FRUSTRATED!!!

I'm hoping one of you can help. I wanted to change my background today...it's no longer the 4th of July. I went to my layout page to find the HTML/java script  gadget that holds the code to my July 4th background I found at "cutest blog on the block"...that particular gadget is missing from my layout page even though the background is still applied to my page! I have searched through all of them...it's not there. I tried adding a new background by uploading a picture from my computer, but I'm guessing I have to take the other one down first before it can be seen. 

Have any of you had anything like this happen to you? I'm worried that I may have to clear everything and start over. I really don't want to do that! Either that, or it may be the 4th of July forever!!

GRRRRRRRR!!!!!

After the 4th Update

It's always such a whirlwind when the kids "blow" into town. They arrived "starving" on Thursday about 6:45 p.m. and got to share a pasty meal together with a special requested dessert for Daughter #1's birthday which was in May. I also gave Son his birthday gift...his day was in June and they brought Father's day/birthday gifts for their dad. Now I think we're all caught up on gift giving for a while. After supper we chatted for a bit until time for them to leave for the harbor and an evening of fireworks...the "old" folks stayed home, sat with the 5 dogs and turned in around 11. 

Son stayed the night and all of Friday in the Harbor with friends because one of his childhood buds was up and they hadn't seen each other in several years. The others slept in a bit, then we went to the beach for a short while, then to the grocery store for lunch needs, and back home to eat. The afternoon was quiet, it was hot as well so no one felt like doing much. Later that evening we made a fire in the fire pit outside and roasted marshmallows for s'mores, then played a yard game until we couldn't stand the mosquitoes any longer...which didn't take long at all.  Daughter #2 headed back to her place because she had to open at work on Saturday morning, then attend a wedding. 

Son returned around 12:30 a.m. on Saturday. We talked over breakfast about doing some antiquing, but one of his friends called and they went out to lunch. Daughter #1 and Hubby had some things they wanted to do so I did some chores. Everyone returned for supper, but they decided they wanted to treat us to supper out which was a nice treat. Daughter #2 came home after the wedding and spent what was left of the evening with everyone chatting around the table. The "boys" took some fireworks over to the lake to set off and as we watched from our windows (it was too buggy out to go with them), we saw the police drive by - someone must have called them. I was afraid they might get into trouble but, fortunately, there was a lull in their display right when he drove through, and after he left they set off the last two and were done. Perfect timing. 

I wish we could have seen Son more, but I understand him wanting to visit with his friend that he never gets to see. It just seems everyone was running in different directions this time. I didn't even get a single picture!! Oh well, it was still nice to see them all. Now the Little Turquoise House looks like a bomb went off...every sheet, blanket and towel is dirty and I'm too tired to do anything about it on this muggy Sunday afternoon. Tomorrow will be catch up day before students start arriving again on Tuesday. 

Happy 4th!

2 Chronicles 7:14
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 

I Cannot Believe

How tired I am! I mentioned in my last entry that Suki had a vet appt. today, so that was first on my list, but I actually got moving early and was able to get my cleaning done before we left as well as get my shopping at the Co-op done before the appt. Things were going great, I was on a roll, or so it seemed. However I had several other stops to make - the sporting goods store for the shoes I was looking at the last time I was in town, the jeweler to have my mother's wedding rings repaired and to the music store only to find out they don't carry what I need, then on to Walmart for TP, paper towels and a box fan, since the weather is warming up. 

It took much longer than I had hoped. Poor Suki was in the car getting more miserable by the second. I did take her out to have lunch with me by the water front. Once home, I dropped her off to rest and went out again to do my grocery shopping then back home to unload that before going out again to get pasties for the weekend since they won't be open tomorrow and then a quick stop by the scrapbook store. 

WHEW!! By the time I was ALL done, I was finding I was having a difficult time walking. Not only are my feet very sore, but the back of my right thigh is quite painful - not sure what is going on there, but I've decided to rest for the remainder of the evening...good time to redecorate the blog ;). 

