Hello? Are You Still Out There?

Hey, you guys.  I'm still here, or I'm back...or whichever way you look at it.  I hope I haven't lost some of ya.  I had a friend email me today to check up on me because I haven't been blogging.  (Thanks, Cece!)  Now that's what makes a blogger's heart go pitter-patter...when someone misses their posting. 

Tomorrow is the first day of May.  Isn't that amazing?  Any day now I'll start feeling like summer is practically over because there will only be so much time to fit in running, golf, and tennis in the next couple of months.  Summer will fly.  How do I know?  Because that's how it is every year. 

So with us being on the horizon of May, I'm gonna try another NaBloPoMo.  This time I can't promise 31 posts in 31 days.  I've learned from the April challenge  that sometimes life just throws a few wrenches into the mix, and I'll either be away from my laptop or my mind will be a hundred miles away on occasion.  The last 10 days my mind has been exactly that...100 miles away.  Right now my mind feels like it's on its way back into the general neighborhood.  Thus, I'm blogging.  I hope I'm able to camp here for awhile.

As I was saying, though, my intention is to get back to the daily posting to the best of my ability.  I like having focus and a goal.  The May challenge theme is "VOICES", which could get interesting if I think outside the box.  Let's wait and see what I can do with this theme.  Yes...let's wait...and see.....

My Heart's Just Not In It

I have attempted to write something in the last couple of days, but nothing was coming.  It's been an unusual week here, and I've been very distracted from my little blog.  I couldn't think of a thing to say because my heart just wasn't in it, and I had no idea what to say.

On Monday my friend Judy got word her mother-in-law had taken a turn for the worse with her battle against cancer.  She had only really been diagnosed in February, but this was one of the most aggressive cases I have personally known of.  She went to be with the Lord on Thursday.  So I had been spending some time with my friend until she made the trip to be with family on Saturday.

Also last Tuesday Rich came down with a nasty stomach flu.  Once the initial 24 hours passed he felt better off and on, but not until the middle of last night did he finally feel completely well.  The only good thing about that was I got a break from cooking for a week.

Somewhere in the middle of all that I lost internet access for a day because someone had been digging over in the next town to steal copper wires, and they interfered with the internet lines.  Even if I had not missed blogging last Tuesday, losing internet service for a day would've messed up NaBloPoMo April for sure.

So that's my week in a very tiny nutshell.  Now you can see why my thoughts have been consumed with other things.  Hopefully, I'll be back at it this week when I get back in town after the funeral.

A NaBloPoMo Failed

Dear Reader,

I know you might have been cheering me on to meet my NaBloPoMo challenge this month, and it had been going so well.  Yesterday, though, my plan for a daily post got shot out of the water by unexpected circumstances.  I sort of got detoured, you might say, and was unable to get to my laptop last night when I would've normally worked on my post.  I'm sort of going through some stuff here but nothing I'm going to talk about.  It's awfully personal.

Unfortunately, I've missed meeting my goal in the home stretch.  Bummer!  Maybe next time. 

Thanks for hanging with me,

Liz

I Am a Runner

Well, it's after 10:00 p.m., and I just realized I didn't prepare a blog post for today.  So here we are, and I'm too tired to be entertaining.  That would probably be because I did a walk/run today for 35 minutes. 

I've walked a couple times since the weather started warming up, but this is the first time I did 3 laps around the park and added some running.  I didn't do too badly for the first day.  A really good sign is that I didn't ask myself, Now why am I doing this again?  Yep, that's a really good sign.  I think maybe that means I'm really a runner now.  Granted I'm a slow and sporadic runner, but a runner none the less.  I didn't entertain any thoughts of quitting, so I'd say I'm on pretty firm ground here. 

I can't begin to tell you how significant this is in my life and what a milestone I have just passed.  About a year ago I heard two Starbucks employees conversing behind the counter about running.  The one told the other the only way she would ever run was if she was running AWAY from something, and they laughed about it.  In my head I laughed to myself and thought, I hear ya, sister!  I wouldn't run either, unless I was running away from something...ya know, like if there was a rabid bat in my house or something. 

