Tag Archives: rocky rhoades

Rock on, Birthday Boy!

2 Mi Familia, 3 Celebrations & Festive Events, 5 Songs I am Singing, Stuff I Actually Think, ,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ROCKY RHOADES!

Looks like tonight, the sky is heavy

Feels like the winds are gonna change

Beneath my feet, the earth is ready

I know its time for heaven’s rain, it’s gonna rain

Little boy grows up.

Look at you, Rocky.  My little boy grew up.  The shadow of the child with the thick black hair (mullet) and short legs running zig zags over surfaces and walls and ceilings, I can still see from the corner of my eye at times.  I brace myself when you walk into the room these days – what joke or orneriness will ensue?  Will you tickle me (undoubtedly) or try to scare me (most certainly) and when can I breathe relief as you move on to another target?

 

Rocky with Amelie Belle, September 2010

Oh, you were a bundle of delightful energy, you were all boy-defiant and strong-willed.  You were all the brother your sisters could handle and you pushed their limits nearly every day of their lives and don’t they love you all the more for it, now? 

 Rocky with Averi earlier this year

‘Cause it’s living water we desire

To flood our hearts with holy fire

 

Rocky with Jovan, the love of his life

But before me stands a man, an honorable and good man.  He is rugged and handsome, he is gentle and humble.  He loves his beautiful wife and he dotes on his little daughters, and they sure do love their daddy.  He is strong and gifted, capable, yet unpretentious.  You are turning out, Rocky Rhoades.  You are have turned out to be a wonderful man!  Your mama loves you – can you tell? ;p  Like a rock!

Rain down all around the world we’re singing

Rain down can you hear the earth is singing

Rain down my heart is dry but still I’m singing

Rain down, rain it down on me.

 

 

Don’t you worry ’bout a thing!

Just when I thought you’d drive me insane, when your boldness and courage collided with your young teen-aged hormones and you questioned everything about everything and I wondered if I’d totally missed instilling in you what I’d wanted to, when you were about 13 and God showed me in an instant, as I was walking in to Burlington Coat Factory in Westminster and an evening snow was beginning to fall, that I shouldn’t worry.  He showed me I’d raised a David (your true given name ~ David Allen Rhoades II, and a Psalmist) mixed with a bold, impetuous Peter  (the “rock”).  My heart breathed a sigh of relief, strength to see you through the teen years.

And wow-o-wow, was I ever happy when, within a few days, you said aloud that the 2 people in the Bible you most related with were David and Peter.  YEAH!  Thank-You, God!

Back to the start, my heart is heavy

Feels like it’s time, to dream again

I see the clouds, and yes I’m ready

To dance upon this barren land

Hope in my hands – yeah,yeah

 

When you were just 2 as a ring-bearer in LeAnn and Ron Barnes’ wedding.  With your 3 big sisters.  We were practically our own 1980s “hair band.”  Haha!

Time to dream again!

Then you read Psalm 112 and told us, as a young teen-age kid, no less, that YOU wanted to be that kind of man.  A Psalm 92 man: whew!  What a joyous relief for your mom!  And that IS who you are and the grace into which you are continuing to grow and go towards.  That is your life scripture and your future, Rock-man.  It is your description, you calling, your destiny and your promise!  And because you choose this, I have all confidence in your life, your future.  Go get ’em, Rocky, my unshakable: wealth, riches, light, blessing, good, security, honor and all the rest!

Hope IS in your hands, baby boy!  You can count on it!

Rain down all around the world we’re singing

Rain down can you hear the earth is singing

Rain down my heart is dry but still I’m singing

Rain down.

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY to YOU!

Give me strength to cross the water – Keep my heart upon Your altar

Rain down, rain down!

Give me strength to cross this water – Keep my feet don’t let me falter

Rain down.

 

Do not shut the heavens

But open up our hearts, open up our hearts

Your mama loves you like a rock!