Suki is also not doing well tonight - I think she is tender from the shots and told me in no uncertain terms did she want me to pick her up!! So I gave her some baby aspirin that I hope will ease her pain so she can rest tonight. The good news is, her heart murmur isn't any worse, but her eyesight seems to be going in the only eye she has left.  

Hubby left to help Daughter #2 mow her grass since she has so much trouble with the landlord's lawn mower. It certainly is taking him much longer than I thought it would. 

Tomorrow will be spent preparing for the kids' arrival. I'll do a light cleaning of the floors and dust a bit since the windows have been open. I'll wipe up the bathroom, make some bread, bake some seasoned chicken for tacos and make a slow-cooker lasagna and a special ice-cream dessert Daughter #1 requested for her birthday which was in May...it's a tradition. I also need to see if I can get my copier functioning and straighten the studio and remove anything I might need as Daughter #2 and Hubby will most likely stay in there on the air mattress again. 

Well, time to get in my comfy clothes. Nightie Night!

Numbering Our Days

Psalm 90: 12, 17
12 Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. 
17 May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us - yes, establish the work of our hands. 

My plans were changed yesterday. After getting a very painful massage, I decided it best that I stay home from my practice time and "rest" and flush my system with fluids - something I don't do well when away from home because my bladder isn't as young as it once was. My massage therapist says the pain I experience when she's working on me reminds her of her Fibromyalgia patients. I have often wondered if I have that, but I have looked it up and I really don't think I do. However, I do have something going on. I was feeling bad about canceling my practice time when my mentor called and told me that the organ was going to be otherwise occupied by the recitalist that will be performing there tonight, so it all worked out. I don't know yet if I'm attending the recital, I want to go, but there is a $20.00 ticket to consider and I gave all my money to my massage therapist yesterday. We'll see what comes in from teaching today. 

Anyway, Daughter #2 came shortly after I cancelled my practice time. It was good that it all worked out as I was able to spend time with her. I have learned - and I was reminded again - that as much as I love my practice time, I must spend time with family when I have the chance. She and I went outside and washed our cars, inside and out...hmmm, so much for "rest". 

About ten years ago or so, I joined a yahoo group called Baptist Mamas. It's a group of women who attend Baptist churches who come together to share in each others' live and pray for one another. There are several women on there who I have known since day one and I have become good friends with. I learned yesterday that one of them has been diagnosed with ALS, otherwise known as Lou Gherig's disease. If you don't know anything about that horrible disease, you can look it up. My brother-in-law died from it - it is always fatal. Amy will leave a husband and three adopted children (one with mental health issues) behind. She knows the Lord though and has that blessed assurance of eternal life with Him in Heaven. She is talking of all she is wanting to accomplish while she still can. I thought of what plans I would make under the same circumstances and decided I hope I don't have to consider it for a long time, yet it is good to number our days and live with the thought that we truly do not know how much time we have. 

Plans for today include general cleaning and chores, laundry, wash the living room windows, stretch and do some yoga to help get this pain under control and teach students at 11, 1, 3:15 and 4:30. I also need to lay out a plan for a trip into town tomorrow. I will have Suki with me as she has to have her check-up at the vet and and the weather will be warm so I have to plan things out well so I don't have her in a hot car for very long at a time.

Whatever you put your hand to today I pray your time will be well spent. Have a wonderful day!!

Small Town Saturday

Clear

55°F Feels Like: 55°

It's a cool morning and we're only expecting a high of 66. Despite what the picture says, it is mostly cloudy - as a matter of fact, I don't see any sun at the moment at all. We've had a lot of rain, which I am glad for, but at the same time it's been so cool that our garden is way behind schedule. 

