Here are pictures of my newly refinished dining set. I am so excited, and I love it so much!! There is a before picture of the chair, and an after, and then a picture of the whole set.
Filled with You August 25, 2008
Lord, if I am filled with you…I will not complain.
If I am filled with you…I will not wallow in self pity.
If I am filled with you…I will not expect appreciation.
Instead, I will embrace every task you have given.
I will replace my vain ambitions with your will.
I will be content, and joyful, with where you have placed me.
I will glory in you.
Music Through the Years August 14, 2008
Today, as I was sewing, I was listening to the Foster family music album, “Music Through the Years,” Vol. 1. I was singing along, thinking about what formed my love of music – my family. Let me list the songs on vol. 1:
Through the Years – Kenny Rogers Copacabana – Barry Manilow Maneater – Hall & Oates Emmanuel – Amy Grant Money, Money, Money – ABBA Harry the Hairy Ape – ?(I don’t remember) Indian Outlaw – Tim McGraw Everything I Do, I do it For You – Bryan Adams Can’t Smile Without You – Barry Manilow Thriller – Michael Jackson Sisters – The Clooney Sisters I Am Woman – Helen Reddy Got 2 B Tru – Steven Curtis Chapman Big John – ?(I don’t remember) Yesterday – The CarpentersIf you notice, there is quite a variety, and that is what I love about it. But even more, I love the memories that go along with the music. I remember a trip to Colorado when we listened to the Robinhood, Prince of Theives soundtrack over and over again, because Leslie just bought it. I remember the many Christmas’s listening to the Amy Grant tape. I remember driving in the car, with me in the middle, listening to Barry Manilow’s “Like Father, Like Son,” trying to remember the words, all the while annoying the rest of my family with my constant rocking to the beat. We watched the White Christmas musical so much one summer, that we memorized every word. I remember mom & Leslie joking around at the end of Got 2 B Tru, that they could hear a flute in the rap song. We always had music on, and there was always such a variety.
As I was listening to Harry the Hairy Ape, I started laughing, because it is such a silly song, but it cracks me up! (What record? Shut up!) As I listened to Copcabana, I was be-boppin along as I sewed. As I listened to Through the Years, I started crying as I thought about how thankful I am that my mom and dad have stayed together, and been such an example through the years. As I listened to Big John, I thought of Leslie saying it, and I remembered the tape with all those silly songs that we loved to listen to – Cockfight, Beep! Beep!, Monster Mash, Running Deer, the mouse one (I don’t remember the name, just “tequila.”) As I listened to Yesterday Once More, I once again started crying, because so many memories came to mind.
I thought about my son, Caleb, and how I hope that he loves music just as much. I don’t want to force him to be a major musician, but I want him to love music, a variety of music, for the rest of his life. I want him to have the kind of happy memories like I have. So, he listens to ABBA (disco), oldies, bluegrass, opera & classical, choral, worship, and so much more. We run around the house and dance. I try to encourage him singing along, because I love it when we all get together and sing our favorite songs.
I then thought of my husband, and how when he and my bro-in-laws are around and the Fosters start singing, they all kinda slowly disappear – I know they think we are weird, or at least my husband does. But I would never change our musical heritage for anything. We love music, it is a part of our lives, and I think it brought us together. We are a close family, and yes, we had our fights, but we always had fun together too.
Dad, Mom, Kelly & Leslie, thank you for being a part in forming our own music history. I love you all, and I think we need another record night!
My Redeemer Lives/Drums August 1, 2008
Caleb has two new favorite songs: My Redeemer Lives from Hillsong, and Amazing Grace by Chris Tomlin. I have a burned cd in the van that have them back to back, and he always asks to hear them both. On My Redeemer Lives there is a section that has the singing with just a drum background – he really likes this part! Wednesday, he was running circles around the living room, kitchen, and dining room singing the song. After he sang the interlude part, he stopped by the basement door, started pounding his foot on the floor, and sang the chorus of the song. He was doing the drum part!! 
Some friends of ours have a small studio set up in their basement with a keyboard, drum set, guitars, amps and speakers. After going over a couple times, Josh would now like a drum set for his birthday and Christmas. We sold our big screen tv, so we might turn that half of the basement into a bonafide music room. Hmm…I have a feeling Caleb will want drum lessons.
