paulaangela's Xanga

Forrests

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 05:18:45 GMT

Went camping in Idaho for two weeks it was so wonderful. Left at 4 in the morning on Friday, the 27th of June. It was the first time I've been farther north of Chico in California...let me tell you the Mt. Shasta area is beautiful. We stopped at one rest stop just this side of the Oregon border and you could smell the wonderful fresh pine and cedar. Blackberry bushes were all along the river tributaries. Then once we went through Grants Pass and Medford we had to stop again and try to nap (it was about 12:30 in the morning). We took a four hour nap in the car. Kenny laid on the ice chest and suitcases in the very back of the van, Kristi had the back seat. They had the best rest (lots of snoring). Kris & I each had to sleep in the front seats with the backs lowered. It wasn't very restful....but it did give us some energy to continue on at 4:30 that morning.

The Columbia River was alongside of us for most of the way through Oregon and I don't think I"ve ever seen a river so big before. It's huge and beautiful and surrounded by green everywhere. I saw a bald eagle in a tree...ducks, and elk. Washington was nice too, the part we went through first is mostly farms. My father-in-law lives near the Grand Coolee Dam (I'm not sure I spelled that right). Dams can be pretty intimidating....we have camped down on the Colorado River near Squaw Lake and it has one that you need to navigate really close to if you are going to refuel at Fisher's landing. I always shudder (inside, not where Kris or the kids can see) because it feels like you are going to get sucked down through those big chutes and get spit out the other end after being chopped into pieces! I don't know if that chopping part would every really happen...but that's what it feels like!

Anyway, the rivers and dams in Oregon and Washington make me feel like the one at the Colorado river is in the kiddee pool you blow up every year & fill with the hose water. It's tiny in comparison. The mountains and everything are much much bigger. It's the Cascade mountains that we were driving through in Oregon. and it was the Snake River we passed over to go into Idaho where we camped. We were on the St. Joe River just west of the Bitterroot Mountains (that are right on the border of Montana and Idaho) . We were east of Cour DeLaine in the panhandle of Idaho. Wow it was camping in the rough in the National forrest near Avery Idaho. We met some really nice people and saw so many things. Kenny spoted a yearling moose on the way over Moon Pass. It was exciting. And we saw lots of deer, elk, and even a bobcat.

Came back on the 13th of July so late that I missed church that day. I was doing the driving from north of Wasco, down to San Onofre. There's a sign going over the grapevine that says Angeles Forrest....boy is that a misnomer. It's a forrest of chapparell maybe...but that's it...a few scrub brush but no trees. But I guess it's relative. I could see calling it a forrest if there were something that looked like a tree...but believe me- from the freeway it just looks bare. That made me laugh everytime I thought about it for the next few days. While we were gone I missed practicing my violin, seeing my friends on Sunday, and the discussions we have in Sunday School class (even though I did read Colossians on the vacation)....it's wonderful to be back but I am still marveling at the wonder of God's creation. I can't express how it has touched my heart.

Here's a picture of a little stream that flowed down the mountainside by where we camped.

Hope in the details

Fri, 09 May 2008 07:12:46 GMT

So it's been about three weeks since I began practicing/playing (if it can be called playing) the violin after a 35 year abstention. And I look so foward to the evening when I can play it. It's wonderful. Thank you for all the encouragement. Christy- you need to pick up that cello! Something I'd like to know is...why does all the Violin Part music have so many runs into the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th positions? Luckily, I saved my music books from when I had some lessons in 7th and 8th grade (1969-1970 do you believe that?). There are some that name the scales, and have all the fingering and exercises through the 5th or 6th position. I never paid attention to the names of the scales (maybe because I never really practiced when I had lessons) but a few years back I took a music theory class with Daniel Semsen on Saturday Mornings (with Jorge and Donna). That's when I attempted to memorize the scales....(and when I was going through a real challenge with my memory ...I think I've lost a lot of that ability---possibly something us women go through at my age - I hope)...but I see that these books name them all out ect so it does make more sense....however, when Frank P. started directing us in practice a couple of weeks ago, and told us not to be freaked out by the 5 sharp key signature....it was only the B flat signature...I thought "yeah, easy for you to say"...I'm lucky if I can even identify the sharps, and figure out the fingering for each string before he is already through 2/3rds of the piece with the rest of the orchestra!

