Bloggles the Mind Again

Season of Thanks

2011-11-07T11:28:00.000-06:00

I love that our nation sets aside one day a year just to be thankful. Since God inhabits the praises of His people, I believe that He draws very near to the USA on Thanksgiving Day. Since I would love for Him to be near ALL the time I like to thank Him more often than once a year, or once a month, or even once a day. Here are a few of the items on my Thank You list for God.

Muffin, Our Godly husband, father, and grandpa.

Christel, Becky, Joy, and Kathleen, my beautiful gifts from God.

The Snelsons, a son for whom we prayed and Ruby and Emme, miracles from God.

The Wilsfords, another son for whom we prayed and Gracie and Jonah, and our wee little punkin on the way, more miracle gifts from God.

The Varrones, yet another son for whom we prayed and Baby Sebastian who is 3 months old today, although already a lifetime in our hearts.

Kathleen, our darling Baby, with her Daddy.

The Nannie, my Mom.

Nana, Muffin's Mom.

Running behind and playing Catch Up

2011-10-31T00:40:00.000-05:00

I'm running behind on blogging and several other activities. Playing catch up with photos.

At the end of September and first of October the monarchs arrived in town. They were like lovely orange and black snowflakes in my alley.

End of September, Muffin surprised me with a new car. He brought it to me between rehearsals for a concert. That sneaky boy!

October 8 we drove in our new car to Galveston, stayed in a lovely B&B, the Coppersmith Inn, and sailed away on October 9 to the Caribbean on the Conquest.

A kiss from God. Beautiful moon rise within the sunset over the ocean.

We had the best cabin stewards ever!

Muffin looking rested with the Jamaican blue mountains as backdrop. We both got massages that day!

Sailing away from Montego Bay at sunset.

Seven mile beach, Grand Cayman.

Mexico! Love the country!

Our catamaran to Passion Island

Another kiss from God: coral washed into Muffin's hand as he left the water, headed to the sand at the island.

Passion Island was wonderful, even in the rain.

Stormy sea as we departed Cozumel.

Amazing food! Our head waiter was Spitz from India. When he learned that we sponsored a child in India he brought additional food to us, three dinners in a row. It was delicious Indian food, specially prepared for Carnival guests. Of course we had already ordered our meals each of these nights so we actually ate two meals. Feeling Fat!

Couldn't wait to catch up with the grands when we checked our email messages. Later this month we began to get these entertaining photos of Sebastian.

How many two month olds have a mustache?

He's awesome!

All of these smiling kids just attended the Abilene Philharmonic student concerts. Those four concerts, plus five rehearsals and another classical concert wrapped up last week and the weekend. I'm tired!

As you can see in this photo of Mr. Coat, otherwise know as Sebastian, our first cold spell arrived. Sebastian saw his first snow and we had temperatures in the 30's with rain!

Just need to write

2011-09-27T12:27:00.000-05:00

Lots of thoughts inside my gray haired head today.

Sebastian is 7 weeks old. He has grown so much and looks cuddlier than ever. I miss him.
Muffin is on the upside of recovery from a huge infection in his face from a tooth that cracked when he snapped his jaws, falling on the ice in February. First treated for sinus infection, then a root canal, then several days of antibiotics and reactive to the meds. Finally feeling better.
CB & JB are moving from Hill Country to DFW today. After 13 years in the HC this is a big change for Emme, Ruby, et. al. I have Maggie and Mo, the border collies, and they finally seem content with me after escaping and being on the lam in the neighborhood for 6 hours the first week we had them. Scary for us all! God was so good to have a neighbor see them and call us, and CB felt strongly that she should have new tags made for them with our numbers.

Nannie had some major problems with a spot on her arm that included pain, stitches, meds, etc. And her pain meds for her back have been increased for greater comfort.

Joy's brother in law, Kevin, was hospitalized with pancreatitis and is scheduled for a whipple procedure in 17 days. Praying this is totally benign and unnecessary for him. He's so young!
In my studio one of the Dad's is also hospitalized with pancreatitis, is in ICU, but will not have surgery. Another family lost one grandfather three weeks ago and their last grandparent, a very dear grandmother, last week. Muffin and I took them a meal and I went to the service yesterday.

Monarch butterflies have arrived and are thick in our neighborhood. I see them flying past the window as I teach violin lessons. They are migrating to Mexico.

My reunion group sisters are experiencing some tough times and difficulties and my spirit wants to pray for them continuously too
We got great news yesterday that I'm not allowed to share yet!!!!!
Our opening concert went very well--beautiful music played well. I felt much pressure from the inside out and the outside in, but it was spiritual in nature. Muffin and I had a good time of cleansing and freedom on Sunday.

One of my adorably sweet teenage students baked pumpkin bread for me. It is deliciouoso! (A non official musical term.)
We have a new car! It's another silver Camry, very quiet, very comfortable, and very safe--just what we needed.

Life is interesting. It is guaranteed that we will have troubles and challenges, but learning to allow God's Kingdom to fully come to earth and dominate those is my goal. The "King's Dominion"--my heart, my life, my studio, my family, my relationships, my thoughts, my dreams, my breath!

Eleven Days

2011-08-18T14:25:00.000-05:00

Eleven days since Sebastian was born. Nine days spent with him and his parents. Nine days and nights cooking, cleaning, changing, burping, swaddling, loving, rocking, adoring this sweet family. I feel like I am producing, acting in, and watching a movie--the most informative documentary, the most dramatic drama, the most exciting adventure, the tenderest comedy, the most beautifully creative animation, the most diverse musical to be filmed since Gracie, Ruby, Emme, and Jonah were born, and before that since Christel, Becky, Joy, and Kathleen were born.

Father God is tenderly loving us and rejoicing over us, preparing a secure and appropriately nurturing environment for us just as we do for Sebastian. He feeds us His Word--both written and living--as we come to Him, hungry for more of Him. He swaddles us when we are overstimulated and too needy for rest to even know that we need Him. He prepares a table for us always--Jehovah Jireh. He chuckles when we make new discoveries and include Him in our social contacts.

He watches over us as we sleep and as we are awake. He goes before us to prepare a place for us.

He send us flowers, visitors, and new gifts just because He is happy that we are His. And His Father-Mother-Grandparent heart is always saying "I love you. You are awesome. You are the best. You are the most wonderful to ever live. You are beautiful. You are perfect. You are mine. You are worthy of a new song. You are worth watching over day and night. You are worth all the work. You are special. You are the reason I sent my only Son. It was worth it all."

Fearfully and wonderfully

2011-08-10T12:34:00.000-05:00

God, you are sooooooo Good! You have known us before we were ever formed in the depths of the earth and made us fearfully and wonderfully pronoucing us as "good." You did many things well this week and long before, too. You told me which flight to choose in June for an August trip. You spoke to me and said, "this one, on August 9th departing at 9 a.m. is the right one." Sebastian was born on August 7 after 40 weeks and 40 hours of labor and was released from the hospital on August 9th. My departing plane was delayed on the tarmac for almost one hour while a broken gauge was replaced, but none of the children on the plane got restless. Our arrival time was perfect, and my taxi trip was perfect, and I arrived less than one hour at Mike and Joy's home after they brought Sebastian home.

You gave Sebastian a Mommy and Daddy who love him so very much. Once again it just makes my heart all warm and fuzzy like a peach ripened in the sun to observe my children with their babies. I think You like to see Your children enjoy their babies too. When I see your Holy Spirit in worship He always appears in swirls--light, color, water, or sound swirls--like a ribbon dancer or beautiful swirls in nature. I think the Aurora Borealis is You showing off in the sky. I think waterfall rainbows are You showing yourself to us. I think sundogs in the clouds are You. I think air bubbles in water are You. I think sound waves, and bells and chimes, and bird calls, and echos are all You, just showing off for us to see if we notice You. Most lately I've decided that swirls in nature--roses as they open, doodle bug holes, fingerprints, skin on our knuckles, hair growth on our head--are all kisses from You. Unique prints that you leave on us to remind us that you made us fearfully and wonderfully and know us full well. Thank you for your stamp, My Maker.

He is born!

2011-08-08T10:36:00.001-05:00

Sebastian Michael

Born 8/7/2011 at 7:14 EDT

Weight: 7 lb. 8 oz

Length: 20.5 inches

Hair: Blonde

Eyes: Dark and alert

Fingers: Long and expressive

Cheeks: Chubby

Name means: venerable, esteemed

It was only a minute ago that Sebastian's Mommy was born and I was there. She arrived on a snowy weekend when my doctor was not on call. It was an adventure that ended in wonder and love when she was born at 2:40 pm.

Sebastian's Mommy

Every time a beautiful baby comes to live in our family my response is to praise God, for each one is fearfully and wonderfully made, and He has known them and formed them in the depths of the earth. A new temple for His glory has come on this earth! Glory! Glory! Glory!

Psalm 29:9; 48:9
And in God’s temple everything says, “Glory!” NAS

Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love. NIV

Drought

2011-08-04T11:36:00.001-05:00

As the deer pants for the waterbrooks so my soul thirsts for You O Lord.

Texas is now in extreme drought. Yesterday it was 106 here. That is normal now. The average temperature for July was 101, and we received zero rain. ZERO. More than 50 days this summer have been 100 degrees or more. One inch of rain fell June 6 and that was the last time we had measurable rain. Our landscaping that represents 21 years of growth is in danger because there is just not enough water to satisfy the deep needs of the plants. Every day on the TV news there is a report of the extraordinary conditions and results--plagues of ants and grasshoppers trying to escape the heat. Water snakes on hoods of cars. Devastating wildfires. Lakes with X number of days of water supply remaining. Fawns dying in deer herds in high numbers. Electricity alerts and warnings of outages.

We need You, O Lord! We need You to come and pour out on us rivers of living water! We need you to break open the heavens and let it rain! Open the floodgates of heaven! We need the cooling wind of your Spirit and the rising river of your love flowing all around us! You are the only One who can satisfy us! Our souls thirst for You!

Wanting a Do-Over

2011-08-02T13:17:00.000-05:00

Summer is a great time for me to read books. I have read several education books, one novel, and a number of titles that have just interested me for months, if not years. One of those is a book by Danny Silk, Loving Your Kids on Purpose.

I cannot begin to describe the conflicts this writing stirs in me. Our four daughters are grown up and are very nice people, so I know we didn't fail as parents, but this book so makes me want a do-over. I knew when we were raising them that I was very conflicted about our discipline style, and truthfully, I wasn't very good at being consistent because I just wanted to love my girls, shaping them gently. The problem, of course, is that they had days where they just wanted to learn outside the gentle box. Memories of losing my temper, spanking to not "spare the rod and spoil the child," trying to be the person with the power, are playing over and over like an unwanted advertising campaign in my head. God knows that over the years I prayed almost daily that He would erase our mistakes and keep the girls' memories full of love and security, that they would fear God, not man, and love their neighbor (including their sisters!) as themselves, that they would hide His word in their hearts so they would not sin against Him. My biggest problem was ME. Ugh! That is a nasty billboard displaying all the uglies.

So, now I have a chance at a "do-over of sorts." That is with my children and their children. Three of them have a copy of Danny's book. All of them will have a shot at Love and Logic^® --the basis of Danny's Loving on Purpose book. It is, after all, what we wanted to teach them in the first place--that God loves them unconditionally, no matter what they do. We all still need to discipline ourselves because in doing so we learn to become more Christ-like and love the Lord our God with all our hearts. We all still need to love our neighbor as ourselves because in doing so we show the love of God, His Son, and Holy Spirit in the home, the Church, the marketplace.

Still praying every day that God will erase all the mistakes we made and will fill them with His love and His character.

What have I been doing this summer?

2011-08-01T20:33:00.000-05:00

A little harvesting--very little. There is a major drought happening with triple digit temperatures. It was 104 again today.

A little working out. My Pilates trainer thinks up new ways to challenge me weekly.

A little partying. We celebrated Gracie's third birthday at our house with the cousins!

A little girl time--with the Rowdy Girls and with our girls.

A little time just for the boys--Jonah and Grandpa did some science experiments in the kitchen. This is not one of them, but was the preferred toy of the day.

A lot of Baby Music and Studio teaching this summer. This is my first week to not teach.

And lots of praying and waiting for Baby McV to arrive! Joy and Mike have the nursery ready to go and are just waiting for the big boy's birthday.

Definitely a mind-bloggling day!

2011-06-19T21:53:00.001-05:00

Late yesterday afternoon Muffin and I left our cozy home while the temperature registered 112 on the car thermometer and 108 officially. We headed east just as a thunderstorm rolled into town, so we missed all the excitement of cooler temperatures and moisture for a brief time. Driving to Dallas we met our darling baby child for dinner at a fabulous Mediterranean restaurant and ate till we almost cried "Souvlaka!" or something like that. Muffin and I spent the night in his apartment, and he drove me to the DAL airport early this morning for his Father's Day present. Not really. Well, I really went to the airport, but not for his present. I flew to Kansas City, MO on my way to Ottawa, KS for Early Childhood Education Suzuki training this week.

It should have been easy--arrive at airport with boarding pass, check in at curbside with giant suitcase (I had to pack bedding for life in the dorm this week.), go through security check and wait for plane. Wrong. It took almost 50 minutes to just get to security. The line had nine switchbacks with people standing in line the width of the building because there were only two people checking boarding passes and ID's. By the time I got to the gate I had 10 minutes before boarding. The flight was nice, with plenty of room in the seat and only 2 of us in a 3 seat row. However, there were about 30 high school forensic team members returning to Kansas City as winners in the national forensics competition in Dallas. And they were all carrying trophies and plaques and were pretty loud for the first part of the short flight. When we arrived I went straight to baggage claim and waited, and waited, and w.a.i.t.e.d..... because each of the 30ish students had packed tubs and tubs of files for their debate events and they were slowly being spit out of the carousel pit onto the carousel with duct tape flying off, all mixed with luggage and golf clubs. That only took 35 minutes.

Finally boarded the shuttle to car rental terminal where I expected to quickly pick up the car we reserved online--paperwork in hand. Entered the terminal and there was no line at all at the Budget desk. In about 2 minutes I was out the door and packed into a spiffy red KIA and off to the kiosk to check out of the airport area. That's when the worker found, for the first time today, that my TX drivers license had expired in April. TX always sends notices for renewal and I never received one. Budget refused to give me the contract and sent me back to the desk to see the manager, who also refused. BUT, and I do mean BIG BUT.... I had the key to their car and all my stuff locked in it! So, I sat down and renewed my DL online and took screen shots on my iPhone and showed it to them. And NO, still they wouldn't print it or write a contract. They politely offered to take the key away from me and I refused until I made other arrangements, but did it very sweetly. I called Muffin and he prayed. I went to the ladies room and I prayed. And on my way to the Alamo desk, the Lord said, "Go to the Enterprise desk." And I did it!

