Psalm 100

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
Serve the Lord with gladness;
come before his presence with singing.
Know ye that the Lord he is God;
it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,
and into his courts with praise;
be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting;
and his truth endureth to all generations.

psalm 100

I have taken much grief over the years because I have always been a "jail house" singer. Can't find the key and behind a few bars. But I LOVE to sing. It brings me such joy. My mom had a beautiful voice and I always wanted to sing like her. But I couldn't when my kids were young I loved singing to them. It didn't matter what I sounded like. I was their mommy and it was special. Over time I was asked to stop singing by them and too them. It was the most horrid feeling in the world. It was not a gift that God chose to grant to me. He has given me a great many other gifts and for that I am grateful.

My husband takes every opportunity to tell me how horrible my singing is. I have cried myself to sleep wishing God had given me the voice of an angel. But it was not in His plan. He gave me the gift of theatre - and I love to act. I have participated many times in the skits the Quest team does at church. And the director loves my ability. God gave me the gift of humor. On many occasions friends have called and said I am sad can you cheer me up. I gladly do so. God has given me the gift of organization. And I at every opportunity step up and help organize events for church, school, community.

tonight was the annual meeting at church. People noticed I sang with enthusiasm. Shannon asked me again to join the choir. I told her Scott would not let me because I could not sing. He had explained my lack of talent to her before. Shannon and several members of the choir encouraged me to come and sing anyway. Against my better judgment I accepted. Julie told me if it was too bad they would adapt to my voice and no one would know the difference. What mattered was that I came and enjoyed doing something I have loved. I am scared, I am nervous, what if I am so bad they ask me to stop coming? Hopefully my husband will be supportive encourage me as I have encouraged him in all of his hopes dreams and goals.

What I lack in tune I certainly make up for in enthusiasm and isn't that what truly matters when praising God?

and it starts again!

I knew this day would come. I lived thru years of torment while Phil was in Scouts. It was a great experience for him and a wonderful way for Scott and Phil to bond when Scott came into our lives. I on the other hand could never set foot into a Scout meeting and live a very fulfilled life. Tonight, I entered round 2 of Scouts. I knew it would happen. and I would NEVER deny Andrew the opportunity that Scouting provides. I promise to smile thru all of the Pine Wood Derbys, I will duly hit all my friends up to buy popcorn from Andrew. In return I will have to buy what everyone else's munchkin sells with a happy heart and a lighter wallet. I Promise to look into finding the glue to put patches on the uniforms because I don't want tales of my past sewing misfortunes to haunt Andrew (or me ) for the rest of my natural life.

On the camping note however I will do so will with a smile on my face and my massuse's phone number on speed dial. I am currently checking into what latest camping gear offers. you have to understand in my first go around with scouts I had a 3 room tent, with an oversized queen blow up mattress that my sheets would fit. I had my pillows from home. The tent was big enough to hold 2 folding chairs with cup holders. I got rid of it years ago. My friend Joan and I would head for the nearest mall on the yearly canoe trips. I will go camping again but only with updated versions of my previous camping life. Scott and I had been married a month and almost divorced over an ill fated canoe trip. I swear the paddle could save itself as I was going under. it was every paddle for itself.

I will do it with a smile as I did the first time. I promise.

plagerism. Thanks Elaine

find something to believe in. Believe in a higher power, believe in karma, believe in your partner, believe in the regeneration of life, believe in mercy, or believe in anything else. But I do hope you find something to believe in. It'll provide you strength when you're not certain you have it. Second, a smile can go a long way.

This is from my friend Elaine's blog. this was advice she gave her son in her monthly letter to him. Elaine is an extremely eloquent writer and these are certainly words to live by. (for the record her older sister and my sister were best friends when they were young and I used to babysit them. ) Who knew that little moppet could teach me so much as an adult.

I love your blog Elaine and miss it when you don't post. You are a remarkable mom and human.

Oh here is the link to her blog.

Why?

Why is it the United States people are more concerned about who got screwed in the fight to host the Tonight Show than they are with their fellow humans who are fighting for their lives and existence in Haiti?

quiet

THe house is strangely quiet and feels very large and empty right now. It is amazing how the presence of one person home on break or their returning to college can change the feel of things so much.

off again

Well tomorrow we are headed back to Disney for another mini trip. Phil has never been to Disneyland so we thought we would head down for a couple days. Last trip for a while. Scott has a couple business trips coming up and Phil will be back in March with fraternity bros. Dad will be here in MArch as well. Nothing on the horizon for me until June when we head back to Kansas for our class reunion.