How Sweet The Sound

I realized this morning that I never did share this video with you!

It's just a little something that meant a lot to me on my trip to Georgia a month or so ago. We were walking along the River Walk in Savannah, and I was kind of stressed because we were in a hurry. I had limited time to see everything, and to purchase gifts for loved ones. And I had just spent the day site seeing by the seat of my pants - if you know what I mean.  Then out of the blue, I heard this angelic voice singing Amazing Grace. And it struck me as from God because it refocused my attention on the things that truly matter. It also made me very thankful that even with all the rotten politics going on in our country right now, a humble servant can still stand on the street and proclaim the grace of God.

For everyone to hear.

Maybe I'm being over dramatic about this. But out here in the west, you don't hear people singing on the streets, let alone multiple stanzas of it.

Just. Doesn't. Happen.

And if it did, I'm sure the song choice would not be anything that glorified God. I realize I was right smack in the center of the Bible Belt, and perhaps that's why it seemed normal to everyone around me. But it was truly a blessing to me in my moment of stress and weariness.

And isn't that just like God? To help us in our time of need?

Of course, time did not move along any quicker simply because of the resounding Amazing Grace. My external storm raged on. But my internal storm was calmed.

The quality of the video isn't superb (I was a little shy about walking up and sticking my camera in his face). Nevertheless, I hope the words will help calm whatever storm is raging within you today. May God bless you with His amazing grace!

~Brenda

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things (Revised)

I wrote this to be sung to the tune of These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things. I think it'll give you a glimpse of what's been going on around these Prairie hills. ;)

Ahem! *clears throat*

Nose rings in noses, and more rings in navels,
Lil' barking doggies, and making you hoagies,
Baseball and sunshine, coming up this spring,
These are a few of my "favorite" things.

Math, Science, English, and Spelling and Vocab,
More Math, more Reading, more History, more Cursive,
I homeschool you, and I make all the rules.
How 'bout a snack and a nice little snooze?

Bridesmaid's and groomsmen, and flower girls, and candles,
Cakes vs. cupcakes, invitations where are you!?
You're getting married, he's yours and you're his,
You sure you can say without doubt that you do?

When the math's wrong, when decisions haunt,
When I'm feeling gaunt,
I simply remember it's not all 'bout me,
And then I don't feel so bad!

Changed hearts, new focus, with Christ at the center,
Friendships, and courtships, and challenging relationships,
All work together for our own good,
Yes these are a few of my favorite things!

Editing, and power points, and emails, and travel plans,
Vacuums, and dishsoap, and working with my hands,
Monday thru Friday, and sometimes weekends,
These fill my schedule, boy ain't it so grand?

Dinner with loved ones, and dinner with good friends,
Dinner 'round the table, devotions, then prayer time,
All make this poem indeed oh so grand,
Yes, these make my journey much sweeter than pie.

When life seems void, challenging with fright,
When I'm feeling sad,
I simply remember it's all about Christ,
And then I don't feel so bad!

Everything mentioned in this poem/song has been part of my life this week, in one way or another.

Except the pie.

~Brenda

Engagement Announcement

Daniel and Ashlee

April 24th, 2010

This Prairie Mama loves both of you dearly. May you always love one another as Christ loves the Church. We wish you all the best and look forward to many happy years of being one, big, happy family!!!

Not Me! Monday

Ever hear of Not Me Monday? It was started by MckMamma, over at My Charming Kids. Click here to visit her blog.




This last week, I certainly did not, nor would I ever call a person in a position of respect lame. Even if they said something lame, I would never tell them that they were. That's disprespectful and I always treat others with the respect they deserve.

When meeting someone by the name of Brad for the first time, I certainly did not respond with a stupid thing like, "Hi Brad. I guess we have a lot of the same letters in our name." Now that is truly lame, and I would never say something lame. Ever. I am always witty and clever, and I always make a good first impression.

When getting my hair cut, I did not get a sick feeling in my stomach with all the chopping sounds going on in back of me and blurt out to my hairdresser, "So - are you like snipping huge chunks of my hair off, or what is it that you are doing back there?" I have nothing but confidence in my beatiful hairdresser, and I would never make her uncomfortable.

And just so you know, I did not take my family out to eat more days than I fixed nutritious, well balanced meals for them. I'm a fantastical cook, and am so concerned about my family's health that I go to great lengths just to make sure they are eating five full servings of fruits and veggies per day. Every day. Mmm hmmm....

What about you? Have something you didn't do this week? Link up and join the fun in telling about it!

~Brenda

Loving the Unlovely

I love to love lovely people. 

But we as Christians are called not only to love the lovely, but to love the unlovely. This is no small feat, and for me, it requires outside help. Divine help.

A few observations about lovely and unlovely folk:

• Jesus' ministry was full of compassion and love for unlovely people. And aren't we all, in our sinful state, unlovely?

