Streams in the desert

I'm writing this from the beautiful Sandy Cove Ministries location in North East, MD.  I'm here to lead worship for an event unlike any I've done before.    It's a "Health and Wellness" week-long event, complete with healthy menus along with the recipes and portion size suggestions so we can take the meal plans home with us.    Everything has been counted out for us based on a 1500 per day calorie count. I'm hoping maybe I can lose a few pounds.    I had a very rich birthday last month!  Though the morning started out cloudy, I did end up with some sunshine in the afternoon.  I rode my Honda, washed windows, watered flowers, went out to lunch with a friend and enjoyed many Facebook birthday wishes.   But the highlight was taking some time to reflect on my gratitude journal entries from the past 4 months.  At someone else's suggestion, I began this type of journalling in December. I have been writing down five things each day that I'm grateful for.     I was blessed beyond words as I read through my expressions.  A true, unforced attitude of gratefulness rose up on the inside of my heart.   I have a deeper revelation of the term "streams in the desert".   In the past, my journalism consisted of honest thoughts and ramblings which sometimes can be very melancholy. The past year has been a difficult one with my Mother's numerous falls and declining health. I have had some challenging ministry decisions to make also. But as I read through my gratitude pages, you would think that my life is grand and glorious, filled with rich things, moments and people. And actually, that is the truth. Though it has been a desert, my entries were like streams of refreshing as I reflected back. The glass is truly full, not half empty, not half full, but FULL! I still do longer journal entries in another book, but I am starting to see why the author who got me started on the gratitude journal encouraged this discipline. It's subtle, but powerful. I highly recommend it if you struggle with maintaining a positive attitude when life is hard. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day.                 

Songs you can 'see'

As a songwriter I was encouraged by this verse this morning:

Psalm 40:3 "He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord."

I get the impression that people can 'see' things when they hear a song. Maybe they can see hope or love or a reason to get up and live today because of what we sing. I certainly have been touched by a song many times in my life.

A truth set to music can really do something deep in your soul, even change your mind.

So as I set out to write a song today, I hope that it will be a song that God puts in my mouth and causes the listeners to see God in such a powerful way that they actually end up trusting Him either for the first time or for the millionth time!

I'm moving!

I've packed my bags, put stuff in boxes and I'm ready to re-locate.

Though I dream of moving to Nashville to become a better songwriter and bask in the culture of music and though we've fantasized about moving to Arizona or California where we could ride our motorcycles all year long, it's not the kind of re-locating you might think.

The kind of move I'm talking about could appear to be easier than a geographical re-locating, but I feel like it's harder.

I'm talking about how I view life and how I process thoughts. It's along the lines of the glass half empty or full mentality in my earlier blog.

Because I've discovered that I tend to be one of those who sees the glass half empty, I've made a deliberate decision to start changing how I think.  I want to re-locate. I want to move from pessimism to optimism.  From darkness to light.  From sadness to joy.  From doubt and fear, to faith.

I'm packing up old thoughts and sending them away.  I don't think they actually even qualify for recycling.  I think they need to be placed into the incinerator.

Some days I'm tempted to unpack everything I've boxed up.  It feels easier to just stay in my comfort zone, even if it's not real comfortable.  At least it's familiar.

Moving means having to learn new roads, new patterns, new cultures.  That's why it appeals to us sometimes.  A sort of 'starting over' in a sense.  But starting over can be daunting and then we start wishing for the familiar, even if it was bad.

Learning to see the glass half full requires looking at things from a new perspective.   It means realizing that there are at least 2 ways to look at every situation.

Sadness or Joy? 

When my Mother fell last June and had to move into an apartment and start eating meals in the main dining area at the retirement home where she lives, I found myself filled with sorrow when I'd leave.  I felt so sad for her that she had to go through this stage of life when everything is changing faster than she can manage.  I would fight the tears and find myself thinking things like......poor Mother, this is so hard, I wish she didn't have to be in this place. 

