{Michael and me at the Fox Theatre!}

A few weeks ago, I got a direct-message on Twitter from my friend, Michael from World Vision. He’s the guy that led us on our blogging trip to the Dominican Republic. He normally leads big-time artists on trips and he’s super well-connected in the Christian Music industry. So, when his direct-message asked if I wanted to go to the Dove Awards with him I was pumped! (OK, giddy might be a better word!) My best friend Staci and I have crashed the Dove Awards twice and we’ve always been Christian Music fans.

So, Staci and I got dolled up, drove to downtown Atlanta and met Michael. He led us to our seats on Row F (!!!) and we settled in as he explained why he was such a VIP at the Doves. World Vision and Zondervan partnered to produce this fabulous CD and tour called, The Story. Have you heard it? It’s all written by Nichole Nordeman (my fave!) and each song tells a different story from the Bible.

{the story of Joshua performed by Blanca and Michael Tait}

Michael produced three songs from the tour at the Dove Awards. People like Michael Tait, Todd Smith from Selah and Natalie Grant sang songs that told the story of Joshua, Jesus and Mary Magdelene. It was so incredibly powerful I have tears in my eyes just writing this! When the three songs (and accompanying video segments) were done I turned to Michael and said, “I forgot where I was.” I was not in the Fox Theatre watching the Dove Awards, I was in the middle of the Bible. It was chill-worthy.

Which is pretty amazing as Staci and I were pretty star-struck the whole night, especially since we were sitting right in the middle of the artists and industry-type folks. We felt kinda famous.

Fast-forward a few days and I’m off to the Orange Conference. One of the vendors was Zondervan and The Story. This time it wasn’t the CDs or the tour, but the accompanying curriculum for churches. I was so excited I talked the poor PR guys’ ears off at the table about the tour. They in turn, let me take home The Story curriculum and books to preview and share with you!

It’s really a fabulous idea. Preschool, elementary, teens and adults all have their own age-appropriate chronological Bible story-books. The books follow the same stories and then the churches teach on those lessons. It’s a fabulous idea to keep families on the same page at church and talking about it during the week.

I’ve just been reading the Children’s version to Lydia each night before bed. And honestly, before we started I thought, “She’s gonna get bored with this.” The stories are only about 2-3 pages long and the stories are straight-forward (not story-ish like The Jesus Storybook Bible) but I was wrong. She loves it! She can’t wait to read it every night.

Plus, we’ve had some very interesting conversations about the Bible because of it. For example, have you ever talked to your kids about the Ark of the Covenant? Trying to explain how it’s not an idol but still a place for God’s Spirit? Really weird. But still. Good conversation about how the Holy Spirit isn’t far away from us–but really in our lives and working in our hearts every day.

I haven’t read the other versions of the book or looked through the curriculum yet. But I am thinking about doing something fun with it this summer (they even have trading cards!). So, I’ll let you know what I think of it. If you’re looking for a Bible storybook for your elementary kiddos, I really do like this one. And yes, the CD. You must get the CD!!

OK. And one more Dove Awards picture for you. This is Staci and me as we freak out that we’re in Row F. I think the magical blue glow is from our phones! Giddy, right?

Have you read or heard The Story? What do you think of it?

A few weeks (months?) ago we met up with my friend Yancy as she was doing a concert in Atlanta. She just released a brand new preschool album called Little Praise Party: Happy Day Everyday and as we hopped in the car to go to dinner, she gave us the new CD. We popped it in the CD player and began to listen while we drove.

I, clearly unable to sit still without doing something, opened up the CD and started reading the lyrics, the acknowledgements and all the info inside the CD (that’s the one thing I miss because of iTunes!). Inside the cover of the CD Yancy wrote, “I wrote a few of these songs with some special people in mind: Bye, Bye, Bye is for Lydia.” MY LYDIA?!

We flipped straight to Bye, Bye, Bye and heard the lyrics:

Bye, Bye, Bye to fear
I don’t have to be afraid
God is always with me
Even when I’m scared and don’t know what to do
My God is Big and Strong
There is nothing to fear!
No no no no
There is nothing to fear!

This IS for my Lydia! My Lydia who has struggled with fear ever since she was a toddler looking up to big tall men, a 3 year old who was too afraid to speak to adults, the 4 year old deathly afraid of storms, the 5 year old who worried about someone coming into our home. My little girl who constantly needs to work on saying Good-Bye to fear!

HOW AWESOME IS THAT?!

Lydia and “Aunt” Yancy in 2008. {Seriously, Yancy, is this the most recent picture we have?!}

I’m pretty sure I was crying while listening to the song. What a beautiful gift for our sweet girl! And a reminder from God that indeed, she does not have to be afraid because He is always with her! (Do you see why I love Yancy?!)

