Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound

I could listen to this song by Citizen Way every hour, on the hour. Oh, so beautiful are the words and I am reminded of Zephaniah 3:17 -

"The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
He will quiet you with His love,
and rejoice over you with singing."

Let not this day go by without my remembrance and thankfulness for the gift of Jesus and the joy of Him singing over me. As I was not blessed with (or because of my own abuse of it) a singing voice per se' - I look forward to the day where my pitch will be perfect and my song angelic. Thank You LORD for a time of Thanksgiving; for time with family and friends; for time of reflection and gratefulness. Thank You for my girls and their daddy. Thank You for your amazing faithfulness to us.


We had Emily's girlie birthday party Friday night - swimming at AmericInn, Chicken Alfredo from Pizza Hut, High School Musical Movie Marathon and then play until they crashed! My goodness, I cannot believe she is almost 9 years old - the 1st of December! I think of that book (which I seriously did not like the illustrations - kind of scared me) where it says (like a chorus line almost) "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living, my baby you'll be". Dear Em's - as long as I am living, my baby you'll be--no apologies, that's just the way God designed it. As I dropped you off at piano lessons with Miss Carol today I just marveled at this precious little girl I am lucky enough to call my daughter! You are so special to us and we love you sooo much! I can't wait to be with you all day on your birthday; i love you little one, little 9 year old . . . okay, not so little, let's just pretend for awhile!

Here are the song lyrics; my Grandma Kaufman helped me to memorize Psalm 23 when i was just a little girl . . . Yea, though I walk . . .


Yea though I walk through the valley
I know that You are always right beside me
And I will fear no evil
You're my rock
And my strength
You comfort me

Amazing grace how sweet the sound
I hear You singing over me
I once was lost but now I'm found
And it's beautiful
Amazing grace how sweet the sound
It covers every part of me
My soul is silent
I am found
And it's a beautiful sound

You carry me through the waters
Where Your peace clears away all my sorrow
And nothing can separate us from Your love
Oh, Your love it will always be

You were healing in the pain
You were shelter in the storm
Hallelujah You restore my soul

Miss Lily

This is a quick epitaph for a sweet cat.

Miss Lily,
We are sorry you are gone.
You liked to be rubbed, under the chin, on top of the head and mostly on your belly (by me).
You were so pretty and fat and I really did enjoy you.
You did shed plenty.
You seemed to like the litter box more than the sand/dirt out back.
You adjusted to Max while you had too.
You freaked us all out at times when you thought you were a mountain lion on the prowl.
You found pleasure in dancing leaves and chirping crickets.
You did not like to be sprayed by water.
You understood Ryan and moved when he came into your presence.
I know you were a smart cat, because when I wanted to close the garage door you very conveniently moved in front of the sensor until you had your food.
You caught & killed some good animals for us - mice and a rat.
So, I really don't understand what you were thinking when you ran in front of my rear tire that Tuesday morning.
It was ugly and gross and I am so sorry, sweet Lily.

You were a good cat. We will not easily, if ever, replace you.
May you rest in peace.

Meow.

Pure Poetry . . . Miss Ann

Holy joy lies in the habit of murmuring thanks to God for the smallest of graces.

Sure, I mess it up and gripe a thousand times, but just like you keep doing the laundry, you just keep beginning fresh again — The habit of Thanksgiving is the one habit to wear for a lifetime. ~ Ann Voskamp

Oh my! Really, seems to be all I can say is, Oh My!



I recently found this author/blogger and Jesus Lover! So thankful for the ability to read her writings and let those words sink deep into my thoughts and reflect . . . and grow . . . and change . . . because of Jesus.

Her latest book is called "The Greatest Gift" (Unwrapping the Full Love Story of Christmas). Okay - so I am a SUCKER for Love Stories. Like some of my favorite are:

Pride & Prejudice
the Phantom of the Opera
the Princess Bride
Legends of the Fall
Gone with the Wind
the Thorn Birds (yes, I really do)
the Twilight Series (crazy, was enamored with book 1)

and, my all time favorite,

Jesus Loves Me!

I am only beginning to realize how it is really all about Him, about the Christ, about Jesus Messiah.

Here is what I am talking about - read it up, soak it in, let His love permeate your soul today. God Bless~

From her book, Your Invitation to Unwrap the Gift (the intro):

"The mystery so large becomes the Baby so small, and infinite God becomes infant.
The Giver becomes the Gift, this quiet offering. . .

It's the way the Gift unwraps; you have Christ's family tree...before you have a Christmas tree. IF you don't come to Christmas through Christ's family tree and you come into the Christmas story just at the Christmas tree--this is hard, to understand the meaning of His coming.

