Just Like Old Times

Today I had a Skype date with Tali Rose.
I sat in my practice room, and she sat at her dining room table.

Well, until I was kicked out to the hall (trumpets are so loud!)
Until she decided to make lunch.
She spent the majority of our conversation stirring this and that over the stove. I watched steam fill the screen, listened to broccoli sizzle; I almost smelled and tasted the spices.

As I sat in a cold hallway amongst strangers, I suddenly felt very near.
Then it hit me: this is how Tali and I hung out all last year.

Many times we'd make dinner "together," which usually entailed Tali throwing this and that into a pan while I sat on the kitchen bench squawking. I'd probably be a better cook if I'd have helped more, but Tali's just so good at multi-tasking. :)

Today was such a pleasant reminder. I am so thankful for simple, sweet moments.

Take a Second Glance

How is it that a genuinely kind family has lived just two doors down for nearly ten years without my knowledge? Of course I knew the house was inhabited by relatively nice people. I waved when I noticed them outside, donated to the Boy Scouts when their son came by with goodies, etc., etc. But I never took the time to know them.

Last weekend I baby sat their two children (ages ten and eight) for the first time.

They are some of the sweetest, most polite, and most agreeable children I have ever met.

They were content to just be. 

We had fun playing Stratego 

(rather, I had fun losing to their mastermind son!),

watching (my dad watch) football

(this is going to be a lonnnng season!),

and eating raw peppers

(a personal new favorite, especially with hummus!).

This led me to thinking:

how many wonderful people have I passed by because I've failed to step outside of my own little life? The kind family two lots over is too close to overlook. The annoying classmate in the next seat is too close to overlook. The weary homeless man on the street corner is too close to overlook.

The list could go on.

I don't want to forget that God's heart beats for people.

Please be patient with me as I learn how to juggle responsibilities and relationships. :)

Another Early "Morning"

I have been receiving these annoying advertisement messages on my phone. Usually I receive at least ten to fifteen a day. The worst part is that these often come in the middle of the night. Recently I've forgotten to leave my phone on a soft surface at bedtime, so the vibration (it's more like a growl!) sometimes wakes me.

Last night was no exception.
As is my habit, I jolted out of bed the moment I heard my "alarm." This leaves no room for discussion with myself about sleeping an extra hour. I hopped in the shower, got dressed, and checked the time.
It said 23:55.
"Good," I thought, "I'm on schedule."
I was assuming it was 3:55. I'm usually out of the shower in five minutes, so it all made sense. Or so I thought.

A double-take shattered my assumptions; I quickly swapped my jeans and sweater for jammies and hopped back into bed with wet hair. When my alarm went off for real, I hit the snooze.