It’s no secret that I had a little funk going on the last few days. I think I’ve wallowed enough. Let me tell you some things that made me smile yesterday.

In our morning cuddle, I had my arm up around Indigo. He was snuggled close and then leaned back to look at me intently, as he often does. Something caught his eye. He looked under my arm and touched my armpit.

“Why do you have hair there?” he asked.

“I get hair there. I have to shave it.”

He thought about it for a while, didn’t speak for a few minutes…I thought he was lost in thoughts about cars, at this point.

Until he said, “I don’t like you having hair there.”

I can honestly say I missed ONE day of shaving. I’m no saint~ I’ve missed more than one day before, but yesterday was not one of them. It was a TINY bit of stubble. Apparently the boy already has his preferences…perfectly smooth armpits, being one of them.

I promptly shaved.

Another moment that made me smile was the simple fact that although I had a rough night of sleeping, when I got up in the morning, the sun was shining. Sometimes, it’s just better to not even keep trying to sleep. Just get up and see the morning. It felt nice to sit in the sunlight and drink my hot tea. There’s nothing that feels better on a sore throat than hot tea and honey.

Seeing my daughter in this hat made me smile.

Before she left, she presented me with this bracelet she made, with wishes for me to get better. This made me do the wobbly smile.

Isn’t it cute?

I had a good laugh at these pictures from my new BFF, rhymes with Frenda.

http://seehere.blogspot.com/2005/12/redneck-pictures.html

Nate made me an excellent roast beef sandwich with horseradish mustard & melted asiago cheese…pickles on the side. It was delicious.

I got a kick watching my kids play boxing on Wii. Indigo is the undefeated champion, but Greyley actually beat him for the first time. He is hysterical to watch. He swings and jumps up and down like a maniac.

I know my Mama is praying for me because I even smiled when a mouse tap-tap-tapped on our kitchen door to come in. Said mouse has been trying to get in for a week now. I don’t know if it’s slow or what, but it’s been outside our kitchen door trying to bury itself in the snow. Doesn’t it know that it can get in anywhere? Mice can get in TINY spaces, but he doesn’t seem to be aware of that. I know I should be grateful, but I know it’s only a matter of time…PLEASE find that food Nate put out for you!!!

I think I can’t go too far into that subject or I might stop smiling.

Moving on.

I took a nap. Much needed. So nice.

I watched Dan in Real Life. I love that movie.

I read my new book from Staci, Between You and I (a little book of bad english) by James Cochrane. She knows that’s the greatest gift you can give me…a book on grammar. It’s a good one!

I laughed my head off at Nate and Greyley doing a Riverdance jig during the soundtrack portion of The Secret of Roan Inish.

And this is for you, Michelle…I looked outside my window and saw this.

I’ll put another one up in the Summer, as you requested, but couldn’t resist showing you this one too.

So, I guess you could say I had a day off. And it was good.

I know you’re probably tired of hearing snow stories, but you’re reading a blog about a girl living in Minnesota.

So deal with it.

Oh yes, that’s right. I’m bitter.

Previous post, I was all about forgiveness. Well, I’m still working on it, PEOPLE!!!

We are in the middle of a snowstorm…total inches, to be determined…

I’m OK with the snow. I like it. As long as I don’t have to go anywhere or do anything and as long as I have all I need right in my house and plenty of groceries and lots of fun things for the kids to do and the heater is working and we don’t lose our electricity…I do, I like it.

Let me give you a little back story.

I have a REALLY steep driveway. You saw the backyard. The driveway in the front is also super steep and hard to really show in pictures because it curves. A couple of times. But here goes.

Here I am looking down the driveway from the front porch steps.

This is midway down the drive.

And here’s the last curve.

What? What is that I see? Oh, a car! Well, what are you doing down there? Come on up! Oh…that’s right…Oh, you can’t get up. Man. Stuck again? Sigh. OK! Hang on, let me get my coat on over my pajamas and get you out.

Pajamas? Well, I didn’t want to bring this up. I was trying to keep it under wraps, but it just adds to the story, so here goes. I’m sick…with some horrible thing that makes me sound like Darth Vader, a croupy cough and chills off and on. It hasn’t been pleasant. My friends who have called the last few days, depending on the status of what I’ve coughed up recently, have been alarmed at my grossness. (I’ve recently asked my brother how to cough up a loogie and he has given me detailed instructions, but I STILL cannot seem to master it!)