At the Budget desk a very nice young man named J. told me I could email the screen shots to his personal email and he would print them for me. I did and he did and he was nice enough to tell me to go back to Budget with their key in my hand and their paperwork in my hand. The Budget manager still refused to write the contract. So, back to Enterprise. They couldn't have been nicer. Contract written, a very nice young lady, C., escorted me out to my silver Fiat that matches my hair, and pulled my giant luggage herself. She even hoisted it into the teeny weeny trunk where it had to be turned "just so" to get the hatch closed. Paperwork signed, more money spent, cell phone map app opened, I headed for lunch. At 2:30ish I left a McDonald's in the area and drove southwest to Ottawa.

Arriving here I went to the building where I was directed by email for registration and room assignments. Closed. Locked. Signs on door to walk to different place. Arrived there and my name tag was literally the very last one at the bottom of the very last pile. It had a key, an entrance badge, and a sticky note with the room number. However, no one knew where to park the car or where my packet was. I waited another 30 minutes while they made calls and learned that for some reason, I don't get mine until tomorrow. Back to car. Drive to dorm lot. Unload all possessions, move in, only 30 minutes until dinner is served.

After dinner and a visit with old and new teacher friends I headed to Wal Mart to purchase bottled water, fruit, and a pillow. Found everything quickly and headed for the express checkout where a couple was just finishing. Their card wasn't just declined, it was making the scanners whine and cry and throw tantrums. Seriously, it would refuse the PIN, then say it was waiting on the customer, then refuse the PIN again, then tell the checker to do something, then refuse the PIN. I had already unpacked my basket or I could have moved to another line quickly. Finally the lady ahead decided to write an electronic check and that required yet another out-of--the-ordinary process from the checker. Trip to Wal Mart--almost 1 hour. I'm headed for the shower.

Bloggles the Mind Again: Ready to pick a fight?

2011-06-14T12:16:00.002-05:00

Bloggles the Mind Again: Ready to pick a fight?

Ready to pick a fight?

2011-06-14T12:16:00.001-05:00

In Matthew 11:12, Christ Jesus states that the Kingdom of Heaven is established by both faith and force:

"And from the days of John the Baptist until now the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force."

We are to contend for the faith. This warning is addressed very specifically in the book of Jude:

"Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints."

This Greek word epagonizomai, translated contend, occurs only once in the New Testament here in Jude. It is a term used by Greek historians to describe physical battles. The Lord is exhorting us to contend earnestly for the faith as if we were fighting a war.

From Elijah List, June 14, 2011 written by Bobby Connor

It is rare that I feel contentious. Confrontation is unnatural for me and most of my family members. Maybe it's the drought and triple digit record-breaking temperatures. Maybe the time has just come. But I feel like standing my ground, and like David's men, defend my bean patch, however humble it is. I have been looking at the sky and declaring that it WILL rain until we just don't need any more of it. I have been looking at my personal life and declaring victory, even though I don't see it. I have been declaring that my joints, muscles, sinuses, especially my left knee and my hands, are healed, because I pray "Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven" and there is NO injury and illness in heaven. There is no plantar fasciatis, no migraine headache, no Asperger's, no ADHD, no sensory deficit of any kind, no cancer, no big or little disease in heaven. And Jesus didn't leave anything unfinished when He left the cross!

Ready to pick a fight?

2011-06-14T12:15:00.000-05:00

In Matthew 11:12, Christ Jesus states that the Kingdom of Heaven is established by both faith and force:

"And from the days of John the Baptist until now the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force."

We are to contend for the faith. This warning is addressed very specifically in the book of Jude:

From Elijah List, June 14, 2011 written by Bobby Connor

Three years

2011-06-13T01:16:00.002-05:00

Dear Dubbie,
It has been three years today since I watched you walk past that open gate in heaven to eternity. So three years means nothing in eternity. On earth it means that Gracie is almost three years old and never saw you. It means that Joy and Mike have now been married four years and will soon have a baby boy. Becky and Michael have been married 9 years, and Christel and Jamie 15 years. It means that Jonah just finished a year in school, that Ruby and Emme are getting ready for Kindergarten, and they were barely talking well when you went through the gate. Abigail finished a year of college, and she was still a child when you stopped looking back at us and started looking forward into heaven's glories. I didn't know anything at all about Early Childhood Education for Suzuki babies that day and now I'm teaching them things that you and Nannie taught me and our girls. Monte began conference calling with our guys tonight--just to pray with them each week. I know you would like that lots. Nannie is being brave and fighting a good fight, but she misses you terribly, as we all do. Thanks for tending the gardens and keeping the watering holes company and please enjoy all the music that heaven has to offer while you're waiting for us.

Suzuki Baby Music: Returning to Joy

2011-04-28T01:00:00.000-05:00

Suzuki Baby Music: Returning to Joy: "Mr. N smiles with encouragement and comfort from Mom In my Wednesday morning Bible study I've been learning about being a mature person. L..."

Gone Shopping

2011-04-26T18:12:00.000-05:00

I went shopping in real brick and mortar stores today. First time in almost a half year that I've spent several hours just browsing, trying on, and buying clothing and accessories. It was quite profitable too! I had some coupons and groupons and found some clearance items as well. Big plus is that one store had 20% off everything in it today only. So I have five new tops and one new skirt. Except the skirt is being shipped because my size was nowhere to be found. It's awesome and worth waiting for! Lots of colors in a diagonal print of chiffon over a solid lining. Just my kind of skirt!

I was totally determined to purchase only prints because my closet is full of solid colors. Except for a little white knit shrug that goes with all the solid colors, I accomplished that. Print skirt. Check. Tunic top in purples and blues. Check. Peasant shirt in blues, black and white. Check. Tiered ruffled tank top in a subtle print to wear with neutral pants in five colors. Check. Striped bold colored tank top. Check. Five checkmarks in a row! Bingo!

My last stop was at a dollar store to replenish gift wrap supplies. At the check out counter a little girl named Trinity was clearly tagging along after school with one of the clerks. She was adorable and precocious and told her friend, "You have a customer! I'll tell you whenever you have one so you won't miss anyone!" I told her she was very helpful and she agreed. Said, "I'm full of joy and cheerfulness too." I agreed with her and added that she was also quite confident. She countered with, "Yes I am. I'm smart too!" So I asked her if she was about 18 years old yet and her answer was, "No! I'm 8 and she's (the clerk) 25." I advised her that the Bible says that laughter is good medicine, so she should feel very good about making so many people happy. She said, "I do! I'm giving out lots of good medicine."

Father, bless little Trinity with the fullness of your presence every day of her life and always, always, give her the ability to return to your joy in every circumstance. Amen.

I Am Thankful

2011-04-25T13:48:00.000-05:00

Today I just want to state in print those things in my life for which I am thankful to God. This is my Psalm for the day.

I give thanks to God, for He is Good! His Love endures forever. Thank You for my beautiful family-my husband of almost 39 years who loves me as Christ loves the church and prays for me daily; for my ancestors who love You and paved the way for me to know You; for my Daddy's life and example of You to me til the day he went to You; for my Mom's life and her example of continual service to You; for my beautiful first born daughter, because she is a continuing fountain of delight and discovery in every aspect of her life--that girl has always loved life and learning! For my beautiful second born daughter who last week celebrated her 33rd birthday--every minute of those 33 years has been filled with her peaceful heart and gentle love toward us and her special ones. She is still the Rose Queen! For my beautiful third born daughter and the sweet baby boy she carries now--her life has always been like her name, full of Joy and awesome grace. For their husbands--God has blessed each of them with the love of their lives, who love our girls as Christ loved the Church. Wow! For our precious beautiful fourth born daughter, the most fabulous Kathleen the Queen (Esther) who has inner strength and creativity and deep wells of love flowing from her. For our beautiful and extraordinary grandchildren and for all God is doing in their lives to bring His Kingdom to earth through them and teach them their destinies. For Muffin's Mom, Nana, full of courage and charm and laughter and prayers. For Muffin's sister and her family, a delight to us all and daily blessings to Nana and to their friends.
For good health.
For jobs that fulfill us.
For children who inspire us.
For church homes that always tell us they are happy to be with us.
For shelter and food and clothing that is far more than we can ask or think.
For financial blessing in abundance to be able to give to others.
For Music, Art, Dance, and all forms of Creativity from the Creator.
For good insurance the day after several hail storms.
For friends who are glad to be with me.
For rain yesterday and in advance for more!
For the Body of Christ in all the earth, each member of whom is precious and vital to Your Kingdom.
For my sweet dog, Scooter.
For those who serve me, who I forget to thank.
For those who teach us.
For Jesus, who gave up everything to show us the Way.
For the Holy Spirit who is with us now to show us how to live like we never left the Garden.

Eventful Easter

2011-04-25T00:19:00.000-05:00

As if it were not enough to celebrate Resurrection Day (Hallelujah! Glory to God for His powerful love that raised Jesus from the grave!!!!!), we had multiple events today that were memorable. Two of our darling daughters, oldest and youngest, plus one special son in law and two precious granddaughters were here for the weekend. We played hard, cooked lots, JB worked hard at Nannie's house, and we had a birthday party in early celebration of Emme's and Ruby's fifth birthday. This morning we had a great Easter service, which the girls thought was Easter circus (it does sound similar), sang and praised the risen Lord with some dancing and art and Marmee playing with the Praise Team.

After church we ate ham, fresh green beans, asparagus, carrots, spinach with strawberries, and corn, Nannies mashed potatoes and Mac & Cheese. Drank blueberry iced tea. More vanilla birthday cake with chocolate frosting and coffee for dessert. While the corn was roasting we hid eggs and Em and Roo hunted. The weather was a little cool, but sunny and good barefoot weather.

While we were cleaning the kitchen and Kaki and Christel packed to leave, the sky grew dark. Then we started to hear thunder. Turned on the TV to catch any weather reports for travel purposes and that proved to be smart.

JB and Emme watching the rain fall before the big hail started falling.

One of the larger ones after it had melted a little.

My poor hail beaten herbs.

Lots of desperately needed rain fell! The wildfires have been terrible and many acres and much property has been lost.

Poor pitiful petunias.

This hailstone fell in the first round of hail. Four more storms later and lots of rain on it, it was still this big!

And I made three of these pillowcase dresses this weekend between cooking and partying. Gracie gets hers next weekend.

Too busy

2011-04-18T22:38:00.000-05:00

It has been too long since I blogged. Which doesn't mean nothing is happening. Quite the contrary! Most notably I had a birthday and Nana had emergency surgery to have her gall bladder removed. And she got an iPad for her birthday which she is enjoying while she recovers nicely at home. Nannie had a small fracture in her knee cap from the wreck and Muffin had a cracked tooth that needed a crown, plus other dental work. And there have been some trips to see her, some concerts, and a few other gigs, plus the studio and Baby Music. In fact, the way my week goes now is like this:
Monday, catch up in the morning/ Emmaus reunion group at noon/ teach from 2:30-7:30 pm
Tuesday, Baby Music 10-11ish/ lunch/teach from 1:15-6:45/ Body Flow 8-9 pm
Wednesday, Sozo class at church 9:30 -noon/Body Flow 12:00-1:00/lunch/ teach 2:00-6:30
Thursday, morning meetings or errands/12:30 Pilates/2:30 appointments/6:30 Baby Music class
Friday and Saturday, Body Flow/ shopping and errands with Muffin/ gigs or activities we enjoy/laundry
Sunday, church and cooking for the week

Throw in some odds and ends or visits or ministry time and it's a full day every day.
Two things I want to remember, however, are a "happening" and a dream. The first was in the ICU while visiting Nana. The room was crowded and the chair was uncomfortable. I tried for a few hours to be cozy there, but it was also cold. Finally Monte told me he would stay while I sat in the waiting room. I took a book and got comfortable in a chair, then felt that I should pray. I closed my eyes and began to feel the weighty presence of the Holy Spirit on me. As I prayed for Nana a quietness enveloped me from behind and I felt the wings of an angel fold over me from above my head to around my knees, leaving my feet sticking out and resting on the floor. I don't know how long I was there--maybe 2 hours or more--but it seemed like only minutes and I was completely warm and comfortable in knowing that Nana was also enveloped by the same angel wings. This was a BIG angel and I could literally feel the texture of the wings around me. When Monte came out he found me quietly sitting up and I felt as if I had been somewhere inside those wings--then the sensation of the air and sounds in the room came back to me all at once. I can still feel what it was like to be cocooned inside those wings--ahhhh......

Secondly, I had a dream after praying for family this weekend. It was an intense prayer in which Muffin and I stormed the gates for freedom for several family members who are living as captive to fear and oppression. Afterward we went to sleep. And I dreamed that I had been inside a courtroom and was being taken to prison although I had done nothing wrong. As I was led into the corridor taking me into the prison it changed and became something else altogether. The transformation was all around, including the people who had led me into the corridor. The light changed and became sparkling and twinkly and we danced and floated through the corridor and those leading me became fairy-like or angelic with lightness in their clothing and beings--even their hair seemed to float around them and everything was translucent around us, even the air. I remember saying, "O God! If prison is like this it will be worth it all!" But it changed again as we left the corridor and went into an area much like a hospital or mental ward. I was given a dress unlike anything I would choose to wear--ditsy print with little tucks, fitted waist, very short and not covering me as I wanted to be covered. I struggled with the buttons and the missing length at the hemline and tried to make it fit me better. We were given baskets of small objects--all alike and all made by children with construction paper very lovingly. They seemed like baskets of "agape" if you understand Emmaus language. I went person to person and handed out the agape. There were things in the floor that tempted me to bend and pick them up, but I felt too exposed with the short hem length and heard someone say, "She's not taking the bait." As I continued there was more agape and more invitations to bend, but I remained on task and tried to focus on each person in their own space, praying that the handmade items would touch their hearts. Then I woke up.

We talked about this dream at reunion group today. Consensus is that I was led in the power of the Spirit to the prison of fear and anxiety and torment and oppression where my family members live. I took to them gifts of love--which is the power that raised Christ from the dead. I did not feel completely comfortable in doing this--uncovered, improperly clothed--so perhaps I need more prayer covering myself. But I did not take the bait to expose my vulnerability to evil forces along the way.

