I’m Impressed

In beginning the narration part of the ‘Special Memories Recital’  I am constantly impressed by the leading of the Lord on many parts of the narration. Five different friends at different times; while I am still in the thinking about and planning stage of the narration; have shared things that will become an important  part of it.

Tonight, thanks to Penny, I have the 7 points that will tie it all together.  Now as soon as Bill’s initial recovery is past I will be confirming which students will be attending.  Then will be scheduling who wants to perform and what they want to do.

In the meantime I will be doing more of the housework that Bill usually does.  We are trying to do some of the catch up things in the next 3 days before the cataract removal.  That will give me more free time to be with him, do things with him and for him after the 2nd.

We are so blessed! I’m loving the time we are able to be back with our church family.  There is something so special with being with other Christians in united worship.  We’re praying for continued good health and nice weather to enable us to be there.

To give you a little preview of the recital; we will be covering the benefits of music,  singing, and lessons; along with recognition.   So far about a dozen of my former students,  a special friend and my 5 current students will be sharing their music.  We plan on having music and memories from 1pm until 3pm.  Then munchies and more memories until shortly before 5pm.

Tonight my mind is so full of all the important, mostly joyful things, that need to be done in the next 8 weeks it is hard to stay focused on any one thing.  Have patience with me please. 🙂

Some of those events,  Michele called tonight and she will be planning to be here for Lyndi’s dance recital and Mother’s Day,  folks that are planning to be at the recital or helping with it,  invitations given and students planning to attend lists.  Then the ‘Special Memories Recital’ itself.  Love the preparations and the event itself.

Most important events in the next 8 weeks started today with Palm Sunday services and of course the most important day of our year  Resurrection Sunday or Easter.  Such a joyful ending for a week with a crucial, apparently sad day, occurring near the end of it.

But then RESURRECTION !  The foundation of our hope, our faith, our love, our lives!

The very best ending for any of my blogs.  Have a very blessed day!

 

 

 

Three Times in a Row PTL

For the third time in a row we were able to attend church this morning 🙂 ❤ This was a real blessing since we have been prevented by cold temperature, bad roads, and physical limitations.  We have been able to hear the sermons, thanks to Aaron, but it just isn’t the same as being there for the worship, singing and the friendship of other believers.  So we are rejoicing and praising the Lord for the privilege 🙂

Another blessing this week was the developing health benefits I experienced from being in the group of Clean Eating and Fitness.  I noticed several days this week that it was much easier to think about what I was eating.  As a result many healthier choices were made in what went into my very undisciplined mouth. I will be asking how to invite others to join tomorrow; so if you’re interested just message me on Facebook.

Now, 7 days later, it was 4 times we were able to be back worshiping at our church It is wonderful to be with others in our church family ! We’ve had the benefit of the teaching before but missed the church family so much.  Facebook helps us keep in contact but nothing can take the place of ‘face to face’ fellowship.

If I had the monetary means I would have an elevator installed so I could attend all the wonderful activities that we miss with our physical limitations.  The stairs to the fellowship area are very hard for us to go up safely.  I’m so thankful that the Lord and many of our church family understand my caution.

Blogging regularly will be one of my top priorities for the next 10 weeks to keep me focused on what is really important in our time schedule.  I have been asked several times when the next book will be published. It is time to work on that, as well as prepare for the “special memories recital”.

In the midst of that Bill has a cataract surgery; writing the narration for the recital needs to be completed; former students have to be contacted to see what talent they are going to share; munchies for the recitals need to be planned; regular schedules need to be taken care of  etc etc etc.

Any suggestions on how to put 24 hours worth of work into 16 hours?  Me neither 🙂 Many years ago when I complained with not having enough hours in the day, the Lord asked me, ” if He gave me more hours, how many hours of work would I try to put into the extra hours.”  He knows me so well.

I continue to gain much of my strength and a little more discipline every time I take the time to go to church or spend time reading the Bible.  Hopefully before my 80th birthday I will complete the 75th time of reading completely through this wonderful book.  Hope to be disciplined enough some year to match the times I have completed reading it through with my age.  That is close to the top of my long-range goals.

