Going Back to Indiana

Guess what???? It's set! I'm so excited, we're going back to Indiana in September with Wayne & Terri to visit the "Oasis". Right now, looks like the dates are 8th through 11th or somewhere around there.

Gosh, I hate when I don't write for months. I don't even know where to begin, life changes so much from day to day. But, I think of everybody...my friends from this "blog" world all the time.

Anyway, I just wanted especially JoJo and Lepido know that we'll be coming to your area, so maybe we can work something out to see each other again.


This was something that one of the women at the retreat our church held. She's hasn't been a Christian very long, but, her faith has encouraged me so much.

The "naked and unashamed" she refers to is something that dawned on me as I was teaching...how, although we are suffering all the "flaws from the fall" as I called them, on the inside, we are being restored to our original condition as we were meant to be and the first man and woman were. I thought of their being unaware of their nakedness, so they didn't know to be ashamed, and how we are now free to be "naked and unashamed" of those circumstances, thoughts, etc., that we were used to keep hidden. So anyway, as it became a freeing thought to me, it kind of caught on. :)


Second Touch Women’s Retreat (4/2006)
“Extreme Make-over”

I was a stranger walking in. I was still in shock from a recent disappointment and in desperate need of some repair, some hope. I had somehow heard of the retreat through a friend of a friend of the group and signed up at the last minute. Being a fairly new believer, I had not been to a retreat before and didn’t know what to expect. First two faces I met were Kate and Holly…. Bright and shining warmth… Then, walking into the house, I was greeted by Melanie, who looked somehow so very familiar. Then one by one…Dotty, Marci, Sharon, Lacy, Joyce, Kathleen, and the rest whose names I cannot remember…everyone looked familiar to me. Never had I experienced such a feeling in a new group of people. As I look back now, the energy I felt must have been the undeniable connection through our sisterhood in Christ. Each of us had put our lives on hold that weekend to be at the retreat, for the sole purpose of getting closer to God. As a result, the sisterhood could be felt much stronger without our masks we tend to put on for the world. It seemed more apparent to me, because I was a stranger to the group, never having met these women before. Yet I felt like I knew them, and I felt instantly accepted. I was a part of the group….I belonged… I was holding (clenching) the only ticket required….the longing for God. As Melanie led the retreat with such openness and put herself out there (“naked and unashamed”); and as we shared the scriptures, our stories, tears, and laughter…I somehow felt renewed, alive, and excited again about the road ahead. It is just so amazing to me how perfectly God paves the way for me….how intimately he knows my heart. How, as soon as I seem to have hit a dead-end, he lights up another brighter path for me to walk on. How he always, always, has me in his embrace…. Now, if I can just stop kicking and thrashing around and learn to rest in his arms… If I can be still and just breathe…
The last song on Melanie’s CD is “Breathe.” It says so much…so simply…

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)

I'm Back

It's been months since I last wrote. Just haven't had much time lately. But, I miss everyone.

The week the Sound of Music was over, Frank's sister called needing help with his mom, who has lived with her for the past 15 years. His sister had just had knee surgery and couldn't cope with his mom, who came down with a severe flu. She seemed to lose all control and needed help with eating, getting dressed...etc. So...I wound up going to help, which was actually a blessing...spending so much time with her. She became so weak, she was hospitalized and while recuperating in a rehabilitation center, Edie suffered a blood clot. By the time they called us to return, she was in a coma-like state, hooked to machines. Four days later, she passed away. It was totally unexpected as she was getting better and growing stronger.

This past weekend, I taught at a women's retreat, which was such a welcome treat. It was at a "summer home" on a Lake. About 22 women attended all together. So, for weeks there was a lot of preparing to do for our "Extreme Makeover" weekend...(God's Desire for a Radical New You!) Not only was it a wonderful time spent with lots of incredible women, but...I still can't believe it...made my debut playing guitar for worship. Holly, who was a fellow "nun" in the Sound of Music, played keyboard for worship, but...I was able to accompany her - with my very limited skills on the guitar Frank bought me years ago. I picked it up in February...and voila...I'm actually playing it...and really enjoying it.

This Sunday, we're (with Frank on the Sax) leading worship at a local church,then on Thursday for a local county event for "The National Day of Prayer."

Anyway, just thought I'd say hi. REally, I just wanted to get that "Yikes" word off the heading of my blog. They closed the case after a short investigation, by the way, and replaced the money.