Patrick’s Vimeo page…couldn’t keep hold of the embed, for some reason?
Guess where I’ll be? I am directing the first-ever fundraising dinner for SkateMinistry led by Uriel Leubcke. It has turned in to quite the event, almost double in attendance to our projections. My bestie, Patrice of Patrice’s Pantry is serving Beef Wellington (I’m in!), Chicken Cordon Bleu and Gluten-free Vegetarian Lasagne. This cool video by my friend Patricko (I added the “o”) will kick off the program. The evening’s festivities will end with a professional Skate Demo and Uriel preaching it up in case any of the guests don’t know Jesus. The music will be Christian reggae and the vibe? Nothing less than super cool.
Running a fundraiser is kind of like doing a wedding (I did 5 last spring). There’ll be 200 at this one. There is venue, vendors, music, decor. You have to make seating arrangements, hound people about RSVPs, print prgrams and fill packets. There are catering issues (like we are double what we thought so we need more ovens) and rentals and making sure the parties involved are dressed correctly. The PowerPoint loop during dinner to inspire, and a video that will cause chills…Lighting and candles and pens that work are big deals in a fundraiser. Making sure to thank everyone appropriately and give gifts is important, too. Weeks of prep com down to one crazy-event-filled evening. There just isn’t an emotional bride given to teary outbursts with a fundraiser. Oh, wait…that is me in this scenario. *sniff, sniff
Can’t wait to spend a Saturday night with my new bunch of great friends {a lot of whom have crazy-amazing balance and unbelieveable endurance…AND love Jesus!}.
I got the coolest e-mail (well, I was one of 4 recipients which included DP and Tara and Tredessa):
I’m sitting here reflecting on everything right now. We’re 12 days away. Things are really starting to come together. We have an amazing team we nearly had to kick out last night because it was getting late! We’re on a crash course to have [more than 35,000] people. This year we did better on our vendors, our sponsorships, our donations, our materials, our volunteers. Tickes sales are through the roof and climbing…
I guess I’m just grateful to be in this with you guys. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine getting to this place. Love you guys!
-Luke
The thing is? Luke painted a picture we could see. He was a young guy (DP’s lifelong friend) who came weekly to eat leftovers at my kitchen table and would tell us the story of what Heaven Fest could be. And believe me – getting on board that dream was a defined and specific call of God. I had no desire to fund and produce a festival for the masses, but somehow there, in those summer days of 2007, we decided to say yes.
Dave, Tara, Luke and I “went public” in September of 2007 (Tredessa joined in the spring) and Heaven Fest was born July 26, 2008. Oh, but conceived so much earlier.
The 2010 Leadership Team at the final training July 18, 2010. Crazy visionary, Jesus-loving, self-sacrificing, mission-minded, giving, praying, worshipping, enemy-defeating, gifted, talented, called and appointed people! Oh, I am in awe! {By the way – do you see how Luke is trying to self-promote and be seen in this picture? Yeah. I didn’t think so. Because he doesn’t.}
And I never could have imagined what God would do or the people He would send who are just so unbelievably a-ma-zing! But I feel especially honored to get to work with Luke. He is one unique individual, a true-hearted, authentic visionary and I am so glad I got to hitch my wagon to his star. It is a crazy fun ride.
Last year I said October is Orange. And it still is. My church turned orange last fall, too. I do love my house-of-worship-advertising sweatshirt with the bum logo (thank-you, sweet Katie!).
This October is craaaaaazy-busy-fun and occasion-filled!
Like, we have three family birthdays in October (mine, Hunter’s and still-to-come: Jovan’s!). I turned 50 (shhh…there is no need to think about this, nor mention it aloud) with dinner at Cinzzetti’s~
Pictured: Me and my baby, Stormie; Patrice is telling me right at this very second that she is pregnant with their 3rd child! Me, Pearl and Marilyn. I screamed immediately following…
DP nearly ate Cinzzetti’s out of mussels; me and the 5 grandbebes who were well-contained in our private room.
I have sweet friends (almost every single one of whom is younger than me, I noticed), and a lovely family. Thank-you, everybody for celebrating my life even if I could have gone without noticing the new decade. I am blessed.
