Author: Andrea

"Silver, Wood, and Ivory"

Gina, Marcia, and I

Two good friends treated me to a fantastic dinner concert Friday evening.  “Silver, Wood, and Ivory” was an incredible performance I would recommend in a heartbeat.  Tracy and Cindy are the names of the two musicians which form this very talented flutist/pianist duo.  You can see their website at  http://www.silverwoodandivory.com/.

Cindy (playing the harp, here) and Tracy (playing the bass flute)

The piano is beautiful, and Tracy’s collection of flutes, recorders, pennywhistles, and other unique pieces including a bass flute and six and a half foot tall contrabass flute is beyond compare!

Tracy's collection
The contrabass flute...taller than I! How I would love just to try playing this once!

We went to Cindy’s home in Lititz, Pennsylvania where we ate a delicious dinner served by a husband-wife chef pair, mingled with Cindy (the pianist) and Tracy (flutist), enjoyed coffee and dessert, browsed their products for sale, then joined the others in the sun room for a thrilling Christmas music celebration!

Our chefs

Their rendition of Sleigh Ride was complete with two sets of sleigh bells;  one Cindy strapped onto her hand while she played the piano, and the other Tracy strapped to the arch of her foot and proceeded to beat out a steady rhythm almost throughout the entire song while still playing the flute!

Tracy's sleighbells!
Tracy's sleighbells!
Tracy playing the bass flute once more

When they began O Holy Night, my mind was transported back to that humble and lowly stable where our Lord and Saviour was born, an outcast among men.  It reminded me of our human plight, doomed to sin and destruction, until our glorious Redeemer was born!  What a merciful God is ours!  What a costly sacrifice!  Such unworthy sinners!  Such amazing grace!  It brought tears to my eyes!

We thoroughly enjoyed the evening and I look forward to the day I can attend another of their concerts, perhaps to treat a friend of mine!

Class Christmas Party

Throughout this fall semester, I have been privileged to teach the Basic Life Principles class for second and third graders in our homeschool co-op at Mt. Zion Baptist Church.  I have eight students, and we have surveyed many different character topics from generosity to respect, gratitude to self-control.  With each topic I gave a lesson based on God’s Word, the only TRUE pattern for our lives, along with practical examples.

As a tough teacher, we had homework each class period as well!  What is a class without homework?  I attempted to make these homework assignments and projects very practical so that the children would understand the real-life meaning of each topic.  Every homework page included questions, a practical definition, a key Bible verse, and a “hands-on” project applying the topic to their daily lives.  For example, there is the topic of Gratitude:

1. Definition: Having a heart that is FULL of thanks to God and others.

2. Key verse: Psalm 92:1  It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:

3. Project: Write a list of fifty things you are thankful for.

So we went on, week after week studying these Biblical character traits.   And each week, upon reciting the verse and definition, and showing proof of having completed the project, the kids received a hole punch in their name card (created for just that purpose).  Those to complete all eight punches in their card were awarded a Christmas Party at my house.  Some struggled, but in the end, all eight students won the party!

Playing Chinese Checkers by the tree

Seven of the eight were able to attend the party, and we had a great time!  We played board games, Christmas games, sang Christmas carols, listened to the Christmas story on a cassette tape, and had the chocolate fountain!   I used white chocolate this time since that is what was on hand.  And boy was it delicious!

The white chocolate fountain with all of us in the background!

Then, those at the party who could say all of the definitions and verses in a row by memory, received a homemade, completely edible gingerbread house!

My chief gingerbread-making assistant! We formed a fantastic construction crew...built three houses in a couple of hours!

(This was my first experience making the little constructions, and it was pretty simple!  They held up real well, and we had a lot of fun doing it!)

Altogether, it was a good end to a good semester!  It is a privilege to serve the Lord teaching children!

One of my students!

Give Thanks

My very favorite Thanksgiving Hymn is Thanks to God, by a Swedish man, August Ludvig Storm.  He trusted Christ as Saviour when a young man through a Salvation Army Meeting.  He wrote this hymn for a Salvation Army publication, “The War Cry,” on December 5, 1891.  As a middle-aged man, he suffered a back problem leaving him crippled for the remainder of his life.  Yet  he persevered in serving the Lord through the Salvation Army until his death.  And each line can bring to mind particular times in our lives, good and bad, and remind us to Thank God for each one.

Here are the words:

Thanks to God!

(1) Thanks to God for my Redeemer,

Thanks for all Thou dost provide!

Thanks for times now but a memory,

Thanks for Jesus by my side!

Thanks for pleasant, balmy springtime,

Thanks for dark and dreary fall!

Thanks for tears by now forgotten,

Thanks for peace within my soul!


(2) Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered,

Thanks for what Thou dost deny!

Thanks for storms that I have weathered,

Thanks for all Thou dost supply!

Thanks for pain and thanks for pleasure,

Thanks for comfort in despair!

Thanks for grace the none can measure,

Thanks for love beyond conpare!


(3) Thanks for roses by the wayside,

Thanks for thorns their stems contain!

Thanks for home and thanks for fireside,

Thanks for hope, that sweet refrain!

Thanks for joy and thanks for sorrow,

Thanks for heav’nly peace with Thee!

Thanks for hope in the tomorrow,

Thanks thru all eternity!


(See http://www.tanbible.com/tol_sng/thankstogod.htm)

Thirty-Day Challenge…How’s It Going?

Well, we are already over half-way through the month of November if you can believe that!  And today brings us to Day Eighteen of the Thirty-Day Challenge to “Give to someone in some fashion, every day in November.”  So, how is it going for you?  I admit, I could have done better some days, and others I got behind; but nevertheless, it has been a wonderful experience!  I am so glad I saw the idea on another blog and decided to do it!  In fact, I am even considering keeping it up after November is over.  After all, what is my life if it is not giving to others?  Of course, God is first, and my time with Him and service for Him are priorities; but that is just it –being Christlike and pleasing God is living by faith and obeying His Word, and part of that is living for others!

I have found many ways to share with others this month.  There is a good list of ideas at  www.daretobeanangel.com/tasklist.php .  As I love to bake, and it is the time of year for it, I have shared lots of baked goods…from Gingerbread Man cookies, to pumpkin chocolate chip muffins, to banana bread and brownies!  I have also written cards to loved ones, and even created a smilebox picture card (seen on an earlier post) to send to a friend who has meant much to me.  One of my favorite things was giving to the lady ringing her bell for the Salvation Army outside of Walmart.  I do not normally give to charities since I give through my local church.  I believe that is the way God wants us to give; not only that, but when I give to my church, I know my money goes to a great cause…the Lord’s work!  And I can see exactly where that money is spent too!  However, having participated in many fundraisers through my life, I know it can be discouraging and tough to stand out there asking for donations.  So when I went to Walmart last Saturday, I did not give to the Salvation Army, but I gave a Gospel Tract to the lady with two dollars inside!  I told her it was for HER to purchase a hot drink or snack!  And ultimately, I pray she will read the Gospel from God’s Word included in that tract, and learn of her own need of a Saviour from sin.  May she accept Christ’s sacrifice on the cross alone as the payment for her sin, trusting in Him for Salvation!  You see, even bey0nd simple giving and sharing, this Thirty-Day Challenge is an opportunity to share things with others, while also sharing the Gospel with them –the most precious Gift you could possibly give to another!

I would love to hear some of your ideas and experiences through this Challenge!  And if you have fallen behind, pick back up where you are, and begin anew today!  God is good.