Anyway, I hardly recognize myself today.  I run to be healthy.  I run to lose weight.  I run because sometimes I just want to scream and I need an emotional release.  I run because I just want to.

Hi. I'm Liz, and I am a runner.

On The Prowl - Part 2

Remember this little post from two days ago about Teddy hunting down a mouse?  Well, it seems we were looking for the wrong species.  Let me tell ya, perspective is everything.  I sat here two nights ago hoping against all hope that a mouse would not come scurrying out from under that door.  Today, I would gladly welcome a furry little guy...maybe even make him a pet...knowing what I know now.

You see, we did not have one of these:

We had one of THESE!

In case you didn't know...THAT'S A BAT, PEOPLE!

Thank goodness I wasn't home at the time it was discovered.  Teddy found the bat in the basement and brought him up to the kitchen for us.  Rich went to see what he was playing with, and there it was, lying in the middle of the floor on its back.  He grabbed it up with a grocery sack and took it outside to release him safely into the air, and he flew away. 

Putting all the pieces of this drama together now makes complete sense.  When Rich and I came home on Friday, we couldn't understand why our mini-blinds in the dining room looked like this - with the slats broken.  We figured Teddy had seen a bug up high and decided to jump for it.  It makes SO much more sense now that the bat must've been in our living quarters and he was trying to get it.  We just didn't think he would jump that high to grab a bug and break our mini-blinds.

It thoroughly creeps me out to know that thing was in my house.  On top of that, people are telling us bats are coming out of hibernation this time of year, so it was just looking for a way out.  My question is, THIS THING HAS BEEN LIVING IN MY ATTIC?!?!?!? 

That's it!  I'm moving!

Things That Go Bump In The Night

I am disappointed because I missed the big earthquake Friday.  Where was that?  Somewhere in Illinois?  Yeah, it was felt even north of us into Michigan.  It happened around 5:30 AM, but I slept right through it because my alarm was set for 5:45.  My friend told me it shook the bed and rattled the doors, and my mom said her whole house was doing a shimmy.  And I missed it. 

At first I wondered how I slept through it, but then I remembered we live next to train tracks.  We're pretty accustomed to having our bed shaken and doors rattled every day at various times.  We've tuned those things out.

We've lived here almost two years now, and I can still remember the first night in our house.  It was probably midnight, and I awoke to a terrible noise and shaking.  I was immediately wide awake and preparing to die at the oncoming impact that was surely imminent... What is that?!?  Oh, that's just a train coming RIGHT THROUGH THE HOUSE.  Yeah, it wasn't really, but it definitely sounded like it was headed directly for us and literally had my blood pumping.  The days following, we quickly adapted and started running a fan in our room.  It drowns out the noise pretty well.

So earthquakes, tornadoes, trains...they all sound the same to us.  We'll probably die in our bed one of these days.  Should you miss my blog after a few days, send a search party, will you?

On The Prowl

I think at this very moment we have an unwelcomed guest in our home, and I hope we can keep him contained in the loft area.  I guess there's nothing keeping him there because mice are pretty small and can fit into tight places.  He could easily slip under that door.

About half an hour ago, Bailey was sitting at the loft door just looking at it, as if he wanted to go upstairs.  We weren't real sure why, seeing as neither Rich nor I has been up there recently.

Rich headed to bed early, not feeling so well, and I've been here getting ready to blog.  All of a sudden Bailey, Teddy and I hear commotion coming from the other side of the door to the loft, and we start to stare at it intently.  The cats immediately went to the door to see what was afoot.  Of course, I continued to stare intently at the bottom of the door, hoping profusely that nothing squirmy, squealy and furry would make an entrance, as well as to make sure I didn't need to be "afoot"...that is about A FOOT OFF THE FLOOR UP ON A CHAIR WHERE A MOUSE CANNOT GET ME.