Hunter and the wheels-in-motion cake and fun-on-wheels party for himself and 25 of his closest friends:
Hunter turned “The Garage” into a speedway. There were trikes and bikes and skateboards and more. Kids zoomed one way and then the next. It was crazy loud and speedy. Hunter got the chocolate fudge cake he wanted in the shape of a “5″ and when, the other day, he reminded he really, really, really wanted some lightening bolts, too, in honor of his current favorite movie, Bolt, I whipped up a strawberry cake at the last second to cut out and ice some lightening bolt shapes for flanking the main cake.
But, oh my goodness, it is what I did with the cut-off-cake crumbs that needs to be mentioned. Into a bowl: leftover chocolate-fudge cake, the rest of the fudge filling, a block of cream cheese, a can of cherry pie filling. Mixed well. Cookie-scooped onto baking sheets and thrown into the freezer until they were just firm enough to coat with melted white chocolate. Chocolate-Cherry Cake Bites, o yeah! To. die. for. Yum. Seriously!
Poor Magoo ended up very, very sick at his own party. He conked out, but the fun held up.
There was a Worship and the Word Movement PSTeam (prayer-support team) potluck at the MadCap Theater (a great improv place-you should totally go!)
Last night there was a Seek and Soak with TOM EWING (a man DP called a general in worship ministry). Here is the kick-off song featuring Tom, Sing to the King
In the video, left to right: Rocky Rhoades on guitar, Tom Ewing, Tristan on drums, Stormie on bass, DP on lead guitar (and leading the whole Seek and Soak), Lewis Brown (a.k.a. Proxy), and Lewis Brown, Sr. on sax. It was an amazing night. Musical worship, the Word of God, 3+ hours of encounter-worship, about 100 people entering the Presence, even Baptists! Smile, Emily! That was for you!
Let’s see…what else?
Jovan and Rocky will find out if it is a boy or a girl at their next appointment. Goody!
There is the celebration of Amy Jo’s baby-to-be this Thursday night.
And Saturday night I get to go see the final Delirious concert in Colorado ever as they are on their farewell tour. This band changed everything in the 90s and they are still such a class act, men of integrity who love Jesus and are soooo talented. They changed the sound of worship and people around the world go deeper worship via the songs of the Lord they introduced. Got to see them at Ichthus and now here. I love them and how they have influenced my own children to become History Makers.
Also ~ Dave will play the lead in the Platte Valley Player’s community theaters’ presentation of “Suspenders,” a musical comedy, as part of the grand opening celebration of Brighton’s newly restored/renovated armory as a community arts center/theater in Brighton’s “downtown.” He’ll be performing in it over the next few weeks leading up to Thanksgiving. I’ll be attending the very first performance on Monday the 19th (an event for which I bought a dress!!). I am somewhat divided in my joy about the fact that Dave is also painting the backdrop for the show and there are 6 giant 8′ x 4′ canvases in my living room at this time.
Family Time!
I will be going to spend a week with my mama et papa in Springfield, MO, where they wrongfully and stubbornly retired a year and a half ago and now wish to leave to be closer to any of us that they know (do you know of anyone house-hunting in Springfield?? Help!). They will spoil me rotten and my brother Joe is meeting me there, too. We will visit Branson, about a half hour from them, for the express purpose of giving my mother her dream-come-true in visiting the Roy Rogers/Dale Evans Museum before it closes its’ doors for good this December.
I am already working on church Christmas decor. In October!
Upon my return, I will enjoy the grandbebes playing dress-up for the church’s annual Harvest Fest and then, as they have all requested (informing me that it is a tradition, one I must have started unknowingly), all will gather at our home for broccoli-cheese soup (because I make incredible zuppa).
Life. It can wear you out!
Dave is sick and they are checking him for H1N1 tomorrow morning, though they have already started him on antibiotics. What in the world?? Who has time for this?
Just trying to keep up…Jeanie
NOTE TO SELF: Loosen up some time in November and December. Right.
NOTE: I am having trouble getting comments and the thumbnails aren’t working since “the crash” a few days ago…will try to get it corrected asap!
