Carolina on my Mind

Ever have one of those moments where a song or a whole cd of songs takes your mind back to a very specific place with very specific people? I had one of those today while lying in a chair having some work done in my mouth. I was listening to Passion:  Hymns Ancient and Modern on the office's ipod and almost got emotional thinking back to my days singing on the team at FBC Fort Mill. 

The days when there were 3 Jen W's on the stage and at some point in that year, all 3 of us were pregnant. It still makes me smile. Songs like Praise to the Lord, the Almighty had me imagining the faces of the Vawters, the Michaels, the Hiltons, the Vehauns, the Manesses and so many more - hundreds more - who worshiped so purely and unashamedly. So many encouraged and affirmed me as I sought to use my musical gifts for Christ's Glory. Hearing Fairest Lord Jesus reminded me of my mornings waddling onto the platform with my little Bbop or F6 in my very pregnant belly, hoping I could find enough breath to make it from word to word! He is fairer still today! There are so many songs that I hear today that still take me back to that place. The Happy Song is still way too cheesy for my musical taste, though!

Those were sweet days in my life. Days I wish that I had cherished more then. That team of singers and musicians walked with us through some tough days. Finding that the hubs had a cancerous growth in his mouth and had to have a piece of his jaw removed. Our decision to join the Army, feeling like this was the place we were to focus our lives and ministry. The births of 2 of our children and dozens more!

I'd give almost anything  to be in that ever changing and growing little town for just a few hours to hug the necks of so many dear people who loved us and prayed for us and invested in our lives while we were newlyweds and trying to find our way.  Ultimately, it was a time in our lives when we declared to the Lord "Knees to the Earth - Here I am." and HERE we are! 

I really did get so caught up listening to the music on the ipod that I couldn't even answer the dentist's questions! I had to pause the music just to answer him. I even told him I was too distracted to know what he was asking me.

When I go back in January for my final little bit of work, I will not hesitate to request that same ipod and allow my mind to journey back to those days when the Lord was so gracious and kind to us through some of His amazing people. In my mind, I'll go to Carolina!