Suzuki Baby Music: Returning to Joy

Suzuki Baby Music: Returning to Joy: "Mr. N smiles with encouragement and comfort from Mom In my Wednesday morning Bible study I've been learning about being a mature person. L..."

Gone Shopping

I went shopping in real brick and mortar stores today.  First time in almost a half year that I've spent several hours just browsing, trying on, and buying clothing and accessories.  It was quite profitable too!  I had some coupons and groupons and found some clearance items as well. Big plus is that one store had 20% off everything in it today only.  So I have five new tops and one new skirt. Except the skirt is being shipped because my size was nowhere to be found.  It's awesome and worth waiting for!  Lots of colors in a diagonal print of chiffon over a solid lining.  Just my kind of skirt!

I was totally determined to purchase only prints because my closet is full of solid colors.  Except for a little white knit shrug that goes with all the solid colors, I accomplished that. Print skirt. Check. Tunic top in purples and blues. Check. Peasant shirt in blues, black and white. Check.  Tiered ruffled tank top in a subtle print to wear with neutral pants in five colors. Check.  Striped bold colored tank top. Check.  Five checkmarks in a row! Bingo!

My last stop was at a dollar store to replenish gift wrap supplies.  At the check out counter a little girl named Trinity was clearly tagging along after school with one of the clerks.  She was adorable and precocious and told her friend, "You have a customer!  I'll tell you whenever you have one so you won't miss anyone!"  I told her she was very helpful and she agreed.  Said, "I'm full of joy and cheerfulness too."  I agreed with her and added that she was also quite confident. She countered with, "Yes I am. I'm smart too!"  So I asked her if she was about 18 years old yet and her answer was, "No! I'm 8 and she's (the clerk) 25."   I advised her that the Bible says that laughter is good medicine, so she should feel very good about making so many people happy.  She said, "I do!  I'm giving out lots of good medicine."

Father, bless little Trinity with the fullness of your presence every day of her life and always, always, give her the ability to return to your joy in every circumstance. Amen. 

I Am Thankful

Today I just want to state in print those things in my life for which I am thankful to God.  This is my Psalm for the day.

I give thanks to God, for He is Good!  His Love endures forever. Thank You for my beautiful family-my husband of almost 39 years who loves me as Christ loves the church and prays for me daily; for my ancestors who love You and paved the way for me to know You; for my Daddy's life and example of You to me til the day he went to You; for my Mom's life and her example of continual service to You; for my beautiful first born daughter, because she is a continuing fountain of delight and discovery in every aspect of her life--that girl has always loved life and learning!  For my beautiful second born daughter who last week celebrated her 33rd birthday--every minute of those 33 years has been filled with her peaceful heart and gentle love toward us and her special ones. She is still the Rose Queen!  For my beautiful third born daughter and the sweet baby boy she carries now--her life has always been like her name, full of Joy and awesome grace.  For their husbands--God has blessed each of them with the love of their lives, who love our girls as Christ loved the Church.  Wow!  For our precious beautiful fourth born daughter, the most fabulous Kathleen the Queen (Esther) who has inner strength and creativity and deep wells of love flowing from her.  For our beautiful and extraordinary grandchildren and for all God is doing in their lives to bring His Kingdom to earth through them and teach them their destinies.  For Muffin's Mom, Nana, full of courage and charm and laughter and prayers.  For Muffin's sister and her family, a delight to us all and daily blessings to Nana and to their friends.
For good health.
For jobs that fulfill us.
For children who inspire us.
For church homes that always tell us they are happy to be with us.
For shelter and food and clothing that is far more than we can ask or think.
For financial blessing in abundance to be able to give to others.
For Music, Art, Dance, and all forms of Creativity from the Creator.
For good insurance the day after several hail storms.
For friends who are glad to be with me.
For rain yesterday and in advance for more!
For the Body of Christ in all the earth, each member of whom is precious and vital to Your Kingdom.
For my sweet dog, Scooter.
For those who serve me, who I forget to thank.
For those who teach us.
For Jesus, who gave up everything to show us the Way.
For the Holy Spirit who is with us now to show us how to live like we never left the Garden.

Eventful Easter

As if it were not enough to celebrate Resurrection Day (Hallelujah!  Glory to God for His powerful love that raised Jesus from the grave!!!!!),  we had multiple events today that were memorable.  Two of our darling daughters, oldest and youngest, plus one special son in law and two precious granddaughters were here for the weekend.  We played hard, cooked lots, JB worked hard at Nannie's house, and we had a birthday party in early celebration of Emme's and Ruby's fifth birthday.  This morning we had a great Easter service, which the girls thought was Easter circus (it does sound similar), sang and praised the risen Lord with some dancing and art and Marmee playing with the Praise Team.

After church we ate ham, fresh green beans, asparagus, carrots, spinach with strawberries, and corn,  Nannies mashed potatoes and Mac & Cheese.  Drank blueberry iced tea. More vanilla birthday cake with chocolate frosting and coffee for dessert. While the corn was roasting we hid eggs and Em and Roo hunted.  The weather was a little cool, but sunny and good barefoot weather.