Today is Pasty Fest in our little town. The parade start is in the next block and many of the participants are driving past the Little Turquoise House on their way to line up. I get to see horse drawn wagons, old cars and fire trucks...woo-hoo! I used to enjoy parades when we first moved here...I guess I enjoyed them through my children's eyes; now that they are grown I don't walk over to stand on the curb and worry about the children darting into the street for candy...once a mom, always a mom! There will be vendors with food and games in the park, once again, not so much fun without the kids or someone to walk and talk with. I have gone over by myself, but I'm almost always disappointed, so...not this year.

I've been spending my time teaching, practicing and scrapbooking. For the most part it's all good. Wednesday I went into town by myself to run errands and shop. I realized I hadn't been to town by myself since last fall! It was so nice! I did splurge a little on myself...I bought a top at Walmart for $10.00

See how nicely it dresses up? 

and a skirt at Goodwill for $4.00.

I also looked at some shoes that I really want because I like the look of them but also because I think they will be quite practical, but they

didn't have my size so they are bringing it in from another store. I will go back next Wednesday when I take Suki to the vet for her shots and try them on, then decide. Since I have so much trouble with my feet, they are $85.00 shoes so I have to make sure they are a good fit. I didn't much like the attitude of the salesman though. 

Thursday afternoon was my matinee day at the organ in the Heritage Center, then the Anita's and I had our lunch date yesterday. After we ate we took her to the Heritage Center again where some painting needed to be done and Anita suggested I practice the organ so they could enjoy some music while she painted. So I had two practice days in a row...I'm not complaining. I must remember to take business cards when I go from now on as there is almost always someone there asking about lessons or just interested and could maybe pass one on. 

GOOD NEWS! I have TWO...count them...TWO new students!! I blogged about my new neighbors a while back, well, they have a 14 year old daughter that has been trying to teach herself piano and wants to take lessons! She came on Thursday, shaking with nerves, but we made it through the get acquainted session and her books are on order. Then to my surprise I got a hit on an online local music group where I posted an ad. It must have been God's timing, because I just posted it and heard immediately from a mom looking for a teacher for her 11 year old daughter. We emailed back and forth several times...I'm always a bit concerned when doing business over the internet...I wanted to make sure she was legit. Long story short, she has ordered the necessary materials and her daughter is to begin lessons on the 11th! If all my students from last season return in the fall and my new ones continue on, I will have a nice number.

I started a new scrapbook page last night; I'm now working on my grandmother's pages which brings to mind memories of sitting with my mother as I listened to her tell me stories about her since she had died when I was just a baby. I remember a far away look she would get in her eye when she talked of her. I will spend my day working on those today...and remembering... 

Another Suggested Read

In addition to being a wine-lover, Daughter #1 is a "foodie". She is passionate about eating healthy and healing the body with the food it takes in. She has started a blog about all the helpful things she comes across to help us lead healthier lives. If you're interested you may find her at Grateful Glow. 

Blog Post From My Daughter

Daughter #1 loves to write and loves wine so now she gets to put them together and blog about wine at corkings.com/wines

Please enjoy her entry - Do Good Drink Wine

Breezy Summer Morning

I didn't sleep well at all last night - the frogs were singing sooooo loudly, I was hot, then cold, my hip hurt, I tossed and turned. Oh my, but I'm sleeeeeepy this morning. 

Plans:

*May sit in the sun here and close my eyes for a few minutes - it's a beautiful morning, but it may get quite warm today.

*General morning cleaning and chores

*Spend the afternoon at the pipe organ

*Hamburgers for supper

*Put beans to soak for tomorrows supper

*Scrapbook this evening - I finished the section on my great-grandmother yesterday. My cousin sent me some more pictures of my grandmother, so I get to add to her section - but at the same time must re-do a page or two due to incorrect information. 

Hubby has been busy, busy - normally I'd say that's a good thing, but it seems most of what is keeping him so busy is just annoying busy work and customers that make his life miserable by expecting the impossible. I try to encourage him though, at least it's work. 

Since he's been so busy and gone most of the time I have spent many quiet hours by myself here in the Little Turquoise House. I don't mind too much, I have my chores, scrapbooks, computer and favorite DVD's...I keep busy enough, but the past few rainy days I have found my mind wandering to places that sadden me deeply. I'm so thankful for the sunshine this morning and for the morning breeze blowing in a freshness to my heart.

