Tuesday, April 29, 2008
YouTube - Ernie Haase&SSQ+Gaither Vocal Band - He Touched Me
YouTube - Ernie Haase&SSQ+Gaither Vocal Band - He Touched Me
Here is another link to Gaither and Signature Sound.............
Here is another link to Gaither and Signature Sound.............
Monday, April 28, 2008
You KNOW you're getting OLD....WHEN.......
.........when you LOVE to go to Gaither concerts!!! oh yea, baby!!! that's how we roll around here....Gaither ALL the WAY!!! :)..........
can i just tell you???????........please see link below to view the amazing Gaither's for you young-uns who have NEVER heard of them!!!!
well, here's the story:
for Larry's bday the kids gave him two tickets to the Gaither Homecoming concert at the Gwinnett center this past Sat. nite.........now........you really don't know how CRAZY he is over the Gaither's....the old Cathredrals....and the new group Signature Sound...........he LOVES them...........oh, don't get me wrong....so do i, but i mean, get real............his LOVE for them is waaay over the top............so i knew when he received this gift....it would please him just FINE! ...........
so the day arrived, and unfortunately i had to work several hours before we left, which really rushed me in getting ready..........of course Larry needed me to pick out his clothes, so i hurredly picked out one of his OLD hawaiin shirts.......thinking he would BLEND right in with all the other OLD MEN who surely would be at the concert..........now, i did NOT intend for him to TUCK the shirt in, i have tried and tried and tried to teach him to "update" a little and leave those shirts OUT...........but i was hurrying and didn't pay attention and rushed to get into the car and he steps out of our front door with that stinkin , rose-plummeted, disgusting hawaiin shirt TUCKED in!!!!!........well of course it is too late once it's tucked in........i was about to be disgusted with him, but kept my mouth shut, (almost anyway)...........i sure didn't want to ruin his NIGHT OUT WITH THE GAITHERS!!!............i just made the small comment that he will NOT stick out in the crowd because he will look like ALL the other men!.....i mean, come on!
now I, on the other hand......tried to look my YOUNGEST with my most HIP outfit possible...............yea, right...........well anyway........
so we get on our way, passing VAN after VAN after VAN from towns all over Ga. and beyond, knowing they were all going to the concert too...........and we finally arrive.............now.............i KID you NOT.........how do you know where to go once you arrive???????.......just follow all the wheel chairs and people with WALKERS!!!............okay...........i really am not trying to be mean..........and soon enuf i will be ONE OF THEM.............but..........you have to admit........it's kind of funny...........isn't it?........
YOU SEE...........i know i am OLD now............and getting older by the minute...........but really, inside i still feel YOUNG...............well, that's my story and i am sticking to it........anyway........i really felt OUT numbered (when really i am sure i blended in just as good, if not better than my hawaiin shirt clad husband)...............
so by now i think it is just right down funny.............and i found it a challenge to spot someone under age 50 at least!....and OF COURSE they were there............but........HARD to find!
i really should have challenged myself to count all the hawaiin shirts that were WORSE than Larry's.......but didn't think about it til now........shucks
but in the END..........after the concert got started....it did NOT disappoint..........it was FANTASTIC with a capitol F!!!..........it was very very uplifting, very very FUNNY.........right down HILARIOUS even............and of course.......in some places a little corny............but i was very glad we had the privilege to attend!!!!!!
