barb & jan, bountiful blessings, and big butter jesus

Though I seem to have contracted a bit of Beth's earlier illness, it's been quite a week filled with many good things! 

Last Saturday I made a scrapbooking trip to Cincinnati to meet up with Barb Hogan and Jan Connair at Barb's house. We had such a good time, like we'd known each other for years.  It's amazing to me that I can, through scrapbooking, feel confident to travel all that way by myself and just walk into the home of someone I know only through the powers of the Internet.  Or is it that I am just naive?  Who knows?  Anyhow, I had a great time hangingout and it seemed like we kept finding more and more things that we had in common.  We rocked out to some serious tunes after dinner - Aerosmith, Springsteen, Ozzy.  Too bad I wasn't feeling well enough to hear all three adults sing in their church choir on Sunday morning.  I really would've liked to go, but my miserable head cold made me want to get to my house to vegetate.  And too bad that Michigan had to lose, too.  Thanks for the fun times, ladies!

After a very brief week of school (two days - i could get used to that!) Beth and I started to get things ready for the Thanksgiving arrival of our parents.  We really are about the greatest team on the planet - Beth was off to Target for table beautification while I headed to Meijer for all of the fixings.  On Wednesday evening we attended Thanksgiving worship which included some of our favorite harvest hymns (Now Thank We All Our God, We Gather Together, Come You Thankful People Come, and Sing to the Lord of Harvest) as well as a heartfelt message of thankfulness from George Ogg and his wife.  By the time that Mom and Dad arrived on Thursday afternoon, the house was filled with the aromas of a Rachael Ray feast and the table was dressed in its best.  We submitted photos of our table to the local television station, and our table was featured on the morning news show!  We are totally blest to have such a great little house, jobs that allow us to prepare a fine feast, and parents who can't wait to visit!

 

While Mom and Dad were here we attended the Festival of Trees at Fort Wayne's Embassy Theater.

 

And we went to see the best little movie that we've seen in a long time - Bella.  I HIGHLY recommend you go see this film.  The thing that I liked about it was that it was real (based on a true story), and it didn't try too hard.  Though the budget was nothing mind-boggling, it was well-acted and well-written, and in the end, the message was a positive one.  Can't beat that! 

 

And finally, I gotta tell you something funny.  On the way to school each morning, Beth and I read a devotion from Portals of Prayer and then we tune into the Bob and Tom Show on our local classic rock station.  Now if you know Bob and Tom, they are pretty darn raucous, raunchy, and ridiculously funny.  I'll admit there are time that they can get a little TOO carried away, but usually the sound of their laughter is a great way to get the day started.  By far, one of the songs that they have played that we just love is Big Butter Jesus (click the link to hear the you tube version!) by Heywood Banks.  As a matter of fact, there was one morning where we were running late to school, it was dark, and we were bickering.  They day ahead looked like it was going to be a gloomy one.  But then this song came on, and before we knew it we were all smiles.  See the lyrics below to get the idea (though I do encourage you listen to the you tube link!).

Big Butter Jesus by Heywood Banks

In southern Ohio, just north of Cincinnati
I beheld a vision, next to the expressway.
Was a 60 foot jesus, with his hands in the air
looks like he’s carved out of butter,
just like at the state fair.

Big butter Jesus
Sweet cream Jesus
Oh country fresh Jesus
Unsalted Jesus
Oh Promise Jesus
Imperial Jesus
Can’t believe it’s not Jesus
Oleo Lord.

Well you see him from the chest up
like he’s about to do a back flip,
like he scored a touchdown
or maybe melting or about to drown.
Well I’ve been to the state fair
seen a cow made out of corn cobs
Garth Brooks made of string cheese
and the virgin out of olives. 

Big butter Jesus
Sweet cream Jesus
Oh country fresh Jesus
Unsalted Jesus
Oh Promise Jesus
Imperial Jesus
Can’t believe it’s not Jesus
Oleo Lord. 

Shipped in pieces on a flatbed
staring backwards was his big head
Driver stuck in traffic backups
desperately avoiding eye contact
Well don’t make no graven images.
That’s one of the 10 commandments
I hope the grading curve is kindly
You get to heaven with a 90

Big butter Jesus
Sweet cream Jesus
Oh country fresh Jesus
Unsalted Jesus
Oh Promise Jesus
Imperial Jesus
Can’t believe it’s not Jesus
Oleo Lord.

Can’t believe it’s not Jesus,
Oh spread the word.

 

Oh, yeah, and I TOTALLY took this picture of BBJ on the way back from Barb's house last Sunday - just pulled off I-75 and clicked on my hazards.  What a riot!

Susan

Comments

[Mary]

Funny song! I like the pictures they have on YouTube of Jesus posing in different outfits. Only you would go and take a picture of it! I am glad you two are feeling better. The kids have been sick with the stomach flu for the past couple of days and it is not fun. Happy belated Thanksgiving!

[Jan Connair]

Yay, you got to see BBJ! We pass him by pretty often, as he's right on the way to my mom's house in Dayton. But the truth is, no matter how many times you see him, every time makes your mouth drop open.

[Joni]

You know, suddenly I'm in the mood for some toast.

[Tiffany]

Oh that is hilarious!!! I mean, I can't believe it's not butter! But in a way I'm still ... scared. :D Glad to read Thanksgiving went well ladies. Tell Moms and Pops I said yo! :D

[Barb]

BBJ is looking stupendous! Great post! I can't believe it's not butter either :-D

[carolyn mcafee]

I totally read this a while ago, sorry I never commented!

I'm glad you had fun on your scrappin' trip. I'm glad you take time out to actually meet with those you know via internet!

T-day looks like it was a hit! The table looks beautiful.

Well it's nice to have a photo from the famous song! I feel a little funny about that statue!