The Miracle

Easton Joshua, weighing in at 6lbs, 13oz, healthy, happy baby boy! Such a blessing to have a new baby in the family. Everyone's ecstatic. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

1. When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

* Refrain:
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

2. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

3. My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

4. For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

5. But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!

6. And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Ever have one of those hymns that you've sung all your life and it still continues to speak to you today? This is one of those hymns. I've known it as far back as I can remember singing it in the Baptist church we went to as a family waaaaaay back.

Last week I picked up a young guy with Downs Syndrome who goes to College every day. He's friendly and usually tells me really really bad jokes on the ride to or from his school. Just after I picked him up I had to pick up another lady from a Senior's residence. When she got on the bus she recognized him and said, "oh there's our singer, Driver have you ever heard this young man sing?" I said I hadn't and that previously he had only told me jokes. She encouraged him to sing telling me he could put more feeling into a song than anyone she knew so I told him to go for it.

And go for it he did. He pulled out all the stops. He had a book with him and this was the song he picked. All the verses to "It Is Well With My Soul". He poured his heart and soul into it. He didn't sing on key but he sang all the words with every fibre of his being and you know what? He blessed me right down to my socks.

Last year when we went on retreat we walked a labyrinth for the first time. If you haven't tried it, find one. It's a spiritual experience. I walked and talked to God at the same time and asked Him for a word for me for what I was going through at that time with a family issue. I was being challenged and stretched and not sure that I would make it through to the other side without falling apart. And the word God gave me was "It is well with your soul" and I knew then that things would be ok. And they are.

I find so often today that church music is just all flashing lights and a big show and speaking only for myself, I don't get a thing out of it. I miss the days of singing the songs that mean something. I've often asked "what on earth are they going to sing to us in our nursing homes when this is what they're learning now?" But that's a whole other subject.

So for today, It Is Well With My Soul.

And I'm Back...............

One thing about a week is that it goes by very quickly. We arrived home bright and early Tuesday morning. The week was wonderful. Lots of Mother and daughter bonding, me running beside my mom down the street saying "can you not slow down even a little"?








We had the best weather ever imaginable. Warm, sunny days, not too much humidity and hardly a cloud in the sky. Just the right climate for walking and walking and walking, because it IS what BB does best. We walked everywhere and enjoyed taking in the sights and sounds of Hawaii.








We visited with friends at our familiar places. Becky took us to Halekulani to listen to sweet Hawaiian music and watch the hula. We liked it so much we went the next night on our own.















We sat and listened to the sweet sounds of the slack key guitar under a star-lit night with the moon hovering over Diamond Head just before it dropped.














We drove around just spending time together in the car with a dear friend who's lonely and just wanted to hang out. We had lunch together at the Country Club where we always go and oohed and aahed over the scenery just like we always do.
















We went for a second tour of Shangri-La, the home of Doris Duke, a wealthy heiress who invested not only her wealth but her time and energy into creating an oasis built by the beach. The place is incredible and only available to see by appointment.



















We went to church down at the beach and although the service was disappointing the highlight was the girl doing the gospel hula to "I Know My Redeemer Lives". That was fabulous and a real treat.









For Mother's Day we went to the top of Waikiki to the revolving restaurant and enjoyed fabulous food and endless scenery. It was a great way to end the week. Every year BB says "this is my last trip to Hawaii, I'm old you know" but I always tell her I think she's got one more trip left in her. Here's to you BB!

Aloha!!! I'm leaving Monday for a week in Hawaii with Bad Betty. We'll be fine, don't worry about us. LOL. We can find our way around, we've done this before. Ala Moana Shopping Centre here we come! So cheap on da Bus too! We'll be visiting friends, enjoying good food and laughs, walking the beach in the morning and along the canal in the early evening.

Until we return I leave you with these pics: