It's the Weekly Recap!

* Last Sunday I drove in to the church parking lot and had this awful thought that it was really Easter and I was in the wrong outfit. LOL!! Fortunately it was still Palm Sunday. Pretty low key day...nothing much to report!

* Monday was the first day of Lynne's vacation, and I made it operation: clean off my desk day. I blasted through so much paperwork, but I missed her TERRIBLY!!! After work, it was gorgeous out, so I went on a 4 1/2 mile walk/run...and called the day a success.

* Tuesday evening I went to the Marion Easter Pageant...which made me miss being in it all the more! The choir and orchestra did such a fantastic job and I really enjoyed running into people I used to see every year! A shot of the screen during the showing:
* Wednesday evening I had dinner with Jenny for the first time in WAY too long. Seriously. It had been over a month. Jenny, let's not wait that long again, mmmmkay? We ate at Moe's, and I ate as though it was the first food I'd seen in over a month. Good grief. Came home and took a LONG nap...my heart was worn out from some stuff going on right now and I needed rest. Then...check out the upgrade to my flower vase! (Love my lilac tree!)* Thursday morning, this was the sunrise on my way to work. (It was about 4 times more beautiful than this view through my pathetically dirty windshield portrays.)After work I went for a long walk and then I came home to watch Grey's with Rachel. I was doing some pinning before I fell asleep and woke up at 3:45 in the morning with the laptop open on my stomach, TV still on. Totally fell asleep pinning!
* Friday, we only worked a half day, so I spent the afternoon with my friend Amber. Last year, on Good Friday, she came over and helped me paint my living room. I was determined to give her a little bit more of a fun day this year. I'll post more pictures this week, but I think this one goes down (easily) as the best Good Friday EVER.* Yesterday I purchased a new laptop after the untimely demise of the one I've had these past few years. And of course, said purchase could not come without its own brand of drama, so to tune in tomorrow to hear about THAT. I went to a birthday party for one of my blog-anonymous friends' kiddos...
...and then I had to mow the yard. Seriously had to. The Easter bunny could have (and may have) gotten lost in there.
One Thousand Gifts. There were so many this week (again) but the one making me say extra thanks is that my computer didn't die until AFTER Friday morning was over. Because we had a shortened work day and no live show, I was allowed to work from home to save some gas. Had the computer died that morning, I would have been in big trouble! Big old praise the Lord!
Pinterest Inspiration. This was only a semi success. With tweaking, I have hope it could be a full success. I made these as one of the desserts for Easter lunch...

Source: makingmemorieswithyourkids.blogspot.com via Rebekah on Pinterest

Well...I made a version of them. This original recipe calls for regular cookie dough wrapped around a mini Cadbury caramel egg. Then...icing and the chocolate eggs. Both because of cost and because of my audience, I skipped the egg. I also used store-bought chocolate chip cookie dough. Because of my audience, I skipped the icing as well. My fatal error was in not spraying my pan. (I had the misfortune of thinking that particular pan didn't need it. WRONG!! So most of mine fell apart. And my eggs are too too big, so they kept popping out. Still cute enough to take:

It Was Such a Magical Little Day...

...until 7:48 p.m.

A Good Friday to surpass all Good Fridays. (You'll get to hear more about it later.) (I'm sure that makes you set an alarm on your phone to remind you to come back so you don't miss the recap of how Bekah embraced her inner preschooler on her afternoon off work.)

But it really was a perfect day.

...Pizza and breadsticks at one of my favorite pizza places. A gut-busting typo printed right on the placemat.

...A scavenger hunt in the park beneath and honest-to-goodness cloudless sky. Recreating Maria Von Trapp's grassy plains "the hillssssssssssssssssss are aliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiive."

...Blowing bubbles at the side of the river. Watching some massive heron looking thing fish (successfully) and taking pictures of the fish in his beak, which from a distance looked like a beak tumor.

...Starbucks. (Need I say more?) (And yet I will.)

...An Easter egg coloring extravaganza on the porch in the sun. A chemistry experiment following the coloring...though granted without the desired results.

