This is my car after 3 of my students decorated it. Each one took a window and the three of them together did the back.
Joel cut his first tooth on Saturday! I'm hoping to avoid being bitten for as long as possible.
I've decided to look for some flute students. I think that will be the best income idea for now, in the interim when I don't really know anymore what I want to be when I grow up. There's a reason I still teach groups of flutists, so I may as well teach individuals and get paid for it. I hope to have a full, 10-hour a week schedule by September. We'll see how it goes. I wasn't sure this was what I was going to do until a woman asked me last night at flute choir if I teach. That pretty much sealed the deal. Now, to advertise... ick. It's hard to convince people that they should come to me for lessons when there are a whole, whole lot of absolutely amazing teachers in town. Hopefully, it'll take off and give us some extra cash.
Neil and I are going through some big reflection and decision-making right now. It's crazy, but long overdue. I'm glad we're not just going through life as spectators.
This weekend my mom and Joel and I are heading up north for our (big) family reunion. We're heading up on Friday. I'm not really sure how long the trip will be with Joel... it normally would take 6 hours or so. I'm really looking forward to this weekend!
This is Kathryn & me 5 years ago. Ah, memories! It is about a month after our wedding (Neil & me, not Kathryn & me..) at our first apartment on Church Street.
I am so sick of everything going on right now with Zoar. They are trying to intentionally screw me over. I have done nothing wrong in leaving, but am being treated like crap. Gee, why do people leave the church? I am honestly shocked by what they are trying to pull. I've never seen this ugly of a side of the corporate body of the church. It really sucks.
The storm this morning is beautiful. I am watching my tomato and strawberry plants sway around as they get a nice, big drink of rain water. Thank goodness for beauty in the midst of such stupidness, reminding me that there's more to life than what is passing through it at the present moment.
This is after eating some apples today. I think apples are Joel's favorite food (that doesn't come from me). I can't believe how long his legs are!
What a great weekend! The wedding was absolutely wonderful, as was the afterparty here. It was really great seeing everyone! I had no idea that Daryl was a Catchphrase enthusiast.
Today was productive for me. I cleaned out our three (!) junk drawers in the kitchen, as well as 6 cabinets. I feels marvelous to open them now! Next, I'm moving on to the boxes in the living room that are my stuff from my office. I feel like I could've gotten more done, but I have a 5 month old...
I listened to
Rob Bell's Palm Sunday talk whilst cleaning out the kitchen. It was amazing. If you have an hour and want something to listen to, check it out. (click on April 9th)
Neil and I are watching Joel and the rain. What an amazing life.
This is one of Joel's favorite places to be... his exersaucer. (I really kind of hate that word...)
Joel and I got back this afternoon from an overnight trip to Cinci. Kathryn, a very dear and wonderful friend of mine, was in the state, so those of us who lived at 702 East Wooster Street in BG during college all got together at Erica's house in West Chester. We had a really, really great time. I miss seeing them... it was like we'd seen each other last Tuesday, not 142 Tuesdays ago. Everyone looks marvelous, is marvelous, and going about life well.
Hey, does anyone want to be my friend? Because I totally need more. I had forgotten how great it is to sit outside with a bottle of wine and a bunch of good friends for hours and hours. Anyone up for it? Curse busyness and distance!
So, I've known that IKEA exists, and I've seen some of their stuff, but not for a while. And they've just opened one about an hour away in Canton, Michigan. I'm pretty stoked about that. I was looking through a catalog at Erica's, and it was like really good candy.
I love Kings of Convenience and Javier Alvarez today!
This weekend is the big wedding and Father's Day. Rockin.
I am working through my bigtime negativity with my job loss. I told myself that I had one day to be angry, then one week. Now, I'm better, but icky thoughts are still creeping into my head. Tonight is my first Sunday night, though, in 3 1/2 years that I've not had somewhere to be. Not too bad.
Especially not too bad considering that I would infect anyone around me, probably. Joel was sick earlier this week with coxsackie virus. (hee hee.) He had a fever, a sore throat, and a headache. He got better in about three days. The day he felt better, though, I started feeling awful. I had a 102 degree temperature & got lots of chills, and my throat is burning. (I am currently a big fan of popsicles.) Happily, I'm over the fever and chills. If my throat is still in such a state in the morning, I'm going to try to get into the doctor.
Neil and Joel spent the day together, since I was in bed until 5pm. They had a good time.
I played at a wedding yesterday. It was nice. I always think back to our wedding when I'm at other people's weddings. I guess that's probably half of the reason we celebrate weddings like we do, to remind us all of why we did it in the first place, how we felt, the meaning behind our smiles, how it felt to have so much possibility in front of us. Perhaps sometimes, though, it turns into a "way it's supposed to be" sort of thing. How I'm supposed to feel is reflected by how much I spent on my dress, or how perfect my flowers look, or something. Or the "I have to outdo all my friends' weddings" sort of wedding.
I am really looking forward to this week - the 702 girls' reunion with Kathryn, Allison, Arlie, & Erica, and the most looked forward to wedding of the year of Casey and Jannelle! I can't wait to see you all!
