Carpe Diem

Yep. I'm raisin' this one. She has mine and Angela's blood surging through her. And yet, sometimes I look at her and think to myself, "Where in the world did you come from?"

Like this moment. On a ride with some friends at Disneyland. The Tower of Terror. It drops you what seems like a million stories. Then it shoots you back up to the top story. Then plummets you back down. Then back up. You get the drift.

At some point during the near-death experience, they have the nerve to snap your picture. You never know when that picture's gonna happen. All you know is that you're going to look ridiculous in said picture, no matter when it's taken.

Lily Kate? She didn't know about the picture. All she knew was that she was going to love the ride. And she threw her hands in the air with NO FEAR. She threw caution to the wind. Literally. I was freaking out and nervously laughing at stun-volume (to hide my total freaked-outness), while she jumped into the moment with full force. Check her out:



That's Lily Kate. That's the way she lives. She's going to use that God-given tenacity to take in every moment. Sometimes that tenacity wears me out. But mostly it makes me love her so much it hurts.

I want to live like that. I want to trust God in every moment...and trust that He will keep me on track even when I feel like I'm going to go flying off of this ride. And trust that even when the force of my circumstances dare me to think that I might go plummeting down so hard that He can't catch me, He, in fact, will.

And when I look back at the snap shots of my life, I may be holding on tightly sometimes. A lot of times. And that will be ok. But I hope there will be a few moments frozen in time where I have thrown my hands into the sky, thrown my head back, and with a smile a mile wide on my face, said to the One I trust the most -

I TRUST YOU! BRING IT ON!


I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.
John 10:10 (The Message)

God is our refuge and strength. Our very present help in trouble.
Therefore, we will not fear.
Psalm 46:1-2 (NIV)

WE WILL NOT FEAR.

Randomness

1. I'm so happy to have my Mac back.

2. Angela made this funny statement 2 days ago: " If you die, I won't be able to work the T.V."

So that brings the total number of things that Angela can't do around the house to 2 (she also can't add names to her computer's address book).

3. During my bloggy hiatus, my UNC Tarheels won the national championship. SO, can I get a WHOOP! WHOOP! from all the Heels?!!

4. I used my voice SO MUCH the past three or four weeks. And by the end of last week, my vocal cords were copping a major attitude with me. So I am thankful to not be singing this week. It's GMA week (Gospel Music Association), so I've been sort of busy doing interviews and stuff. But no singing. A good week to tell my voice to SIT DOWN AND BEHAVE.

5. I am still waiting on a good week to live blog during Idol. It's hard to do around here, because it comes on during a very busy hour in the Cottrell household, and we usually watch it later (we're watching it right now, at 11:49pm). I might try to do it next week, although by this point in the competition, we have all made up our minds who we like and who we don't. And on that note, I have a very bold statement to make:

Danny Gokey is the best male vocalist to ever have been on the show. You can disagree with me. But you would be wrong.

Just kidding. Sort of.

The most dynamic performer? No way. But as far as vocals go, he is TIGHT. I am excited to hear what kind of record he is going to make. He and Kris were my favorites tonight. Kris is good every single week. Who do you think is the best male vocalist from any season of Idol?

6. Beautiful weather this week. I'm ready to play tennis. I'm also ready to go to the beach. We haven't been as a family in a couple of years. I hope we can this summer.

7. I fell asleep writing this list. And now it's morning.

8.. I am craving Pilsbury Cinnamon rolls right now. But if I bake the can of 8, I will eat the can of 8. Is it worth it? I'm about to find out...

Have a great day!

Living Proof Live Portland

Living Proof Live - Portland Oregon from Rich Kalonick on Vimeo.

Can I get a What?! What?!

Woo hoo! I'm back! And I've missed you. So for all three of you that missed me back, we can resume our blog community, if you can still love me after my long absence. After a tremendous work load, a dead computer, spring break, and a thousand other things, I am happy to be back in the swing.

I'm so happy to say that the new project is recorded, mixed, and turned in. Last night was (hopefully) my last all-nighter for a long time. There are so many God stories and testimonies of His great power and grace during the past couple of months, and I hope to be able to share some of them with you soon. I also HAVE NOT forgotten that I need to share about my Haiti trip last month. I have been without my computer for 3 of the last 4 1/2 weeks. That has been LOADS of fun...to not have my computer during the busiest time of my life. It was not inconvenient at all. AHEM.

I am so happy to have my computer back. When the FEDEX dude delivered it to my door yesterday, I literally had a tear in my eye. Not a very manly story to tell, but true nonetheless.

We are in Portland for a Living Proof Live. What a huge first night it was. We sang and danced (shh...don't tell) our worship to Jesus. 7,000 of us threw our heads back and gave the Lord everything we had tonight. Can't wait until we do it again in the morning. And the cool thing about being on the west coast is that when we start at 8:30am, it's really 10:30 to our bodies. Those two hours do a voice a WORLD of good.

Here are some pics from tonight...(thanks, Rich!)...

Heading to CA

I'm singing (SIX MORNING SERVICES) at Crystal Cathedral this Easter Sunday. My whole family is going with me and I'm so excited to be getting away with them.

I wanted you to know that I have already packed. Thank you and amen.

A Caption Contest

Hey, friends. Go here, write a funny caption, and win a free bible study. Guys, you could win it for your wives, or moms, or sisters, or some awesome gal in your life.

Happy Tuesday to you...

Living Proof Live New Orleans

Living Proof Live - New Orleans 2009 from Rich Kalonick on Vimeo.

Almost Ready...

...to come out of hiding. I'm in Knoxville for a concert tonight...at a church I fell in love with this morning. Then I'm coming home for 2 more days of finishing up the new project. Then...I will BREATHE. And LAUGH. And PLAY.

I'll be back soon...thanks so much for your prayers. I feel them...