...A brisk walk under the still-cloudless sky.

Yes indeed. A magical little day.

Until.

I opened my computer to upload pictures and it was dead.

Like rest-in-peace dead. Terminally, not coming back, dead.

Time of death? 7:48 p.m.

Know what time the Marion Staples closes? 8:00.

Know what time the Kokomo Best Buy closes? 9:00.

Yes. That gasping for air you heard was a Bekah who was blog-postless for today, finding herself without a computer.

Turns out Meijer doesn't sell them. Really, Meijer? Come on.

So you know what that meant I had to do?

W.A.L.M.A.R.T.

Bekah in Wal-Mart after 38 days of no dessert. If that's not lethal, I don't know what is.

I walked in, looked at the selection...and then felt my throat constricting. I can't make a decision of this financial magnitude without a member of the Geek Squad babysitting me. I just can't. It's too much.

So here I am...once again...computerless. Borrowing a morsel of internet so I can post this...and grab those recipes I need off Pinterest so I can take them to Easter lunch.

It was such a magical little day...

...until 7:48.

For Her

Yesterday I shared with you the silly portion of my Tuesday evening. Today...not silly.

The Easter Pageant always carries memories for me...because of the number of years I spent participating. And because there are so MANY memories...they sort of rotate through my mind as I listen to the music or watch the DVD.

Here was the one that got me the most this week.

In the particular performance that was recorded, there is a scene where a woman sits on a bench with her little boy, and the Christus (the name we used for Jesus in the Pageant) stands nearby. His disciples bring a robe and place it around His shoulders as an act of honor. He shakes His head, removes the robe, and puts it around the shoulders of the woman and the little boy.

And that year, I was that woman.

It was a powerful moment for me when it happened that year...it was one of those pivotal moments God used to teach me something about the way He sees me. That He sees those who feel invisible. That He reaches out to those who may not feel they deserve reaching.

As I sat in the audience Tuesday night and watched that part of the Pageant, I remembered how it felt when He reached out...literally and figuratively...just for me.

The pageant always ended with three or four of the holy women and disciples outside the empty tomb...but this year it was different. This was the final scene:


One woman outside an empty tomb. One woman beholding hope. She's not the same woman from the bench...but she is.


She's changed. Made new. And she can't help but pause to praise.

Because He did it...for her.

For me.

First...the Silly Stuff

Tuesday evening, I went with Mom and Dad to see the Marion Easter Pageant. (Time out for those new to the blog...The Easter Pageant is a community passion play, and I was in it for the first 20-some years of my life. They eventually had to shut it down because the building it was held in was condemned...but last year they brought it back in a slightly altered form. They show a video of it, accompanied by live choir/orchestra music, and they add a few of the original live actors. Okay. Time out over.)

After the Pageant, they wanted to get a picture of everyone present who had ever been involved in it at some point in time. We were directed to the northeast corner of the building.

Like I know where northeast is. Left and right, people. Give me left and right.

Mom and Dad had invited their friend Sandi to join us for the evening, so I asked her if she'd be willing to take some pictures of the group for me. I told her she could take as many as she wanted, because as all of you know, the Bekahrazzi knows no bounds on pictures. And she did not disappoint me. She tried all different angles and zooms and did a great job.

And I cracked UP looking at the Freelan facial expressions in these pictures. (You might have to click on them to see better.)

1. Yap yap yap. (Mom is wearing a bright red shirt and is in the center...a little to the right. Dad is on one side of her in blue and I'm on the other side in brown. Here's another way you can tell us apart: I have hair.) So clearly in shot #1...not even paying a lick of attention.
2. Riveted to the northeast. (Another word for "to the right.") I don't know what we were staring at, but it had all three of us captured!3. Ummmm where'd she go? That was what I was asking Mom in this picture. I'd looked across the way to see how Sandi was faring with the camera. Couldn't find her. Given that she was also babysitting our purses, this was a bit disconcerting. (Found her. She hadn't lost the Mary Poppins Bag. Later she told me that mine on one shoulder weighed the same as hers and Mom's together on her other shoulder.)