A Very Special Surprise

Please bear with me while I share two background stories before I can get to the heart of this entry. 

First story: About 22 years ago or so I was introduced to the pipe organ. David was our church organist and he was helping me get my piano/music skills back in order after I had neglected them for several years while raising children. Mind you, I was still raising children at the time. When I first began with the organ, I wasn't even yet expecting our youngest. Anyway, I was introduced to and fell in love with the pipe organ at a local Catholic church where our now former church organist is now attending and playing. He had to go away for about a year and while he was gone our daughter was born and I tried on my own to learn more about how to play the organ, but with little success and much discouragement. When he returned, he consented to help me and he introduced me to the priest at the church where we would meet and work together. 

Father Olson had a warm smile and eyes that sparkled. He was welcoming and kind and what impressed me even more was that he was genuinely interested in getting to know me - he gave me a sense of value. I did not attend church there, I wasn't even Catholic yet I was welcome there any time. The first time I met him I was carrying my daughter. She wasn't very old, but old enough to have developed "baby grip". Any mother knows what I mean...that grip they have that is nearly impossible to break and it takes both your hands to pry those tiny fingers off of whatever they have latched onto. Father Olson was captivated by her and insisted on holding her...Father Olson had a beard! It took only a second for my daughter to find it and literally tangle her little fingers into the hair. Poor man was nearly in tears as I worked feverishly to free him! Surprisingly, he kept his word...we were still welcome ;). 

As I continued to practice the organ at his church, Father Olson was a constant encouragement. He would often come in to the church to check on things and would wave from down below or call to me - saying something nice. He is also and organist, so he went with our organ group on several outings and attended the meetings. He was just plain fun to be around, always smiling and joking. He lent me a book to read once that was very helpful. 

One time David asked me to substitute for him...to play the mass. Once again....I'm not Catholic and I knew nothing about the order of the mass. David of course, briefed me and I practiced like crazy, but when the day came, I was petrified! Father Olson made a special trip to the organ loft just prior to mass beginning just to check on me and assure me that I would do fine. Why is it some people say that and I don't believe it...maybe because I don't believe they really believe it themselves - but not so with him, he looked me in the eye, smiled a comforting smile and I believed him. I did do fine. Oh, he had to be patient with me a time or two, but we got through it and he even came back up afterward and thanked me and told me I had done well.  

Another time the weather report was calling for a snow storm but it wasn't supposed to hit until the evening and I decided I didn't want to miss my precious practice time so I headed down the hill thinking I would have plenty of time to get home before it got bad. I was practicing away and Father Olson came up and asked me why I was still there. I gave him a puzzled look and he told me there was a full blown blizzard blowing outside and I needed to get home!
He took me to his office to call Hubby (before we all had cell phones) and tell him I was starting out then he gave me strict instructions to call the second I got home. He was giving me a certain amount of time and if he didn't hear from me he would call Hubby and have him head down the hill while he and David would head up the hill to look for me. It was the scariest time I have ever had in a car...I could barely see the trees on either side of the road and my knuckles were white from gripping the wheel. I must say though that it was a comfort to know they cared enough to have my back!

Yet another time, I took my mother down with me and I don't remember what story he told, but he got my mother to laughing so hard she cried and then she proceeded to tell everyone about him for months after that.

I wish I had more pictures to share. I do have photos of some of the times we spent together, but I can't lay my hands on them right now, nor could I scan them since I can't figure out my new printer. Some of them are of one day when just he, David and I got in the car and drove from organ to organ and went in and played each one. We spent the whole afternoon together like none of us had anything more important to do...SO  FUN!!

Several years ago now, he was moved to another church about 3 hours south of here. I have many special memories of him and just the other day was thinking how the church just isn't the same since he left. How much I miss him...I no longer feel a part of things like I did when he was there, I feel more like a stranger. The new priest met me once but didn't even look me in the eye and showed no interest in me or cared about what I was doing. 