If it were just one car, one day…it would be a funny little story about that one time a car got stuck in the driveway…but this is the fifth car, at LEAST, that I’ve gotten out this past month or so. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of ice. Sometimes, it’s the vast quantity of snow. Other times, like today, there was a rink of ice UNDER the vast quantity of snow.

Last week, twice, we got one particular friend’s car out…after an hour of pushing. I won’t say names…it rhymes with Shortney…we’ve had some good laughs getting her car unstuck. Also, my friend…rhymes with Kosha…good times. My friend…rhymes with Span. My friend…rhymes with Cherika. And today…many, MANY times over, I’ve gotten this one out…rhymes with Dama.

No, I’m not cussing. I’m not a cusser, but I tell you, I almost wanted to take it up.

Let me insert here that we do have a plow guy. He just never comes on time. And Nate? Yes, he does help. He has gotten me and our friends out of many scrapes. But today, for instance, he was working across town and if I hadn’t gotten it out in time, the plow guy would have just KEPT ON DRIVING…because that’s what they do. And that just can’t happen, because then we’d never get out…

So, imagine me pulling on my grey snow boots over my pink pajama pants that Nate bought me for Valentine’s Day. I’m wearing a pink tank, a pink hoodie, black coat flapping open…cause I’m a little peeved. Frizzy hair…because I’m sick and don’t want to waste good hair products on days that I’m just not going to be able to pull pretty off anyway. Pink fleece gloves. I like pink. And a hefty shovel.

As soon as I step in the snow, it goes all the way past my boots, up on my pjs. The snow falls inside my boots. I hack and debate adding to the yellow snow, but sadly, since I can’t do the loogie, it doesn’t work. I get about five steps down and fall because this is my first realization about that whole ice rink thing. This is not the last time I fall.

By the time I get to the car, I’m wheezing an old man wheeze and my throat is on fire. I shovel around the tires and watch as a neighbor jogs by and tries to act like he doesn’t see me. Remember that tripping vision I’ve been dealing with? I wasn’t opposed to tripping his jogging self either. First of all, who jogs in a blizzard? Rhymes with Bom, that’s who.

Fortunately, at this point, the snow fall has taken a break. I’m praying that it won’t start back up until I’m snug in my house.

I get in the car and make a little progress. My objective is to move it just enough to allow the plow guy room to get up the driveway. We have another driveway going to the barn that doesn’t have to be plowed, so I thought I would just block that driveway.

When I get stuck again, I get back out and shovel around each tire again. And repeat.

Then an angel from heaven, rhymes with Bich, appears and says, “Would you like me to pull you out?”

“Yes, Lord, yes!” I say.

(It would have worked so much better for the story if it had been rhymes with Bom that had saved me and rhymes with Bich to be the jogger, but that wouldn’t have been the truth.)

In a matter of minutes, O Heavenly SUV has pulled me out and I park on the street. He comments on how I sound like death and even offers to drive me back up to the house. I thank him profusely. In my head, I thank him even more for not laughing at my hair and pajamas, but I think he picked up on that without me saying.

Now those blessed pajamas are drying in the dryer and I’m wrapped up in a blanket. I haven’t quite gotten my humor back yet, but writ
ing this has helped. Oh, and the snow? It started back up as soon as I got back inside.

OK. God does still love me.

A couple hours later…

It’s dark. It’s been steadily snowing all evening. I’m back in my toasty pink pajama ensemble. Getting ready to eat with the kids…Nate’s still working with Staci~ she’s leaving early and they’re trying to wrap things up. The doorbell rings.

It’s you-know-who, the good one…

“I thought you might need to move the car off the street now…the snow hasn’t let up so they’re probably gonna be plowing again soon.”

I stuff my pajamas back in my boots, throw my coat on, and step outside. The snow covers my boots and falls inside, getting everything all wet again.

I get in the car and say a prayer.

Midway up the driveway and…she’s stuck again.

I give up.

Forgiveness is almost a selfish act because of its immense benefits to the one who forgives. Lawana Blackwell

Guess what I’m working on?

You know what it’s like…you think you’re past something…that you’ve let it go…and then BAM! you’re blindsided by an old issue and have to work on your attitude again.

Forgiveness. Grr. It’s a hard one.

Some days it’s my own issues…someone hurts me and I struggle to forgive them. A memory returns or I hear something new and realize I’m not QUITE over it. Even harder for me, though, is when someone wrongs my husband or my kids…I pick it up and carry it around. I hold onto that grudge for a while…until it becomes my issue. That’s what I did today.

Sometimes I wish I could be The Avenger and go make everything right…make those dummies pay for hurting my loved ones. Prove how wrong they are. But in feeling even an iota of those feelings, I am the one with the biggest problem.

