First day of the summer holidays?

The Nebraska summer this year has been brilliant. Moderate temperatures, little wind, regular rainfalls, what more could we ask? Denny and I have sat outside by the pool and eaten dinner every night for a couple of weeks.

I finished working at Lowe's garden center on Thursday after nearly 3 months. I started April 26th, took a couple of weeks off in May to go to Linnea's graduation and sub for the track coach. Started back up the 16th of May and worked Monday - Friday ever since. It was a great job; I worked with fun people, and it kept me busy enough all summer.

The last three weeks I've added helping out at OCA getting it ready for school to start mid-August. I've loved being there talking with
everyone and taking the room from chaos to order. Those of you who know me know that is one of my greatest joys! :) I've taken over one room in particular, and that has made it easier to have specific things to do when I go up there. That room is done, basically, so I'm a "free agent" now! I have helped out other teachers, too, painting bookshelves, desks, unpacking and setting up the teachers' lounge/workroom, and hauling boxes. I've gotten in shape without working out. yippee!


My balcony plants have done well this summer so far. I did learn a little more about plants while I worked, at least some new ones.

Other things on my mind:

• our 30th anniversary trip to Scotland to visit our good friends there
• the Getty's new album!
• the faithfulness and steadfast love of God
• being taught to "let go" of my children and to wait with patience

Hey, no one told me that having 20-somethings was going to be harder on me than having a 2 year old! One is physical exhaustion, the other is emotional. I DO love the promise and energy of my 20-somethings! They are always thinking and always challenging me. It's wonderful to see the different ways God teaches us. And thankfully He helps us to mellow, and some things and beliefs that we thought were so important or uncompromisable, we realize were only our own "quirks". It's all part of letting go.....

I HAVEN'T given up blogging!

My life is just crazy busy right now. I work at Lowes from 8-12 every morning, then I've been helping out at OCA getting rooms ready to start school. Then when I get home around dinner time or later, I've been working out getting our Scotland trip worked out. Found train tickets from Glasgow to Inverness for only 10 pounds! What a deal! But that takes time to find!

So hang in there, I will be back! I finished at Lowes today. Linnea comes home next Wednesday, so I'm not working at OCA while she's here. There will be time to blog!

It's not that I'm not thinking!! Stay with me!

My morning song

Ah, another from high school days. On these beautiful summer mornings the song, "Still, still with Thee" runs through my head. The words are marvelous. I didn't remember that they were written by Harriet Beecher Stowe.
"Whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none on earth that I desire besides Thee."

Here's a link to the words, an organ playing the tune and some information about Harriet B. Stowe.

Detasselling?

I'm just wondering HOW those kids are going to do that!!! Do you SEE where the tassel is???

Another song

"stone cold dead as I stepped out of the womb..." Our pastor used this line in a sermon a couple of weeks ago. The rest of the song has great words, too. Shows our impotence in our own salvation. Praise God!

Who can tell me who wrote that line? (Do I dare tell Mom?) Here's the rest of the song. And after I get a few guesses, I'll link the song. It's great! P.S. Melinda, don't answer until other people have had a chance!!

I was blinded by the devil,
Born already ruined,
Stone-cold dead
As I stepped out of the womb.
By His grace I have been touched,
By His word I have been healed,
By His hand I've been delivered,
By His spirit I've been sealed.

I've been saved
By the blood of the lamb,
Saved
By the blood of the lamb,
Saved,
Saved,
And I'm so glad.
Yes, I'm so glad,
I'm so glad,
So glad,
I want to thank You, Lord,
I just want to thank You, Lord,
Thank You, Lord.

By His truth I can be upright,
By His strength I do endure,
By His power I've been lifted,
In His love I am secure.
He bought me with a price,
Freed me from the pit,
Full of emptiness and wrath
And the fire that burns in it.

I've been saved
By the blood of the lamb,
Saved
By the blood of the lamb,
Saved,
Saved,
And I'm so glad.
Yes, I'm so glad,
I'm so glad,
So glad,
I want to thank You, Lord,
I just want to thank You, Lord,
Thank You, Lord.

Nobody to rescue me,
Nobody would dare,
I was going down for the last time,
But by His mercy I've been spared.
Not by works,
But by faith in Him who called,
For so long I've been hindered,
For so long I've been stalled.

I've been saved
By the blood of the lamb,
Saved
By the blood of the lamb,
Saved,
Saved,
And I'm so glad.
Yes, I'm so glad, I'm so glad,
So glad, I want to thank You, Lord,
I just want to thank You, Lord,
Thank You, Lord.

Battle Hymn of the Republic

We sang this in high school choir. Last weekend we heard it sung at the 4th of July celebration at Mount Rushmore. It's humbling to read and think of our country. We all need repentance, and this anthemn is a call to repentance!

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword;
His truth is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His truth is marching on.

I have seen Him in the watch fires of a hundred circling camps
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps;
His day is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His day is marching on.

I have read a fiery Gospel writ in burnished rows of steel;
“As ye deal with My contemners, so with you My grace shall deal”;
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with His heel,
Since God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Since God is marching on.

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat;
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet;
Our God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Our God is marching on.

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us live to make men free;
[originally …let us die to make men free]
While God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! While God is marching on.

He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave,
He is wisdom to the mighty, He is honor to the brave;
So the world shall be His footstool, and the soul of wrong His slave,
Our God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Our God is marching on.

Black Hills sneak peek

More to come.....