Category Archives: Stuff I Actually Think

Maybe 25,000?

1 Christ is All, 5 Songs I am Singing, 6 Looking Back // Memories!, Stuff I Actually Think, , ,

Heaven Fest 2009

So, we may have doubled from last year.  The final count remains to be seen.

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There are so many things to recall from yesterday.  So many things almost made me burst into tears, in a good way. Things like… 

  • Like walking through the hip-hop stage auditorium and seeing hundreds of kids, wall-to-wall, shoulder-to-shoulder belting out, “Our God is an Awesome God.”  I was seriously catapulted into the Presence within seconds.
  • Or coming out of the finance office and looking out, from my high staircase vantage point, and seeing a 3-mile long line of cars to the west, another one to the north and crossing east as far as I could see, no end of them in sight.  Then, looking around the yard just below me and seeing small groups of people in circles praying for one another while just a few yards away, professional skateboarders were preaching the gospel to a lot of young men and they were responding to the invitation to follow Christ.
  • Then there was almost running out of parking (we only had space for 7000 cars or so) and having the farmer right next to the HF offer his land to us at the last possible second for a very low fee.  That is grace!  That is a miracle!  And for a couple of hours, Dave and Tara and Luke and Tredessa and Kyle-O got out in the dusty field (yes, the festival “big wigs”) and directed cars like any parking volunteer would.
  • Tireless volunteers (so many) who worked themselves sick to make the Name of Jesus glorious.  Leadership who had to “go with the flow” when things fell through the cracks and they did it with great humility and longsuffering.  I saw the “leaders” serving and sweeping floors and picking up trash and pounding fence posts and I saw them work around the clock (still there in the middle of the night, for goodness’ sake), going above and beyond what we could ever have asked because God called them to it.  If I mention names, I will miss some one, but will you know yourself when you read this?  I hope so…
  • The Sacred Assembly – hearing the crowd behind me chant “Jesus…Jesus…” with the sky being electrically lit up in the offing, watching low fog clouds roll in while a fresh breeze cooled us.  And seeing husbands and wives and youth groups serve each other communion and just stay and worship…long after Third Day and Skillet had rolled off the property.
  • The Kid’s area was a happening place! There was a mini-brob for the kids and jumpy castles-so much great stuff.
  • Kent Henry – my favorite worship leader of all time…got to hear him preach it up (very prophetic) and lead worship (Tristan played drums for him) and he prayed over my kids and spoke into their lives.  He was there as a spiritual father, a worshiper who has impacted the worshipers who are putting HF on.  We were so honored that he came. 

 

Oh, it was a good day.

But mainly?  I love that making the Name of Jesus glorious was what every. single. thing. was. all. about!  Yes, Lord!  Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven!

I am so loving and praising God for His faithfulness…Jeanie

NOTE TO SELF: Thank all the people who made this happen – no matter how long that takes.  Watch for and tend to the fruit…

“The LORD has done this and it is marvelous in our eyes.  This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”  Psalm 118.23-24 NIV

www.heavenfest.com photos should be posted in a few days

World’s Best Interns

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Heaven Fest 2009 Interns.

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l-r: Luke, DP, Tara, Tredessa, me, Tasia, Pam

Here we are, the staff with Pam and Tasia (Robert was unavailable for the photo), the world’s most incredible interns ever!  They worked tirelessly and devotedly with all of their strength and they just brought an incredible level of  excellence!  THANK-YOU for making our HF world sooooo much better, you guys!

Tents flying through the air, port-a-potties down!

Stuff I Actually Think,

The story goes that Carol Ann was leading worship in The Tent-Heaven Fest/88-hours of continuous worship, prayer and intercession, and as she was joyfully belting out her version of the Delirious song, “Rain Down,” rain it did!  The wind began to blow, the sky turned green and the downpour was torrential – no other word for it. 

 

The day was going well, main stage being set up, snow fencing installed, porta-potties lining the grounds

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Back at the farm – quality work being done:

koris-363 Elise-the-Niece and Ste-with-an-“f”

Suddenly, with no warning, the rains came down as the floods came up

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At almost the exact same moment, a hose broke in The Garage and was spewing water everywhere.

koris-378 Carol Ann got a little bit wet!

We will be cutting Carol Ann’s clothes – (yes, the very ones she is wearing in this picture and was wearing when she brought the rain), into squares and for just $29.95 you can get some of this anointed fabric and all your prayers will be answered!  (btw – j/k)

What in the ever-loving world?

The aftermath

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this is what the bottom of port-a-potties look like apparently

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the “brob” went down, too

It happened in the late afternoon (4:30??) and within minutes, the tireless volunteers were back out there cleaning up and righting all wrongs.

