ABC Youth Choir « Girly Muse

Archive for the ‘ABC Youth Choir’ Category

Friends, Downton Abbey and Christmas

June 25, 2012

The past weekend was one of the best and busiest I’ve had in a long time…summer has taken off with a bang.

I FINALLY took action with my unruly yard. It’s sad~ my gardening skills have gotten worse over the years instead of better. I can’t tell you how many perennials I’ve tried in our garden beds. Sigh. My garden at my first house was so cute and colorful. Now I have a huge yard and it’s like pulling teeth to get things to flourish. We dug up a ton, moved things around…it was a family affair. One flower bed looks fantastic; the others still have to be finished. Any tips on VERY HARDY plants for zone 4?

Friday night, I spent time with my girls Courtney, Tosha and Halima…hang with just one of them and hilarity ensues, but put the four of us in a room together and it’s, well…I don’t even have a word for it. Suffice it to say, I am still laughing a few days later. I love these women and thank God for true friends.

My dear friend, Amy, from college days, was in town and we had breakfast Saturday morning. It has been far too long since I’ve seen her and oh my, what a treat. I will make sure I see her before another decade goes by! We reminisced for hours and it felt as if no time had passed. Another friend, Wendy, who I have known forever, but never really knew~ know what I mean? ~ she joined us and I am so glad I finally got to know her better.

We saw Brave~ did any of you see it yet? The red hair is mesmerizing!

Our two great nephews, Jordan and Caleb, graduated and had such a fun party on Saturday, complete with music from our nephews, Chris and Andrew. Take a look at our new great niece…isn’t she a beauty?

Yep, she’s dreamy.

And then after months and months of staying up way too late and waking up way too early, it caught up with me. I fell asleep on the couch at 7:30 P.M. Can you believe it? I dragged myself to bed around midnight and wonder of wonders~ I went back to sleep until 6:30 A.M.! I was a new woman, I tell you!

After church, we had a group of 9 or 10 record BGVs on a song for Jason Gray’s Christmas project. We tried to invoke the good cheer of Christmas in the heat of the studio and I think we might have managed to pull it off. I do love a day of singing in the studio. Even though it’s usually sweaty and sometimes crowded, your feet get tired and it can be a LONG day, good memories are always made.

Last night, we started watching the series Downton Abbey at Steve and Jill’s house. I’ve wanted to see this for a long time and it did not disappoint…I am hooked. I saw four episodes and I’m going to get after the rest in speedy fashion.

I feel that I sufficiently wrung out the goodness of the entire weekend as best I could. Now…on to a hopefully mellow week. I can only handle so much fun.

Posted in ABC Youth Choir, Family, Friends, Fun, June 2012, Life, Movies, Music | 8 Comments »

Boutique Crawl

April 12, 2012

Three weeks from today~ Thursday, May 3rd from 5:30-9:00 PM~ I will be part of a boutique crawl in downtown Prior Lake. The Wild Ruffle Pop-Up Shop!

Greyley and I were part of the last Wild Ruffle Pop-Up Shop and had such a great time that we were excited when Cate invited us again. I wasn’t even sure where Prior Lake was located and found myself pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t too far from my house. The town is so cute and for this next event, the downtown shops are going to be as much a part of the evening as the vendors lining the streets. Hopefully the weather will be perfection and we will make new friends and shop ’til we drop.

I’ll give you a little reminder about it in a couple of weeks. Greyley and I would love to see some familiar faces. We’ve got lots to do between now and then. There’s jewelry and headbands to be made, folks! We both have a good amount of inventory going already, but it seems we always get inspired with some NEW HAREBRAINED IDEAS OF FABULOUSNESS at the very last minute before every new show. What will it be this time? I’m scared to even let my mind go there…but there’s still time…a little bit of precious time…

Cate is featuring us today on her blog for the upcoming event. For more details, you can also check out the Wild Ruffle Pop-Up Shop Facebook page…and while you’re on Facebook, why don’t you visit my new Girly Muse Facebook page too. Feel free to “LIKE” it! It will come in handy one day, I promise.

