just, ya know, a Tuesday

We had "sectionals" for choir rehearsal today - our director was working with the guys, so our accompanist rehearsed us ladies. He was hilarious while keeping us on our toes. "Life is short, so let's sing that passage again," giving a "shave-and-a-hair-cut-two-bits" intro right before we're supposed to sing... we laughed a lot and worked hard.

Speaking of hair-cuts (weren't we?), I want to cut mine into a shorter bob. It's grown out to an awkward length (if it's too long for a bob, is it a robert?) and doesn't curl/wave as I'd like. But short is scary in that I can't glue the hair back if I don't like the cut.

And his heart was true to the Lord his God

Today is Day #27 in my adventure of reading through the Bible in 90 days. I think there is a program and probably a reading list for an endeavor such as this, but I am using my ESV Bible and a calculator (for the math). My estimate is that I need to read twelve pages a day. I am a little behind at present, so I will be soaking up closer to 16 pages daily to catch up by Tuesday. I love reading large passages of scripture... it takes discipline at first ("this is sloooow going," "I'd rather read something else...") but it is God's WORD to us. As chapter 4 of the book of Hebrews reads, "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."

I am reading in 1 Kings today. All the kings of Israel and Judah are graded, not by their battles, building projects, foreign politics, or progeny, but according to their hearts' faithfulness to the LORD their God. "Nevertheless, the heart of Asa was wholly true to the LORD all his days (15:14)... [Baasha] did what was evil in the sight of the LORD (15:34) ..."

As one of my profs in college would say, "It is a matter of the heart."

convoluted ingratitude

In my quiet time last week, I was thinking about insecurity. For me, my insecurities are actually just ingratitude in disguise. For instance, when I feel insecure about my work, I'm saying what God has provided, what He has planned for me, is not enough. One of my favorite hymns puts it this way: "All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided." (emphasis mine) In Christ, I have my all in all, my identity, my satisfaction, my life.

C is for cookie!!

I made two batches of cookies this late afternoon (a little too close to dinner). First a new recipe for Ginger Oatmeal. (I love trying new recipes on other people!) I often skip details like the sugar rolling ritual at the end, but this time I did it. It gave the cookies a lovely two-tone finish, with the darker chewy inside cracking through the lighter sugared outside of the cookie. The second recipe was an old favorite, chewy chocolate chocolate chip. The bake time is crucial - too little and you might as well just eat the dough (which is not a bad option, really); too much time in the oven and all the fudgy-ness disappears. I have had both results before, but I think it came out well this time. I shall bring some to Bible study tomorrow and Sunday night. :)

and the answer is...

My students say the most creative things.

me: "How do you tell the difference between eighth notes and quarter notes?"
EC: "Well, the eighth notes are wearing those head-phone things."

At the end of her lesson, E also informed me that her latest composition is called "Peace, Love, and Ice Cream."

I love teaching.

white as...

snow.

I love the sound of footfalls on fresh snow. A muffled, almost woolly sound, it squeaks if it is cold enough.

good strums

With careful attention to song selection, I can "play" the mandolin! Just chords at the moment (and a limited number at that!), but I hope to add another instrument to our youth group music medley soon. :) Maybe we could have a few jam sessions following youth group...