And so it began...

One year ago today, my Sweet Hubby woke up not feeling well at all. He was very weak, very tired...his head spun when he bent over - very dizzy. He said he felt like he was coming down with something. I suggested he stay home from work. He did. So not like him; I knew he felt bad. He spent most of the day in his recliner and said he was feeling better...we went to bed that night as normal. I told him I hoped he felt better when I said goodnight. I told him I loved him.

And so it began...

"The Lord is near the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18

Spoken for...

I pray you all had a safe 4th of July weekend and that if you lit off fireworks, you are still in possession of all your fingers and toes!

So tell me...how does it feel to be spoken for? To know - beyond a shadow of a doubt - that your Savior loves you and desires you to be with Him through all of eternity! To know - beyond a shadow of a doubt - that you are a child of the Living God! I know how it makes me feel...blessed, loved, cherished, grateful, humbled, joyful, tearful, excited! I want everyone I know to feel the same way! If you don't have that peace in your heart, it is yours simply for the asking...

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7

Spoken for. Aren't those wonderful words?

"I am the door; if anyone enters through me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture." John 10:9

"And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Acts 2:21

Since it's Music Monday, I have a song! You knew it was coming, right?!

**Remember to scroll down and pause my player before listening**

MercyMe ~ Spoken For


I know of something else that's spoken for...my blog birthday giveaway! And since you've been so patient, I won't keep you in suspense any longer! Here's how it went down...

I had four comments to my July 1st post - Dawn, Jody, Greg and Jess. These four names were entered into the drawing, like thus...


and so...


And then I placed the entries into one of my beautiful carved bowls that I brought back from Haiti. Isn't it lovely? Have I mentioned that Haiti was my favorite port of call on my recent cruise? No? Well, it was. But I digress...



And then, my baby boy, Matthew, did the honors. And yes - he really does have a head! But he felt like flying "incognito" during the photo shoot, so there you have it...oh, speaking of flying - well...I'll get to that in a few. We want prezzies, right?!


Ready, set...


Have I ever told you that I'm the Queen of A-N-T-I-C-I-P-A-T-I-O-N? I am. I really, really am.

And the winner is...

You know what? It's my blog birthday and I get to make the rules...so you're ALL winners.

Now I guess you'd like to know what your prezzie is, huh? Picky, picky! Alrighty then.


To quote from the CD:

"Chronicles and highlights of 10 years of music since the release of the song I Can Only Imagine. Includes eleven #1 songs as well as three never before heard recordings, including the 10th Anniversary edition of I Can Only Imagine featuring the London Session Orchestra."

AND

"Ten years of video from MercyMe. This disc features music videos and live performance footage from across the United States. Included as a bonus is a in-depth feature of MercyMe produced by the Gospel Music Channel, as well as the story behind the song I Can Only Imagine."

Dawn, Jody, Greg and Jess - if you would please email me your address, I'll be getting this wonderful CD/DVD combo out to each of you! I truly hope you enjoy it as much as I do. My e-address can be found on my profile page.

So, thank you again for your faithfulness, your prayers and your friendship over the past year. What a gift you've all given me - and yes...that includes all you "behind the scenes" readers too! God bless...I wish you a wonderful week.

Oh - back to the flying thing...if you would all be so kind as to keep Matthew in your prayers this week as he flies to Chicago on Tuesday for a conference and flies home on Sunday. You know that makes this Mom very nervous! You're the best!!

Happy Birthday

Can you believe it? I know I can't...

My blog is one year old today! To God be all the glory...this was His idea after all.

I think it's time for a prezzie, don't you? From me, to you I mean!

So everyone who posts a comment now through midnight Sunday, July 5th, is eligible. What is the prize, you ask? Well, if I told you it wouldn't be a surprise, now would it?! I'll draw a name Monday morning and will announce the birthday gift recipient in my Music Monday post!

Good luck! And thank you for being such loyal readers for the past year. You know who you are - even those of you who never post a comment...! God bless you all.

"Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." John 1:13

Solomon's wisdom

Ahh...my grandsons. They make me laugh like you would not believe. I am blessed.

"Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children." Proverbs 17:6

The line in the sand..

Last Wednesday, this video was featured on K-LOVE - the radio station I listen to. I felt it was worth sharing. And today being Music Monday makes it even more appropriate! I hope you find it as meaningful as I did...

