Again

Last night was Julia's final CFA class dinner. It was Liana's first.

Simple words to write, but as they take form in black and white my heart swells and tightens, full of sorrow, ready to break. The release comes in the form of tears.

I've been here five times before -- this senior year thing, this leaving childhood officially behind thing, this moving ahead business. I thought by now I would be used to it.

Guess some things are never quite adjusted to.

Something Borrowed

Browsing the web a bit this afternoon I virtually visited a family's home via this questionnaire. A pretty fun way to invite you to our house for a visit, no matter where you may be, and I thought I would paint the scene for you through these questions!

If you came to our house--

You would see:
Piles of stuff waiting to be sorted and rearranged; people on computers; piano and guitar and cello and recorders and drum sticks, etc.; a little man dressed as his most recent hero (subject to change depending on the last movie viewed); eclectic collection of nice furnishings; people

We'd probably feed you:
quesadillas, apples, chocolate brownies OR leftovers OR tuna on homemade bread

And offer you this to drink:
diluted juice, tea or coffee, filtered water

We'd undoubtedly ask if you'd read:
Horatio Hornblower naval series, Dickens, Robert Frost, The Shoe series, Ann Rinaldi's books

We'd want to play this music for you:
the family playing our favorites: Julia Sinclair music, Dixie Chicks, Patsy Cline tunes, Chopin and Bach on piano by Camilla, Mazurka on violin by Liana
Or if we needed background music we'd pull out Diana Krall or Jamie Cullum CDs, or Roberto Moron's classical guitar CD

We'd want to tell you the latest about:
Family news: An expected baby being born in CA, Julia's recent music adventures, Carina's business, Aubrey's good health, CPS theater summer productions

Church news: Future expansion to nearby communities, the blossoming ministry to adjacent college campuses, home-school news from Spain

We'd probably suggest a game of:
Imaginiff, Apples to Apples

We might show off:
Family pictures, Julia's Hallmark TV CD, family videos

We might get on the computer and show you:
more family pics, Julia's video (what can I say...), our momandus.com site

If you are being entertained by Merrick he would show you the Transformers trailer


If it was a long enough visit, we might watch:
You've Got Mail, While You Were Sleeping, Glory, or That Thing You Do

Or if you love, love, love theater I would show you my Barbara Cook In Mostly Sondheim

___________________________________________

What would a visit to your house be like? Let me know!

Busy Watching

Is it just me, or is that statement something of an oxymoron? I think it is.

And yet it is true these days in my life. There are several people that will call Main Street, Madrid, their "home away from home" this summer. Josh and Nate will continue to be at home here. Added will be Song, a Korean piano student; Kirsten, an art major from NY; Johannes, a young man from Germany who wants to spend some time stateside to practice his English; and Tanda, a Zimbabwean who will live on campus but will retreat to this family home regularly for r&r (we've adopted her since family is far away!) And lately I just sit back and watch their comings and goings and settlings and rearrangings and say, "Whew! What a busy day this has been!"

Aside from the "added" few I have my own seven children still living here and a daughter's sweet little family down the street and another daughter's dear family in sunny CA. Keeping up with their activities can leave my head spinning. At times I feel a bit breathless even though I am in spectator mode most of the time.

So, for the past week I have been busy watching. Once I catch on to this newest rhythm I will hopefully join in a bit. Meanwhile I am still adjusting to my new position; I once was the pace setter, but now I just run alongside.

I look at it this way: at least I'll still be running! That should be one step better than "busy watching". Won't it?

Revival happening in Lakeland, Florida!!

46 days now

30,000 in attendance on weekends

10,000 in attendance on weeknights

8 resurrections from the dead recorded

countless healings

and innumerable salvations!

People coming from all over the world receiving a touch from the Lord of Hosts.

People such as the woman who touched the hem of His garment.

"Oh, for a touch from You, Lord. Oh, may we be hungry for all You have.

May we be hungry for You.

Lord, pour this out upon our nation. Send it forth to the nations of this world.