But seriously, I am so grateful to have this ability and to be able to practice something that brings me real peace and pleasure. I know I will improve, and there is hope for growth. I also am grateful because I know God has a purpose in this...to show me that He loves me, and has always known that I would one day be playing the violin again for His glory at Midway Baptist Church, next to Melody and Frank, led by Daniel Semsen, accompanying a wonderful group of vocalists, with so many other gifted musicians. I know that when I pray "God, help me practice, help me play with beauty and on key, and help me learn how to play better each day"....I know that He is answering those prayers. Isn't that wonderful? Isn't He so Wonderful? I AM truly his beloved daughter! Wow!

violin sagas

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:37:02 GMT

well...i am practicing an hour a night (or more) except I had to skip tonight. And still I feel like such a beginner, and so out of tune. Why won't my ring finger bend right when I place it on the string so that it sounds like the note is right on instead of way off key? Mr. Malgeri, my teacher, would be so proud of me now...because at least, I'm not "wasting the gift" but actually practicing! I never did an hour at a time when I was taking lessons, unless you count the time at school when I had orchestra class (7th -10th grade).

Anyway, now I"m on a mission to get a real hair bow instead of the cheapo synthetic one I bought when I had my violin restrung. I think it's better to use it, I never had a synthetic one before and this one seems to slip. My old bow had been attacked by termites! Can you imagine? That's how long it was since I had touched my violin (about 2 or 3 times in the last 35 years!) I know you're probably laughing, but I'm serious...in fact, the guy at the music store said there was evidence...there were termite skeletons in my violin case when I took it in! No kidding! So now, I do check for that...do you think they go in through the hole in my violin case?

& please don't tell me it's my bowing skills that are why the bow slips....and not the fact that it's not a real hair bow. K?

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 05:32:58 GMT

Started playing the violin again after 35 years of not playing it. Believe me, I feel like I'm back in 4th grade trying to learn from the beginning. So I am really concerned because although I use to play a lot of music pretty darn good...now I can barely play the scale...and I am just in the very very early stages of repaving the bridge from my mind to my arm to my fingers to make the notes on the strings, back to my mind, to my army to my hand to move the bow smoothly and in just enough time to play the notes without squeaks or what have you...and there is simply no way that my playing sounds good enough to sit with the Orchestra in church and play, because believe me I do know that just a little bit off with the positions of your finger, or your writst, or your chin or you hand...can be the difference between "making music" and "the death of a desire to hear music play music, create music.

Right now, my abilities are poised to kill all possibility of good music this Sunday. So I think I might need to skip a few weeks and just practice.....

Alas, I did practice for an hour this evening....but no noticible progress yet.....just a lot of long-faces around here because people are afraid I'll keep up that night pracvtice for weeks...and they may not have another peaceful evening at home for a very very very long time!

I hope Melody will forgive me...I know Fred will....he already said do!

meteorites and satellite trash

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 02:58:16 GMT

It was cool to see a recent bit on CBS (I think or ABC?) news - a girl with autism who has never spoken is now communicating via computer. She's somewhere around 20 years old. Isn't that fantastic? When I was in high school I worked one summer as a caregiver at night for a woman with extreme cerebral palsey. She used a metal bar that was on the toe of her shoe to type out little notes on a manual typewriter. They didn't even know she could do that until she was somewhere in her 30's. Her mom was a nurse and worked nights. They went to our church. The woman was really sweet and wrote poems.

