Yes....He watches me.

Something I try to remember:

"The purpose of mortality is not to collect more stuff. You were not 'sent into the vineyard to eat the grapes.' The Lord sent us here to prove us. He fashioned a Testing Center that would enable us to demonstrate our love for Him and for His work by our devotion to our covenants. There will come times when it will seem that He is far, far away; times when we may want to cry out with Joseph: 'O God, where art Thou?' To such a question, there is really only one answer: 'I am here. I am always here. If I watch the sparrows.....I will surly also watch you."

Elder Sterling W. Sill

Gifts of the 23rd Psalm

I've always loved the 23rd Psalm. I've turned to it many times in my darker hours. Someone sent this to me the other day making me see just how much my Savior has to give me.....and does:

The 23rd Psalm
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD................That’s relationship!

I SHALL NOT WANT............That’s supply!

HE MAKETH ME TO LIE DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES........That’s rest!

HE LEADETH ME BY STILL WATERS.......That’s refreshment!

HE RESTORETH MY SOUL..........That’s healing!

HE LEADETH ME IN THE PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS........That’s guidance!

FOR HIS NAME SAKE........That’s purpose!

YEA, THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE SHADOW OF THE VALLEY OF DEATH..... That’s testing!

I WILL FEAR NO EVIL...........That’s courage!

FOR THOU ART WITH ME.........That’s dependability!

THY ROD AND THY STAFF THEY COMFORT ME.......That’s peace!

THOU PREPAREST A TABLE BEFORE ME IN THE PRESENCE OF MINE ENEMIES..... That’s protection!

THOU ANNOINTEST MY HEAD WITH OIL.........That’s consecration!

MY CUP RUNNETH OVER...........That’s abundance!

SURLY GOODNESS AND MERCY SHALL FOLLOW ME ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE.... That’s blessings and hope!

AND I WILL DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD.........That’s security!

FOREVER........That’s eternity!!

FACE IT.........THE LORD IS CRAZY ABOUT US! ;-)

Joy in My Posterity!

"I feel like a tiny bird with a big song!"

Jerry Van Amerongen

Yes, that tells it well. My heart is truly singing that big song!

The picture: Me with two of my "joys"....new baby Rex and his big sister, Abby.

The story:

I got another addition to my posterity on Thursday, June 11......my second gr-grandchild came into the world. What an entry he made! He was delivered by his screaming mother who was squatting on the front seat of the car next to my grandson who was driving 90 miles an hour trying to get them to the hospital. The entire birth, from the first contraction at 12:30 am until the little guy slipped out into his mother's hands, took a total of 70 minutes. It's an incredible story that will be told over and over again in our family for years to come, I'm sure. Of course, the best part is that little Rex and both his parents are doing great. They're all home now and life carries on. ;-)

Have You Ever Heard An Angel Sing?

Thanks to my kids.........I did.

UPs and DOWNs of a new computer system!

When you’re a computer illiterate like I am most of it is DOWN.  Oh, I’m great with the programs I work in most of the time, but I don’t have a clue when it comes to what makes these contraptions do what they do!!  I’m one of those people who just likes things to stay like they are…..I mean, if something is working for me and I’m happy with it I don’t need something bigger and better.  Having to get a new computer, a new printer and a new scanner I have been FORCED into NEWER, BETTER, SOOOOOOOOOOOO SCREAMING MUCH FASTER…….and different…..and it can do too much stuff!!!  I’m tired, but I’ll stick with it and line upon line I’ll come to terms with it all……and I’m sure I’ll be singing it’s praises soon. ;-)

Feelin' Artsy ;-)

I watched TWILIGHT tonight. I just couldn't resist getting creative with Edward. ;-)

Bounteous Blessings Indeed!

You won't find anything this good in the produce section at the super market. These came straight out of good ol' Mother Earth a few minutes ago. If you haven't tried some home gardening.....on whatever level you can manage........you're missing out on a very gratifying experience.......not to mention a party for the taste buds! ;-) It's just the right time to put in a Spring garden. Try it........you'll LOVE it. HAPPY GARDENING.

