Several months ago, after praying about various things, Sean came to me asked what I thought about doing a hymns project. He had a vision for it that just seemed right immediately. At our church, we do many hymns with unique arrangements created by Sean and his team. Sean wanted to be able to gift this project to the church. There will be a limited number of CDs printed and the rest will be download, all at no cost to them.  He wanted the people to be encouraged, to be able to have an additional tool to worship with during the week, the ability to learn liturgy and to become familiar with the arrangements we do together on Sundays. He took the idea to leadership who not only caught the vision, but went before him to the members to raise the money needed to be able to gift it.

Sean has the ability to take the songs from recording to mastering. However, as he already does two jobs, it would take several months for him to finish something like this. So he decided to take on the role of the artist and not lead producer for this. That meant finding someone who could produce it with excellence and get the right vibe. It would have to be just right for him to feel okay about it all.

This last week, I was alone with all 5 kids for 9 days as Sean headed to Denver to work with Latifah and Dave in St. Ida’s.  This is a cool old church turned studio.

He said outside of Oceanway, this was his best studio experience. It was stretching for him, though, being the first time to lay down vocals in a studio. For our relatively small church, we are so blessed to have incredibly talented musicians. Part of the team went with him to see this project come to life. I cannot tell you how grateful we are to them for sacrificing for our church and giving of their gifts in this way.

I can’t wait for it to be finished! We’ll keep you updated!

Chet being ever so cute in the studio!

Last call for Mother’s Day gifts. All proceeds benefit adoption. Check out the post HERE

a friend sent me this pic. i love her long chain with one of our crosses. simply lovely. check out this post to get one for yourself! a gift for mom or grandma and minister to an orphan at the same time.

Waiting to celebrate Elijah brought unexpected blessing. Our dear friends were able to be here with us for the special day!! They came in for the week and we celebrated the wedding and Elijah and Dawn’s birthdays. There is something so life giving about waking up to find your best friend making fruit salad in your kitchen.

Our sweet boy’s birthday landed on Resurrection weekend this year. We did a little cake with just family on the day of. This cake is flourless and using choice ingredients made it gluten and corn free. It is maybe the best chocolate cake! In the fridge, the next day it tastes like fudge! The link for the recipe is HERE. I love 2 year olds. He didn’t get the concept of blowing out candles. When we would tell him to blow, he would quietly whisper “blow” at the candles. So stinking cute. I could eat him.

So we waited until the first week of April to celebrate our little man with a party. Elijah loves two things right now. Trucks and drums. I think the drum-love is here to stay. Trucks, however, seem like a thing he will love for just now. A phase I wanted to capture. We had a Fire Truck birthday!

We took him to the local fire station to see the Engine and sit on it. He was extatic. The fire fighters were so sweet and Elijah cried when we left. We then met up with loved ones at our house for lunch and cake. My mom once again blew us all away with her mad cake skills. (this one was phenomenal but not ‘safe’ no natural dye was going to get that fire engine red!!)

He was so sweet when everyone sang. He had his embarrassed smirk (caught below) which melts my heart and signed more when the candles went out. Like I said, few things last past toddler-hood. Wanting to relight candle is one of them and in cherishing this time, we obliged and lit them again. Love this age.

Happy Birthday, sweet Elijah!!!!!

April may go down as THE craziest of seasons in a long time. Finding two seconds to blog with 5 kids is. well.. . .impossible. But wonderful things have happened in the last couple of weeks. First was a vow renewal ceremony for dear friends. 20 years! It was Sean’s honor to perform the ceremony. They covenanted with each other again now with a deeper understanding of their vows. A reflection of our relationship with the Lord.

When we come to know Jesus, there is passion and excitement and sincerity in the decision. A possibility of new beginnings. There is a hope for change. A leaving of one life and a cleaving and pursuit of unity in a new life. It is real and true. But really it is shallow.

Our marriages reflect this relationship in so many ways. Our young, passionate relationship is committed to in sincerity. It was real. It was filled with hope and excitement and dreams.

Fast forward years into your walk. You’ve walked through trials. Maybe you’ve even had a dark night of the soul where no amount of quiet times or prayer makes the Lord feel near. But He does not let go. He sustains your covenant. You’ve seen Him work in your life and provide in miraculous ways. The depth of staying near to Him has paid off in an amazing way. A deep, unshakeable joy. Peaceful deep river of love.

In 20 years of marriage, you have inevitably walked through loss and pain. Unspeakable joys, restless nights, the cooling of passion and the fun of experience. The other has become the person you most want to be with and find the most solace with. It is a peaceful deep river of love.

This is the gnosis knowledge the Lord speaks of. It is a head knowledge that has become experiential. You KNOW love. You KNOW this person.

To see this lived out in our friends is nothing short of amazing. God brought them together and He has sustained them. To witness it, let alone be a part of the ceremony was a forever blessing to Sean and me.

I am so excited! I found the pendants I thought were lost. I am doing a Mother’s Day Sale! Check this page for prices. These are not fixed prices. No unreasonable offer will be refused.

Also, check this page as a few of these other items are still available. Email me at gatheredfromafar at yahoo dot com with orders. Remember ALL proceeds go to offset adoption costs for a family in need.

Congratulations, Jen D!

You have won 2 tickets to the Mom’s Night Out!

Today is the last day to submit for the Scottsdale Moms Blog ticket give away. Tomorrow ticket sales will be $15 and $20 at the door. Go to FRIDAY’s POST for details. Cut off will be 10 PM tonight.

Scottsdale Moms Blog’s Moms Night Out is coming up April 29th! Pre-sale tickets flew out the door. Regular priced tickets will go on sale on Monday for $15. I am sure they will go quickly too! Here’s your chance to get to the event FOR FREE!!!! I will be giving away 2 tickets to one of my readers for you and a friend (always more fun to go with a friend)!

All you have to do is like SMB on Facebook and comment on THIS POST that you have done so. I will draw first thing Monday morning so you will know if you won or if you need to jump on getting a ticket! Best wishes and hope to see you all there!!!!!