Back to school

I was supposed to spend the morning at the Apple Store working on a music history book for my piano students. They love the stories I tell of the composers' lives in our theory classes. But I didn't realize Tom had a holiday: "Cesar Chavez Day" the California man who improved the lives of the Mexican farm workers. So he took me to breakfast (Tom, not Cesar). I need to hide away in a mountain cabin for one or two weeks with no interruptions to make better progress on the book.

Tonight was the first class of a 10-week course, "How to Teach English to Non-English Speakers." It's an abbreviated university course, held at our church, and taught by a professor from my alma mater. I already have four Mexican ladies who want to be in my class, and I haven't even been trained yet. I am so excited!

The church is training several of us in hopes of sending us to Vietnam or Spain or somewhere next year for two-weeks of teaching English to nationals and to open doors of communication for the missionaries there. But they are also very supportive of what I am doing at Micah House right here in Redlands. Who knows where this will lead me?

A "Thank You" gift

First thing this morning my neighbor lady came to pick up her mail we've been collecting while she was meeting her husband in Paris on his way home from working as a translator in Afghanistan. The husband brought Tom a thank-you-gift: a silk Afghani coat (with unusually long sleeves) because Tom takes out their garbage cans for the wife each week.

I'm no author, but...

This morning I got an email from one cousin telling all the other cousins that our Uncle, whom none of us keep in contact with, has recently married a Chinese woman and is living in CHINA! Can my family get more strange? He's almost eighty!!!

This is the Uncle that was an acting coach in Hollywood, lived on his small yacht and participated in yacht races, and was just too strange for most of us to handle.

The story of my family would make a real "page-turner" of a book, but most of it is just too embarrassing to tell.

Good News Club

Today at Good News Club Kiersten did a superb job telling the Easter story with an object lesson of tiny objects placed in colored plastic eggs. Five little ones stayed afterward because they wanted to "hear more" about Jesus and had questions.

All five have previously asked Jesus to be their Savior, but they get some interesting messages from other places. Today the subject was tattoos. Someone at their church told them if you go to heaven with tattoos you'll make God really mad.

Oh dear. If something as small as tattoos make Him mad, I'm really in trouble! I was happy to tell them that when they receive the Lord Jesus as their Savior, they are just as welcome in heaven as Jesus is (even with tattoos). All our sins were laid on Jesus at the cross, and all His righteousness was placed on us. We are FREE from guilt. Why are we so reluctant to believe that?

About to meet a new friend

Our church has a group of people committed to making friends with the international students studying in the 3 universities nearby. The majority of them want to meet Americans and would love to be invited into our homes.

I have been providing food for their bi-monthly get-togethers, but have wanted to befriend one myself. But when they had training recently, I totally spaced out and forgot to go. So one of the ladies came to my house today to train me personally (so embarrassed, but also grateful).

Well, my new friend is a young Muslim woman from Bahrain (Quick! Google! Where is Bahrain?) So I will do a little homework then call her to meet at Starbucks.

It is the Lord's Day

Today I joined, again, a prayer group that meets during second service at church. It is SUCH a blessing. I will become a "regular." Our beloved pastor recently told us he has prostate cancer. With that and so many other requests we hold dear to our hearts, we have been shaken up out of lethargic prayer.

Today is the beginning of Easter week... a time of inner preparation as special to me as decorating my heart for Christmas.

...a time to remember just what it cost my Savior to give me the joy and freedom of salvation. I'll never be the same.

Off to Orange county....again

This is the 3rd of four Saturdays I've had to work on music related business. Today was evaluating 27 students in a music teacher's home whose music room is the size of my entire downstairs!!! A 4,000 sq. ft. home. And her husband is a piano tuner! Some people have it all.

Next Saturday is the last of it for this season. Actually, I only have to work the morning, then I'm off to the nearby beach to soak up some sun and toast my winter white skin so I look like I actually live in California. I'll post pictures... not of me, of course.

A room full of old ladies...

Today was the monthly meeting of the Citrus Belt Quilt Guild,

of which I am a member.