Since today seems to be Happy Link Day~ I may as well add a few more, so you can click to your heart’s content. Greyley made it through the first round of speeches at her school for the Optimist International Oratorical Contest. It’s an honor and we’re tickled pink for her. This morning, she will go through another round. As soon as she is finished, we’re off to sing/play with the ABC Youth Choir at Concordia. Tonight, I will be attending the Madame Butterfly Blogger Preview night. Maybe I will see some of you lovely bloggers there.

Have a glorious Thursday. XO

Posted in ABC Youth Choir, April 2012, Bloggers, Creativity, Fashion, Fun, Headbands, Jewelry, Shopping | 2 Comments »

Last Week of December

December 30, 2011

Happy last week of December! I hope you’re all enjoying the holidays. Christmas has come and gone and now there is the feeling of Newness in the air. For now, though, I’d like to recap on the past week.

Last Friday, our Youth Choir Christmas concert was so much fun. It was bittersweet because our fearless choir director, Steve, is being promoted to Media Director at our church. He has been part of the Youth Choir for 20 years and will be desperately missed. Thankfully, he is not going anywhere, really…we will all still be working together. AND…we are so excited for all the great things he’s about to do.

I love this picture of Steve and Jillie Bean.

Sweet moments…

me & Mari xo

Look at this firecracker winking at me.

I’m crazy about this girl.

We all are.

Pretty girls~ Mari, Kelexus & Celsy

Fun, fun night. It always is.

If you haven’t heard, we still don’t have snow. We had a brown Christmas. And I was completely OK with it! I just cannot bring myself to wish for snow. It’s been so mild and I know it’s bound to hit eventually.

This is my son’s idea of winter wear.

It broke his heart for me to tell him the shorts weren’t fit for the cold.

He won.

What? It was in the upper 30s!

Christmas was wonderful. My late sleeper, Greyley Kate, woke up bright and early. We waited for the little man to wake up and it didn’t take too long.

Here are the two lovebirds waiting to go downstairs…

And the Silly Sabins in their Matchy-Match Jammies

Indigo LOVED Greyley’s present to him

This was my present from Indie:

All day long the kids said, “This is the best Christmas EVER!” And it really was. We gave them stockings and then surprised them with an Air Hockey table. (We found the Air Hockey table at Goodwill~ what a FIND!) They played together all day and are still hooked on the game.

The next day, the family came over…we had an Italian Christmas. DELICIOUS. It just might be my favorite…although I really enjoyed Mexican Christmas and Greek Christmas too…no, Italian Christmas was the winner, pretty sure of it.

Take a look at this sweet and gorgeous family…

love

One of the best, most relaxing, fun Christmases I can remember…

The next night, we had a party for Steve…also Italian themed.

And then the next day, I crashed…after I took down the Christmas decorations.

This weekend has more fun in store…

I am looking forward to 2012. The year 2011 was a challenging one, to say the least. I am excited to bring in a new year. I will see you then! XO

Posted in ABC Youth Choir, Christmas, December 2011, Family | 8 Comments »

Christmas Cheer

December 23, 2011

Today is the beginning of our Christmas break. Woohooooo! It was so nice to have a leisurely morning…made it feel like Christmas really is around the corner.

Tonight is the ABCYC Christmas concert…always my favorite concert of the year. (7 PM, 1545 Dieter Street, St. Paul 55106)

Here’s an oldie, but goodie. Jesus, You’re Beautiful~ written by my husband and featuring Ashleigh Still…

Posted in ABC Youth Choir, December 2011 | 6 Comments »

Fun, Flutes and Alvin

December 9, 2011

If you need something delightful and Christmas-y to do today, head on over to the Mall of America at 1:45 and hear my daughter play in a fantastic flute choir. Don’t I sound like a mother? It’s true, though, it will be fantastic. She is SO excited about it.

