Category Archives: 2 Mi Familia

All things family-related. My husband and me, the children we made, the grandbebes that thrill us now. Our whole great big, loud, messy family. Love! *sigh…

Happy Birthday, Dave Powers!

June 16, 20122 Mi Familia, 3 Celebrations & Festive Eventsdave powers, heaven fest, worship and the word movementJeanie

The firstborn married so well. Tara got Dave Powers! So we got him, too.

Only I still love to remind her that I knew before she did…kind of. There was this early morning God-speaking-to-me kind of dream that involved Tara’s wedding day and all of dancing joyfully – just head-over-heels happy with the man she’d married. I can still hear God saying, “You’ll love him like you birthed him yourself.” I could not comprehend that, but it turned out to be true.

That night, after this vivid and beautiful dream from the Lord, quite serendiptiously, I actually met Dave Powers for the first time. Coincidence? No way. And just for another fun fact: he was born the day my husband proposed to me 31 years ago. Like God was getting Tara and me both set up! *Ahem!

Happy Birthday, David Michael Powers.

Thanks for hanging in there and hanging on. Thanks for bringing things to this family we didn’t even know we needed. Mostly thank you for marrying, for covenanting with my baby girl. Thank-you for fathering Hunter so extraordinarily. It is a blessed sight to behold.

This year, I have been taking a look back and re-reading the things I have written about each of you, mi familia, on your birthdays. It has been cool to see all God is doing, how He is moving in and through you each. So, for you, here is what I was reminded of today:

2011, the word-picture-DP. Man on Fire.

I crammed as many things onto a jpg as I could. Each one: true and heartfelt. I especially still love “spiritual iconoclast.” And “received.” You are. Both!

2010, true confessions

“For I am of the persuasion that the children we get are as much used by God to form us and train us as we are in their lives, And you, son-of-my-heart, are a shining example of it. You are courageous and bold and have invited to me to go places I never would have gone, didn’t even think I wanted to go and sometimes have been crazy-uncomfortable. Most of it, I wouldn’t trade. Some of it I am waiting for the day I can say, ‘Oh we can laugh about that now…’ Haha”

Will you ever quit challenging me???

2009, 28-things I LOVE about DP

And I could add 31 more at the drop of a hat. #28, still, really one of the main ones!

2008 and the Indiana Jones movie clip

Because Psalm 121 told me what to expect…for you.

Happy Birthday, Dave, son-of-my-heart. Happy birthday to a man who is both steady, worthy of trust and wildly abandoned and pliable and in the hands of God. Happy day to some one who is youthful and adventurous, with ears to hear the Spirit of God and eyes to see what God is up to on the earth. Happy and blessed days to an unassuming guy who holds the keys to the very heart of God, as well as to our own hearts. I don’t think people can know just by looking, perhaps not until they have been in a room with you – the depth of character and the strength in spirit you carry…

And on your birthday, I want to tell you what a good son you are. I want you to know that we see the spirit of sonship in you toward your earthly fathers, spiritual fathers. And we see that you have submitted your heart to the Father as a son who welcomes the training and discipline that comes with that. That is why, today and all your days, you will walk in the inheritance of the Father. All He has is yours. And I wonder if your anointing might not pull some earthly fathers back from the brink, out of bondage?

2007 – reflecting on what you brought

You walked in and re-ignited some lost passions and time-weakened dreams and became one of us, as if we’d never known a time before you. You consecrated our new home with worship and your voice from those early days continues to echo in my memory – the many weekends you’d spend here, your time off from the ministerial internship, guitar in hand…We could see God’s hand and blessing on you so clearly, we felt honored to offer this man of God our couch and a blanket. You did drive me a little crazy with all the questions and inquisitiveness, but you drew me back out of a self-imposed exile and honored me by receiving what little I had to offer.

Happy Birthday, Dave. You have brought a lifetime of joy and love and adventure and vision to our lives – in just 10 years!! So many years to go. Soon, for a baby of {as yet}mysterious origin, you will be a daddy again. And for this child, known well by God, planned and protected by His hand, you will be the miracle so needed. And you will do it well. I know this, because you have done it for us. For me.