BTW............that shirt is going to GOODWILL..........along with many others...........
can i just tell you???????........please see link below to view the amazing Gaither's for you young-uns who have NEVER heard of them!!!!
well, here's the story:
for Larry's bday the kids gave him two tickets to the Gaither Homecoming concert at the Gwinnett center this past Sat. nite.........now........you really don't know how CRAZY he is over the Gaither's....the old Cathredrals....and the new group Signature Sound...........he LOVES them...........oh, don't get me wrong....so do i, but i mean, get real............his LOVE for them is waaay over the top............so i knew when he received this gift....it would please him just FINE! ...........
so the day arrived, and unfortunately i had to work several hours before we left, which really rushed me in getting ready..........of course Larry needed me to pick out his clothes, so i hurredly picked out one of his OLD hawaiin shirts.......thinking he would BLEND right in with all the other OLD MEN who surely would be at the concert..........now, i did NOT intend for him to TUCK the shirt in, i have tried and tried and tried to teach him to "update" a little and leave those shirts OUT...........but i was hurrying and didn't pay attention and rushed to get into the car and he steps out of our front door with that stinkin , rose-plummeted, disgusting hawaiin shirt TUCKED in!!!!!........well of course it is too late once it's tucked in........i was about to be disgusted with him, but kept my mouth shut, (almost anyway)...........i sure didn't want to ruin his NIGHT OUT WITH THE GAITHERS!!!............i just made the small comment that he will NOT stick out in the crowd because he will look like ALL the other men!.....i mean, come on!
now I, on the other hand......tried to look my YOUNGEST with my most HIP outfit possible...............yea, right...........well anyway........
so we get on our way, passing VAN after VAN after VAN from towns all over Ga. and beyond, knowing they were all going to the concert too...........and we finally arrive.............now.............i KID you NOT.........how do you know where to go once you arrive???????.......just follow all the wheel chairs and people with WALKERS!!!............okay...........i really am not trying to be mean..........and soon enuf i will be ONE OF THEM.............but..........you have to admit........it's kind of funny...........isn't it?........
YOU SEE...........i know i am OLD now............and getting older by the minute...........but really, inside i still feel YOUNG...............well, that's my story and i am sticking to it........anyway........i really felt OUT numbered (when really i am sure i blended in just as good, if not better than my hawaiin shirt clad husband)...............
so by now i think it is just right down funny.............and i found it a challenge to spot someone under age 50 at least!....and OF COURSE they were there............but........HARD to find!
i really should have challenged myself to count all the hawaiin shirts that were WORSE than Larry's.......but didn't think about it til now........shucks
but in the END..........after the concert got started....it did NOT disappoint..........it was FANTASTIC with a capitol F!!!..........it was very very uplifting, very very FUNNY.........right down HILARIOUS even............and of course.......in some places a little corny............but i was very glad we had the privilege to attend!!!!!!
BTW............that shirt is going to GOODWILL..........along with many others...........
Thursday, April 24, 2008
MONKEY SHINERS TO THE MAX
okay, so here are THE monkey-shiners!!!
my comment to Carter and his cross-eyed pictures are...SOME DAY your eyes will stay that way!....but that look SURE does symbolize how i feel MOST of the time! aye yai yai!!!
my comment on AVA is....only in REDNECK COUNTRY will it be "hip" to be in a bikini AND rain boots!.....is that not hilarious???
and my comment on the TWO sister MONKEY-SHINERS....oh my word....are they ever characters! doesn't the monkey-shine just OOZE out of them??????
today i had Ava with me and we went to Hope and Addie's........Hope was in school til mid afternoon and it was Ava and Addie....oh my...they are soooo funny! i just wish i could capture and be able to relate to you their EXTREME comedic ways!.........but here is one...i thought i was going to split my sides.....i was bathing Ava and Addie...(believe me...they NEEDED it!........they had been playing quite ferocisouly in the back yard and it was a bit wet and muddy).....so of course they were a splishin and a splashin in the ol tubby wubby....(.while i am trying to protect the bathroom from being completely SOAKED..........)..........and Addie grabs this toothbrush that was in the tub along with the other bathtub paraphenalia.....(i certainly had been wondering about it...whose is it? where has it been? and what body parts has it touched???......and mostly....is it a current...getting used daily toothbrush????........i soon got my answer!.....firstly Addie says it is for her toes and she proceeds to scrub all 10 toes.....then she suds it up with soap.........she leans back in the tub.........throws one leg in the air........and says she now has to shave her legs.........and she proceeds to "shave" with the toothbrush, in the most artful position imaginable.......(much like the one i used to be able to accomplish in bygone days........)..........she then looks at her legs and slaps them and says"HAIR!........you STOP growing!!!"...............oh my word of honor.....of course this intrigued Ava, and she felt the need for a little toe-nail cleaning and leg shaving!!!..........i know this does not capture what really happened...but if you know Addie at ALL........i am sure you find it believable!
