Gaither Home Comings & A Marriage Made in Heaven

I love watching the Gaither Home Coming videos on TV on Saturday nights.  Such wonderful singers and worship.

 Gets you fired up for Sunday ; )

Wes Hampton, Bill Gaither, David Phelps, Michael English, Mark Lowrey

Guy Penrod, Joe Bonsall (Oak Ridge Boys)

Allison Durham Spear

Lynda Randle

The Booth Brothers

Wes Hampton

Janet Paschal

 Candy Christmas

Ivan Parker

Jeff & Shari Easter

Tonight they had an interview with Billy Graham speaking about his wife,

Ruth. What a remarkable couple. What an amazing life and love story.

Young Billy

Billy: Evangelist, pastor, author, producer.

Young Ruth

Ruth: Poet, author, painter.

Ruth and Billy met while he was at Wheaton College.

They were introduced by Billy's friend Johnny Streater in

November 1940.

Billy and Ruth were married on August 13, 1943 in

Monreat, North Carolina.

I just loved Ruth what a sense of humor

Ruth when asked if she had ever considered divorce:

 "Divorce? No. Murder? Yes."

Family

Ruth and Billy had five children, 19 granchildren, and

numerous great-grandchildren.

Godly marriage . . .twilight years . . .what a love story

Billy about life with Ruth after retirement: "At night we have time together; we pray together and read the Bible together every night. It's a wonderful period of life for both of us. We've never had a love like we have now -- we feel each other's hearts."     

 (Is this just too romantic - so darling !)

Billy about Ruth's death: "I am so grateful to the Lord that He gave me Ruth, and especially for these last few years we've had in the mountains together. We've rekindled the romance of our youth, and my love for her continued to grow deeper every day. I will miss her terribly, and look forward even more to the day I can join her in Heaven."

Their legacy lives on in the lives of their children. They are not "perfect", several of them have struggled but they are all living for Jesus.

Franklin Graham

William Franklin Graham III: Born July 1952 in Asheville, North Carolina. Reverend Franklin Graham is the founder of an international relief agency, Samaritan's Purse and is an evangelist. He is married to Jane Austin Cunningham.

Ruth "Bunny" Graham

Ruth Bell "Bunny" Graham: Born December 1950. Bunny is an author and is the founder of Ruth Graham & Friends ministry.

Gigi Graham Tchividjian

Virginia Leftwich "GiGi" Graham Tchvidjian: Born September 1945. GiGi is an author and is married to Clinic psycholgois Dr. Stephan Tchividjian.

Anne Graham Lotz

Anne Morrow Graham Lotz: Born May 1948. Anne is an author and found of AnGel Ministries. She married Dan Lotz.

Nelson "Ned" Edman Graham: Born May 1958. Ned is married to Carol. They are the caretakers of Billy and Ruth in addition to having a Bible and training ministry in China, East Gate Ministries.

Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.
Psalm 119:111

My First Real Ballet

My mother-in-law Mary invited my hubby and I to the NYC ballet today.  It was my first "real" ballet. I've seen little local productions with children etc . . . But never an official ballet.

I did not know what to expect.  I was pleasantly surprised.

The Ballet was at Lincoln Center - what an amazing theater. Our seats were on the 2nd tier but it felt like we were looking out of an airplane and there were 3 tiers over our heads. hah

This is the write up about the ballet. They can explain it far better than I could 

Beginning with a curtain welcome marking the occasion, this program will feature two of Balanchine’s most popular ballets. Mirroring Gershwin’s brassy melodies, Who Cares? is full of jazzy, syncopated rhythms and balmy, romantic duets. Union Jack concludes the performance with a spectacle of 74 dancers— a dazzling tour de force including sailors, music-hall humor, kilts, and clans.

It was really beautiful. I loved the beautiful colorful ballet outfits. I could not believe the size of the female dancers. They all looked like clones.  So tiny, so graceful, so petite, so precise.
I would go again, it truly was enjoyable.  Hubby liked the second 1/2 better than the first which was much more marching and performing than dancing.

I just love the ballet slippers. So beautiful  . . .

Hubby said he'd buy me a tutu if I really want one - some how on this 52 year old full figured women I don't think it would have the same affect hah   

But I could sport me a pair of those pink ballet slippers !    We'll just have to see . . .

When God shines a blessing on you

Today was the day I have been waiting for since my birthday in Oct.  My sweet hubby got us tickets to see Harry Connick Jr on Broadway because he knows I am a big fan.  Love his singing and acting.

