Sunday Songbook

For a while I have desired to share something from my heart on Sundays, The Lord's Day. Something reverent and relevant. I am not a great teacher nor do I feel that I make good Biblical analogies out of life experiences. However, I do have a deep love for good, old fashioned, traditional hymns sung in a traditional way or even a capella. A little bit of a beat or extra accompaniment is okay, but I prefer to just belt them out with an accomplished piano player. So on Sundays I will be sharing the lyrics to one of my favorite hymns, an accompanying verse, a little about the author, and perhaps how the hymn speaks to me.

And lest you all begin to think that I possess any of this information off the top of my head or you want to know more I will include the references I used so that you may not think too highly of me and quench your insatiable quest for knowledge for yourselves.

"How long and wide and high and deep is the love of Christ." Ephesians 3:17-18

O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!
Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me!
Underneath me, all around me, is the current of Thy love
Leading onward, leading homeward to Thy glorious rest above!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, spread His praise from shore to shore!
How He loveth, ever loveth, changeth never, nevermore!
How He watches o’er His loved ones, died to call them all His own;
How for them He intercedeth, watcheth o’er them from the throne!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, love of every love the best!
’Tis an ocean full of blessing, ’tis a haven giving rest!
O the deep, deep love of Jesus, ’tis a heaven of heavens to me;
And it lifts me up to glory, for it lifts me up to Thee!

Samuel Trevor Francis

1834-1925

A Lon­don mer­chant and ar­tist’s son, Fran­cis pub­lished a num­ber of hymns in re­li­gious news­pa­pers and per­i­od­ic­als. He be­longed to the Ply­mouth Breth­ren con­gre­ga­tion in Lon­don, and served as an open air preach­er. His hymns and po­ems ap­peared in The Life of Faith and other pa­pers and per­io­dicals.

The Cyber Hymnal

Pillow Talk

So I'm in bed watching the exciting news on TV about McCain's veep pick. I'm so excited not because I know anything about politics (although I really like Mrs. Palin so far) but because My Love is lovin' that Obama's thunder has been stolen. So I'm wiggling. Ya know... Jimmy legs, giggly foot, twitchy toes. Anyway, the following conversation ensues...

My Love: Are you all hyped up on venti Mocha frapplappadingdong?

Me: No! I didn't have a venti.

My Love: A venti Pepsi?

Me: No its not Pepsi, I had a grande.

My Love: Whats that the biggest size?

Me: No, its the middle.

My Love: But grande is big.

Me: Venti is bigger.

My Love: Then what is small?

Me: Small is tall.

My Love: Thats an oxymoron! Maybe you should blog about Starbucks' oxymoronic sizes.

Me: *sigh*

My Love: *smirk* G'night My Love.

My Love doesn't drink Starbucks unless held down and forced. Those who do not partake will never accept. Just leave me alone with my venti mocha frappalappadingdong. And a tall small isn't really an oxymoron. An oxymoron would be a big small, see. OR, a short tall. Which it actually is, but we don't call them shorts, we call them smalls. So its a small tall... just deal with it.

Words in Bloom

Spring.
Newness.
Awakenings.
Bright green.
Never been seen.
Buds tease.
Nights warm.
Colors pour forth.
Fuchsia.
Burgundy.
Crimson.
Gold.
Royal blue.
Perky periwinkle.
Dainty pink.
Play.
Dance.
Sing.
Sway.
Laugh.
Whisper.
Giggle.
Sigh.
Days lengthen.
Time waxing.
Lost in thought.
Lost in love.
Creating.
Growing.
Life unfolding.
In full bloom.
Under sky bright blue.
A fair weather hue.
Flowers fill lungs.
Following the sun.
Warm and clean.
And yet to be seen.
The heat.
Unbending.
Unrelenting.
Blinding.
Intensifying.
Hot high noon.
Coolness craved.
Stifling haze.
Summer days.
Beauty fading.
Petals squint.
Edges curl.
Hues dull.
Blooms fall.