well...it definitely entertained me,that is, until i had to clean up the SPLISH and SPLASH activity!
needless to say, by the end of the day....all 3 girls were WIPED OUT and so was their....NEE NEE/NANA!
Monday, April 21, 2008
Blessings
I just got off the phone with a dear friend from Iowa...Mark Jorgensen. Usually I would be talking to his wife, Karen, but he called our house...and I naturally asked him if he wanted to talk to Larry after we had chatted for a minute or two....and he said, that yes, he would like to talk to Larry too, but he had called to tell ME something.....in a nutshell...he said that he did not want to let the opportunity pass to tell me something that had just happened and he knew it would bless me...( as is so easy to do...to do something you know you SHOULD do...the Holy Spirit is urging you...and yet...we still don't...for whatever lame exuse we can come up with...ever been there-done that??? Well if you know ME you know I sure have -too many times to count....)
ANYWAY.......he was telling me about his conversation with his grandaughter, Madisyn, who lives with them......the subject came up about our family....and then MY name....and Madisyn proceeded to tell her PAPA something like...."Sandi is special to our family".......and Mark agreed, his interest peaking by the minute...and then Madisyn went on to say that "Sandi told you and Grandma about Jesus...and then you told me, and now I will tell my children and my grandchildren...".............and they had a long conversation about how good God is and how He works in our lives, even when we don't know it........and they discussed many more more Godly things.....they had one of those rare moments between Papa and grandaughter that were precious beyond gold........
WELL, let me tell you.......of course my eyes were filled with tears........and all I could think of while he was telling me this was THANK YOU JESUS.........I have had such a "down" day today and had specifically asked for an encouraging blessing......and let me just tell you....there could be NONE better than to hear a sweet young girl understand her Godly heritage and waaaay before it is time for her to have a family...she is already planning to tell them of her Saviour, JESUS!!!
The Jorgensen's have a very, very special story to tell and to share.........man have they been through a LOT........but they are such an encouragement to Larry and me.......we used to call them our "baby" christians.........many years ago we "discipled" them.......(sometimes I wonder if they discipled us)........and how God has used them and is still using them........it encourages me to be faithful to tell others about Jesus........I worked with Karen in a gift shop and taught a Bible study amongst those of us who worked there...and God did the rest!!!
Sure wish I had a picture of this sweet family...and I do....SOMEWHERE........but not accessible that's for sure!
Thank you Mark for taking the time to share a blessing....it was a direct answer to prayer for me!!!
That's it for now folks.
ANYWAY.......he was telling me about his conversation with his grandaughter, Madisyn, who lives with them......the subject came up about our family....and then MY name....and Madisyn proceeded to tell her PAPA something like...."Sandi is special to our family".......and Mark agreed, his interest peaking by the minute...and then Madisyn went on to say that "Sandi told you and Grandma about Jesus...and then you told me, and now I will tell my children and my grandchildren...".............and they had a long conversation about how good God is and how He works in our lives, even when we don't know it........and they discussed many more more Godly things.....they had one of those rare moments between Papa and grandaughter that were precious beyond gold........
WELL, let me tell you.......of course my eyes were filled with tears........and all I could think of while he was telling me this was THANK YOU JESUS.........I have had such a "down" day today and had specifically asked for an encouraging blessing......and let me just tell you....there could be NONE better than to hear a sweet young girl understand her Godly heritage and waaaay before it is time for her to have a family...she is already planning to tell them of her Saviour, JESUS!!!