I did manage to get some play-by-play video footage of the investigation.  (Sorry about the dark lighting.  It is not a well lit area.)  I'm sure you will find it as spine-chilling and hair-raising as I did.  Take a look....

Uh...okay...gotta go.  I'm hearing more noises.  Yikes!

My Sister's Closet

If you have a sister, you probably know how fun it is when she decides to weed out the clothes she can no longer wear.  I tried to help her with that years ago when we lived at home, but she didn't appreciate it then.  Getting ready for school in the morning and bored with wearing the same things over and over again, I'd get into her closet and find something she hadn't worn in months and put it on.  I mean, if she wasn't going to wear it, then someone should.  But for some reason that made her mad.

Kathy has apparently been sorting through her closet this week, which reminds me that's something I need to do, too.  She sorted out a lot of things and sent me a big bag full of clothes to try on.  Of course, we won't talk about why she can't wear them anymore nor draw any attention to the fact that she is skinnier than me works out like a fiend to keep her girlish figure.  I am so glad she's got good taste in fashion because if this stuff fits, I'm gonna look GOOD this summer.  Can't wait to try it all on.

Ready For Another Discovery?

Are you ready to learn that there is yet one more facet to my life that I have not yet exposed you to?  I know.  It's exciting, isn't it?  I'm giddy and nervous all at once over what I'm about to show you.

Did you know I am a singer?  Yes, I am.  I mostly sing in the bathroom when I'm curling my hair in the morning or in the car on my way to work.  It is rare for me to break out into song in front of other people, though.  That makes me feel self-conscious.  And when I say rare, I mean I've only done it once or twice in the last couple of years. 

Since I am so self-conscious, I'm not really sure why I ever got it into my head that I would want to sing in front of people at church, but I do.  I used to sing solo, but a couple years ago I decided to go duet because it reduces the amount of jitters and hand sweating that takes place when you're in front of a crowd.  I joined forces with my friend Judy, which was a really smart move because she makes me look good.  Anyway, they let us do what we love to do every couple of months at church.

Getting this video here on this blog post has been a process, let me tell ya.  In the video you will see me in the center (during my blonde phase), my Judy on the right (the lovely guitarist), and our friend Jamie to the left, playing violin (she's awesome!).  Oh and just a side note...you can see my parents sitting in the front pew at the very bottom left of the video.  They are looking adoringly at me, their firstborn.  'Cuz that's what they always do.  :)  

Sweet Jesus 

No-Nonsense Therapy

This is just so funny, I had to post it.

Somebody, Stop Me!

Dear Christianbook.com,

I have always enjoyed buying books from you because you have the best prices around, but please...PLEASE...do not send me any more of your catalogs.  Do you know what you do to me?  You stir feelings within me that are best left unstirred.  You see, I have a stack of books and a list yea long of books still needing my attention, yet I am enticed by your book summaries and recommendations and find myself longing for more.  It's honestly more than a girl can take.  I'm wishful and hopeful that I am going to read them voraciously, so much so that I would join the Spring Reading Thing 2008.  But do you know where I find myself these days?  Still trying to finish the first book on my list.

Take a look at my list...

1. War of Words in progress
2. God Is The Gospel  in progress
3. What Jesus Demands of the World
4. Vienna Prelude: Zion Covenant #1  in progress
5. Prague Counterpoint: Zion Covenant #2
6. Mozart's Sister
7. Summer of the Midnight Sun: Alaskan Quest #1

#1 on the list is almost finished.  Just have 2 1/2 chapters to go.  #4 on the list?  Don't even have it in my possession at the moment.  Had to take it back to the library because I had it for 3 weeks, renewed it for another 3 weeks, still ran out of time, and had to return it.  RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BOOK. 

Do you see my problem?  I can't even finish a simple novel in 6 weeks.  So please, Christianbook.com, do not enable me. 

Appreciatively,

Liz

Bring It On!

The only thing I dread about summer is never having the right shoes.  Maybe that's because I'm picky about the fit and the style.  I'm not sure how all you gals wear those flip flops.  I just can't stand that little thong rubbing between my toes.  Do you build up a callous or something?  I really want to be "hip" and "with it" along with all of you, but when I try them on, all I imagine is having blisters by day 2 of trying to break them in.