“In spring a young man’s fancy turns to love” is a well know quote.  Well I’m definitely neither young or a man, so spring gives me very different thoughts.  It is always a time of more busyness and completing the cleaning I usually start at least by mid January.  This year the cleaning is only beginning.  The especially confining temperature of winter plus a mild case of the flue, combined with being exhausted much of the time caused many extra hours of sleep.  I think I slept more in the first two and a half months of 2015  than during any other 10 months. Coupled with the age related limitations I’ll need a miracle from the Lord to complete my  daily goals. The older I get the more I appreciate the benefits of serving the Lord. 🙂

How does the Lord daily bless you?

 

March is Memories Month

March is for memories this year  My goal for this month (God willing) is to write the narration for the “Special Memories Recital” with memories from some of my music students. I’m finding when I think of one memory it triggers other precious memories. I hope to type these random thoughts to use in a picture/thoughts book to display at that recital on May 30, 2015.

Today will be a hodgepodge of memories and thoughts i seem to be receiving as part of this month for memories.  Ramble with me if you’d enjoy the various memories of this month. Plus memories of years gone by.

Triggered by a comment on Facebook today are many shocking times in my life. Literally! Until the last few years I was subject to giving and receiving many static shocks.  Too numerous to share in this post, one in particular came to mind as Carol shared her post.

We were at a sales convention in Illinois where a top executive of Creative Expressions was to be the keynote speaker.  He was a charming gentleman from the East Coast with his distinctive accent.  We were arriving at the same door at the same time. Being a courteous gentleman he put his hand on my back to escort me through the door. At the same time reaching for the metal door bar to open it for me.  The static spark snapped as he received the  shock from touching me and the bar.  His comment,  “What a sparkling  personality you have!” as he jumped from the contact.

Over the years I have shared that shocking ability with many people, in a store when the clerk touched my hand and change flew everywhere.  In a factory when the supervisor touched me and post cards were scattered.  Until I learned how to avoid it, when a party hostess reached to take my coat in the winter.  When Bill and I kissed when we were standing between the refrigerator and the electric stove   and   and   and   ………..

So many memories connected to other people,  when a single memory brings more memories.  Time after time I’m impressed by how blessed we have been and continue to be by the people and things God has brought into our lives.

As I approach my 80th birthday my brain, with all the memories, is like many attics filled with all the bits and pieces of our lives.  Surfacing like things floating on water with no specific connection to each other.  Things that have been forgotten until someone or something reminds us.

Friends like Robert and Shirley, not on the front surface of our thoughts until a post on Facebook refers to Shirley’s sister.  Memories flooding, bringing back times when we were all young; raising our children in the same church.  How they helped welcome us into the church when we moved to Charlotte.

That reminds me how we came to go to the Assembly of God that first Sunday and why we stayed.

We had intended to go to the Pilgrim Holiness Church in Eaton Rapids when the children and I came over to join Bill.  We set the alarm so we would have time for the four of us to get ready and make the drive to Eaton Rapids.  For the only time ever;  it never failed again, the alarm did not ring.  No time to get ready and make the drive. We didn’t want to be late the first time we went there.  So I asked Bill where we might go in town.

He said, ” Dwight told me that Pastor Taylor has a church in Charlotte.  Why don’t we go there?”  We had known the Taylors when they were pastors in a church near Applegate.  We had met them when  they bought groceries at Mom’s store.

So we went that first morning and  the Lord impressed us to stay.   A special memory that has been the source of numerous others.

When you think of special memories what is the first one that comes to your mind?

Waiting to finish this today the Lord added another very pleasant memory.  A matter of business put me in contact with a lovely young lady with an equally lovely name, Starlene.  After the business was concluded we chatted briefly but long enough to know I would like to know her better as a new friend.  We never know what blessing the Lord will provide as we serve Him with an obedient heart.

The last memory of this blog is the memory of a favorite Christian author C.S.Lewis and one of his quotes   “Nobody can always have devout feelings; and even if we could, feelings are not what God principally cares about.  Christian,  love … is an affair of the will. But, the great feelings come and go,  his love for us does not.”