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, 

Heart Ache - Summer Update Part One

A big hello to anyone out there who's still out there. I have so much to catch up on as the summer certainly didn't turn out as I had planned. I'll get to all that in the next post but for today I'll share the first of summer's disappointments.

I think I mentioned my friends plans to move. I'm going to miss them so much...here is a little bit of their story. About 15 years ago I was driving through downtown when I noticed a new sign on a storefront and the paper lined windows said something about a scrapbook store. I had picked up a magazine on scrapbooking a year or so earlier and was in the process of teaching myself the art. I was so excited to actually see a store move to town that would have supplies for my new found hobby. I remember walking by everyday and trying to see through the cracks between the big sheets of paper in the windows. I couldn't wait for them to open and it seemed to be taking them forever! Somehow I think I missed opening day, but I was still one of the first customers in the door and I won a door prize at the grand opening that I still have and use.

I met Mary first. I remember her greeting me and asking me if I did scrapbooking. I told her I did but was still learning and she assured me they could help me with that. I had no idea at the time the extent of what that meant.

Mary and Jeanne were a wealth of information and encouragement. They new so much about paper and stocked many different kinds that I didn't even know existed! They taught me new techniques and gave me tips and tricks to make my scrapbooks look their best, they inspired me with projects they were working on and encouraged me to try new things always supporting me in whatever I was working on.  They would offer table space in the shop for us to take our projects and work on them there. I used to love to take in what I was working on and spend the afternoon crafting and talking with Jeanne. Mary was usually working at the bank next door but she would pop in on her breaks and lunch. If one of them couldn't help me with something the other one could. I spent so much time in there we began to become friends and share more that just scrapbooks.

Due to the financial depression of our small town, they were forced to close their store. Gone was not only a great source of information, help and supplies but also the connection to other friends I had made through the crops and workshops I attended. As a result I formed a Facebook group to stay in touch with everyone and from that we formed our bi-monthly craft days where we gather together as we used to at the crops to work on our projects. It's been wonderful until now that our founders have decided to move to be near family.

Their house sold quickly and they found a new house right away. Before I knew what happened I was attending their final yard sale. We had a farewell party with as many of the crafters as we could pull together on short notice...what a bittersweet time. I miss them terribly, but those of us left behind have banded together to make an effort to keep crafting together. So far it's working well.

We're hoping for many opportunities to visit them and they promised they would be up for vacation at least once a year. One of those changes that life brings...takes a little getting used to. 

Stay tuned...I have a lot to catch up on. If you stopped by, please let me know so I can visit your blog as well. 

Nostalgic Hodgepodge

I can't believe I answered the questions to this weeks Hodgepodge and then forgot to return and post it. Well, I'll post anyway and see if anyone shows up. 

1. What's something in your house you'd like to get rid of but can't?
My husband's bow-flex because he never uses it and it takes up a lot of space.

2. When is the last time you experienced a sense of nostalgia? Elaborate.
I'm often nostalgic...last time, well...today. I had to say good-bye to two very dear friends last night and I'm remembering so much of the good times we spent together. Today is a very difficult day.

3. You're only allowed three apps on your smart phone or tablet...which three do you keep?
1. Gmail 2. Facebook 3. Messenger

4. July 11th is National Blueberry Muffin Day. Who knew? Do you like blueberry muffins? If you were going to have a muffin would blueberry be your choice? What's the last thing you baked?
I love blueberries and most things made with them so blueberry muffins are near the top of that list. Yes if I could have a muffin right now, it's highly likely I would choose blueberry. I honestly cannot remember the last thing I baked. I rarely bake anymore because I can't have the temptation in the house. Does bread in the bread maker count? I bake that for my husband every week.

5. What's the biggest way you've changed since you were a child? In what way are you still the same?
I'm more willing to try something new on my own. I'm still an introvert, still very emotional and sensitive.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I'm Back...Again

It's daunting at first to start composing a blog entry after having been gone for so long. This big white box seems so big...and so white.

Much has taken place in the last few months and as I have said probably every time I come back after being away, I want very much to be more consistent in my blogging. Life just seems to carry me away. Let's see how well I do this time.

Thursdays have become ladies Bible Study day. A few of us got together and just decided we needed a study and so we began. It has been so wonderful for me personally to have a circle of friends to stand beside me and uphold me in prayer when needed. This has been a long time coming.

The new year has brought little to no change in my personal life. I am hoping and praying for change in several areas as the year goes on. Last year I had some of my beliefs questioned...well, actually I was told I'm wrong to believe the way I do. I went back armed with God's Word to no avail. I will not/cannot compromise my stand on this issue and because I will not bend, I am being considered as one causing conflict and dissension. I'm praying somehow for this to be resolved but it's difficult to see how when neither side will compromise their position. It's going to be very difficult to serve on the music committee this year because of this situation. I do have a support system in place now, the ladies from Bible Study and a few other friends and that helps a lot.

