I Thought All Hell Was 'Bout To Break Loose!

Last Thursday night at the Arco Arena I took my kids to see Madea's Big Happy Family. It is a play by Tyler Perry and in it he plays a woman named Madea-kind of a take on 'my dear'.

Madea, an older woman, has strict standards of respecting yourself and your elders. When she misunderstands what a character says and thinks that there was some disrespect toward her, she has to ask again what that character has said. When she finally understands she will say something like "Oh, I thought you were being disrespectful to me and all hell was 'bout to break loose!"

I like Madea for many reasons. She is edgy. She packs 'heat' in her handbag. She isn't a real faithful church-going woman, yet she will bust out with wisdom. It is so funny when she tries to quote scripture-it is always a mix of parables and OT stories. She does get her point across though.

All of the people that are in Tyler Perry's productions can sing like you've never heard! Each person at some point in the play sings a solo and it blows you away. Such talent.

Oh, and do NOT be late to his play. He is known for breaking character and asking you why you were late! Sure enough, it happened Thursday night. (We were in the second row by the way)

Madea stops.

"Here you are, you've paid all of this money to sit up front and now you are stepping over folks!"

"Why are you late?"

"Where did you come from?"

"Quit taking pictures-you know it isn't allowed-see that man over there, security? He's gonna snatch you!"

This was my 3rd Tyler Perry play that I've seen live. I think he is a good man who cares about young people, his own community and encouraging people in their faith. This particular production was in honor of his mother who just recently passed away. It was really a touching story emphasising how important a mothers faithful prayers for her children are-he made me cry!

Thanks for the early Valentine, Mr Perry!

New Neighbors and JW's

This week we've had two houses on our block looked at by potential buyers or renters. This is always something to make note of for The Band of Mothers. We are concerned that the homes get filled with GOOD neighbors. One of the houses being looked at is the house that just got cleaned up by us. I really hope that our reputation has preceeded us-that we will be very nosy. We are just not going to let harm come to our kids.

In other news, I took Victor to the airport before dawn. He is heading to the North East and left with a big cold-bummer. He speaks tomorrow morning at a church. They want to learn about CUFI. I hope he feels better in the morning. He will be going to Connecticut, Pennsylvania, DC and New York.

Some Jehovahs Witnesses came to the door today-Oy. I am not good at talking to them. The man had a small boy with him and he was the cutest! Before the father got too far into his talk, I asked if we could just say "Jesus is Lord!" together so that I would know that the Spirit of God was living inside of the man. I started saying, enthusiastically "Jesus is Lord!" and the little boy chimed right in. I thought that was pretty great especially since I wasn't talking to the little guy.

Overall I don't think I did very well with the man. When he left, his wife had come up and she was mad and I just had a funky feeling. I prayed for them and for me.

Today is day 6 of the Daniel fast. I'm doing good on it, but today I made a salad for a get-together and I don't like it. I am contemplating whether to take it to the gathering or not...
New recipes are being tried a lot at our house. Most have been really great and I will add them to our family's regular menu.

Hoping for good things coming down the line.

New Year, New Dreams

I had a strange Autumn this year. Several things that I was going to begin: School, helping a relative, and a bible study- didn't happen. Circumstances changed and I couldn't do any of those projects.

I honestly felt thwarted.

Praying about this has helped a bit, yet, I want to do something creative.

Our whole church is beginning this new year with a Daniel's fast and prayer. I am praying that the Lord will touch my life and direct my path. This fast will be 21 days long-like Daniel did.

I am helping out a bit more at church and that has been a blessing. It feels great to get back in the game. After our really bad experience a few years ago, I haven't been stretching my 'servant wings' on a real regular basis in a church.

Ok, God. I am waiting on You. I know that You are a mighty God and You stand alone-none compares You and I certainly can't imagine what You have in store. Help me to hear Your voice. Help me to dream. Amen

...And a Merry Christmas Was Had by All

Well we had a whirl-wind of Good Tidings and such around our house.

First off, we had a great Christmas party with the Center of Praise choir coming over. We ate some delicious food and read the Christmas story. Dr Ronn Elmore was the reader and Victor played his guitar and at certain parts of the story, we would sing a carol together. It was so nice to slow down and get focused on the true meaning of this holiday. I wish all of you could have been there...