Well, we woke up to this today - SNOW

We are about an hours drive to NYC so hubby being the wise Godly man that he is - said, not a problem we'll take NJ Transit. 

So off on the train we go!



The play was funny and Harry's singing was awesome.
I could listen to him croon for hours hah

Here are a few photos from the play.

Can't a gal get a photo opp with Harry

without this red head getting in the way? LOL

After the play hubby and I decide to walk a block to one of our favorite restaurants called 5 Napkin Burgers. But I needed to find a lady's room fast.  Hubby said the restaurant is only one block away can you wait?  Ah, no better not.  - So we head down a huge flight of stairs in the theater to the restrooms. There is a line in the lady's room of course so I wait and wait.  Finally mission accomplished now where is hubby?  I don't see him. Did he head back up those stairs? Should I go up? What if he is still in the men's room and I miss him.  What is taking him so long?  Finally out he come and up those long stairs we go.  Then we march through the left over crowd and out on the sidewalk. All of a sudden I hear hubby say, "Mare, there's Harry." Now it is dark, snowing, freezing and I'm saying "What?" "What did you say?"  Hubby, said again "Harry, right there next to you?"  Finally, I get it and turn around and sure enough Harry Connick Jr is two feet from me. I said "Get my camera, get my camera"

By the time I fumble and get it the crowd is now going nuts and pushing and shoving hoping for an autograph. But all this girl wanted was a photo. HAH

Well here you go:  Pretty good shots for a crushing crowd in the cold, snow and ice.

Then we head off to dinner. And I am just amazed. I start to think about the timing of this. If I had waited and gone to the ladies room at the restaurant we would have missed him.  If hubby had not taken his time, again we would have missed him.  I just know this was orchestrated by an amazing God of love who does things like this for me all the time.

Timing of God is perfect.

One time we ate at a restaurant that I really like called Kefi,  the chef, Michael Psilakis is on food network.   The whole time we are eating I'm saying to my hubby do you think he is here cooking etc ... Hubby says, well he owns the restaurant but I don't know how often he is actually here.  So we eat a delightful meal and head out to leave and I almost smack right into him as I am leaving the restaurant and he is walking in to work. It was so exciting that I got to see him after all.

 Timing of God is perfect.                  

If you ever have the chance to visit 5 Napkin Burger do it !

How does this burger look?   It is so good. I've been here about 5 times and they have always cooked it perfectly. 

Thankful for a wonderful blessed day.  A hubby who is so thoughtful and wise to get me these tickets and get me to NYC safely in a snow storm.  To Harry for singing his heart out.  To the cooks at 5 Napkins for never disappointing.  And finally to my awesome God who loves to bless my socks off.

Esther !

So excited - started this bible study tonight. Can't wait for this 10 week journey.
What is the Lord going to teach me?  Change in me? Grow in me?

Oh I learned so much just in the intro!  

So thankful for Beth Moore, Karen my bible study leader, great lady friends . . .

Let the journey begin . . .

Phew Busy Morning

Hubby and I got up before the sun today !

What is it they say about the "early bird" . . .

First we stopped at my Auntie's to drop off a bowl that belongs to my dear friend Lillian.

She had made a delicious salad for last weeks Pot Luck and I was blessed to get to bring home

the leftovers. Hubby really loved it.

Then we headed to the bank.  Watch out ATM !

Next stop was for Gas.  Can't get to far on empty.

Off we go to drop off some sneakers I no longer needed. Got a new pair from QVC and they are the most comfortable sneakers I've ever found. They are so light. I wore them to NYC last week and my feet were so happy !  They are the Ryka for women sneakers.

Okay now to mail our bills !   (Has the sun come up yet?)

First ones to arrive at the laundromat - surprise surprise hah  Oh look it is now 7 am !

Yeah errands all done . . . now for some fun!

Breakfast at JB's and shopping at Walmart then home   . . .

 

We had a nice surprise at JB's. We pulled in at the exact time my Aunt and friend Lillian pulled in.

We got to have a nice breakfast together.  Totally a God thing!

Home sweet home - a ton accomplished and it is 10:30 am !  Way to go!

Now what to do . . . 

Some of this . . .

Maybe a little of this . . .

And most definitely this . . .

I have to rest up because a girls has got to be rested and ready for Saturday night dinner out!

We are deciding between these two:

Tonight hoping to watch some football!  

Early bird does get the worm and he sure gets a lot accomplished too!