Julia, Music, and God

One month can go by so fast and yet so slow... It's been one month since my niece was transferred to Heaven.

Do you believe in coincidences? I don't...

We have a very eclectic mix of music in our iTunes account. My husband loves any and all kinds of music. Tonight (Wednesday) I tried to pull up KloveRadio on our appleTV, but it wouldn't work, so I went with our music library instead while I was making dinner...

And I heard this song...

Angels stood at attention
when she was called away
For she'd held the hand of Jesus every day.
Heaven's choir played her anthem
As they welcomed one so rare.
heaven knows she is 
the prettiest flower there.



And the dam burst and I just started crying... and then I had to find the title and the singer and YouTube it and listen to it over again while dinner burned. Well, actually dinner did NOT burn, but it was a whole lot harder to prepare through the tears.

and then I heard this song

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name




and I give thanks for the ministry of music. And for the variety that shows up on my playlist, that God can orchestrate for me.

And back to the coincidences, in the business of summer, I am sure there is more than one person in my life who didn't catch the news that my niece died. One of those dear friends lives in Oregon and caught a post on Facebook and messaged me asking for more details. I was glad to be able to share with her some of the story, some things about Julia, and her deep love for children... And my dear friend wrote me back...

If she loved kids then I think she was there yesterday when my friend lost her baby after carrying it to term. She knew he would not live and had the courage to carry him all the way anyways. I have a feeling he's in good hands with your niece now!

And I don't know what heaven is like or anything, and we aren't going to get into the theology of it here, but I do know that she's probably got a lot of babies to hold.

I miss her!

When your Radio is Broken

So the Five Minute Friday prompt last week was SONG... The possibilities are endless with song, so I'm sharing another little story on song... Hope you don't mind.

Can I start by saying how much I love music? It really is wonderful, and can be such a balm to my soul. And when my kids start going crazy or life gets out of control, it is amazing to me what a flip of the stereo switch can do for us all.

{source}

Problem is, my van stereo system is broken, there is a loose wire somewhere (kinda like my head somedays, huh?) It's been hit and miss for a while. When the van started you would have lovely (or lively) music to soothe and distract from sibling rivalry, and then the van would hit a bump or something and suddenly it was quiet... for a few moments and then the kids would find something to argue about, and peace efforts were suspended.

I miss my stereo. Some kids music, some contemporary praise music, some Seeds Family Worship... even a little bit of Adventures in Odyssey goes a long way to getting us to our destination with siblings still loving each other and having mommy in her right mind. It also wards off the complaints of "I'm bored..." (that's a whole other problem... when did kids get so easily bored?)

Because of this, I am very likely to take my husband's car any chance I get these days. It's old and small and I feel like I'm driving on the floor after being up in my minivan, but it has music, so I'll take it!  If I only have one or two kids... or if I'm escaping by myself, I will fall into his rusting old Alero, ignore the clanks and clunks and crank that radio loud. Now, his tape deck (yes, tape deck) and CD player aren't an option anymore, but I can still get the radio.  When the kids are with me, it's usually KLove, or Family Life Network


 but (CONFESSION TIME), when I'm all by myself... it's the COUNTRY station!!!

Community Conversation: How do you entertain the kids in the car (every trip we take is at least 20 minutes)? and for the fun of it... Are you a country music fan? What song/artist do you love?

I'm sure there is a spiritual lesson to be found in this somewhere. When I figure it out, maybe I'll get another blog post out of it! :)

Sunday Community: Song

In continuation of Five Minute Friday: Song, some Scripture that came to mind. I wanted to share it and join the Sunday Community again, but wasn't online much over the weekend and I forgot!  I think it's a good Word for a Monday, too!

{source}

I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

² He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

³ And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.

⁴ Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

⁵ Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

Psalm 40:1-5

Five Minute Friday: Song

It's Friday, and I'm actually attempting Five Minute Friday on Friday... that time to just write without worrying if you get it right!

My writing has been sparse lately... too sparse and I'm considering a blogging fast or social media, or internet, or something...

but today, I'm writing and I'm writing with the community of writers and encouragers who meet at Lisa-Jo Baker's place on Fridays.

...Today, it's about SONG.

My bones have a little chill to them, still trying to thaw out from the few nights of frost we had earlier this week. Up here on the mountain the breeze is still cool coming in my open windows. So I head outside to soak in some sunshine and much needed Vitamin D. My heart is down, my soul a little discouraged. I want to write, but just can't find the words. I want them to be positive words.

So I head outside and I take a little walk around my back yard. I head over to my new "Square Foot Gardening" area and smile at the few little plants that are there. I have dreams for more, but don't want to overwhelm myself with too much, too soon. I smile at the fence my darling husband is installing to protect said plants from the rabbits, deer, and maybe even bear that roam "our woods."

Then I head over to my swing... I love my swing. Pull out a cushion and sit on the side that is basking in sun. And I sit, and I soak sun, and I listen.  The birds are all around me, each one singing it's own song, praises to its Creator. Each one unique, each one beautiful.

One sings and another responds and isn't that the way it is here in our internet communities. Leave comments, encourage--fill in that verse that I just couldn't think of when I wrote my thoughts.

Sing a short song, or a long song; each have their place. Sometimes we hear a song that just doesn't quite resonate with us--but others hear it and respond. I love to listen to the birds sing their song. I love to read the words my friends post... especially on Five Minute Friday.

Join in the chorus of writers today over at Lisa-Jo's.

Community Conversation: Do you ever just listen to the birds sing? And for fun, What's your favorite song these days? (I'll go first in the comments)