My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord...

"Hope…our first Sunday in the season of Advent. Hope means to expect, trust, anticipate, wish or look forward to. It means optimism, and faith. For the past few months, I have gone to sleep and awoken to the last chorus we sang today. “My Soul”. It is from God’s Word, the first two lines from “Mary’s Song” found in Luke 1:46 & 47 (KJV). I know that the Advent season is about the birth of Christ, not about Mary. However, without Mary…let’s take a look at her story:

Luke 1:26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom, there shall be no end.
34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God…
...38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;
40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

Mary showed great faith in her obedience to bear God’s One and Only Son. Mary conceived and carried and bore the Hope of this world. The Hope of that generation, the Hope of every generation since; and the Hope of all future generations.

The birth of Christ brings Hope…and Light to a lost and dying world. As we light the first candle in the Advent Wreath this morning, let us remember that the Hope of Christ in our lives begins with obedience and faith."

This is what I am saying in church tomorrow...the first Sunday of Advent. Yes, our church remembers the old tradition. And we remember with great joy and and anticipation.

Although I am actually a creature of change...it energizes me...I love tradition. And Advent is an old Protestant tradition...Catholic...Lutheran...and Assemblies of God, when they choose. And we choose. Our fellow worshipers look forward to the "speeches", the lighting of the candle and the sermons that offer Hope, Love, Joy and Peace for their souls. Sometimes, for their weary souls. We are in the first days of, for some; a very difficult season. It's depressing, overwhelming. Lonely. And it can make a soul weary.

We try to reach out during this time; and for many in our little country church, this tradition brings comfort. Kind of like chocolate or mashed potatoes and gravy. Or spaghetti and ketchup. Hey...don't grimace at me...try it, you might like it.

Anyway...here we are, once again offering comfort and HOPE...encouragement and LOVE...fellowship and JOY...prayer and PEACE.

Have a blessed season...find hope in His birth...love in His life...joy in His fellowship...and peace in His Salvation.

The Bigger Picture...

...and I am not talking about photography. I'm talking about life. OOO...deep.

Let me begin by going back in time a couple of weeks. November 4. (Oh, sorry, this isn't about politics, either.) Chief and I travelled back home from Virginia this day. We arrived home around 5:15 p.m. Around 6:00 p.m. I got a headache. A BAD headache. Worse than any I have ever had. Ever. And for those of you who know me, know that I suffer (and I do not use that word lightly) with migraines. This was worse. I went to bed at 7:30 p.m.

WHEW...I was better in the morning. Then, another hit Wednesday night. This one was worse, the throbbing...pulsing.

So, the next morning, I thought, "I should get some fresh air...maybe a walk would help." I was one block from the house, then it took me 15 minutes to get back to my front door and into a chair. It subsided, then full force around 3:00, subsided; then I slept in the chair that night. In the morning, I called Doc.

I thought it was my blood pressure and I was a little scared I was going to have a stroke. I got another one as I was walking into the hospital doors, so I had to sit in the foyer until I had the strength and I could reason for about 10 minutes. Doc was wonderful, no waiting, she took me right in. Blood pressure was actually not that bad. 148/80. So, let's give me a pain killer and a muscle relaxer and see if that helps. Wait...let's do one other test really quick "just to check something".

Test reveals a BAD bladder infection (I had no idea...I must be a part of that 5%), so I get some antibiotics...enough to take care of that infection and more in case I have a bad sinus infection. Let's just try that. Okay.

I missed Ladies Bible Study on Saturday because I had the nerve to get dressed (I had to bend down to pull up my pants) and I could barely get down the stairs. Thanks Sis for taking over for me and setting up everything!

I missed church on Sunday because I could barely get out of bed. When I did, I; again, had the nerve to take a shower (bending my head down to wash my hair) and ended up in the chair all day.