VIDEO:  This is when Rocky took a few months of voice lessons in 2006 so he’d know how to sing it up without damaging his vocal chords.  His instructor threw a recital for all of her students.  It isn’t a worship setting, so there is some awkwardness in the set-up and maybe even a little in the response, but he brought it!  And every time he sings this song,  I can almost see the heavens opening up to pour out a blessing.

Happy Birthday, beloved son.  May the heavens pour you out a blessing you can hardly contain and I hope you just get drenched!  Soaked!  You and your family, too!

Love you, Bo-Bear…mom

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

2 Mi Familia, 5 Songs I am Singing, 6 Looking Back // Memories!, 9 TV & Movies/Books & Entertainment, Stuff I Actually Think, , , , ,

A Summer’s evening at the Neighborhood School Ball Park.

Baseball is summer’s game.  We didn’t have a TV most of my growing up years, but the radio was tuned in to St. Louis Cardinal’s games as the sun went down on summer nights.  The cracking sound of the bat hitting the ball and the crowds going wild, along with the rev-the-crowd organ music drifted through the open windows mingling with the sounds of playmates and I chasing fireflies and whirling hoola-hoops around our waists.  The screen door slammed, as in and out we’d go and beer commercials would ring out between innings.

 

Tools of the trade.

We don’t do it enough, but now and again, Rocky will get a group of us together to run up the street and play softball at the elementary school.  And each time we say, “We have to do this again soon,” because even my grown children, now, have become nostalgic as they remember the years they played ball all day every day with the neightborhood kids.

  

Uncle Rocky pitching to Gav-at-bat.  The cheering crowds.  DP up to bat.

When I feel the morning grass I let down my guard
Because love comes from the dirt in my own backyard
Everytime I think I’ve finished being young
I catch myself having fun

My husband, Dave, up to bat.

Recently, on one of those lovely evenings that make you wish summer could last forever, Rock got us all together, the fam and some good friends.  There is just nothing like some bats, a good, broken-in leather glove and bases to run around.  Good times!

  

Pepler.  Guini and Nonna (me).  Gavin hits it!

But the moment passes as the sun moves on
So I turn myself back to you…
And it’s depressing that I can’t forget the tune the organist played
La  – da da da da da da,  la  – da da da da da da…
 
Dave at bat.  The boys taking a breather.
Everytime I think I’ve finished being young
I catch myself having fun
But the moment passes as the sun moves on
So I turn myself back to you
Is our season over?  No four leaf clover?
 

The boys of summer:  just coming down “Front Street,” as DP likes to say.  Shirt by Stormie

 

Hunter and Gavin will climb anything.  Tristan swinging the pipe…as a lefty!

I feel it’s getting colder…
But can you still remember?
April to November
You and I were members
Of the best team in baseball
So we play our games…
Rocky…Serious about pitching.

Lyrics: Baseball

All of these pictures: by Stormie!

Happy 25th Birthday, Rocky Rhoades!

2 Mi Familia, 3 Celebrations & Festive Events, Stuff I Actually Think,

Surprise!

Rocky was bemoaning turning 25 (or a quarter-of-a-centuryold) a few days ago and the fact that he would never experience having a “surprise party” because Jovan cannot keep anything from him.  In her defense, I have to tell you, Rocky is the worst!  He can make you think he knows things he doesn’t and then your facial expression gives things away.  He has done this to Jovan and I plenty of times.  He is a booger.  I made a quick mental note of the conversation and emailed his sisters.  In about 4 or 5 days flat, we threw together a little surprise for him (and about 80 other people) at a local school/park where we could play baseball with him, something he wants way more of in his life.

Could the secret be kept?  Well, we put on the invitation that no one should even let Jovan know.  Why risk it?  So it was a surprise for both of them.  We worried about church on Sunday.  Some one might give it away  But, yaaaay.  No one did.

rockys-016

We did it!  We actually surprised Rocky!  He showed up at our house 2 blocks away and there was a sign which said, “Happy Birthday, Rocky.  Meet us up at the ball field.”  The shelter is right at the intersection, so we could all see them coming and were waving and cheering them in.

Friends and family.  Food and cake.  Baseball.  And the wind.