You make us happy. We think you are wonderful to watch, to know, to love. Happy, blessed day! Love you SO much.

Mom

Dave & Tara – tonight at Rez in Loveland (4 pm and 6 pm) and tomorrow at both services (8:30 am and 10:30 am. With Kim Walker. Dave is speaking. It will be amazing!

Happy Birthday, Tredessa C. {Rhoades} Faaland!

June 13, 20122 Mi Familia, 3 Celebrations & Festive Events, Stuff I Actually ThinkJeanie

Yet another gorgeous day to celebrate your birth. Just like the day you were born.

Here you came, born to us on the heels of your sister Stephanie (maybe you two were actually meant to be twins), to your madly-in-love parents and big sister Tara and a summer of good music and splashing with my baby girls in the wading pool and this fab hot-pink and white striped, ruffled-plunge swimsuit and finally feeling like adult, a real woman-wife-and-mommy. You had no idea your birth brought all of that, did you?

This year on each child’s birthday, I have been re-reading all the things I have written since I started this blog. From 2007 to the present, you have been one of my favorite topics. And as I read, I love how you have grown and how God has blessed you and how you remain true to your calling and God’s plan for your lives. It is beautiful.

Check out these glimpses of your birthday-blogs over the past 5 years. {click on the year-number for links to old posts}

2011, I am never at a loss for words about you

I was enthralled with the now-defunct picnik.com site and learned I could plaster words onto to photographs. So for your birthday, I tried to paint your picture with my word-blessings, how I see you.

I wrote last year (waxing rather poetically): “Dessy, Dessa, Tre-Tre, Dessy-Pooh-Pie – all names for the exotic, dark haired beauty who arrived just days before a most lovely summer in 1983. You were christened and accessorized in a wardrobe of sunshine-yellow and an earlier, milder form of Jeanie-green to set you apart, I suppose, from the lots-of-pink we already had in the family. You were baby-girl-number-three (thus, Tre) and I knew from the first moment I had alone with you, something very different, quite extraordinary and alluring lay there in my arms. The eyes, even at birth, showed an intensity of spirit; yet there seemed to reside in you, even as a tiny bundle, a quiescent repose, a knowing restfulness.”

2010 “And the Bible says…”

“Deep calls to deep…even at three, your main topic of conversation was “And the Bible says…” and your love for God and for His word have been the hallmark of all the days of your life so far. How pleasing it is to me to see how strong that remains in you. You are woman who is to be admired. You have my awe and respect.”

And the Lord gave me a song to sing over you, too.

2009, Tredessa the leader…

“We were in Wilmore, Kentucky…on Dessa’s birthday, gathering information and learning from people who have managed to keep a festival going for 40 years now. I got to watch watch Tredessa in action interviewing people much older and I was so impressed at her ease and ability to draw the most important information from them. She is soft-spoken and gentle, easy to talk to (and talk, they did), but she has the ability to harness millions of bits of data, opinion, strategy (both good and bad, both successful and disastrous) and infuse it into a leadership team of nearly 100 people who will make Heaven Fest all God has ordained it to be.”

And I wrote you 26 wishes for your 26th birthday and I LOVED re-reading those. My fav was #22. Hahahaha! You still really are!

2008, looking forward to the Mr Right-Faaland

I was praying for your Jim-from-the-office, your Mr Darcy, your Boaz.

2007 Every single June 13 since 1983, I see the beauty of the day

“You have chosen to live your life poured out based on the Living Word of God (Jesus) for Him and for others. Tredessa, you have great favor with both God and man. i know this because I am looking out the back door – the sun has burst forth, the chimes are singing in the breeze, yesterday’s raindrops are sparkling like confetti, the flowers are vibrant and the grass is lush. The heavens are apparently celebrating your birthday, too!”

I love you very, very much, o middlest of daughters. You are a treasure and treasure-keeper, a good daughter and family-builder. The tight fit between Stephanie and Rocky in the birth order has made you a glue of love for us all.

