every day is a gift

Every day is a gift...

Today is Wednesday, June 6, 2007. The time is 6:55AM. The sun is shining, humidity is a bit high, wind is about 10mph out of the South, temperature is in the high 70's heading up to the low 90's later today. All in all, a very nice day ahead.

On Monday I played/sang for the funeral of a friend and former piano student, Bea Holston. It is such an honor and pleasure to do the music for a friends funeral...also very hard...so it was "game face" time. Her granddaughters were there...I taught them piano several years. Courtney and Peyton have grown into such lovely young ladies, each living the life they envisioned. I remember when I was taller than both of them..now I stand a bit shorter than both!!

John and I continue to work on our new home. It is so good to be in a place we call our home. There is still a lot of work to be done. Slowly but surely our builders punch list and our own punch list will be completed. I'll be sure to let y'all know!!

John spent a few days last weekend with Jennifer, Chris, Ella and Audrey. Chris graduated from his Endo program. Way to go Chris!! It was a lot of work, required an enormous amount of focus (and smarts!!)....you did it!!! Now they are getting ready to move to Ponte Vedra. So instead of being 11 hours away, they will be 6!!! This makes for a very happy Grandma and Grandpa!! We will be going to Ponte Vedra to help them move in (mostly to be with grandkids while the parents unpack!!)....we're pretty smooth with unpacking..we will be there to help with whatever they need.

I have spent quite a bit of time recently thinking about all the friends I have not been in touch with since Hurricane Ivan tore through our home. I pray that our friends understand our not being the greatest communicators for the past 2 years and months.
Beyond losing our home, several family members died.....Libby's father died Sept 21, 2006; John's dad died Oct 7, 2006; Libby's Aunt Dolores died Dec 31, 2006. Additionally, Libby has spent a lot of time in Maryland helping take care of her mother. In 2006, Libby was there for 90 days. So, dear friends, please know that we have thought about you, remembered great times, kept up to date with your lives through Jennifer. Liz, Irv, Judy, Rich...your friendships over the many, many years is so very special to us. All of us have gained new family through marriages, births.....lost loved ones - some that lived long fruitful lives and others that were here for only a very short while. So, the Christmas cards that weren't sent, phone calls not made were not purposefully left undone....we all do what we can when situations are "tough". So, dear friends, every day is a gift and we cherish you all so much. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers ......

Every day is a gift...enjoy opening the gift of this day.