Whom Shall I Fear [The God of Angel Armies] By Chris Tomlin with Lyrics

Twitterpated In The Spring

“Nearly everybody gets twitterpated in the springtime. [. . . ] You begin to get weak in the knees. Your head's in a whirl. And then you feel light as a feather, and before you know it, you're walking on air. And then you know what? You're knocked for a loop, and you completely lose your head!”
― Walt Disney Company

Spring is a very strange time! In Minnesota this year it has brought us snow and heat and rain. It has brought elation, crabbiness, joy and depression. We are enamored with the sunshine, depressed by the rain and at times we have thrown in the towel of despair that it will every come.

Perhaps winter will move right into summer and we will skip spring altogether we will say. And then comes a glorious spring day that turns the trees from snow to glorious green and we know that we will have a touch of springtime after all.

I'm not exactly sure what the true meaning of twitterpated is, but I know I have been so this spring. Anxious for sunshine. Restless about the darkness. Happy when daylight saving began again and despairing of too much rain. Snow in May, I almost could bear it.

But it is May 21st and June is almost here! The first day of summer is one month away, so yes we are having spring. It is raining, but sometimes the sun shines. It is green out, not brown or white. The birds can be heard chirping, the squirrels are playing in the trees, indeed spring is here.

It's time for new things. Old things. Old friends get together. All things are new again. New friendships. Time for new jobs. New attitudes. Time for new love. Old love deepened. Time for new experiences. Preparing for summer birthdays. New fitness programs for upcoming vacations. Wedding anniversaries. Weddings! Babies are born. Yes, the world is bursting with newness and we are twitterpated with it all.

Enjoy what is left of this short and crazy springtime. Enjoy your family, your friends, the Creator of it all. And get ready, summer is coming... :)

Sweet Relief!

I love the message of this song with Amy Grant and James Taylor. That we don't have to try so hard. So many times, I really miss the boat on this one. I carry the world on my shoulders. Worrying about every detail of my life as I struggle to stay in control. How futile. So many things are outside of our control, yet we try to manage them anyway.

I have so many friends I pray for. They are living lives so much more difficult than mine. One has a daughter with special needs I do not even understand. She went to the hospital by ambulance last night, yet her mom was thanking God on Facebook today that she went last night and not today in the horrible snowstorm. This friend of mine is always grateful for something. Her wonderful daughter has the same triumphant spirit. She is about to graduate college. They are living lives filled with courage. They are always giving and thinking of others. Living with faith and humor. Writing and praying for our soldiers overseas. Extraordinary people. I admire their family so much.

I have another friend whose husband has cancer. She asked me to pray for her tonight. I am praying so hard. This is the first time she's asked in the many, many months of his illness. I know she is really going through it. Really having a hard time. Yet, she admires me. I wonder how I can help. I know prayer is the most and best thing I can do...and be there when she wants to talk.

Don't try so hard. This song struck home to me tonight. I know I try in my own strength much, much to often and don't turn my cares over to my Creator. I am doing so tonight. So I can help others. So I can forget about myself and my own concerns. My issues with worry about God's provision for our family. He always provides. The Bible says every hair on our head is numbered. He cares for us so deeply. Like the lilies of the field. He clothes them in splendor. He knows every sparrow's need for food. How much more does he know we have need for sustenance? Gas and groceries have gone up, yes, but not higher than the ability of our Mighty God to provide for us!

I think working on commission is a great way to trust the Creator for your daily bread! :) Having one's own business teaches you a lot about trusting and believing. It's a good exercise of faith. Struggling against the way the Lord provides is not good for the soul. Struggling against our circumstances generally isn't. Rolling with them works far better.

All of this came to mind as I began to write after listening to this song. I hope you get blessed and some peaceful feelings from it too. Sleep well dear friends. I know I will after this lullaby!

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Father/Daughter Love

Mike and Abby

There is nothing quite like the love between a father and daughter. There is a bond so strong it will defeat anything. Mean hockey coaches. The crazy guy next door. Anybody to tries to hurt their daughter. And a daughter's love is just as ferocious. Nothing can hurt their father. Neither illness or slight, nor gain, nor a wisecrack or any kind of disrespect.

Ours was a very peaceful household. Mike grew up with parents who never shouted. And so we never did. Mine were divorced when I was young and always treated each other with a great deal of respect. My grandparents were loud and loving, but that is my only exposure to a noisy style of relating.

Abby grew up in peace. She liked it. If Mike and I even tried for an adult discussion in front of her, she would say, "Momma, Daddy-boy, please no fighting!" She didn't like to ever think we would be at odds with each other! And we rarely were. We were more likely trying to solve a problem we were having with the world at large. So we would settle it on our own, and not in front of her!

