Summer often brings out the hedonist in me. I love the break from the intensity of teaching and the time I have to slow down, enjoy life and my family, and do things that simply bring me pleasure.

Yesterday I decided to take an impromptu trip to the beach. We’re only about 45 minutes from the East Coast, so I was thinking of maybe driving over to New Smyrna with Marla and her friend Elle. Just as we were preparing to leave, my husband called on his way home from work to let me know that the weather over there was less than favorable. Not to be daunted I decided to drive another 40 minutes and head over to Clearwater. Although I dislike the traffic in the Tampa area, it was definitely worth it!





If I could have my wish, I would live on the Gulf Coast beach. I love the warm water, the seashells, the sugary sand… all of it. Maybe it has to do with the nostalgia it evokes, having spent much of my childhood on the Sarasota/Bradenton beaches, but I think it is possibly something more. Sitting on the beach, listening to the surf, looking out over the vast expanse of water while birds dip and wheel overhead is like medicine for my spirit. Troubles seem to blow away with the breeze and my heart feels lighter, younger, and free.

It gives me such joy to see the same transformation of spirit take place in my daughter, who smiles incessantly from the moment she steps onto the sand until her head hits the pillow at the end of the day. I found myself smiling in unison with her as I watched her cavort in the waves and surf, laughing with exclamations of delight as she gave herself to the wonder of the day.









I’m thinking we just might do it again next week.

What Blew In With the Storms...

A few weeks ago we had some fierce storms roll through our area resulting in five days of constant rain and frequent lightning. It reminded me of hurricane season when after the initial blast of storms we’d be besieged by rain. I generally like a rainy day or two as I enjoy sitting by the window watching the stormy winds toss the branches of our live oaks, making them dance and sway as if they were moving to some wild melody that only they might hear, but after a few days I find my enjoyment waning as I have to get out in it to go to work, take out the trash, or walk our dog.

One evening after several days of intense rain I ventured forth into the stormy weather to walk our dog Amos. Moving down our street with our golf umbrella held almost as a shield in the gusty rain, I heard a pitiful mewling coming from our neighbor’s yard. As I neared the bushes it seemed to emanate from I saw a little white blur bolt past me and disappear around the corner. I tried to follow, but soon gave up as the intensity of the storm drove me back home toward shelter. That evening I lay in the bed thinking about the poor animal and the predatory birds that I often see in our neighborhood. My husband surmised that someone had probably dumped some kittens nearby and said that he’d heard one earlier in the week but had been unable to catch it. We agreed that if we heard it again we’d try to rescue it and take it to the animal shelter where maybe it could be adopted.

Several days of chasing a feral kitten in the rain ensued with no success, until one evening as I prepared to slog through the rain to take Amos out once again for his walk I heard its cries emanating from our carport. Grabbing a flashlight I peered underneath Don’s ATV to see a thin, sick, and frightened little thing, her eyes almost swollen shut and her ears showing signs of having been in at least one skirmish. Marla brought some cheese out and we placed a little under the edge of her shelter, which she immediately gobbled up. We laid out a little trail of cheese leading to a small animal carrier, watching her dart out to grab a piece and then retreat to her shelter. When she finally reached the carrier we were able to close the door behind her, and then gave her a little canned tuna and water. The following morning we took her to our vet who confirmed that she was indeed sick with eye and respiratory infections. His advice was to see if she could be socialized into the family, which made our Marla incredibly happy, and after two weeks, our little kitten (now named Mercy) has won our hearts and provided our dog Amos with a playmate and our daughter with a sweet cuddling friend.

Teach me your ways O Lord,
That I may love those who persecute me,
Pray for those who wish to do me harm,
And live in a manner that reflects whose I am.

May I never stop learning about your mercy and grace.
May the beauty of your Word always lift my spirit,
May I know your peace all my days.

Show me my sins that I choose to ignore--
The ones that I hide so well as to even fool myself.
And help me to reflect your beauty in humilty.

For you are wisdom, power, holiness, goodness, and truth.
You speak and the very elements of nature obey you.
You set the stars in their places and the planets on their paths.
You made all things.
Nothing can escape your hand.

Yet you love me intimately, as if I were your only child.
You cause me to draw breath and know every fiber of my being.
I am held together by you.

Help me to love you truly as you love me,
And to love others with the same love I feel for myself.
Help me to forgive for I have been forgiven much
and to rest in your love which you have lavished on me.

I’ve been cleaning the house this evening, trying to restore some order to the inside as I’m hoping to play outside in the yard next week over spring break. I started in the dining room, moving a lamp or two around and rearranging a few photos that were clustered on a side table. Stopping, I picked up Jesse’s picture and ran my finger along his face, brushing away the dust on the glass. Peering intently at his eyes, drawn into their blueness, I drank in the curve of his cheek and the sweet twist of his crooked smile, so like my own. His hair was lifted by the breeze and he was glancing down at the sand smiling as he watched the water rushing toward his toes. If I closed my eyes, I could remember that moment—hear the surf—almost remember the sound of his voice. My throat began to tighten and my heart pounded with the familiar aching that has been a companion for such a long time.

This Memorial Day weekend marks the 10th year that we have been without Jesse in our lives. Some days I think of him in passing, and others I can think of no one else. Tonight, looking at his picture I was ambushed by the intense desire to hold him, smell his hair, and lace my fingers with his small ones. The gift of time has helped with the searing intensity grief, but there are still times when the waves of sorrow break over me and I am pulled down by a rushing current of pain. However, these times also provide a much needed gift— although laden with anguish, they bring with them memories that are achingly sweet, and give me the opportunity to remember him anew, mixing joy with sorrow.