These people are amazing beyond belief!…Jeanie

The Heavens Declaring the Glory of God

1 Christ is All, 5 Songs I am Singing, Stuff I Actually Think, ,

40 Nights of Worship and Intercession at the HF grounds. 

Every night we pray to make the Name of Jesus glorious.  We declare His faithfulness.  Then the heavens start declaring His glory right back at us.  Then, we are in awe and praise Him even more.  And the colors get richer and deeper and more swirly and amazing and it just becomes a contest between man and the heavens to just try to tell God how wonderful, how amazing, how exalted He is.

These are untouched scenes from Tuesday night (4 days before), while the 88-Hour Tent was being raised*, taken from my spot on the veranda.  Beautiful musical worship and praise was being offered up led by Josh Holleran and a young adult small group from the Arvada Vineyard.  A youth group from Aurora joined us and a smattering of die-hard Jesus-lovers of all ages, as well.

The Tent-Heaven Fest goes up.  The skies are singing!

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‘Tis true, the sky I was seeing was actually brighter than these photos can depict (hey, it is a digital camera), but it was a showy, vibrant, colorful sky that went on and on and danced brightly forever!

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One of the most amazing parts of the whole experience is how we get to see not only the sunset itself, but the reflection it makes on the water: double blessing!

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BTW-I always HATE “scenery” pictures.  I loathe seeing photo albums filled with people’s scenic drives in the mountains.  But last night?  I could not help myself!  Ha!  Mea culpa!

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Whew.  It was beautiful.  Even now, I am thanking God for meeting us there, for receiving our praise, for opening up the heavens to us to show us His love.

 

*The Tent – Heaven Fest:  88-straight hours of worship, intercession and reading of the Word  Wednesday August 5 at 4pm through Sunday August 9 at 8am.

cardboardcampout.com

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The night of Heaven Fest, some radical, socially-conscious and caring individuals will gather to fast and pray for the homeless while they raise money by sleeping in cardboard tents. 

I have had the honor of working closely, worshiping and praying with a group of these people this summer, especially Patrick Kennedy, Tia Anderson, and Jerad McMinamen and wow!  They are such a blessing!  Their serving hearts flow from the overflow of their love for Jesus!

The first video just went online today.  The one below is an earlier piece they did.  Both of them make me glad for people with hearts like Jesus!

Is. 58.6-10

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
       to loose the chains of injustice
       and untie the cords of the yoke,
       to set the oppressed free
       and break every yoke?

 7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
       and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-
       when you see the naked, to clothe him,
       and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

 8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
       and your healing will quickly appear;
       then your righteousness will go before you,
       and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

 9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
       you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
       “If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
       with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

 10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
       and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
       then your light will rise in the darkness,
       and your night will become like the noonday.

www.cardboardcampout.com Seriously.

Glorious Morning

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“Full many a glorious morning have I seen
Flatter the mountain-tops with sovereign eye,
Kissing with golden face the meadows green,
Gilding pale streams with heavenly alchemy…”

From William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 33

Update on Life.

It is a Monday, a glorious, beautiful Monday morning.  Heaven Fest is 5 days away.  Robbin and Jake’s wedding on Saturday was a delightful and joyful event, going off without a hitch.  There will surely be facebook pics posted soon, somewhere?…

My friend Pearl’s dad died Friday.  He had been ill for some time, but it is still never easy.  I only met him once or twice, but I know him through the big, loving family he raised, through his daughter, who is a woman to be praised.  He is whole now, and with the Lord, he has gained life.

The Great Outdoors.

Last week’s late afternoon or nighttime thunder showers have saturated our yard to a new level of green, it being August in the arid-Rocky-Mountain-region, and all.  Dave mowed and trimmed yesterday and I have spent the morning enjoying the bird-song, the gentle breeze and my time with the Lover of my soul, pulling a weed or two, harvesting a few tomatoes (leftover quesadilla with thick, juicy slices of red goodness for breakfast) and an armful of beets (to be roasted for dinner…I will try to enjoy them).  The upside-down tomato, now in its’ place for about 5 1/2 weeks is boasting 5 little spheres of future deliciousness.

Dwight Schrute on The Office: “First rule in roadside beet sales, put the most attractive beets on top. The ones that make you pull the car over and go “Wow, I need this beet right now.” Those are the money beets.”

I’m reading a provocative and poetic book.

From Eternity to Here – Rediscovering the Ageless Purpose of God by Frank Viola.  I started before family reunion and am just entering part two (about halfway through).  It is so good.  I have so little time, but I am enjoying it thoroughly everytime I open it.  Fresh revelation.  Resonating reminders.  Goooooooood stuff.  Join me?

O Happy Day!

Tim Hughes sings it this way:

“O what a glorious day

What a glorious way

That You have saved me!”

Turn it up, sing along.  Dance a little. 

It IS a glorious morning!…Jeanie

NOTE TO SELF:  Praise Him all day long!

Happy Birthday, Guini-muggins!