The culmination was a trip to the ER Nov 11. The morning was terrible...I cannot really describe it. I actually could not get BFF's Dad out of my thoughts. I was so sick...I felt I kind of had an understanding of his pain that night. I'm sorry. I thought that if I ended up in the bathroom, I was going to die. Chief finally came home, and I ended up in the bathroom. I could only cry...and mumble...and then follow Chief out the door to the ER. They helped me...3 different meds and 4 hours later, I was on my way home, hazy, but better for having been there.

So...there's a BIGGER picture? Yes there is. These were MY headaches. They didn't really effect anyone else but me. They didn't cause wonderment or sorrow or grief to anyone other than myself. But, still, my poor Chief endured all my complaining, all my crying, all my selfishness; and then...

On Friday night, November 14, Chief got a phone call from a man in our church. His wife had gone shopping that afternoon with her daughter and two grandbabies (3 years old and 4 months). She was struck in a mall parking lot by a run-a-way vehicle. She died from her injuries in the ER. She was a friend. She was a wonderful, sweet lady. 46 years old. The 3 year old was in ICU in critical condition. Her daughter and the baby were treated and released. My friend was a wonderful Mom, Wife and Grandmother.

It was a freak accident. A tragic, freak accident.

So, what did I REALLY have to complain about? Okay...seriously, I know the pain I was experiencing was pain, and it effected me, but; "this, too, shall pass". My tiny, little world, this miniscule painful blot in my life could not match this one, single event. It brought some things into clearer view. Time to remove myself from the self-pity rant and get back on track to what's real: why I am really here...to reach out and comfort and encourage my fellow "travellers".

It's not a "bad" thing to focus on our own pain, but there comes a time when we need to stop complaining and look at the bigger picture, and where we are in that picture. For the last 20 days, I have not had a day end without a headache. But, I know it's getting better. I know I can wake up in the morning to my family and my friends. I am blessed, and I need to remember that and live like I am blessed!

So, here it is:

"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." Philippians 2:1-4

In this life, I am nothing and I am everything. And I am grateful for this journey, headaches and all; that I can help any person in need and that I can believe with all my heart that all of mankind is worthy of comfort and encouragement.

I am going to miss my friend.

It Was Unseasonably Warm...

Okay, so I am taking pictures most every day. I REALLY need to get out more.

I took this one on Monday...October 13...that's right, OCTOBER. Over the weekend, it was in the 80's. Poor little stick must have thought it was spring, so it bloomed! It is beautiful...and this is my favorite flower of all...in case you didn't know that already.

Not only this, but...

A while ago, Chief brought home these small Maple Tree twigs. He potted them and they were doing pretty well. They grew to be about 6 inches tall. Then he put them on the patio, and the rabbits thought they were cute, too. So they ate them. We had two pots. He gave one to my Mom, and put the other one by the back patio door. Guess what...

Cooooooollll.

A Picture is Worth...

PhotoMom and her sister challenged each other last month to take photographs every day in the month of September and then post the best photo each day so they could take a gander and maybe critique the photo, in the hopes of honing their gift. "A photo a day in September". A grand idea...and I am stealing it. :~) Except that it is now 7 days into October, I will have to begin today and end...well, I guess I don't really have to end it, do I??

It does seem that everyone and their brother is taking pictures these days. Oh, I don't mean a snapshot...I mean photographs. Finding the beauty in every day life...rather haphazardly clicking the button and finding incredibly beautiful photographs by chance. I LOVE that!

My father (yes, the one I NEVER talk about) was a photographer. Probably one of the maybe THREE things he ever did that was good in his life. Anyway...he was really good at it. I remember when I was a little girl, he taught a 4-H class (remember 4-H club??) on photography and I was enthralled by all of it. The camera, the film, the Polaroid picture...you could see the picture in MINUTES after taking it! Funny ha-ha.

It was more than that. It was the image. What you saw through the view-finder...the lens...you "captured" it forever. And for real. "The camera doesn't lie". Amen to that. It sees the reality of life. The rarity. The imperfections. The raw beauty. And it doesn't matter if it's black and white or color...it's there. All of it.