This news about the girl with autism has been in my thoughts...do you realize how many people there are out there that we have an opportunity to share the news about Jesus with? It's really important that we be sure and include anyone, and especially those with challenges we may not (in ourselves) understand or feel able to communicate with or even know how to relate with...because that is where God will show He is totally acting through us...Jesus will really do the supernatural in their lives if we are ready to be vessles for Him and interact, share lives with those who are so challenged. It's like a whole new mission field that I never even thought of before....and it's really exciting to know that their minds have a capacity...an ability in a way much different from ours to understand and be transformed by the love and grace of our Lord. And obviously in ways that we may never 'see' but through faith can be assured it will happen if we take action when we know God is directing us to someone, even someone who can't exactly 'talk' like we do. It's supernatural faith in action through God's grace and Mercy and Spirit---once again...it's GOD!!!! GOD IN ACTION! GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD! Woohoo! I'm looking foward to more people discovering that they can communicate with someone who was totally shut off from us (via computer, or shorthand sign language, or a metal bar and a typewriter...) and hearing testimony of the deep relationship they have with God. In fact, I'm sure it will put me to shame in comparison....

This also comes at a time when situations at my work are looking pretty dark for a lot of people. The State's budget crisis is translating into a MAJOR downsizing at my work. Many people are getting 'notified' today that their position is on a list to be cut. It's a decision of our Board which ones will actually be taken....and that decision (on a preliminary round of cuts) will be made this weekend. Lots of sad faces, and disbelief and I'm sure it's only going to get worse in the weeks to come.

The last thing is that choir has been really such a blessing for me. And also I appreciate all the talented people that are part of that ministry. So many people have joined for the Easter special, and it's amazing how many wonderful voices we have in our congregation that hadn't joined before this! It's going to be such a wonderful time of worship. Can't wait to hear Man Of Sorrows! The men are really raising the bar for us! Go men! In all of this I've come to realize that while I am a good backup and choir member, I'm not really a soloist. So many of my songs speak to my heart that I can't help but shout out praise or fight tears in the middle of the songs.

Teach me

Sat, 02 Feb 2008 05:59:56 GMT

Wow! Just returned home from Bible Study. It's not every day I get to go on a week night. I went this evening after work with my friend and neighbor Cheryl and another good friend Cyndee Sepulveda. These women are so wonderful and I love having time to share with them. The study was at a home where a group of people live. Gus leads the Bible study and there were altogether nine of us. Started with some wonderful songs, then right into a lively discussion 1st about which version of the Bible is the right one to use. Each person there seemed to have a preference, but what amazed me is how one word may be translated in one bible as transgression, another as sin, another as tresspass, and still another as fault. James 5:16 "Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much."

That was NAS. It pretty much says the same thing in the NLT. But it's different in the King James "Confess your faults one to another and pray one for another that ye may be healed. The effectual fervant prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

The discussion centered around the word 'sin' versus 'fault'. Because we confess our faults to each other - our weakness, areas where there is temptation to sin, yet are not necessarily sin. But as Robert S. pointed out - we confess our sins go God, not to each other....

Interesting...but the conclusion I think is this, use the version you can understand, especially when starting out, but as you grow, make sure you check a paraphrased or simplified version of the Bible (ex: The Living Bible, The Message, The New Century Version) against something like the New King James or the King James version. I think it's a good idea to look into the original use of a word from the Greek also because that may demonstrate what the word meant to people in Jesus' day.

Well, that discussion took quite a bit of time but it was worth it because when we started to get into the Bible Study I was asked to read the first Bible verse. That was 1 Timothy 1-8. I read it from the NLT. Guess what, that NLT version gave a wholly different meaning to something in verse 5. The NLT verse reads "The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith." In the NLT it sounds like Paul is referring to his own instruction, but in the KJV it reads "Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned."

What Gus pointed out, is that the commandment referred to in the KJV goes back to Romans 13: 8-10. Summing it up...the part where it reads "...these and other commandments are summed up in this one commandment, 'love your neighbor as yourself'.

I never would've gotten that connection out of the NLT version. I think Gus must've known that my version (the NLT) would provide the perfect illustration to the discussion that started off the night. If he didn't, then God sure did and isn't that even more amazing! Cause ya know, only He knew I was going to make it to the group tonight, and that I'd be bringing along the NLT!!!!

Lord you are so good.

No Time for Techie

Sat, 26 Jan 2008 04:58:03 GMT

Well, I have become a woman with many gadgets. For Christmas, my wonderful husband gave me an IPod and I love it! I've got a lot of my CD's already converted, and I even have the Voice-Technique CD's copied onto it...but I don't listen to them every day...'cause I'm trying to listen to the songs for our fantastic upcoming Easter Program. Christy talks about how it's going to be done and I'm just really looking foward to seeing how it will come together cause it's gonna take our breath away!!!!