4. Bekah resorts to checking Facebook. Because that's just the kind of A.D.D. that kicks in after waiting 30 minutes to have your picture taken (while SORELY needing a bathroom break, I might add.) (Don't tell Mom I put that on the blog.)

5. The Fed Up Freelans. That's what I've named this picture. Don't we just look ready to bring the masses to Jesus? Good night nurse! And not just us...there's exactly ONE happy person in this picture!!!

6. Smile now? That's what I'm saying through my gritted teeth...and Mom is responding...I don't know. The answer, ladies, is YES. The picture is being taken NOW. Please smile!

The official group shot...

And just to prove that I'm STILL the reigning height champion in my family:

Disclaimer...person to the southeast may be aided in height by ridiculously tall clogs. Perhaps.

Even Ground

This past weekend at the conference, Jennifer mentioned a few times that the ground at the foot of the cross is level. No one is more or less important.

...which reminded me of this that I'd intended to tell you.

I mentioned on Sunday that last week I'd gone to hear my college buddy Susanna Childress read some of her poetry.

Susanna was a dream writing student. Seriously. She was smart, creative, an out-of-the-box thinker, willing to take risks I wouldn't even be willing to entertain, and she comprehended poetic skills so beyond me. Professors loved her and rightly so. And were she not so stinkin' lovable, I might have hated being her peer. (Especially during peer editing days.) But she was kind, encouraging, and seemed to live out the ground at the foot of the front of the class being level, even though she was clearly the front-runner. Amazing young lady, that Susanna Childress.

During the reading, she elected to share a poem she'd written about, and I quote, "how hot my husband is." (That would be her husband. I don't have a husband...just in case you were confused.)

So she was reading away, eloquently describing his hotness, and I was sitting there listening and occasionally thinking, I really should learn some of these words.

Allow me to let you in on the actual stream of thoughts in my mind:

Susanna: reading eloquently

Me: Look at her. She is every bit as polished and lovely in person and literary land as she was when we were in school together.

Susanna: reading eloquently

Me: You know, though, I think we've both done well. I mean sure, she has her PhD and teaches and writes and amazes the masses, but she's just doing what she loves. And I'm doing what I love, even though it's different. Yes, we've both done a good job since college.

Susanna: reading eloquently

Me: Although, let's face it. She is up there rolling these huge words off her tongue with no issue and I couldn't even interview the Dishfunctional Designs lady without accidentally calling her creations trash.

Susanna: In that very moment, she opened her mouth and totally mixed up a word in a big way. Her face turned 57 shades of red and the entire place cracked up...because there was no way around it.

While laughing...I thought Oh how ironic it would happen in that moment. She's good but she's not perfect and I need to remember it. We have different life paths and that's okay. She's a PhD, wife, mother, and teacher, and she's good at it. I'm Bekah, and I'm good at that.

The ground is level. I'm no better or worse than Susanna. I'm no better or worse than you. I get so caught up in the comparison game...maybe you do too.

But Jennifer's right. The ground at the foot of the cross is level.

Fresh Grounded Faith, Day Two

Lynne and I spent the night in Lima Friday night...and bright...or rather just early...Saturday morning, we headed back to the venue for day two of the conference.

I have to tell you about this lady. I don't know if you can see very well, but she has green streaks in her hair. I was positive they'd been purple the day before, so I stopped her to ask. She said she changes them every day to match her outfit. (LOVE!) She said she does it because she's free in Christ and that has opened the door for great conversations. I wanted my picture taken with her because I hope when I'm her age, I'm that spunky and FREE!We had tons of people come past our table, so I missed the very beginning of Kathy's music that morning, but she ended her set with one of my favorites of hers - Go Light Your World.

Jennifer did a little more sharing...isn't she just classy and lovely?

They gave away some coffee beans and t-shirts...which was a really fun time. I missed getting a picture of Carl (Kathy's piano player) holding up the pink t-shirt.

