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31 dicembre The kids helped lead worshipHere's some video of the kids joining the worship team and leading the congregation on December 23rd. It was the big Sunday just before Christmas and it was also the morning that my friend, Cheri passed away. My kiddos took it pretty hard and poor Jenny, who is always full of smiles, couldn't really muster any up for this worship occasion. She had only learned just moments before that Cheri had gone to heaven. She still did a great job singing a duet with her cousin, Austin and James did a great job on his guitar. I was very proud of them.
Notice the little girl standing next to Jennifer? What a cutie. Her name is Brenna and she cannot praise Jesus without dancing! Just thought I would add that that's my husband playing the drums, my mom on the keys, my sister on the bass...worship has become a family affair. The way it should be...
30 dicembre Using a song I had written to honor my friend.One of the songs that we sang at Cheri's memorial service has an interesting story to it. A couple of people have asked me about it so I thought I would tell the story.
Back in 2005, I was preparing to lead worship for the annual Women's Retreat for our church. It was either the first or the second year that it was my priveledge to lead the team and for months I had been working off and on with this little song. I was frustrated with the song because it just didn't feel like the song was really my style. I didn't know when or if I would ever use it. I contemplated tossing it, but I've been told by real writers that you should NEVER do that, so I pretended to be a real writer and tucked the song in the back of my notebook and promptly forgot about it.
A short time later, the retreat was nearing and I was visiting with my friend Cheri. We were hanging out at my house for the afternoon and we were discussing the plans for the big weekend. Cheri asked me how preparations with the worship team was coming along. She was always so supportive of us, and as I filled her in she let out a big sigh and said, "Our retreat is about childlike faith and the call to walk hand-in-hand with the Father. I wish we could find a song about that. Something that talks about childhood and teddybears. God being our Abba Father. Our Daddy..."
It was then that I knew why God had put this funny, little song on my heart. I smiled at Cheri and said, "Hmmm... I think that I might just be able to help you with that!"
I went over to the piano and played the song for her. Then we sat there and cried a little over the awesomeness of our God and how He was already providing just what we needed even before we knew we needed it. We used the song at retreat and it was great, but I will never forget the curious way in which it came about.
So several weeks back, when Cheri asked me if I would sing at her memorial service, I was not really surprised that she had selected "our" song. It was a priveledge to do that for her. The words seemed entirely appropriate for the occasion and it was so comforting to have the Women's Worship Team join me in it.
Father On High
By Lisa Page 2005
Tender cheeks nuzzle a bear worn and frayed
Many nights comforted with games we had played
But one night too many, the child sought it's touch
With one last embrace, I had loved it too much
With panic I clung, fear of being alone
That's when I remembered my Daddy was home
And I run to my Father on High
Arms open wide eyes shining bright
He doesn't say, "Why did it take you so long?"
He just lifts me up
Says, "Child, well done."
Many years later the time has gone by
Confidence comes with the things that I try
Kingdoms I've built and been proud to display
But just one false move, my security fades
With panic I clung, fear of being alone
That's when I remembered my Daddy was home.
And I run to my Father on High
Arms open wide eyes shining bright
He doesn't say, "Why did it take you so long?"
He just lifts me up
Says, "Child, well done."
God was glorified today.Today was the memorial service for one of the best friends that God has ever brought into my life. My friend, Cheri. Her heart's desire was to share with all those around her, her passionate love for Jesus. With Cheri, her excitement over the things that God was teaching her was contagious. In fact, when we spent time together, most of our conversation was spent talking about how Jesus would reveal Himself in the everyday things of our lives. That may sound kind of boring to some, but I promise you, those conversations were NEVER boring. I have learned that the more you really get to know the One True God, the more you know that He is a well that never runs dry and He is anything but boring. Hours would go by before we knew it.