I love the songs too...they're neat and I love being able to take my pod to work and listen with having to lug a cd collection, etc.

Then, today, I finally stopped by and got a new cell phone. I still had the one I got when I first signed up four years ago. My kids have been through so many phones since then I lost count. When I went into the store and the guy asked me what kind of phone I had, I said SEIMENs and he kinda laughed incredulously...'cause they haven't carried that in sooooo long! :)

It took me a while to decide...I was thinking of getting a Blackberry Pearl, or a Blackberry something else...can't quite remember, and I really like the Blackberry Pearl...then I decided I really didn't want all that...email and typing and all that...so I got a Samsung t819 and I really really love it! It's sleek and pretty color and now I have to become a Techie so I can set it up really neato.....yep you hear me! NEAT-O! :)

As you can probably tell by my blog page, I'm not one to strech myself too much on this stuff, cause it takes concentration...and I usually have very little at the end of a normal day.

Anyway, I'm going to try to catch up on the Beth Moore study they're doing at church. I wasn't able to attend the first two weeks. I'm looking foward to going this week. It's an opportunity to get to know other women at church and I need that....

Yesterday was my birthday and my daughter sent me wonderful flowers (purple pansy's and orange peony's and they were so beautiful everyone commented on it. Two good friends at work took me to lunch and our waitress shared with us that she had just been diagnosed with cancer. That's such a blessing to know that God makes us available to people when they need a touch from a believer. I took her hand and said a prayer with her. She came back to our table a bit later with a wedge of super yummy dark chocolate cake in dark semi-sweet chocolate sauce...and told us some more of her condition (she was looking at me all the time...I think she understood that I was listening with ears that were a bit different from my friends...anyway...I plan to go back and see her in a bit and keep in touch. I think God had me there to make a connection for His purpose, don't you?

That's a blessing isn't it!

Well. gotta go try and get my techie on! God Bless!

On fire

Tue, 23 Oct 2007 18:58:19 GMT

I was born in San Diego. I remember fires every since ever. I've lived in various parts of the county over the years. In junior high (1970) there were huge fires in east county that left the sky over our city black (I lived in North Park at the time). Later, when I accepted Christ and began reading the Bible, I found a story at a bookstore called Raptured Raptured Raptured about the end times and it spoke of the sun or moon turning blood red. That reminded me of that big fire we had experienced. Since then I've seen many more fires...I lived on Fanita Rd. in Santee when a big fire burned right up to Mission Gorge (near Big Rock Road). The last fires of 2003 created another memory because of the smokey skies, the hard to breathe air, and the fact it burned so many co-worker's homes that lived north of Tierrasanta.

This fire is different. It's burning everywhere and the winds that occurred on Sunday and Monday were so forceful. Plus, I have a lot of friends in the areas effected (Ramona, Northeast of Santa Ysabel, Jamul, Eastlake, etc.). Those around Ramona I haven't been able to get a hold of. The ones in Jamul were okay as of Sunday night, but I'm not sure now. My work has closed down (San Diego Unified School District). and I am keeping an eye out as the fire creeps closer to San Miguel (Eastlake) and the Sweetwater Resevoir. Use to be just a lot of empty hills and really if someone lived there, they didn't have a house anybody would talk about on TV. Most ofl these areas have been quickly built up with huge pretentious homesthat I have asked myself over and over the past few years "Who has that kind of money to build such big homes? And deal with the gas and electric bill it must take?"

My father in law (now 80 and retired) saw the homes burning in Rancho Bernardo and Rancho California, etc. and exclaimed "I built those houses" ...he was foreman for most of the jobs. My husband worked with him, and the last two years he has been working on the houses at Otay Ranch and Eastlake that are now being evacuated.