Luke 17:3-5 “Be alert. If you see your friend going wrong, correct him. If he responds, forgive him. Even if it’s personal against you and repeated seven times through the day, and seven times he says, ‘I’m sorry, I won’t do it again,’ forgive him.” The apostles came up and said to the Master, “Give us more faith.”

Matthew 18:21-22 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

It’s pretty plain, isn’t it. Forgive. Even the disciples knew they needed more faith to handle that one. And seventy times seven? That’s a lot of times!!!

I struggle with getting past it, but more than that, I struggle with knowing what is further required of me. Can’t I just forgive and be done with it? Do I HAVE to be nice TOO? What if I don’t trust them or their motives? Do I HAVE to subject my family to that? What is enough?

I don’t have the answers. Just more questions. All I know to do is make sure I work on my heart…that seems to be a full time job.

Colossians 3:12-14 (The Message) So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

It seems like we feel as if we’re allowed to be angry at someone if they haven’t made things right, if they haven’t apologized, if they haven’t ASKED for forgiveness…but it really is all about the FORGIVING, isn’t it. The hard part.

Even as I write this, I think of more things that I haven’t gotten over. My memory is funny that way, it retains way too many BAD things. For instance, one time Nate did a bunch of work for an artist and didn’t get paid…and didn’t get paid…and never got paid. Being Christians, you try to do the right thing and be kind, but you also want to get paid! He sent a few letters, asking nicely to please pay for the work he’d done. Then a little more urgently, then one with more of a COME ON, why are you seriously NOT paying? tone. They never did pay.

A few years later, a friend of ours heard this same girl singing on the radio and she was singing Nate’s song! She hadn’t asked for permission to sing Nate’s song. We had never gotten a penny for her singing his song. But this was the clincher: The DJ interviewed her afterward and she gave someone else credit for WRITING NATE’S SONG. This is me seeing RED.

See? I thought I was over that, it was years ago! But just writing this post on forgiveness made me think of that and with the way my heart is pounding as I write, I know that, doggone it, I am still carrying that around. It is not even mine to carry. It was Nate’s song, for crying out loud. But here I am, wanting to see that girl and her husband so that when she walked by, I could stick my foot out and trip her. Is that Christ-like? No, I think not.

Are they ever going to apologize? No. It has to be water under the bridge.

Here’s what I’m thinking…and I’m not saying I’m right…but I think God’s probably OK if I’m not best friends with those people. Does He want me to trip her and hope that she gets a scrape on the chin? Probably not.

I do think he understands our dilemna though…why else would he talk so much about forgiveness?

Ephesians 4:30-32 (NIV) And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Sooo…looks like I’ve got my work cut out for me.

Last month, I told you about Greyley getting migraines. Well, you must have taken me up on the prayer request. She has been doing so much better. I think she’s had two headaches since I wrote about it. One was a symptom of tonsillitis, and neither headache went fully into the whole awful cycle. Thank God!

I talked a little about how we’ve changed our diet the last several years. When we were told to give her anti-seizure medication every day, with hair falling out as a side effect, I knew I had to at least look into trying a change in diet. We did drastic changes, not knowing what to expect.

It has been a huge blessing because it HAS helped, but it has also been extremely challenging. I’m praying for the day where we can still eat healthy, but where it won’t be a big deal if we get something that isn’t the best. An occasional cheat at a birthday party shouldn’t be a big deal.

In all of this, it has really bugged me to find out more about what is really in things. I won’t go into all of it~ I don’t want to mess you up when you go to eat all that junk…but there is one that I do want to talk about today.

MSG. Monosodium glutamate~ a food additive and flavor enhancer. It’s a toxic little enhancer, that’s what. While it has typically been thought of as something that is primarily in Chinese food, it is in MANY more foods. Here are some that might shock you: chicken broth, potato AND tortilla chips, barbeque sauce, ice cream, and salad dressings. Of course, there are the obvious foods that have it: fast food and processed foods.

There are also other names for “hidden MSG”~ Calcium Caseinate, Carrageenan, Hydrolyzed Protein, Modified Food Starch, Sodium Caseinate, Textured protein, and Yeast extract. Accent Seasoning and Spike are MSG.

It’s basically in everything. When you think about it being in chicken broth, for Pete’s sakes, you realize it’s everywhere.

Forty years ago, it wasn’t everywhere. It’s probable that the increase of MSG and processed foods (which go hand in hand) has contributed greatly to the rise of obesity and health issues in our country.