Cheri was like a big sister to me. She was my mentor. She was that for alot of people. She had a heart for the ladies of our church and for the ladies of the larger family of Christ. She taught me that church is not contained within the walls of the building that we meet in. She exemplified what it was like to hunger for God's Word. She brought the women's Bible studies at our church to completely new and wonderful heights. I will be forever changed by them. We served in ministry together. Sometimes serving together was sweet and beautiful. Sometimes it felt like we were in the trenches together. I would take every step we took together all over again.
Cheri loved to encourage those she came into contact with. Even from her bed, where she spent more than the last year of her life, she ministered to those who thought that they had come to minister to her. God was glorified by Cheri's life. God was also glorified today as those who loved her gathered to pay tribute to her and to comfort her family.
I prayed this morning that God would dry my tears long enough for me honor Cheri's request of singing some songs that were special to her. God knows what a perfectionist I am. He knows how pride wages war in my heart when it comes to music. I didn't want to do this if I couldn't do it right. I didn't want to let Cheri down.
I had talked with my sister, Lori, about all of this weeks ago and we decided that the best thing to do was to not make it about me in the first place. The Women's Worship Team is just that. It's a team. We all love Cheri and she loved the team. We did the songs that she wanted and we did them together. It was wonderful. We held each other together with our love and support and it wasn't about me. That's exactly what I needed! God is always glorified when we can get over ourselves, isn't He? And in His kindness and mercy, Jesus dried my tears when I needed Him to. He held my hands as they ran over the piano and He steadied my voice to sing some of Cheri's favorite songs of praise and worship. I was able to sing with joy and I know that was a gift from God.
Cheri would be proud of her loved ones today. Her family lovingly took care of each other. So did her friends. And God's love was demonstrated over and over again today. Thank you, Jesus, for the time that You gave us with Your girl, Cheri. Thank You for the way that You used her in my life and the lives of others. I pray that You will teach us how to continue the work that You started in her. Give us opportunity to support her family in the season that lays ahead. I praise You for the way that You comfort us in the times that seem impossible to bear. You are the source of goodness and Your kindness never fails. 29 dicembre Christmas in HeavenChristmas was beautiful and bittersweet this year. It has taken me days to even want to sit down and write a few words about it.
Sunday morning, I was getting the kids ready for church. It was the big day. The day before Christmas Eve. There would be two services. My children would be performing in both of them. I was excited to finally be healthy again. First thing after church, I was going to see if I could stop in and see my friend, Cheri. I wanted to wish her a Merry Christmas in person. We were a few minutes from walking out the door when my husband called. He went to church early because he was drumming with the worship team that day. The call frustrated me at first. I thought that he was going to "remind" me to be on time with the kids. But that is not why he had called. He had called to tell me the news that my dear friend, Cheri, went home to Heaven just a few hours ago. He didn't want me to walk into church and be caught unaware with the news.
I've known for over two years that this day would be coming and yet the finality of it still hit me out of the blue. There will be no more phone calls. No more emails. No more visits with her in her living room with the hospital bed in the middle of it. No more anything. I guess that you can never be completely prepared to lose someone that you love. I was telling Chris last night that I didn't realize that I had been marking time by how many days it had been since I last checked in with Cheri. I'm so glad that there was nothing left unsaid. I told her how much I love her. I told her how sorry I was for the times that I failed her as a friend. We giggled about the things that we wanted to do together in Heaven someday. I assured her that I would love her family and pray over them in her absence. There is nothing that I wish I would have had the courage to say to her. For that I am so grateful and am reminded of God's kindness and mercy in the midst of such a painful situation.
Needless to say, I felt like I was going through the motions at church that day. It was hard for the kids to perform their music. James did pretty well, but Jennifer took the news very hard. She was not her usual, smiling self when she was singing.