Happy birthday. Happy life. Happy insurance (wink, wink) and soooooo many more to come. Your mommy loves you, beautiful girl.

My Treasure, re-visited

June 13, 20122 Mi Familia, 6 Looking Back // Memories!, Stuff I Actually ThinkJeanie

From late December 2007. I assessed my wealth and wrote about it:

Godly parents who raised me well. They are still alive and kicking and doing Kingdom work, after 50 years of marriage and raising 5 kids and 15 grandkids and 4 great-grandchildren. More to come!…
The most amazing and loving husband – Dave. He has spent all our years pressing in to know me and love me. His love covers me. His touch heals me.
My children: Tara, so passionate and her beloved, Dave the powerful, watchful; Stephanie, so sensitive and her gentle and strong Tristan; Mighty Tredessa, out loving the world for Jesus Christ; Rocky, my amazing son and his beauty, Jovan; Stormie my baby, true and real. AND my grandchildren: Gavin and Guini and Gemma, Hunter and the baby girl to be…You’re the reason I was born.
The friends who have stayed true when I wasn’t worth their effort and who refused to be swayed by my hopelessness, but pushed me back into the light – you know who you are.
Home – not the walls and roof, but the safe place where hearts meet, where the laughter rises and the love grows…I have a home!…
Heritage – all the people before -who influenced all the people before -who influenced all the people who would influence me. I come from the good, the bad and the ugly, but also the rich in spirit. It is the gift that my grandparents and parents passed on to me – coming from insurmountable odds – to give me the sweet life I have not deserved, but so enjoyed. It is siblings who are worthy of my greatest admiration. I have gold to pass on.
A Savior, and how I have needed one – He walks with me and He talks with me…

My treasure has no value on the open market. My treasure is in the faces of the people I love, the letters with their kind words, the pictures small hands have painted for me. My riches aren’t even the thoughtful and loving gifts my family bestowed upon me on Christmas morning (though they divined my true needs, my heart’s desires in the most carefully attentive way), but the time they sanctified, the hours they set apart to spend with me. My fortune is in the minutes I collect from the people I am most passionate about – this is the true measure of my wealth.

Gavin holding Tuppy-thePuppy and Hunter corraling Steve. Steve Holt, the dog.

Have added a son-in-law and a couple of granddaughters (not to mention the granddogs) and lots of living. The treasure is increased.

Sometimes I read myself and think: wow, that’s good! :) Come on, “My fortune is in the minutes I collect from the people I am most passionate about” ??? That is hilariously zealous, people! Oughta be on Pinterest or something.

Stormie leading

June 8, 20121 Christ is All, 2 Mi Familia, 5 Songs I am Singing, Stuff I Actually ThinkJeanie

Stormie Dae has been mentoring the youth worship band for a while.

LOVE this song. Stormie and her kids. Stormie leading. Stormie on the bass.

She is a good daughter. A really good girl who loves Jesus and that makes her lovelier, still.

Holy Spirit

by Bryan and Katie Torwalt

There is nothing worth more

That will ever come close

Nothing can compare

You’re our Living Hope

Your Presence

I’ve tasted and I’ve seen

Of the sweetest of loves

Where my heart becomes free

And my shame is undone

Your presence Lord

Holy Spirit You are welcome here

Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere

Your glory God is what our hearts long for

To be overcome by Your presence Lord

Your presence Lord

There is nothing worth more

That will ever come close

You are our Living Hope

Your presence Lord

I’ve tasted and seen

Of the sweetest of loves

Where my heart is set free

And my shame is undone

Holy Spirit You are welcome here

Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere

Your glory God is what our hearts long for

To be overcome by Your presence Lord

(Repeat)

(end)

Let us become more aware of Your presence

Let us experience the glory of Your goodness

(Repeat)

Lord

Holy Spirit You are welcome here

Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere

Your glory God is what our hearts long for

To be overcome by Your presence Lord

74 years of the favor and blessing of God on the earth…

June 8, 20122 Mi FamiliaJeanie

Happy Birthday, my mommiekins

Gavin’s Skateboard Cake

June 6, 20122 Mi Familia, 3 Celebrations & Festive Events, Stuff I Actually Thinkbirthday cakes, family, gavin's skateboard cake, rice-krispie cake, skateboard birthday cake, skateboard cake, skateboard partyJeanie

It wasn’t an actual skateboard, nor was it “cake.”

