New Baby in the Family

I have waited and waited for this moment. After years of urging my husband to agree, I was accompanied on Saturday by husband and oldest child Jason. We looked and looked before stopping at the best fit. It isn't easy choosing a baby - after all, they all need homes.

This particular one would be the perfect match for me and my family. We all held him, carefully determining his responses, etc.

His name is Walther, and he weighed a mild 380. The most intriguing thing to me was his eye - one bright red eye! Who could ask for anything more perfect? That one red eye will go far in guiding our way.

I went ahead and purchased 1000 diapers for him, knowing we would surely need them all, plus more.

Since it has been awhile for me since our last baby, and since I really have never had one this unique, my husband is making me take a parenting class - to allow me all the tools necessary to handle this baby.

I really wanted a girl, but Walther will have to do. I can always dress him in girls clothes I guess.

So on Valentine Day evening, we are going to take him in public for the first time. I am really really excited.

See below for picture:

I Am Not Really A Piano Player

And so it goes:

I went to college majoring in vocal performance, minor in music therapy. Into my second year, I experienced hoarseness that would last for months and months. I finally was sent to the doctor for exploratory surgery, where they discovered years of abuse on my vocal chords. (I cannot imagine that screaming and yelling would have long term effects!) Intensive speech therapy was recommended...but I was IN college as a VOCAL PERFORMANCE major and did not have time for that! After much soul searching, I decided to focus on music therapy while trying to keep up with voice.

The move to Hawaii to teach music helped give my chords a rest, as well as my soul. I longed to sing...to get better and better, and in Maui is where I started teaching piano. I NEVER EVER wanted to be a piano teacher. That was 32 years ago.

Since then, I have always been the piano player at every church we attended - sort of begrudgingly, as I preferred to SING. Yes, I can sing while I play, but it is not the same.

Today in church, my heart smiled - really and truly. Our sweet little congregation of 80 souls filled my longing-to-sing as I played. Every voice ~ big and small, young and old, on tune and off tune, trained and untrained ~ FILLED the room. It was a sweet chorus to hear from the piano in the front of the church, where I have always wished I was IN the pew singing. From my spot the sweet sound wafting up to the front of the church blesses my heart so much. I tell you, each and every voice can be heard loud and clear, since it is only accompanied by piano.

Where else in this world can you go to hear people sing: (and WE sing each and every beautiful verse)

God, be merciful to me,
On Thy grace I rest my plea;
Plenteous in compassion Thou,
Blot out my transgressions now;
Wash me, make me pure within,
Cleanse, O cleanse me from my sin.

My transgressions I confess,
Grief and guilt my soul oppress;
I have sinned against Thy grace
And provoked Thee to Thy face;
I confess Thy judgment just,
Speechless, I Thy mercy trust.

I am evil, born in sin;
Thou desirest truth within.
Thou alone my Savior art,
Teach Thy wisdom to my heart;
Make me pure, Thy grace bestow,
Wash me whiter than the snow.

Broken, humbled to the dust
By Thy wrath and judgment just,
Let my contrite heart rejoice
And in gladness hear Thy voice;
From my sins O hide Thy face,
Blot them out in boundless grace.

Gracious God, my heart renew,
Make my spirit right and true;
Cast me not away from Thee,
Let Thy Spirit dwell in me;
Thy salvation’s joy impart,
Steadfast make my willing heart.

Sinners then shall learn from me
And return, O God, to Thee;
Savior, all my guilt remove,
And my tongue shall sing Thy love;
Touch my silent lips, O Lord,
And my mouth shall praise accord.

WORTH 32 years for this - thank you God.