It seems like the city is burning down. I went over to Wal-Mart first thing this morning and was there when the doors opened to shop for a couple of coolers, a lantern and a propane (one burner back-pack type) stove. Just in case the fire takes out that big power grid they keep talking about. I want to be able to keep my family going without getting displaced . I live in the most southwesterly corner of the state right near the border and should the Harris fire continue on the path it is going, it will burn into my town and probably Tijuana. I don't think it will, but just in case I plan to take the duck boat from my backyard and go out to the ocean if necessary. I don't really belive it is going to be necessary, but I believe God would want me to be prepared for action.

I think He wants me to be equipped for action now, but especially to be ready when ever He needs me to take action. It brings to mind the illustration Jesus gave about the lampstands and the bridesmaids. It brings to mind the scripture about "study to show thyself approved of God, rightly dividing the Word of Truth"...It reminds me of the words about taking on the armor of God. I must prepare now. I must train now. I must be sure the equipment is ready and that I know how to use it. The battle is always raging, but the winds are changing and I'm in the path of fire. You are in the path of fire. Christians cannot be smug or comfortable. I better get after it. To stop saying "yeah yeah yeah, I will I will" and instead, pick up the word, fall to my knees and KNOW CHRIST. These are the times when God will bring revival because of the brokenness of our hearts. So get ready to let go of those things that seem to be 'right' and look up, knowing that God is God.

I so want to be ready to see how He shows us He is Good ALL THE TIME.

Dear God, forgive my complacency and for being lazy about studying your word. Please help people escape the fire. Save us Lord from the fire that would destroy us. You are our safe haven, our provision. Our strong tower.

Amen.

love it

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 05:56:37 GMT

Love being back in choir. Kenny is trying to play the Christmas music on his baritone. Love it. I'm going to ask for a keyboard for Christmas. I like to pick out the music on it and it helps when I don't have the notes right for the harmonies. But I have been playing my violin. Still need to improve my bowing a lot. It's unbelieveable how much I have lost in abilities. Well, I guess it's not really unbelieveable...it's exactly what the saying is "Use it or Loose it"....but I do believe you can regain some of it...so here's to regaining.

I'm trying to use my diaphram more than balooning the upper half of my lungs. It's not easy. I am going to be working out at the gym in the am's so it should help. Here's to crossed fingers. Saturday I"m going to go see Kristi...need to take her dresser up to her. She wants the pinapple bed (four poster bed with pinapples carved). It's an antique I picked up from a house that people are trying to sell...the people who owned it died a long time ago. I got a lot of treasures from it. One thing I got was a box of buttons...and in it was a real glass eye! I had a lot of fun tricking people in opening that little box...boy do they scream!

Kenny and I were going to go to dinner tonight at D'Lish in Bonita. We drove all the way over there, got a table and I looked in my purse...no wallet! So guess what we're going tomorrow night!

Have you ever been a secret pal? I have. It's a lot of fun. The only bad part is not always being able to see people's faces when they get the surprise! I remember we had secret pals when I lived in the dorm in college. My pal gave me a little figure made out of rocks. It was really cute. I loved the little suprirses that were left. Turns out it was a guy from another dorm that was my pal....I haven't thought about that in years.

More of God = new me

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 13:52:16 GMT

Wow, yesterday was my 1st choir practice in almost 2 years. It was super terrifico exillerating. Thank you God! Thank you Daniel and Christy and thank you Jolie and Dustin also!

Kristi is off to college. She's registered at Ventura College and will be starting next week. This is a good start to the new school year. It will be fun and exciting helping her get up there later this week. Just wondering ....anyone know of a great church nearby? She is using mass transit to get around. She'll be living about 3 miles from the college. God is really doing great things.

One of the great things is how God has been really transforming my mind and of course firstly my heart. It started about three years ago. He told me that negative thinking would not sit well on the throne of my heart. That's His place. So that's the path that we are walking together. And so many things have confirmed what He speaks to me...bible studies, various lessons I hear on the radio broadcasts that I love (Insight for Living, Grace to You, etc.) He has the most perfect timing. And the peace is just something that I am in awe about. Surrendering all-that is a constant (praying that "I need You Jesus, this is your battle, not mine..."). This morning, there was a devotional called "Fresh Heart...Fresh Start" from Purpose Driving Life and it goes another reinforcement of what God is doing.

Here's the link....

dailydevotionals@purposedrivenlife.com