So if you come back to visit...and I come back to post, you'll be hearing about church, my projects, my goals, my plans, my piano students, what I'm learning, my new diagnosis, my new business and how I manage it all and try to keep my crown from falling off.

Please say hi if you stop by!

Bible Study and Sunflowers

Lots of random thoughts going through my mind today. 

I already mentioned my mother's birthday which was Tuesday this week. I decided to make her cake after all, it was just the thing to do and because my 9x13 pan was in the sink soaking off the baked on BBQ sauce from the ribs this week, I pulled out her old round cake pans that have the lever (for lack of a better word) that slides around the pan to loosen the cake. They don't make 'em like that anymore...I always thought that was so cool, so much so that I found some at a garage sale and bought each of my daughter's a set. Both girls took them for a while and then returned them saying they would never use them. 😮 I saved them for a while but when my daughter began to complain about how much stuff I had I decided to let the garage sale pans go. My mother's pans will have to be pulled from my cold, dead hands LOL! 

This is an Oatmeal Cake. Funny story...I was recently chatting with my brother online, we don't talk much...haven't talked much...ever. Anyway, we were chatting about things Mom used to cook and he was asking for some of her recipes. I asked him if he remembered Oatmeal Cake and he said no but that he remembered her spice cake. I didn't remember any spice cake but got to thinking maybe he meant the Oatmeal Cake after all. I asked him about the frosting because the frosting on Oatmeal Cake is very different and he said that was the spice cake. I then had to laugh out loud because I remembered my Mom telling him it was spice cake because she knew he wouldn't eat it if he knew it's real name! I even remembered her telling me it was our secret. Oh the memories that story brought back. My brother was a bit put out that I had kept that secret all these years, but honestly, I had forgotten about it. Oddly enough there are many people I serve this cake to that won't take it because of it's name. The same holds true for my Oatmeal Pie. Their loss. 

Technology has not been kind to me this week. Has anyone else recently tried to change the background on their blog? I tried again last night and still no go. I do not understand why this won't work. I even went to a different background site and the same thing happened so it must be an issue with blogger. I will try again when I'm finished posting this. 

A while ago...probably a long while ago now, I posted about taking some friends from church on an organ crawl to several of the organs in our area. This was shortly after we got the new organ at church and I had sent out an invitation for people to come take a look at it and see how it worked and what it could do. These two were the only ones who took me up on it. After we looked at it, it only gave them an appetite for more so we visited pipe organs and had a great time getting to know each other. As a result of that day, they have become great friends and she and I started to walk this summer and have a Bible Study together. I can tell there are many more adventures ahead for the two of us. I had noticed she's been carrying around a tumbler for water that has a lid and a straw...she takes it everywhere and I thought if I had one like it, maybe it would be easier to drink the large amounts of water I'm supposed to take in each day. I looked and looked and couldn't find one and today she brought me one she found and bought for me. It holds a big 32 oz., I have already put it to use and I can already tell it's going to be helpful! 

Is anyone familiar with the movie Calendar Girls? 

I watched it again recently and find myself identifying with the characters so much more this time....probably because I'm much closer to their age this time and have been feeling so pushed aside because I'm old. If you know the movie, you've heard this: 

The flowers of Yorkshire

Are like the women of Yorkshire.

Every stage of their growth has its own beauty,

But the last phase is always the most glorious.

Then very quickly they all go to seed.

Which makes it ironic my favorite flower

Isn’t even indigenous to the British Isles, let alone Yorkshire.

I don’t think there’s anything on this planet

That more trumpets life than the sunflower.

For me, that’s because of the reason behind its name.

Not because it looks like the sun

But because it follows the sun.

During the course of the day,

The head tracks the journey of the sun across the sky.

A satellite dish for sunshine.

Wherever light is, No matter how weak,

These flowers will find it.

And that’s such an admirable thing.

And such a lesson in life.

We talked about this at Bible Study today (not the movie but the idea of feeling put on a shelf or shoved aside) and it seems it's a real problem with many our age in our church lately. I found out it's not just me feeling this way. I don't know what I'm going to do about it, if anything but I can't help but feel I want to be respected and listened to and like the women in the movie I want to make a change...do something that matters. My friend and I invited others to join us in our Bible study and I'm excited to be reaching out to these women who are feeling the same way we are. I hope this is the beginning of something wonderful for us and for the church.  

"Every stage of their growth has its own beauty,

But the last phase is always the most glorious."

