriage. But when we are talking about compromise for the sake of being accepted, or accepting things that society dictates we must accept, yet those things are contrary to God’s Word, He tells us it’s not a good thing and God doesn’t want us to be that way. In fact, He doesn’t like it at all. When we do that, we’re moving to neutral ground. For a Christian, when something comes up that goes against God’s Word (which is what God gave us as His History and guidelines to live by), we aren’t supposed to be neutral. Ouch! It’s not easy moving over to God’s side and staying there no matter what other folks think of us. That requires boldness on our part. And that’s why this was so convicting to me.

I don’t want to ever be content being somewhere in the middle. I pray I can be bold enough to move from the middle in every situation and move to God’s side and stay there. As Christians, maybe we could lift each other up in prayer so that we wouldn’t be comfortable being somewhere in the middle. We need to be set apart.

Thank you for stopping by today! I know this wasn’t so much an uplifting post, but more of a convicting one (at least the finger points at me). But, I hope you were blessed! Have a great weekend!

The Orphan's Song

Joy wrote this song.  I wanted to share it and by the suggestion of a friend, to share it with the adoption community on a couple of forums as well.  She truly has a heart for the orphan (as do I).  I hope you enjoy it!  

Here are the words:


 The Orphan's Song


(1st verse)

Hello, my name is orphan;


my name is unadopted;


my name is child of God.






Hello, my name is unloved;


my name is cared for...


not nourished.






I fear turning fourteen;


Unavailable to be loved;


I live in an orphanage;


nannies pass me by,too many kids cry.






(Chorus)


Just a little special need,


but there's nothing to be done


until you come.


So why don't you come?






(2nd verse)



I saw you get your little guy;


you were huggin' him;


and I was just standing by.






And my friend was picked today;


they took her away;


and I was left standin' by.






Someday, it will be my turn.


They will come for me;


and I will go home.






(Chorus)



Just a little special need;


but there's nothing to be done


until you come.


So why don't you come?


Come?






(Bridge)


Orphan,


unadopted,


unloved,


child of God.






(Chorus)


Just a little special need;


but there's nothing to be done


until you come.


So why don't you come?


Come?


Come?






When will you come?

Another Guitar Player in the House?

The other night before bed (thus the T-shirt and pull-up), we were upstairs. Joy was playing her guitar and singing, and Jason and I were exercising. Of course, Luke had to grab his guitar and serenade us too! I think we might possibly have another guitar player in the house! Here he's singing, "Mama, Baba, JieJie". Sometimes the song has ge ge in too. And notice his own unique style of holding and playing guitar....Enjoy the serenade! :)



Thank you so much for stopping by and for the comments I've received! Things are getting better all the time as far as us finding a new normal. Luke is doing better with his sleeping most days too! Have a great evening! :)

~ Tammy ~

Walk by Faith (Colt Playing Drums)

Sunday we sat on the front row at church and were able to get a video of our favorite drummer (smile), and our praise team leading one of my favorite praise and worship songs, "Walk by Faith". I'm always so blessed by the music (as well as the message) at church. Love the awesome guitar solo by Greg also.

Just thought I'd share it with you! (The video is a little shaky in the beginning with Jason moving the camera, but it gets better)! We also haven't figured out this posting video stuff really well as the video was way too big and we had to reduce it before uploading to youtube. Unfortunately, we lost some quality as well. Oh well, maybe be we'll get it figured out one day!

Enjoy!

A Family Easter

We had a really wonderful Easter weekend. My brother and his family came Friday night, so we spent all day Saturday together too! On Saturday, it was beautiful outside for the kids to play, and Sunday was almost as beautiful. At least it was fairly warm, but a little overcast.

I'm starting with the beginning of the day....on Easter. Warning...there are lots of pictures. I hope I don't bore you! And I'll just tell you up front that Jason had control of the camera all day. I can't believe I really had very little to do with taking photos. That is so unlike me! It felt strange. I think Jason enjoyed himself though. And I can't remember a time that I've been in SO MANY pictures...(which I'm not that crazy about either)....Hope you enjoy our family pics!

The dining room table with Easter gifts....



Joy was the first to get to the goodies...Here she is with her Easter bucket...



Right before we were walking out the door to go to church. That's my nephew, Trey, and his wife, Shauna.



Trey and Shauna in the backseat of the car on the way to church...



Jason and me...He took this picture holding the camera outside the sunroof! lol!



Colt's cage....lol! He plays the drums at church. We call his little drum booth his cage!



There he is playing the drums during the Easter service. We get tickled at some of the faces he makes when he is so into playing! My brother, Richie, was sitting beside me and he really was getting tickled with him! I guess Colt just gets in his own little world in his cage!



Colt works midnight to 8 shift, so he comes straight to church for practice and then service. Sometimes he has trouble staying awake after he gets still. Easter morning, he started snoring! Uh-oh! We had to give him the elbow-in-the-side-treatment! :)

The church service...We have an awesome praise team!