So, maybe I will be walking around with a camera around my neck for the next month or so. Photomam took lots of pics of Z-man and Flower...I think I will be out there in the world, capturing nature.

Here are a couple I took just this morning...at 6:45 a.m. It sure was beautiful to the naked eye...and this is one of those times when "a picture just couldn't do it justice". I guess that's the whole purpose of the excersise...to hone the gift. If it is a gift...


Sunrise one and two:

This is a Weird Post...

Well...hello there! How are you? Me? I'm fine. No really. I'm fine!

It's September. Another year has gone by and I hardly noticed. I barely had a chance to blink. (Oh, I know it's not the beginning of a new year, per se, I still view life throught the eyes of a teacher...the new year begins in September.) So many activities. Where DID that time go? Weddings, showers, vacations, get-together barbeques, new minstry opportunities, blah, blah, blah.

Now it's time to hunker-down and get to work. In my house. In my Ministry. In my hobbies. In my life. What do I want to see different in my life from last year? Well, every year for MANY years, I have answered this question with these words:

I want to simplify my life.

I have never quite accomplished that goal. Maybe it's because I can't define "simplify". Maybe it's because I can't "let go" of things...like control or old knick-knacks. What in the WORLD do I need to do to get this ONE THING done?!!?!?

Excuse me...what? What did you say? Prioritize? What does that even mean? Okay...I'll stop with the sarcasm. For a minute.

I do need to choose something. Something that will help me be a better person. A better wife. A better friend. A better Mom. Daughter...Sister...Aunt. A better...well, just better. Something that will help me grow. Relax. (Oh wait, I have already retired, so relaxing is like an every day occurance...sorry.) Something, then, that will keep my mind nimble. My head clear. My hands from becoming idle. I want to keep my eyes sharp...I want to dig deeply. I want to keep my heart full...I want to have a vision.

So, I pick...oh my word...I have no clue. What I want does not line up with SIMPLIFY. Well, then... here MAY BE what I am looking for:

I am looking for:

Something that is
Interesting and
Meaningful.
Pleasant; and can make me
Laugh once in awhile. Something that's
Intriguing, yet
Fun. And can help me stay and feel
Young.

Cool. Now, I just need to find it.

I Like it...I Like it a Lot!

So, I thought it was time for a new look. It's been, what, 4 or 5 months since I've changed the face of my blog...an eternity in blogger-land! And I DO wait a very long time between blogs...so I have been told. I changed the template about thirty times until I liked what I saw...simple and just the right green. My fave, you know.

Then I changed my title element. The picture. I played with it a little...then I adjusted the tone...then I placed it OVER my title and description. Hmmm...now no one will know "where they are". No title. Then it was back to make a copy of the picture, bring it up in the Navigator, and "oh cool, I can add text" lightbulb...and VOILA...a new title element! I like it. I like it a lot.

Still...this in not the REAL reason I am blogging today. Of course it's not! See the new picture? That's right...that's why.

What a beautiful day Rachigga and Prince Charming had for their wedding day! It WAS B-E-A-U-TIFUL! the weather was perfect...the Bride was perfect...the Groom was perfect. It was the perfect story-book wedding day. Seriously. It was touching and funny and precious and awesome. It was...amazing. Chief looked especially handsome in those Chief Dress Chokers and her girls were stunning and comfortable. The girls are like MY girls. I love them all dearly. The guys...well...let me just say I was never more impressed with a group of groomsmen. They were respectful and an absolute riot to be around! We laughed and joked and really had a great time with all of them. Thanks guys! Z-man...Flower...Beautiful...New York...Bright Eyes...amazingly well behaved and obviously proud and happy to share in the celebration!

My babies are now all married with babies of their own. All married. Weird. All over 21. All with spouses and children. Spouses. And children. Man...I am LOVING this.