So was Christmas ruined this year? No way! Christmas had a different perspective this year. An eternal perspective. My friend Cheri was delivered from her cancer, straight into the arms of Jesus. She spent her first Christmas with the Savior Himself. How wonderful for her that she finished the race set before her. She burst through that finish line and Jesus was there to say "Well done, Cheri!" I am so thankful that even though I will miss my friend, because of the price that Jesus paid, this separation will only be for a season. I know that I will spend an eternity creating more memories with Cheri.
As a family, we've had many conversations over the past days of what Cheri must be doing right now. How wonderful she must feel to have shed her used up body. How in awe she must be at seeing Jesus face and knowing Him. I imagine that as she knows that I, along with her many friends will be here to watch over her family, she has probably met my children that have gone before me. I imagine that it would be just like Chris' dad to make sure that he was there to greet Cheri. I could just see him walking up to her and introducing himself and thanking her for being such a good friend to his daughter-in-law over the years. I wonder what her first moments with Jesus was like. What was the first things that He said to her? As I think about these things, I am happy for Cheri. As I look ahead for my own life and for the lives of the family that she leaves behind, I know that I'm going to miss her so much. What a reunion it will be someday!
Today brings some closure with Cheri's memorial service. It will be at our home church and Cheri asked me weeks and weeks ago to sing several songs. Doesn't sound so bad except for the fact that I'm not sure that I can make it through without crying. I've done music at many services and I always sit and cry for people that I don't even know. How will I hold it together when it's someone that I'm grieving over? This is what Cheri wanted, though, and I want to honor her. The Women's Worship Team will be joining me. We all loved her and I think it will be especially sweet to honor her together.
I'll write more about how we celebrated Christmas as a family, but I need to get through this day for Cheri. 22 dicembre Another great report from Chris' doctor!We are celebrating again in the Page household as we just got word yesterday afternoon from my husband's cardiologist that the rest of the testing that Chris went through concerning his heart came through with flying colors. Based on Chris' lifestyle, the results of all the tests, he can see no furthur value in pursuing further testing. So based on all of the information available to us at this time, we need to continue in our efforts to take better care of our bodies and keep using healthy outlets for stress.
I am also feeling encouraged after our last meeting with our marriage counselor. We were advised to start taking the offense when it comes to our marriage. No more playing catchup. We are to really make an effort to invest in each other instead of spending time in the defense position. I don't know if that makes any sense to anyone reading this but Chris and I have been married for 18 years. We have been sweethearts since I was 14 and he was 16. That's a long time and we have been blessed with a great marriage and wonderful kids. But we have reached that place where the demands of life have made it too easy to put our marriage or I should say our relationship on the back burner.
So it seems that this next season for Chris and Lisa will be about taking care of the heart in more ways than one. We don't know how many days that God has given us to live this life on earth, but I think that Chris and I are on the same "page" when we say that we want the days we have to really count.
May God help us all to strengthen our marriages and to celebrate our years together. 12 dicembre My son's unusual talentsJust before bed last night, James had me laughing hysterically over some the movie scenes he was doing for me. This is the only one I could manage to hold still long enough to capture. Please excuse my wheezing. It was getting very late and I had been laughing hard for some time by this point.
James is doing a scene from The Pink Panther with Steve Martin:
11 dicembre Taking excitement where I can get it!Okay, up 'til now, this has got to win the prize for the stupidest entry I've ever written...but I'm going to write it anyway. I apoligize in advance for wasting the time of whoever reads this, but if your sense of humor is half as wierd as mine, go ahead and keep reading.
I can now say that I know for sure and can plan ahead that there will be at least two times a day where I will laugh uncontrollably, foam at the mouth, have to wash down my bathroom mirror and then hope that no one in the house can hear me. That's right. I'm not kidding. After much consideration, I finally purchased a Sonicare toothbrush. I have been using the inexpensive alternatives for a few years but I really wanted to try the good one. I wanted my teeth to be whiter and my gums to tighten up and be even healthier. Let's face it. I want to tighten up as many sagging body parts as I can! Gums included.