I think I need to pray more and sleep more. That's where the good stuff is!

Desperate for You and Vegetables

2011-03-15T16:06:00.000-05:00

Where's Little Bear?

Tea Party!

My Grands visited me for the first part of Spring Break! It has been so much fun, watching them play, learn, discover each other in new ways, and just having them close to snuggle and read to and sing with. CB and the girls arrived Friday. On Saturday she went on an overnight trip to Nana's house and to visit with teacher colleagues. Grandpa and I played "Where's Little Bear?", picnic, pillow toss, barber chair and piano bench spins, read stories, watched loony toons and Nick Jr. We all went to church Sunday morning and danced, sang, listened, drew, snacked a little, and saw Miss L's art. Then we ran in the courtyard a little before coming home to meet Nannie, Becky, Jonah and Gracie who were arriving at our house.

Jonah and Grandpa built a catapult, and afterward sidewalk chalk on the driveway and a giant mess in the sandbox followed. Much eating ensued--pulled pork, braised carrots, whole grain bread and butter, many bowls of watermelon, blueberries and strawberries, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, rice cakes, more watermelon, veggie sticks, bananas, more watermelon, popcorn, a tea party of cinnamon rolls, orange slices, chocolate cupcakes, and of course-tea!

My kids and their kids had an afternoon at the park while I tried to loosen up at Body Flow. More eating and washing down with smoothies made of fruit, milk, yogurt, protein powder, elderberry syrup and probiotic powder.

Ruby reading My Dog is as Smelly as Dirty Socks

After kid baths and showers we girls talked a little. Or a lot. To each other and to our husbands, who, bless their hearts, were missing all the fun stuff. Late last night I found an invasion of ants and perhaps also termites in the kitchen. After spraying, killing, and cleaning thoroughly with bleach all the affected areas. I went to bed about 1:00 AM and then had a dream.

I was in my parents' house and it was filled with relatives. All my grandparents were there. Only my Daddy was missing. Muffin and all our girls and all their children were there, along with other younger children. Something was wrong and I seemed to be trying very hard to keep household chores and children in reasonable control. My grandmothers were trying to talk to me and tell me about customs they followed in caring for their families and houses. My mother was doing laundry, but it was my laundry and my children's laundry and some of the grandchildren's also. While she put the dirty clothes in the washer, before I had checked them, I discovered that some of the latches and locks on the doors and windows were faulty, allowing them to swing open and closed, and the children were wandering in and out of them, into potentially dangerous territory. I was notifying Muffin that repairs were in order for safety and then ran to look at the laundry. All sorts of make-up, papers, and plastic had gone into the laundry with the clothing and left spots and discolorations on each and every garment. I was trying to find a way to not cast blame, and to corral all the little ones--damage control--when I woke up.

Near noon today we took chicken tenders and cupcakes to Nannie's house, and she served sides: Macaroni n cheese, bread and butter, mashed potatoes, and lemonade pie. Awhile ago the girls and the grands left for their respective homes and I suddenly realized that I was desperate for time with Father God. And some real vegetables. While I have a plate of Asian slaw, watermelon, and greens, I'm listening to my favorite praise music. A very satisfying meal!

A Typical "atypical" week

2011-03-07T23:21:00.000-06:00

I guess I've been busy. Sometimes it feels busy-quiet. Sometimes busy-frantic. Sometimes busy-by-choice. Last week was fairly typical and also extraordinary. I think that is what comes from living with Jesus in the driver's seat.
~Monday: Finishing touches on cleaning the house before teaching. Quick run to the bank, post office and library. Cardio workout at the gym for 40 minutes. Meeting with my Emmaus reunion group to share, make agape for the next Walk, and pray. My amazing sisters always inspire me! Home to teach 9 students, ages seven - adult. A few hours to decompress with "Chuck" or another fun TV show while doing computer work for the studio.

~Tuesday: Calls for Baby Music to individuals, Mother's Day Out, and learning about Baby Expo, a venue in May to reach young families with all kinds of helpful products and services for their babies. Started building posters and flyers by computer. Followed up with a grandmother who wants to start classes with her granddaughter this week. Yea! Quick lunch. Taught 11 students, ages adult-five. Ending the evening with 8:00 Body Flow with Tyler and Eve. Excellent! As always, home to a light supper while calling Nannie and talking late night with Muffin. That is without exception!!

~Wednesday: 9:30 Class at church. This is our ongoing Sozo class, which is currently studying "Belonging" by Ed Khouri and his group, as well as The Life Model, also written by a group. This is all about building the capacity for joy to live in the front of your brain rather than from the back of the brain where all the primal urges drive us--fear for example. After Sozo class, I ran in a little late to the noon Body Flow class with Jackie--an awesome teacher! Back home for a shower, quick "half lunch" and teaching. Today I have 10 students ages 6-15. In fact there are three six year olds and three eight year olds and they are very entertaining. After this class I practiced for an hour, which I also did on Monday and Tuesday, for a performance the following morning. Bach's Arioso is my choice piece for the event.

~Thursday: Arrived before my accompanist for an early run-through of the Arioso, so went to the bank to make a deposit and returned to the program site. The occasion is Harmony Club, a nationally federated music club. I've been a member since 1977 when I was expecting Boo and Christel went to Mother's Day Out on Thursday mornings. The club has been in Abilene for over 70 years. We meet monthly and have short programs, studies, and promote music activities in the city such as public programs, music instrument donations, scholarship donations for summer study for students, support for music organizations. After an interesting program, I drove home to deposit my violin and change clothes, eating a very light lunch before my Pilates training session with Kevin. It was a killer! I spent 15 minutes in Wal-Mart purchasing a scarf and two birthday cards, then drove to an appointment for a massage. It isn't all a luxury. I need deep tissue massage to break down lumpy bumpy tissues and sometimes it really hurts, but releases toxins. Afterwards I drink about a gallon of water. Then I went home to rest a little before teaching Baby Music with Caitlin from 6:30-7:30. We discussed flyers and advertising. Then home to wait for Muffin to arrive. He received an award for patent applications and Kaki was his date to the banquet. Then he drove all the way home and arrived about 12:30 a.m. So proud of him!

~Friday: Slept late. Unavoidable and purposefully. Returned some phone calls. Muffin made calls for Nana, whose phone account had been violated with porn calls and texts. Evil! Got one birthday card in the mail for super nephew. Ran to Body Flow class with Erica (Torture Woman) at noon, then bought McDonald's salads and headed to the church. We ate in the car and waited for our pastor and a man who had an appointment for a Sozo. He is a recovering alcoholic, been sober 15 months. Lives in a shelter for homeless and has been in prison three times. Wants to live for Jesus and start over and be free. For two hours we ministered to him and visibly saw his posture change from anxious and nervous and almost combative to peaceful and relaxed and tears of joy for the freedom found in forgiveness. It was awesome! Afterward we shopped for groceries and rejoiced, came home and rested and watched A Year in Provence. Muffin made deliciousioso chocolate chip cookies-white and dark chocolate.

~Saturday: Started a roast and veggies in the crock pot for some neighbors whose mother died last week. They have been in OK City and back and then had a piano contest all day Saturday with their daughter. They were exhausted and overwhelmed. We offered to cook a meal. While that was cooking we went to Body Flow, to Target, and to another grocery store for goods for the weekend. And Muffin took the car to be inspected. I made a blackberry cobbler and a salad and put whole wheat rolls in a basket. We delivered the meal at 6:15 and visited 20 minutes. Then the two of us went for dinner at Copper Creek--blackened salmon in strawberry sauce, mashed potato-carrots, steamed broccoli, and fresh bread. Yum! Such a pleasant environment and evening.

Home to finish cleaning the kitchen and put away all groceries and just chill awhile. Also worked on the flyers and brochures again. And read some Vince Flynn, which I borrowed from the library.

~Sunday: Played with the praise team and was so blessed to be where the Spirit poured out! After church and a thought provoking sermon about building joy, we met the family who helped build City Church DC. Went to lunch with them and their son and he blessed us with paying the tab and lots of great conversation about the Lord's work. Home for a nap, cooking dinner for our week, cleaning house for the week and packing for Muffin's return to work today.
All in all, abundant blessings in learning God's ways. How we love Him!

Rebuilding

2011-02-23T21:34:00.000-06:00

I used Joy & Mike's bathroom as an object lesson in Bible class today. Our study is on Sensible Strategies for Belonging. Today's lesson was titled Regaining a Genuine Self. Just to explain the progression of the discussion, the leading questions were:

1. Who in your life do you label mature and why? (Muffin- He acts like himself in the midst of difficulty, establishes an accurate community identity, enjoys each community member, parents and matures the community, and gives life to those without a family through spiritual adoption)

2. Why do people with underdeveloped "joy centers" appear to do just fine for the first 20 or 30 years of life then collapse? They isolate to cope, so we don't see them fall apart until they are married and have children or go into the work force.

3. Do you know any high functioning adults who are responsible in many areas of life but have difficulty maintaining successful and enduring relationships? Do you know any "child adults" who only take care of themselves often at the expense of others?

So this is where the bathroom analogy hit me. Their bathroom looks good except for a crack in the floor, which we know is indicative of a much bigger problem. When the experts told them what was needed they said to prepare with a trash truck that would hold two tons of materials, because they know how much needs to be removed before the renovation can begin. Making a comeback to be a mature adult after 20 or more years of thinking like a child because of a broken life isn't easy, but it is a possibility if the right people are there with the trash truck doing the renovation and Jesus is involved. Several people sitting in our study are evidence to a "renovated life." One was locked in a room for long periods of time for 11 years by a step father who didn't want to deal with her while her mother was on business trips. Another reverted to her "child self" and tried to commit suicide six times before finding that Jesus was there for her even in her past. God is good. All the time. He never changes. That means that He is there now. He was there then. He will be there tomorrow. I love Him!

A lovely President's Day God Moment

2011-02-21T16:46:00.001-06:00

Last Thursday Nannie was in a car accident while I was teaching a group lesson, or precisely as I was arriving at the church to teach the group lesson. In my hands I had the NFMC bulletin of prescribed pieces along with notes for parents for the lesson. In the car I had all my Baby Music supplies and instruments and violin in the trunk, as well as a pile of mail for some neighbors that was mistakenly delivered to my house.

Leaving the church in a great hurry, I was careful to pick up my violin, the NFMC bulletin and the extra parent notes. I hadn't seen the bulletin and notes since then. And I could not find them in the house or in the car. I was feeling pretty crazy this afternoon after many minutes of looking for the book, needing the information it contains for registering my students for a festival. I just finished saying, "Lord, I need that bulletin. Please show me where it is."

The doorbell rang. No one rings the doorbell on lesson days. Everyone just comes inside. There stands the neighbor whose mail I delivered to her late in the evening after Nannie was released from the ER and having x-rays. She had my bulletin and extra notes in her hand along with yesterday's newspaper article. She said, " I wondered if you needed this, then I read the article and realized that you really need it. I also work with 4 and 5 year olds with disabilities at a rural school district and we use music as therapy all the time. I'm so impressed with what you are doing." I had stacked their mail on top of the bulletin and notes and handed it all over to her without noticing the extra bulk.

Wow! Thanks, Lord for the bulletin, for a new neighbor, and for the connection.

Back to Reality

2011-02-20T01:04:00.000-06:00

So we had an awesome visit, and two very cramped flights, to see Joy and Mike. When we visited the Capitol city in the past we would stay in hotels and sight-see during the day while our daughters worked and attended classes. At night they would come see us at the hotel and eat carry out from their favorite restaurants with us. Now that Joy and Mike own a house in a cozy neighborhood we don't get out too much, but that's really our fault. It's just so comfortable at their house and there are meals to cook and laundry to wash, dry and fold. In the past two weeks I have experienced a deep freezing cold spell that stopped our city and all activities, a brief thaw, followed by another day of ice and snow, followed by a six day trip.

Arriving in late afternoon to 80 degree weather was almost a shock. I tried to focus on chores and organizing activities for the days ahead and that was fortunate and wise. Thursday morning I indulged in a pedicure and ran errands
then came home to finish laundry and change clothes for a Pilates training session. I came home to plan a group lesson, viewing a video and taking notes, then transcribing them as a hand-out for parents. Only seven students came to the lesson--some of them without parents. Just as I arrived at the church to teach them, my phone showed a voice mail message from Nannie. I quickly listened to is as I tuned some violins. She had been hit by a driver who ran through a red light, downtown, at a busy intersection.

Clouds from above--in flight I call this one an

angel wing. Below, pop corn and fleecy blanket.

At that moment I had my violin and several others that were severely out of tune as a result of extreme weather changes, three students who were attending without parents and who had no rides, and no way to contact parents to come get their children. Thank God for His goodness! She was not seriously injured and Brother G was able to meet her there and stay with her until I could meet them at the doctor's office. Then we went to the ER for x-rays and then back to her home. She has a large bruise on her knee, and seat belt bruising, but no broken bones. The final reports are not yet in. The other driver was cited for running the red light and for disobeying child restraint laws. She had a rent car from Enterprise. Neither Enterprise nor her personal insurance has contacted my Mom's agent. The collision shop has not made a decision on whether or not the 10 year old Buick is totalled. Mom's agent has adviser her to wait another week to ask for a rent car. Her insurance company may, or may not, pay for a rent car for "a few days", perhaps 2 or 3, or less. In other words, no one is taking any responsibility.

Yesterday the advice was to wait, move slowly and see what the liable driver's insurance had to offer. Today the advice was to move quickly to find another car for Nannie. Nannie had a list of things she did NOT want--Asian made cars; cars with unusual colors like pink, yellow, green, or purple; cars with gear shift in the console column; cars with "too many new functions to learn"; SUV's; too many miles on them; anything that required payments. What did she want? " I don't know anything at all about cars. I'm completely dependent on you and Muffin."

Muffin did the shopping. Found a car. It, of course, has gear shift in the console. He took her to see it and it seems to have passed the Nannie test for today. Meanwhile I had a consultation for music with a bride and her mother, cleaned house, we purchased nail clippers for Scooter, 15 gallons of drinking water, fresh produce, and went out for dinner. And all of that only took ten hours.

The Awesome Story

2011-02-17T21:28:00.001-06:00

This is Joy,

our Awesome Third Born Daughter. The Awesome House where she lives.

Awesome husband, Son-in-Law, Mike.

And these are the Awesome Flowers Mike bought for our Awesome Daughter, Joy. Gerbera Daisies

and Hydrangeas.

Here are the Awesomes, dressed for a ball.

