Fantastic celebration 12/19/2009
Yesterday I blogged about Gary's last day of working and beginning his retirement. As an additional blessing, our good friends, the Violis, took us to dinner at Franco's and then to the Christmas presentation by the Pittsburgh Symphony conducted by Marvin Hamlisch. What an incredible performance! Christmas music is just delightful when executed by professional instrumentalists and then to be accompanied by the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh! Wow....two weekends in a row with outstanding programs to ready us for the Christmas season! I have to mention Emma Resmini, a nine-year-old flutist that blew our socks off last night. Not one piece of music before her and seemingly as calm as a cucumber, this young woman stood before Heinz Hall's packed house and literally "brought the house down" with her talent. There were others, Kevin Glavin, disguised as Santa, winner of the Luciano Pavarotti Competition; Jonathan Ansell, a young man who hails from Britain as a popular and successful tenor; Betsy Lawrence, a voice and music theater grad from CMU and the Manhattan School of Music; and the Pittsburgh CLO Academy of Musical Theater group who reminded me of a younger version of the Rockettes. But a concluding highlight of the evening was Rosanna and Rocky Paterra, a young brother and sister team that brought the crowd to their feet once again upon their conclusion of the song, "The Prayer." It was certainly a day and night to remember. Well, I wanted to share with all of you our adventures of yesterday. This afternoon those events continue as we head to the final wedding of the year. I can't even number the weddings and happy unions that have occurred during 2009. Receiving a Christmas card from friends whom we share each year yielded a picture taken when one of their daughters married in September! It has certainly been a year full of blessings and we pray they continue into the new year. Have a wonderful day, my friends. And to all of you in snow covered areas, stay safe. Enjoy some hot chocolate and old Christmas movies until the salt trucks clear your roads....give your back a break from shoveling! God bless! Add Comment A special blessing at Christmas 12/18/2009
I can't tell you, my friends, how long I've waited for this day to arrive. At 3:00 this afternoon my husband, Gary, will walk out of his office for the last time. Yep, he retires from his position of Chief Financial Officer with the Department of Energy after 33 1/2 years. So many have been wishing him congratulations and commenting that they wish it could happen to them at Gary's age. We smile. They can't fully comprehend the long road we have traveled and the sacrifices that have been made to get to this point. As I wrote on our Christmas letter this year, "Gary and I realize that it is through the grace, mercy and blessings of God we are able to enter this era of our lives. We are thankful for each healthy report we receive and pray retirement brings new opportunities of service for our Lord." God has been good. Gary's career has afforded us, as a family, blessings of provision and security. Gary has utilized his talents and education to make the most of a career he has loved that spans over three decades. He walks away today saddened to leave, but excited about tomorrow...and the next day....and the next. We are anxiously awaiting what God has in store for us. We thank our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for the incredible blessings bestowed upon us since the day we met in 1979. Coming to the anniversary of our 30th year of marriage in a few months, it has been a ride I wouldn't have missed for the world. Because I feel the world has been given to me through a special blessing....my husband, Gary. Congratulations, the man of my dreams, I can't wait to continue this journey hand-in-hand with you. Part of what Christmas means to me 12/17/2009
This year I am re-evaluating Christmas giving. Since my immediate family will be going on a trip this Christmas, we have had to prepare for Christmas earlier than usual. I've needed to think "hard" about gift giving and what I feel each person would enjoy. This re-evaluation process has been laid on my heart so strongly that my devotional for this week reflects my thoughts. It feels like Christmas! 12/16/2009
Well, it certainly feels like a northeastern Christmas! Temps have dropped into the 20's, but the sun is shining! I always feel like a new person when that sunshine pops out and greets me! It's a day to run errands and I'm hopefully heading out soon. I have two baby gifts to deliver and I'm anxious to see these little ones for the first time. My desire is to shop with a smile and not get annoyed with the crowds or the driving behavior of others. You see, I'm a talker behind the wheel. I comment on everybody's driving like I'm the queen of the road. Unfortunately, I'm not and I don't even know why I'm admitting that on the blog, but I'm out to be an individual of stellar behavior today. May God bless us, one and all....I'll let you know how I do! Listening and watching 12/15/2009
Recently in a department store I waited at a counter for assistance. Two ladies in front of me were chatting and I happened to focus on their conversation when I heard one of them complain about taking the "Christ" out of "Christmas." They continued affirming what I believe about companies trying to make this celebration a "holiday" or "winter break" instead of using the word "Christmas".....I was pleasantly surprised that the conversation had taken place before me and was being carried on by two Christian women. Later, my husband and I were on an interstate, traveling at night and before us we saw in the distance three crosses that appeared to be in the middle of the road. We kept looking and wondering exactly where these crosses were located since our present path would bring us to the foot of these enormous, well-lit crosses. As we drew near, the crosses were on a hillside. Amazingly, the individuals that erected these three crosses positioned them in such a way that for miles beforehand, they were right before the travelers on the interstate. Ingenious, if you ask me. I was given these two presents from my Lord. In a society that we feel has cornered Christmas and tried to "box" us in with the wording of the Christmas holiday and the ability to demonstrate and verbalize our faith, I was shown God cannot be "boxed!" The God of the Universe, our Creator, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is way too big to be held back, boxed in or cornered, my friends. Listen and watch this season....our Savior will be proclaimed! Hallelujah! I'm back! 12/14/2009
