Annual Star Spangled Salute

Happy Independence Day!!!

Here is our family at The Woodlands Pavilion for the annual Star Spangled Salute with the Houston Symphony. This event is something we look forward to year. It was a lot of fun!

Each year, the selection of music varies a little, with a few constants. There is usually a sing-a-long at some point of the program (which is always fun!) Tonight, we went on a musical journey through the evolution of America's music, with everything from John Phillip Sousa to The Beach Boys!

As usual, the night ended with a musical salute to each branch of our armed forces, followed by Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture- complete with blasting canons! (Always a favorite for the kids:)

-So grateful to have such an amazing outdoor theater so close to home! It was a fun night!

Hope everyone else has a wonderful holiday weekend!

-Happy Birthday AMERICA!!-

Preparing for our VBS

Here it is again already!

One of my favorite times of the year...

Vacation Bible School!!

Each year, my mom, my sister, and I are over the music time for our church VBS. When the kids arrive in the morning, they all come into the sanctuary for "big group" time with us, which usually starts off with a few shenanigans :) and maybe a skit. Then we overview the theme of the day, learn our song and memory verse, and send them off to their various stations. After a day of fun, we all re-assemble for "big group" (just before parents arrive) to review what we learned that day and have chapel. It's a blast! And it WEARS YA OUT! I am usually SO tired at the end of each day that it's all I can do to get home, clean myself up, prep for the next day, and fall into bed! But, it's so worth it!

Our VBS begins this coming Monday... and why I waited until a few days ago to prepare all of our music is beyond me. I kept telling myself, "Brittney, you need to look at the program info.. you need to make some preparations... you need to get on the ball!" But did I? Nope. Needless to say I have spent pretty much every waking hour since Thursday working on this project.

Isn't that what they call "addicted to drama"? You know, when a person waits till the last possible minute to do something- knowing full well how important it is and that they are creating problems for them self by procrastinating? It's like letting your vehicle inspection sticker expire EVERY TIME- and feeling a thrill when you don't get a ticket for it. (Not that I do that of course..................... at least not on purpose! :)

(noooo.... this is NOT the current sticker on my vehicle! I DON'T live in Denton. This pic is just for effect :)

*or do I????* Maybe subconsciously it's exciting, a little "dangerous". Eh, that psychology stuff probably doesn't apply to me anyhow. :D

Either way, it's almost all done. Just a few more things to wrap up today and I'm ready for the week of "Saddle Ridge Ranch VBS!"

Can't wait!

A night with Cirque De La Symphonie

Tonight, we went to hear the Houston Symphony perform along side the Cirque Du Soleil at the Pavilion here in The Woodlands. The hand balancing, flying silk act and other amazing acrobatic displays were really something to behold. And the orchestra playing behind them made this doubly entertaining! With music by Rimsky-Korsakov, Bizet, Saint-Saens, Ravel, V. Monti and J. Williams, the symphony and athletics seemed to enhance each other.

I wanted to attend the Cirque Du Soleil show in Orlando, FL a few years back while we were at Disney World, but opted not to due to the high ticket prices. This show was obviously on a much smaller scale (as they were sharing the stage with the symphony,) but 100% FREE! I absolutely love the Woodlands Pavilion due to the fact that their performing arts season offers free lawn seating- and if you just MUST be under covered seating, it's only fifteen bucks! Incredibly reasonable compared to the Houston theater district.

Each summer they have one Houston ballet performance, one Houston Opera performance, and about 6-8 Houston Symphony performances, all at the above prices. I don't make it to all of them anymore... (I worked as the receptionist for the Pavilion a few years back and used to attend A LOT of shows,) but I try to go whenever I can.

It was really exciting bringing Benjamin to his first symphony. He LOVED it! As soon as we sat down, the first song began. Benjamin was completely fixated on the stage, even though the acrobatics did not begin until the 2nd piece. He didn't move a muscle or make a peep for entire first song! He just stared... Throughout the night each time people would clap, he would glance around at the cheering crowd and quickly start clapping his hands as well. It was so adorable!

Tuesdays: One of my favorite days!!

Each Tuesday evening I get to meet with some awesome young ladies...

Several months ago, I had the opportunity to start working with a group of teenage girls from a residential treatment center designed to help boys and girls with emotional or behavioral problems. Most of the youth living in the SH  homes come from an abusive past and have been removed from their parent's custody.

 

My husband's cousin, Greg, has worked for SH for as long as I can remember, and would frequently bring the kids to church and other to functions with us. I've interacted with them from time to time through the years, but have recently felt a burden to get some sort of program started for the girls at our church. So, when Krystal (Greg's daughter) told me she had started meeting with the girls weekly and wanted me to involved, I was SO excited! The timing was finally right for me, and God just began opening doors.

We meet with the girls (ages 13-17) each Tuesday evening at our church dining room. We feed them a meal, the we have a "group session" usually discussing character qualities, heart issues and tools for success in life. We do crafts, games, life skills classes... etc. (With the help of donations from the church, we were able to help all the girls start scrapbooks, which we work on with them about once a month.) They really have a blast, and so do we! It's such an amazing blessing to be apart of their lives, and I'm learning so much as I go!

Tonight, we veered from our usual schedule, and brought them to a KSBJ "brown bag" concert at Chick-Fil-A with Kari Jobe. It was AWESOME! She has an amazing voice- she was great live! The last song of the night "The Revelation Song", is one of my favorites! You could really feel the Holy Spirit sweeping over the crowd. There's something so awesome about being surrounded by masses of people worshipping God! When God's people praise Him, He really pays attention! You can just feel Him smiling down on you and loving you. Wonderful night!