A Little Serenade, Anyone?




“Mom, when are you and Dad going to come out to the Restaurant and listen?”

Hmmm? What? Listen? What was he talking about?

“I’m singing at the restaurant on Tuesday nights. Didn’t Dad tell you?”

How did I miss this? I try to pay attention…

“Uh, I’m sorry Daniel. He probably did, and I’ve suffered a stroke or something.” I feebly responded with my standard answer. “Tell me more.”

Our eldest son Daniel has been serving at the Corkscrew Grill in Lake Mary and now is providing their Tuesday night music from 7 – 9 pm. We’ve been out to hear him a couple of times now and have really enjoyed the music and the food. It was a very sweet experience; eating a delicious meal and listening to Daniel cover song after song. We knew he could sing… we just didn’t know he could do this!


The restaurant is located in the Target plaza on Lake Mary Boulevard, and has great ambiance and food. I had the Baked Salmon with Ginger-Coconut Pesto, and Don had the Pistachio-Encrusted Rack of Lamb. Both were delicious. The restaurant is nicely laid out with tables, booths, and even a special area for private dining.

I don’t know how often we’ll get up there to listen—school nights are tough, but it has been a great evening each time we’ve gone. My favorite songs of the evening were “Hallelujah” by Rufus Wainwright (great song—nice cover!) and James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain”, which Dan threw into the set to make his Mom feel nostalgic. (Thanks, Daniel.)
So, if you’re looking for a nice night out, good food, and a little music, try the Corkscrew Grill in Lake Mary.

Metaphors for Meteors




For the past month or so Don and I have taken to sitting outside at night. Each evening we get Marla to bed, grab the baby monitor, and head out to sit in the evening air. It’s been good for us. We study the stars and talk about our day, the kids, and life. Sam’s been a little concerned that we’re spending so much time outside… “What are you guys doing out there?” Now that the rain from the past few weeks has finally stopped, the nights have been clear and comfortable, and we’ve been spending more and more time looking up at the heavens, even taking out the telescope one night to see things a bit more clearly.


Some nights I venture out alone if Don’s working. I get such peace from observing God’s handiwork. There is an overwhelming sense of rightness that envelops me. On occasion, a meteor will race across the sky. I saw one again two nights ago and wondered who else might have noted its passing? It moved so quickly that I could have missed it if I’d not been gazing upward.

Life is that way, isn’t it? Things are happening all around us-- seen and unseen. There are moments of clarity when we manage to catch an event or revelation, but often they’re missed in the busyness of our lives. I’m learning to appreciate the wonders that surround me daily, trying to stop more often and reflect on what I’ve been shown. Little epiphanies unfold before me, and I realize that each one is like a meteor that blazes across the sky, unseen unless one is watching and aware. There is a beauty to each one that makes me marvel once again at the greatness of God. The epiphanies of life seem much the same to me, pointing ever to the creator and his sovereignty over all of life.

The meteors have become metaphors for the unexpected revelations in my life, reminding me of the blessings found in taking the time to look for them. Open my eyes, Lord.

Joyful Gifts

Our Middle school choirs are really coming along. The students in the classes are rising to the challenges set before them and are singing quite beautifully with some very nice expression. I’ve chosen some rather difficult pieces for their Christmas concert, but they have no idea the music is hard. They’re like sponges—soaking up musical ideas and trying everything they are asked to do with a smile.

The 7th and 8th grade choir is promising to be great this year. The students are working very hard and are already giving me goose bumps when they sing. Wonderful!!! The spirit in the classroom is incredibly unified.

My 6th grade choir is delightful, although a little bit wiggly and chatty, and I’ve really had to work to keep them attentive and focused. Today, I told them I would brook no talking—we were there to work and make something beautiful and excellent happen as a team. The students sat tall in their chairs and really gave it their all, with the exception of one very sweet and funny little guy. I stopped the music, bent down to him, and quickly fixed his posture, music, and addressed the way his technique needed adjusting, trying to help, but not embarrass him, as well as trying to keep the energy of rehearsal moving.

He looked rather sheepish, and I said with a smile, “Remember, I’m very demanding.”

“I noticed,” he replied, smiling back.

“Think how much more you can achieve if you give me 100 percent!” I coached.

Quickly moving back to the music, we worked very hard until the bell, and the sounds they produced were quite lovely.

At the end of class the satisfaction on their faces was plain to see. They had worked hard and it had paid off in huge dividends.

I’m really grateful for this school year. I feel like I’ve finally found my stride in teaching after a long, long spell of going through the motions. It’s days like today with the children that make me glad I didn’t give up when I was so tired and hurting. The sparkle in the students’ eyes when they sang beautifully was an absolute gift from God.

Enough rain already.

I'd like the gorgeous weather of the weekend to come back, please. A rainy day's not bad when it's just that-- a rainy day. But when the day becomes plural, then it becomes depressing-- especially if I have to get out in it.

Sigh. I have this terrible urge to quote Karen Carpenter.

Don, however, is wishing for more. If it continues to rain, the lake levels will rise, fishing will improve, and brushfires will not be such a threat. Okay, I can buy that, but I still want sunshine-- It lifts my spirit. I think it's supposed to be beautiful again here by Saturday, so at least we'll have a lovely weekend to go outside and play.

I decided this morning to try to look for reasons to be thankful for the rain... here's what I've come up with in the brief time I have to write:

rain is great for sleeping
I love the sound of a hard rain
everything gets so incredibly green after a few days of rain
frogs sing at night
the air smells great
the car gets a bath
rain is great for reading
Florida thunderstorms are intense, but exciting
the lakes become beautiful again
the weather is just a little bit cooler

Care to add to my list?