Third Day---What a concert!!!!

We went to Wild Adventures this past Saturday specifically to see Third Day in concert. Words can't describe how awesome they are. I love their music and they were great performers. It was the coolest thing ever to see so many Christians in a Theme Park!!! And I saw some of the coolest Christian tees!

My favorite part at the concert was looking over to see Will holding Alyssa up with the two of them clapping along and raising their hands in worship of Jesus! I am so Blessed to have been able to share that with them.

The opening act was "House of Thomas." They are from Georgia and have only been together as a group for about 6 months, but you would never be able to tell. They performed like pros! They played a few songs and a very Rock-n-Roll feel to their music. It was a bit too hard for me, but that my have been because we were very close to the speakers. But they sang one song about "Tiny Hearts;" it was a very touching song about the hearts of the three babies that the lead singer and his wife had lost to miscarriage and the three children that are still alive.

Wild Adventures-Valdosta, Ga- and Cyrpess Gardens-Winter Have, FL have been two pleasant experiences. They are much smaller than Disney and all of the "popular" theme parks, but I have had more fun at them than at any other. The lines are NOT terribly long and they weren't over packed....most of all, their concert series are awesome! Check out the website to see who will be in concert soon.... http://wildadventures.net/events/2007/06/shoutfest_featuring_pillar_superchick_and_many_more.php

September 15th, 2007 at Wild Adventures will be the FIRST EVER, SHOUTFEST---an all out Christian event with lots of Christian Artists....if I can help it, I will SO be there!!!

By the way, check out Third Day's website....they have their own "radio station" that you can listen to all of their already released CD's online for Free!! It's great.
http://www.thirdday.com/tdmusic.htm

I had a blast....

Gail

My Spitting Image

Wow!!!! Isn't that scary??? You always know your children take on your traits, but somtimes, it's just plain scary. :)

This past weekend, Alyssa and I got our hair cut. She loves her new do and she is absolutely adorable, even if I do say so myself. She was so looking forward to going to summer camp on Monday to show her friends her hair. So, we got moving and made sure we had plenty of time to flat iron her hair to straighten the natural curls, and in her terms, "make it not so bumpy!"

Unfortunately, there were some children at camp that decided to tell Alyssa they didn't like her hair and made fun of her. She was so sad when I picked her up that I wanted to cry. She said, "that's why I wanted to wear a hat, mom, so no one can make fun of me." HEARTBREAKING!

She is ONLY 6 and is already experiencing the rejection that comes along with other children who are not taught, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all." We were graciously given another chance to step in for God and help His little Princess feel as beautiful He thinks she is.

So we had the typical responses for her:

• "If they were really your friends, then they wouldn't make fun of you."
• "Do you like you hair?" "Does mommy and daddy like your hair?" "Didn't everyone at church like your hair?" Yes...yes...yes......"Well, then that is all that matters."
• "If the kids keep on saying it, then tell them to just stop looking at you."
• "Sometimes, hunny, people say mean things when they are jealous." (Of course, we had to explain the term, "jealous.")

Her Tuesday went much better and we are past that moment. But it was just a small reminder, of the hurts that are still yet to come.

Lord Jesus, please help us to seek out your ways of preparing our daughter for the difficult and trying times ahead. Father, provide us with the tools that we will need to guide her and the tools that she will need to stay strong through the trials. AMEN

(Please share your thoughts on the subject; I would love to hear from you.)

"It's the pain of jealous people-sometimes our closest friends and co-workers- that hold us back from seaking our dreams and really being who we are called to be in Christ."

When a Husband is respected...

While I was walking around at church yesterday morning, a thought came to me - "My husband is known among the elders and respected by those he serves with." I have to admit that this was a rather odd thought at the time it came to me not to mention that it brought up a reminder of a moment of "jealousy" about a year ago.

You see, I began serving at Celebration church many months before Will even considered it and the only people I knew were the few that were in the room I served in and the nursery coordinator. Other than those few people, no body in the church "knew" me. It didn't bother me too much until Will started serving with the Ushers/Security and then he knew a lot of the pastors, staff, ect. After Will had been serving a short while, I began to meet all of the people that he met, but I also became know as "Will's wife" or just "Mrs. Huggins."

WHAT ABOUT ME, YOU KNOW, MY NAME IS GAIL!

Well, I obviously got over it and over time, people began to know my first name, not just my last. I can't remember if I ever told Will about my jealousy, but I covered it pretty well from others.

I got over it, realizing that it's not now nor was then about--yeah, you guessed it, ME. Ok, so back to the original thought....God convicted my heart with that thought, "My husband is known among the elders and respected by those he serves with." At that very moment, I realized that I would much rather be known by the respect my husband has gained than by someone just simply knowing my name. It was a proud moment...I realized and looked back over the past couple of years and I see and love the progress that God has made in my life.But what is more exciting is that progress that HE has made in Will's life. I am honored to be the wife of such a wonderful man, a man who has loved me through a lot, is the best father in the world to Alyssa, but most of all for realizing the potential he has in God.

"It brings honor and glory to a wife when her husband has gained honest respect for the service he has done. And a husband won't be respected until his wife respects him first."

Thank you, Jesus, for being a part of our lives. The work that You did on Calvary was only the beginning. The work You do in our hearts is the saving grace of this world. Thank you, Father for knowing my needs beyond the flesh and filling my life with the best Blessings You could have given, Will and Alyssa. Amen!!!