Abby was very proud when anyone said she looked like her daddy. You have your daddy's eyes they would say. Of course, she does. And his sense of humor and mild, easy going disposition, and computer-like memory.

She likes getting out and mixing with people as much as I, and is not quite the introvert her dad is. Although as she gets older I wonder...perhaps she is more of an introvert than I thought. Friendly and kind and loving like her dad. Funny and fun, but preferring small groups and one on one to the big bashes her mom likes!

They have always been so close, almost like they had a secret language. Sports. That's one. And animals. And texting. I can text, but to them it is an art form. They are two peas in a pod. She always called him Daddy-boy. He was her daddy and a boy. Her friend and the one she respected and wanted the respect of above all else and still does.

When she was a baby, Mike was so very good with her. They must have bonded strongly like baby chicks! I have an Easter picture somewhere that proves my point! She is wearing her Easter dress and hat and he is wearing my hat and his suit. They are smiling at each other and there is a deep recognition. He is holding her in his arms like he so often did at that age...father protector...daughter divine! So precious their love is and so unspoiled even now.

Abby and I are close, but she and her dad are something special, father and daughter...sports watchers...texters...dream sharers...family history buffs...bookends...twins of the soul.

Love you both so much!

My Daughter is a Source of JOY!

Look at this kid! Isn't she incredible?!! I guess we could all put up pictures of one of our kids and say how great they are!

But really, what a face.

This is my daughter, Abby, 30, kickin' back in the locker room during a very long Hockey Tournament this past weekend in Duluth, MN where she played goalied for about 5 games!

Did they win the tournament, no...was she extraordinary? Yes! She and her teammates ran the tourney. She is the backup goalie. She usually skates out. She was born to play goalie, so makes no excuses, just plays her heart out and does very well.

But she does have new goalie pads that are hard to break in when you don't play every game! That's the momma making an excuse. I wish I'd been there. If I weren't in the throws of a recent fall that gave me a brain injury, you can be sure I would've been.

I love to watch Abby play in the net. She is fast. She is determined. She is focused like no other time in her life. She plays for WHAM, Women's Hockey Association of Minnesota, where a lot of former college players play.

She is awesome, but not just at hockey. She is a wonderful human being. With a sweet and generous spirit. A lot of love for her friends and family. A true joy to being around.

I miss her way up there in Duluth. It's only a three hour drive, but I just don't see her a day. What would be enough? Oh, I don't know...every day! She is one of my all time favorite people. If you knew her she would be yours too. She is a Geek Squader at Best Buy and going to college at Lake Superior College for Computer Networking.

She is a terrific person. I guess that's Abby. Her basic stats. Her personhood, you have to meet to believe. My husband and I named her Abigail, her father's joy or originator of joy in the Hebrew.

We were right.

Healing One Week Out!

“You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching,
Love like you'll never be hurt,
Sing like there's nobody listening,
And live like it's heaven on earth.”
― William W. Purkey

One week to the day of my fall on the ice, my husband Mike and I went to the Neurosurgeon's office. First I had another cat scan and then we met with the Neurosurgeon. Needless to say we were a bit nervous. I had a good week of healing, I had followed instructions: rested, not fallen ;). The Subdural Hematoma, or brain bleed should have continued to heal.

My worst complaint had been room-spinning dizziness. My brother had driven me earlier that day to a Physical Therapist for an adjustment to correct that problem. That had worked quite well. I was feeling pretty good.

Nothing would have prepared Mike and I for the pictures we saw in the Neurosurgeon's office. She pulled up three. One taken right after the fall. One taken the morning after. And one taken the day of the appointment, Friday, March 1st.

She pointed out the white area that was the blood on the scan. The first one didn't look so good, but as she said it was contained. The second one was no worse, which is what they were looking for and why they let me out of the hospital, that and the rest of my neurological signs were good.

Then we looked at the scan from that day. It was beautiful. There was just a tiny, tiny speck of white. She said, many people would not follow up on a scan looking this good. My body has healed the hematoma. THANK YOU DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, HEALER AND LORD OF ALL! But, she said, I am very conservative. Come back in 4-6 weeks and I will do one more scan, you can say good bye to me then!

We were so happy and relieved! So very thankful and grateful! We thanked her and went out about the day with a spring in our step.

I think you can see the joy in my face in the picture above. This whole experience reminds me of the Irish Blessing, "May the Road Rise with You! And the wind be always at Your Back. May the Sun shine gently on your shoulder until we meet again." See you my friends, and I hope the same for you Libby

Relationships That Last Forever!

