Weekend Events

The weekend began with my last music recital. I will post a picture of my 10 students later when I get back to my personal computer. It is getting a "checkup" and will be returned to me in a few days. I have the blessing of working on Jim's computer and can do all things, except place my new pics on it. The recital went well and the students performed to the best of their abilities for their families. It is always a great evening. The night was somewhat emotional when I began stating the that there will be light refreshments provided and to thank the parents for allowing me the opportunity to share music in the lives of their children. My heart was very touched by the responses. Jim, my dearest love of my life and best friend, presented me with a touching gift and beautiful card and shared some thoughts with the group, which made my emotional level harder to control. The evening was very memorable and I will always be thankful for the gift of teaching music and continue to serve in capacities when I am able to do so.

The next day, early this morning, Saturday, we began another adventure...moving our daughter, Megan back home....her apt. contract is up and she is moving home until her wedding in Nov. We had Lindsay, our future son-in-love, and a close friend of Megan's Dan, Jim and myself. (Matt. our son, is serving at the Senior High retreat this weekend). We were able to pack up the cars/truck and haul items to our home in Bear, DE as well as Lindsay's (and Megan's) new home in Odessa, DE. We were finished with unloading in Odessa by 11:30 a.m. The rest of the afternoon, Megan and I worked on getting things somewhat in order (at least to sleep tonight) for her in her room. It is a new adventure to say the least, but has some old memories, though different with time. These next months, I will as a mother, treasure all the times with her. She has grown into a beautiful young God-loving, Christian woman and we are SO very proud of her and all she represents. She is one of my best friends and we enjoy being together as well as she and her father enjoy their time together. We are truly blessed. The plans for the wedding are going well. There will be more stories and "adventures" until the wedding.

That was our weekend. Tomorrow we will worship with our church family, Jim is speaking, which is always a treat. Megan and I are then off to a bridal shower hosted by our another family church for 4 college students that are getting married this year. It should be a fun afternoon.

Weekend events....before I know it....it will be Monday. Enjoy the small daily blesses..they are such a gift.

What I've learned

The last several months I have had the privilege to participate in an evening bible study entitled, "Lies Women Believe", by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. Some of the things that I have learned through this study have been a renewal in sorts...I knew them, but didn't use them so to speak.

What I have learned: personally, that I crave my study time with God. I look forward to it and when I don't organize my day in a way that I can partake in my quiet time, I miss it! What I have learned: The better acquainted I'm with the Bible, the better I will able to identify the Satan's lies and bring to mind God's Truth. What I have learned: When I learn the Truth, believe it, surrender to it, and live it, I find myself set free and live it abundantly.

The Truths that I have learned:

1. God is Good
2. God loves me and wants me to have His best!
3. I am complete and accepted in Christ!
4. God is enough!
5. God can be trusted.
6. God doesn't make any mistakes.
7. God's Grace is sufficient for me!
8. The blood of Christ is sufficient to cover all my sins.
9. The Cross of Christ is sufficient to conquer my sinful flesh.
10. My past does not have to plaque me!
11. God's word is sufficient to lead me, teach, me and heal me.
12. Through the power of His Holy Spirit, God WILL enable me to do anything He commands me to do.
13. I am responsible before God for my behavior, responses, and choices.
14. I will reap WHATEVER I sow.
15. The pathway to true joy is to relinquish control!
16. The greatest freedom I can experience is found through submission.
17. In the Will of God, there is no higher, holier calling than to be a wife and mother!
18. Personal holiness is more important than temporal happiness.
19. God is more concerned about changing me and glorifying Himself then about solving my problems.
20. It is impossible to be godly without suffering.
21. My suffering will not last forever.
22. It's not about me; it's all about Him!

What I've learned, I pray that God will continue to develop in me through my daily service and may He continue to show me the more I learn the more I need to learn.

Our small evening group of Christian friends will get together again the end of May for dinner and picking our next topic of study. May God continue to direct my steps in my daily walk.

Have a wonderful week! What an awesome God we have to praise and worship.

What a weekend!

http://jrhighretreat.wordpress.com/

Click on the website above and enjoy the pictures of what we got to experience first hand this weekend. The pictures are words enough.

I've got the music in me

It has been awhile since my last post. The month of April is filled with daily/weekly activities as well as my music students preparing for the upcoming recital. There is a special feeling about this particular recital...it will be my last. I plan to stop my private music teaching the end of this month. This decision was not one that was made over a few days.

Looking back, I have been instructing beginners in flute, piano with a few vocal students thrown in, over the last 30 years! I have LOVED the interaction and the growth that I have seen taking students from knowing nothing, or almost nothing muscially, on the flute and piano to actually playing recognizable songs. I will always have a connection with this type of teaching, but at this time I am ready for my weekly instruction to end. I have built up my "practice" over the years from full-time to part-time to periodical times and back again. The wonderful ability to do what I do is a blessing in itself. Just time for change :-D I usually end a full schedule of teaching through the summer months, so I won't feel "different" until possibly in the Fall, but I also know that I have many opportunities ahead of me to assist musically outside our home and I am looking forward to that as well.

I hope to begin some college courses again and refresh myself with studies and finish my degree with the possibility of using it to teach music sometime in a private school setting. I may just use my talent to teach my future grandchildren (down the road). I may just enjoy the ability to participate in musical groups or privately playing, which has been very hard to do over the years because of my teaching schedule. Who knows, I may be "recruiting" students down the road, but this is the right thing at the right time.

I hope to post a picture of my students after the recital. This is a very exciting time for the students and I love seeing the proud faces of the parents and grandparents. Enjoy the daily blessings of living your lives.

Next is MAY, weddings, graduations, meetings with caterers, photographers, etc. Living a full life :-D More later!!!