Christmas The week after Thanksgiving, I dropped my son David off at school and was driving home, thinking of all the housework I needed to do. All of a sudden a thought came to me......"What if today was Christmas?" I thought of how excited and joyful I would be.....walking with a spring in my step and a big smile on my face. Then I realized the age old truth.......My Lord and Savior Jesus gives me joy every day......so everyday can be Christmas!! I know there are people in extremely difficult circumstances. There are people with no family at all.....yet we can all be united in Christ......in knowing that He is always there for us, no matter what day it is and how difficult things are. I always pray for those in difficult circumstances and I love to see people with no family united into a God-loving group of people. Lord, let me be used of you this season to bless You, my family and others. You are so good. In Jesus Name.

I taught with a young teacher named Claire. The students were more than challenging. Your nerves are greatly affected when you know a student will run away the moment your back is turned. I went through the day doing what I was told. I prayed for the kids, enjoyed the rain, the sunshine and my beautiful surroundings. When the teacher broke down in tears at the end of the day, I encouraged her and was thankful I was a mom who understood these things. I prayed for her, the students and that her hope would not fade. She has a great and difficult calling.

An Inspired Painting

The two people who inspired my daughter to paint a lighthouse have passed away. On was her cousin Elijah David and the other was Thomas Kincaid. When she was seventeen, she wanted to make a painting for my husband Kevin and my 23rd Anniversary but she didn't have the funds. She would need to pay a painting teacher and as I recall, money was really tight for us at the time. Her cousin offered to pay for the lessons. At first she turned him down, then she agreed. What we now have is an amazing replica of one of Thomas Kincaid's lighthouses. He passed away about two months ago. Every time I look at the beautiful work of art gracing my living room, I think of all three of them. I am so grateful my daughter was inspired by others to use her talent. The beauty is not only in the amazing artwork, but in the sacrifice of those who inspired it.

The Blind will See

Every time I see my four blind friends at the school where I work, they talk about seeing the productions I have been in at my church. I have invited them to many of these shows and they have been able to come. They used words like, "See, Watch, Saw." It is amazing how freely they use those words when they can't see at all. I think those words represent the whole experience. The joy that someone befriended them, invited them, took them to a production that is so beautiful and glorifying to God. They are moved and touched by the music, the message and the love that is shown. These friends have certainly brought a lot of joy into my life and I want to do the same for them. Even though life is difficult, they are my very special friends.They have overcome much and are thankful for the little they have. They rejoice in the daily trials and enjoy the shows more than just about anyone. I thank God I am honored to know them.

A Coincidence

Every time something happens that makes me think, Wow, that's amazing, I am always sure God is behind it. Last night in choir, a young 19 year-old girl sat next to me. I began to ask her questions about herself as I always do. I am interested in people and I want to know a little about them. I found out that she not only lived in the same apartment building I had lived in 36 years ago, but she actually lived in the same apartment I had lived in. Wow. That was incredible. It took me back to those days of college poverty. I had met my husband Kevin while I lived there. He was my downstairs neighbor, a confident musician with long flowing hair who didn't think he needed God is his life. Boy, was he wrong. My roommates would sit around our kitchen table in the evenings and pray for the boys downstairs. He did come to know the Lord and a few years later, in another apartment building, we became engaged. I began to think of this young girl as needing prayer and guidance from the Lord in her journey and I began to pray for her more earnestly. L love it when God shows us on an ordinary day and assures us He is still there leading us on His path.

Many Miracles at Once.

I was performing in an Easter production and along with that came many hours spent in prayer. I was very thankful because four of my blind friends were able to come to the performance and loved it. It was a ridiculous weekend as far as what we had to endure. My husband had the stomach flu and had to take pictures at a wedding that was rained out and delayed. The next day he conducted two performances of our Easter production. It is only the prayers of our friends that got us through. A few days later David and I got the stomach flu, but not real bad. David missed a lot of school and assignments, then recovered in time for Easter and his mission's trip to see my niece in Oregon. It was so great that he got to see where she lives. One day at the special needs school, A man from our church who has a downs syndrome brother at the center where I work was telling the staff what a great show our Easter production is. A secretary who never has asked for tickets wanted them from me so I arranged to get some. Many people came to the play who would never usually come. It was a blessing. He works in so many more amazing ways for us to ever imagine. He is my Everything.

San Francisco Debaucle

Sometimes when nothing works out, God is at work. Today was one of those days. It was raining, Kev was sleeping late and I had to wake him up to take me to SF. I promised my daughter to go there and get her tickets for Les Mis for her birthday. I had checked a website and spoken with someone about the surety of the box office open today. Kev took me there and went to part the car. After twenty minutes, it never opened and it was passed the time when that was supposed to have happened. We called and they said this is the only day this week they are closed. When I last spoke with them today was the only day they would be open. Something got lost in the translation. We ended up visiting Buca di Bepo, a cherished restaurant. After waiting thirty minutes for the to-go order, I called Kev to pull up in front and pick me up. While he was doing that. A man out of his delivery truck smiled at me and greeted me kindly. I had no idea who he was. He said he goes to my church and thanked Kevin at I for the work we do there. I was very thankful for the encouragement. Kev drove up and I got in. When we were on the Bay Bridge, I noticed the pizza I had ordered was gone. After a phone call, I realized I had left it there when I set everything down to situate myself after being given the order. Wow. Talk about a fuzzy brain. Yes, last week was amazingly busy, but a lot went wrong today. Yet, Kevin gave a homeless man some money and I was encouraged to keep up the church work, so it wasn't a waste at all. I'm thankful that His ways are not my ways and His thoughts are not my thoughts. Thanks Lord for your agenda when mine is an epic fail.