Another week

(A rose from my personal "rose garden". They continue to bloom even though it's the end of September.)


I have been in my college class now 2 weeks and things are going well! I must be honest, I'm not sure why I did this class in the fall semester until today when I close friend of mine and I were having breakfast and she asked, "Why again are you taking a course now with all you have on your plate already?" (I knew that she wasn't condemning me for pursuing this degree, she has been a true encourager about me doing "things for me", which will enable me to serve others better!)

After thinking for a moment, my answer was the following: I have many transitions in my life at the present time and have many situations where I don't know when they will change from the "unknown to the known". I mentioned to her that I knew that I would have an empty void in my week without my 30-year run of private music teaching and I felt that this would "fill that void". I went on to say, that the class did not fill the void of my lack of teaching something that I am very passionate about, but I also went on to say, that by taking the time to receive this new degree I can use it to benefit my passion of teaching music on many other levels that I have not been able to experience without this degree. She totally could see where I was coming from with my answer.

After stating this, I felt a sense of relief and assurance, that even though I have many hats to wear and many situations pulling me in so many directions (don't we all), doing this college/university course study is a good thing.

I will be very honest, I felt somewhat overwhelmed when I heard this week about my paper and a presentation that will be due (thank God after the wedding), but I also have a sense of determination to make the best of it and do it a little at a time. It isn't a large paper and the presentation is only minutes long, but it is a "whole new world" , the last time I did something like this since I was 18!!

I was very touched that my friend cared enough about me to voice her concern for me. She has seen the last few weeks how my mind is so full of things that I'm not able to focus on many of the things that I need to focus on at times. She also knows that I have trouble sleeping (which some of that is the stage of my life that I'm in...it's an age thing).

I have also been in my 3 bible studies over these past few weeks and it is going fairly well. I do feel that I'm "just doing" some of the studies and I plan to "revamp" this by doing certain studies on certain days, so I can benefit from my personal study time, since this is why I am doing them in the first place. God has helped me to clear my mind this past week to retain my personal study time and I know He will continue to assist me with my weaknesses and doubts. I am more blessed with these studies and especially the relationships that I share with my sisters who also are participating in these particular studies.

The campus dinner/devos are going very well. We are averaging 52 students each Tuesday evening. This is such a great ministry and the students are so appreciative. They are very open to discussion and sharing of their lives on a spiritual and personal level.

Today we, Jim and I, also had good news about his kidney disease. We have been seeing the neophrologist every 3-months, and this will continue, but the good news, is that his numbers have not changed since our last visit (in July). This is very good news. He is still in Stage 4 (Stage 5 is total renal failure and dialysis with a transplant). Keep those prayers coming and we have been thankful for when the changes have occurred over the last several months they haven't dropped severely. We know that there is a transplant in "our future", but we are thankful that Jim continues to do so well with little symptoms. Most people at this stage have many negative symptoms and we know how blessed we are to not be dealing with that. We are complaint and watch things that we should in eating, exercise, etc, but God is taking us on this adventure at a pace that we can manage.

The wedding plans continue to progress and it's only 42 days away!!! We are all getting excited and very emotional (good emotions) about the event. We are receiving r.s.v.p.'s for the adult invitation reception daily. This weekend we, Megan and I will be blessed to attend two showers for her. Mom will be here to enjoy the experience too. We are so truly blessed.

God is good all the time...All the time God is good.

Thanks for allowing me to share my babbles about my week :-D