Time flies...

I'm baaaaackk! :-) Finally getting back to this blogging thing. It's been an exciting summer and I can't wait to share with you some of the things the Lord has been doing in my life. I think it will take a series of posts to cover it all but I WILL tell you all about it. :-) Things have finally slowed down enough for me to process it all!

While you are anxiously awaiting future posts....I give you a few videos to watch. These were taken over the summer and somehow never made it onto my blog. Enjoy!

 More videos to come!

The Highland Games

Each year, the Skagit Valley hosts the Highland Games, a festival put on by the Celtic Arts Foundation. Featuring various traditional games (such as stone throwing, hay tossing, etc.), bagpipe competitions, and clan pride, the kilts seem commonplace! If you are of Scottish or Irish heritage, you are likely to find a tent with your clan's name bannered proudly at the front. Vendors selling their wares are scattered throughout, but these aren't your usual fair vendors. Not only will you find curly fries and root beer floats, you'll find haggis and meat pies. Along with "I love Ireland" t-shirts, you'll see kilts, swords, daggers, celtic jewelry, and an array of traditional apparel. Quite intriguing!

Josh and I spent some time wandering around, observing some dancers and musicians, choking down some Haggis for the first time, and cheering on some of the athletes. And after several days of rain and thunderstorms, we were blessed with a beautiful blue sky. :-)  It was definitely a splendid day!

Lavender and Bell

I hoped to have something extraordinary to blog about on my 200th post. Hmm.....I'll just tell you about my Monday. ;-)

Busy as usual, I was able to accomplish quite a few things. I got a good head start on a rather large printing project that's set for this week. With only one minor setback, I'm hoping to finish it in record time! If you're at all familiar with the thickness of "Manuscript Evidence" you may be skeptical.....but I AM determined. :-)

The thought occurred to me yesterday that our lavender may be ready to harvest -- our lavender that we planted several years ago and is finally producing a good size harvest! Last year, since I was in Thailand I missed the harvest so no dried lavender for us. I barely caught it this time! I absolutely LOVE the dark shade of the Hidcote Blue lavender. Definitely my favorite variety.

    

The evening concluded with a FABULOUS concert featuring violinist Joshua Bell. I have been wanting to see Joshua Bell live in concert for years now, so to finally have the opportunity was incredible! It was actually a late birthday present for Christopher, but he confirmed my thoughts.....it was worth the wait. A few months ago I was listening to the classical music station (at a time I wouldn't normally) and I happened to hear them mention that Joshua Bell would be in Bellingham! *Gasp!* He usually only comes to Seattle and the tickets are outrageous. Well.....you can't beat $30 tickets at the Mt. Baker Theatre in Bellingham! I know....I was shocked myself. And of course, the place was sold out. :-)

This is a piece that Joshua Bell performed last night. It was unbelievable! His music nearly brings me to tears, it's so beautiful.

Well, my blog may continue to remain quiet in the coming month or so. I am preparing to go as a counselor to youth camp next week and I am SO looking forward to that!  Then....take a breath......I'll have a weekend to prepare for a lengthy trip to Mexico. More about that later.

Spring '12 Recital

Here are the results of my work this quarter at school. God's been so good to me in so many ways and I've enjoyed learning all these new things!

Communing with God

I've just embarked on a challenge to read through God's Word in 90-days and thus far it's been so rewarding! To dive into the very wisdom of God will always be rewarding.

This week, one of the books I'm reading is Genesis (obviously, since I just started!). It still amazes me how the Almighty Creator would desire to have a relationship with a creature who consistently fails and falters. One of my favorite people to read about is Abraham, a man chosen by the Lord to bring up a great nation through his seed. Along Abraham's journey we can see times that he had a serious lack of faith. It's easy for me to sit here and think, "Abraham....haven't you been through this before? Why haven't you learned to just trust God?" But how many times have I done exactly that? I can say that God's Word is truly a mirror!

We come to Chapter 18 where Abraham is interceding on behalf of Lot and the city which he dwelt, Sodom. When God revealed to Abraham that he would be destroying Sodom, vs. 23 says, "And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?" He didn't retreat and fret about how he could possibly save Lot himself. He drew closer to his Saviour. After Abraham's prayer and God's reply, vs. 33 says, "And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place."

Wow.....God communed with Abraham. According to Webster's 1828 dictionary, to commune means "To converse; to talk together familiarly; to impart sentiments mutually, in private or familiar discourse". To have that kind of familiarity with the Lord, where HE communes with US, is truly an amazing thing. Is HE your best friend? Is HE the first one you talk to as soon as a worry or a fear enters your mind? Is HE the one with whom you share all your joys and sorrows? I was certainly challenged by this as I considered my walk with the Lord.

Are you communing with God?

The End.....Almost!

The quarter is coming to an end. That means that the school year is coming to an end! *insert huge smile here* It's neat to look back throughout the year and see what I've learned! I praise God for allowing me to go to school and get an education in something that I love dearly, in something that can be used to glorify Him. I hope He'll continue to show me ways I can do just that.

Next week: Recital, Choir Concert, preparing for finals and.....
The next week: FINALS!

Piano lab at school.

Sage wisdom from Dove.... :-)

Many a cup of Starbucks have accompanied me to school this quarter. :-)

I'll be so happy when I can settle back into my "free from school" routine: House work, church print shop, baking, etc. AND when I can actually think about all my summer plans and let myself get excited about them. :-) I'm looking forward to all the different events and how the Lord might use them in my life to grow me closer to Him.

What do YOU have planned for the summer?

It's Tuesday!

What's so special about Tuesday? Well, not much.  This morning as I was evaluating the day at hand, I realized that I love Tuesdays! For several reasons: It's not Monday.  It's a short(er) day at school. I haven't been going to school all week so I'm not as exhausted.  I get to teach piano.

School tends to take up a good portion of my time and makes me quite weary even just thinking about it. It's so easy for me to fall into the trap of complaining and displaying a lack of joy. That shouldn't be! I have SO much to be joyful about. The greatest thing that I can rejoice about is my salvation.  Even if I had nothing else to be joyful about (which I DO), my salvation would be enough to cause me to rejoice every waking moment.

Psalm 27:6- And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.


Today, Tuesday, is the 15th so before I ran to class this morning I sat in my car and read Proverbs 15 aloud to my friend. What a blessing!  Over and over again I read about joy in the believer's life and my heart was affected as I realized that I have not been displaying joy on purpose like I should be!

4a- A wholesome tongue is a tree of life:


13- A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.


15- All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.


23- A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!


My day hasn't been without frustrations and disappointments, but purposing to have joy has made all the difference. How can I hand someone a tract and expect them to read it if I am so consumed with my own valleys and trials? How else will they see the joy of the Lord unless they see it from ME?!