It's Friday. It's time to slide...

Perhaps I'm a bit behind the times...but, just last night I was introduced to the "Sanctified Slide". The video I really wanted to post is not allowed to be embedded anymore because it was getting more hits than the original. Just between you and me...if you go to You Tube, search for "Sanctified Slide," and select the Paul Eugene aerobic version...you'll see why I prefer that one.

But, since Paul Eugene is on restriction from being embedded, you'll enjoy "sliding" with this video. You gotta "walk in the Spirit...shake the devil off...stomp Satan lower...dance like David danced!!"

Don't wait another second...press play and slide with me!!

Celebrating a half-century. No, make that an eternity...

On February 8, 1960 a precious bundle of boy was born to Mike and Janice Simmons.  They named him Michael Marlon Simmons...yes...as in movie star Marlon Brando.  Michael Marlon's mother (say that three times fast!) was quite the fan.  The name Michael, of course, is the formal version of the nickname Mike...the name his dad went by...even though his given name is Robert Milton Simmons, Jr.  So...not really sure from whence they got "Mike" .  But, it got passed to first son, Michael Marlon...also affectionately known as "Mike".

 

Here is Michael Marlon Simmons at 9 months old.

Whew! He takes my breath away!!

Is it the onesie?  ...or maybe the thigh rolls?

Book him...he's mine!!

We celebrated Michael Marlon Simmons' 50th birthday on February 6, 2010.  It was a precious time of family and friends.  It was a wonderful time of encouraging and honoring words.  It was a celebration of the redeeming power of the gospel.  It was a time of exalting Jesus and exulting in God's handiwork to the praise of His glory.

 
 

Blowing out the candles proved a bit challenging...

you gotta love some trick candles!

Thanks to my co-conspirator, Mike's boss, I was able to whisk my birthday boy away for a surprise night at The Whitestone Inn followed by February 8...the big day...the birthday...to be spent together...just the two of us.  It was a sweet time of rest...in the spa tub, reflection...over what it would be like to have a spa tub, reminiscing...about the gently massaging spa tub bubbles, and rejoicing...that we now know a little taste of heaven (called a spa tub) is but a 45 minute jaunt from Brewer Street.  (sorry...no photo...it wouldn't do it justice!)

As I prepared and planned for my sweet hubby's birthday weekend, the words "Welcome Home" kept going through my mind.  I believe it was the Holy Spirit's way of helping me shop for the perfect birthday present (pictured below). See, I have had the privilege of witnessing the miracle of God's grace in my husband's life.  Just as the father ran to embrace the prodigal...the Father scooped up His child, Michael Marlon Simmons, cradled him to His breast, and said, "Welcome home, my son. You were lost...but now you're found!"  Michael Marlon Simmons hasn't been the same since...the old has passed away...the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Thanks to Christopher Koelle for expressing the parable of

The Prodigal Son so beautifully.

(pretend the slight reflection of the photographer isn't there...)

So...Happy 50th Birthday, my love!  Thank you for loving Jesus more than me.  Thank you for encouraging me to love Jesus more than you.  I am deeply honored to be your wife.  I am profoundly thankful to be your sister in Christ.

 

I love you more today than yesterday and less than tomorrow!

You're still just as cute as that 9 month old a few paragraphs up!!

    

Tho your sins be as scarlet. They'll be made white as...

It's Friday!  How about a sing-a-long?

Oh, the weather outside is frightful!

But, the fire is so delightful!

 

...and since we've no place to go, let it snow...

let it SNOW...

LET IT SNOW!!!

That's right...IT'S SNOWING!!!  ...and IT'S BEAUTIFUL!!!  It started about 2:00 this afternoon and it hasn't let up at all...it isn't supposed to until tomorrow afternoon.  We're gonna be snowed in...and I'm not complaining.  I'm home.  My sweet husband is home.  I've already enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate...he some piping hot coffee.  We have homemade chili awaiting...chocolate chip cookies for the making...Saturday morning won't be spent at the Barrel...but eggs, biscuits, and bacon will be gracing our table! 

The fire is raging and the snow is falling...and I'm snuggled in for a long winter's night with the man that I love.  Wild horses couldn't drag me away!  

Silent screams. Only God hears...

Today we celebrate "Sanctity of Human Life". Well...not everyone.

This is a sobering video of how our culture "values" life. Praise God for people, like John Ensor of Heartbeat International, who take a bold stand against the "Spirit of the Age".

May I reconsider my silence...and speak for those who would vote for life instead of the silent scream...if given the choice.

Vanessa Wolfe. You go girl...

I remember watching the very first season of "American Idol". My favorite shows ended up being the first three or four when they showed the auditions. I felt a pang of guilt for watching and laughing at the people who were obviously let through to sing in front of the celebrity judges because of their entertainment value...not their talent. But, I watched...

The next season I watched sporadically. After that...no more. I lost interest.

My interest was revitalized this year, though, when I heard about Vanessa from Vonore, TN...a very, very, very little, one red light town about 30 to 35 minutes from where I live. So...this was exciting news!!! When I watched the clip on YouTube of Vanessa's audition...I thought, "Oh, great...Simon's going to have a heyday with this little country girl," who had admittedly never been outside of Vonore, TN. But, to my surprise and relief, all the judges, including Simon, were very encouraging and gracious to Vanessa. Maybe Simon has a heart after all!  "Are you serial?" (or would that be cereal?...you'll understand when you watch the video...)

Good luck, Vanessa!!

Try to not smile. I double-dog dare you...

I watched this at midnight...was sleepy...not anymore!  I'm pumped and will probably be up for quite some time...WORTH IT!!

It's Friday. Better news than that...

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."  Romans 8:1

"My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought,
my sin, not in part but the whole,
is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more!
Praise the LORD!  Praise the LORD, oh my soul!"
                                   (Horatio G. Spafford)

On Friday, January 22nd, there is no better news than this!!  Can I get a witness?