We visited them last week end and for three additional days. A life long friend of our Fourth Born Awesome Daughter (not pictured in this post), came to the Awesomes Home to visit. She moved from Texas and works just a few blocks from the Awesome House and lives all alone until her dearly beloved husband of almost five years moves from Texas to live with her at the end of May. She is lonely. We invited her to come over for homemade soup. She can't tell us what she does at work or she will have to kill us, but we still love her and fed her soup. Here she is sitting with Awesome Daughter of the Third Born Placement in the McFamily.

This is an embassy near the Awesome House.

Another of the neighborhood embassies.

Yet another one.

Yep. Another embassy.

No. This is the National Cathedral. Just passing by it inspires me to take photos.

The Awesomes have high pressure jobs. When they come home they like to cuddle in the basement and watch big screen TV. This is Glee on the big screen.

A gift from work one day.

After work, she receives invitations to Awesome events.

In Awesome places. Like the same bowling alley named for this man.

The Awesome couple lives about 150 yards from this Awesome Church--City Church DC. It rocks!

After all that awesomeness, this is what I do at their house.
The END.

Emerging from The Big Quiet

2011-02-07T10:57:00.000-06:00

The temperature began to rise during the night of the fourth day of silence enforced by the storm.

By morning the welcomed sunshine created shadows, but even the low temperatures were no match for full sun on the pavement. Let the thawing begin!

At noon a river of snowmelt gushed in the streets and floated sheets of ice with it. Driving was particularly hazardous in dodging the ice chunks.

If you zoom in, you can see the pipe still contains a solid chunk of ice where water was flowing from the building at the motor bank. This photo taken at about 3 pm. after several hours of temperature in the lower 30's.

Some streets were cleared by front end loaders--all that is available in southern states.

And some streets were only cleared by Mr. Sunshine and had to wait 2-3 days.

Likewise areas on the north sides or in deep shady areas. Last night we had a light dusting of new snow. But temperatures are expected to rise to the 50's by tomorrow. I totally understand why Minnesotans run and frolic like rabbits when the sun comes out and the snow melts in April or May.

Last week I could have done anything I wanted to during the four "snow days." I had a good book and lots of music and plenty of practicing to do. Instead I chose to listen. I sat in stillness for many hours. I listened to sermons, music, teaching of various subjects, podcasts, and recorded scripture. And I listened to the Holy Spirit. I asked Him questions and tried to discern His answers. I still have more questions, but here are some of those that were answered.

Q: Why are so many states experiencing this storm, the hardship, isolation, and severity of it all?
Q: What is the significance of the violence of the storm, the thunder, lightening, hail, sleet, snow, wind, and low temperatures? The length of duration?
Q: What is the significance of world events at this time? The violence in Cairo, Egypt and the demands that Mubarak leave office?
Q: What is my part in all of this, in the Big Picture and Scheme of Life?

A: In learning to minister to individuals who have experienced trauma we learn that the two sides of the brain have been disconnected in their cooperation with each other. The side that experiences and the side that processes feelings no longer work together. I began to see that as a huge problem for the USA as a whole: Brain Trauma of a Nation with no cooperation between the two sides of the head.

Sometimes in ministry and prayer a loud sound will reset those two sides. There is evidence of this, but I won't go into that in this post. So, when praying for a person with deep trauma if they know a loud clap, or sharp sound is coming and that signifies the resetting of their brain, there is a great calm and peace that follows and progress in healing follows that. It's as if the sharp sound stops the effect of the lasting trauma and a new direction begins. For example when Jesus hung on the cross and spoke "Father into thy hands I commit my Spirit" what followed was darkness and a loud sound from heaven that split the veil of the temple in two parts from top to bottom, thus opening a way into the Holy of Holies that had never been there before! And then three days of silence passed while Jesus was leading all captivity captive and setting them free to live eternally. His blood was cleansing, freeing, giving access, resetting everything in the spiritual realm, enabling us to die to ourselves and allow Him to live through us, reclaiming all dominion and authority, healing all diseases, conquering our inner hurts and iniquities, will power, broken hearts, and releasing us from poverty into His riches! Glory! ( I learned much of that in yesterday's sermon from our pastor. Thanks, David!)

So we had these great claps of thunder and lightening and lost power and traffic stopped for three days and violence poured forth in Egypt. All of that certainly got the attention of many who would have foraged on with business as usual. I believe God "re-set the brains" of many of us to think as He thinks with a perspective of Love. To spend time with our families, or in silence or creativity or even on Facebook reconnecting with friends. At the end of three days the violence in Egypt turned peaceful and negotiations began. The people are being heard. The way of the Lord is being prepared in Egypt. And as for my part, well I blogged about it.

Snow Day Three

2011-02-03T15:28:00.000-06:00

I don't remember three snow days in one year for our school system, let alone three consecutive days. One year we had freezing temperatures for eleven and a half days while there was ice on the ground, but not this much snow and ice at once. And most of the water mains broke, which was a terrible mess. Every intersection was covered in a fountain of ice from the breaks. This is rather extraordinary, however, to have temperatures in the teens and below with ice and snow east, west, north, and south of us. All schools are closed. All government offices, churches, clinics, and many businesses. The Mall is open for a few hours today. Grocery stores are open for awhile. Hospitals are open for sure!

So, what are we doing with all this time and isolation? Facebook entries are WAY up. My laundry is done. My bathrooms are clean. I can't find my newspapers so I'm reading online. I taught some violin lessons by Skype and some theory lessons by phone. The Suzuki Association has a Parents as Partners offering online through February 28th which my studio subscribed to, at least six of us did. I've watched all of those and they are extremely helpful. I watched the DVR'd TV programs and I've listened to my favorite playlists several times. I baked some biscotti--chocolate almond--and shortbread cookie dough is chilling in the fridge. Thankfully I'm low on eggs and butter or I would be baking too much! I tried to build a fire in the fireplace, but the wood was too wet for the amount of kindling that I had. Power companies have urged turning down thermostats to save energy and prevent further rolling blackouts (had one for three hours on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning). That means we should all get off our sofas, chairs, and derrieres and do something to get warm. My choice to warm my muscles is cleaning house or yoga poses. I can turn up the music and listen while I do those.

Then I read a blog post by a young woman that really touched my heart. A couple of days later another young lady responded to it. They both battle lies--the kind of thoughts that batter you down and tell your self worth it is useless. Those confessions dig up my feet and my hands and my guts and cause me to rise up in anger at the source of the lies. But the confessions also tell me that my dear friends are not equipped, which means that perhaps more of my friends, my daughters, and their friends are not equipped either. Rise up, precious ladies! Listen to your Bible recordings. Play uplifting music all the time! Read truth, not fiction or lies! Build up your spirit! A strong spirit is cultivated. Feed it the milk of the Word--comfort food--Psalms are great. Feed your spirit the meat of the Word--meat changes your body and builds it up--the gospels and Paul's letters are perfect. Feed your spirit by praying--if you have received a prayer language this is perfect. If you haven't received, ask for it. We are building ourselves up in our most holy faith! When you pray, let Him warm your heart and protect it, guard it, with His truth. And stay in fellowship with others who love Him--a triple braided cord is not easily broken!

I listened to four sermons yesterday on Snow Day Two. I was reminded of some of the points in the paragraph above while listening. Then I wrote the following response to the two blog posts I mentioned earlier.

Dearly Loved Women,
I try to read every one of your posts, because I know several of you well. Allow me to comment, please.
We are each His favorite child. He is interested in You and everything that interests you. Your dreams delight Him. Your thoughts concern Him. Your every breath is part of Him, because He breathed into you and gave you Life. Then He gave His only Son--think about it! His only child, the only One. The perfect One. The One who delighted Him the most of all! He gave Him for us so that we might have ETERNAL LIFE with them (Father, Son & Holy Spirit). He gave us life twice! And keeps on giving. He is so excited about you that He leaps and spins in the air and sings over you with shouts of joy! Doesn't that resemble a sports event, or a reality TV show finale? He loves you that much every minute--loves your mistakes as well as your accomplishments. Which one of you doesn't delight in watching a child learn to crawl or pick up an object or say a first word. Our efforts delight Him just as much as our finished works! Oh How He loves you and Me! Doesn't that just make you want to sing and dance and cry and laugh? His love is unconditional and unchanging. You cannot do anything at all to mess it up. He always accepts your repentance and shows you His ways. They are new every morning! Great is His faithfulness! I hope that each of you will delight in this truth and that the Truth will set you free of every lie, every time one comes up! Just say to the lie, "My Father loves Me and that is the Truth!".
Blessings to each of you.

Waco missionaries restoring life in Uganda one brick at a time | Wacotrib.com

2011-02-02T11:26:00.000-06:00

Once upon a time there were two school girls who played the violin at two different junior high schools. The director of the orchestra at one school invited one of the girls to rehearse with the other school's orchestra so the lone girl could practice with more orchestra students who were involved in All Region Orchestra. That was 1963. I was the lone girl from my school who was invited to share a music stand with Janice Moore (McCall), and we became friends instantly. Between our last year in junior high and our first year in high school, where we would see each other every day in orchestra for the following three years and double date twins one year, Janice and some other girls our age from First Baptist Church were in a car accident. Janice was thrown from the car and had a serious head injury. She was in a coma for many days. The Lord had a destiny for her life and much prayer was answered. I don't know much about those days of recovery except that as she healed she "did some goofy things" as the brain injury recovery was described. She didn't remember much of it anyway.

After graduating we saw each other briefly and infrequently, but our families paths crossed often. While Janice was in Baylor University and I was at Texas Tech we both met the loves of our lives and married. Our families continued to live in our home town and our grandmothers lived next door to one another in a nursing home before they both changed residencies to heaven. Janice's younger brother married someone who is a fellow member of a music club. I knew that Janice and husband left Nigeria due to violence there and returned to Waco to teach and be a family physician in a clinic. I hope you will take ten minutes to read this article about their lives in Uganda, where they moved a few years ago.

Waco missionaries restoring life in Uganda one brick at a time | Wacotrib.com

Thunder/Rain/Hail/Lightening/Rain/Sleet/Snow

2011-02-01T17:29:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, January 31, 2011, was a beautiful day. Sunny, clear, about 71 degrees and not much wind. The geese near the lake were out of water, soaking up the sunshine.

Good idea. About 4:00 pm a storm came in and we had thunder, rain, hail, lightening, more thunder, heavy rain, more hail, then it changed to sleet and snow. Everything in town except the hospitals and a very few offices is closed. No county services open. No city services open. No schools open. No clinics open. No day care open. Nothing. Nada. Zip. Zero. It is 16 degrees now at 5 pm. We've had snow showers off and on today. Scooter and I are inside wearing our winter gear. So far I've taught violin lessons via Skype when the internet cooperates. Three lessons were successful. I did three others over the telephone and actually gave theory ear training sample tests by iphone. Technology is wonderful!

Our backyard.

My very wise husband suggested that I clear the snow off the air conditioner before running it today.

Wise guy.

Front yard. Notice the drift near the mail box. No sign of a sidewalk at all.

Scooter tracks.

Side of the yard through the window screen. Wind chills are headed to minus 11 tonight.

Sun peeked out a bit and made some shadows.

The treacherous curb where the ice pooled before the snow fell. It is one big crunchy mess!

Footprint. Never touched the sidewalk the snow is so deep.

Seeing

2011-01-28T00:41:00.000-06:00

I learned something today. This morning our church hosted a "seer". He spoke to us about his experiences in getting to know God better. I learned that Moses prayed to know God's ways, His face, and His presence, and that God's logic is way different from ours. For example, fire from heaven does not destroy, but enhances. In Jeremiah 33:3 the Word says "Call to me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know (do not distinguish and recognize, have knowledge of and understand)."

Seer can mean "stargazer" or "one who sees the unseen." Isaiah 45: 3 " and I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name." There is a grab and release factor for a seer. Colossians 4:4 "That I may proclaim it fully and make it clear [speak boldly and unfold that mystery], as is my duty." Everything in the heavenly realm is available to us. It is "beyond the veil", but there is a seer potential in each of us.

Our speaker for the day spent about six months praying in his literal closet, under his clothes, asking God for more of Him and every day God said "I love you." Then one day he felt something warm and wonderful come over him, like a Comforter, and he understood that he had faith for "seeing". All fibers of his being felt love, as though he was seated in a luxury vehicle of the highest quality and the seat was adjusted for perfect driving (We are seated in heavenly places far above all principalities and powers.) He was positioned in the Spirit with the Presence washing over him. An angel came and he heard a harp. Then fear set in and he was aware that he thought perhaps this could be a set-up for a demonic encounter. Instantly he was aware that he had tested the Holy Spirit and grieved Him and he was back in his earthly body and situation!

The second time he had an encounter in the Spirit realm, he saw himself standing in his own bed, with the bed actually through his torso--he was a spirit. Then he was back in his body. He experienced three months of visitations like this. In Song of Solomon the writer says that he sleeps but his heart is awake--the heart he speaks of is the spirit, which engages with God on a new level.

Life in heaven has a direct impact on life on earth, which should reflect heavenly life. Think about it. We are supposed to look just like Jesus. In the Spirit realm is glory and goodness. We are citizens. Ambassadors. An ambassador is a person who acts as a representative or promoter of a specified activity. We are now living in a boundary governed by the Kingdom. There is no restricted flow between us and the Father. All the names of God, all the formerly unspeakable names, are hidden and manifest in "Jesus"! The law is a work FOR me. what I carry in heaven I carry in earth. Like an avatar! There is now a constant flow since Jesus became the perfect and complete sacrifice. Fellowship of the spirit is constant and we are, or should be, presentations of the Father at all times. We have no reason for boredom. Our relationship with Him is beyond a gift. It is abundant life (John 10:10). We have length and quality of life--excessive life!

This realm is our entitlement. And that is what I learned this morning.

Doozey Dream

2011-01-27T00:32:00.000-06:00

Last night I had a very interesting and vivid dream. I can't wait to get my very spiritual sisters involved in the interpretation!

I was wearing orange-- a button front shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and a skirt with a sarong cut. (That in itself is weird. I rarely ever wear orange, or skirts) I started walking, but I was walking very deliberately, almost marching. However it was in the air--off the ground about 12-15 feet. And I was looking down at the street, as I passed people going the opposite direction. And I seemed to be able to know their thoughts. One person was thinking about his next job. Another was just thinking about her grocery list. Finally, I overheard a couple talking about someone I knew. The tone of their voices disturbed me. It sounded like a couple making small talk at a party or social event, but was actually a mask. I knew they had deep concern for the lady they were discussing, a mutual acquaintance who has Alzheimer's. I wanted so much to tell them they should be sincere and show their love to her.

