Trust In The Lord Part One

This evening I found myself with my nose pressed up against the screen door as I listened to the sounds of the neighborhood, inhaled the scents of summer/fall and watched the color of the trees change and deepen with the setting of the sun. Today was one of the last beautiful days of fall. Our fall season up here can be awfully short; it's been so wet and cold this fall and the last few days have been so lovely, almost like summer. I'm not a fan of winter and fall is my favorite, I just wish it would last longer. Not only was the weather beautiful today, but I was privileged to have lunch with my dear friend and mentor. If you have read my blog for a while, you'll know that the man that taught me everything I know about playing the organ is now one of my dearest friends. We only live a 10 minute drive from each other but we only see each other about once a year and that's if I do everything I can to make it happen. Today was the day. We have one of those friendships where we just start talking like no time has passed. We had so much to catch up on today. I've also been quite wistfully melancholy of late. October is my month. I was born in October and so was my mother; she and I were very close. Her birthday was near the beginning of the month and mine more toward the end so we'd start celebrating with hers and we'd celebrate all month until mine. I miss her terribly, but mostly in October. We used to buy each other gifts and do nice things for each other all month long, always using the excuse, "it's for your birthday" when we knew darn good and well we had already spent and done above and beyond. It was special though and I can't quite let go of the tradition so I tend to try to find ways to treat myself during the month. Silly I suppose.

July was the last time I posted, which has been far too long. I did go back and delete a few posts, they were quite negative and too descriptive if the wrong readers should happen to find this blog. They were all about the struggles we've had at church and I really shouldn't have shared the specifics in such detail. My apologies.

Here are the teasers for the continuing saga of Trust In The Lord.

During the month of August I continued to struggle with all that was going on at church and watch it go from bad to worse. I played for the last hymn sing and our last Sunday was August 11. Stay tuned to learn how I've had to place my trust in the Lord as we both left one church family and became part of a new one.

Also in August was The Deer Chase a mountain bike race my husband heads up and manages. Deer Chase weekend is always stress filled at our house but this year it started off with a bombshell that would rock our foundation for several weeks!

Just prior to all of this going on we also decided it was time to purchase a new to us car as my husband was becoming more and more concerned for my safety.

At the end of September my second granddaughter gave us quite the scare and it remains to be seen if any permanent damage has been done and just what is ahead for her future.

Now I find I'm facing a health issue I had so hoped I could avoid.

To say the months of August and September have been emotional and stressful is an understatement but through it all God has been good to us and we praise Him for upholding us. Hopefully I will be back in a few days to expound on each of these events.

If you stopped by, please leave a note so I know you were here and can visit you as well.

In the meantime if fall is beautiful in your area, do enjoy it.

Royal blessings,

A Woman's Work Is Never Done

I have finally begun my detailed cleaning for this year. I can't call it spring cleaning since we are well into summer. Perhaps I could call it fall cleaning as at the rate I'm going I might be finished by Thanksgiving. I hate my kitchen flooring! It was here when we moved in, it's very light in color and has a texture that is intended to resemble stone. All the texture seems to do is trap dirt and the only way to get it clean is hands and knees type of scrubbing. I used to be able to do the entire thing in one day...it was a long day, but one day just the same. Now that I'm older and in pain more days than not I can only do a small section at a time. Wouldn't you know that as soon as I finished, my daughter took out the trash and it leaked all over my clean floor. Fortunately I saw it right away and was able to get it cleaned up before it settled into those awful grooves! I am a little concerned that by the time I finally finish the entire floor, the first sections are going to need another scrubbing.

That's where my cleaning started today. I managed to wipe down the walls in the kitchen as well as the upper cupboard doors, one section of floor and the steps that lead to the basement. My knees are red and tender and I'm sure tomorrow my arms will ache, but at least I've started. Up until now I haven't had the motivation to start and I really don't think I could have made it down to the floor and back up again. What made the difference? I finally have a new chiropractor and have been adjusted twice in the last week. It is amazing what I'm able to do when I am in good alignment. I'll rest from scrubbing for a day or two and focus on some less physically demanding chores, but it feels good to feel good again.

Well that's all for today, not very exciting or profound. How often do you do a detailed cleaning of your home? If you've stopped by please let me know you've been here. I enjoy comments, touching base with friends and meeting new ones.

Royal blessings, 

Wednesday Medley

Although I'm happy to see Terri is hosting this (thanks Terri), I'm not always very good at coming up with answers for these things, but I'll give it try. 

