do you play?

Neighbor Jordan came over to practice his piano lessons. I was so inspired that I almost busted out my old piano books.

 I took lessons as a kid. But in the words of Elizabeth Bennett:

And then Libby was over a few days later and started practicing one of my favorite minuets on our piano. And I felt so nostalgic.

That's it!

I'm determined to start practicing this month: a minuet and some Christmas songs. And I was also thinking of buying sheet music for the Music Box. It's my favorite song on the piano. I always BEG John to play it for me. 

Today, by some sheer luck, I actually found the sheet music for the Music Box in our piano bench, of all places! I mean, who put it there...with all the other sheet music...

So I started pecking away at the keys. The trills are, by far, my favorite part of this song. Aren't they cute?

However. I'm playing the song at a snails pace, so it's barely recognizable.

It reminds me of the time I was in the hand bell choir, in college. We were doing a recital in front of chapel, playing the famous song called Trepak, from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker. Believe, me, if you heard it, you would immediately recognize it. Go listen.

So there we stood, poised for action, in our black outfits and little white handbell gloves.

The percussion band ahead of us was coincidentally going to play the SAME song. And when they started playing, we were like "noooooooooooooo!" You see, they were playing it fast(well, proper speed) and so it sounded just like the famous Trepak. But when we played it on hand bells, it was in such slow motion that you had no idea it was even the same song. And we had no clue until we heard it performed correctly.  I think my face it still red just thinking about that day.

Well, I'm not gonna let that happen again. I'm gonna practice Music Box till I can do it fast. And then I shall perform a recital, ha.

As a kid, I wasn't very good at recitals. I curtsied once and flashed my underwear.

Another time I forgot my song and just kind of slammed my hands down on the piano and sat down. Mom. Did I really do that? I think I've blocked it from my memory.

Anyhow. I am very excited to practice again. Use it or loose it.

And I used to play the recorder too! I think I could play 'Happy Birthday' and 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen'. I lost my recorder a while back and I fear it will talk me years to re-learn my two songs.

And yes, I did design my very own ee cards this post, thankyouverymuch. Hey. It's harder than it looks. So no mocking.

Did you even know you could make your own? Because you can.


Ok, now get back to that instrument that you've ignored that past few years! Or waste invest your time making ee cards.

things above

I never met Caleb but enjoyed hearing stories about him around our dinner table.

Caleb was one of John's students last year. He had Aspergers. And since Ollie has a disorder, spd, I felt a special little connection to Caleb.

A few days ago during PE, Caleb's heart stopped beating.

His aid who follows him around administered CPR, to no avail.

Caleb died. Right there in PE class.

When we heard the news, we were devastated. He had a pre-existing heart condition, but this news was still sudden and shocking. Grief counselors came to the school the next day to help the students cope with the news.

You see, Caleb was very well loved. He had a best friend. A sister. Christian parents. He was also part of our youth group at church and was often found sitting in the back writing "worship the Lord" on his notepad or DS.

Honestly, I didn't quite know how to process this awful news.

I immediately called my mama.

And then I cried.

And could not stop hugging Ollie.

And in that moment, all of my worries about Ollie's spd and his future education just...dissipated. All my concerns about whether or not he would have trouble learning to read or write...or whether he could handle all-day kindergarten next year...just felt insignificant in light of the devastating loss of a 15 year old boy, who had trouble in school too. 

Caleb may have had trouble focusing in class, but he got the important things right. Like loving life and God and people.

And now all these lives that he touched are just reeling in that great loss.

What I'm trying to say here is that super smarts and education and excelling in school pale in comparison to love. People matter. Big, small, weak, strong, ALL PEOPLE have great value and worth. No one person is more important than another.


And in all honesty, I also asked, "Why God, why Caleb?"

And just then, I heard on our radio in our bedroom, the song playing,

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

In my gut I knew this to be true. Lord, blessed by Your name.  But I was still sad which I think is appropriate, considering the loss of a sweet 15 year old boy. When Jesus heard of the widow's son dying, "his heart went out and he said 'don't cry'. In the words of my Pastor, "It wasn't supposed to be this way!" We live in a fallen world.

A few days ago I was driving Ollie to preschool, on the open road with fields around us. I was pondering a difficult situation and once again asking "Why God, why?" Or maybe it's wasn't so much of a "why" question but more of "How do I process this? What am I supposed to think?"

The radio was on and the following lyrics were playing.

You open up my eyes to the things unseen...
...As I walk from earth into eternity

Back at home I was still singing "open up my eyes to the things unseen"...and then started my 'desert discipline'. And kinda did a double take when I read the following verses:

Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal    (Colossians 3:2, 2 Corinthians 4:18, emphasis by Kay Arthur)

And I feel like this was God's gracious answer to my dubious question "why?"