One of the few pics of Colt on Easter this time because he came home and went straight to sleep after working all night. He missed all the family pics (which was probably just fine with him because every Easter since he was a baby I've fought for those Easter pics...the little booger!)...But I was bound and determined to get a picture with him! This was outside church. (I'll be glad when the black hair comes back.....hint hint Colt)....



Back at home...well next door at my mom and dad's house...for the looooooong photo shoot! :) At this point, Colt was fast asleep on our couch at home worn out from working all night and being at church and then out to dinner, so he's MIA!

My mama and me...



My brother, Richie, sister-in-law, Missy, and niece, Laci.



Laci...(I miss the days already of those princess dresses)...



Daddy and me...



My nephew, Kemper...



Grandmama and Pop with the grandkids (minus Colt),(and Luke)... :(



Grandmama and Pop with kids and grandkids (minus Colt and Luke again) :(



Richie and Missy and their crew.. (I really like this picture)! :)



Us...



But we missed Colt and Luke, so we thought of a way to add them in... :)



Joy...



Laci (my niece) and Joy..



My sweet daughter and me...



Kemper, Joy and Laci (the "little" grandkids)...(Trey and Colt are the "big" ones).



Grandmama and her granddaughter-in-law (Shauna)...



Kemper (my nephew) and Joy..



Oh, and Richie's ride from Alabama to here (following Missy and the rest of the family in their SUV). And boy did he get in trouble (with Mama)!!!! He should know better by now! That's two words that don't go together....mama and motorcycle....
My brother never learns! lol!



So there's a little glimpse of our Easter weekend! I hope you all had a good one too! Thanks for making a visit here part of your day! I appreciate it! Have a great week! :)

~ Tammy ~

Music to My Ears!

We now have two guitar players in our house!

Friday, Jason and I took Joy to get her first guitar. She used birthday money for her big purchase. She had this planned for quite awhile. After looking and trying out several guitars and with help from the folks there at the music store, Joy found the guitar that felt most comfortable in her hands.



I have been impressed with what she's already taught herself in three days through tutorials off the internet! She quickly learned four chords and can go through this chord progression changing chords fairly quickly (much quicker than I could ever do)! She played and sang most of a Taylor Swift song for us yesterday!

Last night, Jason made us some (delicious) homemade milkshakes, so we were all gathered in the kitchen. Joy brought her guitar in the kitchen to show Colt what she had learned. Then Colt grabbed his guitar.....and I loved it! Of course, I had to grab my camera!



Colt giving Joy pointers...and Joy taking it all in.....it was a special moment for me! I think she was hanging on Colt's every word!



These informal moments of teaching really are the best! Colt learned so much this way...and by leaving him alone with his instrument!



Music is such an important part of our lives, in so many ways!

Joy's new guitar is an Ibanez. She liked this one because it was actually a full size guitar, yet not too thick for her hands.



Colt has several guitars, including an Ibanez too. I don't even remember exactly how many he does have. This one he grabbed was his Aria.



Oh, and see Colt's hair? That's what happens when your girlfriend goes to cosmetology school! Colt told us Amber was giving him a haircut and red highlights Saturday night. I was expecting red, as in "my kind of red hair". I wasn't prepared for the fire engine red.....but it's growing on me.....well sort of. However, I do LOVE his haircut! Amber does a great job!

Colt is such a natural with his guitar and music in general....and Joy seems to be following in his footsteps. I know she loves music just as much. Rare is the day around here that music doesn't happen in some form in our home! And that's just the way I like it!



I hope there's many more moments like this one ....hanging out in the kitchen..... sharing these moments.....it's truly music to this mom's ears!



** Pictures coming soon of Joy's new bedroom makeover....I've got one more last accessory touch to add. **

Have a great Tuesday and thanks for stopping by! :)

~ Tammy ~

Kids Keeping Busy

Don't faint....it's a miracle! I'm back in only two days! :)

I promised to show you a little something that both of the kids have been up to the past weeks.

First of all, you know how much Colt loves his music and musical instruments. Well a couple of months ago, he disassembled one of his electric guitars. He then proceeded to sand and strip the finish. I wish I had a picture of it before to show you, but it was sort of a sunburst finish. Anyway after much sanding, then staining, and several layers of semi gloss polyurethane, he finally finished.



I love how it turned out!



Here's a closer look:



His girlfriend, Amber, put an inscription on the back for him, which gives it even more character. It says "Remember why you play" Am (short for Amber). I just love her handwriting!



Here's my handsome son with his "new" guitar.



Jason and I picked up new strings for him while Joy was in dance the other night. When we got home with them that night, he reassembled it all, getting all those wires back in place, and not only does it look good, but it sounds good. I love to hear Colt play!