**Remember to scroll down and pause my player**

An interview with Chris Tomlin

And now for the whole song! Won't it have even more impact now? Enjoy!













Jesus Messiah ~ Chris Tomlin

"Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born from God, and everyone who loves the parent also loves the child." 1 John 5:1

It's done

Well, what I have been dreading for months and months is now done.

Today I ordered my Sweet Hubby's gravestone. Actually, our stone, since we have a joint burial plot. I think it will be beautiful...

On the way home I was praying and praising through the music on the radio. (Thanks K-LOVE!) This song came on and since I didn't post a Music Monday selection, I thought I'd do that today. Call it "Tune Tuesday" if you like!

**Be sure to scroll down and pause my player first!!**

Every Time I Breathe ~ Big Daddy Weave

It's so true - I do feel closer to my Jesus with every breath and He is such a marvelous God!!

In closing, I'd like to share a very special Scripture verse. It's been even more meaningful this past year...and it will be inscribed on our stone.

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to my Sweet Hubby and the father of my children.

You are missed so very, very much.

But one thing I know for sure - we were most blessed to have you in our lives.

For you

I received unsettling news yesterday. I am clinging even tighter to His Word today...Christ is my solid Rock and He is YOURS too.

This is for you...(don't forget to pause my player)

We Live ~ Superchick

Every day is a gift. Sometimes in the midst of "life" we forget...

So just breathe, live, love. Pray and lean on Him...and your brothers and sisters in Christ who love you.

I wish you peace in the midst of the storm. Believe me - it IS there...HE is there.

"Neither this man nor his parents sinned, said Jesus, but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life." John 9:3

A breath of fresh air

I've been absent, I know...it's been a long time coming. I've needed to get away; to hopefully relax a bit and restore my mind and spirit.


So, away I went...

San Juan, Puerto Rico

And then...

Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, USVI

Then off again...

Samana, Dominican Republic

Then off to...

Labadee, Haiti

And finally...

Home sweet home

Nine nights total. Long days at sea with my Bible and my balcony. Lots of time to reflect and remember...and I did.

Many days, this is all I saw. And it was enough.

Somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean

God's creation is magnificent...

"God called the dry land earth, and the gathering of the waters He called seas; and God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:10

And so, my dear friends, I would like to thank you for your faithful prayers that have kept my head above the waves these past 7 months. May God bless you richly.

In closing, on this Music Monday, I would like to leave you with this...

*Remember to scroll down and pause my player before listening*

It is Well With My Soul ~ Wintley Phipps

And that's just the way it is...

Wow...Monday already?! Is it just me or did the past week fly by?

In this post, I'd like to share a bit about our church service yesterday. Pastor Tommy brought forth such a good lesson (as always) that affected me so personally. The title of his sermon was "Finding Purpose in Our Pain." Mmmhmmm...you see where I'm going with this, don't you?! In a nutshell, Pastor Tommy outlined some of the reasons why God allows believers to suffer:

• To strengthen our character
• To teach us obedience
• So that we can comfort others
• To make us more fruitful
• To help us develop an eternal perspective

Oh, how I wish I could convey his message so that you might understand what it meant to me. I am going to be listening to this sermon over and over again, I just know it. And I'll be praying about how to apply the lesson in my own life as I work through my grief and pain. One thing I know for sure...I do not want to be guilty of the sin of self-pity. I do not want to be a "spiritual sponge" - as Pastor Tommy put it - always taking and never giving.

I invite you to listen for yourselves...to do so, visit my church's website, click on the Music & Worship tab at the top. Once you enter the site, click on "podcasts" on the left hand side, scroll down to the sermon for 5/31/09 and click. You won't be sorry...

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort." 2 Corinthians 1:3

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Oh...you didn't think I was going to leave you without a song on this Music Monday, did you?

One of our associate pastors sang a solo at yesterday's service...and as he sang, it hit me right between the eyes. POW. Regardless of my sorrow, or your suffering, or anything...God is still God. And He is still on His throne. And for that, I am thankful. I look forward to the day when I can bow before Him in adoration at His Throne of Grace...until that day, I'll just continue to praise Him in one of my most favorite ways - with music.

**Remember to scroll down and pause my player before clicking the link**














You Are God Alone ~ Phillips, Craig and Dean

Have a blessed week!