The Gyroscope

My sister and her children were here this week spending a couple of days with us. I had bought the boys Gyroscopes at Cracker Barrel. We were just about ready to go to bed whenever they started getting crazy with them. Ha! Lesson learned: Never give two boys new gyroscopes at 10:30 at night. Ha! No, really, I was glad I did, because they had so much fun with them. Kind of hard to get them settled in to bed, but that's ok. We made some memories! Since we live 9 hours apart, we don't get to see each other very often. We had such a blast! The kids went ice skating too. Since it was a school day for the public school kids, they had the big rink mostly to themselves.

Easter Sunday

It's been a great day! I didn't realize Amber and Clayton's outfits would even halfway match. I had bought Clayton's shirt and tie at Christmas time. Amber bought her skirt a few weeks ago when she was down in IN visiting her good friend, Amber Petty. Anyhow, it worked out well.

Tonight, Amber and Jennifer brought an evening of sacred music to us. They had practiced hours upon hours for this. They provided piano duets, piano/organ duets, vocal duets, etc. They also had a really BIG surprise!! Apparently Jennifer's aunt, Linda Walker, had shared an invitation with their former piano teacher. As the service was about to start, in walked Mrs. Sue Schlabach, whom Jennifer and Amber love and respect alot! Mrs. Schlabach taught Jennifer for about 9 yrs. and Amber for approximately 7 yrs. So she has had a big part in their musical interests and abilities. She's a fabulous teacher and a wonderful Christian lady. She is the organist for the Detroit First Church of the Nazarene. We miss her and it was great to see her again!

Serving a Risen Savior!!

I love the events surrounding Holy Week. Dan was scheduled to sing at an IHC rally last night (Good Friday Evening), but it was canceled due to snow. He and Amber had been practicing the song, "The Night Before Easter" (complete with 4 key changes! :-) I just love that song! Hopefully, he'll sing it tomorrow at our church.
So last night, instead, we decided to go to the Williams Lake Nazarene Church's Easter Drama presentation, "The Victor". It had just started snowing here, and we had no idea the roads were so slick. After traveling there and back, I lost count of how many accidents and spin outs we saw. As we were walking through the falling snow into the high school where the performance was held, I had this funny feeling of deja vu, that maybe I was actually going in to see a Christmas drama. Ha! But the play was marvelous!! Really it was almost like a musical. It was portrayed through the eyes of Nicodemus. I especially enjoyed the scene where Jesus performed the many miracles. The blind man did a fantastic job! Miracles still happen, where there is child-like trust!!! I took pictures, but they didn't turn out very well.

Well, most of our day today will be spent preparing for tomorrow. Besides the church details which need to be done, I look forward to planning Sunday dinner for my family. The last couple of years on Easter Sunday I have included a carrot souffle. I believe that's now a tradition. I think I'll have a pork roast, mashed potatoes, pistachio salad (for my kids), macaroni & cheese (for Dan :-) and dinner rolls.

Resurrection Sunday is the most special Sunday all year long, in my opinion. Reflecting more intensely upon the events surrounding Christ's death and resurrection, just seems to bring about jubilant praise in so many people. In turn, God's Spirit draws near!

It's All My Fault!

Today on a MI 8 lane highway, I pulled out in front of someone. I didn't see a white cargo van coming my way, and the front part of our Lincoln was hit with tremendous force. Amber and I are fine. I should say, I'm VERY thankful Amber is fine, because if I would have pulled forward about two more feet, the impact would have been directly into the passenger's side, and I doubt she would still be with us. The people in the other vehicle are fine. Fortunately, both vehicles were older and of a larger size. As it was, most of the damage was done to the front part of our vehicle. The airbag exploded, and my door was jammed. The person who hit us, seemed to be of Arab descent... He came up and was hollering and pointing, and seemed very angry--- I guess he had reason to be. We apologized over and over again. His demeanor changed rather quickly. It shook us up quite badly, and we're starting to feel stiff and sore, but otherwise- we're just very grateful! I had asked Amber to drive when we left, she normally always does now. She said, "no" (for some reason). I'm so thankful that she wasn't driving. She has her permit, but will be eligible to get her license in a few weeks.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

I am privileged to have a Mother of extraordinary love and talent, of which I have been the recipient over and over again. Mom, we love you dearly and hope your birthday is very special!

