Hoedowns, Candy, and Praising Jesus

Hello blogging world! Hooray- I'm finally writing a post ( Do you write a post? Post a post?)  Well whatever it is- I'm finally doing it! There are a couple of things that I've wanted to blog about lately but just haven't seemed to have the time to do it. Britt and Beth say that I can be found in one of the four following places: school, church, home, or Wal-Mart. This is true! So I took a picture of myself today to show you one of the places that I spend most of my waking hours- my classroom :)

Don't worry- the kids weren't here. Ha! I usually don't sit around at my desk and take pictures. Plus- I'm not a big picture taker, but who wants to read something without pictures!? That's the first thing I look for when I read a blog. But this weekend I actually took some because I knew I could blog about it! However, I apoligize in advance because they're all from my i-phone. Yikes! Sorry! 

Saturday I got to help chaperone our church's 4th, 5th, and 6th grade youth group who's led by my best friend Whitley- (who somehow escaped all my picture taking:) and her husband, at the Winter Jam concert at Rupp Arena. It was so much fun! I think I was more excited than the kids about it! They were so funny- I loved watching them. We waited in line for about 4 1/2 hours before we could get inside.

 The kids sang songs, played games and ate (well most of the eating was done by their chaperones!) while we waited.

This is Annie- the funniest little girl I know- and probably the one with the kindest little heart!

Here is the line we had to wait in once we got inside Rupp. We didn't have to stay in this line very long. But once it started moving it was like Home Alone when they were running through the airport trying to catch their plane!! I think I had Annie by the shirt and was dragging her behind me as we ran. There were so many people and I was afraid that she might get lost in the crowd! But thankfully we made it there in one piece and we got really good seats!

This is me with Annie and her BFF Molly :) I got to sit with them at the concert. Annie kept saying "This is my first concert! Did you know this is my first concert?!"  (They aren't actually in the youth group but their older sisters are so they got to sneak along on the trip too with Molly's mom and dad.) Those two little girls are the sweetest things together. They have such a genuine love for each other, and would do anything for one another. What an example for the rest of us!

This is my sweet friend Melissa. She also works at school- and I'm so glad because she can always make me laugh! Her little boy Kyle is in the youth group so she helped chaperone too.

This is where I could kick myself for forgetting my camera!! I wish I could have gotten better pictures of the bands. They were AWESOME! All of them were sooo good in person. They sounded great and how cool that all of the people there were not there to just watch a show but to worship Jesus! This is one of my favorites of the night- Chris August. He was great and even sang his song about candy- I think it's called Candy? ha! It was funny. But boy when he sang his new song 7X70 just with his guitar- wow. I loved it. I thnk he's even up for several Dove Awards!

I also loved the David Crowder Band. They brought down the house when they sang How He Loves.  At the end they brought out the banjos and sang I'll Fly Away. Of course in front of a Kentucky crowd it was a hit! Everybody was dancing around- it was great!

This girl was great too!! Francesca Battistelli was there and I got both of her CD's- which are wonderful by the way! She sings such fun catchy songs that you will hum all day long- but have such truth to them at the same time! All the girls in the youth group wanted to get her autograph so we waited in yes- another line :) to get her autograph. They were so excited to see her. Here is Ellie, Annie's sister, and Kyle getting her autograph. I don't think Ellie could have been any more happy if you had put Justin Bieber in front of her! (Now Annie on the other hand...)

Looking at this picture of Ellie with Francesca makes me so glad to know that there are such godly women role models for these young girls to look up to. I'm thankful thankful to know that there are women who put God first and that its reflected not just in their music or movies- but in thier lives too. (and yes I'm thankful thankful)

I hate that I got a picture here when she wasn't looking! Sorry Kyle!! How cute it he though?

We had such a great time at Winter Jam! I will definitely go back next year- lines and all! It was like a Christian music-palooza. We had everything from head banging heavy metal with shooting fire (which was a little different than what I'm used to- yikes!) to a David Crowder hoedown! But most of all- what an awesome night of praise and worship. Everybody coming together in the name of Jesus to lift Him up. Doesn't get any better than that!

Wake up my soul! Wake up, O harp and lyre! I will waken the dawn with my song. I will thank you, Lord, in front of all the people. I will sing your praises among the nations. For your unfailing love is higher than the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens. May your glory shine over all the earth.

I better scoot- it's way past my bedtime- ha! :) Happy Monday!!
~Meg