Out of almost 200 members,

there are only about 20 of us "younger" women

(on the verge of being old)

This is one room full of productive ladies, as you can see by the Show and Share table full of quilts they will show us they have finished in the past month!!!

We also had a speaker who brought three trunks full of beautiful examples of her work.

This whimsical sunflower quilt is in her signature style.

The only male quilter in our group only pieces his quilts by hand.

He has a lady friend who machine quilts them beautifully.

This is one of his done in the style of Moroccan floor tiles.

This is an art wall quilt done by today's speaker.

The "attic window" pattern was taught in the workshop yesterday.

I still work (not retired like the majority of the women)

so I miss out on these.

Some quilts are in colors and patterns more appealing to men.

I get so inspired at guild meetings.

These women are real fabric artists.

Soon I hope to get back to my art studio.

Music evaluations have kept me busy for two months.

It's time to sew again!!

My sister Ginger called me this morning to tell me our 95-year-old Dad is dying. Technically, he is my step-Dad, but he is the only father I've ever known, and he was a good father to me. He filled a big hole in my heart, because I was fatherless until my 14th year.

He is in the hospital with pneumonia and so weak he cannot cough and barely breathes. My sister Ginger is there with him in Arkansas with my brother David and his wife. She will give him my kisses. I couldn't talk to him this past year because his hearing was so bad he couldn't use the telephone. So I sent him a book of pictures.

Soon he will be carried by angels into heaven to join Mother and all the huge throng of those from every nation who have loved God, and lived faithfully for Him on earth. He is part of the endless succession of people who are servants of the Most High God. I love you Daddy, as I have told you many times before. This is a sad time for me, but a great adventure for you. Soon you will look into the very face of Jesus and get to tell Him "Thank you" in person.

Roses...

Today my husband brought me one dozen roses!

I'll be sure to let my friend in Texas know

that her husband is off the hook :)

(to understand this you'll have to read my earlier 2/28 blog)

I don't know why this is so important to me, but it is.

So he DID listen to me.

He earned many bonus points.

My best friend

I would love to tell you what I think of Jesus

Since I have found in Him a friend so strong and true

I would tell you how He changed my life completely

He did something that no other friend could do.

Chorus:

No one ever cared for me like Jesus

There's no other friend so kind as He

No one else could take the sin and darkness from me

Oh how much He cares for me

All my life was full of sin when Jesus found me

All my heart was full of misery and woe

Jesus placed His strong and loving arms around me

And He led me in the way I ought to go

Every day He comes to me with new assurance

More and more I understand His words of love

But I'll never know just why He came to love me

Till someday I see His blessed face above

Chorus:

No one ever cared for me like Jesus

There's no other friend so kind as He

No one else could take the sin and darkness from me

Oh how much He cares for me

It is the Lord's Day

This past week has been very difficult. I couldn't write. I couldn't speak. I suffered a great disappointment and injustice last Sunday and fell into a pit. I cannot bear my soul to anyone, because I know they do not have an answer for me. Only God has the answers, and I feel He is not listening to me right now.

All week my mind was not where it should be. I am reminded of the verse, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy mind." I must guard my thoughts. I give a half-hearted attempt. I fail. I try and fail again. I suffer. I cry for repentance.

Finally, sick of my weakness I repeat aloud the Bible chapters I have memorized in the past. What a refuge God's Word is.

Late Wednesday a dear Christian sister who is also a piano mother encouraged me to join a group who prays during the second service at church. Friday morning I sang worship songs with the radio on the 30 minute drive to my computer training appointment and the load was finally lifted off my heart. Saturday the Lord gave me peace when I was lost.

Today I joined with the brothers and sisters who pray with such faith. Then after church an email from another Christian friend both lifts my spirits and breaks my heart for those in need. Again I cry out to God. What joy the Lord gives to those who run to Him. There is no friend like Jesus or like those who love Him.

