Hard to believe at the moment.

A classmate of mine, Jake, passed away about a month ago in an auto accident. However, I wasn't told this until about a week ago. I find it hard to wrap my mind around the fact that he's gone. I didn't know this young man very well, but from what I'd observed by listening, watching, and talking a little bit to him, he struck me as intelligent, alert, independent, but at the same time, easy going. I was deeply saddened when I found out he'd passed away. My main regret is that I didn't take the time to really get to know him. As we had a few moments of silence for Jake in class today, I reflected on how fragile, yet precious, life is and how each moment needs to be treasured.
 Please keep Jake's family in your prayers as they go through this difficult time.

And It Shall Be.

And It Shall Be. By: Grace E. Easley

And it shall be as it was planned,
In spite of crowns and kings and things,
The dusk, the dawn, the blessing peace
Beyond our weary wanderings.
And it shall be as it was planned,
I must believe in greater things,
Who hear God's whisper through the pines,
And in each feathered throat that sings.
And it shall be as it was planned,
How can I doubt the evidence
Of fertile field and mountain range,
Of shadowed pool and ivied fence?
But ask me now how it can be
... I only know He walks with me.

Friends. By Grace E. Easley

Friends are for sharing
The good and the bad,
Smiling through happy times,
Sighing through sad,
Friends are for telling
Things that we feel,
Full of compassion,
Because they are real.

Friends are forever,
As endless as time,
Growing more precious,
The higher we climb,
Blessings that shine,
As bright as a star,
Because our friends love us,
... The way that we are!

My goodness!

Wow! What happened to 2011? It's more than halfway over. It's hard to believe that soon the weather will be growing colder and the air more crisp. The leaves will change color as they welcome fall. I say enjoy summer as long as we can before the cold weather hits and we start complaining about that.

Psalms of Praise.

(All scriptures are from the New King James Version)

I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.

Psalm 9:1-2

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge.

Psalm 19:1-2

Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful. Praies the Lord with the harp; make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings. Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with a shout of joy. For the word of the Lord is right. and all His work is done in truth.

Psalm 33:1-4

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night, on an instrument of ten strings, on the lute, and on the harp, with a harmonious sound.

Psalm 92:1-3

Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless Holy holy name!

Psalm 103:1

Psalm 45:1

My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition to the King; my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

Psalm 45:1 (NKJV)

Summer is almost here!

Tomorrow is the first day of summer and it will also be the longest day of the year. How did scientists find out that June 21st is the longest day out of all the other 364 days in a calender year? Now that it's the last day of spring and we'll wake up to summer tomorrow morning, do we know how we're going to spend our upcoming hot days? What's your favorite thing to do when it's really hot outside? Do you like to curl up in a cool nook in the house and write a story? Or do you like to take a glass of ice water and your favorite novel and go the hammock to read?