Good Neighbors

Our friendly Muslim neighbors came to our home for dinner for the first time since we moved here almost fourteen years ago. We had a wonderful time. I made Boeuf Bourguignon (without the bacon) then realized half way through the 3 hour cooking time, "Oh no! They said they don't drink wine, and there are three cups of red wine in this dish!" So I hurried out, bought a chicken, cut it up and fried it so they'd have another choice. They had no problem with the boeuf, and ate it AND the chicken (well, we helped). I showed them some quilts and family pictures, and played a Chopin Nocturne I've been working on. They seemed to have a genuinely good time. So did we. Thanks, Hameed and Zarguna for gracing our home with your friendship.

Easter celebration at Roxanne and Eric's home.

Vanessa and Bella Mia (not a puppy anymore)

Roxanne & Eric

Tom and I

Eric's parents: Terry & Debbie

My sister and husband: Roger and Jeanette

Eric's sister & husband: Tammie & Ryan

Some "hidden" eggs

Makenna & Ethan waiting patiently for the egg hunt.

Madyson, Ethan, Christian & Grant playing video games while waiting for dinner.

Eric's Aunt & Uncle: Ann & Loren

I can only imagine...

Very early this Easter morning my Dad, Warford Green, arose from his sick bed and went to be with Jesus. What a wonderful Easter for him to celebrate Jesus' resurrection with Jesus Himself and to tell him "Thank you," face to face. These lyrics by Mercy Me say it all.

I can only imagine

What it will be like

When I walk

By your side

I can only imagine

What my eyes will see

When your face

Is before me

Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel?

Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still?

Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall?

Will I sing hallelujah? Will I be able to speak at all?

I can only imagine, I can only imagine

I can only imagine

When that day comes

When I find myself

Standing in the Son

I can only imagine

When all I will do

Is forever

Forever worship You

I can only imagine...

72 degrees

It was 72-degree sunny weather at the beach where I spent a couple hours lying on the sand listening to this worship album by CeCe Winans - one of my favorite artists. Wish I had a voice like hers.

There were lots of sailboats on the ocean today. I was also wishing I was on one of them for a few hours.

I was such a good girl today. I passed up buying a really cute (expensive!) outfit at Chicos in Newport Beach and opted to go the shop in Redlands where they sell discounted designer clothes (cheap!). But when I pulled up, they were out of business. Oh well, I'll go shop in my closet. I haven't worn spring clothes in a few months. They'll feel sort of new.

Good Friday

Why is such a day good? It is a reminder that only God can turn our darkest hours into something very good.

This poem I wrote about five years ago. It's more like the Lord gave me this poem, the words came so easily. It is my gift to Him.

Messiah's Song

This is a song

I groan to sing

A requiem...for my fair King

Messiah, sent from heaven above

Giver of life, giver of love

I wandered aimlessly that night

I could not bear to see the sight

...of people jeering in that place

...of Jesus hanging in disgrace

I sobbed, I moaned, I could not sleep

I wondered why He did not keep

His promises of life above

to me and others whom He loved

His words of love filled our hearts.

We cannot bear to be apart

from One who gave so freely of

unending hope, unending love.

In early morn I hurried where

the garden tomb beckoned me there,

to lavish spices on his lair

and leave my heart, a shattered one.

But there was none to dress in death!

The tomb was empty...length and breadth!

I saw a gardener standing by

and turned to ask him, "Where?" and "Why?"

"What's this?" I asked, "What have you done?

"My Lord is gone...I'd just begun

to let Him melt my heart of stone

and now I'm left here...all alone."

He gently said my name to me.

I recognized immediately

that voice I loved, the One adored...

before me, standing, was my Lord!

"Rabboni, Rabboni" was all I could say

But now I knew Messiah's way

of sealing all eternity

it was...to give His life for me!

What grateful joy! What heady bliss!

Confusion gone, I now know this.

My requiem's now a joyful song!

God kept His promise all along!

Chopin Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2

Okay, I'm over the fence incident. So I'm working it out at the piano. This song is so beautiful... it makes me cry and think of my Dad. I wish he could hear me play once more.

Don't fence me in...

At least that's what the song says. My neighbor who returned from Afghanistan (via Paris!!) approved sharing fence costs, so the fence installers came just as I returned from my early morning run.

This is my pretty little country fence that is rotting.

The fence contractor told us we would have to remove the Boston Ivy from the current fence, but it was only half done by this morning (!), so I grabbed garden gloves and began removing it myself. Tom was at work. It occurred to me to ask this neighbor for help and knocked on his door.

He came in slippers and coffee in hand looking like the dapper gentleman he is, saying he saw them and "will call his gardener to do the work." Now come on! The work has to be done NOW. Doesn't he own some jeans? So I'm out there with my clippers and shovel again.

Apparently from his window he saw me working and came outside and convinced the installers to tear out the ivy (probably saying something like, "Look at the poor girl working so hard"), and they agreed to do it for FREE! So I'm in the house baking cookies for the fellows who came to my rescue.

The new fence crying out for flowers and vegetation to soften it.