Boredom= not that bad of a problem.... but still.....

Sooo, the past year here in Louisville has been super busy. I was working 3 part-time jobs to try to equal one full-time job, and it was crazy hours. I would get home in the evenings at 9:30pm after working all day.
And now, PRAISE the LORD, I have one job! Just one! And it is hard work, but it is a great fit for me. I have a lot that goes on after school, too- student choir, and 3 guitar glasses that I have just begun teaching. So, I am trying to get on this schedule (so far, so good...) of exercising right when I get home from school around 5pm.  So, I do that for 30-45 minutes, then make some dinner. But then....ummmm...nothing.
So here's a question. ... Since Brian is gone 4 evenings/nights a week, what should I do? I am trying to break the bad habit of just vegging on the couch, eating, and watching HGTV. As much as I love resting in that way, I don't want to spend 5 hours a night doing that.  I want to do something productive. Of course, some nights, there is cleaning/laundry to be done, but still, it doesn't take the whole evening.
I know once we have kids, this will not be an issue. But for now, any good ideas of how I can spend my evenings alone productively?

Time to remember

The last blog I posted was the day before my birthday in 2008. Now, we are approaching my birthday in 2010. A few minor life changes.

That weekend, on the front porch of the cabin in Blowing Rock, NC, Brian asked my dad if he could marry me. :-) My dad said yes, with his blessing!

So, here we are, married!! Praise the Lord! We are living in Louisville, Ky. I am once again a music teacher.  And happy about that for sure.

So, the brightest part of our lives in Louisville is getting to be part of Sojourn Community Church . What a blessing. Here is what it is to me- a church that I am so proud to be a part of, that I can't wait to go to each week, and that I am sad if I miss a service. I think the reasons behind that are:

1. The pastor's vulnerability.  He does not have everything figured out, and he knows it, and we know it. Beautifully, his humility and weakness exalts the strength of our Savior who empowers him (Daniel) to bring truth to us BOLDY, in wisdom and in power. It is fun to watch. And hear.
2. Musicians that are tearing it up for His Name's sake. It is fun, it is pointed towards, about Him, and it is a gift from Him. Here's one of my favorite musicians from the church, Brooks Ritter .
3. Gracious friends. Community that prays and cares.

So, all that to say we are thankful for this church. :-)

Louisville has been surprisingly charming. I really wasn't expecting it. But the cottage-like houses, the fall colors, the lush summers, the good coffee shops (Quills, Java, and of course, Brian's 2nd home, Sbux).... And I think since it is seminary culture, it is somewhat reminiscent of college days. Maybe not for me, but for Brian. So I get a little of it. One thing I nerdily love to do is meet him at the seminary cafeteria! haha.. Even though I usually don't know anyone in the room except him, it brings back memories of what a time of COMMUNITY that was in college. You go eat, and you always sat among friends. You always laughed together. Sometimes Erica would start food fights. One time Leah got a date to a function while she was sitting beside me. Larry Bounds might say something hilarious about whales and evolution and the emancipation proclamation.  Anyway... I am digressing. I like the feel of college and college things. So seminary is sentimental for me.

Ok, that is enough for my first post back! Let me know if you are out there reading this, cause I would love to start keeping up with it again.
Grace and peace to you tonight.

I love the mountains.... i love the rolling hills

I am so happy to be in Blowing Rock right now with some of the best people in my life! There are leaves changing colors and falling, fires in the fireplace, deer antler chandeliers, and I am a happy girl. And it is my birthday! Praise the Lord for fall!!!!!!!!!!!! and for family and dear friends and Brian :-)

First day of school

I am on my lunch break here at school. Today has been my first day actually having classes and I am so thankful for these kids! I have been reminded today what good gifts the Father gives me through these kids- laughter, giving and receiving love, and the chance to actually see growth over the years in them. Some of these students are becoming more kind and giving, wiser, better musicians, etc.. What a delight it is to get to encourage them in these things. :-) Thankful for my job!

Summer days and Hannah Montana

I have a confession. Rumors are already spreading, so I might as well come clean. I like Hannah Montana. the show. the music. all of it. 

It all started when against my will, I had to sit through weeks of talent show auditions, practices, and performances where about 75% of the material was from Hannah Montana. My 4th and 5th graders get to pick out their own music for the talent show, of course, so this is the one time during the school year where they are the ones exposing me to new music. So, next thing I know, I've heard her songs at least 15 times, and they are stuck in my head. I would find myself singing them between classes.  Finally, I caved in. "Party with us" is such a fun song, I put it on my own summer compilation cd. 

So that was this past spring. Early on in the summer, while being ministered to by Carrie with her direct tv, we were flipping through the channels. We came upon the Hannah Montana show on the Disney Channel, and were pleasantly surprised by how funny she is, and we were refreshed by something relatively innocent on tv. 

And soooo, recently, Brian and I came to a decision that since I don't desire to read for hours quite as much as he does, I would rent something to watch while he sat beside me and read. Looking through the options at Blockbuster was gross. It is like human depravity 101. Everything was either disgustingly gory or trashy. But, ah, there was a Hannah Montana dvd in the middle of all of that junk, so I chose that one. Brian is so good, he bought me Hannah Montana to watch! (But he did make me go check it out by myself!) But I totally understand...

So, now I am on my 2nd Hannah Montana dvd (it is just episodes from the show) and it has been so much fun to watch! She, and about 3 or 4 other characters on the show , are really halarious! Give it a try...

Only 2 more weeks of summer. I feel like its only been about 2 weeks since I really got in relaxation mode. But that's ok. I am so thankful that I've had this time to rest, to read, to spend with friends, and to enjoy and grow with my sweet boy.

My next post is gonna be about something realllly deep and thoughtful to balance this one out, so be prepared....

A little piece from a WONDERFUL book I just finished:

Stepping Heavenward 

by Mrs. E. Prentiss

"My faith in prayer and resort to it become more and more the foundation of my life. And I believe, with one wiser and better than myself, that nothing but prayer stands between my soul and the best gifts of God; in other words, that I can and shall get what I ask for."

Psalm 40:3

He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.

As a new year of school approaches, this is a prayer. That I would not sing merely old songs, but sing to the children new songs, as to the Lord. That a new song would be continually in my heart, and flow out- looking like love- poured out over all 600 students I see each week. May they put their trust in the Lord! May the Lord lead me in each particular, in how to teach them well, how to discipline them well, and how to love them well. How can I show them Jesus every day? Come Lord.

I also want a new song as I lead worship at Church of the Carolinas. It is unacceptable to pick a few songs and sing them and play an instrument when the words of each song is not alive in my heart. I pray for life to come out in the songs I sing. I pray for truth that has become my daily bread, to be proclaimed to others. I pray for beautiful melodys that touch hearts, and do honor to the beauty of the message of the Good News. Thank God for Good News. Now open my lips to declare it beautifully.