Through the heat.
Few compete.
Temps are rising.
Passing shade.
Dry clouds fade.
Taunting.
Just a drop.
There is not.
Stalks bent low.
No strength to grow.
The best has past.
Blooms the last.
Wilting.
Waiting.
Wanting.
Flower's bane.
Heat insane.
Days waning.
Stop complaining.
Clouds come.
Breezes blowing.
Breath renewed.
Spirits lifting.
Colors return.
One more show.
Before Fall winds blow.
Dog days linger.
A chill.
Nights cool.
Now radiant relief.
The sun beams sweet.
Stays off frost.
A battle lost.
Dying down.
A seeded crown.
Next crop released.
Sleep.
Silent.
Still.
Through the chill.
Blanket of white.
A lovely sight.
Bare sticks deceive.
Life waits within.
The sun stays low.
Shadows grow.
Winter.
Hush.
Snow turns to slush.
Torrents to sprinkles.
After so long.
A quiet song.
A single note.
Once was brown.
The thawing ground.
New sprouts found.
White melts away.
Slowly at first.
Then with a burst.
Sprouting.
Stretching.
Spring.

An Answer to Prayer

Even though it was not necessarily the answer we were hoping for it was an answer nonetheless.

Today when My Love walked through the door after work I asked the usual "how ya doin'?"

"I'm gonna vomit." He replied in a rather mellow dramatic voice.

"Oh No! What happened?"

He handed me an enveloped from the county. "I'm too nervous, I can't open it." He said. I had no such inhibitions... I ripped it open and read it fast... then read it again aloud. *sigh* Its a no-go My Love... I'm sorry."

"Eh, I kinda knew it when I saw the letter but I was still hoping."

Beyond the initial disappointment there is a feeling of peace in knowing that God's timing is perfect and since this wasn't the job meant for My Love there must be something better out there. Thank you all for your prayers and hopeful thoughts. God bless!

He is the Rock, His work is perfect;
For all His ways are judgment;
A God of truth and without iniquity,
just and right is He.

Deuteronomy 32:4

Oo, oo, I'm It! x 4

Julie tagged me with this cute little questionnaire...

4 Things I like about my husband...
He loves me unconditionally
He never fails to make me laugh (although at times out of disbelief)
He is an amazing lover :-0 :-D
He never hesitates to give me a break from the kids

4 Movies I have watched more than once...
Everafter
Luther (modern version)
The Little Mermaid (surpassed 100+ viewings even before I had kids)
You've Got Mail

4 TV shows I watch...
The Office
American Idol
Star Trek: The Next Generation
PBS (Any thing before 12:30 PM is game)

4 Places I have been...
Fort Bragg, Ca
Hillsborro, Or
Colorado Springs, Co
Super Walmart :-) heeheehee

4 People who email me regularly...
Let it be known that I usually correspond by snail mail but since the question says "people" I will just list 4 who have emailed me more than once this year.
Jana
Julie
Debbie
Amelia

4 Favorite foods...
Day old pizza, cold, straight from the fridge... MMMMmmmm *drool*
Denali's Bear Claw ice cream
Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino (its food to me! >:-[ )
Spinach dip

4 Places I would like to visit...
Hawaii
Deutchland/Europe
Disneyland
Maine in the Fall

4 Things I am looking forward to in the coming year (2009)...
My Love getting a new job
Home schooling my kids and teaching James to read
Losing weight (starting now... no wait, now... no... NOW! OK, Right after I eat these Milanos)
NO MORE DIAPERS!!!!!l

4 Friends I tag...
Plant Lady
Tabi
Linda
Chickadee



Well, there it is in black and white.

*snort*

BWAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.... ah... I ... get it?... black and whi... *ahem*...never mind.

Mamma Mia!

No, S.O.S. needed :-)

Yes, I went to see it. And despite the frantic pace and the painful expression on Pierce Brosnan's face as he sung, it was actually a good movie. One of the only reasons I went was because Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee admitted to liking it. Well, that and my Dad said he would watch the kids so I could get out of the house. Yippee!!! How could I say no?




Anyway, if you grew up listening to ABBA like I did you can at least enjoy the music. I think my favorite scene was all the guys dancing around on a dock to the tune of Lay All Your Love on Me. The sets were fantastic and whimsical and the costumes were classic 70s. Even if your childhood memories of ABBA bring you pain and anguish the story line is sweet, well put together, and at moments hilarious. All parts were very well cast with the exception of Pierce and for no other reason than the fact that this IS a musical and he CAN NOT sing. The feelings I had from watching him sing were akin to the feelings I had while watching John Travolta sing in drag in Hairspray :-/ Can we say HEEBIE JEEBIES and please stop...stop it now! However, the view was nice (Hubba Hubba).