It always takes me forever to find that ONE sandal I will wear to death for a season.  Last year I never even had to shop because my sister had bought a pair for $10 and then decided they didn't really fit her well.  I gave her $10 and took them off her hands.  I was pretty pleased with that, and I wore them a lot.  The only others I wear every year are my Birkenstocks that hang on year after year.  They're pretty much a staple.

Well, this summer, life as my feet know it is going to be different.  They are going to be stylin' because wait until you see what I did today.

The superstore where Rich works was having a special Saturday sale.  The shoes were "Buy One, Get One for $1".  The last time I took advantage of that deal was about 6 months ago when I got two pairs of running shoes.  Nothing like saving $70!  So he told me to get over there today and see about some shoes.  I went, not knowing what I really need.  I haven't pulled any spring clothes out yet because it's just been too cold.  But if your husband says to go buy shoes, I really think a wife ought to submit to that, no matter how hard it is to shop.

Well, look at what I came home with, and tell me if I did good or not.

 

First, I found these.  Oh, so comfortable!!

 

Then I found these.  I never would've bought these, but they were only $1!

 

Then there were these, which I thought would be good with jeans or capris.

And finally, I just HAD to have these and would not have bought them in a million years because they just don't seem practical.  But you can't go wrong when they're Buy One, Get One for $1.  They're my favorite of all 4.

Now, did I mention how much my little shopping spree cost after our employee discount and a special 20% off coupon?  No?  Well, how does 40 DOLLARS sound?  My receipt said I saved $69.  My feet have never been sooo ready for summer before.  Time to paint those toenails! 

Summer?  BRING IT ON!

Can't Live With It... Can't Live With It?

Has anyone else prepared for the whole "going digital" move coming early next year?  Since we didn't want to shell out the big bucks for cable or satellite, my husband used the voucher the government sent us and went and got the digital converter box.  Those guys in Washington are so thoughtful, dontcha think?  It was exciting when he installed it because a new era had dawned in our home.  We've gone digital, people!  No more messing around with that old-fashioned antenna in order to find the least state of fuzzy to watch Andy Griffith and I Love Lucy.  With the converter box, every station comes in crystal clear.

Yeah, it was really great, until...

A train passed behind our house.

A car drove by.

It rained.

The wind blew in a particular direction.

When any of those variables are present, which is quite frequently, it breaks up the TV picture and the sound gets choppy.  I'd rather watch the shows with fuzz, if this is what life will be for us in the digital age.  Do you know what it's like to watch a detective program, only to have the final clues revealed while the sound is cutting out every other word?  Ummm...that's not acceptable.  It's just wrong to invest in 50 minutes of Matlock, only to be left hanging in the last 5 minutes because the signal was lost.  It's WRONG!  It's a good thing I'm not a Lostie, or things could get seriously dicey around here.  {breathing a sigh of relief}

So, now hubby thinks this switch to digital programming is just a ploy.  Maybe the government is really in cahoots with the cable and satellite people, so that the only way you will get truly uninterrupted, clear programming is if you purchase one of these services.  At least that's his theory, and he's sticking to it.

Has anyone else installed their converter box?  Having any troubles with it?  Maybe it's just us.  I wouldn't be surprised.

Friday Fill-In

This is another new blog I found that provides a Friday meme.  Thought I might try it out and see how I like it.  And of course, I've got my whole NaBloPoMo obligation to fill, so I should put these kind of posts to good use.  Right?  The idea is that I'm supposed to fill in the blank, so the parts in bold are my answers.

1. I love springtime in April!  Now if we could just get the snow to stay away for good until next winter.... 
2. Banana Pecan Stuffed Pancakes and Strawberry Banana Crepes from Bob Evans or a Pineapple & Ham Omelette are foods I love to eat for breakfast.
3. It seems I'm always searching for a snack that fits within the limits of my First Place diet.
4. A bowl of ice cream is a great way to end the day.
5. I think I want to take a vacation to Disney World really bad...like next week, if I could!
6. Coldstone Creamery and Chinese food is what I've been craving lately.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to blogging a little, tomorrow my plans include shopping for shoes and Sunday, I want to go to church then take a nap as usual!

