Friday, June 25, 2010

A New Phase of Life

Kids leaving home does have its advantages. I realized the other day that I have reached a stage of life that I haven't been in since Joshua was a baby...24 years ago.
When I clean my house, it actually STAYS CLEAN!!!!!

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Blooming








The previous owners of our house sure did know what they were doing when they planted the flower beds in our yard. Something is always blooming. It starts in the earliest spring months with the little crocus flowers. We then transition into the daffodills, tulips, magnolias. Next comes the iris' and peonies then roses. Now we are enjoying tiger lillies. Josh added some new perrenials in a pond garden he and Cliff have been working on.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Moving Day

Having a little brother who is strong does have its advantages... She only had to buy him lunch!!

Having a little sister who is taller than you had its advantages too!!!


Miss Independent!!


Friday, June 18, 2010

Bittersweet Days

Ok...I admit it. Watching her pack up her things and getting prepared to leave our home was a bit harder than I thought.
Now I know how my mom must have felt watching me, at age 19, pack up all my earthly posessions and prepare to get married and move halfway across the country!!
Bittersweet Days!!

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

The BIG Day

So Saturday is the big day...moving day. Amy will officially be out on her own!
To be honest, it won't be too different around our house. The last several weeks she's been staying with a friend who has cancer and is undergoing chemo. But, this seems a little more permanent. I mean, she'll have her OWN address!! She's ready to spread her wings. I don't blame her. I was excited when it was my turn and oh boy, the life lessons she's gonna learn!!
She doesn't have a whole lot to set up house with. Some of my friends have been so kind and generous to her. But that's all part of the excitement of setting up house.
So here we go...and to think I thought they changed so much when they were little!!!!!!!

Sunday, June 13, 2010

A Jewel In Worship


My job has many aspects...meaning, I fill several pairs of shoes. My main job, however, is preparing for our Sunday morning service and then making sure it all runs as smoothly and effectively as possible. Concerning Sunday morning, our main objective is to reveal Christ...pure and simple. We do this in various ways but the main staple is music.
Working on the worship team is probably one of the most rewarding and bittersweet things I do. It's bittersweet because when you are facing the audience, its sometimes not an easy thing to not notice the disinterest or apathy. I know there are some people who just do not like to sing but there's a difference between that and someone who is obviously waiting for the singing to be over. In our church, for the most part, the people are very supportive and encouraging to our worship team....which is so appreciated. And every now and then, God sends me a little "jewel" that blesses me almost more than I can express. Such was the case this morning. We were well into our first song, when I looked up from the keyboard and saw an elderly woman...she had to be somewhere between her late 70's to early 80's and there she stood singing, her hands raised in worship, and on her face was the countance of a woman who was in the presence of God. I'm moved to tears even now as I descibe this scene. She was absolutely pure, innocent, unashamed, and beautiful in her worship. She profoundly blessed me today and she doesn't even know it! (Which is a whole other lesson in itself!)
Thank you, Lord, for the gift of music and the wonder of worship!!

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Tying Ties and Other Brotherly Stuff

Last summer was tough. This year I feel so blessed to be surrounded by my four treasures....my kids, who, as quick as a blink, have turned into 4 adults!
My two sons, who are 7 years apart, have found a new friendship as adults. I think its so cool how they have connected. As Jacob was getting ready to go to his week-long music camp, one of the things he had to bring was a tie. Up until this point, Cliff has tied a tie for Jacob on the very few occasions he's had to wear one. This time, Cliff wasn't home. I had been out and when I walked into my livingroom, I saw Joshua giving Jacob a lesson in tie tying. I thought it was about the coolest thing ever!
Today, they rode together in my car and Josh was coaching Jacob in his driving skills. My two boys are as different as night and day. But they have found a common bond in brotherhood!!