Really? No...REALLY! I am so very proud of my children. Their lives. The people whom they have chosen to live with forever. Their love for their children. Their maturity. Their understanding. Their camaraderie. The love they ALL share for their precious Savior...a common thread many families cannot say they share...altogether. We all share much the same goals in life...all of us...and we do not have difficulty with one another if the implementation of those goals differ from time to time. Our "differences" make us a stronger family. We are protective of one another...and still do not stand in the way of one another. It's almost scary how dysfunctionally functional we are! I think I may need to look that up...can I use those two word in a sentence NEXT to one another?? HMMMMM....

I love US! This family...no matter how far we physically move from each other...is close. And we like it that way. Look at their faces. Smiling...not just for the camera...because they WANTED to be smiling. It was a smiley day! And beautiful...inside AND out. Happy and content. Inside AND out. It makes THIS Oma very proud...very proud indeed.

Here is Rachigga and her awesome photographer...HEY that's STEVIE! (yes...I said it.)

Isn't she beautiful?

A New Couple...

Brother and Sisters...

Moms and Dad...

Precious...

The most beautiful Flowergirl dresses EVER...thanks BFF!!

Little Man...Z-man!

Slow dancing Flower...

Just because I thought this was ADORABLE!

A New Family...

"I'd rather have a minute of something wonderful than a lifetime of nothing special."

I ran into an old friend today. Well, I didn't actually RUN INTO her, we met each other in an aisle at Hobby Lobby...and she's really not old...per se...anyway...

She looks incredible. Her hair is growing back all curly and her face was beaming with joy. She shared some things with me in that aisle that caused me to ponder a little about life. Because hers could have been cut short. Because hers has been filled with much turmoil and sacrifice. Because hers is lived in the present...in the "now" so to speak. And there she was, in the middle of one of my fave places, telling me about how awesome God has been to her these last 10 years. Telling me about scripture that God gave to her personally, June 2, 1998. About how on June 2, 2008...10 long years later, that same scripture just happened to be her devotion for that day. How she couldn't have ever fathomed in her wildest imagination that God would have brought her full circle. To remind her of His sovereign will for her life. To remind her that He is in control. To remind her she need not worry...or fret...or wonder EVER if He loved her and had her life in the very center of His hands.

It was wonderful to see her. Beaming with joy. And that just caused me to ponder...to remind ME.

(From which movie will you hear my title?)

18 Days...But Who's Counting?

"Tomorrow was a lifetime away, now suddenly it's here.

How did it happen so quickly? This wedding drawing near.

How can I act so happy? How can I act so gay?

When in such a very short time, I'll give my daughter away.

I wish I could grasp a moment, and make the clock stand still

So I could let my heart catch up, but I know it never will.

All the worries of being a parent, all the battles won,

No one ever warned me about the day the job is done.

Yet, there is another side, where my heart is not as sad.

When I look in my daughter's eyes, I can't help but be joyful and glad.

This day she has dreamt about, for just about all her life.

She's going to be such a beautiful bride and a loving, caring wife.

I'll stand with the congregation as my daughter walks down the aisle

And even though there are tears in my eyes, my face will bear a smile.

For I know that I was very blessed when God lent this child to me,

To love and care for and nurture, so she would grow up to be

This lovely, bright young woman, who tomorrow will be a bride;

And as always I will be there, with love, at my daughter's side." ~~Linda Jo

Okay...so the wedding is still about three weeks out. And there is much to do. Still...there's time. I found this poem online on a fluke, and I was touched by it's simplicity. Then, I realized, I could have written it myself.

You know the wedding is not about the Groom (sorry, Prince Charming), or the Bridesmaids. It's not about the flowers or the food or the dancing. And it's not about the Mom. It's about the Bride. And it's about her Dad. Seriously. You do not hear the words "oh, this is going to be so difficult for her Mom...letting her go." You hear that about her Dad. How when it's his cue to "give" her to her intended, he clutches her arm a little tighter and then releases her ever so reluctantly. How hard it is on Dad. Letting go...his little girl.

