Making Progress

It's been a long haul, but the house is finally almost finished. All of the major work has been done - now it's up to me to put the necessary stuff back, and purge what I really don't need.............actually, I've been needing to do that for some time now........ I am really pleased with the work that JB and my brother Tony have done. It looks better than it did before! They may have done all of the construction work, but it's equally tiring trying to keep a 2-year-old out of the mix. He wants to do everything everyone else is doing, including handling tools, and hammering, etc. He is a mess. I found myself saying phrases that I never thought I would use.......like: "Get out of the refrigerator with your shoes on" and "Don't lick the dustpan". That's life with a toddler for you!

I really have been busy, and that's one reason for my lack of posts this summer, but another one is that I have really been struggling with some situations in my life. I have always embraced what I thought God gave me as a gift of encouragement, and it just doesn't seem like I have been able to do much encouraging lately. I am seriously trying not to wallow in my fatigue and distress, but I am also reluctant to share it. I did have a sort of "God moment" the other day, though, and I thought I would share that with you.

When I see myself as unworthy; unloved; a failure in so many areas - I am not defined by my mistakes. God sees me as a treasure; worthy of love and of dying for; a promise of things to come. I AM DEFINED BY HIS GRACE! Hallelujah and Praise God for showing me that regardless of any situation in my life, all I really need is Him. He is enough. Period. So that is what I am taking with me, while trying to sort out the trials in this life.

And, with that better perspective, I am preparing to go to NQC next week. I will be there Thursday through Saturday, and Scott has graciously made some room for me in the L5 booth, so I am taking some "clearance" items with me. I ran an ad in the Sept. "Singing News" and those specials are only available through mail order or phone, NOT through the website. I will post them at the end of this post, so that they are also available to you, my dear friends. I am trying to clear out some overstock, and make some good deals available for gift-giving, too.

We are still dealing with health issues with my parents, but things are holding steady right now. Roger's dad, Doug, has a birthday next week, and he is doing pretty well, too. Chelsea had a great trip to Poland, and is back home, working, and enjoying having the front porch back, after weeks of it being a construction zone. Jordan and his wife, Jessica, are moving to a new place in Los Angeles today, where they will have a small yard for their puppy Charlie. JB and Isaiah are doing well. We are all enjoying this cooler weather, and looking forward to Fall's approach. I was recently on a courier trip delivering bone marrow, and despite earthquakes and hurricanes, managed to make it through and deliver my precious cargo on time.

Thank you for the prayers and love that come my way. I look forward to seeing many of you in Louisville! Have a safe trip, and wherever you are, especially on this 10th anniversary of our nation's great 9/11 tragedy, may God hold you safely

In His Grip!
Debbie

*****Roger Bennett Direct Specials valid Sept. & Oct. 2011 ONLY:
You must either send a money order or check to:
Roger Bennett Direct/ PO Box 681075 / Franklin, TN 37068-1075
OR: phone 615-791-5993 with your credit card order to receive these specials.

$25 Bundles:
* 4 yrs of the NQC showcase "Parade of Pianos" - 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006 (Roger's last recorded performance) on DVD (reg. $65)
* 2 DVDs: "Midnight Meditations" (w/bonus CD) and "Whispers in the Night" ($55 value)

$10 Deals:
* DVD: "My Father's World - A Celtic Experience" (reg. $20)
* Hardcover book: "Midnight Meditations: A Journey through Cancer and the Lessons Learned Along the Way" (reg. $20)

$5 Blowouts:
* CDs: "Don't Be Afraid" / "Whispers in the Night" / "Heavenly Highway Hymns" (reg. $15 ea.)
* Piano arrangement books: "Whispers in the Night" / "Church in the Wildwood" (orig. $15 ea.)
* Boxed set of 10 Cards of Encouragement (orig. $20, now listed @$10 on the web)
* Roger Bennett replica signature tote bag

ALL ORDERS ADD $5 SHIPPING/HANDLING (foreign orders require additional postage) [See the website for more product info @ www.rogerbennettdirect.com ]