THRIVE

I experienced something new and totally amazing last night: My First Christian Concert!

My Dad & I at the concert

Now, I can remember the exact moment I started listening to our local Christian radio station. It was September 2008, and I was channel surfing on my way to work - all of the sudden I heard Remember Me by Mark Schultz, it was a song I had memorized for high school graduation but that day in mid September the song took on an entire different meaning. It was because only a few weeks earlier my family experienced a devastating loss, my dad's brother committed suicide, five years later it is still crazy to type those words. Sitting in my car that day listening to Remember Me I felt like my uncle was sending a message - that he was with God and everything was okay even though we were all struggling with the ugly, unanswerable questions suicide brings. My radio dial has hardly left 97.9 since that day in 2008 and I am super grateful for artists spreading God's word through their beautiful songs!!

There you have it, the background on how I got my start listening to Christian music, but let's get back to my worship experience last night:

The THRIVE Tour was in Fargo, now for all of you non Christian music listening people this is a tour consisting of the Grammy winning group Casting Crowns; Momma to 1, pregnant with twins and still rocking a tour - Laura Story; and the Energetic Australian group For King & Country.

For King & Country started the show off and BLEW ME AWAY. I'm not kidding these guys had so many instruments they were playing, ran all over in the crowd and gave me chills {in a good way} totally blown away! Beyond their amazing musical talent they had an important message proclaiming that chivalry is not dead and women should never be treated like anything less than princesses!! Watching this group live was such a treat and I hope I can see them again sometime. 

Laura Story has been one of my favorites for a long time. Her song Blessings is one of my All Time favorite songs and I was SUPER excited to watch her perform live. She didn't disappoint and had such a touching message that God has a plan even if we don't see it clearly or have to go through hardships before we reach the happiness.

As I think I've mentioned before, the first Christian CD I ever bought was Casting Crowns. I can belt out almost all of their {popular} songs by heart and just love love love the messages in their songs, so I went into this concert knowing they would be amazing. What I didn't expect was just how amazing Mark {the lead singer} would be at speaking. Chills, tears to the eyes, take your breath away rawness as he spoke of The Word - you won't be disappointed in attending their concert instead you will be fulfilled. 

One thing all these artists had in common, besides their love for spreading God's Word was how down to earth they all were when they spoke. It wasn't about their fame or getting mentioned in the latest headline for a sell out show it was about Love and Faith - spreading God's Word and things that mattered!!

The Christian concert experience is unlike any other concert genre I have ever been to and I don't know how to explain it but I can easily say it won't be my last!!

Have you ever been to a Christian concert? 

Who are some of your favorite Christian artists?

Affirmation of Faith

There is this book out there that I desperately want to read but it scares the ever living daylights out of me. 

I want to be able to read between the lines.

I want to be able to hear Him speak to me.

I want to follow Him like never before.

…

Yesterday I was forgiven of all my sins. I ate the bread and drank the wine and I was Restored! I thanked Him for all he does in my life, thanked Him for giving up his life and forgiving me of my sins. I really did feel restored … Except there was this little part of me that wondered why I couldn't immerse myself in His word. 

That Book. 

It is the words {that I can't pronounce} and the names {that I can't pronounce} that are holding me back. I feel like I need to consult a dictionary with every other word I read. 

Where Do I Start.

With the first Book? What first book - Old or New? In The Middle? On Page 1567? It makes me feel lost.

…

So I joined a group of people that wanted to read The Book too! We are in week 3 and I haven't made it past week 1. Still struggling! 

Yesterday though I felt that it was okay. I was trying. I believe. He Loves Me.

He Loves Me!!

linked up with Brittany

Rejoice: Love was born on Christmas Day!

Merry Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and The Day After. I have a feeling I won't be blogging any of those days so I wanted to cover my bases! 

I want to wish all of you and yours a WONDERFUL Christmas. 

Remember the Reason For The Season!

Tuesday and Wednesday we will be celebrating with my husband's side of the family. I will be singing with some ladies from church for Christmas Eve Service which is one of my All Time favorite times to be in church surrounded by so many loved ones and celebrating Jesus! 

…

Another one of my favorite things about this season is Christmas Cards. I love to send them out {also love getting yours} and have been doing so for many years! Here is a little look back of all the cards I have sent out over the years. Starting in 2008, back in college when we lived with Steve's cousin! Enjoy and don't mind the poor quality, screen shots was the only way I could get most of these images! PS anyone recognize the Tree in the first card, back when it was brand spankin' new and had all it's legs! 

This year we had two cards, only for the simple reason that I realized I needed more and decided to go with a different style so below are the 2013 Editions!

Do you love giving Christmas cards as much as me?!

The Little Things

Who else has Fall Fever?? As sad as I am to see Summer leave us {since we hardly had summer} I am equally excited for leggings, boots and oversized sweaters. Our apartment smells of pumpkin spice, I'm hanging out in adorable leggings and loving these first days of fall! 

I know it isn't Thursday but I'm still going to share my Lately post with you! I hope you enjoy all these Little Things that have made my life pretty amazing in the past week. 

One of my good friends wasn't able to make it to our wedding so last week we watched our wedding video, ate some yummy dessert and hung out with her new little bundle of joy! 

Last week seemed to drag a little so wine and cheese was necessary by Thursday. 

The men were working cattle {giving cattle vaccines} this week. They usually work themselves so hard they forget to eat so I made sure to bring some lunch to them on Friday.

This is one of my best friends' little one she will be 1 year in December and is just starting to walk now … such a doll!

Speaking of that friend, she is moving to Florida in a week so we had a little get-together before she left us. 

These are 2 of my best friends from HS ... LOVE THEM!

Told you I had some adorable leggings {my hubby thinks otherwise}! Got these from Brickyard Buffalo and I'm so in love with them.

The hubby and I became members of the little country church we go to. {Total moment of honesty we've been very bad with our attendance lately but I'm hoping this will help.} This is the church his mom grew up in and his Grandparents are still very involved in this church family. It reminds me of my country church I grew up in and I can't wait to become more involved. PS. don't you love the angels behind us in the b&w photo?! Those are made out of wheat by the hubby's Grandma, she is so amazingly talented! 

I could stare at this little one all day. He belongs to one of my Best Friends and I just Love Love Love him! She lives 3+ hours away so I was beyond happy to visit when she was home this weekend. 

Last night we had a nice Sunday drive. Checking Corn - Meeting the new show Steers - My love for Pair 2 of cute leggings!

Like I said The Little Things in my life have been keeping me pretty happy! 

Now let me know, what little things have you been loving lately?!

Linking up with Rachel