{"id":27653,"date":"2021-03-27T17:42:13","date_gmt":"2021-03-27T21:42:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=27653"},"modified":"2021-03-27T20:20:49","modified_gmt":"2021-03-28T00:20:49","slug":"5-friday-faves-lotrs-may-it-be-easter-reading-forgiveness-on-death-and-dying-and-music-in-the-family","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=27653","title":{"rendered":"5 Friday Faves &#8211; LOTR&#8217;s &#8220;May It Be&#8221;, Easter Reading, Forgiveness, On Death and Dying, and Music in the Family"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Blog-Friday-Faves-006-2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-14251\" src=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Blog-Friday-Faves-006-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"3996\" height=\"2540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Blog-Friday-Faves-006-2.jpg 3996w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Blog-Friday-Faves-006-2-300x191.jpg 300w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Blog-Friday-Faves-006-2-768x488.jpg 768w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Blog-Friday-Faves-006-2-1024x651.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3996px) 100vw, 3996px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>1) LOTR&#8217;s<\/strong><em><strong> &#8220;May It Be&#8221;<\/strong>&#8211; <\/em>Classical guitarist <a href=\"http:\/\/www.patreon.com\/beyondtheguitar.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Nathan Mills<\/a>, at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/beyondtheguitar\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Beyond the Guitar<\/a>, and singer <a href=\"https:\/\/www.malindakathleenreese.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Malinda Kathleen Reese<\/a> previously collaborated on a beautiful cover of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=sykvgzwbDyQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>May It Be<\/em><\/a>. This week, he arranged, performed, and posted a full rendition of &#8220;May It Be&#8221;. Take in all the beauty <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ZAMcqaKCY_E\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"May It Be - The Lord Of The Rings (Enya) | Classical Guitar Cover\" width=\"474\" height=\"267\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ZAMcqaKCY_E?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>2) Easter Reading <\/strong>&#8211; Every year, sometime early in Lent, I pull out the books below to read in anticipation of Easter. Rich and inspiring.<a href=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Blog-Easter-Reading-2-Easter-Books-2021.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-27660\" src=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Blog-Easter-Reading-2-Easter-Books-2021.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"4032\" height=\"3024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Blog-Easter-Reading-2-Easter-Books-2021.jpg 4032w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Blog-Easter-Reading-2-Easter-Books-2021-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Blog-Easter-Reading-2-Easter-Books-2021-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Blog-Easter-Reading-2-Easter-Books-2021-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 4032px) 100vw, 4032px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This year, I added <a href=\"https:\/\/timothykeller.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Timothy Keller<\/a>&#8216;s new book <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Hope-Times-Fear-Resurrection-Meaning\/dp\/0525560793\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Hope in Times of Fear: The Resurrection and the Meaning of Easter<\/em><\/a>. Wow! It is taking time to read because every page is full of meaning&#8230;requiring savoring and reflecting. Keller is the founding pastor of Redeemer Church in New York City (since 1989). Since 2017 he oversees the work of <a href=\"https:\/\/redeemercitytocity.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Redeemer City to City<\/a> &#8211; teaching, mentoring, and writing. The book <em>Hope in Times of Fear <\/em>was written during the year of COVID-19 (2020) which is also the year he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Hopefully God will give him, and us, many more brilliant and beautiful books. For now, this is my new favorite. Thanks, Dr. Keller.<a href=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Blog-Tim-Keller-Easter-book-Resurrection-e1616846363119.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-27775\" src=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Blog-Tim-Keller-Easter-book-Resurrection-e1616846363119.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"3024\" height=\"4032\" srcset=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Blog-Tim-Keller-Easter-book-Resurrection-e1616846363119.jpg 3024w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Blog-Tim-Keller-Easter-book-Resurrection-e1616846363119-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Blog-Tim-Keller-Easter-book-Resurrection-e1616846363119-768x1024.