Sing Your Heart Out!

I may get passionate about some things.  Don't get me wrong, it's great that Beyonce has a voice and she uses it.  We need to use the gifts we've been given...I just think she and the rest of her posse could have accomplished the goal of singing a few great songs with their clothes on, that's all...if that was the goal?  Em thought they could have used some more clothes, too...

So, imagine if the reason you sang songs was for a greater purpose.

Say, like a purpose other than receiving all the praise and glory for yourself...profound, huh?

Imagine being wired in such a way that songs just came naturally to you, you were gifted with the ability to write them, the music to accompany them, and then share the songs with others, enabling people to convey what only their hearts and heads think and feel but are unable to express.

I am no song writer but I know a few awesome ones.  I won't lie.  I can't even sing.  BUT, when some people like my friend, Todd Ballard, make music, the songs are able to express my heart, and I believe that is a powerful gift.

Photo courtesy www.toddballard.com

Jason and I have known Todd for 6 1/2 years now.  In fact, he and his awesome wife weren't afraid to get to know us while we were holed up as a family at Children's Hospital for Noah's short life.  We had met them a couple of times prior to Noah being born, but what blows my mind is Todd and his wife took the time to get to know us and bless our lives by getting into the thick of hospital visits with us.

Situations like that show the true character of a man.

Todd even gathered his band together and led us all in worshiping the Lord at Noah's funeral.  Jason and I were and are so very grateful for that memory.

Anyway, Todd's the real deal and he sings not for himself or to stroke his own ego.  He sings because he's totally in love with the Lord and wants to share that love and experience with hearts that are willing.  Every time I have the chance to worship while he's leading, I literally feel like I'm in God's presence, without any distractions.  It's awesome!

So, I just wanted to encourage you, if you want some new music in your life that points your eyes and heart to God's face rather than your day to day circumstance, Todd's album is being released today.   

I have it in my car already and Ryan and I sing our hearts out as we cruise around town!  Spread the word and go download yours, too, if you want some awesome new worship!

When Dreams Come True

Jason and I took Dave Ramsey's "Financial Peace University"class recently.  All I can say is literally every person should take this class at some point in their existence.  There would be no financial issues on this earth or in any government.  Just sayin'.

That being said, one of our cash envelopes is set aside each week for eating out.  I've enjoyed this because prior to Dave's class, we ate out a ton and our monthly budget seemed to be slipping through our fingers.  Plus, my thighs were bigger.

Now we stick with our "Eating Out" budget and it's like money has magically appeared in our bank account.  Crazy stuff.  I now believe in magic.

And I'm using my treadmill more and lifting weights, so that's likely why my thighs aren't as large.

White man overbite, November 2012

Anyway, I love our little "Eating Out" envelope.  Every once in a while when Ryan and I are out on the town running errands we'll stop for a lunch date at our favorite spot and use about $8.00 of our "Eating Out" budget.  A couple of months ago there was a sunny warm day and Ryan was a hungry little lion, so we headed over to our favorite spot, ordered, got our food, and found a cozy 2-top outside in the sunshine where we shared our plate of goodness.

It didn't occur to me then.  Nor had it occurred to me all the other times the two of us had shared a lunch date at this same little place...

Fast forward to a few weeks ago when the whole family was running errands.  It was my turn to choose our lunch spot.  We rotate who gets to choose where we are eating among Jason, Emily and myself.

I chose "Garbanzo's".

And as I spooned a mouthful of hummus into Ryan's sweet little lips, I realized a dream of mine had already come true.  And as we shared the last falafel, I knew it had...

He may not have dark hair yet.  And at 3 feet, he certainly doesn't tower over his mama, either.

But, I am so very grateful that unknowingly, Ryan and I found our favorite spot, and it's there where we laugh and cry, or whine, over falafels.