Second story: 
My friend Anita is always getting involved in one community cause or event of one kind or another. Anita doesn't play the organ or even the piano but she loves music. One of her causes is the local heritage around here and she became involved in what is now known as The Heritage Center which is housed in a refurbished, historical church. She was made aware of an old pipe organ that the owners wanted to donate to the center. It was being stored in an old barn and was in need of lots of TLC. Being her friend and an organist I got involved in some of that TLC, but that was around the time my mother got so sick and I missed out on a good share of it. Anyway, now that it is completely restored, it needs to be played and every summer she sets up a schedule of us volunteers to go in and play it for an hour every afternoon for the visitors as they come and go from the center. 



History lesson over...Today was my first day to play at the Heritage Center this summer. I had been playing for a little while when I had a couple of little visitors. The little sister to one of my piano students came in with her babysitter. Saima is a special needs child, so her social skills aren't the best, but she is a little dear. She climbed up on the bench next to me and was fascinated. I thought I heard my name spoken downstairs, but I was talking to her and trying to set the organ up to play something for her so I dismissed it. It wasn't long before I sensed someone else had come in and I looked up and there standing beside me with a big grin on his face was... Father Olson! My mouth dropped open and I muttered something about not believing who I was seeing. He gave me a big hug, which I wasn't expecting and we talked for some time. He still has a warm smile, his eyes still sparkle and he still values what I have to say and makes me feel important and cared about. I often wonder why there are only a very few people in my life that truly make me feel that way. He gave me a second hug and told me if I ever got down his way to stop in for a visit and that I would be welcome...and...I believe him. 

A Few Minutes To Blog

I've been rather productive this week, and I must admit, it does feel good - I have neglected myself though, but that will soon change. It's just so nice to be able to do the jobs and projects that were neglected all winter. It's a breath of fresh air around here!

Last week I mentioned cleaning out the garage, this week it's the basement. I worked hard and got it all done in one day, even with teaching two piano lessons and doing two loads of laundry. I wasn't professionally dressed to teach yesterday, but my students seemed to understand. I didn't touch Hubby's areas down there...they bother me, but I'm looking the other way. 

Today I'll be working in my studio. I have some re-organizing to do, general straightening and of course dusting. I'm hoping it will look a bit less cluttered when I'm finished. I may get outside after lunch and clean the car - that will ensure rain for the garden ;). A menu and grocery list are also on the to-do list for today. Supper tonight will be easy...stuffed baked potatoes to use up the last of the fresh broccoli before it spoils. 

Our next-door-neighbors that moved in shortly after we did moved away two weeks ago. The house is owned by a near-by church that uses it for it's pastors. I enjoyed getting to know Pastor Merle and Gyngr. Gyngr would always call "hi neighbor" when I was out hanging clothes and we'd talk and share prayer needs. She and I did a little scrapbooking together, she was interested in "faithbooking". When I had my cancer scare, Merle "just happened" to see me in the yard and asked how I was, when I told him, he stopped and prayed with me. I'll never forget the peace that gave me. We always talked of getting together for dessert or dinner, but there never seemed to be the time with our respective busy schedules and I regret that we couldn't have gotten to know them better. The Lord has led them to retirement and I went over to say good-bye as Gyngr was awaiting the moving truck. I gave her my contact information, and she said she'd email...I hope she does because I am missing the two of them very much. 