In finding out that it really affects Greyley with migraines, I feel it did our family a favor to cut as much as we could out of our diet. We all feel better. And believe me, we all feel it when we “cheat.” Not good.

It’s tricky, though. There are a couple of things that just DO NOT taste the same without MSG. This is actually ONE of my main reasons for writing this post…besides just wanting more people to avoid something that’s not good for you. I’d really like to know if any of you have recipes that are MSG-free for a couple of things.

Ranch dressing…I have tried every organic Ranch dressing and it is very vinegar-y. Yuck. I have nothing against vinegar, but I want my Ranch to taste like Ranch!

Actually all the dressings are not quite right, now that I think about it. Hmm…

Barbeque Sauce…again with the strong vinegar taste!

Alternative for Onion Soup Mix~ I used this in making roasts, meatloaf, etc…Any ideas on how to get that taste without the MSG?

It takes a bit of work to cut out these things…they’re convenient~ they’re everywhere! But it’s worth it. You’ll feel better. MSG makes you eat more; it’s addicting…it’s EVIL! Mwuahahaha!!!

Let me know if you have any good recipes!

I’m a huge fan of gospel music. It is one of my very favorite things in life. Fred Hammond, Kirk Franklin, Hezekiah Walker…I absolutely love it. Since I will never be able to be in an all black choir, seeing as, sadly, I am white (I have ALWAYS wished I was black!)…I will have to settle for the next best thing: An excellent mixed choir with a gospel flavor. Every Sunday morning, you’ll find me on the B3 Organ bench, usually singing alto…praising my Jesus with our church choir.

It’s been fifteen years now that I have had the privilege to be part of this group. I have a ton of good memories and every Sunday morning, they fill me with joy as they worship with everything they’ve got. I’ve had the unbelievable good fortune to sing with a number of people who are considered to be hot stuff. Fun? Yes! Tours, exciting? Yes! I love it all and I feel extremely blessed.

But my Sunday morning gig is my favorite place to be. No contest.

http://www.myspace.com/abcyc

We’ve been many and we’ve been few. We’ve been good, great, and not so much. We’ve been through a lot and are still singing. The group that is with us now ROCKS. It’s not the biggest we’ve been, by far, but Ssh, it’s my favorite group. The SOUND is great and the spirit is even better. I would do anything for these kids.

We used to do a big summer tour every year…some of them had never been out of the state of Minnesota and it was always fun to see them explore new places. It’s challenging to take a large group of teenagers anywhere, much less across the country without their parents, but they always made us proud. I wouldn’t trade those times for anything.

Well, except maybe the one where I was 7 months pregnant with Greyley and we went to St. Louis in the hottest part of summer. The night before we went home, she shifted. I was laughing really hard (Stuart!!!) and something went terribly wrong…namely, Greyley moved until she was sitting on my bladder. (Until I went into premature labor later that week.) On the bus ride home the next day, I had to go to the bathroom no less than thirty times and had to climb over the kids sleeping in the floor of the bus. There was very minimal teasing~ I was THAT miserable. I would skip that moment, but other than that one…

Some highlights of ABCYC:

We have two recordings on CD.

We did a live DVD recording at The Fitzgerald in St. Paul where Garrison Keillor performs every week. It’s a beautiful auditorium.

A few of the artists who joined us that evening and did solos were Ashleigh Still, Kevin Herrin, Billy Steele, Sara Groves, Cynthia Johnson, Joey I.L.O., and Michael Olson. Oh yeah, I might have done a solo myself.

We sang at Brooklyn Tabernacle, a huge honor…

We sang at Hezekiah Walker’s church, also a huge honor…and it was a BLAST to hear his choir sing in person. Those sopranos sing higher than any choir I know.

Some lowlights:

Every tour seems to have a food theme. One year was lasagna, one year was BBQ, one year was pizza…practically EVERY NIGHT for 10 days straight…not sure why that happens…but the kids were under strict obligation to not laugh outright in Texas when the people hosting said, “Have y’all ever had BBQ brisket?” There was no need for the hosts to know we’d already had it seven times at the previous churches.

The hygiene talk. This one always fell on me to have the “major convo” with the girls. It goes something like this:

When we’re on tour, we’re going to be in close proximity with each other and it is important that we all SHOWER. Deodorant is also very important. Girls, please make sure you bring your deodorant and USE it. I also need to tell you about sports bras…it would be good to invest in one for when we get to swayin’…

Inevitably, someone wouldn’t be paying attention to my talk, so when one would come out of the shower, but still smelled, I would have to say…“Get back in that shower and this time, use SOAP. And don’t forget to use SHAMPOO!!!” I don’t know if you know this or not, but spraying perfume over a smelly teenager just smells like a smelly teenager with a hint of vanilla.

