Music, God's voice to me

I love to sing. Music is my favorite way of expressing feelings and emotions and it always seems to be the way I am most effected during a worship setting. Tonight was no different. Now, I have not always known this about myself. In fact, I am just starting to learn the full extent to which I am effected by music.
I have always loved to sing, and in college, due to some encouraging from friends, I joined a chorale group and loved every minute I was involved. And now I am involved with the worship ministry at Skyline and love every opportunity I get to sing praises.
Now, the real reason for this story...
Wednesday nights can be a toss up on whether I come away refreshed and revived or more tired than when I left home. Tonight I was completely refreshed. I have just finished reading "The Shack" for the second time, so it is all still fresh on my mind. Tonight's songs and thoughts directed me back to the book and made me think about relationships, mainly mine with God. It made me think more on my lack of trust and my fears that cripple my relationship with Him. So, it was an emotional night for me, as well as others in the group. But the songs were the real kicker.
"...it awes and humbles me to be loved by a God so high. What can I do but thank you? What can I do but give my life to you...what can I do but praise you, everyday make everything I do a hallelujah!"
And when you blend some of the best voices this side of heaven, well, let's just say the tears were freely flowing.

Music is how I hear Him

Between a rock and a hard place

Last night I was torn.


We had our annual Trunk or Treat at Skyline and Haley was dressed as Rudolph (it's a long story that I am not going to go into today). She was adorable, as you can see.

So, naturally I wanted to see her doing all the fun kid stuff, but the praise team was rehearsing new music that I have been anxiously waiting to start working on. So, there's the rub. Do I go with my child and get cold walking around outside or do I sing with the praise team and get the chance to sing some really great songs?

Well, Mark went with Haley and I went to rehearsal...

Maybe I chose the wrong path, but I still really enjoyed singing the new music! And Mark took lots of pictures, so I got to see some of what happened outside. I will get to see her Friday night anyway when we go to Mark's parents house for Halloween. Haley sure didn't miss me judging by the bag of candy she brought back! And the sucker she had in her mouth!

Fun with friends

What a wonderful weekend!
Friday night I got to see my high school alma mater football team continue their winning streak! Exciting!
Saturday was a glorious day and I got to spend time with two fabulous families. We enjoyed nature and some time together. Very relaxing. The only thing I might change about the day was the fact that Haley fell in the lake and the water was COLD! Other than that, perfect day for being outside and enjoying friends. Here's some of our fun...


Going for a walk in the woods

The gorgeous colors of fall at Chickasaw

I'm so thankful for good friends. Even if they were supposed to be in another country or another state. God saw fit to bless me with these friends and I am SO thankful. I hope we have lots more time together.

Visiting Granma

Haley and Granma are making a scrumptous breakfast. I wish we could eat like that every morning!

This is the record player that I used when I was little. Yes, it's a collectible, and yes, it's very old. I couldn't believe the thing still worked!

Haley loved picking her first apple directly from the tree. (She has recently stopped looking at the camera when we take her picture.)

So, that was our busy week. A visit to Granma's. It'll take us another week to recover from the visit! : )

Craziness...

For some reason, this has been the busiest fall I can remember in a long time. It seems like there is something going on every weekend! Starting in September we have been going non-stop for the past few weekends.
BUT, today, we get to go relax with friends and breath in the cool, fall air, and become absorbed in God's creation.
I love being outside--(when it's not scorching hot or freezing cold, so that would early fall and late spring my favorite times, I guess)--I love to look at the trees, watch little creatures as they scurry about, and particularly see the way Haley discovers everything around her. Want some free entertainment? Take a 3 year old outside and just watch! She amazes me everyday, and today is a good day to be amazed!

Long night

Today I am tired.
Haley woke up at 3:30 and said she had a bad dream. Usually when that happens, I either sleep in the floor in her room or I go to the spare bedroom and she sleeps with me. Well, last night we went to the spare bedroom. Which isn't totally a bad thing, except she's a bed hog! Shortly after she had fallen back to sleep, I was on my side facing away from her and she was under my back. I couldn't move. Couldn't roll over. Couldn't move anywhere. So of course I have to move her to be able to sleep because I can't sleep with someone under my back. So in the middle of the night I have moved beds, leaving my perfectly warm spot in my own bed, and now have a 3 year old sleeping with her body under my back-not to mention she talks in her sleep.
So, I am tired.
What a blessing to be able to stay home and feel tired. No errands, no appointments. Nothing. Just me and Haley. Feeling tired. Naptime may come early today....

New to this

I'm not really sure what I'm doing, but I wanted to try this out. Not that anyone would want to read anything I write, but I do tend to express my feelings and thoughts better in the written word than in the spoken.

For now, let's see what happens and maybe I can come up with something ingenious to share. Probably not....