A dream on hold.

Did you ever find yourself in a place that you wish you weren't at.....at the time you were at it? Well, I was walking through my living room at the exact moment a commercial ad came on the TV about Andrea Bocelli's June 7th concert at the Hollywood Bowl. I froze, my jaw dropped and I just starred at the TV screen. As soon as the commercial ended I came to the computer and pulled up one of the ticket sales sites. The most expensive seat you could buy online was about $900 and it was down in the Garden section right in front of the stage. For me, that one was a fairy tale. ;-) I scrolled all the way to the bottom of the list of available seats and found the cheapest one for about $150. Of course, it was up in the nose bleed section which is about a block from the stage. I'd be willing to give up going to the grocery story for a month to have that seat, though, just to be in the same vicinity with Andrea and have him sing to me "up close" and personal. ;-)

Well, as it turned out June 7th is on a Sunday. Do you think my Father would approve of me going to a concert on Sunday......a concert that wasn't at the church. I'm sure He knows that nothing but angelic tones come out of that man's mouth when he sings. I wonder. I'll continue to contemplate the reality of my going........dream about it would probably be a better way to put it.

Experiencing Andrea's voice in person someday is one of the top four things I want to do while I'm still on this planet. It's just ahead of seeing New England in the Fall and eating pizza in

Italy. ;-) Those things are numbers 2, 3 and 4 on my list. Can you guess what number 1 is? If you know me very well at all, you can. ;-)

Dreams...............they're like appetizers while you wait for the real things. ;-)

Blue? Isn't it Green Day?

Greetings.........Victorious here.
And today I’d like to tell you a little bit about the color BLUE.
Ah.....do you know what’s BLUE?
Well, I am for one thing. You see, FUNKS are BLUE
and I’m in a FUNK and that means I’m BLUE, ya see.

It’s not easy being BLUE,
having to spend today the color of the sky.....
.....when I think it could be nicer being red or yellow or gold...
or something much more colorful like that.

It’s not easy being BLUE.
It seems you blend in with so many other ordinary things.
And people tend to pass you over ‘cause you’re not standing out....
Like flashy sparkles in the windows or stars in the night.

But BLUE’s the color of my day.......
.....and BLUE can be cool and comfy-like.
And BLUE can be big like an ocean...or important like a mountain
.....or high like the sky.

When BLUE is all there is to be,
it could make you wonder why, but why wonder why...wonder.
I am BLUE and it’ll pass in time.
It’s quiet.
And I think it’s what I have to be................
........until the sun rises in the morning and turns me back to PINK and perky. ;-)

(Thanks Kermit. ;-)

We were born to shine. ;-)

I have a love affair going with Andrea Bocelli........at least with his music. He has the most glorious voice of anyone who has ever walked this planet.....and most others, as well. My Savior has used him to bring so much "Light" into my life from time to time.......especially when I’m in a blue funk, which is the case of late. I was listening to Andrea sing tonight as I sat here at the computer and he sang "Because We Believe" to me. Even though he sings most of the song in Italian....I know the words. They’re incredible. If you’re reading this, you’re on my blog page. Scroll down to my music, then scroll down to this song and click on it. Listen while you read the words here and you’ll see what I mean.

"Look outside...it’s morning. This is a day you’ll remember. Hurry....get up and go. There are those who believe in you. Don’t give up.
Once in every life there comes a time we walk out all alone and into the night. The moment won’t last....but then, we remember it again when we close our eyes.
Like stars across the sky. And in order to shine you will have to win. We were born to shine....all of us here....because we believe.
Look ahead and never turn your back on the caress of your dreams, your hopes....and then turn towards the day that will be. There is a finish line there.
Like stars across the sky. And in order to shine you will have to win. We were born to shine....all of us here....because we believe.
Don’t give up. SOMEONE is with you.
Like stars across the sky.......we were born to shine. And in order to shine you will have to win.....and then...you WILL win!" ;-)