Or, “Do I need to take you shopping for a bra?”

Or, “Do you need a safety pin?”

The Choir Tour is NOT a Date Talk…you can figure that one out. The kids always liked to pull this line out on me and Nate if we were caught kissing…

And the Leave Everything As You Find It talk…that goes for throw pillows, a made up bed, all bathroom paraphernalia…

One tour to L.A., Greyley was around 3, I think…all of our luggage was stolen. (Mine, Nate’s, & Greyley’s) I happened to be pregnant, too, just enough to be showing. Can you spell H-A-S-S-L-E? We didn’t even have underwear. We made a Wal-mart run and I borrowed whatever I could from the girls. We lost our video camera…ouch. Greyley never got over losing her favorite heart swimsuit. I never got over losing my brand new red luggage…

Ahhh, good times…good times…way too many stories for one day.

Nate started the choir in ’91 and tried a variety of styles. When they began doing gospel music, the choir came alive and this is still the style we do the most. The last few years, our focus has been the worship service…not so many concerts, athough we still do a few big ones each year. Now we do a fun combination of praise & worship songs, still with that gospel sound.

One of the kids in the choir, Steve Erickson, began directing because Nate was either playing guitar or keyboards and he is still the choir director today. It is so fun to see a tall, lanky white boy, now a man, directing gospel music.

There have been a handful of us who have written songs for the choir. It began quite a few years ago that the choir members and leaders began getting songs for the choir and it took things to a whole new level.

The best part about a youth choir is also the worst thing. There is nothing like watching a twelve year old begin to find their voice. It’s usually a slow progression. They come in the choir very timid and afraid and before you know it, their mouths are wide open and tears are streaming down their faces as they worship. A child’s faith is a beautiful thing.

The bad part is that in a youth choir, there is a lot of transition as kids grow up and either move on or go a different way. We have welcomed and nurtured more kids than I can count. Some stay and many go. It’s hard, but also very rewarding.

We did a reunion concert last year and the stage filled with close to 100 people. Kids who had grown up in the youth choir were now adults with children of their own. They joined the ones who are currently in the choir, as we sang all our old favorites. It was an incredible night.

The road is calling us again. We’re going to go back on the road. I think everyone is ready. A new CD is also on the horizon~ no set dates, but this is a group that needs to be captured…so help us pray that it will be a possibility in the near future.

Have ears? Will travel. Spread the word. Better yet? Invite us to your area. I promise you it will be fun and life changing. I’m not even exaggerating when I say that.

I like to think the choir made a difference in every member’s life. In lots of cases, we’ll never know. But they’ve made a difference in mine. And I’m grateful.

***Winner of the giveaway is Thad! Contact me with your address information and a CD will be sent your way. ***

I haven’t watched many Academy Award Shows. They’re long. I have kids who would rather watch Kung Fu Panda or High School Musical. And I haven’t seen 98% of the movies discussed…

The first half hour, Indigo was on the lookout for Oscar. “When is he gonna sing?” he wanted to know…”Is Oscar gonna dance? Is he gonna sing?” He finally settled down and stopped looking for Oscar the Grouch.

I did watch the whole thing last night and it was very enjoyable. I loved seeing all the outfits and watching the expressions of people in the audience. And doing my own bit of guesswork. People-watching in the extreme, I suppose.

What is Jennifer thinking right now? Did Jennifer, John, Brad & Angelina meet each other in the hallway? Is Angelina actually crying right now? I didn’t know she could! I love Kate; I think I could be friends with her. She did need a friend to muss up her hair a tad bit. Amy Adams is so sweet…we could be friends too. Aw, she’s all shaky. Did Meryl just elbow her arm off the arm rest! What in the world are the High School Musical people doing there? Are those teeth for REAL? Sank you berry much.

I loved the “Craigslist Dancers”…that was, by far, my favorite line of the whole night. Way to go, Hugh Jackman, you are a versatile man.

I also loved the affirmations the former winners gave the nominees. Very moving moments. With the exception of one…Halle Berry, it is NOT all about you, girl.

Greyley thought Jessica Biel’s dress looked like it had a towel hanging on it. I agreed. She still managed to look lovely.

Indigo just couldn’t get over the teeth. If you’re not sure what I’m talking about, it’s obvious you weren’t watching…because you’d just KNOW.

The best part of the night was the menu.