As I went on down the street in the air I looked down on a very elegant and fancy building, much like a big museum on a university campus. There were artifacts strewn about the lawn and on the concrete leading into the building. I dipped down from my lofty position to pick up some of the artifacts and realized they were important, pieces of an antique mirror and also some type of large tool I didn't recognize. As I retrieved them and turned them over to examine them more closely a man came forward and said he would take them. He was Ethiopian. I don't know how I knew that, but he was quite authoritative and I gave them to him, but never let my feet touch the ground. Somehow I knew he was the exact person who should have those objects and that they were very valuable. Then I proceeded on my way, high above the everyday happenings on the earth.

So, yesterday I taught lessons all afternoon, spent some time practicing for a concert this weekend, made some phone calls, did a load of laundry, watched some teaching videos, and went to Body Flow. I didn't eat anything weird, and I didn't eat late. So what does that dream mean?

Establish

2011-01-20T16:38:00.001-06:00

So, my "word for the year" is ESTABLISH. That's it. And I've know this since the last week of 2010, so I'm convinced that this is the year to "establish". Working on Bible study. Working on Mozart and Bach. Working on Baby Music classes. Working on more time for family relationships. Working on teaching more effectively. Working on more effective ministry.

Job 22:28 You shall decide and decree and thing and it shall be established for you, and the light of God's favor shall shine on all your ways. AMP

James 5:8 So you also must be patient. establish your hearts [strengthen and confirm them in the final certainty], for the coming of the Lord is very near. AMP

These are my first two verses for memory with the SSMT. Thinking about that established heart this week.

So blessed!

2011-01-20T16:28:00.000-06:00

Remember the Wednesday morning "Joy group"? Yesterday we danced before the Lord. Well, it ended up for Him, but on the way it was a room full of funny, giggling women trying hard to command the sides of the brain and the left and right sides of the body to cooperate to learn four steps--just four--to dance with a DVD for about two minutes. It got pretty hilarious and was a fair marker of just how loosey goosey we become with one another.

Finally we got serious and did the lesson for the day in the "Belonging" study. During the study I was enlightened. Not by the study, but to an awareness that one woman did not have a book. The Lord told me that she did not have money for the book and that I should buy it for her. So, just before leaving I tried to do so discretely and leave. But Amy, our fearless leader, is all about transparency and she took the book to L and said, "Joyce wanted you to have this." Busted! But, this is where it gets really good!!

L came to me to hug and thank me and she told me that God spoke to her as Amy handed her the book. He said to her as Amy said my name, "She's always so obedient to me." I was just dumbfounded. L said she got chills to know that God would say that about someone. I got blasted by a Holy Spirit brick that He knows my heart so well. I rarely deliberately disobey when I know what He is saying to me. And now I KNOW that He KNOWs! Awesome!

Nannie updates

2011-01-20T16:16:00.001-06:00

This is a difficult season for my Mom, The Nannie, Matriarch of the Allen clan. First of all it's winter, which messes with arthritis and other bone and connective tissue ailments that settle into elderly bodies. The bones sit there, happy in heat and certain barometric pressures, functioning well and pretending to be 30 years old until the weather changes. Then they whine, cry and even scream and rage, "No, No, I'm old and delicate and have been through so much in my lifetime that you can't even imagine! Remember when you fell riding that bicycle in 1940? Remember when you sat down really hard on your tailbone playing basketball in high school? Have you forgotten that sprained ankle or knee emergency or the times you braced yourself on your wrists too hard? What about the 53 years of playing the violin?" Or, in Nannie's case, "How about I remind you of those years you worked really hard in a school cafeteria lifting pots of spaghetti and pans of bread dough? I'd like you to think all day about those years you helped lift your parents into and out of chairs and bed?"

In addition to the winter season with its biting cold, Nannie takes it hard when her friends and family members suffer anything at all--even a cold or pink eye. Lately Muffin had a bronchial bout with upper respiratory infection while we were on vacation and she worried about that. And Roo had pink eye and allergies in both eyes and she fretted over that too. And Joybear hasn't been feeling well, so Nannie asks every day if I've heard from her. But the big event on her mind is that my Aunt Nonie, my Daddy's brother's wife and Nannie's best friend since childhood, fell and broke her hip. Aunt Nonie also has a degenerative sight disease and doesn't see well enough to read anything but very large print now. She hasn't used her muscles much in the last 20 years so when she fell, it wasn't the surgery, but the rehab that was the big challenge. There is an additional blood problem as well. So, she has been moved to a nursing home because she was unable to complete the required five hours per day rehab at the hospital rehab center. My two cousins have health issues of their own to care for, so she is on her own for several days at a time. Nonie has her cell phone, so Nannie calls her every night and they talk, as is their custom. It's heartbreaking to see and hear them; friendship of over 80 years reduced to a few minutes on a telephone at night with both of them feeling helpless for the other. We've offered to take Nannie to visit, but her own back condition prevents traveling more than a few minutes.

This kind of pain and suffering is not located in the body, but is in the soul and spirit. I remember too well the day that my two grandmothers said their last farewell. They were both living with Nannie and Dubbie and had been for three years. Pickle (Dubbie's Mom) became so crippled with rheumatoid arthritis that she could no longer move by herself. Grandmommy wasn't too far behind suffering with other symptoms. When Pickle sat in a wheelchair at my parents' house and prepared to move to the nursing home (where she passed away just months later) Grandmommy cried like a little child. Pickle was brave until then. They had been friends for almost 80 years too. When both of them cried and said "God knows when we will see each other again," I lost it as well. That scene has been replaying on the DVD in my spirit for a few weeks as I hear Nannie talk about Nonie. But the truth is that God alone knows when each of us will see the other each time we part ways. He is our refuge and our help in times of trouble.

Wednesday Morning "Joy" Group

2011-01-13T01:09:00.002-06:00

It was 27 degrees at 9:30 AM yesterday. That is an important fact pertaining to today's post. The lovely women in the photo are my sisters in Jesus. We have learned and experienced many deep, gut wrenching, tear squeezing, soul searching, spirit invading and body crushing mornings together in the past couple of years. Originally we were a group of women who met together from several churches to study God's Word with an out of town teacher. That lasted one semester. But we had a destiny and we knew it. Part of that destiny was to show hospitality to other women and to teach. So we eventually became a prayer group, then a Bible study. We studied most of Beth Moore's available Bible studies on DVD. We covered CD's by Bill Johnson. We did a VHS series on the Father's love by Jack Frost that changed our lives completely. Three members of our group left us to live eternally with Jesus. We buried one woman's husband. We went to conferences together and bought books and shared them and had lunch together and talked and talked about what God was teaching us through those meetings and books. We cried and laughed and prayed and started all over.

Eventually we became very transparent with one another as we studied healing, sozo, deliverance, freedom for the body, soul and spirit. Our hearts' deepest hurts, dreams, confessions, and joys were laid out to one another. This semester we began another study: Belonging. We are now at the point where most of our studies are for the purpose of learning how to assist those in deep need. Belonging is a cry of the heart for most women. I know. I am one. I have four daughters who are now grown women. I have three young granddaughters. I teach violin students who are lovely young girls. It is a deep need for men as well, but I don't know as much about their feelings, having had no brothers or sons. I'm learning continuously about male minds from Muffin and from my grandson, thankfully.

Today I heard a remarkable story that touched me deeply. I hope I never forget it. We were discussing how we felt being silent in a group for 2 minutes. Most of us felt peace, because we trust one another. We began to talk about the issues that drive us away from peace--negative talking, for example. Then one woman in our group, Ms L, told us that she remembers the story of the African man who wanted to own only one pair of pants. His reasoning was that two pairs of pants would only cause him to spend unnecessary time making a decision about which to wear and thus steal prayer time from his life. Mrs. L's daughter is with YWAM, and took with her two pairs of pants and her Bible and one shirt. She called her Mom to thank her for giving her the experience of living with little, being formerly homeless, and moving often from hotel to hotel so that she would appreciate the gift of being in a mission group with time to minister and pray. Then Ms. L told us that she came to class today without a coat because she doesn't own a coat. She said with great joy that it simplifies her life because she doesn't need to think about finding her coat when she goes out. God's provision for her is that she doesn't get cold! Really! She doesn't feel the cold air on a morning when it is 27 degrees and even the room temperature seems uncomfortable. Just like the man with one pair of pants, and her daughter with very few possessions, she finds joy in Who she has.
Wow.

More gigs!

2010-12-10T00:11:00.000-06:00

Last Sunday morning as I stepped out of my car in the church parking lot and looked up, I saw, over the silhouette of the church, this full rainbow ring around the sun. Every color was visible in the ring. It was amazing! A kiss from God as a promise to me that I could actually do what I was there to do.

After playing 16 hours in rehearsals and programs last week I was unbelievably tired and just aching through my ribs and back from lifting my arms so much. Our quartet had been hired to accompany this Methodist church choir and soloists in singing The Messiah. I love to play The Messiah! I really love listening to it as well, and usually turn up the volume while I clean the house or do the Christmas baking.

The Messiah is quite a change from the selections for the Christmas Pops Concert with the symphony. I've heard many, many compliments for the concert, with its soloists, dancers, UNT Chorale and bling. But playing The Messiah trumps the bling for me. Even when there is plenty of pressure with the quartet being a-l-o-n-e. No orchestra. The organist used the digital settings to play "harpsichord" with us.

Today wasn't really a gig, but I played with my two adorable students at a music club. We bake goodies for our audience, the local community, prepare instrumental and choral music for them, present donated instruments to the school district, sell poinsettias to raise scholarship money to give students for summer study, and then, after we perform we clean it all up. Whew!

These two played four traditional carols with me. We did three part harmony and they were wonderful! I love it when my students shine.

In Memory of Lucy

2010-12-08T12:37:00.002-06:00

Lucy Dog, I loved you because you were Michael and Becky's second "child", our fourth "granddog". I loved you because you watched after me when we kept you without your parents. I love you most of all because you took good care of my Grands, especially Gracie. I will miss you. You were a good dog. Go run and play and jump high over the Rainbow Bridge! Thank you for your service to our family.

Let the gigs begin!

2010-12-02T21:39:00.000-06:00

I love The Messiah! Both the oratorio and the Lord for Whom it was written.

I love doing Baby Music! This is a tribute to my parents and grandparents and all their extended families because the songs and activities are songs and nursery rhymes taught to me by all of those who have lived before me. I feel an extension to my heritage, to my own daughters as Mothers, to my grandchildren and to generations to come when I am engaged in the curriculum. I actually remember the sounds of my parents' and grandparents' voices saying these rhymes, singing these songs. I feel connected to my elementary music teachers and my college teacher who taught elementary music as well. "Pop Goes the Weasel" and "Six Little Ducks" were always fun action songs in a classroom. "Pat a Cake" is a generational favorite in almost every family in southern states. When I'm singing and playing with the children--my grands, the infants, the toddlers--it's as if all my ancestors are playing with them too. We are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses!

Musical Elves

2010-11-30T23:02:00.000-06:00

Tonight before our local Christmas Parade began I closed the violin studio early to meet some students who were providing music for downtown merchants.

These lovely sisters joined Santa in a window. The sisters, not Santa, played duets for shoppers.

Two brothers and two sisters played in an art gallery where guests viewed work by local artists. I joined them for some duets.

I taught six students over a five hour period today, leaving the house for downtown quite late. Almost all the parking was filled with cars in all the spaces and lots for the City Sidewalks event. I actually called my students' parents, and their relatives left early to open a place for me in a nearby lot. Thank you, kind people! I appreciate not having to walk six blocks to and from the performance site.

What Was I Up To?

2010-11-26T20:06:00.001-06:00

Where have I been and what have I been doing?

Home remodeling in three rooms.

Teaching students 16 hours or more each week.

Playing with the Grand Ladies and Man

Six days of baby music training in Houston.

Attending The Nutcracker at the beautiful Paramount Theater with the Rowdy Girls and Aunt Kaki.

Starting our very own Baby Music classes.

Enjoying the family during Thanksgiving holidays.

Fun Weekend

2010-10-16T15:18:00.001-05:00

Driving to see the Grand Twins I saw this beautiful field of grasses and pristine farm house.

At this time of year the grasses, which originally covered most of Texas before it was settled and developed, are green, gold, red and purple.

A few, not many, trees are beginning to dress in their Autumn colors.

Temperatures are in the 50's and upper 40's at night. When the first freeze arrives, the colors really pop.

Last weekend Grandpa bought a kite for Jonah and Gracie. This weekend he bought a kite for Em and Roo. Em thought she might try flying it inside the house.

Em, Roo, Grandpa, JB and I walked to the neighborhood park . Em busied herself on the slides, sidewalks, and swing. Roo declared she was the captain of a big pirate ship and was sailing the seven seas. She commanded from the lofty heights.

Meanwhile, JB and Grandpa made valiant efforts on a mostly windless day to fly the kite. Every time it would crash, Em would say "Oh Noooooooo! Try again!" Good advice for life, I think.

As the shadows lengthened from west to east along the width of the park

the girls began to tire of the kite, the slides, the pirate ship and

long afternoon Grandpa held Em by the feet upside down for a while

then allowed her to lay in the gravel--dirty but so texturally pleasing.