They say "it's a small world". It seemed no sooner did they leave than the new pastor and his family began to unload. Gyngr told me they are the parents of 12 children...most if not all are adopted. Only 4 or 5 will be living with them here, the rest are in college, married or otherwise on their own. I wasn't quite prepared for all the sudden activity over there - it seemed kids were everywhere! I was a bit nervous about it as well as how their dog who runs free, and ours would get along, but both the dog and the children are well behaved. Things calmed down enough this week that I was finally able to meet Pastor Kevin and his wife Leslie. We found out we have a lot in common. 1)they are from CO, where I am from 2) Pastor Kevin worked at a Bible camp where Hubby had also worked 3) Pastor Kevin is from Littleton which is the suburb right next to Englewood where I grew up. 4) Leslie lived on Deleware St. in Englewood for a while which is the St. next to Elati where I lived. 5) They are very good friends with people we know from college. The people and places we have in common just seem to multiply the more we talked. We could have crossed paths so many times in years past, yet here we are, both so many miles away and practically sharing a backyard!  She told me to friend her on Facebook, so I did and I discovered...they know A LOT of people we know!! We want to get together and really compare notes some day soon - I don't doubt we will find more similarities! One of the girls came over while I was having my lunch on the back deck yesterday - she loves animals and wants us to consider her if we ever need help in caring for our dogs if we go away at any time. She's 13 and very well mannered and fun to talk to. I told her I will file that information away and would be happy to put her to work. 

We are expecting our children for a visit over the 4th of July weekend. I'm so excited to see them, though choosing food to prepare is always a bit of a problem. 

Well, that's about all for my update - it's time to get started on my studio. 

I came across this verse in my reading yesterday, so I will close with it.

Psalm 62:1-2

My soul waits in silence for God only;
From Him is my salvation.
2 He only is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.

I'm remembering my dad, he was born 96 years ago today. I wasn't real close to my dad, but I loved him and knew he loved me. 

Plans today are to have lunch with the Anita's. Finn Fest is coming to our area and we are going into Houghton today to see a Finnish dance team and to help Anita set up a display. My friend, Anita has a Finnish heritage so she is quite involved in the festivities. I will probably be the one to keep track of the other Anita while my friend takes care of what she needs to do. 

I hope to do some more cleaning if there is time when I get home this afternoon. I need to dust the living room and dinning room. 

Hubby is stressed with everything he has to do. On the upside there is lots of work, on the downside, there is too much for him to do alone, do well and do in a timely manner that will please the customers. 

I was able to completely clean out the garage yesterday and put out all my summer yard decor. I feel quite a sense of accomplishment. I should have thought to take before and after photos. We were even able to get my car repaired and returned to us all in one day.

Supper will be easy tonight. I have some left over shredded chicken and lots of fresh vegetables that won't be fresh for long, so we'll have a chicken salad.  

Do The Work

I was reading in I Chronicles this morning about David setting up the  Temple of the Lord. I was impressed by how everyone was a assigned a job that met with their talents and expertise. God has given all of us in His church a gift, talent or calling and we too are to be carrying out the work of the Lord. 

I was up at 5 a.m. this morning to go with Hubby to take the car in for repair. I'm still quite sleepy, but know that even if I went back to bed, I'd most likely not fall asleep again. 

Plans for today are simple...do the work. With the car out for repair and a cool day in the forecast, it will be a good day to clean the garage. Probably one of my least favorite jobs, but after a long winter, it needs doing. Hubby has been in there moving things around so it needs reorganizing and a good sweeping. It's going to be a dirty job!! 

That's it! If I have any energy left when I'm done with the garage I will set out my flowering plants and yard lights. 

I hope all of you are safe from the storms that went through last night. Please pray for my family in the fire areas of CO, thank you. 

Come...

Come, thou Fount of every blessing, 
 tune my heart to sing thy grace; 
 streams of mercy, never ceasing, 
 call for songs of loudest praise. 
 Teach me some melodious sonnet, 
 sung by flaming tongues above. 
 Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it, 
 mount of thy redeeming love. 

 Here I raise mine Ebenezer; 
 hither by thy help I'm come; 
 and I hope, by thy good pleasure, 
 safely to arrive at home. 
 Jesus sought me when a stranger, 
 wandering from the fold of God; 
 he, to rescue me from danger, 
 interposed his precious blood. 

