Becky Rice Rosskins

Last night, Lil' James, Teagan and I went with Laura Ross and 5 of her kids to go see Mary Rice Hopkins way down in Lagrange, Ohio. It was about and hour and 20 minutes away. The kids had a great time playing in the car and snacking on special treats from their very own treat bags the whole way there. James especially enjoyed hanging out with Michael and Megan, while Teagan and little Sarah were "Good Buddies" all night. We got there about 30 minutes early and so we acquired great seats and had a great view the entire time.

The Puppets with a Heart put on a show throughout all of the musical performance and it was an all out fabulous blast! The kids were enthralled the entire time. Laughing and giggling filled the sanctuary! The puppets were named Gringo and OH-NO. They were brothers who, like all kids, go through different troubles in their young lives. The puppet characters each have a removable heart that contains an object that is used as a visual aid for that particular part of the show. Mary would take them out to see what's inside and then she would talk about it and replace the bad stuff with something good and a verse from God's Word. Wonderful object lessons that really stick with the kids.

I got to meet one of my favorite children's praise musicians and the kids got to meet the lady who gave them all their favorite songs (The Hippopotamus Song, Superman, God Did, Matilda the Gorilla, Splish Splash, etc.)

I try to tell everyone about her wherever we go. I primarily use her amazing repertoire of music when I direct different kid's choir at Bible Schools. There was a few hundred people at the concert but only about 50 kids or so.

My kids know almost all her songs and the accompanying hand motions. So when Mary came down into the audience and saw Teagan's enthusiasm, dancing and hand motions, she came over and sang with her and turned towards me so I could to take their picture together. It was Teagan's first meeting with a celebrity! I think I was more excited than Teagan.

I looked around and Laura and I were two of only a few people who seemed to know all the songs and were doing everything and looking like we should have been part of the show. She and I have been told that we should take a show on the road. This was even more incentive.

It took everything in me not to jump up in the middle of the aisle and start doing all the hand motions and teaching the audience and getting them fired up with dancing and moving. It's what I do!

James' review: "I loved the puppets. Gringo and OH-NO were the best."
Teagan's Review: "The fun part for me was when she sang the songs with me. I learned that God can heal your heart if it has band aids on it."


After the concert, we went up to meet her and got our pictures taken. I told her that she needed to include this Mary Poppins joke I made up during a part of her concert when she pulled this large (obviously expandable shovel out of a very small bag). She cracked up, wrote down my joke, asked me my name so she could give me credit at her next concert. THEN she told me that if I come up with anymore good jokes that I should email her. I also told her that it was all I could do not to jump up and help her out with the motions, etc. For her, it was more of a solo show this time. Usually, she has a back up singer or other players or something. She has a nephew that lives in Lagrange, so I think she was doing a concert as part of her visit. She said, next time I should just get up and join the show.

I tell you what- you can guarantee that will happen! Just call me Becky Rice Rosskins

Thank you Lord for an awesome spirtually filled and blessed night!

Be sure to check out her Puppets With A Heart TV show on TBN.org.