Hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving-. It is supposed to be a time of love and gratitude-hospitality-a time of sharing with family and friends. Unfortunately it isn't always a time of celebration. For some it comes at time of loneliness - people who no longer have loved ones close for any number of reasons. Or when the family is dysfunctional such in the case of divorce - addictions - misunderstandings. Steve and I experienced this first hand this year - seeing some of our family members torn apart and rifts within the family. We chose to spend it alone without all the drama. But thanks to our Pastor our thanksgiving day was redeemed when he asked us to take a meal to an elderly person living alone. It made our day to visit with this person-stepping outside of our comfort zone and giving of ourselves to someone else. We were THANK(S)ful that we could do our part by GIVING to someone else. It isn't about us and what we get or don't get. It is about what we can give to others in the way of LOVE. 

  God Created Music!  

I realize by the calendar that Spring isn't offically here, but today it sure feels like it.  I love Spring. Nature revives herself from her winters hybernation and springs forth with new life, new hope for recreation and the smells and colors of new beginnings...the birds return, singing praise for the new day, little buds burst forth on the trees with the promise of new leaves, new fruit. The grass returns from it's brown dormant state and shoots forth blades of green.

Just like Spring, my spirit now springs forth with new hope, regeneration after what seemed like an eternity of cold, dark, winter. Just like the birds my soul wants to burst out with song in praise for the refreshing God has brought into my life. I am ready to go forth into the world (or maybe just outside on my front porch) and breathe in the awesomeness of a new season, full of God's promises and hope for better things to come.  "O Lord My God...how great thou art..."