The Jorgensen's have a very, very special story to tell and to share.........man have they been through a LOT........but they are such an encouragement to Larry and me.......we used to call them our "baby" christians.........many years ago we "discipled" them.......(sometimes I wonder if they discipled us)........and how God has used them and is still using them........it encourages me to be faithful to tell others about Jesus........I worked with Karen in a gift shop and taught a Bible study amongst those of us who worked there...and God did the rest!!!
Sure wish I had a picture of this sweet family...and I do....SOMEWHERE........but not accessible that's for sure!
Thank you Mark for taking the time to share a blessing....it was a direct answer to prayer for me!!!
That's it for now folks.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Vinings Lake Dominican Republic Mission Trip
i don't even know where to begin.....i wasn't even on the trip.....but that doesn't mean i wasn't influenced by it....Heidi, Craig, Ava and Carter, Peter, Hollie, and Hope WERE on that spectacular team........along with many other families and individuals who gave a week to minister to the Dominican people.
i cannot look at the pictures without tears and having my heart be swallowed in so many emotions....
i guess i am profoundly affected by the fact that this team had the Godly insight to take their children along...something not often done...why...for heaven sake...they would be in the way....they might get sick...they will fight....they will get too tired....they will not be entertained enough...a LOT of exuses NOT to take children...but that didn't hinder this team...do ya think maybe GOD had something to do with that decision???? Definitely!!!!...they were told by the missionaries there this is not commonly done..if ever....but i think they set a NEW precedint for taking children....
i am overwhelmed at seeing my precious grandchildren holding hands, singing, talking, playing, and yes, even KISSING these precious precious Domincan people....what a bridge to gap....only a child can bridge it so PURELY!
of course i am EXTRA EXTRA moved by our little Hopie, who unabashedly approaches these children and ministers to them! i am moved beyond words.....thank you LORD for your blessing and wisdom to privilege our family with a HOPIE! she has many many more ministerings...i know...cuz i have been praying for that since before her birth....
i especially love the story Pete told in church on Sunday how he "suggested" that Hope give away her BABY ALIVE....and she resisted and did NOT want to....Pete was somewhat disapointed, but did not argue....let it go...later she told him in their hotel room...."GOD TOLD ME NO!"..........and i, for one, BELIEVE IT! :)
please GAZE upon these pictures, these beautiful people...aren't they amazing?...do you not LOVE seeing our children and adults loving on them?....
WHO is the RICHER for this mission trip?.....those going????......the Dominicans????....those who hear of the wonderful testimonies birthed on this trip????.....the missionaries?????
thank you to each one of you and for the sacrifices made to make the trip possible...
thank you to my son, Peter, i am SO proud of you and so moved EVERY day how God is working in your life and making you a LEADER for HIS KINGDOM....
let these pictures BLESS you...and yes, i know...some are repeats....i KNOW!........i love them so much!
i inserted a little Mary Englebreit picture in there, showing three girls of different race, playing together...i thought it was appropriate....and you know me and M.E. ....we're tight, ya know....
i cannot look at the pictures without tears and having my heart be swallowed in so many emotions....
i guess i am profoundly affected by the fact that this team had the Godly insight to take their children along...something not often done...why...for heaven sake...they would be in the way....they might get sick...they will fight....they will get too tired....they will not be entertained enough...a LOT of exuses NOT to take children...but that didn't hinder this team...do ya think maybe GOD had something to do with that decision???? Definitely!!!!...they were told by the missionaries there this is not commonly done..if ever....but i think they set a NEW precedint for taking children....
i am overwhelmed at seeing my precious grandchildren holding hands, singing, talking, playing, and yes, even KISSING these precious precious Domincan people....what a bridge to gap....only a child can bridge it so PURELY!
of course i am EXTRA EXTRA moved by our little Hopie, who unabashedly approaches these children and ministers to them! i am moved beyond words.....thank you LORD for your blessing and wisdom to privilege our family with a HOPIE! she has many many more ministerings...i know...cuz i have been praying for that since before her birth....
i especially love the story Pete told in church on Sunday how he "suggested" that Hope give away her BABY ALIVE....and she resisted and did NOT want to....Pete was somewhat disapointed, but did not argue....let it go...later she told him in their hotel room...."GOD TOLD ME NO!"..........and i, for one, BELIEVE IT! :)
please GAZE upon these pictures, these beautiful people...aren't they amazing?...do you not LOVE seeing our children and adults loving on them?....