This Chris August Song "Restore" got me to thinking about my own marriage. Wow, we have had a great run! 33 years and counting. We will celebrating our 34th year of meeting this month on the 14th. We are in some ways very much the same people. Mike has a quirky sense of humor. I love to play and steal his french fries.

What is different? We love each other so much more! And know each other a whole lot better. I know that we can still surprise each other, but it's rare. My smile just turn up in one corner. My husband is really full of surprises. His wit, humor and the way his mind works never cease to amaze and amuse me.

I'm sure I am in many ways still a bit of an enigma to him. But he has a nickname for me from the Little Rascals and I know if I do something zany, he will simply smile, shrug his shoulders and say, that's ... (no I am not telling you which character I am)! lol

We are a team and a strong one. With God at the helm and my husband at point guard. I run interference and try to balance the grocery budget, without dropping too many cans. God calls the plays and we try to run with the ball without fumbling too much. The fact that I can write in sports analogies is testimony to our 33 year long marriage and the many football games we have watched together. If it didn't make any sense, that's the part where I wasn't paying attention.

I love my husband, Mike. He doesn't bug me, nor is he disrespectful or derogatory or rude. I have nothing bad to say about him and a lot of good to say. He is caring, a wonderful partner in laughter and fun making and love and all that sort of stuff. He's not a bad cook, he can do laundry, clean floors and bring home the bacon. He loves God, small children, dogs...gee I don't know what more you could want in a guy!

He is not critical of me. There I guess that's enough!

I try always to respect him. That means a lot to men and other living things. I honor him with my words and the way I conduct myself. I don't flirt with other guys. Well, I try not to. And I love the things that he loves. I love our daughter always. I love the way he makes me feel about myself.

How do you build a relationship like this? You should be lovers. And, I know you should be friends. Always live with lots of love. Faith. Be good to each other and unselfish. And it doesn't hurt to recite I Corinthians 13: The Love Chapter of the Bible to each other at your wedding, verse by verse, back and forth and try to live the words as you have spoken them. With God's help, of course.

Also, listen to this video my Chris August, it'll help put you in the right frame of mind. Have a lovely day! Lib

Not Time To Say Good-Bye!

Thanks to the Lord and my guardian angels working overtime on Friday, when my boot hit the strip of ice under the snow and my feet shot out from under me, the angels cushioned the blow the back of my head took when it hit the pavement of the parking lot, or it would have been lights out for me!

I'm not trying to be dramatic. You hear so often of people checking out just this way. Or should I be more direct? Dying. As it was, my brain bounced forward in my skull and hit the front of its protective covering, causing a Subdural hematoma, or brain bleed. These can be fatal too, but once again, the Lord saw fit to keep me on this earth and not call me home. For which I praise him LOUDLY! THANK YOU LORD!

Many people having made peace with their maker, are ready to go home to be with Him. I know I'm at peace, but I am NOT READY. I know there is much more to my life. Much more to be lived. Much more to be said and done and loved and given. Did my life flash before my eyes when I flew through the air? No, there wasn't time. All I remember is my feet leaving the earth, thinking OH NO! and my head hitting the pavement. I did not lose consciousness, so I remember every bit of pain and discomfort and thoughts of getting up again and how I might manage it.

Finally, I rolled over and got on one knee and got up. It wasn't so bad, I thought. I felt a bit woozy, but I was there. So I crept to my car which I had fallen right in front of...so close, but yet so far. I sat down and contemplated my options. I must have been a bit confused, because I could not think what to do. I sat there with the door open and finally asked some sweet people nearby to help me. They went into a store and got me help, and security from the lot called an ambulance and soon I was in the hospital I go to getting a cat scan or MRI, finding out I had a bleed, a hematoma in the front of my skull and would be admitted for observation. The neurosurgeon who read the scan didn't think it was bad, nor did he think it would require surgery. I was scared. But my husband Mike was there and I remember thanking God a lot and saying or thinking "Whew!" a lot.

Neurologically I looked good they said! No finer compliment have I ever been paid! I was happy to go to my room and attempt to sleep, semi-sitting up to keep my head in the correct position and await another scan in the a.m. I slept pretty well. I didn't dream. I am so thankful for God's hand on me through it all for attentive nurses and great doctors and the people that helped me when it happened. I know what can happen when these things aren't treated and I thanked God for all the love in my life.

The next morning the scan showed the blood was dissipating and I would be going home later that day! Hurray! What wonderful words. The neurosurgeon said he would see me in a week for another scan and then we could say goodbye! Also good words.

