Summer Vacation!

One of the most blessed events of the year is finally here! It certainly has been quite the school year: busy, busy, busy. Perhaps it is obvious from the number of posts I have successfully completed. It has been a good type of busy and it has been exciting to see how the Lord blessed this year. A great year in many respects, but I am thankful to have a break from the chaos of traveling between two schools. One of my goals this summer is to spend more time planning for the upcoming year. My teaching load will be almost identical this coming year, so I will be able to plan better. So what's on the docket for July and August? A camping trip to Connecticut, a trip to West Virginia, taking flute lessons as well as viola da gamba lessons, playing violin in Berlioz's Requiem, accomplishing projects at home and planning for the upcoming year. Time to refresh and refuel! Perhaps I'll even write another post before October.

Life...Facebook Style

Since I can only handle small bits of info right now, here we go:

Gina...just got powdered sugar all over her keyboard.
Gina's inbox is out of control and apologizes to all who have e-mailed her in the past month (or 2).
Gina is sick of dealing with parents who let their children do anything they want.
Gina is tired of phone conversations with parents that are a complete waste of her time.
Gina wonders why it takes a bag of candy sitting out for middle school students to pay attention.
Gina feels that some things are better left unsaid.
Gina is starting to lose it and looking forward to a day off Monday.

Fickle Society

Thankfully today is a day that I'll never have to redo. His mercies are new every morning. If there is something that frustrates me to no end each year, it is the fact that parents let their children switch instruments or drop after only one year of study. "Whatever will make Johnny happy" is the motto of many parents that I've talked to. "I would like him to continue, but he doesn't want to" is another one I have heard more than once. Who is in charge? The student or the parent? Mind you, I'm talking about 4th & 5th graders!

The parents in my public school building want their kids to be able to try everything. Now there is nothing wrong with trying new things--I like doing it myself. But what are we are we teaching children when we allow them to switch instruments or activities at the drop of a hat? There has to be a balance between trying new things and sticking with something in order to learn about commitment and perseverance. In our fast paced, instant gratification geared society, so many things are geared towards making a child feel good--make them happy and fulfilling their wants. These children grow up thinking that everything should be given to them for nothing, handed to them on a silver platter. What a rude awakening when they get out in the real world!

It amazes me that in the public school (where students can receive instrument lessons for "free,") the parents take advantage of the system, and in the private school where parents must pay for lessons, it is automatically assumed that a student will continue on the same instrument year after year. Fascinating, and a sad commentary in my opinion. But I will now get off of my soapbox and bid you a goodnight!

SEEK TO KNOW HIM

"Let us seek to know Him in the Word. It is in the Word we will find the Holy Spirit. Don't read too many other things. Some of you will say, "Look who's talking!" Well, go ahead and say it, I don't mind; but I am reading fewer and fewer things as I get older, not because I'm losing interest in this great, big, old suffering world, but because I'm gaining interest in that other world above. So I say, don't try to know everything. You can't. Find Him in the Word, for the Holy Ghost wrote this book. He inspired it, and He will be revealed in its pages."

--A.W. Tozer

New Tozer Quote

TOZER ON BEING CALLED A MYSTIC
from "The Counselor"

"Some of my friends good-humoredly - and some a little bit severely - have called me a 'mystic.' Well I'd like to say this about any mysticism I may suppose to have. If an archangel from heaven were to come, and were to start giving me, telling me, teaching me, and giving me instruction, I'd ask him for the text. I'd say, 'Where's it say that in the Bible? I want to know.' And I would insist that it was according to the scriptures, because I do not believe in any extra-scriptural teachings, nor any anti-scriptural teachings, or any sub-scriptural teachings. I think we ought to put the emphasis where God puts it, and continue to put it there, and to expound the scriptures, and stay by the scriptures. I wouldn't - no matter if I saw a light above the light of the sun, I'd keep my mouth shut about it 'til I'd checked with Daniel and Revelation and the rest of the scriptures to see if it had any basis in truth. And if it didn't, I'd think I'd just eaten something I shouldn't, and I wouldn't say anything about it. Because I don't believe in anything that is unscriptural or that is anti-scripture."

- What Difference Does the Holy Spirit Make?, A. W. Tozer

Grandma sitting--always an adventure

Spent the day with Grandma today. It was nice because I had nothing pressing to do, so it was low key. While we had lots of opportunity to talk, those opportunities came during commercial breaks of such "lovely" shows as Jerry Springer, NCIsomething, and Family Guy. I have never felt so exposed to such trashy TV as I have today. But on the other hand, in between the filth Grandma was asking my opinion on various Biblical topics, so I can't really complain. Her health has really gone downhill over the past few months, so if you think of it, please lift her up in prayer. Thanks.

"And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to
the Lord and not to men, knowing that
from the Lord you will receive the
reward of the inheritance; for you serve
the Lord Christ."

Colossians 3:23-24

Found this verse in my e-mail and thought I would post it. It is hard to keep this in mind when the daily drudge catches up to you. But it is definitely a good reminder.