My girl will be the one in the red Alvin sweatshirt and stocking hat. Yes, any ABCYC members, THAT red Alvin sweatshirt~ if any of you have one you’d like to get rid of, we’ll take them! We sang there one year with Jesse McCartney for the opening of Alvin & the Chipmunks~ all the girls were thrilled and all the guys were cringing with embarrassment. I have fond memories of that, especially the cringing…good times/free movie.

I’ll be (one) of the proud mamas shooting pictures and video at the same time.

While I’m talking about how proud I am of my daughter~ I can do that once in a while, right? Ahem~ let me show you what she’s been working on at school…

Have I ever mentioned she is a true fan of Stevie Wonder? She knows every word to every song…every lick…it’s awesome.

Then she came home and whipped this one up…truly. She’s on a Stevie roll.

Fun, right? She gives us lots of reasons to work on our pride.

Posted in ABC Youth Choir, Christmas, Creativity, December 2011, Heartwarming Events, Kids, Music | 4 Comments »

I’ll Take a Jingle With a Side of Bell, Please

November 28, 2011

I’m in a sleepy stupor this morning. Greyley had to wake me up three times to get her off to school. Whew. Maybe there will be a nap in my future…or lots of caffeine. Both, if I’m lucky.

We had an excellent Thanksgiving celebration weekend. Would you like the rundown?

Thursday was so fun with our family…and all the delicious food. It’s always wonderful to be together. And chaotic. Friday, we played Phase 10 and Scattergories at Tosha’s…also good food. Saturday, we had lunch with friends we hadn’t seen in a long time and then Nate played out at the Aster Cafe. Sunday was a full day at church and then we played out at the Mall of America with the ABC Youth Choir. Good times.

Our “dress code” was ugly holiday sweaters. Or just ugly sweaters.

I think Nate’s outfit took the cake.

Ugly Christmas Sweaters

It was the candy cane turtleneck that took it over the top.

Greyley and I wore matching Christmas tree sweaters. Here’s the thing, though…they were so comfy! I have a feeling my ugly Christmas sweater will be making a home in my lounge wear selection. I’ll restrict it to the month of December, how’s that? What you can’t see from the picture are the tiny gold bells that jingle when you move…or breathe.

Everyone needs at least one outfit that jingles when you breathe.

I’m happy to see the sunshine is back! It makes the whole week shine with promise. Happy Monday, loved ones! Hope you had a wonderful weekend. XO

Posted in ABC Youth Choir, Christmas, November 2011, Thanksgiving | 5 Comments »

Catch Your Breath

June 27, 2011

I have been missing it over here on Girly Muse! I had a crazy week in Dallas and then came home to a crazy weekend with our Youth Choir’s 20th Reunion.

First of all, Dallas was so fun. It’s always great to see everybody and catch up. Work went well~ it’s always fun to see how much everything changes in the showrooms each time. There are people that I get attached to who have moved on to other places in the Trade Center, so that’s always a little bit sad, but then there are new fun people to get to know too. I was able to visit with friends in the early part of the week and then concentrate more on working the second half.

I might even have a little bit of a tan from some of that fun. Woohoo. I don’t even recognize myself tan anymore, it’s such a shock.

I didn’t take a single picture~ can you believe it?

My feet survived. They only hurt like they normally would from being on them all day, every day. Nothing like last time, whew.

I had great Mexican food all week…besides Jason’s Deli and one fabulous barbeque place that I don’t know the name of and a good sushi place, I ate all Mexican and loved every minute of it. I think, so far, my favorite Mexican restaurant in the Dallas area is Mi Cocina in Plano. I thought it was Mi Casita, but looks like it’s Mi Cocina…sorry if I steered any of you wrong~ I did recommend it a few dozen times or so. The brisket tacos are the best I’ve ever had and so is the chicken tortilla soup.

I had a run-in with a pool gate/latch that gave me a nasty bruise. The colors changed into exquisite blues, reds and purples every day and I had to answer a LOT of questions about that…I even put make up on it to cover it up and still had people offering to take care of whoever had roughed me up. It’s turned into a nice yellow and purple concoction today. It was a pool gate, people, no need to get your fists out.