• Lovely people don't require a whole lot from us. They're pleasant to be around. The don't quarrel. They are not prideful. They even do their best to minister to you. What's not to love?

• Ahh, but unlovely people. They're needy, sometimes brash, many times prideful, arrogant, self-seeking, self-promoting, and often playing immature games that I don't want any part of.  

"WWJD?" comes the haunting question.

Jesus would love them, in spite of their unloveliness. Just as He does with me, when I am unlovely. Am I not prideful to be thinking that I never mirror any of those unlovely traits listed above? I do, in fact at times have the same sinful patterns.

And who am I to deny others in need of  Christ's love, whether it be in a lovely or unlovely state?

I Corinthians 13 says that if I have faith enough to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. Can I, in my own strength, have love for annoying, rude, impatient, self-seekers? If not, I am nothing.

Insert Diving help here

How do we receive Diving help? By not being too prideful to ask for it, being willing to do as He asks, and remembering that with God, all things are possible.

Do you have someone unlovely you need to be loving? I pray today that I will have the know-how and the strength to love the unlovely around me. I pray the same for you my friend, and I have prayed that God would bring  just the people He wants to this very infamous Prairie Tales blog today. After all, if He's powerful enough to help us love the unlovely, He's powerful enough to direct our mice to the right blogs. ;)

Love to all my Lovely (and unlovely) Lurkers,

~Brenda

A is for Attitude!

As I'm sure you know, Super Bowl Sunday is this coming Sunday. So wives, don't forget to put popcorn, brownies, cookies, buffalo wings, etc. on your grocery lists this week. And have your phone handy to call 911 for when your husband's acid reflux is mistakenly thought of as cardiac arrest.

Ah hem ...

I love football and baseball both. Especially if my son is playing them. But, I enjoy professional also. However, in the last few years, my love for pro football has dwindeled down to just about ... nothing.

Why?

Perhaps because my team (Denver Broncos) are, to put it mildly, having issues. I don't mean lack of physcial ability (although maybe there is some of that). I don't mean lack of funds. I mean attitudes that lack sportsmanship, unselfish behavior, and a team togetherness.

Sticktuitiveness.

I am a firm believer in rooting for and sticking with my team, no matter what the score board says. If my team depicts an attitude of selflessness, team spirit, leadership, and spunk - I'm all there. But when the team is divided, so is my loyalty.

Mike Shanahan did an excellent job the first few years he was head coach. And then ...

He started firing everyone, attempting to "start over", year after year. If he was looking for  John Elway leadership, and Terrell Davis sportsmanship, integrity, and humbleness, he never found it. Granted, there have been some quality recruits. But as a whole, the team's struggles are due to high levels of discord in the locker room, lack of integrity, and the need for attitude adjustments. Have we had the best athetic ability there ever was? Probably not. But more than that, our attitude has been in the sewer for quite some time, and its fumes are seemingly emitting through my tv screen.

This is what handy dandy off buttons are for.

So what am I going to do about Super Bowl Sunday?

Well fortunately, for me ... Peyton Manning is playing! :)

Now that boy has integrity. Spirit. Sportsmanship. Leadership.

And in turn, his fellow team members follow, adore, and respect him.

Do they have talent galore? You bet!! But without quality leadership with attitude (the right kind of attitude!), and teammates willing to follow, support, and be a team, winning the game becomes as elusive as a mirage in a 120 degree desert.

It's akin to having a table full of gourmet food, sloppily thrown together to make one casserole. Alone, the food may taste delectable. But put all those delectable dishes together, and it makes for a very unpalatable dish.  

If you take a sour grape like Brandon Marshall, and add it to a quiche like Champ Bailey, the grape will sour the quiche, and become the overwhelming focus, distraction, and disgust. Because just as grapes sour the quiche, poor attitudes spoil the talent of a team.

For Sunday's menu, I think Peyton and the Colts are planning on cooking up one of the most delectable, palatable, mouth watering games that a hungry-for-football-little-houswife-on-the-prairie could possibly hope for!

Go Colts!!

~Brenda

Not Me! Monday

I've never participated in a Not Me! Monday, but there's a first time for everything, right?




Deep breath. Here goes.



This week, I did not let my child make a fort in the back yard made out of wood scraps, cardboard, and other various materials that made our backyard look like Redneck Central. I would never impose upon our neighbors in that way. Nope. Not me!!



And speaking of Redneck Central, I also did not, nor would I ever, ever, ever post a picture of Jeff Foxworthy on Facebook as my husband's Doppelganger. Shaun doesn't look like Mr. Foxworthy, nor is he a redneck, so there is no resemblance at all. And no, I did not laugh right along with my friends when they saw the inaccurate accurate Doppelganger.



And last ... I was not too lazy to walk down the stairs to retrieve the book I am currently reading, and start a new book before finishing the other! I always finish what I'm reading before going on to the next, as that is the proper, systematic way of doing things. I am never lazy, and never undisciplined like that.



Nope!! Not me!!!



~Brenda