WHO is the RICHER for this mission trip?.....those going????......the Dominicans????....those who hear of the wonderful testimonies birthed on this trip????.....the missionaries?????
thank you to each one of you and for the sacrifices made to make the trip possible...
thank you to my son, Peter, i am SO proud of you and so moved EVERY day how God is working in your life and making you a LEADER for HIS KINGDOM....
let these pictures BLESS you...and yes, i know...some are repeats....i KNOW!........i love them so much!
i inserted a little Mary Englebreit picture in there, showing three girls of different race, playing together...i thought it was appropriate....and you know me and M.E. ....we're tight, ya know....
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
LA---TEEE----DA!!! I got my new computer!!!
So here i am on my spankin, brand new computer!!! yee haw!!! i doooo feel special!!!! we haven't had anything this nice in the "techie" world...EVER, i guess! :)........the screen is BIG! and it is FLAT! and it is COOL!.........and it is now on my right, instead of my left, where the old big hunk of junk was...which was very irritating!
The only trouble that i can think of now is when i make technical mistakes...(or just any old dumb mistake)...i can't blame the computer!...you will KNOW it really is ME! (this is really shocking to you, isn't it????) LOL
I am up so late because i am having so much fun on this thing....and i don't want to quit! but guess i better say goodnite "John Boy".........but before i do, i am going to try to insert Hannah and Larry's bday picture, standing in front of the Flying Biscuit Cafe...where we had our lunch together as a family after church on Sunday for the bday kids! The food was yum yum...for us it was a first time visit...we will be sure to return!
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Happy Birthday Hannah and Larry!
Yes, it is my husband's birthday today, as well as my daughter's birthday! You say, wow...that's cool, right? Well...yea, kind of anyway...except for WHY it happened that way! I found out today that Hannah did not even know this little tidbit of information....oh my goodness!.........as a PRE-WARNING...please KNOW...what I did was STUPID, DANGEROUS, and very IGNORANT...nevertheless way back 28 years ago it seemed like a great idea to me...(remember we lived in a MUCH MORE UNINFORMED world than YOU live in today....NO exuse, however)......so 28 years ago and counting....i was MEGA pregnant...ready to give birth....with NO activity happening....and on the 12th...i got the BRIGHT??? idea that it would be SOOO nice to have our little baby born on Larry's birthday and they could forever share that day together....but how can i make that happen? on my own, that is....yes, PRAY...i did....and probably thought God gave me this idea...(now i know better).........we lived in a house with hardwood floors....so at some point on Saturday, the 12th i decided to stand on the chair...and "shake things up a little".......and YUP, you guessed it...JUMP OFF! i did that several times.....PLEASE KNOW i am not proud....anyway...after wearing myself out...i went on with the day (or evening)..whatever....but SURE ENUF! Sunday morning came and there were "rumblings" going on....and little Hannah Jane Hixson was born within the parameters of the 13th!!!! Of course...we did not have the privilege of knowing if the baby was a girl or a boy before the birth,...and because this child was SOOOO very active and WILD in the womb...we assumed "it" was a boy and during the whole pregnancy we called "him" "Wild Willy"..."his" name was going to be William Zimmerman Hixson...named after Larry's grandfather....i intended to call "him" Willy Z......honestly we were shocked to find out HE was a SHE!!!!....and as we got to know her as she grew we were more shocked because the child that was WILD in the womb was soooooo very quiet, shy, and reserved in real life...and she still is!!!!
