Wordless Wednesday

Piggybacking off of Angela's cute post!

Breathe and Count to Ten

It's so easy to become distracted and disoriented when even the smallest things go awry, so I'm reminding myself of some of the things I have to be thankful for today.

1. An upcoming 30 minutes of sweet time with Gabe and Sophie
2. Getting to see Ms. Williams last night
3. A cute note Mrs. W sent me
4. Weekend adventures with Tali Rose (feeling young again :)
5. Cute little babies (like Logan!)
6. Financial stability
7. The fact that in God's economy struggles never fall unnoticed or amount to nothing.
8. The delicious ham, swiss, mayo, and lettuce sandy my mommy made for me today.
9. My mommy.
10. Only four more days till Tyler comes home. :D

*Exhales*
I feel better now.
Back to Chopin.

Make Your Life a Little Richer...

...and LAUGH! :)

My childhood friend, Meghan, and I used to watch this move over and over. We quoted it incessantly. Obviously it stuck, because just yesterday she sent this video to me. I laughed and laughed. Oh, the memories!

Most of All

Tyler,
To say I miss you would be an understatement. As I think back over the past couple years, birthdays and holidays and milestones come to mind. But what I miss most of all is the everyday. The hanging out. The late nights. The fishing trips. The long chats. (Okay, so we still have plenty of those. ;) I miss spending time with my two best friends at the same time. I miss seeing your Blazer parked out in front of my house. I miss seeing your eyes smile. I miss driving around never knowing where we're going.

I'm looking forward to all of that when you come home in 9 days!

(May I say I love all our facial expressions in this one?)

You look good behind the wheel of a minivan. ;) (P.S. I told you that you have a nice profile!)

Guess Who?!

Guess who I met tonight...

Yep, little Logan Isaac Gable.

He's absolutely precious!

I'm so excited for Ben and Angela and this new journey they're embarking on. Logan, you are one blessed little dude!

Shout-out to Angela for going through what is quite possibly the longest labor ever! (Okay, this shout-out doesn't do much, but at least you're getting some credit from me! ;) You did awesome, Mommy! Your son is beautiful!

I would ask for your prayer, as I will be performing in theory class tomorrow morning.
This is a little different circumstance, as I will be playing my own composition.

It is a song that explores the tension between sin and Grace - feeling unworthy but at the same time continually trying to earn Grace and the sweet Truth that Grace, by definition, is unmerited - and I was given the opportunity to share it with my class of 50+. Please pray that my little voice will carry, and that only what is Truth may be heard and remembered.

I've included the lyrics, in case you're curious. :)

Oh, Lord, you’ve searched

And you have known my ways

You’re breathing in my lungs

Your warm embrace

Even the dark is not dark

To you, tonight

Though I am poor

And I am weak

And I am needy

The Lord is strong

And he is near

And he takes thought for me

I’m trying harder

Just to earn your love

You’re gently whispering

That I’m enough

Grace covers all of my shame

You smile on me

Though I am poor

And I am weak

And I am needy

The Lord is strong

And he is near

And he takes thought for me

When days are hell

And I can’t breathe

Or see past this long season

When I can’t stand

Or find the strength

Oh, I need a reason

Beyond myself

My faith is frail

My wounds are deep

And my heart fails within me

My bonds are strong

They’re all too real

But your Grace daily frees me

Smiles and Storms

My new favorite photo of Maggie-moo, taken Friday night!

"When did you get so big, Maggie?" I noticed she was especially big while I was carrying her back to the car. We were a little late getting home for bedtime.

"When I turned two, Miss Jessie."

"No way. You weren't this big at two!"

"Well, I'm four now!"

And going on five this year! Where has the time gone?

I had a wonderful weekend that has left me very full. I woke this morning with the first signs of a cold. I'm trying my hardest to fight it off! And how does one do that? Sleep, of course. The lovely storm outside is another excuse to sleep, too. As much as I love this weather, it isn't so great for headaches. But it's wonderful for naps. I hadn't planned on taking a nap today (I'd really like to grab in two more hours of practice!), but my bed is calling me. Most of all, I hate that I'll have bed-head when I wake...from a nap. =/

Spring is for Tea Parties

Happy first day of spring! Do something outside! The closest I'm getting today is practicing with the windows open, but I love it!

Perks!

Last week was Teacher Appreciation Day at Elizabeth's school. The kids got all dressed up and took their teachers gifts. She couldn't make it to her lesson last week, so she decided to make her own Piano Teacher Appreciation Day today.

She showed up in her formal spring wear and gave me a delicious cookie!

Too cute!

Just a few perks that accompany piano teaching.

Two of my other girls played a duet together for the first time. It's so rewarding - for them and for me - when it comes together! I love my students!

It's days like today that remind me that I am in the right major and that what I'm doing is indeed worthwhile! (Phew! There were a few dictation quizzes and dry practice spells that tried to convince me otherwise!)

Happy Birthday, Mommy!

Happy birthday, Mommy!

I love you!

My mommy isn't just a great mommy, she's also a fun aunt, a giving daughter, and a loving wife.

(Darn these side-ways photos!)

Thank you for seeking to make the Gospel real in your life and in our home! I love you so much!

Fidgety!

Ever have one of those days when you just can't sit still? Maybe it's because it's the end of spring break, maybe it's because I'm wishing it were last Saturday, or maybe it's because my good friend is in labor right now!
Whatever the cause, I am all fidgety! I have half a mind to just walk out the front door and see where the road takes me, but my hair is wet and I don't think my parents would take too kindly to that idea. ;) I should be practicing. I'm sitting on the bench, but that's about as far as I've progressed with that idea.

