'Turn Up The Music'

**Don't forget to enter my TUTU GIVEAWAY here**

So I heard this song on the radio, and I've heard it a few times before but honestly never took the time to truly LISTEN to the lyrics... They really touched me for whatever reason today when I heard it... I thought maybe some of you would be inspired as well, so here ya go!

Point Of Grace Lyrics – How You Live (Turn Up The Music)

Wake up to the sunlight
With your windows open
Don’t hold in your anger or leave things unspoken
Wear your red dress
Use your good dishes
Make a big mess and make lots of wishes
Have what you want
But want what you have
And don’t spend your life looking back

Chorus

Turn up the music
Turn it up loud
Take a few chances
Let it all out
You won’t regret it
Looking back from where you have been
'Cause it’s not who you knew
And it’s not what you did
It’s how you live

So go to the ballgames
And go to the ballet
And go see your folks more than just on the holidays
Kiss all your children
Dance with your wife
Tell your husband you love him every night
Don’t run from the truth
‘Cause you can’t get away
Just face it and you’ll be ok

Chorus

Turn up the music
Turn it up loud
Take a few chances
Let it all out
You won’t regret it
Lookin’ back from where you have been
‘Cause it’s not who you knew
And it’s not what you did
It’s how you live

Oh wherever you are and wherever you’ve been
Now is the time to begin
So give to the needy
And pray for the grieving
Even when you don’t think that you can
‘Cause all that you do is bound to come back to you
So think of your fellow man
Make peace with God and make peace with yourself
‘Cause in the end there’s nobody else

Chorus

Turn up the music
Turn it up loud
Take a few chances
Let it all out
‘Cause you won’t regret it
Lookin’ back from where you have been
‘Cause it’s not who you knew
And it’s not what you did
It’s how you live
‘Cause it’s not who you knew
And it’s not what you did
It’s how you live

Set Sail- VBS

**Don't forget to register for my TUTU GIVEAWAY here**

Last week was our churches annual 'Set Sail' which is like Vacation Bible School. Our church does more of a community outreach for the children in a local neighborhood, than more of a program for our regular church attendee kiddos. It takes place in the neighborhoods local community center and is very accessable for all the children who wish to come, its actually within walking distance for most of them which really helps the turn out. We feed the kids dinner when they arrive and then spend the rest of the night ministering to them by playing games, doing crafts and singing some SUPER fun songs.

For the past few years I have taken Macie just as a participant, dropped her off and went on my merry way, never thinking twice about staying to help out. This year was different, since Gerrad and I have become a LOT more active in the church I really felt lead to help out. We started the week of 'Set Sail' by walking the neighborhood Sunday evening and handing out popsicles and fliers to the all the kids we saw that were out riding their bikes, playing outside with their friends, bbq'ing with their families, etc... That night was a GREAT opportunity to give all the kids a last minute reminder that 'Set Sail' started the next day, so it was fresh in their minds to remind their parents as well. We had a few families that were less than enthused with us handing out popsicles to their kids, but we didn't let that bother us and kept on truckin'. Monday afternoon there was a HUGE thunderstorm on the Southeast part of town, mostly affecting the neighborhood where vbs was taking place, go figure! The power was out for the first hour at the community center and we were doing everything by lantern, let me tell you how stressful it is checking in 70+ kids in the dark-PHEW!! The funniest thing happened that night... we were all gathered around getting ready to pray for dinner and Ashley, one of the helpers, prayed for our meal and at the end said 'And God, we would REALLY appreciate it if the power came back on SOON' and within a matter of SECONDS the lights were back on. Tell me that isn't an answered prayer!

The rest of the week went off without a hitch. Let me be the first to say that participating in this and working so close with all those kids was the most wonderful feeling in the world. Helping kids become closer to Christ was a very touching thing. The sad part is some of those kids' parents only send them there to get a break from them, not because they care about their children furthering their relationship with God... but that doesn't stop the kids from wanting to learn more, and accept Him as their Savior!! I feel truly blessed to have been able to be with over 100+ magnificent children that week. I now know, not that I didn't before, that my family has it SO unbelievably well and I should appreciate everything that we do have! I wanted to take some of those kids home with me and just love them, but unfortunately that can't happen. I can however show them the love of Christ when they come to church Wednesday nights and I help out with our children's program. And if that's all that I am able to do, so be it, but at least I am doing something to make a difference.

We did fun little activities and games all week; we also gave away a Wii at the end of the week to one lucky kiddo. The youth leader Louie and his son Bronze also shaved their heads at the end of the week because they made a deal with all the kids that if there were over 100 kids on the last night, they would do that. Louie decided since he was shaving his head at the end of the week any how, that he would dye his hair a different color every day, it was pretty entertaining needless to say!

Enough of the talking, here are a few pictures from the week and also a youtube.com video that Louie made from numerous footage and pictures. Great job Louie!!

Here are the kids getting ready to play one of the many exciting games, I will admit I played every game with them and got to act like a big kid all week long!

