Turn Up The Music

Yep, it was a good Friday!! An awesome Friday to be more specific! Got home sometime after one this morning, so it was so nice that I could sleep in this morning, well a little . . . Charity was up by 9 AM.

Last night's concert was amazing. The great event celebrated Mercy Ministries 25 years of existence. Founded by Nancy Alcorn, a truly phenomenal woman with a burden and dream for helping girls ages 13 - 28 in all types of crisis situations. Nancy is a true example of what Christ wants from each one of us. She's the type of person I would love to spend just one day with!! What a testimony to what one woman can do when she sets aside her weaknesses and limitations and puts on the Lord's strength and endless resources. Over the past 25 years, Mercy Ministries has expanded from one home to numerous all over the globe!! And hundreds of girls' lives have been changed! What a true ministry!!

Me sporting my new Mercy Minsitries shirt!! I love it!! "Speak mercy a voice that brings change!!"

* Point of Grace started the night off and though they're not my favorite group they had a nice performance and you can always sing along with their ever, popular songs. I really enjoyed their new song "How You Live (Turn Up The Music)". It's got a great message! * Next was Mandisa. That girl can tear it up! With Mary Mary's "Shackles" she got us up and dancin'! * On to CeCe Winans, another classic. I grew up listening to BeBe and her and always have enjoyed their music. She's got real smooth style. * BarlowGirl was the next group. Wow!! Those girls ROCK . . . . literally!! The can play, sing and preach!! I can't get over the drummer playing such a major role in the vocals, too!! I don't know now she beats the drums so hard and can still belt it out like she did. "Million Voices" was such a cool song, with a powerful origin. * Natalie Grant - truly amazing! Of course her last song was "Held", is one of my top 10 favs ever. Wow!! She sings with such passion and power!! Definitely the best vocal performance of the evening! * And to top the evening off, Israel and New Breed, who always do a dynamic job leading a congregation to a deeper level of worship. We closed the evening out with "Say So".

So fun! And for $15, where can get nearly 4 hours of great Christian music entertainment!?!?!

But for us girlies the night wasn't over yet . . . of course, we had to get some eats. Tammy (might I add . . . I appreciated getting to know this fun-loving gal!! :o) suggested we go to MAFIAoZA'S Pizzeria in the Gulch and though we couldn't get the velvet-curtained table, it was a delectable dining experience. Had a nice and greasy slice of pepperoni pizza pie!! Yummers!! Weigh-in's not going to be good on Monday, I can tell!!

Such a great evening, music, friends and good food!! Perfect!! . . . That is, minus the dude that started molesting Allison's van as we sat at a red light. I guess he was probably looking for some money or something, but for some reason he put both hands and his face up to Tammy's window!! Yikes! I nearly died in the back as Tammy screamed, "YOU DUMB DUMB!! ALLISON, DRIVE, DRIVE FAST!!" Allison wasn't able to go very far since we were the second car at the red stop light. Lucky for us Tammy's bold vulgarity scared him away!!! But then again, every Girl's Night Out has to have some additional excitement. I'm still laughing at Tammy's reaction, nearly 12 hours later!! Oh dear!! ROFL!!!

Got home and Charity woke up the second I walked in the front door. She erupted Dave up out of his deep sleep with a loud "Hello!" We three cuddled and chatted about each other's evening events until Charity fell back asleep and I brought her into her bed. Finally very early this morning, I crawled into bed thanking God for such a very wonderful Friday!!

Turn Up The Music

Wake up to the sunlight
With your windows open
Don’t hold in your anger or leave things unspoken
Wear your red dress
Use your good dishes
Make a big mess and make lots of wishes
Have what you want
But want what you have
And don’t spend your life looking back

Chorus
Turn up the music
Turn it up loud
Take a few chances
Let it all out
You won’t regret it
Looking back from where you have been
'Cause it’s not who you knew
And it’s not what you did
It’s how you live

So go to the ballgames
And go to the ballet
And go see your folks more than just on the holidays
Kiss all your children
Dance with your wife
Tell your husband you love him every night
Don’t run from the truth
‘Cause you can’t get away
Just face it and you’ll be ok

Chorus
Turn up the music
Turn it up loud
Take a few chances
Let it all out
You won’t regret it
Lookin’ back from where you have been
‘Cause it’s not who you knew
And it’s not what you did
It’s how you live

Oh wherever you are and wherever you’ve been
Now is the time to begin

So give to the needy
And pray for the grieving
E’en when you don’t think that you can
‘Cause all that you do is bound to come back to you
So think of your fellow man
Make peace with God and make peace with yourself
‘Cause in the end there’s nobody else

Chorus
Turn up the music
Turn it up loud
Take a few chances
Let it all out
‘Cause you won’t regret it
Lookin’ back from where you have been
‘Cause it’s not who you knew
And it’s not what you did
It’s how you live

‘Cause it’s not who you knew
And it’s not what you did
It’s how you live