These are the lives of the rearranged
Scattered souls who’ve been displaced
Nowhere else to turn
Like Bethlehem we have packed the place
Human need fills ever space
No room at the inn

Still God found a corner,
Made a bed down in the hay
Could he reappear, make his advent here
Will he still draw near today?

My world is crying,
Crying for a Christmas
Some way to know for sure –
That our God is with us
We could all use a sign
A little glimpse of divine
For a world that still cries for Christmas

Feeding trough on a dirty floor
Unimpressive welcome for
God’s Almighty Son
Are we as blind to incarnation
Daily proof of our salvation
Love’s already come

We are not abandoned,
All alone in our despair
He who once came down, he can still be found
Every when and everywhere

My world is crying,
Crying for a Christmas
Some way to know for sure –
That our God is with us
Once a baby so small
Grew to die for us all
For a world that still cries for Christmas.

Jesus you are here, Jesus you are now
Jesus you are here, Jesus you are now

My world is crying,
Crying for a Christmas
Some way to know for sure –
That our God is with us
We can all be the sign
That his love is alive
For a world that still cries for Christmas

Scott Krippayne

I love this song.  I would post it if I could find it on youtube.  Maybe some day.  Ever have a song that touches things deep inside that only music can do?  You can’t express what you feel in mere conversation – but somehow this song writer really “gets it” – that’s how I feel.

Look it up on iTunes – you’ll be blessed.  I promise.

Merry Christmas and God Bless ♥

My favorite scene in the move “The Grinch” – this arrangement is not the same one recorded by Faith Hill – and the one I have used many times for my vocal students – but I really like the simplicity of this arrangement – so beautifully done by this young actress.  We watched it just the other day and I remember why I loved it so much before I got the Faith Hill version.

As Cindy Lou Hoo searches for Christmas in this movie – I think all of us at one time or another have felt the same way.  Behind the shopping and frenzy – parties and gatherings – gifts and food – Where does it go?

The meaning and the reason are simple.  Jesus.  A baby being born. God in the flesh.  Emanuel – God with us.

This never goes out of style or changes throughout time.  It is a clear message of God’s love – His very best – as a gift to us.

May we not lose sight of that wonder and that miracle of love this Christmas.

Merry Christmas and Lots of Love to all of my dear family and friends. ♥

Today we foolishly went to the “mall” trying to eat at the Cheesecake Factory on the same property.  It was ridiculous.  But what did we expect?  After all – 3 more shopping days until Christmas.  And we weren’t even going inside the mall – we just wanted one little parking space WAY far away from the doors – across the parking lot – for goodness sakes!!!  Greg says this is why he doesn’t EVER go near the mall in the month of December.  I’m starting to see why.

Ever want to just escape from it all?  Get back to simplicity – stop all the madness?

Below is a wonderful song that sums up how I feel about today.  Enjoy the beautiful song and pictures – as you try to have a “silent night” tonight ♥

God Bless

It’s the 20th – My dear husband’s birthday and our big OPEN HOUSE to celebrate!!

But it’s also five days before Christmas!!!  And I’m NOT panicked are hurried or in a frenzy this year!  It’s sooooooo different than last year at this time!  And I’m glad ♥

Things get easier when you’re children are grown-up and have their own lives – no little kids anymore around here – just my MANY students – whom I LOVE!!

This last week was a very special one with my students – they came bearing gifts and smiles and hugs!  We watched the recital video and I opened presents ☺  So much fun!  I love children – and especially the ones that are in my home every week – we have a unique and wonderful relationship!!

Are you ready for Christmas this year?  Are hugs and smiles from family and friends enough for you?  Do children warm your heart?  Do you like being around them at this time of year?  I do!  So precious through the eyes of a child!

We are blessed with friends – and feel very rich indeed – especially when a big birthday comes around and you get to hear wishes from friends near and far – “He who has friends – is rich indeed”  That’s what we feel like ♥♥♥

God Bless!

Yes it’s Official.  This Man of mine turns 50 tomorrow.  The nerve.  Not only has he passed right “over the hill” – but he had the audacity and unmitigated gall to be born right BEFORE CHRISTMAS!!!  What WAS he thinking???  Okay – maybe it wasn’t his fault – but his irresponsible parents – how unthoughtful of them!  Someone must be to blame for this unfortunate occurrence.

Every year it’s the same thing – We put up the lights and tree – all the decorations and we’re in CHRISTMAS mode – and then – WHAMMO – we’re hit with a Birthday – 5 days before Christmas!!  Unthinkable.

