Sunday

I think it's incredible how the Lord will bring us to a spot where we have to trust Him for His grace to make it through something and then seeing how He brings us through. This past week has been a whole week like that. For example..I sang at the afternoon service at church today, and by the looks of things, many things should've gone wrong--I'm congested and drinking water like its going out of style, my left thumb has been going numb on me when I play guitar, my guitar strings really should be changed, I was rather nervous...and so on. But His grace was sufficient and people were blessed by it, and that I find just amazing. So praise Him! In our weakness He is strong.

Friday Night

You know it's time to go to bed when, on a Friday night at 8:30 pm you discover that you put the ice cream away in the refrigerator, and later realize that you don't even recall putting the ice cream away.

Other scenarios from this past week that indicate the need for sleep include trying to use conditioner to wash my face and trying to make coffee without the filter in the coffee maker. Needless to say, that day I visited Starbucks for my morning coffee.

On that note, while it is still 8:30, I am going to try and make it safely into my bed for a (hopefully) good night's sleep.

A Rainy, Restful Day

So I had to cancel both of my things that I was supposed to do today because I seem to be coming down with a head cold. Not so fun, but at least its a Saturday. Well, that's the quick update, now I'm off to take a nap.

Quick Update...

Mondays....I think they are going to kill me this year. Trying to act energized at 8:00 in the morning in order to engage 25 5th graders is a challenge. The kids look so bored that the forty minute rehearsals are becoming slightly torturous. After that I launch into seven beginner lessons. Why did I put the beginners on a Monday? I have no idea what I was thinking. Since the beginners are all in the same spot, I teach the same thing seven times in a row. I hate to admit it, but it drives me batty. I feel like I am working on an assembly line, just processing kids through. But I guess I can at least say that I am honing my acting skills--i.e. acting excited to be teaching the kids. By lunch today I was wondering if perhaps I should change careers, or at least start teaching older kids. Thankfully Monday is the only day I have beginners all day.

My plan was to come home and practice violin, but as I was looking at the case, I got rather sick as I contemplated the thought of having to look at another violin. Perhaps this is why I come home and spend my time playing recorder or gamba......too bad I can't retire at an early age.

I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date!

with my pillow that is. So it's way too late for me to be posting, but I guess that's what I get for having a parent night tonight--a 12 hour work day. Anyways, sometimes belting out songs in a house by yourself with a guitar is a very relaxing thing. No need to worry about who's listening, or when your fingers (which lost their calluses long ago) land on the wrong string. It's all good. Except for that occasional guitar twang that throws you off. But thankfully if your heart is right as you're worshiping the Lord, it doesn't matter. I'm looking forward to the day when we're worshiping around the throne. My personal hope is that we will be singing in four part harmony, not limited by time or the end of a verse, but that it'll be one gloriously long span of worship where people are not conscious of "how good they are," but that they will be free in their singing, improving as the Spirit leads (all decently and in order of course). But anyways, I realize that what I want has absolutely nothing to do with anything, and that what we will encounter when we get there will be much better than I could've ever imagined. Of course, I guess I should confess before I sign off that I am officially joining Sylvia's campaign to "Sing Hymns Loudly." Now I really need to sign off...goodnight....zzzzzzzz

The Five Year Old

So tonight I took the five year old and the three year old over to visit Grandma. It was a real nice visit--its amazing how small kids can minister to older adults, in a way that I never could. When we got there Grandma was in a pretty foul mood, but by the time I left she seemed to be doing better. On the way back to the kids house, the five year old asked me if I had any kids. I told her that I didn't because I wasn't married. She then proceeded to think out loud, pondering the fact that if I got married my husband wouldn't know her and her family. So she then concluded that I should see if any of their neighbors were guys. She suggested that we go door to door telling people about Jesus and seeing if there were any men available to be married. Now, I've had many family members tell me that I should be out shopping for a man, but this is the first time I've had a five year old bring up the subject!

As Time Flies

Well, when I first started writing, it was about the one year old, then the one year old became the two year old and now he is the three year old. Perhaps its just a sign that I'm getting older, but its just amazing me how fast time is flying. When I first met the one year old he was 6 months old! I am so glad the Lord has blessed me with good friends with small children. It is just absolutely wild watching the kids grow and develop--not only that, but I think the Lord uses kids to speak to us in a number of different ways.

Tonight as I was helping the 3 year old using the "rather large potty," he says something to the effect of "don't let me fall in" with a rather frightened look. I respond, "I won't because I'm going to hold you." He replies, "I won't fall in because you're holding me." A rather simple conversation, but as I was crouched down, holding him up, it was neat watching his face change from fear to a simple trusting that I was going to keep him from falling. And yes, there in the bathroom, while the Lord has a captive audience He's reminding me of that childlike faith in which we are supposed to trust Him to keep us. It is nice to know that in the midst of living in such a complicated world where I have many responsibilities, I can seek refuge in His simple message of hope and salvation, leaving my worries and cares to Him.

(PS-As I am writing this, I am sitting on the wonderful couch located in the now cleared living room. At last I can live in more of the house and not be restricted to my bedroom and the dining room table!)