But anyway.

Gavin, the skater, just turned 9. He wanted something made with Rice Krispie Treats. So we took a really easy, tasty route.

I used about 48 pre-made Rice Krispie Treats. Dave picked up a real skateboard with metal trucks at Target to use as a stand. I wrapped it with platic wrap and sort of smooshed the treats up together on the board, trimming the ends to follow the shape of the board.

Then I smoothed Wilton’s melting candy over the whole thing. While it cooled, I melted some of the red and piped/traced Gavin’s name over a template I had made, which I covered with wax paper. I popped his name in the fridge to cool. In retrospect, perhaps I should have used a mini spatula to smooth it out, but it is a casual cake.

Just before the chocolate covering was totally set, I placed Gav’s name on the board and Dave piped sort of a sunburst design on it. Peeled the letters off the wax paper and placed them on the chocolate-candy-coated board. 20 minutes in the fridge and voila!

Gavin told me he ate A LOT of Rice Krispie Treats. A lot.

We had a lovely time at the park, Gavin and his little sister and all the rest of us!

Song for a Sunday: Yes!

June 3, 20121 Christ is All, 2 Mi Familia, 5 Songs I am Singing, Stuff I Actually Think"yes", dave powers, heaven fest, northern hills church, rocky rhoades, rocky rhoades leading worship, worship, worship and the word movementJeanie

Omygoodness. I LOVE this song!

Dave and Tara introduced me to this song the summer of 2006. I had just left a busy (crazy, heart-pounding, wreck-of-a) church position and I was in rough shape. They were about to embark on this new thing called Worship and the Word Movement, where they could travel and sing and lead worship and infuse local churches and ministries with much-needed resources for worship – all for just the invitation, no $$ required. Missionaries.

It was a summer night. In a barn east of Brighton and the Holy Spirit was pre~sent! O my. And they started singing it and every person in the place had their faces turned heavenward with their arms raised singing, “Yes, yes – yes, yes!”

And I was standing there begging God to show me what was next, to give me my next assignment – something to prove He wasn’t actually finished with my life in light of the loss and the pain of the months just passed.

And you know when you hear from heaven and know it is really God because you know you would never have heard those words from your own heart and mind – you know that kind of hearing? I heard like that and He told me, in spite of the fact that the words of this song are amazing, sweet, and about simple surrender (and have a decidedly early 70s R & B flavor, which is so me),

“Do not sing this song. There is nothing for you to say ‘yes’ to.”

And I am serious. Because He was serious. He absolutely would not allow me the honor of singing this song. I looked around that barn and just like the wounded heart I was, spewed out, with hot, stinging tears, “Why do they all get to say ‘yes?!'” He reiterated:

“There is NOTHING for you to say yes to.”

Settled. KILLED. Just broke my heart. I had thought He meant forever. I couldn’t comprehend He was looking out for me, making sure I was safe before we ventured further…

Many times since, I have asked Dave and Tara why they don’t do that song more because I love it and God lets me sing it now. **happy face** :)

Flash forward: A Sunday morning (today).

I try to slink unnoticed in to the church. I am immediately greeted by 2 of the HF familia who will not let me slink by. Oh no. I just want to come in, sit in the Whitewater dark and sing a little (along with my son, Rocky, who is leading), hear the sermon and leave like I came: over-worked, over-wrought, over-tired, all my own fault.

Rocky and Jovan are about to step out as missionaries themselves. 6 years later, we are here again…He has a dream to build a worship team that goes out into the highways and byways, even into bars. He wants to actually worship the Lord in the dark places. He and Jovan want to write and produce music that will bring healing where the wounded live. And today, omygoodness – it reminded me of that little white barn with Dave and Tara 6 years ago.

