Newsong Christmas Celebration with Chris Sligh, Rush of Fools and Ayiesha Woods

If you get a chance, you need to go see the Newsong Christmas show. I got to go see it in Paragould, AR on Dec. 3rd and it was awesome. The harmonies were out of this world and it was a magnificent way to start off the holiday season.

Of course, followers of this blog know I'm a Chris Sligh fan. He sang his new original Christmas number, "When You Come Home Again", a wonderful tribute to our men and women who are overseas, away from their loved ones. I've put up a couple of videos if you'd like to catch them:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82Z2TUyTRwI and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OOo8e76nZs.

As a reminder, remember that Chris is coming to North Little Rock, AR on Jan. 17th. Go to http://www.jlnlr.org/ to get your tickets or email me at mkismybiz@aol.com. It's for a great cause--Heaven's Loft, a project that helps low income families with young children, and it's only $10, which makes it a great show to enjoy with your family.

This and That

Well, I'm not doing a super job of keeping this blog updated. Life has been too crazy and busy as of late. But here's a few tidbits....

The tickets for the Chris Sligh concert on Jan. 17, 2009 at Central Baptist Church in North Little Rock are now available at www.jlnlr.org. You can also get them on itickets.com. We are mailing over 500 letters and posters to churches in the area this week, along with info on a diaper drive contest we are doing for Heaven's Loft, (the beneficiary of the concert ticket sales). We want to sell out the house, so if you are in the NLR area or in driving distance, please consider attending. Tickets are $10, so you can't beat that with a stick, and it makes a great family friendly event. And the youth group that donates the most diapers gets a pizza party and a meet and greet with Chris. It will be a great night...don't miss it!

And on another note entirely, I guess I get to cook twice next week. My oldest is coming in on Tues. night as he has to work on Thanksgiving Day, so I'm going to try and cook a mini Thanksgiving meal for him. Then we have to take chicken and dressing to my MIL's house, as it is a request from my family. So lots to do, in addition to two reviews I have scheduled for Mon. and Tues. ARGH!

I have to teach my first workshop tomorrow night...I'm a little nervous about that. It's a 6 hour workshop I have to cut down to 3 hours, so it's going to be a bit challenging. My co-worker, Betty, is going with me to assist, so I'll have backup, which is always good.

I spent some time tonight consoling a dear friend who quit her job after taking much berating from her boss from the last several months. This was her re-entry into the work force in a new field, and this has not been a good experience for her. I'm hoping and praying a fresh start after the first of the year will be just what she needs to renew her self-confidence and get her back in the game.

OK, that's all the time I have for this evening. Back to my workshop preparation. More later!

I'M SO EXCITED!

Well, folks that know me know I am a fan of Chris Sligh, a top ten finalist from season 6 of American Idol. He's writing and performing in the contemporary Christian genre, and has put out an incredible album called "Running Back to You." You may have heard his hit single, "Empty Me" on K-LOVE and other Christian radio stations. I've been wanting him to come to Arkansas for awhile now, especially after making drives to OK and AL to see him perform.

My wish has come true! I'm a member of the Junior League of North Little Rock, actually a sustaining member, as I "retired" from active service in May. I've been in for eleven years, and it has been a passion of mine. I love the League and what it has done for the community through the years. Nancy, our president, asked me one day if I thought we might could get Chris to come and do a concert for a League fundraiser, and I told her I had no idea, but I'd ask.

Long story short, he said yes! Chris and his band will be coming to Central Baptist Church in North Little Rock on Saturday, January 17th, 2009. This is an incredible opportunity for the Junior League....this will actually be a benefit for our signature project, Heaven's Loft. We have a store where low income families of young children can spend vouchers (received at pre-natal visits, well baby checkups, immunizations, etc.) on items such as diapers, wipes, infant and toddler clothing, etc. Diapers are our number one most requested commodity, and we're also having a diaper drive for church and school youth groups and the winning group will have a pizza party the night of the concert and Chris will make an appearance.

On top of all this, several of my friends from Chris's blog are going to make the trip to AR for the event. Which means, this girl has got to get off the computer and get started with some major housecleaning. Yes, I know we're three months out. I hope it's enough time. 'Nuff said. : )

Gosh, where does the time go?

I started this blog with the total intention of keeping it updated, at least every couple of weeks. Now I see it's been since mid August since I posted, and it's almost October!

Well, I guess my only excuse is that I've been busy. August brought the start of school and the beginning of technical assistance visits and now reviews in the classrooms that I visit. It seems like since I retired from teaching and started this job, I have less time than ever and I can't figure out why!

I want to have a Mary Kay holiday open house in November...actually, what I've done in the past that works out very well is to run one for about two weeks, and schedule appts. throughout the time period. My office looks like Hurricanes Gustav and Ike ran through it though, so I've got some work to do!

OK, I have got to get to bed and get some extra ZZZZZ's! More later!

Blessings

Today was a day of blessings. A dear friend, Cathy, had cancer surgery, but got a great report from the lab, so follow-up chemo isn't needed. That was a huge answer to prayer!

Second blessing--cooler temps and some much needed rainfall yesterday and today. No running the sprinkler system! (our bill was over $117 last month, so you can see why I'm so thrilled!) Hopefully the 100 degree heat has broken and we won't get above the 90's. But today, I was just loving me some 70's!

Third blessing--even a few days after my birthday, I'm still getting birthday wishes. I just love facebook and myspace. LOL It makes it easier to keep up with folks you don't see all the time.

Fourth blessing--Gaylon froze the rest of the Italian creme cake. Thank the Lord! It was delicious, but I have been in a cake coma from eating too much! : )

So, a good day. Hope you had a good one, too.

Birthdays

August is kind of a busy month for birthdays around here. Lindsay, our daughter, turns 26 tomorrow on the 5th. We celebrated early Sunday night, with Linds and her friend, Magnus, who shares the day (he's turning 29). My birthday is the 8th, on Friday and I'll be 51. Man, that doesn't seem possible! AARP eligible for a year! Just 4 years away from the 55 and up discounts offered around town. I can't be that old, can I? It just seems like yesterday that I was turning 31. (that birthday bothered me more than 30....30 was still touching 29 on the number line and 31 seemed like the entrance into the last half of my life. LOL)

But, it's all good. God has blessed me with good health and I believe Oprah when she says 50 is the new 30. (except when I get out of bed in the morning!) It's all a matter of attitude. And right now, I've got an attitude of gratitude. I've got a wonderful family and the best friends anyone could ask for (local and some that live far away). I don't think you can ask for more than that. God is good.

Life is good!

The desktop charger came in...the Blackberry is cooking again! And I'm VERY happy at spending way less than the price of a new phone. So, HMMPH to AT&T!