Let Your name be glorified throughout the earth!

And even so, Come, Lord Jesus, Come!

Amen and amen!"

Two Birthdays, Three Churches, Four Nights, Five Brass Players, #6 Train, Seven Sweet Potatoes, and Eight People in a Mini-Van

Our "small" family (Mom, Dad, and the three school-type kids) planned a quick trip to the LI area for a weekend of observation (Dad wanted to take notes on a church planting strategy being used by Redeemer Presbyterian Church on Manhattan), sight-seeing (we've been studying immigration so Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty were on our list), and best of all, visiting Aunt Judy and Uncle Huck.

Somewhat last minute-ish, Daniel, Brietta, and princess Aubrey joined us, making our mini-van cozy and chock-full! We laughed and sang, heard about "transformers" and discussed reformers, stopped for coffee and violins, ate egg sandwiches and pizza, debated trinity and monotheism, slept and tried not to complain when the legs couldn't stretch quite far enough. It was the best!

Additional fun was found in sharing church and NY pizza with our dear friends the Hulls, who just happened to have a NYC day planned as well. They trucked on out to Northport and shared a couple of nights at Aunt Judy's, who loves having company at most any time!

Upon our arrival home we celebrated two sons' birthdays with friends and remaining family. Today will be the usual "landing" -- unpacking, regrouping, wondering what to do first, and the like. But first, my overdue post must be written. Off I go!

Some People Never Grow Up

My friend and I stood before the beautiful circa 1820 Georgian stone house. Immense in stature, grand and gracious in beauty and design, it stood as a testament to an era gone by.

Our mouths were gaping, I am sure. We were oohing and ahhing and carrying on like school girls who just had seen their current rock star idol.

"Look at the solid paneled shutters still on the windows!" she exclaimed. We circled the house, reaching the far side yard.

"Look at those water pitchers up there!" I pointed to the second floor window. "This place is full of stuff," I added, as we climbed around the property, peeking into windows. (Don't worry, no one lives there. It's a vacant house in spite of all the antiques almost bulging out of the doors.)

At last we found ourselves before the grand entrance once again. As we stood there our imaginations took us back into the past. How can you help but wonder at the history of such a place. Who walked through these doors? What conversations were shared on this side porch? Were these rooms full of children's laughter and games? If so, what games? What children?

We stepped back and I gushed, "Oh, I wish I could put on a full gown and..."

"And what? Go back there?" She laughed. "You are a dreamer, Darlene."

Well, I've got news -- she's no different!

A couple of grown-up girls went out to play yesterday. And in many ways, it was still a make-believe world for a minute or two!

A Brief Review -- That's All I've Got Here!

May 1.

April is gone -- caput -- finis!

C'est le vie! Guess it's time to plan a new month, get with it, move on! Ready or not, here it comes, and all that jazz.

Yup - you guessed it. I'm behind again. Well, not really. I'm actually doing okay. But still, I don't quite remember turning the calendar page to April and now I'm leaving it behind. Whew. If I think about it too hard, I get dizzy. So... I won't think about it!

But on the other hand, let's see. April included:

1. a trip to CA for a full week of visiting a wonderful young family
2. celebrating hubby's birthday
2. fabulously special meetings at our home church involving dear people receiving prophetic words of love and encouragement and hope and great futures (how much better can it get!)
3. college meetings at 57 Market
4. a young house guest here for several days -- an eight year old boy to befriend my little man for a week -- what fun they had together
5. homeschooling my lovelies -- my favorite thing!
6. greeting my parents who made their annual trek north and will be here for the summer months
7. attending several performances by the Julia Marie band (juliamarieband.com)
8. hosting a Sunday afternoon barbecue for our church's college students (approximately 100 in attendance)
9. day trips for shopping with daughters, picking up hubby from airports, etc.
10. preparing some songs for a local theater audition -- I love, love, love theater and singing.

So much for April -- here's to May, 2008! Off we go!