Glorious Days

I am pleasantly situated in the early morning hour on my side porch. It rained throughout the night and the dampness hangs like a sheer curtain in the air, softening songs, sounds, and sensations. I breathe in the heavy air sweetened by blooms all around. This will surely be a part of heaven. (Said, of course, in my very human, very limited understanding.)

Ah! I revel in the simple, yet complex beauty of sound, sight, and fragrance. Perfection.

Suddenly there is a shift. The raucous "caw caws" of a large black bird breaks the tranquility, a reminder that perfection is not true here, in this place, in this time. The birds' songs still, the mood becomes somber in recognition of danger. The heavy air takes on an even heavier aura. Sin has touched even their simple world.

Someday we will live in perfect peace. He will reign in every place. The lion will lie down with the lamb. And even the raucous call of large black birds will bring no sense of impending danger.

O, what a glorious day that will be!

Red Roof Inn? It's Better, I Promise!

Hubby had son create a group e-mail called "1942". Who? What? Why?

"1942" is for residents, semi-residents, and fairly regular 0vernight guests. It has been created for the purpose of communicating events, meal plans, schedules, housekeeping requests, chores and projects, etc. to all who call this place home either permanently, temporarily, part-time, or now and then. How many are on the list? Sixteen at the moment. But we need to add Tanda. (Jamie, don't forget to do that.) And that doesn't include my mom and dad or my littlest guy, or Danica. (She just requested that she be added, too...)

If you want to get your name on the list, just show up here once a week with your pillow (that includes you, Lisa C., and Danica and I will handle labor...) Then you'll get your name on the group hub, too.

I think I am enjoying this season of ministry! Who would have thought that 2008 would look like this?

A Morning's Ponderings

Danica and Jameson have been hit hard with the tummy bug. Oh, well. At least we're here to help out if we can. Still, I didn't realize she had a hard night until I found them on the couch this morning with the bedroom mattress stripped bare. Must be during the night little man was sick again. This can't last much longer, since this will be day 4 for him, day 3 for her.

Against the white backdrop of the front fence, the soft blue headed delphinium, my favorite, (you will find that I reference many flowers as "my favorite" so there is an obvious misuse of the term on my part) tower above the strawberry spires of foxglove, also my favorite (see, I told you so.) Happy golden stella d'ora lilies punctuate the front, blending with the blue heads looking over the fence from behind. Oceans of lemon yellow primrose flood the back garden, with peppermint pink dianthus floating alongside. The gentler pink rose nods beyond the yellow. Purple stalks of sage, my beloved pure white Siberian iris, dusty pink blooms of dwarf bleeding heart... In case you didn't know, I enjoy my garden. Just ask my kids how many times a day I exult over the beauty of these blooms. "I love my garden!" It is a regular declaration around here, just to be sure they realize how special the garden is to me. (And maybe to make sure they learn to love it, too.)

A friend recently posted about her favorite room. I, too, have favorite spots -- places I migrate to each morning with coffee in hand, books to one side, and computer waiting on the floor before me. But these days, I may or may not find my "spot" free. Today the family room, my place when the weather is chilly, was occupied by above mentioned daughter and grandson. The floor of the side porch, my spot of choice on summer morns, was hosting a young man who spent the night. Someone else was sleeping in the loft which is open to the kitchen, so I did not opt to use the table there. Fortunately, there were still other options. I landed here, in my dining room, seated in a comfortable chair next to a window overlooking the front side garden. Life this morning is still comfortable here at my home. So I will be glad for that.

But comfortable or not, I will choose to rejoice in His purpose for me today. The work He has provided, the people I will serve, the situations which will come my way -- all these things are in His hand, to be used for His glory in my life. This is my true comfort, my constant peace, my strength and joy. No one can take that from me. How good to know and be known by such a faithful God.

7. Completes the List

1. Looked at one of the older houses in Madrid. (If you check out the link, it is the third house down, the A. Chandler home.) It is on the market and I was privileged to view it top to bottom. Loved its charm and history!

2. Ate some fun Korean food for lunch. Song Yi Lee cooks quite regularly around here since she loves to cook and I'm happy to have her do so! Yummy!

3. Started rehearsals for My Fair Lady tonight. I'm singing first soprano alone in a septet -- hoping I manage to keep my voice throughout the season and still hit those high Bflats!

4. Watched a movie with my daughters and houseguests or boarders or whatever you call them. Cannot say that I can recommend the film without reservations. We had to skip a scene or two and filter out plenty of innuendos. I'm not sure I liked it well enough for all that nonsense. There are some good moments, love that lasts, and all those kinds of nice things, but too much other stuff, too. Why do they have to do that anyway?

5. Jameson has a bit of a tummy bug. Poor little guy. I hope Danica doesn't get it -- or anyone else, for that matter!

6. Jesus is the love of my life. Life is wonderful, but so very broken, too. What a crummy world, what a beautiful creation. His love started it all, but sin entered. Yuck. Yuck. Yuck. Eternity is His love minus the sin. What a wonder that will be. Really. It's a deal no one should miss out on. Please get saved if you're not!

7. Good night to all.

Enough Reminders Already!

Last night I joined some friends for a game of bowling. A game, mind you. One game.

It has been a decade or so since I last bowled. That is not reflective of my enjoyment of the game. I love it!

I grew up in the bowling alley. Mom and Dad always played in leagues. My brothers and I often watched them for the evenings. And Grandpa Follette was league champion for more years than I can count. Sunday afternoons were regularly spent in the Newark bowling alley with him generously doling out lessons and tips for improvement. I knew the game pretty well.

But my hubby is not such a fan. He actually has a disdain for the activity. Needless to say, I have not bowled much in these past 30 years (I could count on my fingers the number of times.) So an invite to join friends sounded like fun to this Mama!

However, one game and one morning later, my wrist hurts. Just from bowling. Just from one game.

Reminder: 52 is not 20 or 30 or even 40.

But it was still fun. And I hope I get to do it again sometime. But maybe I won't wait another decade this time. And maybe I'll try a lighter ball...

A Tribute to My Dad

My dad will be 80 years old this September 15. Yesterday we discovered that his heart was failing pretty severely, beating at 25-35 beats per minute. That is dangerously low; the numbers were alarming to everyone who read his monitor. The solution? Today they surgically implanted a dual pace maker. The little electrical shocks trigger his heart into regulated beats that are a normal 65 per minute. Within minutes after returning from the recovery room his color was better, his feet felt a bit warmer, and his light-headed feeling was diminishing. We left him finishing up a meal of fried chicken and mashed potatoes topped off with sugar free chocolates from Russel Stover.

Was it a bit unsettling? You sure could say so! My dad has been very healthy. His last hospital stay was in 1973 for gall bladder surgery. He has mild diabetes controlled with minimal medical intervention. Other than that, he has known excellent health. He plays golf a few times each week and sings in choruses and plays trombone in bands. He is a brilliant man who loves music, trivia, sports, history, and reading. He chomps through volumes voraciously -- our Madrid librarian knows him well by now!

In spite of a frightening situation, Daddy bantered with nurses and doctors. I rarely see him interacting outside of the home, and it was delightful to recall his good humor toward strangers. He is quick-witted and friendly -- a quite likable man, I must say.

I am grateful beyond words to know that soon he will be playing golf again, singing his heart out, and tooting that trombone. May he have many more years with us, and may the knowledge of the love of Christ become his joy and strength for the future years. Amen.