Can you tell that I've been feeling a little hungry this week?  I think I better lock myself in the house until the food cravings pass.  Aiy-Aiy-Aiy!

These Are A Few of My Favorite (Disney) Things

Dear Amanda,

I'm so glad you asked about such an important topic to me.  You truly are a kindred spirit of the Disney kind.

What's your favorite Disney memory?

I've been thinking about Disney memories since you asked me a couple days ago, trying to determine what was the shining moment that stands out in all of my Disney vacation history.  I don't believe there's any one thing that I can say is my favorite memory.  You see, the magic of our years of Disney vacations cannot be summed up in just one thing.  It is one big package of sights and smells and sounds and feelings that make up the memory that is Disney for me.

First, I need to take you back to when this all began.  My parents sparked our Disney addiction at an early age.  We took our first vacation to Walt Disney World in 1979 when I was 5 years old.  Way back then there was just one park - The Magic Kingdom.  My parents knew how to pinch a penny, so my dad converted the inside of our van into a makeshift camper.  He laid carpet, paneled the walls, and even built a bed frame at the back and put a mattress in there, just so we could camp in it.  We actually got to lay on the bed as we traveled.  That was high class to me and Kath.  Mind you, this was before the days of children being required to ride in a car seat.  We camped at a nearby Jellystone Campground.

After that we got even fancier, borrowing campers or tents and actually moving into the Disney complex, staying at Fort Wilderness year after year.  The Disney property grew as the years went by.  I even love to tout the fact that Epcot opened just for my birthday in 1982.  We got to see Danny Kaye and Drew Barrymore filming a Disney special at the park.  I know.  You envy me right now, don't you? 

Those are fun memories, but like I said, the memories are all just one big bundle of magic I carry with me in my heart.  And when I think about Disney, it's these things that bring on the longing to return someday...

1. Upon arriving at Fort Wilderness, having to hurry to the restrooms just to hear the bluegrass music playing
2. Eating pizza at the Trail's End buffet at Fort Wilderness and listening to the banjo player
3. Taking a boat ride at night from Fort Wilderness to the Contemporary Resort
4. Riding in the nose of the Monorail
5. Riding on the buses and knowing you're having a shared experience with the people sitting around you
6. Arriving at the front gate of the Magic Kingdom and seeing Mickey's face done in floral landscaping
7. The music that surrounds you at every turn
8. Walking up Main Street USA and gawking at Cinderella Castle
9. All the smells (flowers, mulch, food, water, Florida)
10. Wanting to ride Peter Pan's Flight, even though it's a kiddie ride and you've done it a hundred times
11. Popcorn
12. Browsing through the candy shop and wanting one of everything
13. Playing in the old arcade at Contemporary Resort and then watching Summer Magic in the little theater
14. Riding the monorail from resort to resort, looking for souvenirs to buy at each stop
15. Swimming at the Polynesian Resort pool
16. The tropical foliage in the center of the Polynesian Resort
17. Watching the sunset at the Caribbean Beach
18. Eating sundaes at the ice cream parlor on Main Street
19. Country Bear Jamboree
20. The original Enchanted Tiki Room (it's my favorite!)
21. The entrance music at Epcot
22. Standing at the base of Spaceship Earth and trying to fathom the ginormousness of the thing
23. Getting goosebumps during the American Adventure
24. Taking a boat ride from Dixie Landings to Downtown Disney
25. Shopping at Downtown Disney
26. Eating ice cream sundaes at Ghirardelli's 

And honestly... this is only scratching the surface of everything I love to remember.