But as I began to learn to change how I think about everything, I realized it could apply in this situation too.  I began to focus on the good things that exist in her life.  The fact that she is surrounded by nurses who can care for her and meals provided for her when she doesn't feel up to cooking. There are many others there who are walking the same road and can truly identify with her so she can find others to empathize with her.

Desperation or Inspiration?

I used to dread winter because we couldn't ride our motorcycles and the nights get long when we turn the clocks back.  But this year I decided to be proactive.  I started getting DVDs from the library and sometimes we spend the evening watching DVDs of the history of our country.  I've seen so many stories of how one person made a big difference for either good or bad and that has inspired me.

I've also stocked up on good books to read about improving your life and learning habits/patterns from successful people.  The winter is moving quickly this year.  Time really doesn't speed up, but our perspective can really move things along.

So as I pack up old thoughts and perspectives and replace them with new patterns and views, I'm finding the landscape to be improving.  And though you won't be getting a change of address card from me in the mail any time soon, you might observe a change in my countenance next time you see me.  I am re-locating.

A new look - A new year!

I recently saw a sign that made me smile. 

"Optimist:  The glass is half full

 Pessimist:  The glass is half empty

 Perfectionist:  There's a dishwasher spot on the glass"

I have to admit that I tend to see the glass half empty too many times, but when I saw the 3rd option, I had to confess that I fit that description too.  

Last week, a friend of mine added to that by saying "I can't even find the glass" and I laughed out loud.  THAT fits me too! 

Finding ways to look at things from a new perspective can be a challenging task, but I'm finding it is worth the effort. 

In this new year, I'm leaning more toward just continuing the changes I've been trying to make, instead of coming up with lots of resolutions.  It's a matter of taking inventory and keeping all the good habits and perspectives that are working!   Seems like a LOT less pressure.

Here's some things that are working toward a better look at life:

a)  a gratitude journal written at night before going to bed listing at least 5 things I'm grateful for that day. 

(It's been fun to look for things all day that I can write at night and gives me a more positive outlook through the day)

b)  quiet times with God in the morning and continuing my thoughts toward His Word ALL day

c)  LESS multi-tasking and MORE of doing only one thing at a time and relishing it as I do it....even if it's the dishes.  (You might think this is ridiculous but try it for a day!) Much less stress!

As you embrace a new year and leave the old behind, try taking inventory of what works and what doesn't in your own life and then leave out what's not working and you already have some good things going for you....no need to burden yourself with lists of resolutions that fade by February.

"Truly free"

City life has come to my little town of Newville.

 

Well, almost.  If you consider a Sheetz store the city. It's close enough for this small-town girl.

 

The moment I knew Sheetz was really coming to town (not Santa Claus) I began pondering the reasons I'd be thankful.  But one word sums it up: CONVENIENCE. 

You just have to know Newville, that's all I'll say.  Coffee to go, gas pumps that are easily accessible and a new place to meet more people.  

 

I was like a kid just thinking about it.  

 

But the best part was a surprise to me.  I didn't know that I'd receive a "FREE" card in the mail.  These days, it seems like there's usually a catch to anything free.  

 

But sure enough, I was able to have free coffee for 30 days if I just showed my little card.  My husband said they were deceiving me, but I wasn't deceived!

I knew that I was getting a free coffee for 30 days and I knew that when I was done with 30 days, I'd wish for more, but be disciplined enough to say no.

 

I've had such a great time with this.  I rarely afford myself little luxuries like that, but I decided to step up to the counter and live differently for a month and I loved every free cup I got.  

 

Lots of chocolate creamers, sugar and white milk, some hot water and oh yeah, a little bit of coffee.  I even started doing the extra large.

 

You see, it's a visual of what's been happening on the inside of me these days.  I'm finding out how free God's love really is and I've been stepping up to the counter and asking for more.

 

Somehow I've easily given in to thinking that I must be perfect, be holy, be everything good I can be for God to love me.  As I've encountered the inability to live perfectly later in life, I've had to dig deep.  My well offers very little!

 

I used the free coffees as a way to practice receiving something for free. Truly free.  That's the idea of Christmas gifts isn't it?  No strings attached.  A gift, given in love, to be received that way.