More Processing

2010-10-11T10:52:00.000-05:00

This morning I opened my email to read an interesting word about "rising up and coming away" to the Lord. In further research I found this teaching on "process". Since it seems that I am not alone in learning more about "processing" my spiritual journey, I thought I would post these resources just in case there are those who pass by this blog and are in process as well.
http://wadetaylor.org/Manna/Divine%20Delays.html

Process

2010-10-11T10:48:00.000-05:00

Since the end of September the Holy Spirit has been showing me about process. Elements of my life that were once simple, ordinary, every day events have become processes. For example last week my computer, a Mac, and my phone, and iphone, began duplicating contacts faster than rabbits multiply. Faster than you can drink a cup of coffee, actually. I had almost 9,000 contacts in my address book, AND, some of those had duplicated information within each card up to 200 times.
I followed instructions on the web site. They kept multiplying. I called Apple support and after much quality time with Melissa and her supervisor, she said "I've never seen this happen before" and advised that we call tech support with Mobile Me.
Call made and after a few hours with tech support, Justin and Muffin did all they were supposed to do. Justin said "I've never seen anything like this before". A few days later the contacts were multiplying again.
I made an appointment at an Apple store, 200 miles from my house, for Friday morning at 9 a.m. We arrived with computer and phone in hand and I had high hopes for a quick fix and some time to learn more about making movies with my phone and computer. After an hour and a half, Jesse, our Genius of the Day, said "I've never seen anything like this before" and told Muffin how to fix the remainder of the problem. We left the store and thirty minutes later during a phone call with CB my iphone died--totally black screen. We tried all the restore features and settings, took it to Boo's house and started over and nothing would help. Called tech support and spent quality time with more people who said "I've never seen this happen before." Learned that my iphone was eligible for an upgrade and made an appointment at the same Apple store at 7:15 pm. Amanda said, "I've never....." and called Ping, the manager, who said the same and both were shocked that Jesse, the morning Genius was unable to solve the problems.
But, the AT&T store was involved because that's where the phone was purchased. So at closing time that evening, I had a phone replaced, but the information in the store computer said my phone was not eligible for the upgrade. AT&T said it was. After much confusion and physical trips to the AT&T store it was decided that the following morning would be the big exchange--a 3GS phone exchanged for an iPhone 4, and Ping would give accessories for our trouble and hassle for the day (and week). Of course the AT&T people said "I've never seen anything like this before."
So a two day trip turned into a three day trip and we were able to
1. Follow up at the dentist office
2. Spend an evening and morning with Kak
3. Spend an afternoon with Boo, Gracie and Jonah and see Michael before leaving
4. Figure out the multiplication problem
5. Clean out the Address Book, Phone book contacts, and Google contacts
6. Do our grocery shopping at Central Market
7. Spend time on the phone with Nannie, Nana, CB and Rowdy Girls
8. Exchange phones

But here is what happened on Saturday morning. Arriving with coffee, phone and computer in hand at the Apple store, we again saw Amanda, added Alex and finally Ping to the mix. The AT&T people said that Kak's phone was the first phone eligible for the upgrade, so I took the replacement 3GS and gave her the new iPhone 4 with all the bells and whistles for face time, camera, movies, etc. It represents three upgrades for her and she will use it well! And the Apple employees thanked us over and over and over for not being angry and impatient with them. So did the people on tech support on the phone. And the manager did give Kathleen a new case and protector for her phone. And I learned that the process was really about praying for the people who came in and out of the Apple store, including the employees, and about keeping God's peace, joy and love through the process.

Draw me Nearer

2010-10-11T01:25:00.000-05:00

"Mother, if I had a choice, I would still choose to remain blind ... for when I die; the first face I will ever see will be the face of my blessed Saviour."

Thursday morning I performed, or rather I participated in a program of hymns written by Fanny Crosby. Oh they are sweet! They melodies were all written by others but her words are rich and eternal:

Redeemed, How I love to proclaim it, redeemed by the blood of the lamb!

Rescue the perishing, care for the dying, Jesus is merciful. Jesus will save.

Jesus is tenderly calling me home, calling today, calling today.

Draw me nearer, nearer Precious Lord to the cross where thou hast died. Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer Precious Lord, to thy precious bleeding side.

It was a lovely morning for a program--almost no wind and about 72 degrees without a single cloud in the sky. The caretakers of the building forgot to open it, so our Harmony Club members visited in the parking lot while waiting for someone with a key. The time for the meeting to begin was 9:45 and we arrived upstairs at 9:43. I began the program and between music selections we had readings about Fanny's life as a blind poet and hymnodist. She performed one of her hymns at President Taft's funeral and spent her life speaking at missions and collaborating with song writers. Among our club members we have some very gifted pianists and they also contributed, playing beautiful arrangements of Near the Cross and To God be the Glory. The morning was visited by the Holy Spirit, who touched our hearts with memories of loved ones and countless members of our club who are with Fanny and Jesus in heaven. I do trust that they were all having a group hug as we sang and played her beautiful songs for one another. I know that I felt drawn nearer to the Lord all day as the words to those sweet songs lingered in my mind and heart.

Frances Jane Crosby

BORN: March 24, 1820
South East, New York

DIED: February 12, 1915
Bridgeport, Conn.

LIFE SPAN: 94 years, 10 months, 19 days

Wow. Amazing. Wonderful. Glorious. Superduper.

2010-09-30T14:16:00.000-05:00

Can't find the words to express my feelings about last weekend. Muffin arrived quite late Thursday night and for some reason I was very tired and fell asleep a few minutes before I would normally be preparing to drive to Body Flow. I woke up not minutes late, but hours later. We just chilled after a late dinner of quiche and salad, watching recorded TV shows. Friday morning Muffin started the process of restoring my iphone to "new." Which means I lost some info. Spent too many minutes replacing the threads, contacts, and other application information. Friday night we attended a Library event at Frontier Texas, our award winning museum which is a fun and educational venue. The food was great, the company included Texas authors and songwriters, and the entertainment was a barroom fight out in the damp grass as the first Fall rain moved in from the north. Later that evening a young man phoned Muffin just to talk about God, his relationship in hearing God, his desire to hear Him explicitly and know His plans. We'll call him Mr. A. Muffin told him that God surely loved him lots and lots and wanted to talk to him personally. He prayed with Mr. A.

Saturday morning the Fall rain had turned into a flash flood event that didn't prevent Muffin and Me from attending a conference at our church. Chris Dupre', composer of Dance with Me, was the featured speaker. We all huddled into the Crossover, our Youth Building that is decorated in sky, grass, street shops and West Texas mural for a day of extraordinary teaching about the Father's heart of love for each of us. Chris loves to explain parables and words and is a master story teller. I found myself unable to take adequate notes because I was listening so raptly. Chris chose Mr. A, who was in the audience, to come forward and help him illustrate some moments Chris experienced in getting to know God intimately, holding Mr. A's head close to him and telling him how much he loved him. It was AWESOME! and PERFECT!

Later that evening Muffin replaced a light fixture that fell from the ceiling unexpectedly while I was teaching this summer. It was twenty years old and of course couldn't be matched. That means he really replaced two fixtures and eight bulbs in our extra high kitchen ceilings. It took too long and made too much of a mess and looks fabulous, which is the normal results of such home improvements, right? But, we "saw the light" at the completion of the task!

Sunday morning I played with the praise team, who are all the ages or younger than my children and who tolerate graciously my desire to sing along with my violin. We did some wonder songs--We Will Dance on the Streets that are Golden, You are Amazing God, and others. Then David, our pastor, invited Chris Dupre' to sing Dance with Me. He came to the platform, took the lead singer's guitar and insisted that the remainder of the team stay and play with him. As he sang the words a transformation began.

Dance with me O Lover of my Soul, to the song of all songs.

Romance me O Lover of my Soul, to the song of all Songs.

Behold you have come over the hill, over the mountain

With you I will go, You are my Love, You are my Fair One.

To me you have run, My Beloved you've captured my heart

Winter has passed an the Springtime has come.

People began to dance all over the church. The youth danced with arms linked and swayed together. The children danced freely in circles in the aisles. The adults danced together in ballroom styles. All those who weren't dancing were smiling and waving hands as if they were dancing with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then it happened. Chris asked for the violin to play alone. Right there, in my own church, with him playing guitar chords I was playing for a Holy Spirit dance that was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. From the Balcony to the front altar it was as if I was playing in the heavenlies and all the people were dancing as the Bride dances with the Bridegroom. I will never, ever forget those moments.

Giving Music

2010-09-23T21:31:00.000-05:00

When I was a little girl my family would amuse ourselves by singing in the car on road trips. When Daddy ran out of songs to entertain me he would just make them up. My Mother would get pretty anxious when he was singing because he couldn't "do music" without tapping his foot in rhythm. That gets a little dicey in a manual transmission car. We would leap forward in short leaps down the highway or farm road until she couldn't stand it any longer and would get him to pull over and trade places, driving the remainder of the trip while we sang.

Daddy and his brother, my Uncle Pat, would also sing and play guitar and fiddle or mandolin for family gatherings. They gave music back to their churches and taught me to do the same. I started playing piano for my Sunday school group when I was in third grade. In junior high I began playing piano for the church services. During college my professional sorority volunteered at the local state supported school for mentally disabled. On Sunday evenings we would go lead songs--mostly fun songs, and action songs.

This month I have played a wedding, a funeral and a symphony concert. All paid performances, but gifts to my audiences just the same.

Music became a profession for me but there are still opportunities to give. My studio groups perform for many venues including nursing homes and retirements centers, community functions and club programs.

Beeyootiful Butterflies in Key West

2010-09-22T00:41:00.000-05:00

Our third stop on our cruise was in Key West, FL. Muffin and I chose to walk the island and made our way to the Atlantic side, traversing Duval Street. We stopped for a key lime slushie and also at the Butterfly Conservatory. Even the benches and bridges inside are decorated with butterflies. This is just a small sample of the butterflies we saw. They are in every stage--fascinating! And beautiful!

Muffin's helicopter hat attracted a hitch hiker!

The Pampering

2010-09-20T23:45:00.000-05:00

Every night of our cruise the cabin stewards do amazing things in our room while we go to dinner and a show or movie. The room is cleaned from top to bottom, just as it is in the morning when we go to breakfast. All trash disappears from the containers. Every spot on windows and mirrors is gone. Clean glasses and fresh ice appear. Any towels left on the floor are replaced. All are folded and placed on racks. The tissue paper is folded to a crisp point.

At night the covers are folded back and the towel animals appear with two chocolate mints.

Who is this? What is this? Pointy little head and floppy ears...

Mr. Elephant

Miss Piggy with Minty eyes.

Stanley Sting Ray wearing Muffin's new sunglasses.

The final night on board. I heart you too, Carnival Conquest!

I Miss you, Hatem!

2010-09-15T14:03:00.000-05:00

Last week aboard the Carnival Conquest we saw amazing sights. Many of them were in the dining room where Hatem from Tunisia was M'aitre d.

I'm eating my blueberries and watermelon at home, but they just don't look the same. And there isn't a portabella mushroom in the house.

After weighing in at the health club last night I suppose I'll forgo the chocolate almond cake as well.

But if I see a shrimp anywhere nearby, it's going on a grill and then into my mouth!

Home Again

2010-09-13T22:52:00.000-05:00

Muffin and I returned home last night from a seven day cruise departing Galveston for ports in the Eastern Caribbean. There were so many Brits on board that I felt like I was cruising with Cat Deely, and must say that it was "lovely." We saw amazing sights--flying fish, clear blue-green waters, a rainbow at sea, a lightning storm at night, a butterfly conservatory, and a meteor shower. Kisses from God, all of them.

This kiss was from God through one of His amazing dolphins. Loved it!

Praise!

2010-08-31T00:28:00.000-05:00

Sunday mornings--love 'em!

Warming up and praying up

Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary! Praise Him in the firmament of his power!

Praise Him with timbrel and dance!

Praise Him with stringed instruments and organs!

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord!

Late summer wedding

2010-08-29T01:19:00.000-05:00

This lovely lady, the mother of the bride this evening, is an acquaintance from my Young Audience days a decade ago. Her oldest daughter married a few years ago and our quartet played for that event. She called early this year to contract our quartet for tonight's wedding as well. It was a black and white wedding, accented with a few pink flowers.

Elegance--all white flowers in the sanctuary. Subtle colors on the Mom's. Tuxes and military uniforms on the guys. No other music than what we provided in solid, classical selections. All members of the wedding party were respectful and mature. Even the program is elegant.

As usual. From my perspective. May God bless the bride and groom with exactly what the officiate said. Love for the bride as Jesus has loved His Bride. Respect and honor for the groom as Jesus is worthy of the same.

Marmee is stylin'

2010-08-16T23:57:00.000-05:00

Mamaw saw my new Facebook profile and commented that I was stylin'. I'm so pleased to say that I bought two pairs of these Solize Sunglasses from Del Sol. They are silver inside the house and change to blue in the sunlight. Additionally each pair is completely replaceable if ever lost or damaged, less the shipping fee. And, they are Polarized. I first heard about them in Grand Cayman last year, but they have many sunny locations. I also bought their fun nail polish and t shirts that change colors in sunlight and they gave me freebies--a tote bag and fun rings for the Rowdy Girls.

I did it!

2010-08-16T00:29:00.000-05:00

Working up from 1 to more than 30

I met my fitness goal for the summer. I participated in enough Body Flow and Pilates classes or training sessions to accumulate 51 stickers. Some of the classes were double sticker credit, but basically I did 50 classes or training sessions. I haven't done anything nearly that physically ambitious since the summer I was in eighth grade and took tennis lessons three times a week. That was a long time ago. A very, very long time ago.

30 + stickers. 51 in all!

Day at the Museum

2010-08-11T01:49:00.000-05:00

Last week I had a follow up appointment with my dental surgeon and afterward I stayed over with Muffin for two nights. Boo and Michael are moving back to Texas (!!!!!) and were in the area looking for a house to lease until they sell their house in Arizona. Success! We celebrated with a day at the Modern Art Museum and dinner that evening at Blue Mesa with Kaki.

I love the painting above--reminds me of "Room with a View" and George's eternal YES.

Isn't this great? A book with wings. I think all books have wings to fly the reader away to exotic places.

Drama! An entire wall of art!

My personal favorite exhibit in the permanent collection-- Not a room for a toddler!

The architecture is fascinating and beautiful as well.

A detail in the floor of one room

The stairway hall in the back of the building has a wall of windows.

These two always make me feel as though I'm spying on something private. Doesn't affect Muffin that way, though.

Animal with a cape?

Boo thinks this little lady gets up and walks around the museum at night.

This box fascinates me. It's hard to see in the photo but the inside of the lid is a mirror image, fitting into the space in the box. Beautiful!

Walking around a corner this painting totally commands the attention. The bold color, the size of the painting, and that small streak of white in the upper left of the canvas--POW!

Andy in one room. His Marilyns in another

Every one of these works is titled "Catherine"--obviously a woman of many facets.

Cabin Fever!

Cute birdie!

One clip from a video. What is out of sync in this apartment?

Could it be the tiny airplanes flying through the room, landing on the countertop?

Interesting......

The Sage in Bloom....

2010-08-11T00:43:00.000-05:00

is like perfume,

(Clap, Clap, Clap, Clap!)

Deep in the Heart of Texas!

Happy Birthday Precious Peggy!

2010-08-11T00:41:00.000-05:00

Today is Peggy's birthday, but we celebrated at reunion group yesterday with a surprise salad pot luck and cupcakes. I made Angel Food cupcakes, topped with Cool Whip and sprinkles.

Smiling Precious, wearing her stars and stripes using her "You are Special Today" plate.

