The Surprise Party Concert Extravaganza!

On Saturday, and what would later be referred to as "The Best Day of Sock Fashion Experts Life", our family and some friends drove the Suburban down to the nearby city. The Sock Fashion Expert was thrilled to be going to see Holly Starr in concert (as pictured above). She didn't know it, but a bunch of her friends were waiting for her at the local pizza joint. The entire place was decorated with helium balloons, colored popcorn, and presents galore. A beautiful cake sat displayed in a prominent place at the head of ALL the tables which had been pushed together. I had arranged the whole thing with her friends via Face book under the radar of her knowledge. As we neared the pizza joint, we playfully argued about where to eat at. After lengthy, playful bickering, I placed a fake order over the phone for a few pizzas. It was really a secret signal to a private cell phone that we were 5 minutes away.........

She noticed some friends of ours in the parking lot. "Look who's here" she said. "Everybody likes pizza" I murmured nonchalantly as we got out. Secretly, I was programming my camera for video behind her. I got it on just as she walked through the door. Her friends were all standing there to greet her. She wondered what everybody was doing there - and whose birthday it was - lol!! When she finally realized it was her special day, the smile never left her face. Crazy girls giggled and chatted incessantly. Delicious bread sticks and pizza were gobbled down amongst laughter and smiles. The festivities never seemed to end and neither did the glow on her face. When it was all over, the girls hung out together and my boys even tagged along while we ran off to do some errands.

That evening we met back together for the concert. It was an awesome show! Holly Star is a great singer with depth, conviction and incredible talent. The presence of God came down into the building, and the whole thing just seemed serene. Of course The Sock Fashion Expert, Archer and the gang were all up front jumping around and having a good old time, but for once I didn't feel the need to be up there with them. I was content sitting in back with my man. His arm was around me and he was whispering something in my ear. Moonbeam fiddled under the seats. Mist and Fiery were in the same set of seats with us cradling their beautiful little baby boy. Elasta Woman and Matthew were across the aisle with littlest one in tow. The Sock Fashion Expert had taken their other girls up to the front with her. After all the fun rock music ended and worship echoed all over the auditorium, I put my hand up in the air, not caring that I was probably the only one. I was thankful to God and I intended to worship openly. He delivered me and protected my family through horrible terrible trials. What was there to be ashamed of? For a small moment of time, things just seemed right.............................

I didn't stay in the cabin as long this time. It was hard, but I am learning Gods Grace as I forgive and I am seeing His Power at work. That second time, I don't think it left anything internal. It was like a gut hook ripped out what was left from inside me, yet I lived..... With forgiveness permeating the darkness, there was no foothold for it to stay. Repentance came and the friend began to transform, as did i. No longer would the contracts stand, God stepped in to intervene. Where sin abounds Gods Grace abounds more, and that was all that remained. The angel came back and helped me burn the evil. Though the fear still sometimes presents itself, light remains, ever pushing the darkness back and bringing with it yet more light.

Supernatural things began occurring and hearts changed as the contract with darkness was destroyed. I saw my own errors in not truly showing love where it should have been rightly given and I amended my ways. What the devil meant for ultimate destruction, God redeemed, and hope began to birth new life. Though it will be and has been a hard hard road, I am glad God worked in it all. Had it never happened, I would never have known God's delivering power in those days of darkness and neither would my friend. Everyday God slowly replaces my heart with one that has new depths and abilities to love unconditionally..... May we now stay in the light and never go back to those days behind us. May we live again and may the children of future generations never know those haunting present evils....

Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.