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3024px) 100vw, 3024px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Just here you will find one of the stunning passages in this book:<\/p>\n<p><em>&#8220;The claims of Jesus Christ, if they are truly heard for what they are, never evoke moderate response. Jesus claimed to be the Lord God of the universe, who had come to earth to give himself for us so that we could live for him. That is a call for total allegiance. You will have to either run away screaming in anger and fear or run toward him with joy and love and fall down at his feet and say, &#8216;I am yours.&#8217; Nothing in the middle makes any sense. Unless you are running away from him or running toward him, you actually don&#8217;t really know who he is. Peter has done both. Because of the instruction that he has received from the risen Jesus, Peter now knows enough about the gospel of grace to realize he has nothing to fear from Jesus&#8217;s divine presence. But there is a great deal of unfinished business between Peter and His Savior.&#8221;<\/em> &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Hope-Times-Fear-Resurrection-Meaning\/dp\/0525560793\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tim Keller, p. 98, <em>Hope in Times of Fear: The Resurrection and the Meaning of Easter<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>3) Forgiveness <\/strong>&#8211; I don&#8217;t have a lot to say right here. To me, it&#8217;s so clear. We are wise if we forgive. We are wise if we ask forgiveness.<\/p>\n<p>This past week, I listened to this old Eagles song<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=GeXNVEQY3AM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <em>&#8220;Heart of the Matter&#8221;<\/em><\/a>.\u00a0 It&#8217;s a sad song&#8230;about regret. The focus was the need to forgive&#8230;before it&#8217;s too late.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"474\" height=\"267\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/uj1HnGsOdOM?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<p>It reminded me of <a href=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=4079\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a blog<\/a> I wrote some time ago (I&#8217;ve written many about forgiveness or the lack of it).\u00a0 Singer songwriter <a href=\"http:\/\/www.matthewwest.com\/live-forever\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Matthew West<\/a> wrote a really beautiful song titled <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=FMn0QNdiuGE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Forgiveness<\/em><\/a>, out of a story of terrible loss and extravagant forgiveness.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Matthew West - Forgiveness (Live)\" width=\"474\" height=\"267\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/n9J6xOT3Ldw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>I just want to leave the lyrics right here:<\/p>\n<p><em><span id=\"ctl00_ctl00_cphMain_cphMiddleColumn_DropZone1_columnDisplay_ctl00_controlcolumn_ctl00_WidgetHost_WidgetHost_widget_lblLyrics\" class=\"clearBoth\">It\u2019s the hardest thing to give away<br \/>\nAnd the last thing on your mind today<br \/>\nIt always goes to those that don\u2019t deserve<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>It\u2019s the opposite of how you feel<\/em><br \/>\n<em> When the pain they caused is just too real<\/em><br \/>\n<em> It takes everything you have just to say the word\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Forgiveness<\/em><br \/>\n<em> Forgiveness<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>It flies in the face of all your pride<\/em><br \/>\n<em> It moves away the mad inside<\/em><br \/>\n<em> It\u2019s always anger\u2019s own worst enemy<\/em><br \/>\n<em> Even when the jury and the judge<\/em><br \/>\n<em> Say you gotta right to hold a grudge<\/em><br \/>\n<em> It\u2019s the whisper in your ear saying \u2018Set It Free\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Forgiveness, Forgiveness<\/em><br \/>\n<em> Forgiveness, Forgiveness<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Show me how to love the unlovable<\/em><br \/>\n<em> Show me how to reach the unreachable<\/em><br \/>\n<em> Help me now to do the impossible<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Forgiveness, Forgiveness<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Help me now to do the impossible<\/em><br \/>\n<em> Forgiveness<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>It\u2019ll clear the bitterness away<\/em><br \/>\n<em> It can even set a prisoner free<\/em><br \/>\n<em> There is no end to what it\u2019s power can do<\/em><br \/>\n<em> So, let it go and be amazed<\/em><br \/>\n<em> By what you see through eyes of grace<\/em><br \/>\n<em> The prisoner that it really frees is you<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Forgiveness, Forgiveness<\/em><br \/>\n<em> Forgiveness, Forgiveness<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Show me how to love the unlovable<\/em><br \/>\n<em> Show me how to reach the unreachable<\/em><br \/>\n<em> Help me now to do the impossible<\/em><br \/>\n<em> Forgiveness<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>I want to finally set it free<\/em><br \/>\n<em> So show me how to see what Your mercy sees<\/em><br \/>\n<em> Help me now to give what You gave to me<\/em><br \/>\n<em> Forgiveness, Forgiveness.