Dear Readers,

So sorry that it has been a while since I last posted on Heart of the Matter, but this season of life has been extremely busy and eventful for our family. Our second son got married and moved to another state for graduate school, our oldest son was deployed with the Navy and has had lots of adventures on the high seas while his baby back in Japan, is learning to crawl and feed himself! Our daughter is a full-fledged high school senior complete with all the excitement and responsibility that entails. In addition, my 91 year-old mother, of whom I have frequently written, has had a fall, gone through rehab, and moved back to her house with in-home care. Life just never stops.

Nor do we know what surprises God has for us around the next bend. I quit teaching school quite a few years ago to homeschool my daughter during her middle school years. After she returned to school, I enjoyed being home, volunteering —diving whole-heartedly into home-keeping, mothering and husband-minding. But, alas, God had other plans. Who knew? ( well, God, of course, duh)

As I was reading the online newsletter from my daughter’s Christian school, I came across a notice for a part-time elementary music teacher position. It really piqued my interest! I always loved teaching and one of the highlights of my career was when I had the opportunity to teach elementary music for a few years. The next time I was at the school, I went to speak with the principal to find out more. Let’s just say, the job was a dream job, as far as I was concerned—it was right in my wheelhouse! Ya’ll, not only do I get to sing, play the piano, and teach kids about using their voices to praise God but, I don’t have to be at work until 10:30! I am not a morning person!

Now there is nothing more satisfying to me than working at a Christian school where I can share the love and message of Jesus Christ with little ones who have their whole lives ahead of them. Not to mention the parents of all those little ones who oftentimes do not attend church or have a relationship with Christ but just want their children to attend a school that will instill good values and morals. What an opportunity to influence people for the kingdom of God.

Music is the language of heaven. It can fill our souls and lift us into the realm of the heavenlies. And there is no sweeter sound than a roomful of children singing praise songs to God.

Needless to say, I took the job. It has been so much fun. My only challenge has been learning to submit lesson plans online and to navigate the newest education technology. It’s really nice to be at my daughter’s school during her senior year to share in all the joy and excitement of what is probably her last year living at home full-time.

So, I hope to be able to share some of my “adventures in music” with you, my readers, as the year goes on. And I’m ready to get back to writing—encouraging you to live lives that are Christ-honoring as He fulfills his purpose in you.

I am blessed, thankful, excited and filled with joyful anticipation of the year to come. Don’t ever think that because you are on the downward slope of life that God is finished with you, or that you can no longer impact people for the kingdom. You never know what God has in store for you around the next bend!

“Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully and shout for joy.” Psalm 33:1-3 (NIV)