This is my new friend, Jessica. She was the photographer for the weekend and sat with Lynne and me at dinner Friday night. She shared a bit of her story and I just felt like she was an instant friend. Loved talking with her more on Saturday! PS - she has beautiful pictures. You should check out her site!We gave away door prizes on Saturday...and the conference did as well. One of them was this gorgeous hydrangea. Lynne leaned over to me and said "How long would it take you to kill that?"

GASP. Fair question, though I hate to admit it. Still. Must we say everything out loud??

After that, Kathy broke out a new set of rewritten songs and she and Carl let loose up there!

Then he had a chance to play and sing a solo. It was beautiful! I'd never heard him before...his name is Carl Herrgesell, but Jennifer called him Carl Hardtosay. He was HILARIOUS and yet you could tell he had an incredible heart for the ministry and for this conference.

Jennifer spoke one more time, and I scribbled notes furiously in my journal as she talked.

The end of the conference was a question/answer session and my FAVORITE part was when they talked about the FGF conference the Duggars came to (which I'd seen on 19 Kids and Counting). Kathy, who reminded me so much of myself all weekend that it was scary, talked about how sweet Mrs. Duggar is. She said, "Yeah I pretty much felt like Rizzo from Grease standing next to her." Yep, I would too, Kathy!!!

Earlier in the weekend, Kathy had sung a song called "Take Me With You" and Jennifer liked it so much, she asked her to sing it again. Kathy agreed only if Jennifer would make it a duet. It was beautiful.

After the conference, we tore down our table, packed up the van, ate some lunch, and headed home. This was take two of the headed home picture. I was laughing hysterically, which is why I look like a dork.

Saw this on the way out of town. Told Lynne it should be the official vehicle of Mid-Morning.

Back home againnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn in Indianaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa....

And just a little something for you...

Fresh Grounded Faith, Day One

ROAD TRIP!!

As I mentioned yesterday, Lynne and I represented the station at the Fresh Grounded Faith Conference in Lima, Ohio this past weekend. It was my first time to attend FGF, so I was pretty excited! Lynne and I left the station right after our Kitchen Caboodle show (another opportunity for me to learn to drive the van!) and then we headed out on the open road. Tell me: would YOU feel safe right about now??That Lynne Ford. Such a funny lady. :) Actually , we had a BLAST traveling together. We laughed until we cried. And she was introduced to the land of Bekahrazzi on the road. :) Ohio, baby!!

When we arrived, we realized we needed some clipboards so the visitors to our table could have something to use for the sign-up forms, so we headed to an office supply store. This was the outside wall of the store. I decided if I'd taken up masonry, this is about how it would look:

When I said so on Facebook, one of my "friends" (not sure he should still hold that title after this stunt!) said, "Oh I don't know...I wouldn't think the bricks would be that even." GASP.

Our table was right inside the front door. The lovely Lynne Ford with our table...

You know what thrilled my soul to its very core? (Not even kidding.) I got to wear a lanyard. I don't know why that is so exciting to me, but it is. I made Lynne take this picture for that very purpose.

You know what? I never even told you who this conference featured! Fresh Grounded Faith is Jennifer Rothschild's conference...and her musical guest was Kathy Troccoli. Before the conference began, we got to have dinner with them and all of their many assistants and security guards. Know what I loved? Coke in a glass bottle. :)

Jennifer Rothschild, if you're not familiar, is an author, singer, and speaker, and an overall LOVELY woman. She is also blind. It was fascinating to me to hear her talk about how she does certain things. For example...her stage setup includes a rug, three monitors, and a stool, and with those things, she can keep track of where she is on the stage. Fascinating.

I had the chance to speak with her briefly before dinner...and she was extremely sweet and gracious.

Kathy Troccoli sang...and I've been listening to Kathy's music since probably junior high or high school. We talked for a minute before dinner as well, where all the things I PLANNED to say to her promptly evaporated and I resorted to mute nodding. Seriously, Bekah. RADIO. SPEAK.

Jennifer's main speech was so moving. Her theme was I can, I am, I will. What would life be like lived that way?

Know what I loved about her? So relatable! Funny, insightful, and so, so genuine. She told great stories, and at the same time, she was sensitive to the Spirit and allowed Him to move her out of the way so He could move.