There's the father and his baby girl, standing at the opening of the church sanctuary, waiting for their cue; then, he's walking his daughter down the aisle...all eyes are on her...as they SHOULD be...and everyone watches and murmurs how beautiful she looks, how breathtakingly beautiful, and they all wonder how Dad can keep his composure.

"Who gives this woman to be with this man?"

"Her mother and I do," he proudly states. (How precious that he would include the woman who birthed her!)

The father walks her down the aisle...the father gives her away...and of course, there's the infamous father-daughter dance.

It's not about the Mom. It's like...there IS no Mom. Not on THIS day.

Well let me tell you all something. There is a Mom. A Mom who is more than willing to watch from a pew...to light an unseen candle...to pray an unspoken prayer...to wait about two full days before she crys uncontrollably that she just watched her baby...her last child...marry the man of her dreams. A Mom who takes the call that there will be six more added at the last minute for the sit-down dinner. A Mom who stays up through the night praying everything and everyone is content. A Mom who would make four different lists of people attending the "wedding of the century". Who would spend hours making a guest book her baby could have just as easily bought in a store. Who would plan...and spend...and cry...and laugh...and love...and pray...all for one child.

A Mom who loves her baby more than her own life. The planning of this wedding has shown me one thing. I love my children. I love the people they have chosen to marry. To live with forever. To stand and tell their intended:

"From this day forward,
You shall not walk alone.
My heart will be your shelter,
And my arms will be your home."

I love you, Rachigga...and all I have to say is this:

I hope that DJ can play some really good dancing music...and bring on that cake! :~)

No Rest For the Weary...

It has been an incredibly busy few weeks...and there is no rest in sight. Seriously. I am up late because I can't sleep...I am exhausted, but I toss and turn...trying to force my eyes closed...force my mind to be silent. Not working. How long is this going to go on? I know it cannot last forever...but; it sure seems like it could. I just do not see the proverbial light at the end of this very LONG tunnel.

Sometimes...I really hate being a woman. I hate this whole change of life thing. Didn't Christ come to cover the sin? Shouldn't the curse of Eve have been irradicated? Wishful thinking, huh? Seriously, though. This, like, totally bites. :~)

Okay...a little graphic here...I will try to keep it mellow for the weaker mindset. Two weeks on...one week off. Four weeks on...one week off. And now we begin another cycle...exactly how long this time will last is beyond me. But I can tell you it is certainly frustrating me to no end. I just want to cry. No...weep. My sweet daughters...their response: poor Dad. Probably because I have said that I feel awful for him. I know that "lack of intimacy" frustrates him. And he has been fairly okay with that. Inside joke.

After I started yet ANOTHER cycle this afternoon...I no longer feel sorry for him. I just do not have the energy to feel guilty that...well...for lack of a better terminology...he's not getting any. I AM EXHAUSTED. I WANT TO CRY ALL THE TIME. I BLEED FOR DAYS AND DAYS ON END. I AM EXHAUSTED. (Did I say that already?) "You should go and see the doctor." "Isn't there something you can take for that?" Oh my word. I am REALLY trying to NOT be a nag...to NOT be (sorry) bitchy. To understand that this is not helping him with his...tension. I don't have time to see a doctor. I have a house to clean...laundry to do...grandkids to watch...worship to plan...food to buy...meals to cook...a bridal shower in a week...a "vacation" to go on...a wedding to organize. I am just a little busy right now. AND...I am behind on a couple of the most important things to do for the wedding! I have bills to pay...friends to see...prayers to pray...children to love...grandchildren to spoil...a husband to adore. I am just a little busy right now.

I so need writing. It is so theraputic. Isn't it? It just helps put things into perspective. Sometimes. I am still weepy...but I know that this too shall pass. I am on another cycle...but hopefully...prayerfully...it won't last as long as the last one. SO I probably won't get to go to the pool on vacation...but I will be with all my kids and three of my grandkids. My family is so very tolerant of me. I am still seriously tired. In my body...my mind...my spirit...in my bones. I don't know what I need. But, I do know that whining about it certainly won't keep it from happening.

