Sing a New Song

The last three weeks have been eventful. First we were house-sitting and at the same time, in between apartments due to an impending move. Thus, we found ourselves in charge of three houses, three vehicles, six pets, and I didn't bother counting the number of keys. (Which is kind of scary to those of you who know this is the girl who forgot her winter coat two years in a row at the same gym at out-of-town sporting events.) Once we were down to a reasonable two apartments, two vehicles and two pets we were joined by my brother Nathan who was taking advantage of some leave from the Navy to continue the world traveling he has recently been on. We enjoyed a great six days of showing him all the 'hot spots' and giving him a glimpse into our lives here as missionaries. As it is said here: "Gracias por todo Nathan"! The week after that we made our move (which was right next door) official, which makes the tally at six moves for Mike and me. I'm happy to say this one was rather quick and simple.

So on to another little tidbit I have been pondering...I've recently been revived and appreciative of the fact that we can please God by singing. I would think that everyone likes to sing a tune now and then. I mean the ones behind closed doors all by your lonesome (since not everyone is a performer). I know I sure enjoy(ed) it, especially when I was younger. I remember my family having to instate a rule of 'No singing at the table' since, for some odd reason, it annoyed my brothers. There came a day, around middle school, when I became more conscience-striken with my voice, even at home, and I remember my mom saying she missed my singing around the house. In any case, I hadn't stopped loving to sing. I remember I would go to my mom's piano bench, which had a top that would lift up, and there I would find several music books, one being our church hymnal. I would go through it singing and marking down all of my favorites. Coming here, I have noticed cultural differences. One being that people sing more. More loudly, more publicly, just more and they're often times good in my opinion. I love learning new hymns, or old ones in another language :O). It just seems like we will never stop finding ways to praise and sing to the Lord, which is I'm sure what He intended. But, it's always sweet to go back to something I remember way back when, before I really KNEW that God was listening. Like this last Sunday when we sang 'Here I am Lord'. To think that when I sang that in the little East Glacier Chapel God said, "Yep, I see you. And I will lead you to love me and my people." Thanks be to a faithful and listening God.

"With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be." ~ James 3:9-10 ...And let this not be so of me Lord

Noteworthy

Today as we drove to the University we saw a boy, about 7 or 8, carrying a pair of antique-looking crutches (not using them, mind you) with a parrot on his shoulder. 2 minutes later we saw a man riding a bicycle down one of busiest roads in Santa Cruz with a lawn mower tied precariously atop the book rack. These are the kinds of things we're going to miss when we leave.