Happy Valentine's Day

Yes, I realize I've been a bit out of touch lately, and I do realize that it is the end of April....

Kevin and I celebrated Valentine's Day last night by attending "The United Tour" concert with Michael W. Smith and Steven Curtis Chapman. My sweet husband, back in February, offered for me to have a spa day for Valentine's Day. It was Februrary 13 and as I looked at the offerings at different spas in the area I remembered that tickets went on sale that day for what I considered the concert of a lifetime. So I asked him if he would mind spending the same amount of money on tickets to a concert we could attend together. And, of course, he agreed. So we've had those tickets hanging on our fridge for two and a half months now. And let me just say that it was WELL worth the wait. PHENOMENAL doesn't begin to describe how wonderful the concert/worship experience was. Those of you who know me know that just about all I listen to is Christian music, and have since I was about 12, when I first saw Michael W. Smith performing with Amy Grant when they were fledgling Christian artists. I started listening to Steven Curtis Chapman in 1989 and he and Twila Paris are my two favorite singers ever. Anyway, all that to say that it was a dream come true to get to be there and hear these men, whose music helped shape my faith and keep my eyes heavenward when they would have looked elsewhere. The first Steven Curtis Chapman record I ever heard had the song, "I will be here" on it. I was a junior at Texas A&M then and I remember longing for a love so faithful. He sang that last night and I got to sit there and hold Kevin's hand through the song. How blessed I am among women! I chose to follow the request of the artists and not take digital pictures of the performance (unlike the man in front of me who just about recorded the entire concert!) to post on the blog, so all you get is a "prom" picture of Kevin and me before we left. Steven talked a lot about how his life and the life of his family has changed since their little girl, Maria Sue, went to be with Jesus last May due to a horrible accident. He talked about how he has questioned God and wondered how in the world he could ever sing his songs with sincerity and integrity again. But that he realized that God is faithful and mighty to save and that they will see Maria again on the other side. And that our Father absolutely is carrying them on this difficult journey. Hearing the songs I have loved for so long filtered through the lens of someone who has lost a child challenges me to really trust in God's grace and providence. If God can carry them through that He can take care of me and my family through anything because He is mighty and eternal.

God is God and I am not. To Him, and through Him, and from Him are all things, and I am grateful. Happy Valentine's Day!