Mmmmm Hmmmm...Gimme some Pat!

This is a serious Rock DIVA! Love me some Pat. So next weekend at church, our children's ministry has the service and some of the kids will be rocking out with us. So, to hit everyone (with our best shot) we are doing "We Belong" by Pat. We've changed a few of the lyrics, so they won't belong to "the thunder" as much as they'll belong to "the Father." Parents with kids will LOVE IT, doncha think? And the kids will be holding down that awesome kid's part in the background that we all loved but could never sing cuz it was too high...well, not for me, just for the rest of you. (my meaning? I'm awesome, hello!)

Our very own Beth Liller will be holding down the legendary pop diva's lead vocals. Oh, she can totally handle it...no worries there. But can she smear a little extra eye shadow, put some extra air in her hair, and find her old tube of "kissing slicks?" Filling a pop diva's shoes is certainly not all about the vocals!

And if you've never heard this song, or if you just need to hear it again, or catch a quick glimpse of Pat, well then, here you go! Have at it...she's all yours. It's strange how matronly Pat looks in this VH1 Classic. She looks like such a mom. Seriously though, love her vocals.

***Just as a tidbit of trivia ...did you know that Pat Benatar was accepted to Julliard School of Music in New York City? (a very prestigious music school), but bowed out before going, and then married her high school sweetheart and supported herself as a bank clerk and waitress before being signed by Chrysalis Records and recording her first album. Hmmm, surprised you didn't know that.

2 Things!

Okay, Woah...it's been a long time! First off...here's the reason I've not posted in a while...


I don't know if you've discovered this or not, but I give you fair warning...ADDICTION!

Secondly, I've mentioned before that I've been working on a book. So the other day I sent off the first draft to an online publisher (which is what I plan to go with). I want to be able to review it in book form so I can get a better feel before ordering up a million copies to sell to my mother. Going with an online publisher only gives you so many options with color, layout and whatnot. So here's the cover.



I'm pretty taken with it. I'm really liking how it turned out! Isn't it exciting?!?! I still have a lot of work to do...especially with editing and such...and a few chapters to finish and clean up. But I will get this done!

Any thoughts? You can click on the pic to enlarge it and read the back cover. I'd love some contructive criticism...really...I'm not THAT sensitive.

More More More Summer!!!

I haven't enjoyed a summer this much in quite some time. I'm convinced it is the ages of our kids. The things they come up with. Here is the wagon, with it's very own sun umbrella. And of course it is electrical taped to the wagon. And a sleeping bag!!! Where do they dig up all this crap???

Here are Evalee's crocs just sitting out in the middle of the yard, because summer is for barefooting it!

This is our neighbor Devon, playing some catch with his dad.

I was pretty impressed with his arm. This kid does everything from baseball to knitting. No kidding. He's a full function child.

Oh, and his dad, Rick. He's not cool but he thinks he is. He also thinks he's funny...nope not funny either. Drives past my house when I'm out and heckles me from his car.

Sweet little Evalee. Love this child. She has been spending hours and hours outside. Her hair can not get much blonder. They just remind me of how we would leave our house at 9am when I was little and not return home until the 6pm fire house siren rang...or chimed or...sirened. What do sirens do? Anyway, I loved being outside!

And of course the sweet little Mimi head. I know, I know...whatever. She's an amazing dog, what can I say?

And lastly, Heather. Cause she's cute and because she's taken such good care of me for the last 2 and a half weeks. I want summer to LAST!

Happy Birthday Wee!

44 - Dingy Dang!

Your present is in the mail!!! Tomorrow...

Today...My First Day Back!

Okay, so it was my first day back after fighting pneumonia. I went in for four hours. Those of you who have had it, seem to sympathize and understand what a huge pain in the neck this is. Very frustrating to be out of work for 2 + weeks and still feel as if someone has put a hex on your lungs and shrunk them down to the size of a nickel. Anyway, I am definitely on the mend, but it is slow.

So I went in for 4 hours and when I arrived I felt like this...



After four hours of work, I felt like this...



Which is honestly not too bad. And although I was pretty shaky, I came home, slept for two hours and had really gathered some strength back. So this is good.


