Archive for April, 2009
Southlake’s Miracle Girl: Ahabee!
We ended our weekend in the city of Southlake, TX. It was a perfect way to send us into a week of rest before we begin again on Friday in Beaumont, TX. I have been so blessed to meet many wonderful little girls and moms this past weekend. I wish I could write about each one but unfortunately I am limited in space. Therefore, I have chosen just a few that I hope have encouraged you. In Southlake I met another precious little treasure that I hope will cheer you today.
This precious girl’s name is Ahabee. Ahabee was born in China and when she was 4 ½ years old she was adopted by a family in Texas. She is currently 8 years old and has spent half of her life in China and half in America. Ahbee is also blind. She walks with a stick and the eyes of her mother. One would think that an 8 year who was blind would be limited in their activities, not Ahbee. She jumped at the chance to dance on stage with me! Even though she could not see one action with her eyes she heard the music and actions in her ears. She followed right along with the other girls on stage and made everyone around her very proud. I don’t think this girl views her blindness as something to complain about or wish away, but seizes the opportunities to radiate the joy of being complete in Christ. The pictures below capture the joy of Ahbee
If you have any stories you would like to share about your time at a Secret Keeper Girl event I would love to hear them! As many of you know I am a huge fan of stories J Take a look at the stories in these photos from Secret Keeper Girl in Southlake, TX!
Killeen, TX did some battle for their girls
As we continue our tour through Texas, big fun (and big winds) seems like a non stop event! Speaking of stops, next up on the schedule… Killeen Texas. And what a stop it was! I know we often share what great fun we have, but today I want to share a glimpse of the impact that we experienced as moms and their daughters connected in incredible ways in Killeen.
As Suzy led one of the segments, she challenged the moms to do battle for their girls through prayer. Not just pray for your girls, but to battle for their hearts as they encourage in their daughter how precious they are and how the Lord is enthralled with their beauty. She went on to remind them that prayer is a critical weapon they possess as they seek to protect their daughter from today’s harmful culture. The next five minutes were some of the most powerful, sweet, battling I have ever experienced. Suzy was even moved to tears on stage over the intensity in which the moms took on the challenge of praying over their daughters. As some of the other SKG team members heard the mom’s prayers, they felt overcome with emotion, proud of the special moments moms were having with their girls. I noticed one particular mom who stood in the back and gathered her three daughters around as she laid her hands on each girl, praying that the media and the culture would not determine their beauty. That she would receive strength to help her daughters remember the truth about their value.
We all agreed as we ate our tex mex dinner later that night, that the Holy Spirit was moving. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so check out some of the moments of the night our brilliant photographer Pert captured for us. Thanks Pert for such a great job in these photos.
High wind and high energy at Granbury, TX
Our first stop in Texas this weekend was in Granbury at the Lakeside Baptist Church. One special group came in a big bus from over an hour away. We knew they came together because they all wore the same t-shirt. The SKG team loved the t-shirts so much we were asking them if they had extras! The logo on the shirt said, “Shhhhhhh, we’re secret keeper girls!” The picture below shows the magnitude of the group and the excitement they brought for secret keeper girl.
I want to share with you about one little girl who realized that God really did make her unique. This girl was born with 6 fingers on one hand and barely any toes. God opened her eyes that this was not a disability or something ugly, but something that makes her unique and beautiful. With her 11 fingers she plays the piano and guitar, and with her 4 toes she plays basketball and volleyball. As Suzy said, “Usually the things about us that are unique are what makes us feel not so beautiful.” This girl saw the truth, that her uniqueness was not keeping her from being beautiful but was enabling her to live life to the fullest. It was one more evidence of God’s fingerprint on her.
SKG had a Groovy Good time in Gurnee, IL
600 girls and women packed into Immanuel church for a Friday night of fun in Gurnee, IL. I was shocked by the high scoring Helium flyer game. Way to bring in the big numbers! Even though a balloon popped during our two hours together it did not take away from the impact of God and His word. Remember that the truth about your beauty can not be found in Barbie, magazines, or each other but only in the truth found in His word. Grab hold of Psalm 139:14! We hope to see you all again!
SKG Team
p.s. When visiting graceland, remember that it is not a good idea to lose your lunch on the grave of the “king”. Thanks to Erin we know what will happen if you do J
Hats Off To Hannah Montana!
On this blog, we’ve noted when Miley Cyrus stepped a tad out of bounds with an outfit and belly ring. Seems she’s gotten it right in her newest venture, a full feature film showing in theaters right now. The LA Times offered a nod to Cyrus today for her refreshingly modest presentation. It was, apparently, an intentional decision to placate the modesty preferences of moms whose 6-14 year olds watch Hannah Montana faithfully. There was a plan and there were specific clothing items that were nixed! Imagine that: a modest dress code from Hollywood! What had the secular producers of the show specifically said “no way” to? Check it out. Miley Cyrus was not allowed to wear leggings while the cameras were rolling. No spaghetti straps. No bare belly’s. No micro-mini skirts. No camisoles. Sounds like a good plan for our daughters, too!
And even better, Miley’s look was very “girly!” She wore ruffles and dresses. She stepped away from the jeans and t-shirt mentality and presented something feminine and fashionable. Go, Miley! And, thanks for being careful about what you present to our little girls.
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Happy Easter Secret Keeper Girls & Moms!
Here’s a Secret Keeper Girl recipe to create and devour together! Dannah, Lexi and Autumn Gresh will soon attempt some delicious bonding time in the kitchen. Finding fun activities to do with my girls as they’ve aged is more challenging than when my kids were small, but parent-child connectedness is the number one risk reducer for all the stuff we don’t want our kids to experience—substance abuse, sexual activity, and other harmful patterns. The Gresh family favorite every spring is Chocolate Covered Buck-eyes…with a little extra surprise inside. And, I can even get my 19-year-old son in the kitchen when chocolate is involved! Here’s the Gresh family way to do peanut butter and chocolate for Easter!
CHOCOLATE COVERED CRUNCHY BUCKEYES
2 lbs. creamy peanut butter
1 ½ lbs. confectioners sugar
½ lbs. softened butter
6 cups Rice Krispies
Mix well and make into one inch balls. Cool on wax paper in the fridge. While you prepare the chocolate topping:
12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
16 oz. Hershey Bar
1/3 slab paraffin wax, added after the two chocolates mix well
Dip balls into topping and refrigerate. Delicious!
No commentsChi-town, Rolling Meadows, Illinois = SKG Friday Night
We had a wonderful time in Rolling Meadows. It was a night of memorable experiences. First, mothers won the first time in a long time the helium flyer game! Moms you brought your A-game! But girls you blew us away with the scream contest…and Pastor John Smith suggested we rename our show to the outrageous screaming chics because of it! We decided to stay with Secret Keeper Girl (also, we told Pastor Smith that he can keep the pink SKG t-shirt he wore on stage). The third memorable experience was the unique chicago deep dish pizza! (we are still talking about it 2 days later) But the fourth and most memorable part of the night was the chance to spend 2 hours with our largest SKG crowd in the history of Secret Keeper Girl. We loved being in the prescence of God together!
WINNERS March Madness Giveaway!
Hi Everyone!
The March Madness Giveaway winners are:
Tween Bundle=”Stacey”
Teen Bundle=”Tara”
We’ll contact you ladies by email and look forward to receiving your snail mail addresses so that we can schedule a shipping date for your full kits full of tools to teach modesty, purity and true beauty to the girls in your life!
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