Daily graces 2025 #1268 #257

Although the town I grew up in wasn’t large enough for the ballet school I attended to put on a full Nutcracker ballet, several times we would do portions of the ballet. One of my favorite memories was when we would do the Waltz of the Flowers. Just hearing that piece makes me want to dance again. December’s Seasonal Delights Series.

Daily Graces 2025 #1244 #233

November’s Songs of Praise and Thanks Series. Today’s choice is different in that it is easy to be thankful when life is easy. But I chose this song “The Goodness of God” because for me this song when I sing it at church is a “sacrifice of praise” because it is still hard 8 years after to be at peace with the loss of our home to wildfire in 2017. In the photos you can see the car that we left on the driveway with what’s left of the chimney and house behind. The photo of rubble is from where my new art studio was; you can see the blue paint. The cross and cherub were found although I can’t remember what happened to them. I don’t have them so not sure if they just got trashed. I am grateful to God for saving our lives the night the fire rushed through our neighborhood and I can see good things that have happened since, but it is still hard. I hope this encourages someone today who may be going through hard things. For me today, the main thing we were able to save that night was our little dachshund Pismo, who today at 14 1/2 is having health issues. But we have at least had him for 14 1/2 years.

This praise song was written in 2019 by a group of people.

Daily Graces 2025 #1240 #229

November Series. The lyrics for the hymn “Thank You, Lord” were written by Seth Sykes, with the chorus written in 1940 and the full verses added in 1945. His wife, Bessie Sykes, wrote the music for the hymn. I hadn’t ever seen the verses for this one; our church in Santa Rosa back in the day only ever sang the chorus.

“Some thank the Lord for friends and home

For mercies sure and sweet

But I would praise Him for His grace

In prayer I would repeat

Thank You Lord for saving my soul

Thank you Lord for making me whole

Thank you Lord for giving to me

Thy great salvation so rich and free

Some thank Him for the flowers that grow

Some for the stars that shine

My heart is filled with joy and praise

Because I know He’s mine.”