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."

March for Life 2011

Monday I joined the 27,000 people who came to the Mall in Washington, D.C. to let the world know we stand for LIFE.
My husband, Henry, my daughter, Tacy and her daughters Molly and Frances bonded as we braved the freezing temperatures to join forces with all the others who shared the sentiment to support protecting the unborn. The buses unloading lots of young people, most of them carrying various signs: Choose Life, Stop the Abortion Agenda, Lutherans for Life,ect., etc... all made for an EXCITING event!
Twice we headed into buildings along the Mall to warm up. We were able to give out three copies of EMPTY ARMS,(our book on people who regret their decisions to abort their babies). It was a privilege to represent the National Memorial for the Unborn, a place that gives names to those who died too young.
We were able to hear the congressmen from Texas, Kansas and Tennessee eloquently speak up for the Pro-Life Cause.
We look forward to the day when the unborn will be recognized as persons who need to have their civil rights defended. We look forward to a day when an unborn baby is not identified as a blob of tissue. We look forward to the day when the unborn are not disposal property, but blossoming, tiny persons protected and cherished!

Passing the Baton

Sunday, January 16, 2011 was Sanctity of Life Sunday. About 90 people gathered at The Wall of Names at The Memorial for the Unborn to commemorate the 50 million lives lost to abortion since 1973. That was the year Roe vs. Wade decision made abortion legal.
The somber tone, the tears, the lit candles, the testimonies and soft guitar music were all the same. Even the ending, when people go forward to place roses at the base of the Wall and paused to remember babies now in heaven was the same as other years.

I had the opportunity to hold up the book that Ann Caldwell and I authored together. The book, EMPTY ARMS, has had an international impact, even touching Russian and Chinese people who grieve for their babies lost to abortion. Our publisher, Dan Penwell died of cancer this year. We are thankful for his courage to push for our project to be published. He caught our vision that people needed to know that many from all walks of life have sent letters to the Memorial for the Unborn expressing their regret over making an abortion choice for their baby.

What was striking this year was the changing age of the leadership in our Sunday service!
The speakers, the soloist, the guitar player and our new director, Katrina Griffin are all 30 years old or younger. Praise God that the next generation is ready for the hand off of the baton! The fight to speak the truth in love will continue. The good news that Jesus forgives and heals the brokenhearted will be carried forth with new energy and vitality. The message to choose LIFE will continue to give hope to those who think there is no hope. This is a fight we plan to continue on our knees in prayer.

As we held our lit candles and sang Amazing Grace, God's love and forgiveness was very present. Our prayer for these new leaders, "Let your light so shine among men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matt.5:16

Fresh Grace in a New Year

Spending time together with family over the holidays has been so encouraging!
As a family, we share not only lovely dinners, but times to share our blessings and our prayer requests. Life is full of struggles... I told our son Eric last Sunday..."life is NOT fair" to one of his complaints. But... despite the injustice prevalent in this time on earth, we as believers live our lives with a promise provided by our loving Savior, the Lord Jesus.

"For God has said, Lo, I am with you always." Hebrews 13:6b

"He gives us more grace." James 4:6

_______He Giveth More Grace________

He giveth more grace when the burden grows greater;
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase.
To added affliction
He addeth His mercy;
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father's full giving is only begun.

Refrain:
His love has no limit;
His grace has no measure;
His pow'r has no boundary known unto men.
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!

(Written by Annie Johnson Flint in 1941)