It is an unpretentious, jubilant film that was probably more fun to be part of the cast than it is to watch. Even though I throughly enjoyed Mamma Mia I could have done without the constant use of my Lord's name in vain, a few vulgar moments, and a homosexual (albeit brief and underplayed) storyline. I will see it again just because it was such a blast to watch and *sigh* I did enjoy the music. :-0

Mommy Long Legs

I caught a glimpse of spider life today and was actually encouraged by it. In my doorway there was a common Daddy Long Leg spider. At first it appeared to me that the spider's web was filled with tiny gnats and I thought, "Super! Better your web than my face! What a good little spider." However, upon closer inspection I found that the gnats were actually tiny baby long legs... er... well, short legs for now.




Mommy long leg? I never really thought about it and I don't know the difference between or the duties of the sexes of this particular species but I am assuming that this is Mom. Unless of course there was a huge sale on eight legged skinny jeans at Old Navy and she left the web early that morning to be sure she could get her size thus leaving Dad in charge. But lets pretend for a moment that spiders don't wear skinny jeans and talk about this Mommy long leg.

She hung in her web, surrounded by her offspring, dutifully showing them the proper way to wrap a fly and suck it dry. What a good mom! And look at all those babies. I'm sure she had to smack away a foot or two during her demonstration... "Don't touch that!" "Quit talking" "Don't web your sister"... LOL! Good thing she has 8 legs of her own. I count at least 37 baby spiders in that web! If she can web school with 37 surely I can home school with just 4. :-)

As I gear up to start home schooling my kids I am met with an uncontrollable fear that I will certainly do a terrible job and that my kids will become lazy mooches. I often feel inadequate, uneducated, scared and overwhelmed. Tonight James was talking about having school at home and I asked him why he thought we home schooled. He answered with something about not listening and disturbing the other kids. I smiled and assured him that I knew my kids would be the best in the class. I went on to say that we decided to home school because we wanted God in every part of our lives. And who better equipped to teach a kid then his very own Mommy? As soon as the words were out of my mouth a calm swept over me. I was their Mommy. God had chosen me to be the steward of these beautiful children... and surly He knows what He is doing.

Now, if only I could sprout six more arms...

Yes, God is Good

And even though we still haven't heard any news about the new job, I do have a little tidbit for you to chew on.

Later in the evening on the day of the interview I was wandering through the Goodwill Thrift store. My Love's words and feelings of excitement and anticipation were dancing through my head. I felt nervous and excited for him as I mindlessly gazed at shelves burdened with trash to treasures. My eyes awoke to notice a decorative cross bearing these words,

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "Plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

I stood there in the isle holding the symbol of sanctification and hope in my hands, in awe of how God can reach out and so timely touch my heart in the most unlikely of moments. I ran my fingers over the words and read them again. I gently placed the promise in my hand basket with the other trinkets that were being invited into my home. I called My Love and told him that I had found a surprise for him.

He was asleep when I got home so I left it on his place mat to find at breakfast. He was also amazed at God's divine providence in reminding us of this promise the very day My Love had taken a step of faith in bringing a better future to his family.

Thank you God for being omnipresent. For touching my heart with your relevant and life changing words. Thank you for knowing my future and making plans for me and my family. I praise you for your great provision. You are an Awesome God.

In His Hands

Thank you everyone for your prayers. My Love was nervous but felt that he did well overall. He had to answer questions in front of a four man board then take a computerized exam in a separate room. We will hopefully know some time this week whether he has been chosen for the position. We are resting in the fact that the entire situation is in God's hands. I will post any updates on my blog as we recieve them. Again, thank you. :-) God Bless!

If You Please... a Prayer Request

It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

Lamentations 3:22-26

My Love's hard work over the last two years in gaining his Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice is about to be rewarded. He has been submitting his resume wherever a position would open here and in neighboring counties. Well, tomorrow he has an interview in Truckee and if all goes well... a new job.



Our prayer is that he will have clarity of mind and speech and confidence in front of the interview board. Also, that no matter what happens we will rest in the fact that it is all in God's timing and control. We are thankful just for the interview. At the least it will be a learning experience and he will be meeting some important people. He is up for Probation Officer and the interview begins at 11:30a.m. Thursday, August 14th. He has to drive about an hour to get there so a prayer for a safe trip would be appreciated also.

Thank you in advance for your positive thoughts and prayers.

Go get 'em, My Love! *mwah*