I am thankful tonight for all this incident has taught me about my life and the love that is in it and the care of good people. Also the warning it is for anyone sustaining a head injury...PLEASE get help at once. Call 911. Even if you pulled yourself off the ice. It could be very serious and is often. Get to the hospital by ambulance, let those trained to do so care for your head, your brain, you.

And stay safe.

Walk safe.

Stay upright.

Don't fall.

But if you do, get help immediately.

Love you all! Libby

Ongoing History of The Blues by Dave Reynolds: Jack Dupree!

http://libbyslifeandtimes.wordpress.com/2013/02/22/weve-moved-to-the-woods/

A Moving Experience ;)

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We are moving our household again. I say again, because it seems like we have been moving a lot lately. When Mike and I were first married we lived in the same house for 17 years in Northeast Minneapolis. It was an old house and we loved it. We loved living Northeast too. My daughter Abby grew up there. It was fun and carefree: a nice neighborhood in Minneapolis where you knew your neighbors and watched out for each other. But one day, after a dear next door neighbor died and her son finally sold her house. We got some new neighbors who weren't of the same persuasion as the rest.

I don't recommend moving because of difficulties with neighbors, but we had a circumstance where a crime, assault was committed against one of us and the neighbor was freed by the courts. It made our position as homeowners untenable and we fled to an nearby suburb called St. Louis Park. We loved it there, especially Abby who made many friends. We kept our good memories of life in Northeast Minneapolis. I still remember the house and the wonderful times we had, as I do all of the places we have lived since.

Life takes its twists and turns and we move on. We leave wonderful people behind sometimes and try to keep our relationships going. This time, we are moving back to a great apartment complex we have lived in before. It is under new management and is remodeled with new appliances, carpeting, and a 24/7 workout center! It is fresh and new and we will be in a different building. Yet, in many ways it feels like coming home, which is nice.

We hope we won't move again. We don't plan on it. We are travelling pretty light through life and are happy to do so. We have a nice place to hang our hat. We are happy to be together, to be well and to have such a great group of friends and family to share our life and faith with.

Mike and I are not nomadic creatures. We are homebodies. We like to hang out. We like to visit and chat and put up our feet at the end of the day, compare notes and just be. We like to run errands together on the weekend and entertain family and friends when we can. We like to have our little keepsakes around, Mike his collectibles and music, me my art and photographs. We treasure our lives, our Lord and this gift of life wherever it takes us. If it takes us home to our place we are very blessed. If it takes us home to be with Him, our Lord and Savior as it will one day in the Ultimate Move, that is also a blessing and extraordinary ~ anticipated with joy and not feared.

But I don't rush that day...I savor each moment of my precious life. I am young, not old, I feel I have many years ahead of me and so does Mike who is only one year older than I. Many years to serve and love and give to others from wherever we live and work. I know that wherever I move to that my Lord has gone before me and prepared a place for me. That He will be there with me and will protect and guide me.

I didn't mean for this blog to meander, but its so nice to reflect about life. When you go about your turns and twists you do not go alone! Love to all....and if anyone would like to help...the move is next weekend~ lol!

Valentine's Day 2013

In our house we always called in Valentiney's day ~ the nickname my daughter Abby gave it! She was tiny and it made more sense to her that way. We were all each other's Valentines back then, of course Daddy was the epicenter of our greatest attention. He, the sweetest, the handsomest, the charming prince of the house hold was the desired Valentine of both of our affections! :)

We decorated the house with heart shaped candle holders with red candles inside and got flowers and cards and chocolates and gave family hugs. It was mostly like many other days. Our home was always filled with love and family hugs, if not flowers and candles, certainly the chocolates!

Now our daughter is grown and on a path of love all her own. She still loves us, and in a very special way her daddy, who she tries to run and jump into his arms though she is nearly his size!  They are adorable together and jealousy had never tugged at my heart only smiles at the corner of my mouth for the joy they bring me in the pure delight they share in each other's company.

For there is pleny of love to go around in our household and now that Abby is grown and on her own, the nest does not feel empty, though we miss her, but fuller somehow with a rich type of love that is just my hansome guy and I. A love that has weathered many storms, financial, health challenges, illness, sorrow and great joys. The ups and downs of almost 34 years of a marriage filled with laughter, friendship and intimacy that comes from letting your souls touch and your spirits soar to God in prayer.

This Valentine's Day we are moving to a new place. Starting a new chapter in our lives. One with more properity we hope, gentler trials and even more togetherness. Friendship in love is a wonderful thing, so is faith and we treasure them both. We are thankful this Valentiney's day for our many memories, for the love-filled present and the hope-filled future becuase of the mercy and love of our God.