And now I have even more questions. Like what EXACTLY are the things above, that I am to set my mind on? I have a few ideas. Like dwelling on God's word and serving people. Because people and God's word are the only things{here on earth} that are eternal. But how this thought pattern plays out in my head day-to-day is still to be determined.

And just so ya know? I have great peace knowing that Caleb is flying with Jesus.

quick 'n easy

Now that the holidays are upon us, I decided to resurrect the good ole' cherry crisp recipe.

In my opinion, it's as easy as making brownies from a box. It requires barely any effort and yet its warm ooey gooey goodness will make people think you put in all this effort.

Just 4 ingredients required.


Pour two cans of cherries into pyrex.


Look how festive the red cherries look! Perfect for a Christmas dessert.


Sprinkle evenly 1 tsp of cinnamon.


Heap a mountain of cake mix on top.


Make little indents.


Drizzle melted butter into indents. I had some red goo left in the cans that I poured on too. Don't want to waste;)


At this point the kids came running in from outdoors and starting hovering. "Ooohh, this looks so yummy!" they exclaimed.

"It's yucky", I told them. "It has {canned} cherries. It's not for you guys. It's for bible study tonight".

"Oh but we love canned cherries", they insisted. Whatevs. As a kid, I would not have been a fan.

Little Blue had to make her inspections. This is the funniest, most entertaining kitty ever. She's our little Lynx. She loves to bat and chase legos all over the floor like a wild leaping mashugana.


And after being cooked for 45 minutes.


All in a days work.

I served it tonight with ice cream at small group. Everyone loved it and kept thanking me. And it was so easy!

why, are there wheat thins dropping from your drawers?

John and I were in the kitchen, cooking dinner together.

I saw a little flash darting out of the pantry door, running toward his bedroom.

"Twain", I called. "Come here".

"What mommy?" he asked, sounding guilty.


"Twain, did you sneak a cracker?"(Twain had been sneaking crackers recently!)

"No mommy", he said, eyes wide with innocence.


Just then a lone wheat thin falls out of the pant leg of his green shorts.


And falls to the floor by his feet. Exposing his crime.


And, there is no way to cover it up.


"Twain", I said sternly, "Mommy just wants you to tell the truth. Mommy is not upset about the cracker...but that Twainy told a lie"

Twain looked solemnly at the ground. "Sorry mama."


And it struck me at that moment, how I'm not too different from Twain. There are so many times the Holy Spirit nudges me and I say, "No God, I'm not doing anything wrong. Everything is just fine here! No sins tonight!"

And he looks straight through to my heart and sees little wheat thins dropping out of my drawers too.

God just wants us to be truthful with Him. He knows all and sees all. We can't hide anything from Him.


Yet so many times I think we conceal little corners of our heart so He can't get in. Or sidle up next to our "pet" sins and get comfy cozy with them.


Your secret sin might have NOTHING to do with lying.
Or cheating.
Or stealing.

But.

We all have sin. And if we think we don't, we are lying...deceiving ourselves.

If we say we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us- 1 John 1:8

This week in our Precepts study(Kay Arthur), we are doing a little section that our leader is calling "desert discipline". I'm a little scared. I'm 11 pages in and already getting WORKED. But it will be good for me.

It's basically 43 pages, asking all these nosy questions. It leaves NO STONE UNTURNED. "Why bother?", you might wonder: To have peace with God and man so He can use us in His service.

[Do you have confidence that comes from knowing you have carefully dealt with sin?
Do you have that peaceful quietness in your inner self because as much as you know, you are right with others?

Sin destroys and devastates your relationship with God and man. 

To admit our sin and then to confess sin is not easy. It's easier TO COVER IT UP, EXPLAIN IT, EXCUSE IT. However, to shrink back from calling your sin destructive is to live in denial of TRUTH.]

Precept Upon Precept,  1 John, Kay Arthur

In church yesterday we learned about how an "expert in the law" tried to justify himself before Jesus. In fact, I tried to justify myself just yesterday as well. "Well, so-and-so did this, so therefore it's ok if I think this."

False. 

It's better to just fall on our face before God and confess that we can't keep his law and that we need Jesus to help us. Then our story would have a much happier ending.

I know you are super jealous and want desert discipline too. Fine. Here is a little sampling of the questions.

Is your body God's temple?
Are you eating nutritiously or in a way that will harm your health?
Are you pushing yourself our putting yourself under stress which is not from God?
Are you casting all your cares upon God?
Are you getting the rest and exercise you feel God would have you to get?

Are you feeling convicted yet? I am. I bit off WAY more than I could chew in October and paid the price dearly in stress, getting run down and sick. I was too busy to even do one jumping jack or pushup. So lame.

But oh, we just started.

Here are just a few more.