So you see....I have a do-it-yourselfer son too! I was really proud of him!

Also....during the middle of the week that we were having our homestudy visits, Joy begged to go to a local carnival. I don't have much faith in the people that put those things together, but she really wanted to go. SO....one night after dance we stopped in and they had closed early. She was so disappointed, but we decided to try the next night since we were finished earlier. This time they were open. She even managed to have her friend, Cheyenne, meet us. Now I am really glad of that, because Cheyenne saved Jason and me from having to ride the rides! We got there about 8:45 p.m. and stayed until about 10:00 p.m. with them being about the only people there. There were maybe ten other people in the whole place. They rode every ride there multiple times.

My daughter is a dare devil I tell you! Have you ever seen the Moby Dick or the Fire Ball? Oh my goodness, the Fire Ball is the thing in the big giant ring that starts rocking up the track one way gaining momentum until it finally goes completely over making them go upside down. Then at some point, as it starts slowing, they are actually hanging up in mid air upside down. Being a scaredy cat when it comes to heights, it made me nervous watching! I don't do ferris wheels either, so I really loved Cheyenne that night! That ferris wheel was 85 ft. tall! Jason would have had to do the ferris wheel. I would come closer to do the fast things....because they're over with quicker! :) Anyway, we took several videos of them on rides, but I have so much trouble getting those to upload here. However, here's a picture of Joy and Cheyenne at the fair.



I might add that this was the night before our scheduled home visit, when we needed to be home doing last minute stuff, and here we were out on the town! :) It all turned out fine though!

Here's a picture of Joy on Halloween. We went to a Trunk N Treat. They also had a giant blow-up slide. Joy dressed in last year's dance recital costume....she was a groovy girl. (Those dance costumes come in handy at Halloween...I try to get my money's worth out of them)!



My little groovy girl and me...



So you see when the kids are busy, they keep us busy, but one day it will be quiet.

I'm enjoying this life as we know it now.

"Best Buds" - Our Youth Praise Team (Video Clip)

If you've read my blog for long at all, you know that our son, Colt, is very much into his music. He, and his best friends, Matt and Samantha (who are a couple by the way), lead the music for our youth group at church every Wednesday night. They are responsible for choosing the music, practicing, and performing and/or leading praise and worship every Wednesday night. I try to go in with the youth when I'm not working with the kids in the back during Wednesday services, because I really enjoy listening to them and being involved with the youth service. This past Wednesday night, I brought along Jason's camera and took a video of them doing one of their songs. In this video, they are performing How Great Is Our God. Matt is on the drums; Samantha is singing lead; Colt is playing guitar and harmonizing with Samantha. On the songs that Colt sings lead, Samantha sings the harmony. And although, the guitar and bass guitar are Colt's main instruments and drums are Matt's main instrument, they do like to swap out occasionally and play the opposite instruments. I'm very proud of these three and the responsibility they take in these roles. All three of them have been blessed and honored to represent our state in the National Teen Talent - Samantha with singing, Matt with drums, and Colt with guitar. Thank you for allowing me to share this little video clip of them. It lasts a little over four minutes. I hope that's not too long to ask you to linger!

I couldn't end this post either without telling you that Samantha and Matt are Colt's best friends. I think it's really ironic that Colt and Samantha grew up together and were together alot from the time they were born until they were about five. Then we went to different churches, and Samantha and Matt knew each other through those years as kids. After that, we ended up at the same church with Samantha again and Colt and Samantha started singing together. Then along came Matt to that church, and the three of them became close friends, making music together, and Matt and Samantha became a happy couple.

Here's the three of them a few years ago on a youth trip. Matt was in his long hair stage! :)



Here's Colt and Matt (along with mutual friend, Corey) at Colt's graduation reception.


And here's Colt taking a candid shot with Samantha at a youth banquet. They're so used to me taking their picture any chance I get! (By the way, Samantha's grandma is my friend, Betty, in the Ozark foothills). I know Betty is sitting at her computer screen with a big ole' grin right now! :)


Now allow me to turn back the clock a little bit and show you just how far Colt and Samantha go back. Here they are in their Hawaiian outfits that Jason and I brought them back from Hawaii. (Samantha had taken a tumble and had a bruise on her nose).


Here they are one evening at our house. I love this picture! Don't you think Colt looks so protective?


Here's another one of Colt, Samantha, and my nephew, Trey. Those three could make some mischief! Who would know that almost 18 years later, they would be doing this exact thing, Colt and Trey with guitars and Samantha with a microphone?


I remember this day very well. Samantha's mother, Tracy, and I had bought these somewhat matching outfits and I invited them down to the house for a little mini photo shoot. They were up to their normal mischief, but you can't tell it by this picture.....they look so innocent. I love this one too! Don't you just love Samantha's hair?


I hope and pray they all three continue to use their talents to the glory of God and remain as close as they are now....best buds.