My son-in-law Dave knew instantly! What do YOU see?
What about one of these views?
Answer ~ ta-da!: these are pale-blue painted branches (glittered) which are on top of a blue tarp. Soon, they will be part of the centerpieces for the Vision-casting Fundraising Dinners for Worship and the Word Movement and Heaven Fest. Pearl and Bryan are creating the ambience or the two nights, to held at The Stonebrook Manor (we love Bill & Candi!) and Pearl took the pictures of the branches you see above after Bry had been hard at work. I thought it was the coolest image and almost unidentifiable, even though I knew what it was. But the son-in-law immediately saw “a tarp.” he’s good.
See also a hand-sewn and painted “backdrop” Pearl has been hard at work on. It isn’t finished yet, but you can see how cool it will be.
And the invites Stormie created for us (these were the almost-finished drafts, and they match perfectly-front and back, 6″ x 9″). They were mailed out in translucent blue envelopes, THE invitation of the year to receive!
And hey, if you’d like to hear about Heaven Fest and how you can be a part, I happen to be (*ahem) the Dinner Director. Though seating is very limited, I could get you in!
I am surrounded by creative people and the beautiful!…Jeanie
My family (children and MJP) has been going to The Home of Refuge for several years. The kids have raised countless dollars and helped teach, preach and build playgrounds and remodel kitchens and have just carrried the torch for this particular orphange. Heaven Fest and WWM has made the Homes of Refuge a major focus in ministry and giving.
A few days ago, the government took the property over and bussed the children off. We have been praying for the children. It has become clear that there is an enemy assignment against the leaders of the ministry and the orphange there. The government has threatened this for years, but is finally carrying some things out.
Below is an e-mail from Mary Jean Powers that I just got today with the most recent news of Tony and Rosa and The Home of Refuge in Venezuela. We have been weeping over the children. Join us in prayer, please.
Hey Everyone ~ I realize that this is the first news some of you have received regarding the recent attack on Home of Refuge in Venezuela. I will make this as brief as possible because I cannot include all the details that I just got from Rosa by phone. I will be sharing everything at a prayer meeting tonight (Monday December 15) specifically for HOR and Tony and Rosa. The prayer meeting will be held at 611 Pheasant View Dr. in Frederick, CO at 7 pm.
Here are some details and a correction: First of all, the orphanage in Honduras WAS NOT ROBBED. HOR Honduras is doing great.
It was Home of Refuge in Venezuela that was robbed at gunpoint last Monday, by 4 men who were hired to kill Tony. Tony was not there.
Three government agencies came to the orphanage the following Thursday to take over. They have taken possession of the property, and sent almost all of the children away on a bus - we do not know where they are. They have forbidden Tony to come to the property, at the risk of being imprisoned.
Four of the most severely handicapped children were left behind at the facility. Big Luis and Yesica were at school; they are safe. Gabriel, Lillie and Carla, Edixon and a 5 yr. old new kid are safe, as well.
Right now, Tony is at the airport in Caracas, trying to fly back to Miami. He went to the Ven. National Guard for protection, and they advised him to leave the country asap because there is a price on his head.
As I said, I will give all the details tonight. Please do your best to keep these details accurate as you pass them along to other intercessors. I was able to pray with Rosa today, and I believe that God is raising up an army of intercessors on behalf of these orphans. One intercessor said that she had a dream of Jesus praying for our kids at HOR! Please pray what Jesus is praying!
OK, here is the most important thing to pray about (besides the obvious protection, etc. for the children):
PRAY DIVINE PROTECTION FOR TONY’S LIFE. These hired murderers will stop at nothing.
PRAY FOR COMFORT FOR THE CHILDREN, TONY AND ROSA.
PRAY FOR ROSA’S HEALTH
PRAY THAT TONY GET TO MIAMI SAFELY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
PRAY FOR WISDOM FOR TONY AND ROSA.
MOST OF ALL, PRAY FOR TONY’S SAFETY. PSALM 91. PROVERBS 14:26. ISAIAH 54:13-17.
Smile, Emily! That was for you!