Because without the genealogy of Christ, the limbs of His past, the branches of His family, the love story of His heart that has been coming for you since before the beginning--how does Christmas and its tree stand? Its roots would be sheared. Its meaning would be stunted. The arresting pause of the miracle would be lost. . . and the family tree of Christ always gives you hope. . .
The Gift who hung on a Tree for us, cut off.
The Gift who was pierced for you, wounded--your wounded, willing God, who unfolds Himself on the Tree as your endless, greatest Gift."

Thank you Ann. Thank you Jesus Christ - we adore You!!!

http://www.aholyexperience.com/

Here is a Good Man

This is a shout out to my husband!

Ryan, I know I have told you how much I love you and what a wonderful husband & dad you are to our girls.

I need you to know it, deep down in the depths of your heart - how precious you are to us!

I thank God for His gracious gift of you to me . . . I thank Him for your parents who raised you and taught you about the greatest gift, Jesus. I am grateful for the gifts God has given you and how you use them to honor Him.

I pray for His blessing, His favor, His wisdom to you . . . so you can lead a life, lead our family, lead at your job an example of what following Jesus means.

I also know we have been through some amazing things together . . . disorders, marriage, sadness & death, happiness & life, business & craziness, leading our girls in the best thing yet - accepting Jesus into their hearts and so much more.

We KNOW, though maybe not always like and/or understand God's timetable. We don't need to. We do need to trust Him and follow Him. I am asking Him to give us direction, and give us ears to hear and a heart to understand. I love you dearly. I hope you have a good day and a great week!

Love,
M.

p.s. the girls were out on the swing this morning when I could not find them - thx for putting up for them; they love it!

Walters Pumpkin Patch

Hey there! With life this past year so turned up so down, out and around, I am so thankful to keep some traditions a little longer. One of those special ones, is a trip to the most awesome pumpkin patch - Walter's. We headed out yesterday with myself and 3 girlies and 3 friends and a large coffee (can I get an amen?).

God granted us perfect weather - cool but sunshiny! We had a great time and there is something so life.giving about nature and being outside in His world - just love it!!!

So, thanks for friends, thanks for the opportunity, thanks for the outside and the country and the Fall season . . .

Sidenote - my mom has been in the hospital 1 full week now - ugh. On the mend, praise be to God - she WAS a very sick person and she IS a very fortunate person; we are so blessed. God, please use what You allowed her go through to give honor & glory to the One who brought her through. Let our focus be not on what was, but what is and what is yet to come. Thank You so much--it is a gift and we love it:-)

Ryan was in Turkey, now in Italy; make him a man of integrity for You. Bless him, give him Your favor. Bring him home safely. And all God's people said - Amen!

Lord Jesus, create in me a new heart! I listen to people teach of Your works and Your ways throughout the week as I am driving or at work and I say (or shout depending on the mood) a loud Amen! Lord, crucify the legalistic, the fleshly ways in my life. Teach Your ways, show me Your paths, Lead me! Forgive me for my thoughts at times and help me to make them completely obedient to You.

Thank You for being who You are - a God too big for my small mind to comprehend. Thank You for letting me be a part of the process. I know Your will is going to be accomplished with or without me . . . so thank You for inviting me to join. I want to be a part; help me to humble myself so that You can use me.

I pray for YOur guidance; I ask for Your wisdom in finishing out this year . . . lead us to what You want us to do and how You want the birth of Your son to be displayed at Grace.

Thank You Jesus; be with us today. Let us give glory; for it is the day You have made! Praise & Honor & Blessing to You!

I love my children. I love my children. I love my children.

Every have those days, where you have to remind yourself, "Yes! I love my children." The past 24 hours have been like that at times. Kind of like, if I repeat it enough, my feeling heart will click back into beat and i will geniunely smile at them and clean up after them and want to love on them . . .

It has been a long 2 weeks - Ryan has been gone - but, thank You Jesus - He is back!!!
The volleyball team Ellen is on, won tonight - their 1st! Oh, how good that feels . . . and she had the opportunity to have the winning serves both games - Rock On Ellen!

Erin couldn't stand youth group last night (which I lead for her age) and is NOT going back next week. She called her sister a 'butt hole' and is having a very rotten attitude as of late. Rock Out Erin.

Emily has had vinegar in her system since 6:15 when she woke up because her friend, Avery, was coming home with us after school and then to Ellen's games together (in their cheer uniforms) and then to Cat Pack practice. Rock Chalk Emily!

Then, as I was driving to get Miss Em from practice, God showed me a most beautiful painted sunset! Truly, I just say in my car at the stop sign and thanked Him for the gift of life He has given me. Prayed for those I love and those I am going to love. Lifted up some personal needs of friends and the spiritual life of this community. Thank You Jesus for perspective.

So what if the game is lost, the attitude is ungrateful, the energy level is high . . . I am allowed these sweet things for such a short time. Help me to use the time wisely and focus on Jesus each day. In Your great name, LORD! In Your great Name!