Lost

Today I was scheduled to evaluate about 20 piano students for Certificate of Merit in another city 40 minutes from home. I went to Cal Poly where the event was held and they were late setting up. Just before time to start, we all realized there was no evaluator packet for me because I was at the wrong place. I was horrified. I called the state coordinator and she had no idea and said I should call Lily. The number she gave me was incorrect, then in walks Lily herself who was assigned to that venue. Tremendous relief! I was supposed to be 15 minutes away at Pomona College in Claremont.

The beautiful tree-lined city of Claremont has a group of colleges altogether that takes up many blocks. So I dashed to Claremont, found the area of colleges and asked an employee in her golf cart where Pomona college is. "They are ALL Pomona college," she said. Which one do you want? "I don't know...I was just told Pomona college." It turns out its like Oxford, England. There are many colleges that make up the university of Oxford. Though you say you attend Oxford, you actually attend Christ College or Trinity College, etc. Finally I mentioned it was a piano event, and she took me to the nearby music building. I was so relieved that was the place.

I was so worried that my mistake would stress out the event coordinator, because she did not have any idea if I would ever show up. And I was worried I would lose the respect of the state coordinator, but she was so kind to tell me she had once made the same mistake herself. And another evaluator at lunch said she almost went to the wrong venue this same day. We evaluators must all be a little loopy from time to time. Another evaluator took my first student of the day, then I was on time for the rest of the day.

Even when I think things are falling apart, God leads me along. My last evaluation day for this year is next Saturday. I will double and triple check all the details from now on.

A good read

Several years ago

Hind's Feet on High Places

by Hannah Hurnard

became one of my favorite books.

I'm reading it again,

with tears,

like the first time.

Breathless

A group of friends and I walked a 5K this morning

at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center.

Debbie (far left) didn't cut me any slack and made we walk fast.

This event made me miss training and being in shape.

I haven't really trained in recent years.

So lazy!

The highlight was the FREE 15-minute massage afterward

by some massage students.

Heavenly!!

If I had a million dollars, I'd have a full hour massage once a week.

Decadent, you say? Remember, I'm a millionaire.

In my dreams.

Friday morning walk in Redlands

This house could use a sign by the front door that says,

"Roses round the door

Children on the floor

Who could ask for more?"

Here is the entry to my home.

And our sign.

Totally useless

After working so many extra hours after vacation, and the tension of preparing 15 students for piano evaluations, I cannot discipline myself to do anything useful this week. I teach because I have to. I do laundry because I have to. I clean the kitchen only so we don't die of germs. The garden will have to fend off the weeds by itself. What is wrong with me? I even have no desire to pursue my artist projects. Only a small part of me hopes this passes...the rest of me wants to sit for hours and daydream.

You look familiar....

It's sad when your daughter lives 7 miles away

and you don't see her for two weeks!!

Okay, we didn't have to reintroduce ourselves,

and it was fun taking her to lunch at Sundowners,

our favorite country diner,

this time dressed up for St. Patrick's Day.

Wait for it.....

Little "figlets."

Daffodils just about to join the Spring garden party...

An Eeyore kind of day

It's an overcast, chilly, laid-back afternoon after an exhausting weekend followed by a morning of tearing around cleaning house and hosting a 3-hour meeting. I lit the fire for my morning guests. I don't usually keep a fire going when I'm home alone, but it sure is welcome this afternoon.

Eeyore doesn't fit my personality at all. I'm much more upbeat and looking at the bright side of things. But these slippers were a gift, and I'm very glad for them today. My piano students love it when I wear these slippers to keep my feet warm while teaching. One of the mothers paid me the nicest compliment when she said, "Oh no! You are not at all like Eeyore."

Writer's block

I miss my work sessions at the Apple Store. I haven't been for two months! My training series will expire in June, and I haven't made nearly enough progress on the Music History Student Workbook I'm writing. Must come up with a catchy name for it. I want to publish it myself, because if I sell the rights to a publisher and it isn't profitable for them, they will stop printing it, they will own the copyright, and I will not be allowed to print any copies in the future.