While we were cleaning the kitchen and Kaki and Christel packed to leave, the sky grew dark.  Then we started to hear thunder.  Turned on the TV to catch any weather reports for travel purposes and that proved to be smart.

 JB and Emme watching the rain fall before the big hail started falling.

                                                                    One of the larger ones after it had melted a little.

 My poor hail beaten herbs.

 Lots of desperately needed rain fell!  The wildfires have been terrible and many acres and much property has been lost.  

 Poor pitiful petunias. 

This hailstone fell in the first round of hail.  Four more storms later and lots of rain on it, it was still this big!

And I made three of these pillowcase dresses this weekend between cooking and partying. Gracie gets hers next weekend. 

Too busy

It has been too long since I blogged.  Which doesn't mean nothing is happening.  Quite the contrary!  Most notably I had a birthday and Nana had emergency surgery to have her gall bladder removed.  And she got an iPad for her birthday which she is enjoying while she recovers nicely at home. Nannie had a small fracture in her knee cap from the wreck and Muffin had a cracked tooth that needed a crown, plus other dental work.  And there have been some trips to see her, some concerts, and a few other gigs, plus the studio and Baby Music. In fact, the way my week goes now is like this:
Monday, catch up in the morning/ Emmaus reunion group at noon/ teach from 2:30-7:30 pm
Tuesday, Baby Music 10-11ish/ lunch/teach from 1:15-6:45/ Body Flow 8-9 pm
Wednesday, Sozo class at church 9:30 -noon/Body Flow 12:00-1:00/lunch/ teach 2:00-6:30
Thursday, morning meetings or errands/12:30 Pilates/2:30 appointments/6:30 Baby Music class
Friday and Saturday, Body Flow/ shopping and errands with Muffin/ gigs or activities we enjoy/laundry
Sunday, church and cooking for the week

Throw in some odds and ends or visits or ministry time and it's a full day every day.
Two things I want to remember, however, are a "happening" and a dream.  The first was in the ICU while visiting Nana.  The room was crowded and the chair was uncomfortable.  I tried for a few hours to be cozy there, but it was also cold. Finally Monte told me he would stay while I sat in the waiting room. I took a book and got comfortable in a chair, then felt that I should pray. I closed my eyes and began to feel the weighty presence of the Holy Spirit on me. As I prayed for Nana a quietness enveloped me from behind and I felt the wings of an angel fold over me from above my head to around my knees, leaving my feet sticking out and resting on the floor.  I don't know how long I was there--maybe 2 hours or more--but it seemed like only minutes and I was completely warm and comfortable in knowing that Nana was also enveloped by the same angel wings.  This was a BIG angel and I could literally feel the texture of the wings around me.  When Monte came out he found me quietly sitting up and I felt as if I had been somewhere inside those wings--then the sensation of the air and sounds in the room came back to me all at once.   I can still feel what it was like to be cocooned inside those wings--ahhhh......

Secondly, I had a dream after praying for family this weekend.  It was an intense prayer in which Muffin and I stormed the gates for freedom for several family members who are living as captive to fear and oppression.  Afterward we went to sleep.  And I dreamed that I had been inside a courtroom and was being taken to prison although I had done nothing wrong.  As I was led into the corridor taking me into the prison it changed and became something else altogether. The transformation was all around, including the people who had led me into the corridor. The light changed and became sparkling and twinkly and we danced and floated through the corridor and those leading me became fairy-like or angelic with lightness in their clothing and beings--even their hair seemed to float around them and everything was translucent around us, even the air.  I remember saying, "O God! If prison is like this it will be worth it all!"  But it changed again as we left the corridor and went into an area much like a hospital or mental ward.  I was given a dress unlike anything I would choose to wear--ditsy print with little tucks, fitted waist, very short and not covering me as I wanted to be covered. I struggled with the buttons and the missing length at the hemline and tried to make it fit me better.  We were given baskets of small objects--all alike and all made by children with construction paper very lovingly.  They seemed like baskets of "agape" if you understand Emmaus language.  I went person to person and handed out the agape. There were things in the floor that tempted me to bend and pick them up, but I felt too exposed with the short hem length and heard someone say, "She's not taking the bait." As I continued there was more agape and more invitations to bend, but I remained on task and tried to focus on each person in their own space, praying that the handmade items would touch their hearts.  Then I woke up.

We talked about this dream at reunion group today.  Consensus is that I was led in the power of the Spirit to the prison of fear and anxiety and torment and oppression where my family members live. I took to them gifts of love--which is the power that raised Christ from the dead. I did not feel completely comfortable in doing this--uncovered, improperly clothed--so perhaps I need more prayer covering myself.  But I did not take the bait to expose my vulnerability to evil forces along the way.

I think I need to pray more and sleep more. That's where the good stuff is!