I haven’t been able to write much about him yet, but I thought I might post a picture.

I miss you Jesse.

OCS London Choir Trip 2009

Day Four


The figure of speech “saving the best for last” definitely applied to our last full day in England! We were up early and enjoyed a full English breakfast at the Limply Stoke Hotel. Following breakfast we loaded up the coach and set off for the city of Gloucester for a performance at Gloucester Cathedral. This would be our last performance on the trip and we were eager to sing. The cathedral was built in the Norman style at the center and then in the Gothic style in all surrounding areas.



Upon entering the cathedral, our eyes were immediately drawn to the magnificent stained glass windows.



Looking to the right we saw the ornately carved pipe organ.



We had just a few minutes to look around before it was time to assemble for our concert. Taking the time to warm up and focus, we prayed as a group and then began our performance. The choir sang beautifully, their voices filling the cathedral. It was a moving experience for the students and for those in the audience and we were thankful to be able to end with such a positive and uplifting concert. The picture below was taken just as we were taking our places to warm up and pray.



One of the many things that captured our imaginations were the finely sculpted images found on both the interior and exterior walls.









We had a little time after our concert to explore the cathedral and grounds, finding a beautiful courtyard which offered us an opportunity for taking pictures.







Leaving Gloucester, our spirits were high—we’d had a great performance and had been touched ourselves by the music and the time in the great cathedral. Our afternoon would be spent in Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare, and then at Warwick Castle, the oldest castle in England.

We saw thatched roof cottages in Stratford, and were amazed by their charm. A thatched roof was always “signed” by its maker with a specific pattern cut into the thatch near the apex of the roof.





The city was charming with its Victorian storefronts, whitewashed walls, and lovely gardens. We took in the sights and found some lunch in small groups. Although our time there was short, it was definitely memorable.







The last stop of the day would be Warwick Castle!



The castle was built in the 11th century and was the fortified residence of William the Conqueror. It was sold in the 20th century to Madame Tussauds Wax Museum and was restored at that time. The kids had a great time exploring the castle and its grounds.













This would be our last night in England. We loaded up the coach and drove to our hotel in Coventry. The hotel was located next to the St. Michael's cathedral in Coventry, which we’d wanted to see, but made it in too late to visit. Don, Marla, and I strolled over to peer through the gates to look at what remained of the once glorious cathedral. The Lufwaffa bombed the cathedral in Coventry during WWII and what remains is now a memorial to those who lost their lives in that attack.





A new cathedral has been built to replace St. Michael’s and has this figure of the Archangel Michael in victory over Lucifer.



Tomorrow would bring a pre-dawn departure for London Heathrow. What a week we’d had! Our hearts and our minds had been enlarged by this experience—we’d seen places we’d only heard of, sung in glorious cathedrals, shared God’s message through song, and grown as people. We hope to take what we’ve learned and put it to use in our lives and our music.

London Choir Tour 2009


Day Three Stonehenge, Salisbury, and Bath




An early morning departure had us checking out of the Hotel Ibis and boarding a coach for Salisbury. The drive took us out of the city and into the countryside and we were able to make a stop at Stonehenge, the great monolithic circle of stones that have stood sentinel since before the time of the Roman invasion.



Along the way we saw many barrows (burial mounds) that are an integral part of early British folklore and tradition.

“Construction of Salisbury Cathedral commenced when the bishopric was moved to Salisbury from Old Sarum in 1220. By 1258 the nave, transepts and choir were complete. The magnificent west front was ready by 1265.

The tower and spire were completed in 1320. Salisbury Cathedral's spire is the tallest in England and is 404 feet tall. The spire, while the cathedral's crowning glory, also proved to be its most troublesome feature. Together with the tower, it added 6,500 tons to the weight of the building. But for the addition of buttresses, bracing arches and iron ties over the succeeding centuries, it might well have suffered the fate of spires on other great ecclesiastical buildings and fallen down. To this day the large supporting pillars at the corners of the spire can be seen to bend inwards under the strain.” SacredDestinations.com





The kids had a fantastic time touring the cathedral and exploring the cloisters.



Our next stop would be the picturesque city of Bath!



On arrival, we headed for Bath Abbey to sing in their afternoon recital for visitors. We found this to be our most challenging concert, as the standing area we were asked to use had very difficult visibility between students and director. This was good for the students, teaching them to think through performance challenges and make purposeful decisions to be successful. After the recital, we walked through the city in small groups, looking for a good place to try for dinner and to get in a little shopping time—the first opportunity we’d had to do so.





There were street performers in the plazas and we saw a fiddle playing, bicycle riding, tightrope walker, a flame-juggling unicyclist, and an incredibly talented violinist.





While in Bath we visited the ancient Roman baths that the city was known for. A good portion of the structure has stood the test of time and the springs that fill the bath are still hot. Archeologists have uncovered a vast network of baths, rooms, and what they suspect could have been a small temple. The springs of Bath were said to have healing properties and many people have made pilgrimage to bathe in its waters over the centuries.



We moved on to our next hotel in the Cotswold hills and settled in for the night. The hotel’s picturesque exterior promised a quaint night’s stay, but the interior was a warren of tiny corridors, twisting stairs, and odd-smelling rooms.



What a day! We headed off to devotions and bed thinking of the rich history of this country and of the beauty we’d seen. We had one more full day to go and couldn’t wait to take it in.