Kathy got everyone going (except me because I didn't know the songs) by rewriting lyrics to songs from the 60's and 70's to make them Christian. The ladies LOVED them. Even Jennifer's security guard got really into it! (Until they mentioned that from the stage, and then he sort of stood stillish.)

My favorite part...meeting visitors to our table! So many women stopped by to meet us, and the comment Lynne received most was "I knew that was you by your voice!" The comment I got most was, "I had to come by to see if you had your face on." HA! (Friday morning I mentioned on the air that I accidentally started to leave home with no makeup on...and no makeup packed for the weekend! Guess they were listening!

Our visitors included this beautiful walking medical miracle who just happens to be...a DAVID PHELPS FAN!!!!!!!!!!

Loved meeting her...and all the rest of you who stopped by! It was definitely a night of blessings!

It's the Weekly Recap!

* Last Sunday I was completely lazy. There. How's that for confession? At the end of the day, though, I gathered my energy and settled into the kitchen for a birthday gift cooking fest. I drank half a pot of coffee to keep me OUT of taste-testing.

*Monday I was completely productive! I got to be on air with Lynne for a very fun open phones show. And after work (as you already saw) I wrestled the first mowing out of the yard and then I was so worked up...I went for a walk! And then I went shopping! And then I did chores! (Whew. Tired just writing about it.) And check out this bit of non-Lent-breaking goodness! My work buddy Jill had a birthday on Monday and brought this for her treat. It's a blueberry/strawberry/frozen yogurt (not the ice cream kind...the regular kind put in the freezer) delight.

* Tuesday evening I met my parents for dinner (sort of an impromptu thing...as in Mom said "we'll buy" and I said "OKIE DOKIE!!!") and then I scurried home for my phone call/Bible study with Olivia. We were having the nicest conversation when someone ELSE in my house decided to have a nice conversation with the neighbor...a conversation which resulted in much hissing, window smacking and an eventual grounding for the resident member of this photo:

* Wednesday afternoon, Lynne and I had a cooking fest! In preparation for our interview with Sophie and Katherine from the show DC Cupcakes, we tried their salted caramel cupcakes. We also made a "box" version...to compare taste, cost, and time. We thought the from-scratch version won...hands down! Here's a picture:

* Thursday night I went to a poetry reading, which featured my good friend, Susanna Childress. Susanna was a year behind me in college and is whatever comes a step after brilliant. And yet...so funny and down to earth. I am not really capable of comprehending poetry, but I do love to hear her, so Rachel and I went together and sat in on that. I was going to have my picture taken with her but she was pretty popular after the reading, so I didn't ask. So...(imagine picture here).

* Friday after the show....Lynne and I hit the open road!We are blurry...sorry...my camera is big and hard to hold with one hand. Anyway. We headed out to Lima, Ohio for the Fresh Grounded Faith Conference. More on that next week, but let's just say Lynne is fun to travel with! There was much giggling. MUCH. And Cal. Oh dear Cal. (My GPS.) He doesn't do any better with names in Lima than he does in Indiana.

* Saturday was day two of the Fresh Grounded Faith Conference. It was a beautiful conference, both days, actually. God gave me quite a bit to think about through Jennifer Rothschild's words, so I'll be chewing on those things in the days to come. The conference ended at noon and I was home by about 5 p.m...only to find my internet modem was broken. Welcome home!!

One Thousand Gifts. This week they overflowed in my journal! I think my favorite was the road trip with Lynne. I looked forward to it all week...was so excited to spend that time with her, and then the trip was everything I thought it would be! We laughed until we cried, and we just thoroughly enjoyed being together!

Pinterest Inspiration. I went the food route this week! Jill, as I said, had a birthday this week and I decided to make these for her:

They were inspired from this pin:

Source: bakedperfection.com via Rebekah on Pinterest

I didn't get to eat them, because of Lent, but I heard they were very, very good, and they sure smelled good! The only complaint I had was that despite my super-spraying of the mini-muffin tin, they did stick to the tin. Next time I think I'd use little mini muffin papers.