It is difficult to keep motivated because 1) I don't view myself as an author and 2) with no editor breathing down my neck to finish chapters by a certain date, it is easy to put off writing. I gave a presentation of if as guest speaker to the local music teachers a year ago, and they all said they would love to buy my book....nope, still not motivated.

One of my character flaws is that I like to start new projects, but have difficulty finishing them. So if anyone reads this who prays, and realizes what a hopeless case I am, add me and my book to your prayer list.

Certificate of Merit is over for another year!!!!!! I was not chairman this year, but I spent a lot of time teaching the new chairman...it is SO complicated. I accepted the nomination to be president of our local music branch, a post that begins in June, JUST SO I CANNOT BE CERTIFICATE OF MERIT CHAIRMAN for at least two more years. That job is every bit as stressful as my job at the hospital 10 years ago.

It is the Lord's day. And it is the culmination of Missions Week at Trinity Evangelical Free Church.

On Friday night the highlight of the International Dinner was the Fuente de Vida's worship team leading us singing praise in Spanish, Arabic, and Swahili, and of course English. Fuente de Vida (Fountain of Life) is the Spanish Church at Trinity. Their sound was very beautiful accompanied by Spanish guitars, maracas, tambourine, and bongo drum.

We were encouraged to sing the Arabic song on behalf of those believers of that language who are prevented from singing openly in their own land.

This morning I look forward to worshiping and am so very grateful that I can worship openly and freely.

Then I must fulfill my obligation to work 1/2 day for Certificate of Merit at the University of Redlands.

Then back to church for the evening service where the missionaries will lead a round-table discussion of their work, then a prayer time followed by an ice cream social.

Garden in waiting...

This is part of my Spring garden in pots, waiting to go into the ground. My good friend and fellow piano teacher, Nancy, is still harvesting tomatoes from last year's vines. Her husband planted them in March. So, on March 1st, I hurried to the plant nursery to buy several kinds of tomatoes. The peppers, miniature roses, blue daisies, and yellow ranunculus begged me to take them home too. Then I heard the weather forecast of heavy rain and fresh snow in the mountains coming this weekend, so here they sit until the ground warms up a little.

This weekend was Certificate of Merit at the University of Redlands. Three hundred piano students participating on Saturday and Sunday. Each teacher has to work, depending on how many students they entered. I have to work 11 hours Saturday and 6 hours Sunday afternoon. One of my duties is to prepare the morning and afternoon snack table. So I potted up some of my "waiting garden" to cheer up the table.

The University requires groups use their catering service when lunch or dinner is served. They do such an excellent job presenting delicious food and beautiful decorations. I brought home this bouquet from the luncheon table since we paid for it.

When I returned home, this beautiful bouquet was waiting for me. My student, Kiersten, was leaving on two weeks vacation, so she dropped off her birthday bouquet for me to enjoy while she is gone. Such a sweet girl.

So I feel like a queen with a house and garden full of fresh flowers.

If you were so rich you could have anything you wanted,

what would it be?

First, I would travel, then I would want to always have

fresh bouquets of flowers

in the main rooms of the house.

What day is it?

Woke up early this morning preparing for a full day of appointments when suddenly at 8:30 a.m. I realized IT'S WEDNESDAY, not Thursday. I'm supposed to be at the dentist, not those other appointments. I called the dentist. "Can you still take me if I hurry over?" (A 20-minute drive away) "Oh, your appointment isn't until 9:30 a.m. You still have plenty of time."

I think I'm losing my mind. But at least I gained a whole day!

Mad Scientist

The other day Tom said I'm a mad scientist in the kitchen. He meant it as a compliment...I think. Is it because I like to experiment making unusual recipes like candied ginger for sore throats, dehydrate smoked jerky, or make homemade tamales, etc., or could he be referring to "LINDA!! THE GARLIC BREAD IS ON FIRE" incidents? (yes, there was more than one!!).

I'm pretty sure the recipe said:

"Turn oven broiler to 500 degrees. Insert garlic bread to make toast. Distract yourself in another room. When smoke detector starts blaring, run to the kitchen and douse the flaming garlic toast. Open windows for ventilation and start over."