*<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.challies.com\/articles\/why-do-we-add-to-our-trouble\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Why Do We Add to Our Trouble?<\/em> &#8211; Tim Challies<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=n9J6xOT3Ldw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">YouTube Video \u2013 <em>Forgiveness<\/em> (live) by Matthew West<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.matthewwest.com\/the-stories\/the-story-forgiveness\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Story Behind the song \u201cForgiveness\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>4) On Death and Dying <\/strong>&#8211; Having been a cancer nurse, I am familiar with this topic more than most maybe. However, it is never an easy one, given we don&#8217;t want to lose people we love nor do we want to leave people we love.<\/p>\n<p>It is important for us to talk about death and preparations for dying, even if it is uncomfortable. It is a loving thing to do. My husband&#8217;s sweet dad, John, prior to having surgery some years ago, executed an advance life directive spelling out his wishes for end-of-life. He did great through that surgery and lived many healthy years afterward. Julia, his wonderful wife, didn&#8217;t think about it again. Then after years of poor health with Parkinson&#8217;s, he had a massive stroke. We were so grateful that the medical staff were able to retrieve a forgotten document that made decisions regarding his care so much easier for us. John had made decisions in his love for his family&#8230; years before. Because of this, we got to bring him home, with hospice support, and be with him, caring for him, until he died a week later.<\/p>\n<p>With COVID, and now even with vaccines, we have had to take a clear-eyed look at death. When my neighbor, who is a bit older but as healthy as me, told me she and her husband had met with the funeral home to do their planning, I was a bit stunned. Yet, it is important and such a loving thing to do for a family.<\/p>\n<p>Julia, my precious mom-in-law, and I, on a visit last year, had challenged each other to complete our own advanced care (or end-of-life) directive. We haven&#8217;t done it yet. Either one of us. So I pulled it up again&#8230;and hope to finish it this weekend.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ezekielemanuel.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel<\/a>, one of President Biden&#8217;s medical advisors on COVID, has been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalreview.com\/corner\/joe-biden-coronavirus-adviser-ezekiel-emanuel-wants-to-die-at-75\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">very public in his desire not to live past 75<\/a>. Of course, he is only 63, this year. 75 may not seem as young to him as it might in a few more years. He talks about the diminishing returns of getting older, and that it its own loss, for the person and for those who would care.<\/p>\n<p>I don&#8217;t care for Dr. Emanuel&#8217;s take on this, but I do very much agree with the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Think seriously about your beliefs in God and what happens in the after-life.<\/li>\n<li>Get right with God and reconcile with those you are at odds with&#8230;especially family members. For them, if not for yourself.<\/li>\n<li>Decide what your wishes are about end-of-life. Write it down. Tell your children or medical representative.<\/li>\n<li>Make whatever arrangements you can while you still have your health.<\/li>\n<li>Be sure your will is clear and understandable to those for whom it will matter most.<\/li>\n<li>Then live your life in all its beauty. When dying begins, it can have its own meaning and purpose. I think of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Long-Goodbye-Kara-Tippetts\/dp\/B07KM3HD1M\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kara Tippetts<\/a> and so many others who died as they had lived.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>What else should be added to these points? Please comment below.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thegospelcoalition.org\/reviews\/easter-resurrection-hope-tim-keller\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>The Hope That Sustained Tim Keller Through 2020<\/em> &#8211; Matt McCullough<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theatlantic.com\/ideas\/archive\/2021\/03\/tim-keller-growing-my-faith-face-death\/618219\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Growing My Faith in the Face of Death<\/em> &#8211; Timothy Keller<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thegospelcoalition.org\/article\/20-quotes-tim-kellers-new-short-book-death\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>20 Quotes From Tim Keller&#8217;s Short (New) Book on Death<\/em> &#8211; Ivan Mesa, Tim Keller<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/passing-on.