Well  - tomorrow we will fuss over him and make him feel really great to try to sooth his masculinity – after all – he IS pretty old.  He can’t help it – it happens to us all – I myself am never turning 50 – I have decided it’s not for me.  Even though 50 is the new 30 – or something like that – and I’ve never looked or felt better – Nope – it’s not for me ☺

I feel as though I must say some things about this wonderful man I’m married to.  He’s one of a kind – and I know I could never replace him.  No one could put up with me as he has – shown love and graciousness as he has done and been the example to me and our children of God’s patience, humor and consistency through the good and bad times.  I’m in awe of him.  He’s one of the most “perfect” human beings I’ve ever met – never a cross word in 28 years of marriage – hardly ever loses his temper – I’ve only seen it happen a couple of times and is always positive and loving – and it’s been a good thing too – because I am so flawed and make so many mistakes.  But he is steadfast and dependable – always seeking – always doing the right things – always believing the best and wanting me to be better – his encouragement and strength have been a “god-send” and daily I’m reminded how lucky I am.  He is truly the best man I’ve ever had the privilege to know.  All his friends would say the same thing about him – they feel lucky to know him.  His parents and brothers can’t say enough good things about him either.  He is blessed ♥

Tomorrow we celebrate with Eddie Duarte cooking Mexican for us and having all the family and friends come through our home for a Birthday Open House.  We are getting the house ready for everyone today – and excited to see everyone – old friends – some we haven’t seen in a long time – some we see all the time.  We are thinking today of our out of town friends that we wish could be here too – our thoughts are with you today ♥

Below is a baby picture of my dear husband and a picture of what he looks like today – He’s a handsome, sexy 50 year old!!  Much love to you, Greg ♥♥♥

I just had an incredible kindness shown to me on the phone – by a total stranger from King County regarding property taxes.  There was going to be a BIG penalty assigned to us because of a bank error.  Instead of them insisting on the fee being paid – they graciously listened and decided not to impose it.  Things have been tight for us this year – and our son just had surgery on his finger to top everything else off!

I just read a note from my friend Cindy who decided to show generosity to a waitress that had been “stiffed” by former customers.  Cindy decided to offer to pay for the deficit – and instead of the waitress being sad and possibly losing her job over this tragedy – she was AMAZED at the gift offered to her.

My daughter works at Starbucks.  During the holidays it is tradition in the drive-thru to “pay it forward” – meaning you surprise the people in the car behind you by asking the person at the window what their total is – and PAY IT for them!  When they pull up – they are AMAZED and humbled at the Christmas spirit being shown to them – and they (usually) pay for the next person – and so on.  Ashlee has told us that this has gone on – if no one breaks the chain – for 25 cars or more some days!!  Isn’t that great?  One person blessing another and passing it on.

Are there kind people out there during the holidays?  Yes there are.  We don’t often hear about them because negative news travels FASTER – it seems.  I LOVE to hear these stories, don’t you?  It restores our faith in humanity – tells us there is something greater than ourselves to live for – it is the very reason Christ came to this earth – to love – to restore – to GIVE.

Are you looking for that “Christmas Miracle” – do you wonder if there are any kind and generous people in this world anymore?  Especially around the holidays?  Then I would encourage you to BE a “Christmas Miracle” for someone else.  You may not have to pay for a meal or buy groceries for someone in need – but it may just be as simple as having an encouraging or kind word for someone having a bad day.  Maybe you are the only person that someone lonely can talk to.  They may think there is no one that cares about them – and you may be Jesus to them.  That “Christmas Miracle” may be YOU.

Look around today – stay alert!  You never know who will come across your path that you can bless today!

God Bless

These are some lyrics written by a friend  - that I set to music in my junior year of high school.  I read them today and I’m still amazed at how they move me.  I knew what the circumstances were for her to write these – but if I didn’t know them they would still be as evoking and beautiful.

Like any good lyrics – they are timeless.  They have many “layers” of meaning.  They are emotional – they are spiritual.  They touch a deep part of the heart.  And when combined with music – it is magic.

She and I attempted to make some of that magic in high school.  And as I reflect over those lyrics and the music that I put with each song – I am brought back to a time and place of innocence and newness – a different me – the same me.

Enjoy ♥

KNOWING

Turning hands despises time

open doors to needing

half told stories seems to pass

eyes are calmly leading

Lights on laughter still my mind

reaching in and taking

Smiling sweetly you teach me all

emotions slowly waking

Holding tightly – asking truth

knowing me – still caring

never wonder but keep me safe

taking chances daring

Faces masked – lives mistaken

asking him and wronging

all the “rights” I’ve found in you

desperate hope and longing

Love’s intention fooled again

living high and growing

intensely real – and yet charades

while both of us keep knowing

Holding tightly – asking truth

knowing me – still caring

never wonder but keep me safe

taking chances daring

Reading this morning in the Message Bible – here is a passage from Isaiah 55:

^8-11“I don’t think the way you think.
The way you work isn’t the way I work.”
God’s Decree.
“For as the sky soars high above earth,
so the way I work surpasses the way you work,
and the way I think is beyond the way you think.
Just as rain and snow descend from the skies
and don’t go back until they’ve watered the earth,
Doing their work of making things grow and blossom,
producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry,
So will the words that come out of my mouth
not come back empty-handed.
They’ll do the work I sent them to do,
they’ll complete the assignment I gave them.