(She likes to talk.)

And laugh!

From my Perspective

2010-08-05T01:22:00.000-05:00

Sunday afternoon my quartet played for the Texas Tech Pharmacy School White Coat Ceremony. It's a very impressive ceremony involving a processional, speeches from alumni, professors, and esteemed doctors of pharmacy in varied specializations. I enjoy hearing the speeches and the introduction of the new students, whose names, undergraduate school, and hometown are announced as they step onto the stage to receive their white coats, sign the professional code and begin their career in pharmacy.

However it's a long way from the balcony of the historic Paramount Theater to the stage. In these photos you get a bit of a feeling of just how far away we sit, playing music in the dark theater. All those white spots in the seats are the students who have received their white coats. I suppose that some of the students of the class of 2014 feel they are also a long way from their graduation.

Relaxing Day

2010-08-04T00:34:00.000-05:00

Love that Debra! She knows how to make a girl feel good, and look good too. "Kate" shoes by Naot.

"Peru-B-Ruby" by OPI on the toes.

Other than that I went to Body Flow and cleaned out studio files. It's too hot to be ambitious.

Hodge Podge

2010-07-28T22:57:00.000-05:00

Why is this sweet lady smiling? Because this morning her gifted grandson came to our Bible study for a sozo this morning. He has been experiencing insomnia. It was a great morning of ministry and the Holy Spirit gave many encouraging words for him.

After I came home from Body Flow at noon I noticed the abundance of peeling bark on the crape myrtle trees in my back yard. It's really beautiful and seems to cry out for artistic use. Wish I were artistic.

I love to mess with colors, though. Over the past week I played with beads. Here are some of the results.

Pearls--Freshwater and irradiated, along with gemstone chips and beads in pinks and grays.

Gemstone ovals and cubes with silver beads.

I love the color variations in these ovals

These are some older favorite garnet beads. I re-strung one end of one strand and added an extender.

The beads below are one long strand of funky chunky leftovers.

Then I took a nap. After the nap I worked on the studio schedule for the eleventy seventh time. Still not working out for some students. So I laid it aside and cleaned out part of my closet.

Rainy July Day

2010-07-28T00:25:00.000-05:00

I woke to thunderstorms with big thunderboomers this morning. That in itself is unusual for July, but this continued throughout the day. By this evening this is what my rain gauge held.

Our housing area is near a lake and this is what one of the drainage canals looked like at 8:30 p.m.

The street at the junction of one of the drainage canals where the water goes under the street and into the pond that feeds into the lake was full too.

But the sky was gorgeous!

Jonahbear is five!

2010-07-26T22:55:00.000-05:00

Jonah is five today. Wow! This is his "cool" face.

Here is the first five years in video.

Saturday and Sunday

2010-07-26T22:52:00.000-05:00

Saturday my quartet played for a wedding in this beautiful chapel. Before we began the bridesmaids were in their flipflops chatting it up.

This is my usual vantage point for a wedding. Behind the music stand positioned where I can see the bridal party and bride enter from the back. For some reason we usually play from the bride's side, just to the far left of the bride's family.

This is our church. My friend, L is an artist. This is her current work in progress. She paints where the congregation can see what she is painting, right up front under one of the lecterns. She stopped to chat before the service started while some of the younger girls were studying her work. I'm warming up with the praise team. It was my first official Sunday to play with them and I was SO BLESSED!

Change of Plans

2010-07-19T23:50:00.000-05:00

After the three performances Thursday I brought Nannie home with me and showed her some of the latest blog photos from the Rowdy Girls and the Cheese Family since she has no internet connection, or computer, or iphone, or technology information. After Nannie left I started the dishwasher and put a load of laundry in to soak, then got some watermelon, a mug of ice water, and an ice pack for my knee. It was a VERY hot day.

What I failed to recognize is that my blood sugar was dipping, which is why I was feeling so hot, so tired, and craving the water and watermelon. Then I went to sleep—for three hours. Big mistake. I missed Body Flow and woke up in a goofy stupor of foggy headedness. Is that a word? Well, that’s what it seemed to be. I tried to give Scooter my allergy meds before I realized what I was doing. I found myself standing in a room with no clue why I walked in there. So, I sat down and made myself eat a full meal of protein, veggies, and whole wheat bread, then my brain turned on. I noticed that Muffin sent a text and was on the way home. Good news! I had a plan for a quiet dinner and some DVR’ed TV—Psych, Covert Affairs, White Collar, So You Think You Can Dance. On Friday my plans included meeting a real estate agent to look at office space, a great work out at Body Flow and Pilates, and a trip to Lowes.

On Wednesday while I was teaching I heard a huge noise in the kitchen and Scooter, my darling hearing challenged dog even heard it. My students declared that they saw him standing near the French doors of the music room and there was no way he caused the noise, which I thought was the trash can turning over. It wasn’t. The lens over one of the large fluorescent fixtures in the kitchen ceiling fell from the sky! It broke into at least six pieces, one of them still huge and falling all the way to the dining area. I was SO thankful no one was in the kitchen when it happened!

During the morning, during the Body Flow class and for about two hours afterward Muffin and his sister talked about Nana’s care during her recovery from the broken bone. Plans began to change. While Mufin got the car serviced I packed for me and for Scooter. We left town around six o’clock, Muffin exhausted from the excessive driving from last week and his regular driving to and from the job—about 350 miles round trip each week. We arrived at Nana’s about 8:30 and found her doing very well. She is in great spirits and no pain and is performing well from chair to walker to wheelchair and back again. We’ve been here more than twenty four hours and for almost three hours she entertained the health car agency representatives while they completed paper work and asked her questions. God provided a sweet lady to stay night and day with Nana for one week. Then Muffin will return to help them reassess her needs. Muffin grocery shopped and cut up a watermelon for us to share with her for the week. I did laundry, scrubbed her bathrooms, especially the toilets, and went back to the store to fetch a few things that were missed. I sliced food into daily portions and washed fresh fruit and chilled water for her for the week. Muffin’s sister and the kids came by for the agency visit and stayed to share about the upcoming vacation to Grand Canyon, Kings’ Canyon, Sequoia, and Yosemite National Parks. They leave tomorrow morning. All of us are very thankful for God's provision for Nana and praying for complete and quick recovery for her.

Giving

2010-07-19T00:06:00.000-05:00

Thursday the studio performing group, which has no name but really needs one, gave away our gift of music to residents at a nursing home, a retirement center, and a church.

Our program:

Folksy Fiddlin’

Macy B, Christian K, Mattie S

Yankee Doodle…..Arr. McMichael

Ashokan Farewell..…Ungar/Mason, arr. McGlaun

Fantomen....... Arr. McLean

Little Fandango…….McLean

Orange Blossom Special.....Rouse

*Solos: Macy B…German Dance…von Dittersdorf

Mattie S…Humoresque…Dvorak

At the nursing home we had a piano, so I accompanied the group. We had a broken, bent music stand incident, but I keep two yoga mats and two music stands in the trunk of my car. In case you were wondering I actually use the two yoga mats more than the stands. Most of the places where I play there are music stands in place.

Anyway, after performing at the nursing home the residents, many of them in wheelchairs, wanted to thank the students personally. One of them, a fastidiously groomed lady wearing pink from collar to ankle, told me she hadn’t heard Humoresque in 10,000 years and it made her feel like she was in a wonderful dream. That’s why we go to these places and play these programs.

When we arrived at the nearby retirement center forty-five minutes later I was expecting to perform in a large room, which is almost a mini auditorium with a grand piano. However, the program director was on vacation and had failed to leave instructions or to even put us on the calendar. So…

We improvised by asking to play luncheon music in the dining room. We set up along a wall, taking care to keep the stand legs out of the way and moving all the cases and bags away from potential disaster with a resident with a walker or cane. What I haven’t mentioned yet, is that my Mom, The Nannie, came along for the performances. She enjoyed chatting with the program director at the nursing facility, and at the retirement center decided to sit in the foyer just outside the dining room door out of the way. Well, a resident sat beside her and complained loudly about us for twenty minutes—the duration of the program. She called us beginners, said we were “right in the way of ther table”, and that we were way too loud for the dining room. Then she went on to get really nasty from there. At the end of the program she told Nannie that her house burned to the ground, she lost everything that she owned and her children asked her to come to the center, but her money is running out. Bless her heart, no wonder she has a bad attitude. I pray that she can find joy and receive abundantly from the Father who provides abundantly for His children.

Moving on to First Nazarene Church for the senior citizens monthly covered dish, Christian K was providing some drama. His character was Starving Teenager. Thankfully they let us eat right away and it was delicious food! Homemade bread, fried chicken, beef fingers, King Ranch Chicken, fresh vegetables, macaroni and cheese, and lots and lots of pie and cake. By the time we performed we were very happy musicians indeed.

Teaching

2010-07-16T11:19:00.000-05:00

Not much happening in the studio in July and August. These three teenage turkeys showed up to rehearse for a day of performances though. They asked if I would be photographing their faces. "No", I said. "Your knees."

Knees are such a lovely part of our anatomy. Even Scooter is impressed.

These two brothers had the audacity to grow inches and inches over the past few months, outgrew their violins and needed new ones. The new ones, of course, needed markings--little narrow tapes for finger placement. I use racing stripe tapes in three colors from the auto store. It's sticky, pretty, and narrow enough to keep little fingers fairly accurately in tune. T is very proud of his new violin!

B, his brother, got his new violin and finger tapes two weeks ago. He decided to cheese for the camera at the very last minute.

One day of teaching, five students, about an hour and forty five minutes, lots of repetition, lots of encouragement, lots of attention to bow strokes and intonation and dynamics and especially to ensemble playing, a few minutes of tuning and sticky tapes and peeling backing off the adhesive, and then a visit from a cellist who came by to get a gig folder. An afternoon of satisfaction and blessing--priceless!

Sweet Gracie Girl

2010-07-16T10:56:00.000-05:00

Thank you, God, for the music she adds to our lives.

And thanks so much for the activity and charm and joy!

Thank you for these two wonderful years of beauty and wonder and blessing in this package of sweetness with curly hair and lovable innocence.

Gracie is two years old!

Grandparenting

2010-07-16T10:45:00.000-05:00

Last weekend we were having fun. Lots of fun. We were with the Rowdy Family. Friday was a rainy day and characterized by too much cabin fever and too many indoor activities. Saturday was beautiful.

The girls woke up declaring, " Saturday! Let's go to Trudy's!" So, of course we did.

Roo was already ordering in the car on the way--bacon, eggs, bacon, migas, bacon, waffles, bacon and "yellow" (lemon bars), and bacon. She also discovered Tres Leches Cake. After three pieces of bacon, migas, eggs, waffles, and some pineapple.

Em was quietly eating even more than Roo. The Kona coffee was excellent!

We took advantage of a playground near the Apple store. Roo like the giant armadillo. Em was cozy with the butterfly bench.

And the fountain.

Both Em and Roo were quite taken with the kids station at the Apple store. Dr. Seuss and Photo Booth were the big hits. And Marmee got a new adapter and connecter.

Love these sweet times together!

The Projects

2010-07-12T15:22:00.000-05:00

Most of our visits to see Mike and Joy in Washington, DC have concurred with them working. We find plenty to keep us busy by visiting museums at those times and meet them for lunch and dinner. Now that they own a house all is different. Our latest visit was also on a holiday. We loved being with them more and kicking back with them in their basement in front of the TV or sitting on their porch drinking coffee or eating dinner, watching as the neighborhood families and American University students walked past us.

It was also exciting to be able to help them a little with the 70 year old house and its needs.

Furniture was assembled.

New numbers were installed at the front door.

A new chandelier was installed in the dining room.

Old energy inefficient lights were exchanged for new energy efficient ones. A dimmer switch was installed. New outside security lighting was installed. Herbs were planted. A new doorbell was installed.

And, I think I can successfully report that a good time was had by all. Especially after a good night's sleep and viewing the accomplishments by the light of a new day. Thanks be to God for His blessings on this new home, on this old neighborhood, on those who live there and visit there. May His peace inhabit all its rooms for as long as it stands.

I want 38 more!

2010-07-11T23:25:00.000-05:00

This cute fellow walked down the aisle and waited for me to walk to him and say "I will" and "I do" thirty eight years ago on July 8. I tried to post that day, but we were in a hotel and the connection would not cooperate fully so I waited to do this at home.

Muffin needed to work in San Antonio for a couple of days when we returned from Washington, DC and I was very happy to tag along. At noon on July 8 we stumbled onto a little German style bakery, Nadler's, where the sandwiches are toasted and made with freshly baked bread and there are more than one hundred kinds of cookies, cakes and pastries.

That rainy afternoon as I was playing with my Mac and reading a little I had a brilliant idea: email Big Mama and ask for recommendations for great restaurants we probably hadn't tried in San Antonio. She returned my email and made four or five great suggestions. We ruled out Mi Tierra, just because we had been there. I went online and checked menus and directions and we had a winner--Paloma Blanca.

As we waited to be seated it was raining a little and we were seated inside with salsa and the most amazing tortillas chips to munch. The art, wall hangings, paintings, mosaics, pottery, and jewelry was quite pleasant to look at too.

We were promptly seated on the patio near the fountain and penta plantings. Muffin ate chile rellenos stuffed with shrimp. I had tilapia with cabbage, tomatoes, and avocado slices on delicious lightly crisped flour tortillas. The guacamole was outstanding and the ambience was perfect.

After dinner we shopped and browsed at Central Market which was nearby.

I want thirty eight more years with this man!

Happy Independence Day!

2010-07-08T14:37:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Villa Varrone! The new home of Joy and Mike.

The church across the street from their new house is a lovely Episcopal church. We enjoyed the 5 pm service there this evening. The parishioners are mostly from the neighborhood and seem to have invested their lives in this church. Last night we sat on the screened in porch with Joy and Mike and enjoyed hamburgers cooked on their new grill while guests and family attending a wedding lit sparklers on the church steps.

Our boys, eating burgers made with beef and bison. Beeson Burgers? Bifson? Bife Burgers?

This DC neighborhood is cool. We walked to a local restaurant for lunch yesterday and ate on the patio.

Joy just walked to Whole Foods Market for corn to grill this evening. Muffin walked to the Market earlier for Worchestershire sauce. This morning there was a power outage for about two hours. It happened just as Muffin started the coffee maker, so he and Mike walked to Starbucks, which was on the side of the street with electricity, and brought coffee to Joy and me. :)

Tonight we're walking to Fort Reno, highest point in DC, to watch the fireworks over the Washington Monument.