So after my fancy, new toothbrush had spent 24 hours getting all charged up, I excitedly loaded it up with my favorite toothpaste (Tom's Cinnamint if you care to know). Thinking that it could not possibly be that much different from my last battery operated brush, I stuck that thing in my mouth and went to work. I started sputtering and giggling the instant the brush made contact! I couldn't believe the vibration it had. And if I didn't have it aligned properly at a 45 degree angle, it would make a scolding noise to alert me to get it right. Startled, I would try to adjust and end up bumping the plastic part against my teeth. Then came the loud vibrations which only made me laugh harder.
When I got around to my front teeth, I wanted to close my lips around the brush so that toothpaste wouldn't spatter everywhere, but if I did, it jiggled my lips so bad I felt like they had been shot with novacaine! Needless to say, the thing makes me look like a rabid dog and I giggled hysterically!
The owners manual- I can't believe that I have a toothbrush that comes with an owners manual- says "You may experience a slight tickling/tingling sensation when using Sonicare for the first time." They didn't warn me however, to be prepared with a bottle of Windex to clean the mirror up after my laughing fit. I don't think I could return this product. What would I tell customer service? I'm sorry, but this brush is just too exciting. I don't have time for fits of laughter in my busy schedule.
I think I'll just take the excitement where I can get it and enjoy my sparkling teeth and tight, healthy gums.
So if you feel that you just don't have enough laughter in your life or your smile isn't as bright as it could be, I highly recommend the Sonicare toothbrush! Happy brushing and think of me when you have to clean your bathroom mirror more often!
09 dicembre Company Christmas Dinner last night.We had a fun night last night, but we were dragging ourselves to church this morning! We took our whole gang of employees out to dinner last night. This was our 2nd annual company dinner. It feels really wierd being on the hosting end of an evening like that. I hope that everyone had a good time. Our family did. We take our kids to nights like this because they are very much a part of this business adventure. Even if they didn't come to the shop and help out sometimes, it is a family business and they are always in the mix of things.
We started off our evening with Italian food. It was fun and it felt quite festive because one of the local high schools were having their formal winter court dance. There were lots of young people there in their gowns and tuxes. We even saw a limo or two.
Chris did a great job of saying something positive about each employee as he handed out Christmas bonuses. I pray that those bonuses were a blessing to everyone. I sure know that whenever Chris and I got something like that at Christmastime, it was a huge deal to us. Chris includes the kids during this process, which I think is pretty cute. They get the card with the envelope and some spending money. I think that's great. I did feel kind of left out last year when I didn't get one. It's not so much a money thing. I just want to feel like I'm part of things, too. Everything I do is behind the scenes, so I think it's kind of easy to forget that I'm there. Well, Chris remembered me this year! I'm a happy girl.
After dinner and dessert, we went out for an evening of bowling. What fun to just hang out and have a good time together. The only downer to the whole thing was having to get up early this morning, but it was worth it. I have missed several weeks of church lately because of that nasty bug that took me forever to finally get rid of. But I'm finally feeling pretty good and it was very nice to connect with my church family again.
Feeling very blessed and thankful for a fun night out with the gang (and I'm pretty proud of what my husband has accomplished.) 06 dicembre The kids perform at the Living NativityHere's a clip of the kids performing at the Living Nativity. Auntie Lori (my sister) has been learning violin right alongside the kids and then had the courage to get up and perform with them. Go Lori!
From left to right: my nephew Austin (10 yrs old), my niece Ashlie (8 yrs old), my niece Abby (3 yrs old), my daughter Jennifer (10 yrs old), my son James (12 yrs old) and then my sister Lori.
05 dicembre Reason for hope from the cardiologist!Chris and I met with the cardiologist today. I've been anxiously awaiting this appointment and almost dreading it at the same time. But we sat down with the doctor today and I think that we got all of our questions answered as well as we could until we do further testing. He was very personable and took plenty of time with us. I appreciated that. He answered my concerns as well as Chris'.
