(This blog is the third in the series about “Countdowns” as I count down to Amanda’s moving out and count down to the Celebration Concert.)

I missed y’all yesterday!  After working a long eight hours at the surgical center, then coming home to some housework that had to be done with a headache on top of it, I was unable to blog.  I missed writing to you!  After our dinner, we were able to at least get out of the house for a Friday night furniture shopping trip.  Amanda needs some furniture for her apartment living room.  Getting the keys to her apartment in twelve days!  We went to a furniture store that sells living room sets – like where you can get a sofa, loveseat, some tables and lamps, and they even throw in a big TV!  We were pretty certain we had found the perfect set.  Ted was ready to buy – he’s always quick to make the purchase.  Me?  I am the one who likes to “think about it.”  We will probably go back tomorrow after church to make our purchase.  The nice part is they will hold the furniture until we want it delivered.  Less for us to move!  I am a little bothered that Amanda’s TV will be bigger than ours!  Really.  That’s just not right.  That’s backwards.  But, it comes with the “package.”  <sigh>

Speaking of backwards:  Did you know that Ted used to be dyslexic?  Well, I guess he still is – like it doesn’t go away, does it?  He still gets things backwards and out of order sometimes.  He’ll tell you that his mom is a member of “DAM” – Mother’s Against Dyslexia.  Get it?

And speaking of backwards – I was taking a good look today at the prefix “un.”  What a powerful little two letter prefix!  It is defined as:  a prefix freely used in English to form verbs expressing a reversal of some action or state – or more simply put it means “not.”  Those two letters can make something NOT.  You thought you were wise?  Suddenly, you are not so smart and UNwise.  Were the new blue jeans flattering?  NOT.  They were UNflattering.  That bacon cheeseburger you just ate?  NOT healthy – or UNhealthy.

Fifteen days to go until the concert.  And song number three is titled:  Unredeemed.  Ahh.   Now you can see where my mind is!  The song is based on Luke 1:68:  Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.  The writer of the song took an interesting approach and in the lyrics spoke of trials in life:  cruel words, loneliness, burning tears, wasted years – and how we sometimes may be UNfulfilled, or UNrestored, but when “anything that’s shattered is laid before the Lord, just watch and see, it will not be UNredeemed!”  Clever.  It’s a nice little song.  Using the great and powerful “UN” it reminds us that God will always show His amazing mercy and redeem us when we seek redemption.  There is nothing that He can NOT redeem – so keep in mind that God will be sure to help you when you think your situation is UNredeemable – it will NOT be UNredeemed!

We rehearsed tonight – 6pm to 9:30pm.  Right now we are struggling a little with our song lyrics being unmemorized – eh  – that’s not a word is it?  Well, it should be.  Okay – our lyrics are not memorized yet.  Now I am excited to be turning the clocks back tonight – How exciting to get an extra hour of sleep!  That way, tomorrow, I will be untired.  Oops – not a word again.  Tomorrow I will not be tired .

You gotta love the English language.  Not.

Just Laurel