The strangest thing happened this year, we had some sunflowers pop up unexpectedly in our garden. We didn't plant them, but there they were and perfectly situated right in the back corner. So lovely! Such a gift! Again I am reminded of the prose from the movie,

"Wherever light is, No matter how weak,

These flowers will find it.

And that’s such an admirable thing.

And such a lesson in life."

The sunflowers in my garden have now withered and gone to seed...but I have not! I still have years of service left if the Lord so wills. So when I think of following the sun, I am reminded to follow the SON.

Summer

Recently one of my all time favorite shows, Gilmore Girls did a reunion type series in 4 installments labeled Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer. I'm going to try and catch you up on the last several months of my life by first bringing you Summer.

Last fall I wanted to brush up some of my piano and music theory skills and was pleased to begin working with one of the best musicians in our area. As it turned out she wanted to learn how to play the organ so we traded services. Susan is a local private music teacher and a talented performer on the piano and flute so of course she is taking to the organ very well.

She and I together with my Hubby on his euphonium gave a recital in August as part of the Organists of the Keweenaw summer recital series. Each summer the local organists put on recitals on local historic pipe organs to raise money for their upkeep. For our recital we used one of the oldest tracker pipe organs in MIchigan. I often wondered if I was crazy for putting myself through the stress of practicing and performing on an unfamiliar instrument, but once the evening was over I was glad we did it. I haven't. decided if I'm ready to do another any time soon though. 

I had great fun taking some inquisitive friends D and J on an organ crawl of some of those historic organs this summer. We had a good time getting to know each other better and formed fast friendships, especially between me and J. They live in FL during the winter and before they left we had established a routine of meeting for breakfast one day a week for breakfast. We have a lot in common, she's a very good listener and she really supports me in my work and ministry on the organ. J told me that after D, who's cancer is in remission, got home he fell fast asleep on the couch and when he woke up he said his dreams were of organ music! Warmed my heart! 

I was proud to see several of my piano students perform publically at Calumet's sesqui-centennial celebration this summer. The plan was to have different performing groups at each intersection downtown but because fo rain they put us under a small tent in the part which was right next to a large tent of vendors and the very loud MTU pep band. We also had to borrow a keyboard that unbeknownst to us arrived with no music rack, bench or power source. My students rallied like professionals and made the most of a difficult situation by helping me find solutions to each problem and then put on excellent performances that made people stop and take notice. It was a learning experience for each one of us and I was so proud of each one of my students!

Unfortunately I took a picture of each student that participated but I can only find few in my files. Where the rest have disappeared to I have no idea. I'm rather upset. 

Well it was quite the summer filled with music. I discovered some of my weaknesses but also some of my strengths and in these few instances I believe I wore my crown well. 

In Between

Summer is over and true fall has not quite arrived, so I feel like things are in an in between stage. My new background, I think, expresses that; it's got some leaves there for fall, but I'm not ready for the fall colors and pumpkins just yet. Perhaps I'm just putting off the inevitable as long as possible.

Fall piano lessons will start next week, but I won't have everyone returning until the following week...again, in between. The good news is, as you know, I added 2 students this summer and now I've added 3 new ones for fall. I will have a total of 16 students this year which is wonderful, the only drawback being, 7 of them are only coming every other week, so a few more to fill in the gaps are still needed.

The church advisory board met this week and will suggest to the congregation that they vote to purchase the organ we have been looking at. You can see it and hear it in the video...this is the actual instrument that I will be playing at church if they vote to purchase! I will know for sure tomorrow night after the business meeting. If they go ahead, and once it arrives, my work will really begin! So as with other things, I'm waiting in an in between stage.

There was a skunk in the yard this morning when we took the dogs out. It was still darkish, so we didn't see it at first. I was able to off Mae, I don't know why she didn't get sprayed unless the skunk could tell she was crippled and not a threat. The vet is coming up this coming Wednesday after lunch sometime to put her to sleep. The geese are flying circles around the lake getting ready to leave. One group flew off and didn't come back...not a good sign. Our days go from nippy ones to ones that feel just like summer and back again. 

I had so many plans for my Saturday, but I somehow wound up talking to my neighbor for most of the morning. I'm hoping in the coming days and weeks to be able to get to know her better. I think she needs a good friend here. Friendly, but not quite friends...in between. 

I have many goals for this winter, here's hoping I can stay focused enough to get them accomplished.  I'm still working toward getting my Etsy store set up. I will share when I get it operational. With the Etsy store, the new organ, new students and my usual cleaning, laundry and cooking, my life will be quite busy, especially until I get into a routine. I am thinking my computer time will have to be put off until evening from now on, which is hard for me as I enjoy doing my emails and blogging along with my morning coffee. 

Until next time my friends,