The Concert

The Eagle Chamber Orchestra concert, we attended last evening, was wonderful! I had high expectations, but they were greatly exceeded. I have always loved the selections from Vivaldi's Four Seasons. They were beautifully done. Every piece of music performed, from the soloists to the entire orchestra, was excellent.

My son was given the opportunity to learn the cello beginning in 6th grade orchestra. We had not been able to afford private music lessons, and except for a few months during his 8th grade year, all his training has been through the public school music program. In a time when programs are being cut, I pray that the arts and music programs will be able to survive in public schools. The discipline it takes to learn to read and interpret music, as well as actually mastering the instrument, only enhances all other areas of learning.

I was so proud watching my son play. There is something very special about seeing your child excel at something he loves to do. I don't really have the words. I sat there mesmerized, at times wiping away tears, as the music flowed around me and through me. What a blessing!

Spring Break...

Well, spring break was quiet for us. Lucky 13 and I hung around the house most of the time. He reorganized part of his room and got better acquainted with his new laptop. It is way better than my desktop!

We spent today at a friends. The boys played video games and laughed a lot! My friend, DeAnn, and I had a movie marathon! We watched "Nights in Rodanthe", "The Trouble With Harry" and one called "Lucky Seven"... I'm surprised I stayed awake for almost all of them!

Lucky 13 has an orchestra concert tomorrow night! I am really looking forward to it. They will be playing "The Four Seasons" by Antonio Vivaldi, plus some other selections!

It was a wonderful day... here's an appropriate quote:

"There is nothing better than the encouragement of a good friend."
~ Katherine Hathaway

Spring Has Sprung!

We are having the most glorious "First Day of Spring" ever! It is sunny and in the high 60's! The birds have been singing all day long in a symphony of harmonious voices. (I know... gushing a bit... but it is sooo beautiful today)

I have been in spring clean mode for the couple of days! It's slow going, but so satisfying. Right now I just want to go outside and enjoy the sunny day...

...and that's exactly what I'm going to do!

Blessings to all!

Nita Jo

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Oops, almost forgot. This is a Free Image. Click on it and save it to your computer if you wish. It is a piece of royalty free Dover Clipart. Enjoy!

A Very Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Just as the card says...

"and this a token gladly take..."

You may click on this image and save it to your computer.

It's from The Graphics Fairy. Her photo link is on my side bar.

She has all kinds of lovely graphic images, free for your use.