 O to grace how great a debtor 
 daily I'm constrained to be! 
 Let thy goodness, like a fetter, 
 bind my wandering heart to thee. 
 Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, 
 prone to leave the God I love; 
 here's my heart, O take and seal it, 
 seal it for thy courts above. 

Oh that day when freed from sinning,

I shall see Thy lovely face,

clothed then in the blood washed linen

How I'll sing Thy wondrous grace!

Come, my Lord, no longer tarry,

Take my ransomed soul away.

Send Thine angels soon to carry,

me to realms of endless day.

I'm Hopeless....

I just can't stay away. Part of what gets me motivated in the morning is organizing my thoughts and connecting with friends...so here I am. 

We had to turn on the computer to check the weather report - we were supposed to get some rain this morning, but all we've seen is some fog. According to the hourly report if we don't get anything by noon, we won't get anything at all as the sun is to come out for the rest of the day. It's all good, except we really had hoped God would choose to water our garden today. 

After the weather, I clicked over to Facebook - I had a personal message, which given the fact my brother had a court date yesterday, I was fearful of bad news. Yes...he's in jail...again. The message came from his wife (at least I think they're still married...who really knows). I feel badly for him, yet I have to continually separate myself emotionally or I will go down an ugly path I will have a hard time getting away from. He's made some bad decisions over the years...more than his fair share really, but this time he really was trying to do the right thing and it seems once you're in the system, you are branded and can never get away from it completely. His attempts at doing the right thing were not enough so he'll be in for almost two years.

Plans for today are a few errands to run and the cleaning, laundry and organizing I had planned for yesterday but got pleasantly interrupted. 

And that's my blessing for today: God knew what I needed and He chose the organ to refresh my soul. 

James 1:12
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

The Pleasantly Unexpected

I had my day all planned out. I had cleaning and laundry and organizing to do. Sure, I wanted to spend my afternoon at the pipe organ as is my custom on Monday's, but I'm still without my car and I prefer to leave Hubby's truck for his needs, but when he asks me to do a delivery to the church where I practice and gives me permission to keep the truck for the afternoon...well...plans do change quickly sometimes. ;)

As I climb the stairs to the organ loft I anticipate the coming hours of music, encouragement and a spiritual cleansing of sorts. I wish I could describe what happens sometimes as I sit there working through the music. Today I opened a book I've had since I first began organ study - it's called "The Treasury of Early Organ Music". I've learned a few of the pieces, but I have struggled in the past to connect with it's music. It's old...very old. Some of it is chant-like and most of it is in minor keys. I wanted to learn them, I wanted to love them, but I couldn't seem to claim them as mine...until today. 

My teacher came up as I was playing through one and he was thrilled I had chosen to work on them. He encouraged me to keep at them and I asked him - how do I make them relevant and real for today. He told me to love them...then he left. 

I began with his first suggestion...a beautiful piece that I've heard him play many times - it makes a lovely wedding march. It looked daunting, but he had told me to take it slow. I did. It wasn't nearly as scary as I had made it out to be for the last 20 years! I made it through...it isn't pretty yet, but it's do-able. 

I turned the pages to one of the chants. I had learned it before, but stopped playing it because I couldn't make it applicable to today's worship. I played it through and remembered why I liked it before. I changed the registration to strings - which didn't really make sense if I stopped to think about it - and...amazing...I loved it. The entire piece changed character; as my fingers pressed one note and then the next...it was growing and evolving and together the instrument and I were creating something brand new out of something old...breathing in new life...It's an amazing experience. I'm so excited to spend the summer focusing my practice efforts out of this one book...a "treasure" to be sure. 

I'm blogging tonight because I want to try very hard to discipline myself to not get on here in the morning - or if I do, make my time very brief - for cursory reading purposes only. I want to hit the floor running - I have much cleaning and organizing to do and I want to get it done so the rest of the summer can be mine to focus on my weight loss, music and scrapbooking. I don't know what the future holds for us, but I want to be as ready as I can be for whatever God brings our way. 