Here is Sheena, Ashley and I checking kids in

Doing the limbo on the first night with NO power

Tanner, a grown up kid himself playing games with the kids

*Don't forget to MUTE the music at the bottom of my blog if you'd like to hear the songs on this video*

Tutu Giveaway

**UPDATE: When you enter to win, please leave me your email address as well**

Do you have your own or know of a special little girl that is in need of an adorable tutu? If so you're in luck! After looking at my closet filled with random half rolls of tulle, I've decided I'm going to do a tutu giveaway!! YAY!! They make wonderful baby shower gifts, birthday outfits, picture outfits or just for fun!!

It will be in the color of my choice; since I have quite a few half rolls it will be in a few different colors and of course will be adorable as ever. In order to register to win all you have to do is leave me a comment telling me who you would give the tutu to (that's a mouthful). If you would like extra entries you have the option to blog about it, facebook about it and also twitter about it. Just leave me one comment regarding the little princess you'd give it to if you won, and then come back and leave additional comments telling me if you blogged, facebooked or tweeted about it. I can make them in any size from newborn up to girls 6/6x.

Good luck, I will close the give away next Wednesday and have the tutu out by next weekend!! Here are a few pictures of some cutie's sporting their tutu best =)

Halloween tutu with orange, purple and black tulle, with Halloween ribbon

Hot pink and black tutu with pink and black zebra ribbon

4th of July red, white and blue tutu with red and white polka dot ribbon

Light pink and black tutu with light pink and black zebra print ribbon

Pink and black tutu with white and black zebra ribbon

Pink and green tutu with white, pink and green ribbon

Happy Commenting =)

Not Me Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama.

So I've also taken a hiatus from 'Not Me Monday' but am officially back in full swing.

I did NOT realize one day last week that I am still wearing my nursing tank tops as under tanks beneath thinly made or lower cut shirts. I have NOT been done breastfeeding a baby for almost 1 year (10 months to be exact).

We did NOT spend a majority of Saturday getting Addaline's big girl room officially made over. She did NOT skip her nap that day because we'd already taken the crib apart before her new bedding was all clean. She was NOT a fussy mess by the end of the evening, meaning she did NOT go to bed at 7pm and sleep until 9am yesterday morning!!

As I said I washed Addaline's new bedding Saturday, she did NOT take a bath Sunday morning and climb right up on her bed afterwards to play around and did NOT proceed to pee all over the freshly laundered bedding, stinker!

Macie did NOT approach me this morning to let me know that her and her sister both 'tooted' in sync this morning. WOW the things that come out of children's mouths.

What have you NOT been doing lately? Don't be shy, give it a try!!

My 'Baby' is a Big Girl!!

I've apparently been on a blogging hiatus this week, I'm not sure what my deal is but hopefully I don't take that long off from blogging again any time soon =)

Anyway... on to the topic of this post... My baby is no longer a baby, she's now my 2nd big girl. This weekend we switched Addaline over from her crib to her new big girl twin sized bed. I was a little nervous about the process but really wanted to get new bedding for her room and change a few of the decorations so we went for it. She did SOOO good and didn't get out of her bed at all last night. Even when she woke up this morning she just laid in her bed talking, with out getting up and out of her bed at all! YAY Addaline! Here are a few pictures I snapped with my cell phone of her new and improved 'big girl' room. What'd ya think?

Here is the big girl herself before we were all finished, her crib was still put together in the middle of the room, that's what you see to the left of this picture.

Here she is showing how much she loves her new bed

I love her new bedding, I got a STEAL on it and just adore it. I got teal colored paint to change the stripe colors on her walls but the paint that is on the wall now matches perfectly so I'm undecided on what I will do?! Any ideas?

I moved her dresser, toy bin and changing table around as well

Blog Hop- Kids Favorite Photo

This picture is from some of our good friends wedding that the girls were in. They were the most adorable flower girls I've ever seen and did phenomenal walking down the aisle together. I love this picture because it captures Macie's true big sister, nurturing personality as she holds Addaline's hand and guides her. These girls are never apart and will be lifelong friends; looking at this picture reminds me of their bond all the time!!

Show Us Where You Live Friday- Wedding Dress Edition

This weeks 'Show Us Where You Live Friday' over at Kelly's Korner is the wedding dress edition. She's changing it up a bit since we've all shown every room in our house and our yards, so now we're on to different topics. This week is a bit tough for me because I had to scan all of our pictures in because that's the only form of them we have is actual printed pictures so you can't really see the detail of my dress unfortunately. It was a 2 piece dress with a corset top with a modesty panel so my back wasn't hanging out, I loved it... SOOO beautiful!!

The toast picture... my hubby used to shave his head bald, I like him much better with hair =)

Our whole wedding party

Cutting the cake

The back of the dress... I REALLY wish you could actually see the bead work on this dress!!

Thanks for stopping in for another week. Hope you'll come back and visit!!