Wishing I was there,

Liz

Works-For-Me-Wednesday: Blogging Software

As a blogger, the best tool I have found for creating blog posts is Windows Live Writer.  You can download it right to your computer and use it just like your blogging service.  When you're ready to publish, it will send your post directly to your blog.  Need to edit the entry after you've posted?  No problem.  Do it right in Live Writer, and click publish again. 

I have found that it is much easier to create a post for Blogger.com.  The main problem I kept running into was inserting photos, only to have it mess up my line spacing.  I was constantly having to manipulate code just to get my posts to look normal.   Using Windows Live Writer takes away all of that trouble.

Another fun feature is you can add Plug-ins, one of which is the ability to insert a Flickr image from your photo albums.  I also love that Live Writer will allow you to search for a previous post in order to link to it.  And if you're a big fan of using the strike-through characters, like this, Live Writer has those too.  I can't complain one bit about this program.  It has made blogging a breeze.

And that's what works for me.  Want to check out more helpful Works-For-Me-Wednesday tips?  Head over to Rocks In My Dryer.

Hope

Do you ever struggle with bitterness when it seems like the enemy has got the upper hand? I do. I'm struggling right now in some personal things.

Then this morning I watched the news and was saddened to once again see the results of the evil in the world around us. A group of friends lured a friend to a home just to beat her up with the intention of posting it on YouTube. The girl was beaten so badly she has serious damage to her eye and currently is deaf in one of her ears. The officer who was interviewed about questioning the suspects said the girls were laughing about the situation and asked if they would be out of jail in time to go to cheerleading practice the next day. What is wrong with our world?

My eyes welled with tears as I thought about the way the world has rejected God. They bow to the idol of self. Where is the hope in the midst of such evil?

As I went about the business of getting myself ready for work, I turned on some music. My CD of Watermark came on, and the first song that played was You Are My Stronghold. As I listened to the words, peace came sweeping in. Have you ever wanted to just live in a song? There is peace in the truth of those words, based on Psalm 27. No matter how hard and fast the enemy is coming at you, if you place yourself in the presence of God, you have already triumphed over the enemy. He cannot touch your soul because you've found refuge and salvation in the Lord.

I've provided the video of Watermark performing this song, but the quality is not excellent. I'm printing the words below it, so you can better respond to them.

Lord you are my light and my salvation
Whom shall I fear if you are near
Lord you are my peace when there is war all around me
And even here inside me I will have no fear

Oh Lord you're my protection from my enemies
You set me high upon a rock and You defend my soul
And when their ways advance against me
I am confident that they cannot make me less, for you have made me whole
O Lord, you are my stronghold
You are my stronghold

Lord you are my strength so let my head be lifted up
That I may glory in the ways you've overcome
Lord you are my home because you've created in me,
a heart that lives the victory that you've already won

Oh Lord you're my protection from my enemies
You set me high upon a rock and You defend my soul
And when their ways advance against me
I am confident that they cannot make me less, for you have made me whole
O Lord, you are my stronghold
You are my stronghold

You Are My Stronghold by Watermark (All Things New)

Oh, The Horror!

I discovered something today...and it was not good, People.  Not good at all.

We park our cars in the detached garage behind our house, so I hardly ever see the front of our house.  Today when I arrived home after shopping, I parked my car on the street out in front of our house to unload the groceries because it's easier to carry them to the front door.  I popped the trunk open and turned off the car.  I looked up at the house and saw Rich opening the front door to come down and help me take the groceries in.  But then, to my horror and utter disbelief, I saw something that I will never be able to live down.

Christmas. Lights.

On MY bushes.

In APRIL.

We still have Christmas lights on our bushes in April, People!  {GASP}  I shuddered at the thought.  I promptly got out of the car and accosted my dear husband. 

What is the meaning of this?  We have Christmas lights on our bushes!  Why?!?  How can I possibly mock people who keep their Christmas trees displayed until Valentine's Day, when we clearly have Christmas lights on our bushes in April?!?  I can no longer mock because now I am one of "them". 