Old friends, new friends, brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews, parents and in-laws and church family and neighbors joined us to celebrate Rocky.  There was even a dog or two.  His dad read a blessing over him and we found out who the really competitive baseball players are. 

There were 2 big cakes: a 12″ white with cherries on top and a pumpkin spice cake, which was really nothing more than a socially acceptable vehicle for eating the ultra-thick, unbelievably-amazing cream cheese icing (made with real butter and heavy whipping cream – the BEST I have ever made).  It was to die for, I must say.

rockys-024 rockys-020 

When Rocky was born in 1984

Can you imagine what a thrill it was, late on a Saturday night, to finally get a son?  I had three adorable little girls in flouncy dresses, barrettes and lacy ankle socks.  Then the doctor said, “You have a boy!”    I actually laughed and cried simultaneously.  I was sure I was having another girl, which would have been delightful, but wow!  A boy?  What a thrill!  I couldn’t sleep all night.  I just wanted to look at him and smell his sweet head.  He still smells good. 

Rocky, as a son, has been the sweetest and the orneriest boy in the world.  He has been the most polite and the most exasperating young man.  He has gone at everything with full vigor.  He has picked up the annoying traits of one of his parents (I won’t name which of us) who thinks that everything you do should be done bigger, better, faster, louder, and to perfection.  He pushes us, drives us, encourages us and chides us.  He never settles.  He never lowers his standards.  And he likes being right.

But he is so loveable and tender, too.  He is an adoring husband and such an attentive daddy.  He cares about all of us deeply and is protective and opinionated, always wanting the best for us.  He has never been harder on anyone else than he is on himself.  He is my boy, and he is beloved.  Happy birthday, Rock-man.  I love you so much.

rockys-035 rockys-043

25 wishes for my son on his 25th birthday.

  1. Hey, Bo-Bear?  You’re not the kid brother anymore.  You’re a man.  You have put away childish things.  I wish for you to trust yourself and value your own thoughts and opinions and gifts the way the rest of us do.
  2. I wish so much happiness and romance and love for you and Jovan.  You’re in this tricky part of young marriage.  So much love and time go to the babies right now.  But love the wife of your youth.  Tend to her.  Listen and watch and pursue her like you did to get her to marry you.  The rewards will come back to you.
  3. I am loving watching Averi be such a little daddy’s girl.  The tenderness she has brought out in you is a sight to behold.  And I love the way she has picked up your very unique traits, especially the silly faces and crazy noises.  I pray you will hold these daddy-daughter moments as life’s most precious treasure, because that is what they are!
  4. Keep singing, Rock-man.  Sing to the Lord.  I sense His smile on your song.  It isn’t a job.  It is a call.  It is an honor to have been appointed to the Holy Place. 
  5. I wish for you the time to do all that crazy guitar-perfecting you want to do so badly.  Get going, kiddo.  10 years from now, you could be the best in the world!
  6. I hope you’ll win many X-Box games over the next year. I also hope there will be worthy and challenging opponents.
  7. I am praying for God to place the right people in your path, the ones who can give you something God wants you to have, and ideas you can build on.  I am praying for God-planned connections, and deep friendships with people who love you, but who will also aggravate you into growing.
  8. I wish for you a band of strong brothers-in-theLord: men who have your heart and your passion to fight the battles with you, like-hearted warriors you can trust.
  9. Strengthened family relationships.  You’re a hero to all your sisters and even though some of them are older than you?  They really love to have your protection and guidance and love in their lives.  They want you to butt in (and you like to, too).  So, get in there and get messy with your sisters.  And your baby sister still needs you so much!
  10. I wish for you a strong friendship and bond with your dad, who loves you so much-just like he read to you at the party.  Do you know how many young men will never get a father’s blessing spoken over them like that?
  11. I want you to keep making me laugh.  That sounds more like a wish for me than you, but you like to make me laugh.  You know you do.
  12. I wish for you to quit tickling me and scaring me.  Really.  Stop that, you ornery little booger.
  13. Happy birthday, Rocky ~ may this be a year of many, many wonderful surprises!
  14. Joy!  Just a great big, heaping pile of joy on you.  For you.  In you!  May the great joy of the Lord be your strength and your might.
  15. Songs!  Write more songs!  I can’t wait to hear the songs pour out!
  16. I am asking God to send you mentors who will recognize the deep treasure in you.
  17. Financial blessing and steps towards the dreams you and Jovan share.  May wealth and riches be in your house. (Ps. 112.3)
  18. I pray that you will enjoy the blessings of a man who fears the Lord and keep His commandments. (Ps. 112.1)
  19. I pray your children, Averi and the baby due in March and all the ones after that, will be blessed and mighty in the land (Ps. 112.2).
  20. Because you are a gracious and compassionate and righteous man conducting your affairs with justice, I know the Lord will see to it that even in dark times, a light will dawn for you and good will never be far behind (Ps. 112.4-5).
  21. I wish for your heart to be steadfast and secure.  You trust in the Lord, Rock-Man and you’ll have no fear of bad news.  You’ll always know you’ll win over the enemy. (Ps. 112.7-8)
  22. Keep the generosity going, son.  You have a giving heart.  God will honor you for that and raise your authority level. (Ps. 112.9)
  23. I thank the Lord that you decided at the age of 12 or 13 that you wanted to be a Psalm 112 man.  It is happening.  As you have become that kind of man, God is blessing you in that way.  So cool! 
  24. Sabbath rest.  Oh, how I wish that for you – the really good, God-blessed, restorative, one-day-a-week, joy-filled rest.  Make every effort to get it.  It’ll keep you!  Hebrews 4
  25. I wish for you to know how many people love you, respect you and admire you.  There are many.  But my wish is that you’ll see it, know it, and most importantly: RECEIVE it!

 

rockys-054 rockys-056

I love my son!…Jeanie-the-mama

NOTE TO SELF:  Me and Rocky and the guitar.  More of it!

Happy 3rd Anniversary, Rocky & Jovan!

2 Mi Familia, 3 Celebrations & Festive Events, Stuff I Actually Think, , ,

byelliepickett5

It was crisp black lines and soft, silk blue and monograms and crystally-light drapes.  It was bubbles and blue Mustangs and tuxedos and loveliness.  Barefoot flowergirls, curled hair cascading down their backs and ring-bearers raced to the finish line.  The black, menacing sky broke forth into a yellow blaze of western-sun glory just as the bride, on her father’s arm, entered to be seen by her groom.  There was a 5-tier cake, each a unique and specially-chosen flavor with gourmet fillings, embellished with the palest blue and thousands of edible pearls.  There was candlelight.  Friends and family filled every space, the dancing was exhuberant and chocolate fountains flowed.

My favorite part of Rocky and Jovan’s wedding day?  The vows they wrote to each other, so sweet and loving and true. A close second would be that Jovan and I tested at least 17 buttercream recipes and hit upon the perfect one.   My favorite part since?  Their commitment to passing on family traditions and their gift of time, the time they give us on holidays and holy days, the special events and times that make family and keep the legacy going.

rocky20rhoades1

Rocky and Jovan got married three years ago on September 15, 2006.  Congratulations and Happy Anniversary you two beautiful people.  Life has changed since then.  Rocky + Jovan brought us Averi-baby and will bring me another grandbebe in the spring!  This is a thrilling and good thing.

Love you so much, my son and his love…mom

pictured: Rocky and Jovan with Averi, taken by Ellie Pickett; The “Rock-vans” at Heaven Fest, taken by Kori Verspohl

Rocker-Bo’s Birthday!

2 Mi Familia, 3 Celebrations & Festive Events, Stuff I Actually Think,

Twenty-four years ago today, my one and only male-child-by-birth arrived.  Twenty-four years ago today, the baby whose birth caused me to both laugh and cry and kept me up all night long looking at him and loving him and breathing him in was born.  (See last year’s post here)

Today is Rocky’s birthday.