 

Yes Sheetz - as your big trucks display "Feel the love" - I felt your love for 30 days.   

 

I'm learning to feel the love God has for me too.  I pray the same for you.   It's offered freely and deeply.  You just need to step up to the counter and receive it. 

New Solo Piano CD is released: "Windy Hill Road"

Windy Hill Road CD is finally here!

Many times I have walked a road called "Windy Hill Road" as part of my exercise routine.  Though it is a winding road with a steep hill, the view at the top is worth the climb.  I can see the PA mountains when I get to the top.

I am often inspired by nature and find refreshment in being a part of it as much as possible.  

This solo piano project is a compilation of songs that I have created over the years, most of them in 2010.  

I was challenged by a book I read to try and write what I see and hear. 

One morning, I came back from my walk especially inspired by the birds singing.  I sat down at the piano and began to try to play my reaction to the beautiful sound of their songs.  Out of that came one of my favorites on this project:  "Bird Song".

Another morning, in the dreariness of winter, on Windy Hill Road, I began to compose the song "Snow" as an expression of my longing for a blanket of comforting white to cover the gray tones of winter.

A couple of the tunes such as "Tumbleweed" were composed as I viewed aerial images of the southwest captured by my brave brother who flies a small aircraft and takes photos at the same time.

"Simplicity" came about while studying the life of King David.  I had been asking the Lord for keys to the success David had when it came to his faith as a shepherd boy and I kept sensing the word simplicity.   I'm still not sure what all that means, but I enjoyed creating a tune that expresses that characteristic.

"The Pruning" comes from pruning my lilac bush in our backyard.  It must be painful to be pruned, but the end results are worth it.  So it is in my own life.  I don't like pruning, but I do want the results of it.

And so you have highlights from the story of this CD project.  Once again, thanks for supporting my music!   May it bring you peace on your road through life.

To purchase the new CD, click on the link below.  To purchase it at a cheaper price, go to my website and sign up for my e-mails and get it for less. (Discount offer good only through November 30, 2011).

Buy "Windy Hill Road" on-line.

View the trailer here:

A Musician's Mother

My mother unexpectedly found herself pregnant with me when she was 42 and delivered me at the age of 43.  She is now 88 and I'm 45.  I'm sometimes asked if I am her grand-daughter.  (I wonder how long I'll look young enough to get by with that!)

This past June, she fell in the middle of the night and suffered an injury to her spine.   In the midst of this physical setback, we just finished moving her to a small apartment.

I have been spending so much time at the retirement home where she lives, that someone asked me if I live there.  Another person asked me if I was an employee.   Though I certainly have been working there, the benefit package is a bit unusual.

On her first day in her new apartment I decided to stay and have lunch with her in the dining room.  I wanted to meet her table mates.  What an experience!

I knew it was going to be fun when a woman sat down and said something like, "It's hard to find your glasses when you can't see without them".

I met some wonderful ladies who could have filled my afternoon with stories.  

• a former probation officer of 20 + years (now 97 years old)
• a former missionary to Africa who had a terrible accident and had to re-learn how to do many things.  She now lives in the retirement home, thankful to be walking again
• another woman used to ride motorcycles (we started talking bike-talk right away)

So picture us sitting around the table, some hard of hearing, some hard of remembering, but all finding themselves in the stark reality of aging.  It was a bit hard to make conversation, but we managed our way through it.

Then there's the whole system they have in place for not wasting the food they can't eat.  As I was laughing at the colorful bags they bring with them to lunch so they can store the leftovers for later, I realized that I was pouring sugar on my dessert instead of into my iced tea.

Perhaps I should look into getting a room there.  I feel like I'd fit right in.

I'm not finding much time for anything else these days except spending time with my mother.  The song writing will have to wait, but in the meantime, I'm learning to look at life through the eyes of those who have lived their song and could use someone to listen to their melody, even if they only remember parts of it.

I know one thing, I must treasure the time I have now to enjoy life at my age.  AND I want to find ways to nurture the elderly I come in contact with to help them remember the rich times of their lives.