Sending her a special "thank you" for her generosity!

~~~

Hope your day is peaceful and lovely!

Blessings,

Nita Jo

100 and Counting...

Well, this is my 100th post! I kept putting it off because I wanted to get something ready for a Give Away. I finally decided, if I waited until things settled down to get a Give Away ready, I might never get back to posting again! So I dropped the Give Away idea for now. I will be doing one sometime down the road... Please be sure to check back with me.

We have a touch of springlike weather today. It's in the 50's, windy but sunny right now, bit of rain earlier, and my tulips and hyacinths are beginning to come up! Beautiful! I am looking forward to even warmer weather. We have so many outside projects just waiting to be done. More changes in our landscaping, extending our original patio with pavers, repairs & paint on our fence, clearing our garage! I'm sure there are more that I haven't even thought of yet.

I had a friend spend the morning with me on Saturday. She gave me some terrific organizing ideas, and even helped me by tackling my pantry. It's shocking how bad things get when you haven't been feeling your best. It meant a lot to me. I was definitely at a stand still!

This morning when I got up and looked into my newly reorganized pantry, it made me smile. It also gave me a new energy to push my way back into living. Circumstances are not in my control, but how I meet them is. It's a step at a time, a day at a time. With God's help, and the support of family and friends, I can rise above my circumstance.

I wish you a beautiful day!

Remembering Ann... and other things...

Heaven gained another member, and we lost an earthly angel...

Ann is the mother of one of my dearest friends. I say "is" because I believe she lives on, just out of sight, in the company of saints and angels... in the presence of her Heavenly Father.

Ann was a close friend of my mom's, and after my mom's passing, she often reminded me that she prayed for me every morning. She said she had decided to cover me with prayer as my spiritual mom.

Ann not only prayed for me, she took time to encourage me. She would call just to chat and ask me how I was doing. She had such a gentle, loving spirit. As someone at the memorial service commented... a real lady, who loved God, her family, her friends, her church. Gracious. That's the word I keep thinking of. I will have to pray a lot more to fill even a small portion of the gap that she left. I've already added a couple of names to my prayer list.

I will miss you Ann, your prayers, your faith, and your laughter!

And now the other things...

• I got the results of my MRI and it is mostly good news. Although I have two new lesions on each side of the brain, the changes in the existing lesions are only slight. The issues with balance, pain, numbness, and sight I am having should continue to improve with the higher dose of medication, and as I get to the end of this episode. I am still in the Relapsing/Remitting phase of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), so when I get hit with an exacerbation there is usually an improvement at the end of it. I am told you only recover some of what you lost during one, but up until now I have been blessed with regaining most of my functions. I am believing for the same with this one!
• Next, please pray for Pam Warden and her family. Her son Toby was diagnosed with MS, and it is an aggressive/progressive form of the disease. She just sent an email asking for prayer and support for him and his family. They are participating in the National MS Society Wisconsin Chapter Walk (http://www.wisms.org/). Please help support the MS Society's search for a cure. My husband has been active in the Idaho Chapter's walk. They do more than research, they give information and support to patients living with Multiple Sclerosis. Also, continue to pray for her husband John. I know if you take the time to visit Pam at Pam Warden Art or at Faith Folk Cafe, you will be blessed by her faith and endurance.
• While at Faith Folk Cafe, I found another blog that I love! It's called ooh lala designstudio and the artist is Vanessa Brantley Newton. She does wonderful watercolors. She is a children's book illustrator. While there, I read her February 9 post "Oh How My Soul Sings of Gratefulness" (if you click on the title it will take you right there)... Read the list of 10 things... It reminded me of how much I have to be grateful for!

Now, before I forget.... the Thank You's!

I've been absent from blogging for a while, due to a lot of family and friend situations. During that time, I have had what some call "a run of good luck" I prefer to call it a "shower of blessings & surprises" and this is a picture of the "Give Aways" I won recently.

Following is a photo of each item, and who it came from.

I won a Give Away hosted by Mary of Scottish Nanna for a lovely altered notebook! It came to me all the way from Australia. It's so beautiful!

I look forward to filling it with all kinds of keepsakes, notes and pictures. I also loved the card with the beautiful lilacs! One of my favorite flowers!

Thank you so much Mary! I hope you are feeling better! You are a dear!

Next I won a beautiful retro scarf from Jenn at Revive (Unique Handcrafts).

It made me smile when I opened the package and saw the polyester fabric pieced together to make this charming scarf. Jenn takes vintage materials and creates useable scarves, handbags, etc. Some of the patterns were very familiar to me... straight from the late 60's and early 70's I'm sure! What a sweet surprise!

Thank you Jenn!

I also won an autographed County Business magazine from a Give Away hosted by Pam of Pam Warden Art ! It is filled with so many beautiful treasures! I have browsed through it several times, and each time I notice something new and wonderful.

There is a world of amazing artists out there, and Pam is one of them. This is the page with her art, featured in Country Business magazine.

Pam, Thank You So Much!

I just received this latest prize, a beautiful bracelet!

Nita of Red Tin Heart hosted a Give Away for some of her jewelry creations. She awarded four prizes, and this is the bracelet I won. It's made with a Gold Monk's Stone and Vintage Glass Beads. It is even prettier than the picture reflects. Thank you Nita!

I feel very blessed today as I remember Ann, such a precious friend. I think about all that I have to be grateful for; old friends, and new; my wonderful husband and sons; answers to prayer; a home; my life; most importantly a Heavenly Father who loves even me...