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Passing On &#8211; <\/em>Documentary &#8211; Arizona Public Media <\/a>&#8211; thoughtful documentary on end-of-life planning. Also the complementary film <a href=\"https:\/\/passing-on.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>&#8220;Dying Wishes&#8221;<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thepassingonmovie.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>The Passing On Movie<\/em> &#8211; a Documentary &#8211; on disappearing traditions of Black funeral homes<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vsb.org\/sections\/hl\/Virginia_AD_Medical_Mental_End-of-Life_Healthcare_FULL.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Advanced Life or End-of-Life Directive<\/em> &#8211; State of Virginia &#8211; pdf<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?paged=2&amp;s=Kara+tippetts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kara Tippetts and other stories of redemption &#8211; Deb Mills Writer<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Blog-Life-in-the-Labyrinth.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-27777\" src=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Blog-Life-in-the-Labyrinth.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2890\" height=\"2734\" srcset=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Blog-Life-in-the-Labyrinth.jpg 2890w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Blog-Life-in-the-Labyrinth-300x284.jpg 300w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Blog-Life-in-the-Labyrinth-768x727.jpg 768w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Blog-Life-in-the-Labyrinth-1024x969.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2890px) 100vw, 2890px\" \/><\/a>Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/lifeinthelabyrinth.com\/2020\/04\/23\/these-things-that-have-taken-place\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Screenshot, <em>Life in the Labyrinth<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>5) Music in the Family &#8211; <\/strong>Wow! Don&#8217;t know how I missed the Kanneh-Mason siblings until recently. They have been playing, both together and as soloists, since at least 2017. Ranging in age from 11 to 24, these seven are incredibly talented and hard working in their craft &#8211; playing either cello, violin, or piano. When the COVID pandemic hit, they were all home together, in Great Britain, and made even more music together. The video below of them playing Redemption Song is how I first heard them. Wow!<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Redemption Song (Arr. Kanneh-Mason)\" width=\"474\" height=\"267\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/k_LmRcr8Mm4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.kannehmasons.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Kanneh-Mason Website<\/a><\/p>\n<p>We are a musical family as well. Not world-class maybe (yet&#8230;who knows?!). However, we do know what it is like to hear music all the time and to always have an audience or somebody who plays alongside. The Kanneh-Mason siblings have really benefited from growing up together with supportive parents. Read this great piece to find out <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicfm.com\/artists\/sheku-kanneh-mason\/kanneh-masons-family-father-mother-siblings\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Everything You Need to Know About the Kanneh-Mason Family<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>I have in my to-buy wish list their beautiful album<a href=\"https:\/\/store.universalmusic.com\/houseofmusic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em> Carnival of the Animals<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.udiscovermusic.com\/classical-features\/raising-the-kanneh-masons\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Raising The Kanneh-Masons: The World&#8217;s Most Musical Family<\/em> &#8211; Jessica Duchen<\/a><\/p>\n<p>That&#8217;s it for this week. Thanks so much for stopping by. It means a lot. Enjoy the weekend and those you love. Keep the door open&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Bonuses:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.karenburnettegarner.com\/blog\/167048\/banana-pudding?fbclid=IwAR1m5BFQszjOGFZORHGUF90lEXrJEv5ZKJicNufTlqi2XVoDW36Kja70J4M\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Banana Pudding<\/em> &#8211; Karen Burnette Garner<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=YBncGFCqEOA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">YouTube Video &#8211; I Waited For You &#8211; Janette&#8230;ikz Wedding Vows<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Blog-Adult-Children-Tropical-Life-Food-and-Fun-Facebook.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-27705\" src=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Blog-Adult-Children-Tropical-Life-Food-and-Fun-Facebook.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1351\" srcset=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Blog-Adult-Children-Tropical-Life-Food-and-Fun-Facebook.