1.  Who is your favorite "Joe/Jo" and what can you tell us about him or her? 

I'm sorting through my mind looking for a Joe...can't find a favorite. I haven't known very many Joe's in my lifetime. I had a date with a Joe once...no, not a favorite, never again, YUCK!  My daughter has a Joseph in her life....no engagement ring yet, but I do believe one day it will show up. I guess my favorite would have to be a piano student I used to have who was named Joe. He learned so quickly I had a difficult time keeping up with him. He was also a hockey player and often came to his lesson in his hockey gear! One year his mother didn't sign him up, never gave a reason why and when I tried to contact her she never replied. I have no idea what happened. Sad. 

2.  Who were you named for and do you or did you know that person?  

I am named for my great-grandmother on my mother's Dad's side of the family. I have one picture of her, but no, I never met her or my grandfather for that matter. 

3.  Do you have a middle name and do you like it/use it? 

Yes, I do and I like it, it goes well with my name. I use the initial when I sign legal documents, but as a general rule I don't use it.  

4.  Have you ever named your car?  

No, but my husband has. I did name the organ I play though. Meet Sebastian, named after my favorite composer, Johann Sebastian Bach. 

5.  Tell us the name of a fictional character you have never forgotten and why you remember it so well. 

I honestly am coming up blank on this one.

6.  Share something random with us about your week.  

It's spring break here and all but one of my students have chosen not to attend piano lessons this week. It's ok, but I'm broke. I am trying to make good use of my "time off" but I have wasted two days so far but hoping to do better the rest of the week. Today is a good start. 

Prayer Warrior

Once again it has been awhile...a long while. I know I'm not a very consistent blogger and for that I'm sorry because I would love to be here regularly. Maybe if I were I would have more followers that I could interact with which would lead to more friendships but I simply cannot devote the time to it that some of you do. In trying to catch up on some of the blogs I like to frequent, one blogger said she'd be away for a while because she couldn't think of much to write about. I've known those days and have had many but lately it seems I am so busy and could write about so much but I just don't find the time to sit down and write or I can’t seem to find the mental energy to form the words.  Feast or famine and both it seems lead to inconsistent blogging.

Now to resume...

Have you ever had a prayer warrior come alongside and pray earnestly for you at any time in your life or have you been a prayer warrior for someone else? I hope you have been blessed by both in your life. Today I’d like to introduce you to my prayer warrior...it’s quite an interesting story.

There is a small Village Missions church in the next block and several years ago they purchased the house next door to us to be used as a pastors house.  Over the past few years I have enjoyed getting to know the pastor and his wife...she and I chat over coffee on her deck from time to time. Two years ago when things started really falling apart at church I needed to talk to someone outside of my church who could offer me Godly counsel, so I went to her and was welcomed with open arms. When the new pastor at my own church almost had me doubting my own beliefs I found confirmation with her.  When we first met we added each other on Facebook and she discovered that we had many friends in common yet we had never met. While comparing notes we found out that many of my friends from the Christian college I attended had spent time serving at a Bible camp where she used to cook. We thought that was pretty remarkable until we talked more and found out that we used to live in the same town. When she asked my address, we soon realized we used to be neighbors...living back to back with each other in a suburb of Denver. Neighbors now neighbors again! What are the odds? This is my neighbor's house...her backyard is connected to my side yard. It will be a while before we're enjoying coffee on her deck again!

Last summer we visited my neighbor’s church. It was nice to get away from the drama, but we weren’t sure it would ever be a church home for us. After that she has made herself available to me anytime I need to talk and has put me on her daily prayer list. She invites me to fellowships and ladies events and Dear Husband and I  joined a Bible Study at their church this fall and have enjoyed the in depth study that we have been missing at our church and the rich fellowship also now missing from our church. Anytime any new development arises she is right there by my side praying me through and suffering with me. We bumped into each other in the grocery store one day and had an impromptu chat and prayer right there in the store. She is amazing and I am so very grateful for her diligent display of Christian love.

We are still at our church...drama and all. Some would ask why in the world, but there are a few that still appreciate my ever shrinking ministry and though it becomes more and more inconsequential, for now we don’t feel the call of the Lord to leave. We know that I am no longer wanted by the leadership and if I left my position I would free the leadership to complete the transformation of the ministry there. For that reason we will most likely leave soon but there is so much to think about, so much to leave behind and starting over is not something I relish either. In the meantime I try to be there for those friends that need me...I am often a sounding board of frustration and sadness. If/when we leave we will plan to start over at my neighbor’s church...at least I know I’ll have support. She says “just come, let us love on you while you heal”.  

God bless her!

In other news the blizzard of 2019 left us with quite a large load in our yard. Yes that is what is left of my clothesline pole...note the 6 foot high "privacy" fence between our property and the yard behind us! 

But it's going to take a while before it looks like spring around here! 

Ephesians 3:14-21

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and
on earth derives its name,
that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened
with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your
hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be
able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and
height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge,
that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Walk with a fellow believer today or let someone walk with you...

Royal blessings,