From dizzy dame to "hop a long" cassidy to...

Thanks so much for all the prayers and encouragment I've received during my days of being "out of pocket".  One puzzle I'm still trying to solve is a postcard I received from Charlottesville, VA signed by Dan, Don or Dav assuring me of their continuing prayer as God finishes the good work He's started.  Have friends with that name but none from Charlottesville... Hmmm  A handwritten note means a lot.

Tentatively planning another trip in June which hopefully will include TN, NC and my beloved VA.

Dizzy dame

The last month or so hasn't been fun.  I've been a dizzy dame and had to stay closer to home than usual.  Slowly but surely coming out on the other side.  The Lord has used this adversity to trust Him more fully.

As I sit at my desk in a very quiet library, I'm already missing those of you who have moved on from "the bubble" i.e. Daniel, Alison, Emily, Chessie, James, Jacob and I'm sure many more.  Praying for you that God would be your strength and put a song in your heart.

Music that moves me...

Having a lazy day today and chanced upon one of my favorite movies Music of the Heart with Meryl Streep.  For me, tis a tear jerker.  Another film along similar lines is Mr. Holland's Opus.  Music touches my heart in a way that other things just don't.  Some examples of songs that I love to listen to and sing are:

• I Can Only Imagine (actually my pastor sang this several weeks ago as an introduction to a series he's sharing on heaven).
• Voice of Truth
• Amazing Grace (My chains fell off) - Chris Tomlin
• Praise You in This Storm
• Your Love is Extravagant
• I Thank You Lord for the Trials that Come my Way

Music is also part of my relationship with my Mom.  In just over a month, she'll be 94 years old.  Aside from Alzheimers, she is fine physically.  We talk almost every day and almost always sing a song together.  With just a mention of the song "Getting to Know You" from the King & I, Mom begins singing unassisted. 

I so appreciate my friends, near and far, who share the love of expressing themselves via the arts.

New Horizons for 2008

Happy New Year readers...

Though I don't believe in New Year's Resolutions, I wrote the following desires for 2008 in my journal on the 1st day of 2008...

• Capture each moment for the Lord by making His choices my choices.
• Be actively ready for battle as opposed to being passive.
• Seek the Lord above all else.
• I have felt God leading me lately to open my home to family and friends more, so one of my goals is to stay on top of my cleaning so this will be possible. I really want my home to be a place where people want to come and find love and fellowship.

Hope this update finds you well.  I'm planning on doing more blogging but may be switching over to blogspot to make my posts more accessible to others...  Will keep you posted...

Merry Christmas all... 

I got the following off a friend's blog.  One Holy Experience is a blog on which Joy discovered the practice of counting “One Thousand Gifts”. The idea is to seek God in the ordinary, daily mess of our lives midst laundry and grading papers by simply pausing to see Him in the daily gifts He provides. But beyond that, the list of one thousand gifts is meant to inspire us to thank God (or simply to be thankful) for the gifts we have, rather than to spend this season making lists and then wondering why we didn't get everything we desired.

Some of the things I'm grateful for are:

• The unconditional love and faithfulness of my Lord Jesus Christ
• Health following a horrific sinus infection.
• Family and friends.
• Bandit, my adorable Shitzu pup.
• Prediction of good travel weather.
• A decorated Christmas tree with a host of memories.

How about you?