Yet another update.....

Greetings from sunny Florida! I must say I am enjoying the weather, although I do miss the snow! Doesn't quite seem like Christmas time when it's 75 degrees out and sunny!

Yesterday was the annual Christmas Tea at Baylife Church. It was a formal tea and there were finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam (sounds gross, but was actually quite yummy), and many varieties of tea. There was a play presented by the Baylife drama troupe -- it was very funny, but made me miss Randy and his creative genius! There were door prizes galore and it was just an old fashioned good time. Here are some pictures:




The first picture are of my two friends, Jill and Joy. They were table hostesses and decorated our table. The next two are pictures of the table itself. They did a beautiful job! Much of the decorations were from our antique excursions. Jill and Joy were two of the first ladies that I met at Baylife. We are all great friends and I am so thankful for them! Their families are my family here :)

I was asked to lead the Prayer Ministry at Baylife Riverview. The Lord has been preparing me for this for some time, and when my pastor asked me to do this I knew that this was the time. I am excited about this and am very thankful for the way the Lord prepared me and confirmed it. It's humbling and exciting at the same time.

I have an interview tomorrow with a Bank...we'll see what happens. I want to be where the Lord wants me. Would you mind praying for me? Tuesday, it's off the airforce base to pick up a Christmas tree for my friend, Ro. Another one of my friends, Michelle, is an Army wife whose husband just got deployed to the middle east. The military is giving military families free live trees, and Michelle already had one, so she is giving her tree to Ro. It will be fun to get out of the house and go on an adventure of sorts! And I LOVE being on a military base....weird, I know, but it's in my blood I guess as a veteran!

Steve is doing well, just getting over a cold. He has exams next week, but only has to take a couple because of his GPA and attendance, quite a change from last year. He auditioned for the worship band at church and made it, and will begin practising this week! He also leads worship for my wednesday night lifegroup. Pretty proud of that kid, I must say!

Oh, last but not least, Angie is coming to stay for a week after Christmas! I can hardly wait to see her and introduce her to everyone here and just visit! And just to go sit on the beach somewhere! I can see her dancing on the beach, but don't tell her that! haha It's a set-up!

Florida, lately.....

It's been awhile since I have shared an update...here it goes....

Had a great Thanksgiving weekend; we were invited to spend Thanksgiving dinner with my friends Jill and Jeff Aubin. Their family of six and my two made for an interesting and fun time. It included Steve jumping into their pool! In Florida that isn't such a big deal, but it has been barely over 70 degrees over the past several weeks and the pool isn't heated....I am so surprised that the police didn't show up after Steve screamed....just like a little girl! It was SO funny!

They live in a gated, golf course community - right on the thirteenth hole and there is a pond in the back. It is complete with fish, numerous water fowl, fish and an alligator. Oh, and can't forget the otter! I pray every time we go there that Steve will not end up in that pond! He and their kids end up around it and in the woods everytime we go. Fun times :)

Steve and I had a gift card to Chipotle (thank you, Ticknor family!) and since there are no Chipotle's around the Riverview/Brandon area, we took a day trip to Clearwater for dinner and to see the sun set over the Gulf of Mexico. I took a bunch of pictures, and will post them soon. It was absolutely beautiful! The sand was pure white, and the waves were two feet or so...we kicked off the flip-flops and ran to the water....boy was it chilly! We had such a good time, and I am thankful that the Lord allowed us to move so close to such beautiful places!

Yesterday, on our way home from church, we saw another of our animal friends down here in Florida..........

Yep...an armadillo! It scurried across the road in front of us...we had seen several as road-kill, so it was a welcome site to see one...alive!

Steve is going to Minneapolis for Christmas and New Year's to visit with his Dad and Julie. He is really excited! I know, I will be here alone...but it's okay! Angie is coming to visit after Christmas and my friends will keep me busy! OK, OK....if you are having pity on me and you want to donate to my Bahama's fund, that's great! HAHA! I know, I'm dreaming...the Bahama's over Christmas, alone, suffering on the beach...sounds like torture..haha Lord???

You

Are You there?
Do You hear?
Can You feel what's going on inside?

Unanswered questions rage inside
Trying to defy an illogical foundation of faith
Doubt tiptoes around what I thought was a fortress
Checking for cracks

While shaken by winds of uncertainty
From my hands come the one thing
The only thing that can hold everything together
To bring peace in the middle of this place
A place of Your choosing
Caulking to bind up the weak places
A sword

The truth remains
While the tempter illuminates the weaknesses
The light radiates places in need of healing
While I am shaken, I am pruned

This place is best
This is where I become more like You

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen, you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith---the salvation of your soul. 1 Peter 1:6-9

On the heels of this great country's election.....

Romans 13:1-4

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.

AND....

1 Peter 2:11-17

Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

"Submission to Government"

Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

Here's another song, my declaration of late.......

Shadowfeet
by Brooke Fraser

Walking,stumbling on these shadowfeet
toward home,a land that i've never seen
I am changing: less and less asleep
made of different stuff than when i began
and i have sensed it all along
fast approaching is the day

when the world has fallen out from under me
I'll be found in you, still standing
when the sky rolls up and mountains fall on their knees
when time and space are through
I'll be found in you

Theres distraction buzzing in my head
saying in the shadows it's easier to stay
but I've heard rumours of true reality
whispers of a well-lit way

You make all things new

When the world has fallen out from under me
I'll be found in you, still standing
Every fear and accusation under my feet
when time and space are through
I'll be found in you

Albertine

Albertine
by Brooke Fraser

I am sitting still
I think of Angeline
Her mother's voice over me
And the bullets and the war
Where it fell silent

And on a thousandth hill [?]
I think of Albertine
There in her eyes
What i don't see
with my eye oh

Rwanda
Now that I have seen
I am responsible
Faith without deeds is dead
Now that I have held you
In my own arms
I cannot let go till you are...

And I am on a plane
Across a distant sea
But I carry you in me
In the dust on... the dust on... the dust on... the dust on.... ???
My feet

Rwanda
Now that I have seen
I am responsible
Faith without deeds is dead
Now that I have held you
In my own arms
I cannot let go till you are...

I will tell the world
I will tell them where I've been
I will keep my word
I will tell them, Albertine

Rwanda
Now that I have seen
I am responsible
Faith without deeds is dead
Now that I have held you
In my own arms
I cannot let go till you are...

And I am on a stage
A thousand eyes on me
I will tell them, Albertine
I will tell them, Albertine

Give me Your eyes......

This song has messed me up completely....This is what I want.....



"Give me Your eyes"
Brandon Heath

Looked down from a broken sky
Traced out by the city lights
My world from a mile high
Best seat in the house tonight
Touched down on the cold black tile
Hold on for the sudden stop
Breath in the familiar shock
Of confusion and chaos
All those people going somewhere?
Why have I never cared?

Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the once forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see
Yeah

Step out on a busy street
See a girl and our eyes meet
Does her best to smile at me
To hide whats underneath
Theres a man just to her right
Black suit and a bright red tie
Too ashamed to tell his wife
Hes out of work
Hes buying time
all those people going somewhere?
Why have I never cared?

Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the once forgotten

Ive Been there a million times
A couple of million eyes
just move and pass me by
I swear I never thought that I was wrong
Well I want a second glance
So give me a second chance
To see the way you see the people all alone

Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the once forgotten

Give me your eyes, Lord....please give me a second chance and a second glance...please