Over here at my casa, we figured all those people weren’t eating, so we may as well take up the slack. There are people starving in America, people. Take a look at Hollywood.

I thought I would share my Red Carpet Menu & Recipes. I need Bree from BWildered to take pictures for me. I didn’t even try this time…she’s that good.

The menu was small, but mighty. Hope you enjoy.

Spicy Crackers~ recipe from Honey & Papa
1 1/3 c. Canola
1 oz. package Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing
2 Tbsp. crushed red pepper
Dill weed to taste
Mix.
1 lb. Saltine crackers
*The trick to this is having a large enough bowl (with a LID!) to fit all the crackers.
Stir/shake every 15 minutes for an hour.

Dirty Rice~or, as it is now called after Indigo re-named it~Stinky Rice
(He had 3 bowls. He LOVES Stinky Rice!!!)
Cook and set aside 2 cups of rice.
Brown:
1 lb. ground beef
1 lb. hot sausage
1 1/2 large onion, chopped
1 large green pepper, chopped
1 large red pepper, chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
Simmer together until fully cooked. Add salt & pepper. Mix rice with meat, do not drain. Add Louisiana Hot Sauce to taste.

Hot Fudge Sundae
Layer ice cream, hot fudge, salted pecans, ice cream, hot fudge, pecans…however tall your glass is, just keep right on layering!

Salted Pecans~ recipe by Terry Friend
1 stick butter
1 bag whole pecans
Melt butter. Add pecans and saute. Sprinkle with lots of salt. Dry on paper towels.

Hot Fudge~ another recipe by Terry Friend
1 can Eagle Brand
1 oz. Unsweetened Chocolate Squares
1/4 c. sugar
salt
1 tsp. vanilla
boiling water
Cook on medium heat until shiny and thick. Add boiling water & vanilla.
Serve HOT!
*This thickens quickly, so stay close! I had to add more boiling water than I expected…about 1/2 cup…because, um, I was distracted by the SHOW.

Don’t forget! Tomorrow, I will announce the winner for the CD giveaway. You have one more day to leave your comment on the post, Life’s Soundtrack.

Yesterday I wrote about my friend, Staci~ did you click on the video and give it a watch/listen? Well, go back and look at her lovely necklace.

My journey into jewelry making was accidental. For a couple of years, I did a boutique in my barn~ The Funky Barn. It’s on hiatus for now, but has been a lot of fun and hard work. Our last big fall event, I had not heard from our main vendor and was beginning to panic. Jewelry was one of our biggest sellers.

A couple of nights before the event, I began hurriedly making jewelry out of everything I could find. I had never made a lick of jewelry and didn’t know what I was doing.

I thought I’d hop online and see what my friends, Staci and Laura thought, since they were always wearing cute jewelry. I hurriedly took a few pics on my laptop and emailed them.

Here is the feedback I received from Staci, via instant messaging…stay with the whole thing~ it’s worth it!

Staci: the jewelry… i don’t love it. i wouldn’t buy these pieces, but because i’m not a big jewelry person, i’m pretty picky…. the pink one maybe, with the right outfit. the other one, no. not diggin’ the buttons.

me: i’m bummed you don’t like the 1st one

She ended up calling me right away and we laughed until we cried. Oh man…the moment that got me was the generic pink top. I usually have to wear my generic pink top at least once when she visits.

So, it turns out the necklaces pictured and the other dozen or so that I made were a big hit. No, I have not made my first million yet or anything close to it (ha!!!), but have a steady trickle of orders.

You can bet that Staci was the first one to know when they all sold…especially the one I’ve lovingly titled, “Not Diggin’ the Buttons!” It happens to be my biggest seller. Mwuahahaha

I have gotten better at the whole thing too~ just to let Staci off the hook a little…

My dear friend, Staci Frenes, is visiting for a few days. We met several years back, through another friend, Jason Gray, and we hit it off. Nate and I are so blessed to meet some pretty awesome people through this music business. Staci has become one of my closest friends.

Staci is a phenomenal singer/songwriter. Her CD, Meteor Shower, is one I recommend to everyone. The songs and Staci’s voice are exceptional. Every song on this CD is great.

We’ve looked for every opportunity to get together and hang out. Over the course of this blog, you will hear (and have already heard) Staci stories. We also have her to thank for putting the idea of a blog in my head. She studied up on it for me, wrote long emails of notes for me to get started and has encouraged me every step of the way.

I thought it would be fun to interview her while she’s here.

Imagine this conversation with a little bit of chocolate and it will be as if you’re in the room.

