Osage Beach Bikers For Christ Gathering May 2010

After a year of planning, we held our annual Bikers for Christ gathering last weekend in Osage Beach, MO. What a grand time we had too! Somewhere in the neighborhood of 50 folks show up from all corners of the state for a weekend of revitalizing and rekindling friendships. The weather started out a bit dicey, but by Friday afternoon the sun had popped out and it turned into a beautiful weekend for riding.

Here are two of my favorite guys... my hubs Darrell(l), and Will Shackelford - one of our dear friends.

By God's direction, we found this shelter in the middle of the state and it was the perfect place for Sunday morning service. The accoustics were perfect for hearing the Word and John delivered an awesome message!

We all came away feeling so energized and empowered in the Lord.... can't wait for our next get-together!

Are you a true American?

You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: It never occurred to you to be offended by the phrase, 'One nation, under God.'

You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You've never protested about seeing the 10 Commandments posted in public places.

You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You still say 'Christmas' instead of 'Winter Festival.'

You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You bow your head when someone prays.

You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You stand and place your hand over your heart when they play the National Anthem.

You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You treat Viet Nam vets with great respect, and always have.

You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You've never burned an American flag.

You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You know what you believe and you aren't afraid to say so, no matter who is listening.

You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You respect your elders and expect your kids to do the same.

AND YOU ARE A TRUE AMERICAN, IF YOU THINK THE NATIONAL ANTHEM SHOULD ONLY BE SUNG IN ENGLISH!

God Bless the USA!

Before you speak....

There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind.
She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend.
He was always there for her. She told her boyfriend, 'If I could only see the world, I will marry you.'
One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend. He asked her,'Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?' The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind. The sight of his closed eyelid s shocked her. She hadn't expected that.
The thought of looking at them the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him. Her boyfriend left in tears and days later wrote a note to her saying: 'Take good
care of your eyes, my dear, for before they were yours, they were mine.'

This is how the human brain often works when our status changes. Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who was always by their side in the most painful situations.

Life Is a Gift ...

Today before you say an unkind word - Think of someone who can't speak.
Before you complain about the taste of your food - Think of someone who has nothing to eat.
Before you complain about your husband or wife - Think of someone who's crying out to GOD for a companion.
Today before you complain about life - Think of someone who went too early to heaven.
Before whining about the distance you drive Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.
And when you are tired and complain about your job - Think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job.
And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down - Put a smile on your face and think: you're alive and still around.

So, I had me a visitor come calling yesterday ....

and boy was I ready!!

It's been way too long since I got to cuddle and kiss my sweet Sullivan.

Sully has been growing like a weed since our last visit
and he just gets sweeter by the day.

From his beautiful long fingers with his knuckle dimpled hands to his chunky little legs, I love this little man!

He has a way of filling even the gloomiest of days with sunshine -

SWEET DREAMS BABY BOY!

Every American citizen should read this!

This speech was given by Theodore Roosevelt in 1907 - read his ideas on Immigrants and being an AMERICAN...

'In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language.. And we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.'

All I can say is "hear, hear Teddy!"

Watch out... you have just entered Avalanche territory

these guys are amazing... and this is how stuff can happen these days.

I discovered The Ooks of Hazzard on my nephew Darb's FB - and after checking into them, I learnd that they were formed just two months ago.

On April 18th seven ukulele players, an accordionist and someone playing something called a cajon get together at the Live Rock Studios in Torrance California and were filmed doing a cover version of MGMT's "Kids". Sometime on April 19th the video is uploaded to You Tube.

The band is comprised of Danny Kopel, Meredith MacArthur, Charlie Diaz, Patrick Hildebrand, Jay Ponti, Nick Deane, Ed Marshall, Timm Freeman, and Dave Botkin.

They are burning up Facebook, UTube and Twitter sites ... because this is very good stuff - and everyone is sharing it with everyone they know! And that's how a star is born (in the form of a band named the Ooks of Hazzard).

This is good stuff ...very good stuff and I love it!

check out their Utube here!

they're blooming... and they're Heavenly

When we moved into our home in May several years ago, the lilac trees planted out front were blooming if full. It was such a wonderful experience to open the windows and let the wonderful scent fill the entire house - one that I relished spending days at home for.

Since that time, my trees and their blooms have been hampered with late frosts and killer snows - that is, until 2010!

I'm so glad to share pics that I took this afternoon... I believe with all my heart that Heaven must smell like this ♥

wont you help?

I'd give him $5.00 just for originality!!!

Lookie who just blew into town...

This lil sprite will be available on the TDIPT Mercantile tonight ♥

Crazy about Crazy Heart

Jeff Bridges has had a film career that most actors only dream of.

From some of my favorite roles in movies such as the Last Picture Show, Against all Odds, The Iceman Cometh, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, The Fabulous Baker Boys, Starman, Tucker, White Squall, Fearless and one his all time best: The Big Lebowski, Jeff Bridges has never disappointed.

But I think his role in Crazy Heart is the stuff every actor must dream of getting - because this is the motherlode! He was totally mesmerizing in this role and kept me in a trance from the opening scene till the credits started rolling. I didn’t want the movie to end and to say I loved this film is an understatement.

Yes, I adored him with his braided ponytail as Bill Django in Men who Stare at Goats but I must say… Jeff Bridges has done it again in an even bigger badder way – and it would have been a total injustice had you NOT won Best Actor at the Oscars this year!

I salute you, Jeff (Bad Otis Blake) Bridges– you’re my hero to the very end.

I know it's Earth Day....

But trees aren't the only thing worth saving!

My heart is with the babies ♥
Won't you help me support Pro-Life?

ABORT73.com

All in God's Timing...

A very dear friend is a photographer that has wanted to do a photo shoot with us for about 2 months but it seemed like everytime we tried to hook up, the weather wasn't cooperating or schedules were getting in the way - one thing or another made us postpone time and time again.

I mentioned last week to both Darrell and Jim that God must have something else in store for us - because this was just wasn't working out according to our schedule.

Tonight after work, the weather was gorgeous and we met in downtown Kansas City. Jim has found some great location shoots using old abandoned warehouses and cobblestone alleyways as the backdrop.

We were moving from one shoot to another and when we pulled up to the last location to get the scene ready, a couple of homeless guys walked up. We pray for opportunities anytime we go out and sure enough, God provided another tonight. We were able to spend about an hour talking to these 2 men and sharing the Gospel with them. It was such an exhilarating and exciting time - and we pray God will use us more and more.

These awesome photos were taken by Jim Spencer Photography. If you live in the Kansas City area or are planning a trip here and are interested, I would highly recommend you book a sitting! You just never know what God is going to do during that block of time ♥