How do you dress? Are your clothes designed to make you look sexy?
Are you depriving your mate?
Are you guilty of the lustful look, of hanging around to flirt with a man or woman who is not your mate? Do you give passing glances?
Do you know of anyone who has something against you? Have you sought reconciliation? If the other person won't reconcile, then you have done all that you can.
Do you criticize your brothers and sisters in Christ?
Do you judge? Do you make evaluations prematurely? Do you have all the facts right?
Do you have "bittery jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart" (James 3:14)
Do you love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you?
How fast do you drive? Do you obey the laws of the land? Do you text and drive?--my question:)
Do you seek to draw attention to yourself?
Do you have to have recognition for the things you do?
Do you want Jesus to increase while you decrease?(John 3:30) Or do you want to be the Christian superstar?
Do you think more highly of yourself than you ought to think(Romans 12:3)?
Are you proud?
Do you have to make sure others know of your accomplishments related to your service to God?

Precept Upon Precept, I John, Kay Arthur

In the words of the prophet Isaiah, "Woe is me,  I am ruined!"-Isaiah 6:5

However,

But if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" 1John 1:9

The point is, nobody is perfect and I'd just like to encourage you to look at your hearts honestly and see what little wheat thins{sins} are falling to the floor that you are trying to hide.

It's so worth it. According to Kay Arthur..."Whatever it takes, do it! You will never regret it! Weights will fall from your shoulders. You'll be able to look men in the eye, for you'll have confidence with God. Your guilt will be gone"

from the desk of

yours truly.

this is where i sit to write all of my letters and cards. it's one of my favorite places to park my bum.

especially since i have some new fancy pants cards, designed just for me, by the amazing miss katygirl!


she knows i love feathers and indian stuff, so she personalized it for me.


it even has a cute little feather on its tush back! so cute!

i absolutely love these cards and get so excited when i get to mail one off.

these cards makes the perfect birthday gift or christmas gift, or 'hey i'm thinking about you' gift.

i guarantee that your recipient will love getting a pack of personalized notecards and feel so special upon getting them. it's really the best gift idea and i can't believe i didn't think of it myself;) ha.

so thank you thank you, katygirl, for going out of your way to make my birthday EXTRA special. it really meant so much to me!

i got the BEST letter the other day from my namesake, paige davi. she's 9 and was born within a week of finn. LOVE this girl.

she writes, "i have been bored a long time. but now i can talk to you". LOL. and i got a big laugh when she wrote how "cursive" is great...yet prints that word out. kids are the best.

paige has 3 brothers and no sisters.  so i kinda cracked up upon reading the following.

she writes, "you might be bored with all boys? well i am. GAMES GAMES GAMES. ALL day long". hahahaha. she's killin me.

and now, if you'll excuse me, i have an extremely important letter to write to little miss Paige Davi.

you should be scared.

[ninja]-covert agent specialized in unorthodox warfare.


4 ninjago brothers: zane, jay, kai and cole.




Ollie's favorite ninjago character is Zane. Zane is a little different than his brothers.

Later in the Ninjago movie series, we learn the reason Zane is different: he is actually a robot. Or Nindroid, as his brother Jay called him.

I kinda wet my pants a little when Ollie decided Zane was his fav...just a little too funny in my books.


Twain likes Jay, as do I. Jay is the funny mischievous one.


Well, remember when Libby drew Twain a ninja kitty?


Welp, that explains this phenomenon:

What is better than a ninja and a kitty? A ninja kitty of course. Combines best of both worlds. All Twain's idea to add the ears to his costume.

The morning after trick-or-treating at our beach camping trip, I lay in bed, dead to the world. Twain comes bounding in with his kitty ears on and first thing he asks is "tan i eat some tandy?"[can i eat some candy]

"Oh have mercy" I thought and turned over in my bed. Hate Halloween.

 There is a reason this face is so sweet. HE SNEAKS CANDY.

I awoke to find a wrapped chocolate bar, with deep teeth marks, and a big bite taken out of it.

Later in the day, Ollie tattled on Twain for taking off the wrapper of his sucker and licking it without permission. I threw the sucker in the trash and Twain collapsed into my lap, sobbing for dear life, a complete puddle of misery over his misfortune.

Twain is so unlike his brothers.

Finn and Calvin have this tradition where they sell their Halloween candy to John. This year, Calvin only kept like three pieces of candy and sold John 100 pieces.

I dislike the massive amounts of Halloween candy accumulated, but only 3 measly pieces of candy seemed a bit extreme, even to me.

I convinced his to keep 6 pieces. Just doing my job.


As for Finn-boy.


Daddy let him use this pocket knife to whittle a wooden arrow on the camping trip. Mama was NOT a happy camper.

He's now the coolest thing on the planet. Obviously. I blame Grandpa Billy entirely for giving Finn this knife.


Violence and all, I absolutely LOVE being a mama to boys.



Besides. I get to see them at night when they are all snuggled up to their mama. Or flopping all over each other like sweet puppy dogs.