Two weeks from today we leave on our BIG family vacation in Tennessee. There is still so much to do, but the last two weeks are the most fun. We often comment when we're about to do one of these that we almost don't want it to start, because the minute it does, the time is already ticking off the clock on our week together. So really, the prep time and all the fun phone calls and emails that go back and forth are as much fun as the actual vacation!

The Papa and I, freshly back from our anniversary trip where we ate way too much really good food, have started back on a controlled-carb eating plan (sounds better than low-carb diet, huh?). While both of us would like to take off some pounds, my main impetus is my health...I'm seeing my blood sugar numbers creep up to alarming levels, and my blood pressure could use some attention as well. Controlled carb is the ONLY way I've ever been able to take off weight, get the blood sugar under control without meds or insulin, and see my cholesterol and triglyceride numbers in the safe range. And now that the American Diabetes Association has given a grudging nod to this approach, maybe I won't have to fight my doctor about it. And maybe I'll be able to get off the nasty Metformin.

Haven't finished any books lately, partly because I'm trying to read so many at once! I'm listening to four and reading two, so it's going pretty slowly. Maybe vacation will see me finish off several and start some new ones!

Several people have been asking me lately about the iPhone and whether I'd buy it again if I had it to do over. I don't have a black and white answer, but for those of you who are trying to make a decision about one, think about it very carefully. And especially if you already have a BlackBerry--you might want to stick with it until some of the iPhone bugs have been worked out. There are a lot of features about mine I like, but I am not convinced it's worth three or four times what other phones cost. And if you're running it with a PC rather than a Mac, get ready for some major headaches.

So the really big news around here this week was yesterday's performance of Psalty's Funtastic Family. The house has been swimming in paint and glitter and scripts and costumes and all the trappings that made the musical a night to remember. And every one of the six kids who live here was involved in some way, so the excitement level was high and so were the noise and activity levels. No one needed any caffeine around here, though there were a FEW Mountain Dews consumed late at night :-)

The Del Sisters started us off with some mesmerizing harp/violin duets...

Shelley, who did much of the music and choreography for the musical, also sang and acted as Psaltina, in a fabulous costume made by Teresa F....I'm maintaining that Shelley only did this so she had an excuse for buying an outrageous pair of shoes. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it :-)

Grandson Jonathan and our dear friend Anaiah started the musical with the barn sketch...

The famous "Body Song"...



Psalty (Cody L.) and Psaltina, with the Booklets: the Meeker sisters and Tim F....


Jonathan learns about singing with joy from the Psalty family...


Granddaughter Abigail and Malachi H. showed remarkable poise during their solos...


Following the performance, our church treated the crowd of nearly 200 to a Texas BBQ dinner. I was eating so much I didn't get pictures of that :-)

Congratulations to CJ, Bethany, and Shelley Warren for producing a real "barn burner," and to all the kids and grownups of COG whose hard work and cooperation made this a beautiful illustration of the Body of Christ. You're the best!

Snip, snip, that's all folks!

Labels: Food, Health, Kids, Music, Sundays, Technology