From the very beginning of these episodes that Chris has been having, I have had this nagging suspicion that stress has been playing a very large role in what's been going on. However, I am certainly no doctor and with my husband's family history, we would be foolish to not get this checked out. The doctor went over the symptoms that Chris has been dealing with in great detail. He wanted to know what Chris was doing when these things happened, what time of day it was, how he was feeling as far as the stress during that particular time, etc. He asked about Chris' lifestyle. Most importantly, does Chris smoke? And he has never smoked. Evidently, smoking does just as much damage to the heart as it does to the lungs. The fact that Chris doesn't use any kind of substances puts him on much more solid ground.
The doctor said that he has had to have many conversations with patients over the years where he has had to sit them down and give them the straight scoop on how bad of a health situation they are in. He said that with Chris, all of the things that would normally send up the red flags were just not there. He said that we are doing all of the things that he would suggest as far as preventative measures. His cholesterol panel was very low. So that doesn't seem to be a concern. He still wants to have Chris do the stress echo. Family history is still not something to be ignored, but he said that if the stress test comes back good, he feels very optimistic about Chris' situation.
All this to say that we left the doc's office feeling a little lighter. We are on the right track with taking measures to deal with stress in healthy ways, to eat better and have a happier marriage. We'll know more after the next test, but tonight, I'm feeling pretty good. The doctor did say that no test would have a guarantee longer than for that specific day. He was not surprised when we told him that Chris' dad had gotten a clean bill of health a month before he died. I thought that was a rather interesting statement! But he said that it was likely that he didn't just suddenly build up enough blockage to cause a heart attack. More likely, smoking or alchohol caused things to rupture in there and that can be very sudden. Fine one day and gone the next. That's why it is so good that Chris doesn't have those particular issues to battle. I am so thankful for that. We just have to treat our bodies with wisdom and trust God for the rest.
I thank everyone for their prayers and welcome continued prayer that we be good stewards of what the Lord has given us and that it would be in His plan for Chris and I to enjoy a long, long marriage together. Proud of my kids.Okay, I know I am totally biased, but I was so proud of my kids last night. I took them to a rehearsal for all the kids at church that are going to sing Christmas music with the regular worship team. They missed the first rehearsal when I was sick so I wasn't real sure if they were going to be prepared enough to just join right in. And James just doesn't want to do the choir thing. He really likes to play his guitar. I wasn't sure if they would have a place for him to do that or not, so I told him to bring his instrument just in case, but he might not get to use it.
When we arrived, Jenny joined the choir and were kind of waiting to see if my mom was going to show up. She is playing piano for the group, but was running late. Linda, the director for the kids, decided to start anyway and gave James the chord sheet for O Come All Ye Faithful. James had never played it before and I was worried that he wouldn't be able to play fast enough to keep up. That kid! He is progressing so fast with his skills that he blows even his mom away and I hear him all the time. He not only kept up beautifully, he accompanied the kids on the rest of the songs that he didn't have the music for. He just figured it out!
As he was playing, the rest of the adult worship team took their places and joined the kids. Judy, James' guitar teacher arrived and took her position. She just watched James in amazement. I don't know who was prouder, Judy or me. We both had cheesy grins plastered on our faces the whole time.
Then there was my daughter. I finally get to hear her sing something with words. That girl is always humming a tune, but she never just comes right out and sings the words to anything. It drives her dad and her brother crazy. It really doesn't bother me. She just sounds like a happy girl. I kind of like it. But to keep the peace, she is banned from doing it in the car! Anyway, it was a joy to hear her pretty voice last night sing the words to some Christmas carols. She is gifted with a very accurate ear. Her pitch is right on. I think that is why she does so well with the violin. Violin is an instrument that has to be played by someone who has an ear.
Well, enough bragging about my kids. I was just needing to get it out. I was about to bust with pride and joy over them last night. |
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