Hi, my friends....wow, what a whirlwind weekend! I've been in Virginia with the family and it was a great three days. I was able to visit with a couple of my girlfriends sharing coffee and/or lunch, visit with the nieces and nephew (only one of you, Rob), see my brother's train display, briefly see brother #2 and spend some time with mom and dad. One of the favorite parts of the weekend was attending the Christmas performance at Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg. Most of you are probably familiar with the late Jerry Falwell's ministry in Lynchburg. Well, this is the church he founded and is still going strong for the Lord. This presentation was spectacular and if any of you get a chance to visit during December next year, this program is usually the first two weekends of the month. You'll be blessed! A huge thanks for my dad's cousin for getting us front row seats....that was the best surprise ever! My dad doesn't drive at night anymore, so we were able to take them for a ride around town to "see the Christmas lights" on Friday night. My parents love to see the lights and it was a joy to be a part of that experience and to have dinner at K&W Cafeteria in Roanoke....one of my favorite spots. I helped mom shop for my dad for Christmas and we enjoyed lunch out at Applebee's....just us girls. It was such a great trip and we are blessed to have mom and dad in relatively good health and still able to live in their home unassisted. Thank you Jesus for allowing us to travel this time of year with no snow storms, icy roads and just a mild dose of fog....God bless, my friends...have a great day! And away we go! 12/10/2009
The day has arrived and Gary and I are headed this afternoon to Virginia for an early Christmas with the Garbee clan. I think I might be singing, "over the mountains and through the snow to grandmother's house we go!" If you read this anywhere from noon until the midnight, please pray for safe travels. You never know what kind of precip you'll get this time of year. Thank goodness for the turnpike....at least that road is kept open (unless there's a really big snowfall). God bless each of you today and I hope you enjoy a wonderful weekend. I'll be trying to blog from my parents' home....take care! A crazy weather day 12/09/2009
It's been a wild weather day.....when I left for school at 7:00 a.m. it was fairly mild....no precipatation, but a little windy. During the day it changed several times from sunny to high winds to thunderstorms and lightening and back to sun again! As I write this blog at almost midnight the wind is howling outside.....sounds like the dead of winter! Amazing how quickly the weather can change. We are headed to Virginia tomorrow afternoon to celebrate an early Christmas with my family. It has taken a lot of preparation to get gifts bought, wrapped and packed in the car. We have several plans for the weekend. Taking mom and dad riding around to see Christmas lights will be our job on Friday night. Dad no longer drives at night and they love to see Christmas lights. We also have tickets to Thomas Road Baptist Church's Christmas program which I understand is a big production. I haven't been in Lynchburg to see it for many years so we look forward to attending. Before you know it, we will be returning and begin checking off another week of Christmas acitivites. May we all stop to reflect, amid the scurry of busyness, how wonderful this season is....the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ! God bless, my friends! Walking and learning 12/08/2009
Well, today I took another four mile walk on the trail that runs close to our home. It has been a teaching ground for me as God has spoken through various creations of nature. Today was another lesson as God used trees and snow to produce yet another good devotional. Now, you'll have to wait until next week's devotional on the website to get the posting of this lesson, but I want to share this thought with you. God is ready to teach each one of His children everyday. When we take a walk, as we drive through our neighborhoods, as we talk with a friend, when we pause to read our Bible....whatever we do, God is there. He wants to teach us, commune with us, demonstrate His love for others through us. Be sensitive to God's calling. Ask Him to teach you a lesson today....and then be prepared to listen! Pearl Harbor Day 12/07/2009
When I realized that today is December 7th, it stirred within me a new meaning I experienced five years ago. Gary and I visited Pearl Harbor on the occasion of our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. The impact of seeing where all our fleet was docked on that fatal day when the Japanese bombed our Navy is life altering. Especially the memorial that has been built over the Arizona gives the feeling of standing over "hallowed ground." The colored circles where still today oil bubbles to the surface of the water and the visible outline of the ship underneath the memorial forever will tribute the lives of those taken on Dec. 7th of that fateful year. One clear remembrance that I will carry with me always, was the soldier standing at the gate as visitors entered. This soldier was a Pearl Harbor survivor and as I came through the gate I gave him a big hug and said, "thank you so much"....his eyes filled with tears as we found a moment shared that transcended generations. May God help us never to forget our history and to always give thanks to those who have sacrificed for our freedoms. God bless, my friends! |
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