And...I do so love my husband. He is quite patient...and kind...and he's "okay with that".

Your Love...

...is Extravagant. It means overgenerous...excessive. How incredibly extravagant God's love is for me...how overgenerous He is to me. Moving to the rhythm of His grace. One of my fave choruses. Photomom (do you like your new name??) and I were discussing this chorus the other day...which is the prompt for this blog.

"Your love is extravagant...Your friendship it is intimate.
I feel I'm moving to the rhythm of Your grace
Your fragrance is intoxicating in the secret place,
Cause Your love is extravagant
Spread wide in the arms of Christ is a love that covers sin.
No greater love have I ever known; You considered me Your friend...
You captured my heart again."

When I was the Music Ministry advisor at CLS, we did this song several times. We did it before I took that position. One day someone said to me that they really hated that song because it was so sexually suggestive. We were asked not to do the song again. We didn't. (Well...until our sound guy moved away and he picked it when he lead for his last chapel. Oops.) Then we never did it again. Because I was obedient. Period.

I am no longer in that position and this is still a chorus that moves me. It speaks to me. It's truthful. It's real. It's simple. God is all things to man. To woman. I do not see or hear the complete sexual connotation here. Our friendship with Christ is supposed to be more intimate than any other relationship in our lives. He is the Bride Groom...we our his Bride for crying out loud. That should bring you great joy. Pleasure...and not in a gutter-minded kind of way. We're talking about GOD! The Husband to the widow, the Father to the father-less. It's a promise. It's HIS promise. I want to be captured by Him. To be loved by Him. To be filled with Him.
My secret place is reserved only for Christ. His Holy Spirit. My Father in heaven. My closet...where I find peace and strength to meet each and everyday.

Why is the thought of it so taboo?? The choice of words? The way they are strung together? My mind is open here, people. Explain it to me. Why is the thought of intimacy reserved for physical pleasure alone? To know me intimately does not mean I have been physical with you. It means you know me...my heart...my mind...my deepest desires for my life, my family. You know my secrets. And no one can know me as Christ knows me. Ever. In any way. He knit me together in my mother's womb...how much more secret can you get than that? And if every word in God's Word is breathed by Him...then he wrote The Song of Songs. God IS a physical God. My God brings me joy...pleasure...complete and meant for me. Don't even get me started on the Fragrance of God! The Fragrance of the Holy Spirit. Intoxicating. Shouldn't it be??? Exciting...invigorating... stimulating...exhillarating...fascinating... enthralling. That's what our worship should be TO HIM! A sweet fragrance floating heavenward for His pleasure.

So, before we tear down a chorus because it doesn't meet the standards created by a few people, listen to it. Absorb it. Allow it to speak to you. If you don't like it...so be it. No biggie. I am a defender, right or wrong, to the writing of music that causes you to think...moves you to take some kind of action. Causes a stirring of the pot, so to speak. This is one that gets you discussing the awesome love of the Creator for His Creation and what that love means. I think the writer did his job quite well. The singer (Casting Crowns is the one I listen to) expresses it with feeling.

We will do this song in our little church in the Grove. Someday. Soon.

"Fouetté, Fouetté, Fouetté, Fouetté; then turn and sell it with a look..."

Here I am, itching to write something. ANYTHING. And I cannot think of one topic to start me off. Weird. The need to share and nothing in this brain to complete the task. So, maybe, I think to myself, if I just start typing, something will come to me. Something. Wait...wait...no. Not yet. Hmmm...then again...

Did you ever wonder why some people have the gift and others do not? Like writing...singing... speaking...teaching...whatever. Or dancing. That gift of movement. I'm not talking about clubbing...I'm talking about MOVEMENT...someone who dances with a grace that can touch me emotionally or spiritually. I do not have this gift. This talent. But...I love it. I cannot get enough of the visual aspect of the grace, the poise, the beauty. Ultimate in form and precision. Incredible in passion and in power.