2 Mi Familia, 3 Celebrations & Festive Events, 4 Home & Garden/Food & Seasons, Stuff I Actually Think, , , , ,

Guin-Guin is 4 today!

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Happy Birthday, sweet girl!

 

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My first little granddaughter (3rd grandchild) is four.  She is independence and spunk, she is quiet, but firm.  She can run with crowds, but entertain herself.  She is a waif in body, but strong in spirit.  She is all the Disney princesses, one at a time, or overlapping as she sees fit (this year, she chose “Cinder-Lella”) and she was determined to have a cake in Cinderella’s honor using her own doll (which we almost couldn’t find).  And so we did.

A Cinderella Doll Cake

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I learned from my first doll cake experience to wrap the shapely doll in a paper towel and Saran Wrap so as not to cause a stir when the cake is cut away (revealing a naked bum).  The birthday girl’s mommy chose my signature lemon-poppyseed with fresh lemon curd for filling.  It is o-so-refreshing.  I used a 9 inch layer, 2 8-inch layers and a bowl for the top of the skirt.  We ate the other 8-inch layer the extra batter provided as a “taste-test.”  The dress was a very simple buttercream in light and the palest-ever blues.  I sprinkled it with sugar glitter (which looks like crumbs on the serving tray) and there she is: Guini’s Cinderella cake.

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It was a lovely day to celebrate, a few days ago.  We ate and plied Guini with gifts, but true to Aunt Tara’s prediction to save her gift for last because Guini would love it best of all, once Guinivere received the little box of make-up and lip “sauce,” she was never seen without it again.  Each time I see her now, her eyes, her cheeks and her lips are all-a-glitter in the palest shades of pinks and lilacs.

Here is Guini opening the mountain of gifts, and her baby sister, Gemma, rolling about on Guini’s Happy-Birthday-ball.

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Here is Guini with her jewelry/treasure box from Aunt Jovan and Uncle Rocky and Grandpa and Gavin in their geek goggles under the water in the pool.

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I love you, Guinivere!

Nonna loves you, little girl.  I love your smile and the twinkle in your eye and I love how you can stay focused and totally ignore what you’d rather not notice.  I love that you sing your head off or don’t whisper even a sound all afternoon should the mood strike.  I love that you are a good little sister and a wonderful big sister.  I love that sometimes I can tell you are looking at me, right into my very soul, and you are really getting me.   I love that and I love you!

XXOO…Nonna

La Verdure de la Vallee

1 Christ is All, 4 Home & Garden/Food & Seasons, Stuff I Actually Think,

Lush, green, and verdant – that is what these afternoon or early evening thunder-showers are giving us.  Usually quite dry and yellow by this time of year, except for the places we must saturate regularly, Colorado is having one of the greenest summers.

And while the mountains stand tall and strong and speak to us of victory and grandeur as we long so very often for the exhileration of the mountaintop experience, a walk across the cool, wet grass this morning, breathing in the heavy, moist air reminded me that the ” valley experience” is so good for my soul.

Song of Solomon 6.11  “I went down to the garden…to see the verdure of the valley, to see whether the vine had budded and the pomegranites has bloomed…”

or

“Je suis descendue au jardin des noyers, Pour voir la verdure de la vallée, Pour voir si la vigne pousse, Si les grenadiers fleurissent.”  (Sometimes the Bible just sounds so good in a different language, thank-you www.biblegateway.com!)

I love the mountain top.  But I live in the valley, where “He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul” (Ps 23).

How green is my valley…J

BTW – several translations of the verse I referenced from the Song of Solomon actually say, “I went down to the garden of nuts…”  And that is where I live, too, among a bunch of nuts!

Sneak Peek at the Giant Frame

Stuff I Actually Think

For Robin’s wedding.

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No traditional silly little archway for this special bride!  Suspended behind the minister and the wedding couple on yellow ribbon, framing their love vows, will be an 8′ x 6′ giant frame (a 2-foot frame profile).  It is all to create that picture-perfect day!

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I am madly embellishing it today (yes, with paper mache made of laundry starch, glue, white paint and flour and a few rolls of paper towels) and silk flowers and odds and ends.  Truly, if I’d known how easy paper mache embellishing was going to be, I’d have by-passed the silks.  I was afraid I couldn’t do enough to fill up the 2-foot width of the frame profile, but you can see, it is easy!  Tomorrow, we will paint everything white white white (though we once toyed with the mimosa-yellow as a wow-factor) and hopefully, in some theatrical way, it will look like an ornate, old, carved frame.

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Must haves: lace to add texture, corsage pins for extra stick-strength, Aelene’s Tacky Glue, no worry about the mess in the house, a good hot-glue gun and no fear!  Have paper towels, will travel!

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Little known fact:  you cannot use spray paint on foam-based structures – it will melt the foam.  Trust me and my foam-expert friend, Pearly-Q.