I thought it would be so fun to have Yancy sing this song personally for Lydia and put the video on my blog for all of you to see and hear, too. So, I asked her if she would and, well, she said YES!

Then I thought, wouldn’t it be cool if everyone could hear Yancy’s entire new album? And hear her heart behind all the songs? So, I asked some of my favorite blog friends and heroes to host Yancy on their blogs, too. Now we’ve got a big blog tour to introduce Yancy and her new album to you and your kiddos!

Here’s Yancy singing Bye, Bye, Bye live for you, me, Lydia and YOUR kids! Go get ‘em and listen!

Don’t you love it? I LOVE IT.

For the next 12 days (TWELVE–this is how great my friends are and how fun Yancy is!) you can hear Yancy sing her new album just for you! Tomorrow click over to MamaHall to meet the sweet and genuine Eryn and hear Yancy sing Away In a Manger (yes, the Christmas song).

Then follow the rest of Yancy’s blog tour at these fabulous blogs (and my bbb*):

Wednesday May 2
God Centered Mom

Thursday May 3   
Homeschool Creations 

Friday May 4       
ModSquad   

Saturday May 5   
When You Rise   

Sunday May 6       
4tunate   

Monday May 7   
Inspired To Action   

Tuesday May 8       
Home With the Boys   

Wednesday May 9       
1+1+1=1   

Thursday May 10       
Muthering Heights   

Friday May 11       
MOB Society   

Saturday May 12       
I Can Teach My Child   

Wanna win Yancy’s new Praise Party: Happy Day Everday CD and DVD? I’m giving one away today! Of course, I suggest you go over and buy one from her site. Then if you win, you’ll have an extra to give to a friend! If you’d like to be entered to win, leave me a comment telling me you watched Yancy’s video, or you love the new song or that you’ll be visiting all the blogs on the tour (or whatever, you can say PICK ME, too!). Woo-hoo! Let’s get this Little Praise Party started!

Thank you again, Yancy for loving Lydia and for giving her this song. Thank you for putting God’s Word in her heart and into the hearts of kids around the world! We love you!

*best blogging buds!

 

Asa reading and listening to a book on my husband’s iPad.

A few years ago Chick-fil-a had Between the Lions audio books in their kids’ meal. I already love that show (puppets! books!) and the audio is just as good. In fact, I pretty much have all four of the CDs memorized because Asa asks to listen to it EVERY SINGLE DAY.

I find him singing the songs and quoting the stories as he plays. In fact, one day I thought my little guy was so smart because he made up a song that said, “He was coming home from a distant land…”. It took me months to realize he had taken it from one of the Between the Lions stories!

Anywhoo. I really wanted to find some more funny stories on audio for him. (Ok, and for me, too. I don’t know how much longer I can listen to those CDs!) I searched through every single CD in the Christian Bookstore  (they do not have much to choose from!) and stumbled across Jungle Jam. It reminded me of a tape (yes, tape) I used to have when I was a kid. In fact, I learned Psalm 31:14 (Keep thy tongue from evil!) from that tape. Sure enough, as I checked out their website, it’s the same people! (They are also the same people who wrote the kids’ Christmas Musical “Three Wise Men and a Baby”, have you ever seen it? HILARIOUS.)

I bought Asa one of the CDs entitled, “A Little Night Monkey”. It has three episodes on it–one about a jealous monkey. Which is probably the silliest, craziest thing I’ve ever heard. It kinda reminded me of Maniacs, only crazier. And about the Bible.

The second episode is about a little monkey who talks her uncle into doing her homework for her. A good lesson in being honest and working hard.

The third episode is my favorite. It’s about an elephant who begins to write down everything bad or mean his friends have done to him. They all begin to do the same and soon no one is friends with each other any more. They take everything as an offense and return insult with insult.

Soon, the book they are writing in is torn and the pages fly away. At first, the animals are upset that they’ve lost their record of wrongs. Then they realize everything bad about themselves is gone, too. It’s a fresh start for the animals and they take it–loving each other instead of holding grudges.

It is a beautiful and brilliant picture of how we should do as Paul says and “keep no record of wrong” when we truly love someone. I think I got tears in my eyes listening to it. Seriously.

Overall, Asa doesn’t love it as much as Between the Lions because the episodes are longer (about 15-20 minutes). But Lydia really likes it and I do, too! I think it’s perfect for your older elementary kids and especially boys since it is crazy, silly humor.

There are 10 other CDs available online and even some downloadable episodes. I think we’ll be collecting them all as soon as we can!

Have you ever heard of Jungle Jam? What other audio books or shows do your kids like?

ps–have you ordered your Simplify Your Family Life ebook bundle featuring Truth in the Tinsel? Only 1 day left!