Mama, I wanna Be A Rock Star

Music is a huge part of our family. My mom always sang in church, my dad has played the drums since he could walk. He has been in more bands then I can count. I grew up playing the piano and trumpet. I sang in the church and school choirs. Needless to say music speaks to my soul. I always wanted my kids to have the same passion for music I was raised with. My son wants to play the drums to be like my dad, and my daughter wants to be like Hannah Montana and play guitar.

Last Christmas they both received "starter" instruments; cheap, small versions of the more expensive counterparts they desired from my parents. The deal was take care of them for a year and practice, if they were still interested they would get an upgrade.

Boy, did my mom and dad deliver on their promise!

The little drummer boy rockin' out

There's my girl jammin' on her new guitar!

Thankfully we have a huge basement so the kids can play to their hearts content when ever they want to. I love hearing the sounds of their music flowing through my house :) It's what I always wanted. Lessons start next month and the kids are so excited! 

Anyone out there start playing guitar or drums at a young age and have any advice?

au revoir, adieu, ciao, till next time...

She's in Haiti!

You all know I think my mom is a super hero. Well she's proved yet again how super she is! Yesterday she set off on a 7 day missions trip to Haiti. While my dad & I worried about her safety and well being her worries were "What should I take to help these people?" "How can I work faster to get the most done?" 

Here is the first picture from her team:

She's the smiling lady on the far right

There is so much to be done, so many needs in Haiti. My kids wanted to be apart of her journey, so before she left they went through all their toys and picked out stuffed animals they wanted her to give to kids there. I know my mom will be an asset to the missions team, not only because she is the hardest worker I've ever met, and not only because she brought a portable coffee maker to help everyone wake up in the morning (ha ha). But, because she has a huge heart. I hope everything goes well, I hope she is put in the path of those that need her most. Please keep all the missionaries of the world in your thoughts and prayers for all they do & have yet to do.

Here is a picture of one of the projects they will be working on:

Acts 6:4
"But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word".

Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths"



Have you ever been on a missions trip? If so, where? What did you do there? What was it like?
(in HS I went to Mexico and helped build sleeping quarters for other missionaries, it was such a powerful experience.)

au revoir, adieu, ciao, till next time...

Thankful...

The other day my mom was sharing with me about a song that has truly touched her. Thankful by Josh Groban. So, I of course had to hear this amazing song. It is such a beautiful song that reminds me there IS so much to be thankful for...

Somedays we forget
To look around us
Somedays we can't see
The joy that surrounds us
So caught up inside ourselves
We take when we should give.

So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be.
And on this day we hope for
What we still can't see.
It's up to us to be the change
And even though we all can still do more
There's so much to be thankful for.

Look beyond ourselves
There's so much sorrow
It's way too late to say
I'll cry tomorrow
Each of us must find our truth
It's so long overdue

So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be
And every day we hope for
What we still can't see
It's up to us to be the change
And even though we all can still do more
There's so much to be thankful for.

Even with our differences
There is a place we're all connected
Each of us can find each others light

So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be
And on this day we hope for
What we still can't see
It's up to us to be the change
And even though this world needs so much more

There's so much to be thankful for

On this holiday season, remember to look around you and smile. We live in a busy world, slow down and hug those around you.
Merry Christmas everyone.

au revoir, adieu, ciao, till next time...

Parents Gone Wild

What happens when your parents go on vacation to Kauai? They go a little nutty and send you crazy pictures of themselves of course!



As you can tell my mom and dad had a wonderful wild time living it up in Hawaii, ha ha. I am glad they were able to relax and play, we all need that sometime.

Dad... way to rock the coconuts!!

au revoir, adieu, ciao, till next time...

My Parents Kick Butt

This past Saturday, September 12th, many people across our great nation stood together on Capital Hill, my parents were there!



From my mom: "Most of what you've heard on "mainstream media" is incorrect, as usual. Tons more people were there then they say - over a million......absolutely nothing to do with "racism", everything to do with out-of-control spending in Washington that is bankrupting this country & worry over our liberty and freedom of choice with an administration that believes we are too stupid to take care of ourselves. And the thinking that the government needs to "control" more of our life. NO WAY!



All the people there were so polite and average All-Americans, not these radical crazy people the news is reporting. Wow, what an eye opener of just how "left" and government run the media has become. WE WERE THERE!!!! We saw it first hand!"

(there's my mama!)

Many gathered in Washington for a massive rally organized by conservatives claiming that President Obama is driving America towards socialism. The size of the crowd shocked the White House.

Demonstrators massed outside Capital Hill after marching down Pennsylvania Avenue waving placards and chanting 'Enough, enough' waving U.S. flags and holding signs reading 'Go Green, Recycle Congress' and 'I'm not your ATM.'

The focus of much of the rally was the president's so-called 'Obamacare' plan to overhaul the U.S. health system.

-excerpt from Daily Mail

(look it's like that scene from "Forrest Gump"!)

Thanks mom and dad for standing up for what you believe in and for helping my children have a brighter tomorrow :)

I know many people will disagree with what you guys did in Washington, but I don't care. I am just proud to be the daughter of parents that don't back down and have taught me the value of freedom. I love you so much.

*photos courtesy of my dad's cellphone

au revoir, adieu, ciao, till next time...