How do I love thee? Let me count the ways...

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with a passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, --- I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! --- and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

only 22 more days... :-)

TrueWoman '08

Still sad about not being able to attend the TrueWoman conference that was just held here in Chicago, I'm thrilled that they are offering the sessions for sale! Now I just need to decide between the CD or the DVD...

truewoman.com

... and check out the manifesto too. It is so exciting to see what God is doing in the hearts of women!

Yuppers...

We are getting married soon (39 days)! I want to enjoy every moment of this engagement/ planning time, but sometimes emotions and deadlines zoom their way in and I feel so short of gracious and quiet. Not that mania ensues... I just feel all fluttery and dizzy and know that isn't right! Wedding details do not make the marriage, and we will be married regardless of what hor d'oeuvres are served, what flowers are used, or how that cute veil lays. ;-) Dwight is so good about reminding me to not worry... I love him so much!

I need to keep focused on Christ during these days, and every day! He alone is the One that can make anything happen, keep our relationship thriving, and calm my soul. I guess that is one reason I love the song "In Christ Alone" so much... it reminds me as I hum it around the apt./house, sing it in the car (I love living in the country, you roll the windows down, drive by cornfields, and just sing your heart out!), or play on my itunes - of what really matters.

In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all—
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For ev'ry sin on Him was laid—
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine—
Bought with the precious blood of Christ!

No guilt in life, no fear in death—
This is the pow'r of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home—
Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.
Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townsend. Copyright © 2001 Kingsway Thankyou Music