Honestly, I was just glad I didn't come home feeling like this...



So you take what you can get. I'm on the mend.

Please keep praying. Everyone who has had this is now talking about "The Pneumonia Relapse," which is common for people who push things too quickly. And I've also had 2 different people tell me about someone they knew who had DIED! of pneumonia in the last couple years, which is always encouraging.

All in all, I'm feeling better. Being able to move; Being able to sit outside; Being able to yell at my kids; It's the little things that we take for granted.

Okay, this is Jen...

Jen used to be on our worship team here in Indy. She moved last year to Florida and I keep up with her on her blog. Now...just trust me when I say you must go to her blog and read this story. I promise a really good laugh.

i write to...

i write to know i'm not alone...

Nope.

I write to hear myself think
to live my life in the pages of a journal
to wander through each line
to sit on top of adjectives
to hide behind verbs
to form myself into an exclamation point
on page 263
as if it were my last page

I wrote when i saw rows and rows of corn on my drive to Owosso
crunchy golden corn husk
feathering the descended cloud mist
and with my chin to my shoulder i watched them
I sped by
and was surprised to see them
rows of them
chatting patiently with each other
making friends
corn friends
husk to husk

I wrote again when i saw my friend
who had given in to a familiar sin
status quo had eaten him alive
even though he appeared to be
well done

I wrote in my sleep last week
when i couldn't figure something out
but i did figure it out
and then woke to the smell of my wife at my side

sometimes...
by the time my head levatates each morning
i have had fourteen ideas
for explaining something with my pen
though i always forget my best brainchildren
like a preoccupied mother
and end up with those forgetful ones
the ones with red hair and such

BUT...
the best of the best
were only alive in MY head
and they made it out of my conscious
to the land of the sub-conscious
And they will swim
because that's what they do

I write my signature on things
because i am famous i guess
the mortgage companies
must be selling my autograph on ebay
becuase they request a new one each month
i know, i know
you "need it"for the "payment"
i understand how that "works"

I write the songs that make the whole world sing
and it's not even hard
just write a dumb line or two
one that gets everyone all worked up
one about life and those less fortunate
and you will get every tender heart gathered in one
big sappy crowd to sing "we are the world"
but when the song is over
they will change the channel
they will go home
they will not lift a finger
to do a thing around this place

I write out my anger
i lash it out more like
the pen is mightier than the sword
when you finally say what you mean
but don't really mean what you say

And lastly,
i write with a blade of grass
in the carpet of the earth
among the bugs and the caterpillars
they have lives too
and i explain theirs with words
I dip my proverbial pen in a puddle of rain
as they sit by and watch me write their lives
and they are thankful that someone cares
and they turn into butterflies for me
and wrap themselves up in cacoons to say "thank you"
and they rub their legs together...
and write the songs that make the whole world sing

Pneumonia Update

So here's how I've been feeling lately...

But actually, today I feel a smidge better...just a smidge. I have a game plan. I'm trying to lay around (if I can actually stand that any longer) for the next 3 days. My doctor says this will get me to the point of being able to "live" again. I'm not one to lay around so this has been absolutely frustrating, but today I made some peace with it. I feel a little like John Travolta in "The Boy in the Plastic Bubble." Anyone seen it? Good flic. Good flic.

And I sign off today's post with my new summer look. I wasn't planning on going this short but those dang clippers...wow. I'm kind of digging it though. I'm not used to looking menacing. I'm kind of curious to see if I can go to...Blockbusters or Burger King and stare people down or scare old men or something. It'd be better with a neck tattoo. Although I'm sure I won't seem very threatening with all my inhalers, my fat cough, and my walking at a snail's pace. Ah well, whatryougunna do?

Tonight

Still at home feeling sick. It was pneumonia, by the way. Worst thing I've experienced in a long time. So here's the best part of my day; this sweet baby girl. (Not really a baby, but she's my baby) Could she be any more beautiful? She wanted a piece of bread before bed. While she was eating it, I was staring at her thinking about how gorgeous, sweet, wonderful she is and how blessed I am to be her dad. My camera was lying right beside her so I snapped a few quick shots.

If you're praying for my health, thank you.