I tried to download a picture of the two birthday kids, taken today...and because i am on Larry's work computer...for some reason cannot get access....whoa is me....but there is good news...to me at least! we are getting a new computer, arriving this week, hopefully it will be set up and running by next weekend....whew! i can't wait!
oh, and by the way, several years later a William Zimmerman Hixson WAS born! Larry's brother's son assumed the prestigious name!!!.....i haven't tried "Willy Z" on him ....yet anyway!
I tried to download a picture of the two birthday kids, taken today...and because i am on Larry's work computer...for some reason cannot get access....whoa is me....but there is good news...to me at least! we are getting a new computer, arriving this week, hopefully it will be set up and running by next weekend....whew! i can't wait!
oh, and by the way, several years later a William Zimmerman Hixson WAS born! Larry's brother's son assumed the prestigious name!!!.....i haven't tried "Willy Z" on him ....yet anyway!
Monday, April 7, 2008
it finally died!
well....my computer finally bit the dust....farewell stubborn,uncooperative computer!....soooo....i am not currently able to do much email...or blogging...am on Larry's work computer right now....so if you are one of my "regulars" at emailing...(yall know what i mean)....the "others" say we have NO life....lol!........anyway.....please be patient with me....we plan to get a new computer, but it may take a couple weeks!....oh my i am NOT happy about this....
til later....
til later....
Saturday, April 5, 2008
The farm I was raised on in Forest City, Iowa
I am going home this summer...traveling with Heidi, Carter and Ava! I am excited to tell them and show them the farm I was raised on and tell them all the stories...and there are a lot! They will enjoy the stories, I know! Like the time my dad rescued me out of the pasture from a sivvit cat...(something like a skunk)...and like the time he came and rescued me from a VERY mad , mother sow!....Lots of drama on the farm! I am sure we will have lots of FARM ADVENTURES to create of our own!!!
Here is a really good , long distance view of the farm as a whole! I used to help with the milking...feed the chickens, pick the eggs...help bale hay...feed the cows...feed the pigs...and many other farm chores! I didn't think it was so great as a kid, but am so glad to have been raised on a farm and taught good working habits! Thanks Mom and Dad! I always "imagined" my way through my chores as a waitress and a million other things, which helped me get my "chores" done...as they were called!
This is the old pump house on the "Lewis farm"....another lonely structure! 
Would you believe this is the house I was raised in??? It looks awful, and sad now! It has been empty for many, many years and is unsafe to even go into...and it certainly did not look like this when I was a child! It needs to be demolished, but my Dad just cannot bring himself to do it! It sure represents a lot of memories!
More beautiful farm land!
This is a picture of my Mom's garden...or I should say ONE of her gardens! Absolutely every year for the last 20 years it seems, she declares she is DONE with all her gardening and canning and freezing...and then spring comes and she succombs once again and plants a garden and is still planting gardens! They are a beautiful site to me! When we lived in Iowa we got to share in the "harvest" of her garden goodies....I really miss that! She has done so much canning in her life I think she could feed the world!! Way to go Mom!
Another lonely wagon, put to rest from it's hard work. I am not sure...but this one looks like the old feeder wagon we used to feed the cows from....I actually loved that job...all the cows gathered around and fought their way to the wagon...I used to pretend I was their waitress and I named them!..I also would not feed the RUDE ones...the ones who butted their way in!!! 
This is a picture of some of the equipment, also put to rest from past days of hard work on the farm!
The cows are grazing in the pasture land, that is rented out by another farmer.
Here is a picture of the vast cornfields and beautiful land on the farm!
The cows are grazing in the pasture land, that is rented out by another farmer.
Here is a picture of the vast cornfields and beautiful land on the farm!
Here is a picture of the old silo and the old barn on the farm where my parents still live! This picture looks beautiful to me...tho it represents a LOT of work and hard labor in days gone by. They are now lonely, empty buildings...which is sad to me...but yet beautiful!
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