One Way To Know Your Child Is Growing Up-

Sing it loud, sing it long!

"Children retain 10% of what is told to them,
40% if there is a visual aid,
60% if there is a story,
and 90% if they sing it."
-Elder Boyd K. Packer

"Buddy" Update

As of this coming Thursday, we have had our dog, Buddy, for 4 months. I was looking over the picture I took of him right after we brought him home and realized there is quite a difference in him. After having him groomed now (twice), he does look different! His fur on his face, feet, and tail, were so stained when we got him.

BUDDY, 4 MONTHS AGO


After his last short haircut, his fur came in snow white. It's hard to believe the difference! Also, his demeanor is so different now. He was really deprived when we found him. (His story is in an earlier post.) He has warmed up to us very well and loves to cuddle. If one of us is gone for a time, we get the biggest "welcome home party" when we arrive back. (I'm trying to make a case for how wonderful a dog can be for my cousin's son, Bryson! Ha!)

THIS WEEK'S PHOTOS
Black and White




Sepia (Somehow Amber's camera got messed up with all these different tones. I would have preferred these in color, but, oh well.)


Just after Buddy's last haircut.

Speaking to Yourselves in.... HYMNS

I noticed that I had been tagged by some friends to pick up the nearest book of 123 pages or more. Find Page 123.
Read the first 5 sentences.
Post the next 3 sentences.
Tag 5 people......
Well, the book closest to me doesn't have 123 pages, so I guess I'm cheating a little, but it does lead to what I had been thinking of blogging about, so here goes....
The book is Christ's Standard Bearer by George Finlay.
It is a study in the hymns of Charles Wesley.
I love thrift stores and old books. I found this book recently and bought it, mainly because Dan has been doing a Sunday night series on the Hymns of the Church.

These services have been very informative.

The first topic was, "Hymns Which Were Written Over 100 Years Ago". Some of those included: My Savior First of All, I Belong to the King, The Old Rugged Cross and Be Still My Soul. Somehow, I believe those will still be around a long time after I'm gone!

In the second service, Dan spoke about "Hymns Written in 30 Minutes or Less". I found this just amazing! Songs like, Abide With Me, In the Sweet Bye and Bye and No One Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus. These are songs which could hardly be described any other way, but "God-inspired"!

Unfortunately, I missed last Sunday's hymn service, due to sickness. The theme was, "Hymns Written By Those Who Endured Physical Suffering". I was able to read Dan's notes. Some of the song titles written by those with immense suffering were:
God Will Take Care Of You, Near To The Heart of God and The Solid Rock.

I have come to love the hymns which I grew up singing in church. It seems like they have taken on new meaning for me over the past few years. I've never been privileged to sit in on a hymnology class, but I think it would be so cool! I admit, I enjoy a wide variety of music. I can listen to anything from bluegrass to opera and feel blessed! :-) My daughter has taken an interest in classical, partially because she has had to in her musical studies. (She just completed Bach Inventions 8 and 13) I really liked those too! But there's just nothing like the old hymns!
I heard Gloria Gaither say that hymns are really "portable pieces of theology". What an excellent analogy! How important they will be to us and our children in the years to come!
I remember the first fierce battle I faced as a young mother and wife. One night in the hardest part of it all, the Lord brought a song to my mind, and the most overwhelming peace filled my heart. Now, when I think back to it, the song completely overshadows the trial. And it's been that way all along! Next to the Psalms, nothing has lifted my spirit like the hymns.
I can't say I have a favorite... There are too many wonderful hymns which speak to different occasions and situations we face day to day, but the following song has become ONE of my all-time favorites:

Born on October 3, 1832, in Sweden, Lina was the daughter of a pastor. When she was twenty-six years of age, she accompanied her father on a journey to Gothenburg, but tragedy occurred before the destination was reached. The ship gave a sudden lurch and Lina’s father fell overboard, and drowned before the eyes of his devoted daughter.
Soon many songs began to flow out of her broken heart. Her songs reflect a simple child-like trust in Christ, and a deep sense of His abiding presence in her life, including this song.
Day by day, and with each passing moment, Strength I find, to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment, I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
He Whose heart is kind beyond all measure Gives unto each day what He deems best—
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure, Mingling toil with peace and rest.

Oh, I guess I really didn't get to the book overview... Maybe some other time.