I'm so looking forward to Puerto Rico. I just want to step off the bus for awhile and totally leave everything in my life here behind for a week and forget about everything. I suppose that's what a vacation's for, right?

This week is insanely stressful. I had a recital Monday night and will be playing my solo again tomorrow at another recital. I've got a boatload of chocolates to make for our charity auction, plus the stress of being one of the planners of that event. Right after that's done, I drive to a recording session in K'zoo with my brass quintet, recording the most challenging piece I've ever played in my life. But most of all, I'd like to be able to completely forget about Meg. It's a good thing that I didn't go to that birthday party the other night--apparently Meg was there with one of her friends. Yikes. I'll be glad when I don't think about her every day.

I'm hoping Puerto Rico will help me.

We sang this hymn in church this past Sunday. It nearly brought me to tears and as I stood there singing it, I was picturing Puerto Rico, thinking about its "rocks and trees, skies and seas."

I hope and pray that Puerto Rico will be a restorative for my soul.

This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father’s world, the birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world: He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass;
He speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father’s world. O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world: why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let the earth be glad!

This is my Father’s world, dreaming, I see His face.
I ope my eyes, and in glad surprise cry, “The Lord is in this place.”
This is my Father’s world, from the shining courts above,
The Beloved One, His Only Son,
Came—a pledge of deathless love.

This is my Father’s world, should my heart be ever sad?
The lord is King—let the heavens ring. God reigns—let the earth be glad.
This is my Father’s world. Now closer to Heaven bound,
For dear to God is the earth Christ trod.
No place but is holy ground.

This is my Father’s world. I walk a desert lone.
In a bush ablaze to my wondering gaze God makes His glory known.
This is my Father’s world, a wanderer I may roam
Whate’er my lot, it matters not,
My heart is still at home.