Fun on Saddle Ridge Range

2010-06-27T23:50:00.001-05:00

Every year our church has Good News Neighborhood Club in June. That's code for Vacation Bible School. This isn't just Bible School; it's a production of enormous proportions. An army of volunteers begins canvassing the neighborhood in May, leaving information at homes and apartments in our south downtown area. Our church is located almost adjacent to the railroad, which historically was a great place to be. In recent years the population has moved "out," as is the case with most cities. The older houses and apartments in the downtown area are now considered "inner city" and "economically depressed areas". Our city is an IRC city--International Refugee Committee. I write all that as explanation of what the "neighborhood" means.

So after the canvassing, much prayer and preparation, the week long event starts. Our Children's Director--Mr. Guy--is a gift from God. He loves, loves, loves these kids and their families. He loves our church kids and their families. He prays. He walks door to door. He cleans up. He does it all. This year he partnered with The Mission, a church that ministers directly to the homeless and street people, to get their children to GNNC. There were vans, a bus, vans from The Mission, and private cars. And horses.

OK. That had nothing to do with transportation and everything to do with the theme which was Western, curriculum by Lifeway. Each evening the children ages K-5th grade arrived and were fed a complete, nutritious meal. Since I taught two days and went out of town one day I volunteered on Wednesday only. The meal, cooked by a small army of kitchen help, was spaghetti with meat sauce, salad, and breadsticks. Delicious! Three of the six white horses from a local university came to visit one evening. PE specialists planned activities in the gym each evening and each class had a turn with them. Bill and Sandy and their sidekick, Ginger, served up great music with lots of appropriate motions to help them remember the lyrics all summer. Artsy-crafty people had projects planned each evening. You should have seen that room! Beads, glue, markers, sticky foam, photographs, boxes, paper, bookmarks, craft sticks--organized and disorganized sticky fun everywhere. The story room was a campfire (flashlight, paper, fan) with bales of hay and glowing stars overhead. Many lessons were shared by the firelight. Each evening wrapped up with more songs in the gym.

At the end of the week statistics don't lie. Over 300 people were fed on family night. An average of 155 children attended each evening. And twelve little children gave their hearts to Jesus! Seventy seven new, first time attendees will have new Bibles delivered to them personally at home by Mr. Guy and Pastor David.

All photos in this post by Greg Kendall-Ball of the Abilene Reporter News.

Quiet Day of Culture

2010-06-26T23:23:00.000-05:00

Today was a quiet day. Muffin got new shoes for his car and did a little grocery shopping in the down time. I did a little laundry. We had a very effective Body Flow class and afterward went downtown to view an exhibit we had been wanting to see since May. The image above is the advertising image from the show, titled "On the Trail with Ansel Adams and Georgia O'Keeffe." The description of the exhibit reads, "The album was produced by Adams after his 1938 trip to Yosemite with his close friends Georgia O'Keeffe, David McAlpin, and Helen and Godfrey Rockefeller. Adams documented the trip with landscape photographs of key locations along the route through the High Sierra and included remarkable portraits of his illustrious camping companions and the outfitters who guided their trip." This is the show that inspired the new work by Dave Brubeck.

My favorite exhibit of the three we saw was this one by George Tobolowsky. We were amazed that the second floor of the museum would hold the weight of all the steel in the artists very ambitious works. The museum is an historic hotel downtown near the railroad where my Daddy's barber shop resided between the Coffee Shop and Western Union. Here is the advertising description of the exhibit:
In 2004, Dallas artist George Tobolowsky began seriously scouring scrap yards and realizing his dream of a second career as an artist. Soon, he was spending his nights and weekends welding in his sculpture studio in Mountain Springs, Texas. Rusted industrial cast-offs are transformed and testify to Tobolowsky's keen eye for balance and love of undulating rhythms. In acknowledgement to his day job as a successful entrepreneur, his artwork frequently bears decidedly "corporate" titles, such as The Auditors, or Dealbreaker.

This one is titled "Working Woman Two" I even like the shadows.

One of the smaller works.

All I need is money and this could be mine. I would put it in my music room and let its extraordinary energy fuel my violin students.

Third exhibit, in the main gallery is titled "Drawing on the Past". Here is the description:

Collections and exhibitions of Texas art typically focus on a particular artist or groups of artists, subject matter, medium, region, style, decade or era. With the stated purpose of collecting Texas art that resonates with the ever-evolving story of Texas, Bobbie and John L. Nau III of Houston have amassed a broad and diverse collection in the short span of only seven years. Their extensive collection includes more than 700 paintings and works on paper dating from the mid-nineteenth century through the first decade of the twenty-first century. This inclusive approach to collecting and their desire to share their collection for education and research affords a unique opportunity to examine strong crosscurrents between early trailblazers in the arts in Texas and the talented artists they taught, inspired and mentored in subsequent generations.Drawing on the Past: Selections from the Bobbie and John Nau Collection of Texas Art brings together important examples of Texas art created during the last 150 years, documenting the continuing tradition of personalized visions of the Texas experience.

This evening we attended a performance of this musical at our historic Paramount Theater--the auditorium with the twinkling stars and floating clouds in the ceiling. The performers were highly energetic, well trained singers and actors who were all local residents. The show itself is hilarious and audience interaction was abundant tonight. My favorite song of the show is Olive's lament about her friend The Dictionary.

Exiting the theater we saw old friends and former neighbors--always a bonus of living in a small town. Leaving the downtown area the beautiful full moon low in the Eastern sky illuminated the sparse clouds on the horizon. Life is good.

Father's Day Weekend 2010

2010-06-26T00:26:00.000-05:00

Last weekend JB, the Rowdy Girls Daddy, was on a fun trip, so CB, their Momma, packed up the RG's and the black and white dogs and came for a visit. And the Fabulous Aunt Kaki also packed up and came for a visit. Good times were had by all!

On Friday, before Aunt Kaki arrived, we spent some time at a nearby park with the unique Fort Imagination Playground. Roo loved the pretend airplane and claimed she was flying high in the air. The pilot's seat was hers almost the entire time we were at the playground.

Em claimed the jump seat on the back. She was fairly certain that the tail was a mini slide.

Soon Em grabbed Grandpa to climb the "castle" otherwise known as the fort.

She enjoyed the slide. Again, and again, and again, and agai..............

Forward. and drawkcaB.

Roo sat with Grandpa all through Sunday morning church. About three minutes before the preacher finished his sermon, she gathered her blanket and looked at Grandpa and very determinedly said "And all the people said, AMEN!" We never wonder when she is at her limit.

Grandpa surprised us with tickets for a matinee performance of Toy Story 3. It was totally awesome and left the adults crying sentimentally. Click on the link if you have a pre-school child who loves the
Toy Story characters.

The girls had fun with doll and character friends.

Emme made a new friend she calls Emmyjoy, but that's not her real name.

Last, and maybe best of all were wild spins in Dubbie's barber chair with Grandpa driving, Em riding in the seat, and Ruby riding the footrest. Marmee is the photographer.

Love you, girls!

Blogging Slump

2010-06-24T00:15:00.000-05:00

It bloggles my mind, all the business. It's summer, for cryin' out loud! Here is why I haven't blogged recently:
A wedding--for which I played with a pianist
Thirteen students coming for lessons
Guest Bible study teachers for Sozo class
Sozo ministry on two days
Pilates session once a week
Body Flow five times a week
Father's Day--shopping, lunch
Two Rowdy Girls
Two McGirls
One Muffin
VBS at church
A check up with the oral surgeon out of town
Soaking prayer once a week
Keeping my herbs alive
Laundry
Searching web sites for cool things to do in DC

That's most of it. The other reason is that it's very hot and all I want to do is eat cold watermelon.

Two Years into Eternity

2010-06-13T21:10:00.001-05:00

He entered heaven two years ago today.

But he lived life in the Kingdom every day.

I hope you are relaxing, praising the Lord in song, and fishing in the River of Life.

Miss you, Dear Dubbie.

Abigail

2010-06-05T22:37:00.000-05:00

Since she was a small child we have observed as she grew in wisdom, stature (she's really tall!) and in favor with God and with mankind. Now she is ready to soar, to fly like the Abilene High Eagle that she is, to leave her nest at home and with her extended family (us) and become who God calls her to be.

Today, along with 524 other graduates she is no longer a high school student, but is a college freshman with a world ahead of her.

There were so many people attending that we sat on the top row of the collesium and were happy that we found a seat. Many people did not. You can see people standing at the railing in front of the second level and behind the first level seating. The parking lot was a giant mess with no police traffic detail anywhere, and many of the graduates, and most of their families and friends were stuck in the lot for an hour or more after the ceremony ended.

But I, also an AHS graduate, stayed until the school song was sung one last time, and until the drum line, begged by the audience, gave them THE BEAT.

Congratulations, Abigail!

I get around

2010-06-02T23:55:00.000-05:00

Three years ago today we were celebrating this wedding. Happy Anniversary, Joy & Mike! Muffin is spending the night with them in their new house tonight, crashing their anniversary. (Not really) He is on business nearby and took some of their previously stored wedding gifts to them.

While recovering from dental surgery 13 days ago I was able to go down the street to an open house for this cutie pie. She is the granddaughter of one of my very best friends, who went to heaven when she was only 40 years old. Her daughters are all grown up and have children who are almost as cute as my grandchildren. Here they are:

Mazie, on the left

Ava in the center Clara on the right.

I wrote an article about the girl on the left, Jenny. She is performing on a piano team. Big concert coming up. I rehearsed with one of the pianists yesterday. Hopefully the article will run in the local newspaper in a couple of days.

Muffin and I were here, in Minneapolis, MN, over the weekend at a conference for Suzuki music teachers. Good friends, good speakers, good exhibits, good music, and good sessions! More about this in a later post.

Thank you for your service

2010-05-31T23:18:00.000-05:00

Randall McGlaun

September 19, 1923- March 14, 1999

W. L. "Dub" Allen

December 16, 1919-June 13, 2008

The Tooth Story

2010-05-23T14:37:00.000-05:00

I had dental surgery three days ago. Here's the backstory.

Growing up I had no dental problems at all, except that a couple of teeth were "cosmetically misaligned", or crooked. And my permanent molars did not form enamel all the way into the crowns, leaving deep pits. These days kids get sealant and finish the enamel process without cavities. I got fillings. So, that was the end of the story. My wisdom teeth were so impacted that they never moved. Until 1974 when I noticed some swelling and pain. But, in a church service during that time a pastor had a word of knowledge, a supernatural source of information, that someone in the audience had a "problem in the jaw that God was healing". I felt something moving in my lower jaws and had no further symptoms from the wisdom teeth. Future x-rays revealed that I had no upper wisdom teeth at all and that the lower ones were totally impacted and not going anywhere.

Until late 2009. I began to feel an odd sensation in the molar adjacent to the right lower wisdom tooth. Felt like a little sharp pain every 2-3 days. My dentist check it, thought it had all the symptoms of a crack and felt that the old filling had caused the crack. Before Christmas he replaced the filling, but found no crack and no other evidence of a problem. After Christmas I began to notice some swelling in the gum area--no pain. Then more swelling and a little pain. Then it stopped. At my last dental check up a wisdom tooth had partially surfaced. I saw a surgeon May 13 and the news was stunning: Wisdom tooth had moved toward the molar, causing a cyst, molar damage, bone damage and loss, and possible infection. Surgery was scheduled for May 21 to remove both teeth and do a biopsy.

I drove to Muffin's apartment Thursday evening and ate "my last meal"--at Fuddruckers, my choice. I began the rinsing routine earlier in the week to fight infection and filled a prescription of penicillin. Friday morning, after some intense prayer for my condition went down on Wednesday morning at Bible study, I asked for one more x-ray, fully expecting a miracle healing. No change was obvious. I tried to not be disappointed. Surgery commenced.

I have a low tolerance to pain meds and to anesthesia. I vaguely remember being told again and again to take deep breaths. I heard them tell Muffin that it surely didn't take much to accomplish what they intended. He also got the report that there was very little sign of infection (Yea, God!) and that the site of the biopsy would be the trickiest part to take care of. Back to his apartment for some recovery with ice packs and pain meds. Best part of that was the soaking music on my ipod that I pre-loaded for such an occasion. Cool water-no straw-Gatorade-no straw-water with antioxidants added-no straw-lots of gauze-tea bags to bite. Finally at 1:00 I woke enough to say 'Take me home' and we started back to our house, 3 hours away. I don't remember anything until Muffin helped me out of the driveway. I tried to sit up and look around, but I was zapped.

Yesterday was better. I was awake more and managed a few hours on half doses of pain meds. One of our daughters' dear friends was in town with her new baby, named for her grandmother who was one of my best friends and who went to heaven long before her girls graduated from high school. I wanted to see this darling baby so badly. The Open House for them was from 4-6 pm. At 3:30 I took half a pain pill and promptly went to sleep. At 5:30 Muffin woke me and I dressed more presentably and we went down the street for the last 30 minutes. It was so totally worth it.

Last night was the worst of the pain and today I feel more normal, although the swelling is at its peak. I ate some Kashi soaked in soy milk with mashed blueberries. Yum! So much better than pureed chicken soup. Back to the apartment tonight. Check up at 7 a.m. tomorrow, then I get to drive the car home, recover some more, and hopefully transition to Tylenol.

Bottom line is that I know the Holy Spirit did His own surgery in my mouth and jaws. I've been asked who removed my upper wisdom teeth, so there must be evidence of "surgery" there. God did it! And the expectation for the site on Friday morning was grim--more infection, more bone loss, etc. I'm looking forward to the visit in the morning for a full report. God is the best surgeon there is, although I really appreciate Dr. Dugan and his wonderful staff.

Pslm 81:10

I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

Violin Teacher Perks

2010-05-22T14:49:00.000-05:00

I am many things to many people: even a blue and red petaled flower!

Mozart and Bach hang out with me in my studio, poised to practice and compose on their pianos.

Many gifts from special people find their way to my Grandmommy's antique oak shelves on the wall of the studio. Each of these represents a dear student, friend, or family member at a special moment in time.

More special memories.

I ring these bells as reminders of specific techniques, or as a breach of technique. It's like a game, however, not a punishment. The various thumb operated characters are also technique illustrators. The lamb on the left and the tiger can take a bow, bending their heads down, and curve their tails, like a curved pinky finger on the bow hand. The butterfly can soften and collapse, like a soft bow hand, and the sheep on the right winds up and hops--I use it as a timer for specific repetitions of technique.

My latest gift from students. Even my garden has "violin" music!