Let Them Praise

Lord, Your name is above any other name
And forever will remain
So let the words of my mouth
And the thoughts in my heart
Let them praise Your name

Lord, Your throne is above any other throne
And forever will remain
So let the young and the old
Let the high and the low
Let them praise, let them praise
Let them praise Your name

Lord, Your love is above any other love
And forever will remain
So let us go with Your Word
To the ends of the earth
And let them praise, let them praise
Let them praise Your name

So let us go with Your Word
To the ends of the earth
And let them praise, let them praise
Let them praise Your name

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14

Song: ‘Let Them Praise’
Written and sung by: Twila Paris
Scripture from New King James Version

Sitting By The Dock Of The Bay

After a bit of trouble with the photo editing program I’m finally able to share photos of our San Francisco vacation. (You can click on the photos to enlarge them.) I can’t wait to show you where we were and what we did! We arrived in The City on the afternoon of my birthday. There is no way to describe the excitement I felt as the place where I left my heart so many years ago came into view. And as we drove across the Bay Bridge and into San Francisco I think a few tears of joy quietly rolled down my cheeks!

After we checked into our hotel and relaxed a bit it was time to head out for the evening we had planned – just time together at last in this City filled with places to go and things to do! We drove to Fisherman’s Wharf and soon found a sidewalk table outside a famous restaurant. Excitement seemed to fill the air as we watched crowds of people pass by.

We ate a light supper - clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl and shrimp salad – and then we joined all the other people who had come to see the sights and hear the sounds on the shores of the Bay. Just across the street from where we ate was Boudin’s - the famous sourdough bread bakery. San Francisco is known for the sourdough bread baked in The City and Boudin’s has been on the wharf for many years. Going into their building and seeing (and smelling!) warm bread come out of the bakery and into the cafe and bistro and the little shops there is quite a fun experience. But you had better be careful because there are creatures there like none you’ve ever seen before. Near the front door and cash register you may find a big crab with little black eyes and big pincers. And the alligator is on a leash so he won’t get away!

We slowly strolled along the sidewalks and piers and really enjoyed our time together. It was a dream that had been a long time in the making – and now it was finally coming true! And the night was beautiful. There was a bit of a chill from the sea breeze but we didn’t mind. The joy of being there together was all that mattered. We walked through the marina near the restaurant where we had eaten and enjoyed the lights of the City and the moon overhead. Before leaving for the evening we sat on a rock wall under the big yellow Fisherman’s Wharf sign to listen to a fantastic street musician play his keyboard and violin. His songs touched our hearts and it was as if we were the only people there and he was playing just for us.

The magic of that evening will live in our hearts and memories forever. We will never forget the sweet August night we enjoyed together – sitting by the dock of the bay.

A Sure Foundation

He will be the sure foundation for your times,
A rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge;
The fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure.

Isaiah 33:6

Are You A Follower?

Just sneaking in here to let you know that I have added the 'Follower' feature to my blog. If you are a follower of my wanderings through blogland, please scroll down to that section on the right side of my blog and add your name to the list. I love knowing that you're there, even though you let me know when you are. This is just another fun part of the friendships I cherish in the wonderful world of blog.

I haven't forgotten to share our fabulous vacation in San Francisco. I'm working on editing my photos. Yesterday my camera and my computer nearly screamed at me as I downloaded over twelve hundred photos - most of them from the trip. It was a process, for sure, and now I'm working through them to delete a few that are less than desirable. In the next day or so you will begin to see - in a new format - the places we went and some of what we did. Now, if you want to see all twelve hundred plus photos. . .

Home Again!

We have come home from one of the most wonderful and memorable vacations we've ever had. Arriving home last night after a long day of driving north from San Francisco our little home was a welcome sight as we rounded the corner. There is so much to share from our trip - time with family and friends. Our days together in The City - just the two of us - were very special. And when my BFF from college days arrived with her hubby we four had the time of our lives. But the highlight was my college reunion on the campus that was my home so long ago. I cherish the memory of the hours spent with friends from the past and my heart dearly treasures the chance to reconnect with dear ones I thought I might never see or talk to again. The campus has changed - in many good ways - and some things dear to my heart are no longer there. But the reasons for the changes made sense and my heart was at peace. I have too many photos to share - I really must learn to control myself with my camera! It will have to wait a bit. Life at home, real life, is calling me to focus on things here. Please come back again soon - I can't wait to tell you all about it!

City By The Bay

Hello, dear friends, from San Francisco - the City By The Bay. Yes, I did leave my heart here!! As we drove across the Bay Bridge into the City yesterday afternoon I could only sit and smile and realize how very much this place that was home during my college years really means to me. Just as we entered the City I hit the play button on the CD player in the car and we heard Tony Bennett begin to croon

'I left my heart in San Francisco,

High on a hill it calls to me

To be where little cable cars

Climb halfway to the stars;

The morning fog may chill the air -I don't care.

My heart waits here in San Francisco

Above the blue and windy sea.

When I come home to you, San Francisco,

Your golden sun will shine for me.'

Last evening we drove to Fisherman's Wharf where we enjoyed a casual meal of clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl and shrimp salad at a sidewalk cafe. After a stroll along the wharf and the docks of the marina we sat for a time to enjoy a marvelous street musician as he played the most beautiful violin music and then entertained us at the keyboard. While he was playing a street entertainer who was dressed up like Charlie Chaplin came along and danced nearby. Then we took the 'long way home' over the hills and up and down the streets of San Francisco. We wandered through the downtown area just enjoying time away together and the beautiful lights of the City at night.

In a bit we will head out for the day to destinations planned and, perhaps, some unknown. We have had a wonderful trip so far and we expect to keep adding more memories to take home with us when we return in a few days.

I Left My Heart In San Francisco

Very early this morning my sweetheart and I are leaving - heading south - for a long-planned, seemed like only a dream, vacation. We are going where I left my heart! San Francisco - 'where little cable climb halfway to the stars'. I did leave my heart there many years ago. I attended a small college in the City By The Bay and when I left it seemed as if part of my heart was there forever.

Twenty years ago my alma mater sold the campus in the heart of the city and built a lovely new campus in northern California. Until last year I assumed I would never step foot on my former campus again. But this year we are having a San Francisco Campus Reunion! On August 8th my sweetheart and I will join many other former students to tour the campus, share a chapel service together in the old chapel and dinner in the dining room where we spent so many of the hours of our youth. The following day many of us will attend a tailgate barbecue and the San Francisco Giants baseball game. It doesn't seem possible that all the planning and hoping and wishing and emails back and forth to my best friend from those days has come to this - we are heading south today! It's here! It's finally here!!

Along the way we will stop and spend a bit of time with my sweetheart's cousin and then a surprise stop with family that I can't share just incase someone peeks in here. Monday my sweetheart and I will arrive in San Francisco for two days of adventure together before my best and dearest friend from college days and her hubby join us. We have reservations and tickets and plans and maps and schedules. Oh my! I can't wait.

My computer access while I'm away may be limited but I will try to stop by and let you know a bit of our 'doings'. You can count on my camera working overtime! My heart will be gathering all the memories and special new adventures to share with you when we return. And when I leave the City this time I know the piece of my heart that has been there all these years will stay behind - for another day. And 'high on a hill [when] it calls to me' I will return again.