Well, it’s been a while since I last blogged! I’ve been knee deep in ball games, butter beans, birthdays, peas, camp, lemonade, concerts, and more peas.:) That’s life in the deep south come summer time I guess! Many of you will remember the “Butter Bean Patch” story I blogged about a couple of years back. And as you recall, I nearly collapsed in that patch. So this year I limited my gardening experience to shelling only. I like to shell…It’s very monotonous. It became so, that just yesterday I found myself throwing the bean away instead of the hull! How long I had been doing that, I do not know.

Here’s a new discovery! I love pink lemonade.  I didn’t know that I loved lemonade so much. We can’t seem to get enough of it around the McRae home. I’ve decided that I am definitely a “pink” lemonade girl:) It’s sweeter than the yellow kind and just more fun.

Anyone who knows me well, is aware of the the fact that I am a HUGE Atlanta Braves fan. Have been since birth. When we were little, my sister Kelly and I, would make paper tomahawks to chop for the games we would watch in our living room.:)  And I mean, I am involved this season! This past Saturday we took some family to a game at Turner Field. We had a blast!  It had to be at least 100 degrees, and though I love my Braves, I will say that it was my last day game. I don’t get into the “farmer’s tan thing”.

My twin sisters, Whitney and Britney, celebrated their 15th birthdays on June 17.(Lots of pics from the party and the game on facebook:) The theme was guitars. The extremely, realistic looking, guitar cakes were amazing and tasted great, too. I love Whit n’ Brit! These are not your typical 15 year olds…these girls are special and very gifted. I can’t wait to see how God uses their lives!

There have been lots of concerts and traveling in that mix as well. I have met some awesome people during the past three weeks. Last week, I received a letter from a precious lady I met in KY recently. She shared her life’s story of abuse and tragedy and how she came to know the Lord. I love survivors! They are the ones who give us hope and the faith to press on, are they not?

“He Knows My Name” is very popular with kids, especially little girls. I find that somewhat interesting, considering how youngsters usually go for the more up-beat songs. Every once in a while I’ll invite a little girl to sing “He Knows My Name” on stage with me and it’s just the best! One little four year old, who sang with me, was the foster child of the pastor and his wife. She had already had to face unimaginable circumstances. The last child  who helped me was a three year old who knew the words better than me. She captured my heart with her big eyes and absolute confidence:) My mom later told me that she was,in fact, a miracle baby and was supposed to be born with a lot of health problems and defects. But God intervened and she is just perfect. I went to visit the twins at camp last week, and there was an eight year old girl who latched on to me for dear life! Her big sister told me that she sings HKMN every Sunday, so she and I sang it in the chapel service that night. Her camp counselor and one of my dear, pastor friends, told me afterwards that she had been crying all day with homesickness and wouldn’t be consoled….Does “He Knows My Name” just happen to be their favorite song? I don’t think so. Even at their tender ages, God is ministering to them and using them. Powerful stuff.

Psalm 139:14-16

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully [and] wonderfully made: marvellous [are] thy works; and [that] my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, [and] curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all [my members] were written, [which] in continuance were fashioned, when [as yet there was] none of them. 

One song from P&P that I get the most feedback from is, “Beautiful Girl”. I wrote this song probably two years ago. It’s about four different women who I know or who have shared their story with me. My life has been extremely impacted by the amazing people I’ve met as I’ve traveled and ministered through the years. Just this weekend I had the awesome opportunity to minister at a Christian Drug and Alcohol Rehab Center in Lexington, KY. One guy shared his testimony of how God set him free from an addiction two years before. He o.d’d and died twice before he met Christ. Now He is one of the managers and counselors at the center, making a difference  and bringing hope to countless men and women. Another one of many life changing stories by the Blood of Christ that I’ve heard through the years…”Beautiful Girl” is inspiring because a lot of women can relate to at least one of the situations re-counted in this song. The message is that no matter how beat up, damaged, messed up, sick, or hopeless we are, we continue to be beautiful in the eyes of Jesus because of His great love. I minister to a lot of emotionally wrecked women, (mainly because a portion of my own testimony is about deliverance from depression and rejection) and they all have one thing in common- the need for love and acceptance. That’s what God offers us through His Son. True, no strings attached, acceptance through Him! If you know of any woman who has been abused or struggled with addiction of any kind, I know that “Beautiful Girl” would encourage them. Maybe you are involved in a prison or rehab ministry- use this song as a tool for reaching woman for Christ.