So I went in the house and started putting groceries away, thinking about this travesty that has befallen me.  Then Rich said, I'm going to take those lights down right now.  I answered him, Oh no you're not.  I have to take a picture.  To which he said, Uh-uuuh!  And I replied, Yes, I am.  I am soooo blogging about this, mister!  And out the door he went to take down those stupid lights.

Well, who needs a picture anyways?

I've Got Nothin'

Yeah, I thought if any days would be hard to work in the NaBloPoMo thing, it would be Sundays.  Sundays are a full day for me. 

• Choir practice - 8:45 a.m.
• Sunday School - 9:30 a.m.
• Morning Service - 10:45 a.m.
• Home - 12:45 p.m.
• Lunch - 1:00 p.m.
• Hubs gets home from work - 1:30 p.m.
• Off to nap time - whenever I can get there
• Back to choir practice - 4:30 p.m.
• Evening Service - 6:00 p.m.

I've attempted to write a few posts, but they just weren't coming together.  Here it is 10:45'ish, and it's time for me to go to bed.  I debated whether to just skip today's post or simply post something really, really lame.  I'm afraid to say that this is pretty much it.

Tomorrow I should have a good post up.  Amanda has sent a question, and I'm going to enjoy answering this one.  By the way, I am really getting into these Q&A posts.  I guess I like it because the readers are asking the questions, so I know when I post it's about something you actually want to know about me.  I'd love some more questions.  Leave them in the comments.  'K?

On Music...Continued

Dear Kat,

Your question has a long answer, which is a good thing because I like a very meaty post.  Don't you?

What kind of musician are you?

I am a musician in a variety of ways, but my main thing is the piano.  I started lessons at the age of 4 and continued on until I was 16.  We didn't even own a piano when I began lessons, and I had to go to a neighbor's house to practice.  Please don't let that time span fool you, though.  Other people who took lessons for that long are much more accomplished than I am. 

My dad tells of his aspirations for me when I was young, that he would like me to have become a concert pianist.  Ummm... he really should've checked with me first on that ambition because that was the farthest thing from my mind.  I just played for enjoyment, and I wasn't really sure anything would come of it.  Little did I know what God had planned for me.

Right around the time I turned 16 we went from attending a church of 1,200+ to a little church of about 25, including mice.  Our family was there for a year to help the church get on its feet and basically start from the ground up, and we ended up staying past a year.  Actually, we're still there and will celebrate 20 years as a church in July.  But back to what I was saying.  There was a pianist who filled that need when we got to the church, but after a few years she moved out of state.  There was no one to play piano.  NO. ONE.  Guess who they looked for to fill that ministry?  Yep.  Me.

So, just fresh into college, I took on that ministry with hardly any experience of having people sing while I played.  I had to accompany the choir, too, and we started with very basic songs.  I got stretched through the years by our choir directors, and however the Lord works those things out, I can now play accompaniment that I never could've tackled when I first started.  I guess you learn as you go.

As for other instruments, I played French Horn from 5th grade through the 11th.  I haven't touched it in a couple years, but it is a very cool instrument.  I also bought a flute on eBay several years ago because that's the instrument I always wanted to play.  I taught myself some basics on it and then set it aside, being distracted by other interests.  I ended up selling it on eBay in order to turn around and purchase something else.  I don't remember if it was a guitar or my purebred dog.  Anyway, I eventually bought a guitar because I wanted something portable I could sing with.  As you can imagine, it's very hard to drag a piano anywhere.  I love that guitar.  Of course, I missed the flute then, so I had to grab another one off eBay.  It now sits next to the piano, waiting for some new pads.  But it's there when I'm ready for it.

I sing, too.  I have video I want to share here on the blog of some stuff I've done, but I haven't yet figured out how to format it correctly in order to make that happen.  One of these days I'll get it figured out.

I'm sure that more than answers your question, Kat.  Thanks for asking.