And he dusted off the too-little-used song, “Yes.” And I am tired. And I am a bit beaten down by working without resting, by fearing man rather than God, by all the things I should know better than to allow…But sitting there (in the Whitewater dark) I realized, the thing is, I can say yes now. God is asking me.

“Do you want to do this?” I hear Him ask…

Yes, yes. Yes, Lord, yes.

And I hear Rocky lead out with strong resolve:

From my heart I say Yes

From my soul I say yes

All my life I say yes, yes…..

So that is my song of the day. Maybe the month or the next 60 days, I don’t know. It just really washed over me.

GOTTA get a camera that can handle the sound and low-lights. The vid is low-quality. But I am sharing it anyway, because if you’re trying to decide something right now, see if these words and this melody will fit. And if it helps you say what you know you already want to say anyway…

Get your lyrics and chord chart here: Yes- E (CD)

Happy Birthday, Gavinators! 9 amazing years…

June 2, 20121 Christ is All, 2 Mi Familia, 3 Celebrations & Festive Events, Stuff I Actually ThinkJeanie

O, Gavin – you little life-changer, you!

You were my first grandchild ever, the beginning of the age of the bebes. And now you are zooming towards double-digits and it has gone by in such a flash I can barely believe it. Happy Birthday, my little man. You are a such a great, great kid. You are bright and light and sweet and helpful. You take care and take on big jobs. You are energetic and engaging. You are gentle and thoughtful and such a good big brother and cousin. You work hard, you play hard you sleep so soundly. I have never seen anyone go to sleep as fast and hard as you do, at least not since your mommy was little.

You are the smile of my life.

Being 9 will be one of the most amazing things you have ever done and like everything you have ever attempted, done, touched or tried, you will do it soooooo well! I just know it! I hope you will remember how much I love you all the days of your life.

God created you for great things. So here are some things from His Word for your birthday. And His words are life!

So, Gavin Lee Kelley? Here is a great way to spend your life: Praising the Lord.

Because young men who live with reverent awe of the great things God has done also live very joyful lives, and they are happy obeying His ways.

Plus – when you grow up and have children of your own, they’ll end up successful and amazing in everything they try to do! Just because you worship and live for God, your family will be blessed and tons of people around them will be blessed!

Your love for the Lord and your obedience are just open doors of blessing for you! You’ll have your needs met and the cool things you do for others will always be remembered by the Lord.

No matter how hard things get in the world, following the Lord will make your light shine even in really dark places. You are so compassionate and generous and in such right standing with God. It is just gonna make good come to you and cause people to do good business with you. When people hear your name, they will say, “Now that is a good guy!”

Because you trust in the Lord, you do not have to fear bad news. You can believe it, Gavin – you can trust in the Lord! You can even be sure when the enemy comes against you that the Lord will kick-butt on your behalf! O yes, he will.

I love that you share so freely and are so generous with your things. That just sets you up to affect your generation and be well thought of for the rest of forever!

This is the life of a little man who will give God lots of room in his life. It is the life your Nonna is praying for you.

From Psalm 112

I love you like crazy, little man. You know I do. You are one of the coolest people I have ever known in my whole life! Love you, Nonna.

Memorial Day

May 28, 20122 Mi Familia, 3 Celebrations & Festive EventsJeanie

Hey, Grandbebes~

You have family who have fought for the freedoms we enjoy in the United States of America. On this day, take some time to remember and thank God for them and for the privilege we all have of residing in such a great nation, even though we are really aliens and strangers from another Kingdom (1 Peter 2.11 ) just passing through. God has been good to settle us here. Never take that lightly.

Thanks to all of Nonna’s uncles (your great-uncles) and grandparents (your great-grandparents) and nephews (your second cousins) and aunts (your great aunts: WACs!) and friends (too many to name) who have served our nation faithfully. Especially a big thank-you and hugs and kisses to Uncle Ryan today! We love you, Ryan!