18 and counting

And we just heard from Joseph that it's snowing at Cedarville.  I hope he's warm enough.  Here we sit by the fire at home in California, wishing he were already home. 

19

 It wasn't that long ago that I was saying to people "Joseph comes home in 100 days".  Now we are down 19! Thanksgiving was strange without him home.  I'm thinking next year Joseph will come home for Thanksgiving! 

This morning at church we celebrated the first Sunday of Advent.  For four weeks we light candles in anticipation of Christmas and the celebration of the Incarnation of our Lord.  This morning, however, the Advents readers lit all four candles AND the Christ Candle.  I could hear whisperings of surprise and disapproval throughout the congregation.  I kinda inwardly chuckled... after all, Christ has already come!  On the other hand, I'm eager for the days and weeks to hurry up so Joseph can come home and we will be all together again.  Go ahead, light 'em all! 

We began our own Advent reading tonight and will continue every night from now until Christmas with the last reading on Christmas morning.  19 more readings until Joseph comes.  Let the anticipation begin... continue! 

Count Your Blessings

I am thankful for so much!  It would really take too long right now to enumerate all my blessings. 
I can count 4 of them here and one far away in Wisconsin for Thanksgiving (Joseph), plus so many other people whom I miss and long for. 


These words help my perspective:

"When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done!

Refrain:
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings—wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end."

Ah, Young Love!

It's been a good few months.  We've been meeting with a young couple for pre-engagement counseling.  It's been fun to talk to them about what we've learned in 20 years of marriage.  I love seeing them sit really close to each other on the couch, hold hands and look lovingly into each others eyes as they talk to and about each other and their desire to have a good marriage that will honor and glorify God.  They are hungry to learn and have devoured a book we gave them about marriage.
With so many broken homes and marriage on the "down-swing" it is so refreshing and hopeful to see the future in this young couple.
They just stopped by earlier this evening to announce their engagement!!  She's sporting a ring that was his grandmother's.  They seem so very happy!  We are thrilled for them!  Yep, it's definitely a good thing!

(Oh, and they brought us home-made fudge!)

Betelehemu!

This is one of the pieces we are doing for our Christmas Show in a few weeks.  Obviously we are not the Mormon Tabernacle choir, but we enjoy the song and sing it with passion. 
I liked the song when we first started learning it... I enjoyed the music and rhythm but once I found out what the lyrics meant I LOVED it (and love it still).
Here is the translation:
We are glad that we have a Father to trust.
We are glad that we have a Father to rely upon
Where was Jesus born?
Where was He born?
Bethlehem, the city of wonder.
That is where the Father was born for sure.
Praise, praise, praise be to Him.
We thank thee, we thank Thee, we thank Thee for this day,
Gracious Father.
Praise, praise, praise be to Thee,
Merciful Father.

New Blog Name

I'm tired of my blog name.  The current name seems "sappy" somehow.  The new name will need to have something to do with piano, and me.  I'm thinking about "Life in Black and White" or something like that
Any ideas?

This was one of the hardest things I have ever done. 
I just came back from the cemetery where I played the keyboard for the graveside service for an 11 week old baby boy.  I work with his Dad at my school and worked for 4 years with his grandma at another school.  I knew it would be difficult, but was not prepared to see the little white casket and the grieving parents and grandparents.  I watched as the parents held hands at the graveside and cuddled their 2 year old daughter who does not understand.  Who of us does understand, really?  The mom and dad stayed there as everyone else left.  How difficult to leave the cemetery and leave their little one there.  I watched them just sit there holding hands as I drove away.  I was fine during the service, controlled, doing what I do, but once I got in my car to drive away it hit me... I had to pull over and cry for a while.  This does not make any sense!  I was remembering in the Bible how Jesus wept at the tomb of his friend, Lazarus.  Jesus wept! He knew that He could (and did) raise him from the dead, but still, He wept.  How comforting to know that Jesus weeps at death.  He mourns with us.  He comforts us.
What made this easier was the Scripture that was shared and the confidence, the assurance that this little one is with the Lord. For us who know Christ as Savior, we have this confidence, that this is not the end.  They will grieve their son for years to come but they WILL see him again.  There is a sense of hope in the midst of the sorrow.