Happy Birthday, Rocky, intense and strong-willed man.  Happy Birthday, beautiful son I love, and most delightfully perplexing child of all.  Happy day to Jovan’s husband (I was raising you for her) and to Averi’s daddy (who knew you were so anointed for this role?).  You are strength and conviction, committed and true.  You are right and decided, responsible and thorough.  I love you so, admire your wholeheartedness and believe in you and the things God is calling you to like there is no tomorrow.

Before you came, I had such opinions about having a son.  I only wanted a son if he would be just like this or just like that, but I could never have imagined or dreamed you up.  Sure I’d have said, “Make sure he gets his father’s dimples,” and I am glad you have them.  But I’d never have asked that you be as stubborn or as opinionated as me, yet you are.  But you?  You were the perfect combination of orneriness and goodness, of determination and playfulness.  If ever my limits were stretched by your naughtiness or ceasless ability to argue (also inherited from me, I fear), they’d be expanded again as you cuddled next to me with your little mullet, blankie in hand and curl into my little brown baby boy again.

How could I help but bless you?  How could I not bless the day you were born?  I do bless it!

So, today, as we honor you and the blessed day of your birth, I am praying these things for you.  These are presents you cannot buy, but they are truly what I wish for you and what I will shake heaven’s gates to see you get.

  • I pray that you will be the man God intended when He created you for your wife and all your children to come.  You have been given such a place of honor as Jovan’s husband and Averi’s daddy.  You hold so much of the preciousness of their lives in your hands – you have the place of impact on their hearts like no other.  In these times, when Satan works to rip every marriage of covenant and to turn the hearts of children and their father’s away from one another, you’ll need to be the man.  You will need to stand strong and battle to guard the love and unity.  Be strong and courageous, Rock, and be the man you were created to be. 
  • I pray that your voice will be heard.  Sunday, as you led worship in The River, I was so impressed at how you communicate a song’s truth.  That is different than just singing it.  I know you know that.  It is what has set you apart and given you a place of leading people into God’s presence through worship.  But I know, oh how I know, there is more.  There is so much more.  There is an amazing power to communicate the deep truths of God, almost ready to be birthed.  You stand at the precipice, you defer to others more seasoned.  And that is OK for now, but know – the time to speak, the time to speak out with boldness – is coming.  Don’t let your youthfulness cause you consternation in this.  Live it.  Then speak it when He says to.  And for the ears of the people to hear, for the hearts to receive… 
  • I pray that you will ever remain boyish, adventuresome, and playful.  Among your greatest of charms is that you are still excited by a paintball outing, that you ask for “toys” for birthdays and at Christmas, and that game-nights at your house are the most popular gatherings in town (X-box and poker and whatever else).  I love that you work responsibly in ministry, are a loving husband and amazing daddy, yet still the little brother in the family, looking for ways to infuse fun into all our gatherings.  This is most evidenced by the fact that all dogs and nieces and nephews start running in happy circles when you arrive.  They know you are the one who truly “gets” them.
  • I pray you will receive the love and belief the people who know you best have in you.  I know you sometimes doubt yourself and are most critical of your shortcomings.  I defy Satan to cripple your life in that way.  I pray that God will bind the enemy on your behalf and you will always hear His voice saying, “Rocky-here is the way, walk in it…” 
  • I don’t pray that you will always be a “vocational” worship leader or a pastor, though you were born into a heritage of that calling and have been blessed to walk this path so young.  But I do pray you will always be a worshipper.  I pray that the song of the Lord will continue to grow in your heart until it cannot be contained and you are forced to pen the songs of heaven.  I pray that you will always minister to the Lord (with your song, your voice, your heart, your all), no matter where you are or what else you may ever do.  Worship Him, always, my sweet boy.  You were made to praise Him.

I love you, my Rock-man.  I am so full of anticipation about the life God is leading you in and watching closely as you become more like Jesus.  You are the Psalms 112 man-because that is what you always wanted, and that is God’s intent for you.  You are beautifully and wonderfully made – I know this very well.

Happy Birthday, o son I so adore…Love, Mom

NOTE TO SELF:  Worship time with Rocky.

pictured: Rocky and the fam a couple of weeks ago