Lori: What is the first song you remember?
Staci: Hmm, not sure…
Lori: What is the first song that made you cry?
Staci: (laughing) Mandy by Barry Manilow.
Lori: What is the first song that made you rock out?
Staci: Bennie & the Jets by Elton John.
Lori: Favorite song as a teenager?
Staci: I loved Heart! Barracuda and These Dreams. I also loved Love is a Battlefield by Pat Benatar.
Lori: Did you sing in your wedding?
Staci: No, Abe did. (Her husband)
We laugh.
Staci: He didn’t sing it live, he had it taped.
Lori: What did he sing?
Staci: A song he wrote.
Lori: Awww…
Staci: I walked down the aisle to the song he wrote…the last line was “Staci, won’t you marry me”…
Lori: Awwwwww. Sweet.
Lori: Favorite song now…
Staci: Just impossible to answer.
Lori: What do you repeat over and over on your ipod?
Staci: Adele, Chasing Pavements, for a while…this is a hard one.
Lori: Do you have a favorite song that you’ve written?
Staci: I really think Meteor Shower is my favorite song that I’ve written and I’m not just saying that…

We giggle. We’re glad to see each other, all right?

Lori: What do you like most about singing out?
Staci: Oh wow…I think it’s…in every other setting, I feel guarded, but when I’m singing, I’m saying exactly what I want to say and it feels SO good.
Lori: Neat.
Lori: What do you like least about singing out?
Staci: The logistics. Getting there, setting up, working with the sound…the things that take away from the creative part.
Lori: What do wish for when you get to a venue?
Staci: To really be able to connect with the people that come for the night. It’s not always a guarantee, but it’s always my wish to be open and sincere and for them to be receptive…so there’s that connection.
Lori: Mmhmm.
Lori: What kind of treats do you like to be fed before singing?
Staci: Definitely plenty of water…I tend to want to pig out after. Carbs, maybe pasta. When you’re exhausted, but still on that adrenaline high, you just wanna eat.
Lori: Do you prefer to be left alone or do you like to go out and gab afterward?
Staci: (She laughs) Well, you know how I’m sooo social…It’s so much easier when it’s someone I know or if Abe is with me. He’s so social and great at that and I can just relax and not be so “on”…but I’m trying to get better at this.

So we get off on a conversation about snoring. I won’t tell you how THAT came up, but anyway…

Lori: Where is your favorite place to shop?
Staci: I’m with you, I’m a TJ Maxx girl.
Lori: Describe your perfect outfit.
Staci: Do I own it or dream outfit? Ok, well, jeans that fit well. Actually, make that skinny jeans that fit great because this is a dream outfit. Great pair of boots. Funky long top that has a funky jacket layered on top of it. And some kind of scarf…I’m into scarves lately.

Lori: What is one trait that bugs you about a person?
Staci: You’re gonna get me in trouble. People who are bad listeners. That kinda drives me crazy. People that are too busy waiting for their next comment to stop and listen.
Lori: Like Oprah.
Staci: Yeah, she is like that, isn’t she.

Lori: What do you look for in a friend?
Staci: I really love…equal parts humor and intelligence.
Lori: Nice. ( I make squiggly eyes at her, but she doesn’t bite and say, “Like YOU, Lori Sabin.” Oh well, I tried)
Staci: That doesn’t sound nice, does it…I should have said one of the fruits of the spirit or something…
We laugh. Snoring stops.
Staci: I look for longsuffering.
We laugh harder.

Lori: OK, just a few more. What is your favorite movie?
Staci: Oh, I have so many. I loved Life is Beautiful.
Lori: Oh, me too! Favorite book?
Staci: Oh, wow. You might as well ask my favorite child, Lore. It’s hard…well, I can read To Kill a Mockingbird over and over again.
Lori: I need to read that.
Staci: You’d love the Southern reference. It’s steeped in it…I think of that in your book.

Lori: Anything in particular you want to do while you’re here?
Staci: I want to write some big hits with Nate. I want to enjoy your sweet kids. I love them. And I drove in the snow today for the first time ever. That’s quite an accomplishment for my trip right there.

Lori: Thank you, girlfriend, for answering my questions.
Staci: Thank you for doing this piece.

We beam at each other. She’s good stuff.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Staci-Frenes/6730813534

Staci will be playing at Dunn Brothers in Excelsior, MN, tonight at 8 PM. Join us there…it will be a slamming good time.

Since I was writing a good LOVE STORY over Valentine’s Day weekend, I was not able to show you a little bit of Valentine goodness from my sweet Greyley Kate. On Friday, she had to take in a special handmade Valentine box for the goodies she would be collecting. The box would be graded, but it was mostly supposed to be good ole fun.