God does not work like we do.  Some of us like to get things done right away and not have it hanging over our heads – some are “plodders”  - some of us are downright lazy and only work if we have to.  For some of us – we find great fulfillment with a job well done – great satisfaction and self worth comes from contributing and doing something unique – that only we can do and that brings tremendous amounts of joy.

But the scripture says that God does NOT work like we do.  And He does NOT think the way we think either.  His ways are much higher than ours – we see a through a “finite” lens – temporary and often times self serving.  God is infinite - sees the “big picture” is not limited by this dimension – or our small ways of thinking.  He works with us in mind ALL THE TIME.

I am glad for this – because if the God that I served was like me – there would be nothing special (for I am not that special) – no one to trust (I am untrustworthy) and no one who could tell me that He was holding on to me and has everything under control – (I am weak – “prone to wander” – selfish and stubborn – who would be able to depend on me? – I certainly don’t have everything in my life under control!)  No – I am very glad that He is much higher – His thinking and working are different from mine.  It gives me a reason to live – to love – to go on.

And God has promised that His words will not go back to Him without accomplishing their purpose.  This is a statement that proves to me that He is always thinking about me – working for my good – wanting the best for my life.  Even when I still don’t see it.  Even when I throw my hands up in the air and say, “I just don’t get it, Lord”  - even when I cry – and I’m brokenhearted by past events that hurt me – and forever altered me.  Even then.  Even when things around me spin and swirl – and I don’t see any purpose in it except to make me crazy – even then.

He is dependable – I am not.

He is trustworthy – I am not

He is Love – I try to love

He works for my good – I am selfish

His thoughts are higher than mine – I think only in the present, too often the past and only sometimes the future

His work is solid, never changing – I am flighty and lazy

His word will be accomplished – my words are deceptive and wicked

He is always pursuing me chasing after me – I run when the going gets tough

I am amazed at His great love for me – though undeserving – though I don’t understand His thoughts and His ways.  I am blessed and humbled.  What a great Big God we serve!

God Bless

Dedicated to all my Dear Friends today.  This BEAUTIFUL song is taken from the movie “The Mission”  Enjoy!

God Bless

Take from our souls the strain and stress

And let our ordered lives confess

The beauty of your peace

In Matthew 11 we read:

^28-30“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

I am worn out.  Not just physically – but emotionally and mentally too.  I think everyone is around this time of year.  We have so much to do – so little time to do it in – and our list from day to day seems to grow.  This season I’ve had a recital to prepare for – music to direct for a theater production – and open house for my dear husband – who turns 50 on Sunday.

Yesterday my computer crashed THREE software programs as I was trying to use them – and in the midst of that I lost all my music too – my fault – NOT the computer – and finally when I didn’t think anything else could happen – my son fractured his pinky finger playing basketball at church with some friends – leaving his hand immobile for basketball – and he is one of the starting players for his varsity team this season.

I’m done.  Stick a fork in me.  So I was contemplating this verse that Jesus was saying in Matthew – and I love what the Message Bible had to say.  Maybe I just need to “get away” with Him for several days (or weeks) to recover my sanity and feeling of being overwhelmed.  Jesus promised a sense of renewal and refreshing from life’s busy demands and pressures – that we have put on us – or put on ourselves.

I also love what He says about not giving us anything “heavy” to pack around – in fact – He tells us to “cast our cares” on Him.  We need to leave them with Him – lighten our load and trust Him to carry them for us.  This is a hard thing to do.

Last August I remember exactly where I was on my walk when I “gave it” to Him – the “thing” that I had been carrying around for months – and said firmly – “I’m leaving it here with you – and I’m NOT picking it back up again – it’s too heavy”.  If you’re like me – you do things that are similar.  It sounds good at the time – and I’m even good at leaving it there for a while – but then worry sets in and I’m right back AGAIN picking that heavy pack and hoisting it on my back – feeling the weight on my chest.  I don’t know why I do this.  It would sound so spiritual to say I am never tempted to do this – and that I always trust and leave everything with Him after praying about it and giving it over – but I would be lying.

I want to be able to live by faith – and I’m on a journey to do this.  I want to learn His ways – watch Him work – feel the unforced rhythms of His grace – but I fall short every time.  I want so much to be that trusting child – being so confident in my Heavenly Father.  I want to breathe a prayer like Mary in the song “Breath of Heaven”  - “Help me be Strong – Help me be – Help me”

Perhaps acknowledging where I am weakest – is where I truly find His strength.  I need to live in that place all the time – and not let my independent spirit take over – so that I don’t miss His blessing – as He carries me.

What thing do you have that is heavy on your chest?  Can you truly give it up and give it over to Him?  Do you trust Him to work things out better than you can?

I am praying that you can.  And that your Christmas will be lighter this year.

God Bless