My son graduates from high school today. Anyone want to take any bets on whether or not mom can get through the ceremony without crying?

Yesterday I had the privilege of chaperoning my junior high son’s marching band trip. They traveled to a nearby town to march in a parade.

The town puts on a big festival every year. Although I am familiar with the area, the streets seem almost unrecognizable during festival time. The roads I have driven on are now filled with people in costume and floats and bands. several blocks are filled with people, making walking difficult. Driving on those roads is impossible, and they are blocked off.

I am not really one for big crowds. As I make my way down the street, I get impatient having to go around people who have stopped in the middle of the roadway to chat with their neighbors, or who perhaps simply walk more slowly than I do. I try to hide my irritation as I make my way through the crowd.

I think, though, it would be fun to sit in a corner and watch the crowd go by. Do some “people watching”. Notice the happy couples, holding hand. The mothers who are trying to deal with children without the benefit of a man present. The ones who seem sad and lonely. The ones taking their time, looking at everything, and the ones who seem to be moving quickly to...who knows where.

I wonder how Master would enjoy the crowds in a situation like this? I wish he were here to share it with me. I would love to observe HIM as he takes in the local sights and sounds.

Since I did not work on Friday, my youngest son asked me to drive him to his school, which is 8-9 miles away. I had the time, and he wouldn’t be able to ride home with me since I wouldn’t be there, so I agreed.

We had a nice little chat. We didn’t talk about anything big and important. We just had and normal conversation and enjoyed each other’s company. It was the definition of quality time; the type of easy going interaction that brings people closer together.

I have often noticed that car rides can be one of the best ways to communicate with my kids, assuming they are in a talkative mood. Sometimes the most difficult subjects are discussed. Often I learn things about them as people that I didn’t know before. We just sit and talk.

I can’t afford to make special trips just to talk to my kids, but for this one time, gas was worth the price.

I am taking a day off today. I won’t bore you with how I intend to spend it, but it got me thinking about vacation time and what we do with them.

My first choice for a vacation would be to spend time with Master. That goes without saying. However, that doesn’t seem to be happening any time soon.

So, my second idea for a wonderful vacation would be a hotel room, money for food and shopping, and about $500 on a Barnes and Noble gift card. I would get some good books and hole up in my room, reading. And reading. And reading. I would love to spend time doing that. The luxury of having a as many books as I wanted (would $500 be enough??) and as all the time in the world to read. Now that would be a vacation.

Unfortunately, that will not be my reality. But I can come up with a decent substitute. When my youngest is at camp this year, provided the weather is nice, I plan to take our tent and go camping. I can sit in the shade and read my books. I may not have a large gift card to Barnes and Noble, but I do have a public library. I hope to spend long chunks of time reading and take long, leisurely walks by the lake. How wonderful!

I hope you have your dream vacation this summer.

At Baccalaureate Service for the seniors, the following song was sung:
Hallelujah (Your Love is Amazing)

Your love is amazing, steady and unchanging,
Your love is a mountain, firm beneath my feet,
Your love is a mystery, how You gently lift me,
When I am surrounded, Your love carries me.

Hallelujah, hallelujah, Hallelujah, Your love makes me sing.
Hallelujah, hallelujah, Hallelujah, Your love makes me sing.

Your love is surprising, I can feel it rising,
All the joy that’s growing deep inside of me,
Every time I see You, all Your goodness shines through,
And I can feel this God song, rising up in me.

Hallelujah, hallelujah, Hallelujah, Your love makes me sing.
Hallelujah, hallelujah, Hallelujah, Your love makes me sing.

Your love is amazing, steady and unchanging,
Your love is a mountain, firm beneath my feet,
Your love is a mystery, how You gently lift me,
When I am surrounded, Your love carries me.

Songs like this remind me of…my Master. Like many songs of worship, I sing it with my Master in mind. Master’s love is indeed amazing to me. It is steady and it lifts me up. It allows me to continue on throughout the day, throughout my life. He is strong, yet gentle. He is the source of my joy, and the foundation beneath my feet.

You are truly amazing, Master.