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Blog-Adult-Children-Tropical-Life-Food-and-Fun-Facebook-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Blog-Adult-Children-Tropical-Life-Food-and-Fun-Facebook-768x961.jpg 768w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Blog-Adult-Children-Tropical-Life-Food-and-Fun-Facebook-819x1024.jpg 819w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/a>Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/TropicalLifeFoodandFun\/photos\/a.1588385591458943\/2709348326029325\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Facebook, Tropical Life Food and Fun<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sallyclarkson.com\/blog\/2021\/3\/18\/my-favorite-things-for-a-civilized-life\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>My Favorite Things for a Civilized Life<\/em> &#8211; Sally Clarkson<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql rrkovp55 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id\" dir=\"auto\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ooAGkSqj1mo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em> YouTube Video &#8211; A Song for Mama<\/em> &#8211; Boyz II Men<\/a> &#8211; This song is new to me. Heard it this past week as part of a funeral to a mom who died of early-onset Alzheimer&#8217;s. It was a fitting tribute by her two sons.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"474\" height=\"267\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ooAGkSqj1mo?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>1) LOTR&#8217;s &#8220;May It Be&#8221;&#8211; Classical guitarist Nathan Mills, at Beyond the Guitar, and singer Malinda Kathleen Reese previously collaborated on a beautiful cover of May It Be. This week, he arranged, performed, and posted a full rendition of &#8220;May It Be&#8221;. Take in all the beauty here. 2) Easter Reading &#8211; Every year, sometime &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=27653\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">5 Friday Faves &#8211; LOTR&#8217;s &#8220;May It Be&#8221;, Easter Reading, Forgiveness, On Death and Dying, and Music in the Family<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":"yes","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[810,3346,3121,926,2986,34,1070,1704,2126,1705,1618,1148,1180,7027,6548,1000,2307,147,3976,808,3208,5253,1801,5221,903,2556,2547,33,18,1262,5130,317,1103,2611,432,719,761,789,55],"tags":[9104,9107,2548,9105,9106,469,9096,268,9097,1026,9094,9108,7,290,1802,9098,9095,9114,9111,1117,9102,949,1003,9099,4964,5070,448,9093,9101,1136,9109,9100,1008,1208,7846,9103,9110,1338,7121,8448],"class_list":["post-27653","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-all-good-gifts","category-anger","category-arts","category-attending-or-focus","category-attitude","category-books","category-cancer","category-communication","category-community","category-conversations","category-courage","category-critical-thinking","category-crucifixion","category-decision-making","category-depression","category-easter-and-lent","category-emotions","category-family-2","category-fear","category-film","category-finishing-strong","category-forgiveness","category-friday-faves","category-god-the-father","category-grace","category-grief-and-loss","category-guitar","category-inspired","category-jesus","category-kindness-of-strangers","category-legacy","category-lessons-learned","category-lifelong-learning","category-love-your-neighbor","category-music","category-reconciliationforgiveness","category-redeeming-restoring","category-relationships","category-transitions","tag-a-song-for-mama","tag-advanced-life-directives","tag-beyond-the-guitar","tag-boyz-ii-men","tag-civilized-life","tag-death","tag-don-henley","tag-dying","tag-eagles","tag-easter","tag-easter-reading","tag-end-of-life-planning","tag-family","tag-forgiveness","tag-friday-faves","tag-heart-of-the-matter","tag-hope-in-times-of-fear","tag-ivan-mesa","tag-janette-mcghee-watson","tag-john-piper","tag-kanneh-mason","tag-kara-tippetts","tag-lent","tag-life-in-the-labyrinth","tag-lord-of-the-rings","tag-malinda-kathleen-reese","tag-matthew-west","tag-may-it-be","tag-music-in-the-family","tag-nathan-mills","tag-passing-on","tag-redemption-song","tag-resurrection","tag-resurrection-sunday","tag-sally-clarkson","tag-sheku-kanneh-mason","tag-the-passing-on-movie","tag-tim-challies","tag-timothy-keller","tag-wedding-vows"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pauPAB-7c1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27653","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=27653"}],"version-history":[{"count":32,"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27653\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27802,"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27653\/revisions\/27802"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=27653"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=27653"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=27653"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}