So mark the day and remember this quote:

“Happy Valentines Day to those who have found love, in whatever shape or form, and to those who are still hunting, don’t give up. If you feel bad, send yourself a card. You must be worth it...”

― Jeanette Winterson ~ and I'm very sure you are! Much love, Libby and Mike

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My Daughter, Heart of Mine is 30 This Month!

Abby's 30! We Love you Abby! Video

I was so happy my daughter was turning 30 this month I didn't know what to do with myself! One thing I did was throw her a family/friend surprise party this weekend with her best friend Teri and make her a video (link above).

I think many mothers bemoan the aging of their children, because it means they are getting older too. And, they miss the days of young motherhood and the sweet times they represent. I rejoice for each day my daughter is on this earth with me! Not because I expect her to be taken from me! Quite the contrary...I expect her to live forever! She is the healthiest person I know, and has a strong foundation of faith in God that will take her on into eternity :)!

The reason I rejoice with all my heart is that I had to give two children into the Lord's arms in death before I had Abby. A sweet baby girl named Shirley Deborah, who was only 7 months gestation and died during childbirth...and a loving, dear son named David Richard who lived to be almost a year before Jesus came to retrieve the little Angel. I do not know why those two were sent home so early. But, I do know that will not happen to Abby. With all my heart I believe she will outlast me by quite a bit and I have every intention of living to be at least 100! :)

Abby is a healthy, strong and wonderful child. The woman doctor who delivered her, Dr. Linda Burns was well aware of what I had gone through. She took one look at Abby's APGAR score, the preliminary score they give babies based on their health at birth and said, "If you dropped this one out a window, she would sprout wings!" LOL! She was a 10! She wasn't recommending we be reckless with Abby, of course, but enthusiastically reassuring Mike and I that we had a very healthy baby girl on our hands.

She will be thirty this month on January 30th ~ her golden birthday! She plays hockey on an adults women's team in a very competitive class. She is the back-up goalie and she has learned to skate out on the team, because her goalie skills, which she has honed since the eighth grade, are not called for often enough! She is kind and loving to her dad and I. To all of her family, her loved ones and all of her friends. Her doggies, kitty and all furry creatures. She is hardworking and determined, back at college doing computer networking for her career. She is all a parent can hope for in a child.

She just posted this status on Facebook:

Did you know the people that are the strongest are usually the most sensitive? Did you know the people who exhibit the most kindness are the first to get mistreated? Did you know the one who takes care of others all the time are usually the ones who need it the most? Did you know the 3 hardest things to say are I love you, I'm sorry, and help me. Sometimes just because a person looks happy, you have to look past their smile and see how much pain they may be in. I copied this from a friends wall because I thought it was powerfully true. We all need to pay more attention to those around us ♥ 

"To all my friends who are going through some issues right now--Let's start an intention avalanche. We all need positive intentions right now. If I don't see your name, I'll understand. May I ask my friends wherever you might be, to kindly copy, paste, and share this status for one hour to give a moment of support to all those who have family problems; health struggles, job issues, worries of any kind and just need to know that someone cares. Do it for all of us, for nobody is immune. I hope to see this on the walls of all my friends just for moral support. I know some will!! I did it for a friend and you can too. You have to copy & paste this one, no share button "Because kindness is an effort given from the heart not the press of a button".



I am as proud of her posting this and what it represents about her heart and who she is, as I am of any of her accomplishments. She is tenderhearted and loving as well as a techie who works as a Counter Intelligence Office for the Geek Squad in the Best Buy in Duluth, MN. Counter Intelligence, means she works within the store. She works retail, the hardest job at all in my opinion, especially for someone as sensitive and thoughtful and slightly introverted as Abby. She does it well, every well. She is patient and kind to all and I am proud of her.

So is her dad. Her name Abigail in Hebrew means "Her Father's Joy" and she always has been. Just to see those two together is to understand the meaning of the word: BEAM! They beam around each other! They radiate love and energy and father/daughter FUN!

Not that I am left out in any way! Abby calls me Momma. I love the name. It is music to my ears. The way she says it is filled with love, respect and sweetness. She has always been my kiddo. My sweetie. All her friends I called honey, because I called her that and they were all in the same group at my house, all loved by me. She is a dear girl. A wonderful friend and has my heart. I thank God every day for the wonderful privilege of getting to be Abby's Momma.

Happy Birthday, Abby. Enjoy every day this month. Enjoy your 30th and the party you may have with friends in Duluth, I suspect. Enjoy every day of your life. It will be a long one and a blessed one. Don't ever forget that. Make the most of it and be happy every day! Love, Momma!