Psalm 98:4
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth; make a loud noise, and rejoice and sing praise. 

Blessed Sunday!

What a lovely day we're having. Service this morning was so uplifting. The music was great - I treasure the worship times where the music fits so well with the sermon and is truly uplifting. Pastor Tony's message was on the first chapter of Galatians how we cannot live up to the law on our own - how works alone will not get us to Heaven - only by the grace of Jesus and His work on the cross. He used an illustration of water and gasoline to illustrate false teaching. He put some water in a glass and called it the gospel...he drank some, it was good. The room smelled of gasoline when we entered and he had some in a container near the pulpit so he poured some gasoline in another glass and called it the poison of false teaching that works alone will get us to Heaven. He then mixed the two liquids together because often we are led to believe that the gospel of Jesus and good works is what is needed, but that too is poison...he drank some, swished it around in his mouth, then spit it back in the glass. Good works are the fruit of our belief in and obedience to Jesus and anything else is poison to the gospel. Then after we were all grossed out he pulled out a container of Arizona Tea and told us it wasn't gasoline after all!! But he wanted us to remember that any time we hear false teaching it is poison. 

Daughter brought a guest to church today and I thought they were joining us for lunch so I rushed to the store after church and rushed home to prepare hamburgers, potato salad and fruit salad. While the burgers were cooking she sends me a text that they are going to a local restaurant with church people and did we want to come. Hubby and I didn't join them, he has quite a bit of work to get started on and the burgers were already on the stove. I was a bit disappointed that we didn't get to spend time with her today. Oh well, it's been a nice afternoon anyway. 

I'm so enjoying the weather...sun, a breeze and possible rain this evening. I hope to get the rest of my yard decorations out tomorrow. I couldn't resist snapping some pictures of the apple blossoms we saw on the dog walk this afternoon. I'm not sure what the white ones are...some kind of cherry tree maybe? 

I have some cards to get out today - an old friend of mine will be having a birthday soon and her father in law just passed away, so two cards will be going out to her and I have a student with an upcoming birthday and another friend that I have to check up on since I haven't heard from her in ages and she isn't online. 

Hubby was a busy boy yesterday, he did trail work in the morning, planted our garden after lunch, then mowed the grass on four properties in our neighborhood. I do believe he over did things a bit. 

Back to church this evening and then a light snack probably for supper. 

I do hope everyone is having a beautiful Lord's day.

Psalm 118:24

This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. 

I'm supposed to be cleaning....

but I'm not. The day is just too pretty to be inside so here I am sitting on my deck, enjoying the sunshine. It's been so long without it that I just can't bear to be inside. The house work beckons  especially the bathtub scum, but I don't care. I may care tomorrow when I shower, but not now. 

My ride to Anita's today was a little more difficult than I had anticipated, but I made it alright. I got quite the stares when I went through the bank drive-through and the Burger King drive-through on my bike! Anita and I ate our sandwiches outside on their picnic table and then took a short walk. I like Ranch sauce to dip my fries in, I learned today she does not - note to self...ketchup for Anita. She was much more talkative today than she has been. Last week I had a difficult time getting her to grasp the concept of licking an envelope shut and today she was talking about how she needed to give the picnic table and good cleaning and she read part of a recipe off the ketchup bottle. I did notice she likes order. She finds things that are alike and lines them all up in a row. Today there were 5 bananas all lined up on the counter and several sets of nail clippers all lined up on the window sill. 

This picture was taken last week - my friend Anita is in the white sweater and the Anita with Alzheimer's is in the red. 

A couple more pictures related to last night: this is the Attendance ribbon I had to make since I can't find award ribbons anymore to purchase. I think I like mine better anyway ;). 

Yesterday I made strawberry-lime water for a recital beverage. It looks pretty and it's very refreshing and good for you. One of my adult students just loved it, but not many others tried it...oh well, more for me. You can use any kind of fruit you like, our pastor's wife used apples and cinnamon sticks.