There was thunder like no other thunder. Land sakes, I thought it was coming in to snatch me. I love storms and don’t typically get scared, but one storm startled me so abruptly out of sleep and just kept on making my stomach drop.

And then the reunion…I got home Friday afternoon and went to the church right away. It was the 20th choir reunion and the 10th reunion of our “Washed” CD. We had a big dinner that night and visited and reminisced. It was wonderful and emotional. Saturday we rehearsed all day…oh my, it sounded so good. We filled the choir loft to overflowing and the songs were just right there in our memories even after not singing some of them for 10 plus years. It was a beautiful thing.

Sunday night was the big concert and I wish you could have all experienced it. I think it might have been my favorite concert EVER. I can’t even appropriately express how fun it was.

This morning I am feeling the need for coffee and a massage. Doesn’t that sound nice? Happy Monday. Missed all you bloggy friends. XO

Posted in ABC Youth Choir, June 2011, Market | 2 Comments »

Book Love and To Market I Go

June 16, 2011

It’s that time again…I’m heading to Dallas for Market. This time will be a little different~ I’m working before it begins and only midway through Market. I have to get back next weekend for the ABCYC Reunion~ weeha!

I’m a little nervous~ I injured my feet the last time I worked Market and it took me four months to recover…am actually still dealing with the issue, although they’re WAY better than they were. Say a prayer for me that my feet will survive. I cannot afford another four months of virtually no exercise, just for one thing…and for another, I like my feet and want to keep them around…with feeling and no scary tingling, preferably.

One dilemma (I was taught to spell it dilemna, but apparently that is wrong. Dilemma sure makes more sense, but that never stopped the English language before…um, I digress.) I have when packing for Dallas or anywhere in the hot and lovely Southern states, is that while it is SO hot outside, it is SO cold INSIDE. I am trying to decide on the perfect little wrap to go with all my outfits so I don’t freeze to death even though it’s 103º outside. I’m thinking my trusty jean jacket might do the trick.

I have my Nook loaded up for the flights~ right now I am reading How To Be Good by Nick Hornby. I really enjoy his writing. He has that British humor that I love. I also have A Visit from the Good Squad by Jennifer Egan, Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella and The D Word by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke, to name a few. You can never have too many books. I need something light and fun for a stressful and busy week. These will do the trick.

Speaking of The D Word, Liz and Lisa are the authors that write the blog chicklitisnotdead.com/. It’s a really fun blog that features a variety of female authors and has awesome giveaways. I love reading the 5 Do’s and Do Over Lists of each author featured. Check out their blog. You’ll get hooked AND you’ll win books! I’ve won at least 5 from them…so great!

We’ll be shipping out headbands today. For some of you fine folks, you will be receiving Nate’s packaging/Little Works of Art…hopefully the result will be lovely, non-crushed beauties! I think they will make you smile.

Jacket and Nook, check. Yep, that should do it. If you’re in the Dallas area next week at Market, come say hello. I’ll be in the New Generation showroom. XO

Posted in ABC Youth Choir, Books, Headbands, June 2011, Market | 1 Comment »

Good Friday

April 22, 2011

Happy Good Friday!

It is gloomy, overcast and chilly outside, but inside there are cuddles, warm blankets and cartoons galore. We are still in nursing mode over here.

Our little man gave us a good scare a couple nights ago. He got pretty congested, which for him means worse asthma. Sure enough, he had an asthma attack that was more severe than usual. The worst he’s ever had, actually. Oh man, it was scary. We called 911 and were in the hospital for a few hours that night as they got his breathing more regulated.

We’re following up today with a visit to our favorite pulmonologist in the world, Dr. Kubik. I don’t like the conditions, but cannot wait to see him. He played a part in saving our boy’s life when he was a baby and I will forever be grateful. It’s been a joy to see him throughout the last 6 years and hear him recount the miracle that happened for Indigo.