Christmas Eve we had a 'Present Extravaganza'. Every year, somehow, the Lord has given us a way to bring presents to all of the Pakistani kids in our neighborhood. Being that they are Muslim and don't celebrate Christmas, they really look forward to it. This year our dear friends the Dittmore's sent us fuzzy blankets, gloves, shoes, toys and I don't know what all--God bless them! I wish I had a picture to post with this story, but I was in the house cooking up a storm and I was dead-dog tired!

Later that evening, we heard some skidding tires right outside our house. I went out to look and our neighbor yelled "Call the police, someone just stole our car!" Oh boy! Our neighbors had just pulled into their driveway and got out to open the garage door and move a bike out of the way. The engine was running and quick as anything, a guy jumped in and drove off! It still hasn't been recovered. Bold. Very bold.

Christmas morning was spent at my step-son Asher's house. He and his wife, Janice had her side of the family over also. This was especially fun because there were lots of young kids over and they were bouncing all around and very excited.

We have known Janice's family for a long time. A funny story: When Victor was in his 'rock 'n roll' days, his band, Waterfall, moved into Bob and Rachel's neighborhood. (Bob and Rachel are Janice's parents) They reached out to the band and shared the love of God with them. None of the band came to Christ during their stay in that neighborhood, but it wasn't from a lack of trying. Victor remembers seeing Bob across the street and Bob would yell out "Praise the Lord, Victor!" and Victor would shout back "Smoke pot, Bob!" Great memories...

It was while at Asher's, I learned something that I'm still thinking about. There was different music playing and since Janice got her parents tickets to see the musical 'Wicked', the song 'Defying Gravity' was on. The music went on to play a random song called 'Hate on Me'. My son, Simon said "This is our family's theme song." and Sterling chimed in "Yes, it is!" I said "What do you mean by that?" and they proceeded to tell me that people hate our family. "What? Why?" They told me it is because sometimes, when we help people, "...it just makes them hate us."

Wow...I think it is exagerated, but they have seen some bad behavior at times.

Oh, I don't want to end on a bad note. And I won't because we still have to serve people and let the Lord worry about the outcome. Our family has helped plenty of people and they were very grateful and love us for it.

Part of the song says "I gotta do me." As in, 'I have to do what I know is right and I won't quit.'

Jesus, certainly, was the BEST at this!

Wild Branches in Las Vegas

I just liked this photo of me singing at a rehersal for the Night to Honor Israel in Las Vegas. It was a special evening. We sang with a local church choir-very special people and so excited to support Israel. We also got to sing with our friend Avi who is now the cantor at Beth Shalom in Vegas. It is always fun with him especially when he busts out with 'Key-lay-o-lahm-chaz-doh!' 'His love endures forever!'

Holiday Program

Last night was Samuel's Holiday Program. He is in 3rd grade.

While I was waiting for the BIG SHOW, I over-heard this conversation:

Woman to mother: "How intoxicated are you?"

Mom:"What?"

Daughter: "Just how intoxicated are you? I can smell it!

Right then, yes it hit me.

I also brought Ella to the show. She is Sam's little sister who is in kindergarten. I had to break some tough news to grandpa Victor. During the program, the crowd was clapping to some of the music and, sadly, it was then that I realized the beautiful girl, um, is rhythmically challenged. This isn't a fatal flaw though. In case you are wondering.

While I'm writing of Christmas and holidays, I must write that I have been trying to put the 'fun' back into dysfunctional. This year, the pot has been stirred (as far as family relations go) and it really doesn't feel that good. It is making me pray a lot and hope for the future. I actually did something I never do: shop with my ipod in my ears! I felt like I just needed to listen to some praise music and refocus on the Lord. I played the song by Bishop Larry Trotter 'When You Praise' a bunch.

Part of the words are 'When you praise Him, things begin to happen. When you praise Him circumstances change. When you praise Him, blessings are released!'

Wellspring

Yesterday, I helped our church hand out boxes of food, toiletries and Avon to women in my neighborhood of Oak Park. The charity that Center of Praise worked with is called Wellspring. Wellspring feeds women and children every morning and gives them a nice place to relax.

They do a great work. It was nice to help the families that came through. The children were precious and had that 'this is a special day' look in their eyes.

After each woman received her boxes to take home, then we would ask if we could pray for them and we invited them to come Sunday to church.

I have to add that most of the women that came through were truly in need. You could see in their eyes the hard life they lead. These women have it really tough out there. My heart went out to the moms who had lots of kids. It made me think of how I grew up with just my mom raising us. It was a struggle. Very hard.

SOME on the other hand, pulled up to collect their boxes in shiny new SUV's. What is that about?!

...talk about ghetto!