We had fun trying to figure out what she would make. This girl has big ideas, yep, yep, yep. Very good ideas, I might add. And some just big. No, I’m kidding. She’s got creativity swirling all up in that brain of hers. It inspires me.

We settled on a heart pillow with a pocket…in 3 coordinating fabrics. I wish I’d gotten a picture of the back~ it’s also hot pink loveliness.

It was her first time using my sewing machine and I think she rocked it. What do you think?

We knew she wasn’t feeling too great that day. I took her temperature at breakfast and it was normal. She was determined to go. She had VALENTINES TO DELIVER!!! Sadly, we had to go pick her up right BEFORE the Valentine’s Party and BEFORE a winner could be declared. She had a fever just over 101º. After a quick doctor visit (with tears streaming down her face the whole way, Little Lamb) we realized she had tonsillitis.

The treats and her cushy pillow helped soften the blow…the colorful outfit also helped.

When she was able to go back to school this week, she received a ribbon for “Softest Valentine Box.” She was very pleased.

Love you, Sweet Valentine Girl.

Way back in 1994, around mid-winter, I came to grips with a very harsh realization about myself.

I am a white person.

To some that may seem obvious, but up until that point, I had not quite realized it.

You see, growing up in California, I was getting sun all the time. On my lunch hour and on the way home from work, I drove with the top down on my little convertible VW Bug. We had a pool, so when I got home, I’d hop in the pool to cool off from my drive. Weekends were spent baking. Trips to the beach with my friends and family…I was constantly outside.

I was so dark that one year at Camp, I went up to say hello to an old family friend, who I hadn’t seen in a while. She blinked at me for a moment and said, “I’m sorry…are you from our Hispanic ministry?”

I moved up here on the last day of January and I’d say it was around April that someone (thanks a lot, Michael!) pointed out the fact that my legs were as lily white as the snow.

It was then that I faced the fact that my skin was NOT olive-toned, as I’d always thought.

It was a sad, sad day for me.

People who know me from that time of my life and see me now…the first thing they say is, “You’re so…pale.”

Yep. I know. Sigh.

A couple of years ago, I went on a girls trip. I will refrain from using names to protect the innocent. You know who you are. My BFF and I met some California friends and had a fun time of shopping, eating, and uncontrollable giggling.

Our CA friends had a nice brown tone to them and one, in particular, was an experienced tanner. We went to a tanning salon and since we had time~ No Kids/It’s Vacation!!!~ BFF and I decided to get that nice brown glow on our pasty white selves, too.

Now, I have to confess, it wasn’t my first time in a tanning bed. Weddings and bridesmaid duties seem to call for such things. But it’s been about a decade since I’ve graced their presence. Well, a lot has changed in the tanning industry since then, let me tell you.

First of all, you have to fill out a 10-page questionnaire before you are allowed to even enter the vicinity of the bed. Next, there are about a million different cream options to put on before you go to the actual bed. Finally, the bed was about 1,000º hotter than I EVER remember.

After about a minute of FRYING, I was ready to be done. I don’t know how I managed, but I stayed the allotted time and about cried with relief when that bed shut off.

This was around lunchtime and I’d say it was maybe an hour or two later, that BFF and I started to get uncomfortable. An hour or so after that, and we were downright miserable. We went to the hotel to shower and change for the evening and we had crisp, red lobster skin.

Now, can I just say that there is a reason for that expression, “Where the sun don’t shine…” There is a very good reason for it. There truly are places where the sun, should indeed, NEVER shine. And BFF and I found all of those that day. When I tell you I still have the line where the sun don’t shine these several years later, I am not exaggerating.

Things progressed as the night went on. By midnight, BFF would groan every time she sat down. She tried to shift so only a tiny amount of hind area was touching the chair. When we finally got to our room in the early morning hours, we were a mess.

We were sharing a bed and when we got in, she said, “I’m sorry, I can’t stand to have anything touching my skin.” Off went the bottom layer of pajamas. Off went the undergarments.

“I will try to stay on my side of the bed,” says she.

She turned over and mooned me with her crimson buns.

I still get hysterical giggles over that mental picture.

I was fine with it. I helped deliver her firstborn. I have seen all there is to see.

We vowed to never touch foot in a tanning bed again. Never. Ever.

Well, can you believe I broke that vow today? When I felt an overwhelming need for Vitamin D to touch my skin…

“Only for 8 minutes,” I said.

Now, I’m trying to sit with only a tiny amount of hind area touching the chair.