Sincerely ~ Liz

It's Like Heaven

Internet Friends, since I've recently been talking about music loves, I have to add this little side post.  Yet another facet you may not know about me.  I love me some Disney music.  If you are a kindred spirit of the Disney sort and have not yet discovered you can listen to streaming Disney park music on Live365, then I need to introduce you to the beauty that it is.  If you go to this Live365 station and close your eyes, it's almost like you're there.  If you sit at a bus station that is landscaped with cedar chips after a freshly fallen rain and inhale bus fumes, it's even better.  (Unfortunately, you will not understand that last statement unless you've been to Walt Disney World.  Either that or me and my family are just really quirky about the smells.)

Do you know what's playing right this very moment?  Space Mountain Entrance Area Music (big sigh)  Can you even stand it?  And I don't even ride Space Mountain because it's a coaster, and I don't do coasters.  But I could savor the music ALL. DAY. LONG.

Okay, it's back to work for me... work and Disney music, that is.

On Music

Dear Reader Sarah,

Thank you for visiting my blog yesterday and for asking such a great question -

What's your favorite song and why?  Do you remember where you heard it first or who it was written by?

That's also a tough question because I enjoy a variety of music genres, so to narrow myself down to one favorite song is next to impossible.  I have many that I'd name as favorites.  Of course, anyone who knows me very well, knows that I would quickly claim He Ain't Never Done Me Nothin' But Good as my all-time favorite.  It was written by Dottie Rambo and sung by The Isaacs.  The first reason I love it is because I enjoy Bluegrass, and it is a real doozy of a Bluegrass song.  Beyond that, I love the words to the song.  They speak of the goodness of God in the midst of suffering.  That's something I need to be reminded of all the time.

I enjoy other Christian musicians like Margaret Becker, Watermark, LordSong, Kristyn & Keith Getty, Chris Tomlin, Casting Crowns and Caedmon's Call.  What's currently in my CD player, though, is my newest favorite.  Sara Groves.  Her words really speak to me.  She says things that I think and feel.  She's real.  If I had to choose just one favorite from her collection, I just couldn't do it.  I love most of her CD Conversations and much from two of her other CD's Add To the Beauty and Past the Wishing.

I just have to add an extra personal note on this topic.  There are three particular singers who will always bring tears to my eyes. 

• John Denver - because I was raised on his music, he has the clearest and purest voice, and sunshine in my eyes always makes me cry
• James Taylor - because his voice is so smooth it could make you fall in love and put you to sleep, all at the same time
• Alison Krauss - because, oh my word, that woman sings like an angel

I've enjoyed talking about one of my favorite topics, so I appreciate that you asked the question, Sarah.

Sincerely ~ Liz

Any Questions?

Dear Readers,

As I will be trying to fill every day of April with entertaining posts in accordance with my NaBloPoMo challenge, I could definitely use some good material.  So maybe you all could help me out.  If you'd like to send me a question, I would be happy to write a letter in reply right here on the ol' blog.  Maybe there's something you've just been dying to know about me that I haven't yet divulged here.  Now would be a great time to ask. 

The easiest way is to just post a question in the comments area, and it will get emailed to me directly.  You can even remain anonymous, if you'd like, so ask away.

~Liz

About the Socks

Dear Friend (you know who you are),

Thank you for always respecting my love for the Mouse. Not everyone sympathizes with my longing for the Happiest Place on Earth. It really is a magical place. You just have to believe. Some only mock. I shudder to think of it.

But you have always nurtured my desire for all things Disney, and I appreciate that so much. Like today when you gave me these...

Nothing says I love you like a pair of Mickey socks.

Thanks,

Liz

Ten on Tuesday

Ten Things You'd Fix in Your Home (if you had the time and money)

1. Install a dishwasher
2. Expand our bedroom for more space
3. Put up a fence in the backyard for Dixie to run free
4. Remodel the kitchen with updated cabinets and countertops
5. Add a pantry
6. Buy new windows for better insulation in winter
7. Install new carpeting or hardwood flooring throughout
8. Change the color of the siding
9. Get a new refrigerator
10. Finish the basement.

I could hardly think of one more thing.  Honestly, I'm pretty content with our home.  It's small, but there's only two of us and it meets our needs.  Everything we have functions, so I can't complain.