Okay, I am going to (actually with no shame at all) admit that I am a "So You Think You Can Dance" fan. Or fanatic. Whatever. These dancers and choreographers MOVE me. Literally. I want to jump with them. Crunk with them. Pop with them. Swing with them. Arabesque...Brisé...Arrière. I can honestly say that although I LOVE all the styles I see portrayed on the show, I LOVE Contemporary. It's beautiful. It speaks to me. I can see the story. I can feel the energy, the passion, the power. And it is powerful. And passionate.

A little deeper, now. Watching these beautiful movements, for me, I find the same feeling I get when I am truly worshiping. No lie! Because worship is passion. It has it's own power, it's own beauty. When I am completely enveloped in the passion and power of worship...when I am near or in the Throne room...I am moved, touched, completely enthralled by what I see...by what I feel. I never want it to end.

It's a gift I perfect at every opportunity. I read about it...I teach on it...I practice it continually. My face is always longing to be in His Face! I can imagine it's that way for a dancer. The "high" of the "performance" is genuine. It's exhilarating. It causes my spirit to want more. To dig deeper.

What makes YOU excited? What challenges YOU to want more? What trips YOUR trigger, so to speak? This enquiring mind wants to know.

Now, my title is a quote...not from a MOVIE...but from a television show (appropriate considering a television show is what actually prompted this blog)...do you know which one? And, even better, if you DO know which one, do you remember which episode?? AAAHHH...the challenge of it all!

Happy Birthday Rachigga...

23 years ago today...at 9:00 in the morning, I gave birth to my beautiful Angel Girl. I have nicks for all my kids...Cheerios for the son, Baby Girl for our middle daughter (Happy) and, Angel Girl for Rachigga. (So...why not use THOSE nicks for this blog??? IDK...maybe because they are MY nicks for them and I don't want to share that with anyone.)

ANYWAY...my littlest...my youngest...my Angel Girl. Beautiful from the first moment I laid eyes on her...she absolutely captured my heart. She brought me incredible joy...still does.

I have included many pictures...mostly because I just uploaded so many for a DVD project they are fresh in my mind...trust me, there could be more, but I don't want to embarrass the poor girl!

Rachigga was a really awesome baby. Didn't cry much...seemed pretty content in her own little baby-world. Little did we know that my little Angel was NOT doing that well. When she was about 2 months old, my sis-in-law noticed she was really skinny and suggested we have her checked out "just because". So...we did. The doctor took one look at her tiny body and she was immediately concerned for this precious little baby. The results of the initial testing was grim...a potentially fatal liver condition. Her liver had simply stopped functioning. They warned us the rest of testing may bring more bad news. They took more blood and prepared it for a lab in Ohio. Chief and I were afraid, as most young parents would be. We could be on the cusp of losing our precious Angel Girl. We brought her to church and told PD right away. There was a Healing Ministry coming to our church that weekend "The Power Team", and when PD called Chief to bring Rachigga forward, their massive hands enveloped our tiny girl and healing began immediately. Those tests were sent out on Friday and the results were to be in on Monday. When we went in on Monday...a miracle...according to her Doctor. She was not going to die...she was in desperate need of calories and so I stopped nursing her and started her on formula. God healed my precious baby. Thus the nick...Angel Girl. She was guarded...protected, no doubt about it and we knew it. Even though there were consequenses to her inability to process calories right away, we knew she would be all right. Some physical therapy and the right formula and my Angel was back on track and growing and becoming the woman she is today. We know God has an incredible plan for this beautiful, young woman...a woman after His own heart!

Beautiful. Precious. Gifted. Understanding. Kind. Compassionate. Funny. Incredibly funny. One of the most Godly women I know. Her heart is as big as an ocean.

A wonderful Aunt.

A tender sister.

A perfect daughter.

A "forever" friend.

I love her incredibly and I am so excited for her to become a wife and a mother. Which she will be doing in exactly 84 days.

Happy Birthday, Angel Girl.