Days like this when it’s dark, not just outside, but rough stuff…you know the kind…sickness, scary situations, dark days…I am reminded of the way, over 2000 years ago, Jesus took it all on himself…for me. For this day, far into the future, when I’m struggling and trying to keep it all together. When I question if things are ever going to get better…when I wonder if God took a break from me…

I’m reminded that He already took care of it all~ all my fear, grief, sickness, pain, sin…and not just for me, but for my family, for my friends, for the whole world…it’s taken care of. And while a little bump in the road might be hard, it’s nothing compared to the price He paid, the pain He endured, the stripes that He suffered.

I believe, help my unbelief.

Good Friday is only good because of what happened a couple days later. He rose, He lives…and THAT is why life is worth living.

Click the link below to hear Deborah McKee and Ashleigh Still sing with the ABC Youth Choir, “You are Mercy.” It’s the right song for today.

http://abcyouthchoir.bandcamp.com/track/you-are-mercy

Posted in ABC Youth Choir, April 2011, Grateful Heart, Hope, Life, Ministry, Music | 6 Comments »

Hello, Winter!

December 21, 2010

Good morning. Ugh, it was so hard to get out of my warm bed this morning. We got more snow yesterday. It was still dark when I crawled out of bed. The trees are beautifully flocked. Welcome, Winter! I always have to snort at that on the 21st of December since we have already been having full-on WINTER for over a month. Just a little Minnesota irony…

Speaking of snow, please be careful out there. It’s rough going with the icy roads…

I’m thrilled to have my computer back~ she was in the shop all weekend and I missed her! She came back from her little hospital stay feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Everyone needs a little healing and refreshing every now and again. She’s feeling saucier than ever, I can tell.

It was a wonderful, spectacular and exhausting weekend. How is that for a sentence? I have to tell the bad first~ the kids (and their parents, actually) have had the crud for weeks, but it picked up full steam over the weekend…especially for Greyley. We tried to rest when we could, but on Sunday we had to hit it hard. The Sunday School Christmas program was Sunday morning and the kids were all so cute.

I kept my kids hydrated with mint tea over the entire weekend. Can I just take a moment to expound on the wonders of mint tea? Oh ye nectar of the gods! There are healing properties in that mint tea, oh yes, indeed.

Sunday night was the ABCYC Christmas concert, which is always my favorite choir event of the entire year. The place was absolutely FULL~ thank you for coming, everyone!~ and the choir gave it their absolute best. They did an AMAZING job.

And since this blog is the place that I tell the behind-the-scenes, not always so pretty stories…just to tell you how it really is…I will tell you that my child was coughing so hard on the way that we had to pull over while she threw up. She was bawling~ I don’t know what made her cry harder…that she felt so sick or that she was afraid of ruining her beautiful new clothes. I told her I was going to turn around and take her home, even though it takes 25 minutes to get to church and we were just 3 minutes from church. That made her cry harder. She was determined to do the concert.

So…I got her in the back door, washed/cleaned her up, dried her tears, told her how beautiful she was, told her to just smile, she got up there with the choir, put her best face forward, sang her solo beautifully and I realized…she is a woman.

Because isn’t that what we are so good at doing? In the worst of times, women know how to pull up their bootstraps and do what needs to be done.

Amen.

I am so grateful that she was able to be there because midway through the concert, we looked down on the front row and there sat Greyley’s fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Hallum! She brought her daughters and a friend and loved every second of it. It meant so much to us that she came and it just felt like a gift that God hand delivered to Greyley.

Just so you know…I kept her home from school yesterday. She slept until 10 and felt a thousand times better by last night. Everyone needs a little healing and refreshing every now and again…

Speaking of bootstraps, I’m needing to pull mine up and get this Christmas week ON! I might need to take a few lessons from my daughter right at the moment.

Posted in ABC Youth Choir, December 2010, Kids, Life, Music | 3 Comments »