Short Is Sweet…

Recently, a dear friend, my sister, and I went over to our little Orange Beach cabin that our Dad built himself back in 1955. We had less than 48 hours to spend together, and we almost didn’t go because it seemed like it wasn’t worth the effort it took to prepare for such a short time. But once we were there, between games of Scrabble®; coffee on the porch; a couple of nice meals out; and celebrating our faith, our families and the hopes of each of our unique passions, work and callings, we all came back to our “regular lives” renewed and refreshed… and realizing short can be so sweet.  Hope you can find a simple “short is sweet” in your life.

Finding the Sacred in the Mundane

Finding the sacred in the mundane of everyday...

I heard a speaker to a group of young moms say, “It’s a good thing if you can find a way to put ruffles on your routines.” As a mother of four, that thought became a framework that often helped me to stop and savor the hectic pace of working… laundry, carpooling, cooking, cleaning and just all the everyday stuff that makes our lives work. The sacred was not the ruffles.  They helped, but the true beauty, the real sacred discovery, was the people God created and gave me to love. Blessings to you as you discover your sacred in the mundane of everyday.

Matthew 6:20-21 “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (NIV)

Life Details and Honey for Our Hearts

A dear friend gave me the book Honey for a Woman’s Heart by Gladys Hunt for Christmas. I am enjoying reading it and letting it encourage me about the pursuit of reading, what makes a good book, and why.

I remember reading Honey for Child’s Heart when my 4 children were small, and what a wonderful resource it was to me then. Another book that I enjoyed was a book called The Read Aloud Handbook by John Trelease. These books spurred on the desire to read to my little one and, at the same time, gave some valuable guidance on selecting good books.

As I am now exploring Honey for a Woman’s Heart I am interested in the recommendations, but I am also interested in the thoughts and ideas of what makes a story/book great!

I am challenged today... we all know the grass is green... what else describes it? So, I will exercise myself today in adding some description to my writing.


Here is a scene from my life today...

I have sent out several emails this morning. Two of them I sent to publishers for whom I have written musicals and songs in the past. Both of the emails are presenting new ideas for work in 2011. I also worked on a song from the notes I took on my bulletin from this past Sunday. The idea is for a communion song.

I cleaned my bathroom (well almost) because I only did half of the shower walls, I just got so weary looking at that Turquoise Blue Tile…. Ugh! (We are presently living in a 1960’s cottage in Fairhope, AL, and one bathroom has the original pink tiles while the other has the turquoise tiles!) We have done some beautiful remodeling to this little place, but the bathrooms will be a large expense so we are waiting on those. I told my husband, Bob, until we remodel to just pretend he is at camp and then he will be thankful for the private shower and hot water!

I made some homemade vegetable soup and even cut fresh corn off of the cob for it. I am calling it "Everything Vegetable Soup" because I put lots of whatever was on hand in it. I think it will be decent, actually even good!

I went to the gym and worked out: 20 minutes on the rower (not too fast), 20 minutes on a bike (not too fast), and 15 minutes on weight machines and sit-ups! I wish I could say I love to exercise, but I only love the benefits afterwards. I listened to some of Michael McDonald’s music. That made me smile and almost sing out loud in the gym!

I am now grabbing a late lunch, probably a preview of tonight’s soup. Then I will tackle the office clutter one more time. Inventory on 21 years worth of work is overwhelming to me, but as my Mom says, “You can only eat an elephant one bite at a time.”

So off to eat some elephant... and can’t imagine that anyone would even care about these details.

"Grand Opening" and Fresh Bread

WOW!  How exciting to wake up to the “Grand Opening” of my new web site. NancyGordonMusic.com !!! I wish I could serve you some hot coffee and wonderful Atlanta Bread Co. cinnamon rolls! (Yea!  Bill and Holly Turk in Mobile, AL... the best!) Since I can’t offer you refreshments online, I will offer you the “Bread of Life,” God’s living Word.

Early this morning I was reading from a small antique book, Royal Bounty, by Frances Ridley Havergal. This songwriter wrote “Take my life and let it be, consecrated Lord to Thee...”  I remember singing that hymn as a young girl sitting beside my Aunt Nell in Calvary Baptist Church;` I was so happy singing to the top of my voice!  My cousins Joanne and Patsy played the piano, so I was surrounded by the chords and refrains of the beloved hymns.

I think those songs took deep root in me, somewhat like my potato vine which is now climbing towards the roof of my patio! I was overwhelmed with the joy in those songs of praise, and they had no where to go but up and “out of me.”   I guess that is just what they did.

My reading today was, “Then I told them of ... the king’s words that he had spoken unto me.  And they said, let us rise up and build.  So they strengthened their hands for this good work.”  (Neh. 2:18)

What good work are you called to today?  Perhaps it is as simple as being available to someone in need. Or, you could be sitting on a judges’ bench making decisions that protect and defend millions of people.  Maybe you are nursing babies and raising small children -- the most important “root work” that few see in the moment -- but fragile hearts would perish without your love.  Take some time today to allow God to strengthen your hands.  Just come to Him, give thanks and praise, ask and receive HIS new mercies for this day.  I would love to hear how HE strengthens you.

Have a blessed day!

Nancy