Happy Mother's day...TO ME!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Okay..this should PROBABLY be a Mother's Day post about my Mom. Sorry...it's about ME! I never really thought I was a GREAT Mom, but, let me tell you...my kids are GREAT parents! They all have GREAT kids! And I had the HONOR of keeping two of those grandkids overnight for the first time EVER!

It was a great Friday and Saturday. Z-man and Flower were funny and wonderful and a little whiney and beautiful and perfect all rolled into one! We watched two different episodes of "Wonder Pets" (This is sewweeeious!) four different times. And Little Bear and Dora and The Bee Movie. We had Mac and Cheese with Strawberries for dinner and waffles and strawberries for breakfast. We played outside and we laughed while they climbed and "fell" off the couches and they ran the "circle" of the house over and over and over...oh yeah, and we took naps. Funny. Zech really didn't take a "nap" per se (Saturday)...he stayed up in his room and played with his cars and sang...something...and then came downstairs and sat with me on the foot of the recliner couch for two hours while we watched Little Bear. He was quiet and quite comfortable. Opa snored on the couch! :~) Lily slept almost 4 hours. Then Mom and Dad came and took them home. It was an awesome treat for Mother's Day...who'd'a thunk???

Of course...we didn't take any pictures of ME with he kids...we always manage to FORGET to do that. We have lots with Opa, Oma is usually BEHIND the camera...oh well...enjoy!

Dig that crazy hair!

Coconut...one of my FAVES!

Don't let the title confuse you...this is not about food. Sorry :~)

Once in a while I get these "surveys' from well-meaning friends that ask the same questions that the LAST survey asked which was sent by the same well-meaning friends. Once in a while, one of the questions is: "What are you listening to right now?" Usually every one's answers are the same...music...the click-clack of my keyboard while I type...the kids in the other room...blah, blah, blah.

I am listening to my Myspace Standalone Player. On this particular player (I have three...for now) are songs from my childhood/teen years. The Eagles...The Archies...The Partrige Family...Jack Jones...The Mama's and the Papa's...Queen...Bobby Sherman...you should hear some of these oldies but goodies...if only for the nostalgia. You can check it out...I'll wait. http://www.myspace.com/jcsings4him

I am so wrapped up in music. I love it. I have written about music before, how it can soothe the mind and refresh the soul. I have a particularily eccentric taste in music. I love it all...mostly. Not too keen on banging my head for no apparent reason...seems painful to me.

Usually, when I write about how music moves me, I can apply some spiritual application to it...but today, I am just in love with the music. Not how it applies to my life or that God created it for my pleasure. I am just in need of hearing it today. Kind of like the flowers on the bush in my front yard. I just want to look at their beauty...not examine their place in my spiritual walk. And seeing as how I can't really post a picture of the music, I will give you one of my pretty little flowers.

I guess I just want people to take the time to just listen to the melody and how it blends with the harmony...feel how the rhythm moves you to dance...or sway...or breathe. Relax...rest...close your eyes and let the music bring you to a place of peace...or heighten your sense of complete joy...sing along...LOUDLY...dance...act silly...be serious...whatever! "Cause I get a peaceful, easy feelin', and I know you won't let me down, cause I'm already standin' on the ground!"

Come on...SING WITH ME!

Oh Happy Day...

That's right...Happy was here with Beautiful for FOUR WHOLE DAYS! Extraordinary days. I have missed them SO MUCH. We had fun, too. The fam and friends here at the house for dinners, blowing bubbles outside in the 20-mile-an-hour winds, chalk lines in my driveway, laughing, crying, talking, eating, whispering, planning, silence...it was the perfect weekend. I certainly miss my baby-girl and her baby-girl, but the time was...again...perfect. Sharing pictures: (LOTS of pictures...sorry)

At the house: At lunch at Olive garden on Sunday...

New York...

Flower...Bright Eyes...Happy...Happy and Rachigga...you get the idea...

Okay...so there you have it...pretty much anyway! Thanks Nascar for letting my Happy and Beautiful come and visit us. Until July...