I think I shall cook.
A quick glance in the fridge makes me think stir fry is a good option. Cabbage, green beans, onion, pepper,  broccoli...
You know, I think I'll love cooking when I can give it the time of day. I've loved getting to help my mom in the kitchen this week. On Thursday I tried out a chicken stroganoff recipe; it turned out nicely, though I'll definitely double the sauce next time (should have listened to my mom in the first place!). I also found a recipe for a southwestern-style bean dish that I'm excited to make soon. Additionally, I made cooked oatmeal for the first time this week. My friend, Hannah, told me about it and I just had to have it! Of course, I halved the sugar and substituted applesauce for oil, but I liked it a lot. I made it again this morning and added more milk, and I liked the consistency even more.

I think I shall open the kitchen windows and breathe in the smells of a fresh afternoon and sizzling veggies...and leave everything else to Monday.

Studying, Huh?

Two of my piano students, Caroline W and Emma, come together for lessons. While one is at the piano, the other is playing "Staff Wars" (a computer game to teach note recognition) on my computer.

At least, that's what I thought Caroline was doing.

One week later I open up photo booth to record a section of my Chopin Etude, and I find this!

What is this?!

Sorry, Caro, but if you leave them on my computer, you'd better just assume they're blog material.

Oh, and you have a sight-reading test this afternoon. ;)

Tennessee Travels

After some crazy events at the airport today, I arrived home safely.

I accidentally left a knife in my purse (definitely thought it was in my school backpack!) and it set of the security machine. The lady took my bag aside, and I told her honestly that I had no idea what could have set it off. She didn't know either until she found the "unidentifiable object" hiding in a side pocket under other things. Whoops. She told me I was lucky it wasn't an illegal knife, or then I'd have been in trouble. Ha ha.

I had two options: throw away my $30 knife, or leave security and go mail it to myself. I chose the latter, though it killed me to pay $10 to mail my own property to myself! The security lady "escorted" me out and instructed me to go back through security after I'd mailed the item. When I came back to security, I chose to go through a different line. This time I set off the beeper thing and had to be quarantined and wanded. Turns out it was just my bobby pins.

When I finally made it to the gate, my flight was delayed. Because of the whole losing an hour thing, I feel like I was traveling forever today! I was dropped off at the airport at 10:45 (ish?) TN time and finally pulled in my driveway at 5:00 real time. All for an hour and forty-five minute flight!

Our sermon on Sunday at Ty's church was on 1 Corinthians 1:17-20, and the pastor exhorted us to share our faith, examining how it is God who saves and gets all the glory. Actually, he downright told us we were in sin if we weren't proclaiming the message of the Gospel. I loved his boldness, though I was very convicted. As I waited in the boarding pass line today (finally!), journal and reading material in tow, I received a text from Mrs. W, encouraging me to look for an opportunity to share with someone on the plane. As I walked on, I asked God to show me where to sit. I found my seat and struck up a casual conversation with the lady next to me. As the plane began to take off, I held my breath (I'm very nervous on flights) and she picked up some reading material. In her hands she held The Book of Secrets: Unlocking the Hidden Dimensions of Your Life. I struggled with myself, trying to get up the gumption to talk to her when she closed her eyes and fell asleep - for almost the entire flight! I was so frustrated with myself, but kept asking God to provide a second opportunity. I didn't know what I was going to say, and I felt completely incapable, but I wanted to be faithful. As the plane began to descend, she opened her eyes and picked up her book again. I jumped in before she became engrossed in her book.

"I couldn't help but notice your book..."

I asked her if she was interested in spiritual things and told her that I was, too. We had a relatively short conversation - after all, the plane was landing - but I was able to tell her that in the words of Jesus, I had found what no other philosophy offers (thank you, Mom and Mrs. A for that world religions class!). She told me she tries to read the Bible every day and uses books like the one she was holding for supplemental material. I wish I had known more to say, to get to the heart of what she believed, but this was just a seed planting opportunity.

Well, I'll go ahead and share some (or lots of!) photos from my trip.

Enjoy!

Peacocks at Burger King?

We stayed at Allie and Jeremy's Friday night, and then headed out Saturday morning. They are so hospitable. Thanks, guys! Wish we could've stayed longer, but I was anxious to get to TN! ;)

Backseat ladies.

At Ty's park in Nashville.

We had a picnic. :)

Ty had flowers for me when we got there. I took them home with me today, and several people commented on them. I love yellow roses best of all.

Ty and Glenna skipping rocks at the park.

Cute, cute.

Even though it was the warmest weather they've had in months, I was still quite cold.

Thanks to Glenna for these lovely pictures of our nature walk.

One of many things I loved about our trip is all the great food we ate! Mrs. W packed lots of delicious food for us!

No, I am not wearing a toupee. Curly hair = the worst bed head. Ha ha!

On the way to church.

Plus one! 4 in the backseat!

Okay, so this isn't the best picture, but it captures Jeff and Mandi, my host and hostess in December. It was so wonderful to see them again!

Rice pudding in bed?

Why, yes!

Cute!

Crazy :-P

We decided to take some "blue pictures" since we were coordinating.

:)

This is the Grand Ole Opry hotel, which was breathtakingly beautiful!

This reminded me of the scene in Beauty and the Beast when they come down opposite staircases all dressed up before dinner. It made me want a beautiful golden yellow dress!

I took my picture in this $8000 mirror, just for kicks.

Revolving doors!

This big smile adequately conveys my thoughts on the whole weekend. As sad as I was to leave, I was just so overjoyed to spend TWO WHOLE DAYS with Ty and his family. That's more than I've had in nine weeks.

Even more laughter now, as Mom, Dad, Tsu, and I are watching an I Love Lucy episode set in Japan. Hysterical!