Weekly Waltzing

"To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven...
A time to weep, and a time to laugh, a time to mourn, and a time to DANCE..
from Ecclesiastes 3:vv.1,4

Saturdays have become OUR time to dance! My husband, Henry and I are waltz partners.
Through our son, Evan's friend, Byl Butler we have become members of The St. Elmo Waltz Society. Byl is the instructor of our weekly sessions. He choreographs our waltzes that we do in an ensemble.
There are multiple benefits and perks from these meetings. We not only have improved our waltz technique, but we have made new friends and exercised at the same time!
You don't have to trip over your partner's feet, if you practice. Moving in a square isn't square at all, but smooth,fluid and joyful!
Learn to waltz, it's wonderful!

Running the Race

Today we got up early to run the 5K in downtown Birmingham with our 2 sons, Evan and Eric. We also had Natalie and Terry on our team as well. We were supporting Horizons School plus making a great memory of an exhilarating morning. Jogging through the downtown streets that had been packed with cars only the night before when we took the trolley to the Art Museum was awesome! Now the traffic was all humans pounding the pavement.

The joy in a journey well done was celebrated with the group in the afterglow of the RUN!
Some of the runners had this verse on the backs of their T-shirts.

"... let us run with determination the race that lies before us. Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end... because of the joy that was waiting for him, he endured the disgrace of dying on the cross, and is now seated at the right side of God's throne."
Hebrews 12:1b-2

The Power of the Ultrasound Photo

My husband and I received a precious gift from the LORD last week!

We saw our first glimpse of our new granddaughter who is not born yet!

How amazing to be able to peek inside our daughter, thanks to an ultrasound machine in Swedish Hospital in Ballard, Washington and view a photo taken in what was once a secret place but that now can be posted on Facebook, so all can see the newest member of our family!

It certainly is a confirmation that an unborn baby is not a blob of tissue, but an little human being with a face!

We are so excited to meet this new, little girl and hold her in our arms come June.

"LORD, you have examined me and you know me... You created every part of me;
you put me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because you are to be feared;
... when I was growing in secret, you knew that I was there- " from Psalm 139

Speech at the Wall

Here is the talk I gave on Sanctity of Life Sunday at the Memorial for the Unborn Service we hold each year in January.


"As Vice Chairmen of the Board, I would like to welcome you today to the Wall of Remembrance.

This is a sacred place where parents give names to the babies they lost from abortion.

It is a place that provides closure and healing through Jesus Christ. The wooden cross I am standing next to is a reminder of the wrath he took in our place, for our sins. It is empty, a testimony of Jesus' resurrection.

First, I want to share some BAD NEWS with you.
One out of five pregnancies end in abortion. Since 1973,...in the 38 years since Roe vs. Wade made abortion legal, there have been over 50 million abortions nationwide. After 20 years of declining annual rates, it is sad to report that this year's abortions and their funding have increased. Planned Parenthood has people in high places and it received 363 million dollars of OUR money in government grants.

The GOOD NEWS is the people in our nation are speaking out. Abortion is NOT
Health care!!The tide is turning.
Last January the Memorial for the Unborn hosted over 500 students to visit the Wall. We were able to encourage them to choose abstinence.

We continue to see this ministry grow and reach people from around the world. Last fall we had a couple from Norway visit the Wall.

We hosted a Freedom Ride in the fall. Father Frank Pavone and The Priests for Life, Theresa Burke of Rachel's Vineyard and Dr. Alveda King were some of the distinguished guests attending this event that had visitors from all over the east coast arrive by bus for a rally to bring attention to the fact that the unborn have civil rights that are being neglected! Chattanooga was cited as a City of Hope.

We are thankful for the fact that now unborn babies are showing up on Facebook! Ultrasound photos and videos are regularly posted by young parents excited to share their good news. Yes, babies have faces.

We remember Dan Penwell, our publisher at AMG Publishing, that went to be with the LORD this past year. We are grateful that he caught the vision to print our book, EMPTY ARMS, which shares of the amazing letters sent to the Wall each year.

I Corinthians 16 tells us to "STAND FIRM".

We are in a battle where we are all called to action, a battle we must fight on our knees.

Thank you."