Acoustic Worship

Sunday night Simone, Mike, Grace, & Jeff led acoustic worship...they were even unplugged. It was a really great set. The 4 were tight, really keeping together as a team. I considered sitting in on the electric piano, but I just recently learned the chords, and still kinda suck. So I was able to hang and listen. I tell you, if we can keep it this together adding bass and keyboard, we could pull of CPYA or something else big like that. That would rock.
I popped in a little thing on Loving the Lord, as He loved us. and the songs really fit. I didn't pick 'em at all, Simone and Mike did. I love it when the realization that the Spirit is with us hits. It makes me lift my hands up and praise His Name all the more. Amen!

Girls & Guitars

Hannah picked up my guitar, as she hopes to get one for her birthday this year. Her little fingers can't quite press down enough for a true note, but her rhythm is spot on. I dug up a picture of Michaela that her dad took a few years back, and just had to put the two of them on here for your edification. Are they sisters, or what?

Ghost Of Hannukah Past

Mom sent me a picture of Hannah and I that she took with her new camera on the 3rd day of Hannakuh. Hannah sang a little Hannukah song (to the tune of I've Been Working On The Railroad) and I played guitar for here. It was really fun!

I also realized that I haven't really updated the growing kittens...well, they're not kittens anymore! Recently, Lucy had her ear bitten by Susan, and now has a tear at the top of her right ear. Poor little girl.

Camp Arrah Wanna

Yesterday we came back from the Jr High Winter Retreat at Camp Arrah Wanna. Yeah, I've heard the joke about the name. We took 32 up, and met several other church's youth groups as well, to total over 150! Much fun, chaos, and message happened in the 3 days we were there, and Lake Grove Pres, dubbed the Minotaurs, came in # 1 on total weekend points (thanks to 3 10,000 point Plinko drops by Rob)! We went tubing on Saturday, and I did an amazingly fast run where I ended up braking with my nose. It still hurts everytime I touch it. Diane came as the camp nurse, and ended up having to sew noone back together...yay! The kids were energetic, and I am just wiped out at this point. But they liked the speaker, Brad Butcher, and got most of the main points. Kudos to Noah and Heather who braved their first Jr High camp as Jr Staff! I'm sure they'll never be the same again! And isn't Diane cute?

In God & Fish

I haven't been blogging much, as my modem was down...actually, the rain got into the outside cable lines, but I like to blame it on the modem...it sounds more technical. Anyway... The new year has hit like hail in the Rockies, and both youth groups are still going strong. I haven't posted much on them, but they're a big part of my life, as I'm there Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday, and now maybe Monday. I volunteer with youth and music, and it's really great. Entheos (In God) is the Sr. High group, and finals have kinda dinged down our headcount, but still a variety of souls everyweek! Fish Co is the Middle School/Jr High group, and we're still having over 80 kids come to that each week! talk about energy! But I love it, and it let's me maintain my immaturity in a healthy way...throwing small teenagers around!

So It Begins

The first Fish Co of 2006 was wednesday, and we had over 80 jr highers show up. That was so cool! We had mucho tacos for dinner, and then all sang a bunch of songs, about Papayas and the Lord (it works, trust me). The Kathleen gave a talk on servanthood, which jives with me, since I am actually a professional Server! We ended things off with Underground Church, although I think we need to reiterate the whole "don't fight back once you're tagged" thing. I caught a foot in the face. But no broken toes this time, and the light was found once, but not twice, so we still have a few secret places it seems! Next weekend is our Winter Retreat and there's already over 30 kids signed up! too bad the jr staff all had prior commitments...it'll be crazy times!

A cool thing happend the next morning. Wednesday night I brought up the electric piano that no one had used for over 2 years. And I found out why. No power cord. I found the seat in an obscure place, but no cords. So in the morning I stopped by Doris' office to see if she might know a secret hiding place for power cords. She didn't, but she rifled through her file cabinets anyways, even though her office had moved in the last year or so. Not finding it, she turned back toward her desk and stopped. Sitting on the center shelf of her book shelf, on a plate with a coffee cup was the power cord. No one had seen it in over 2 years. and it was just sitting there. In the open. We were way excited about that! sometimes there are definite tangible perks to working for the Lord, our God!!! Now, let the good times roll!