I am liking food right now. Of course there is still food that I don't like, such as shrimp and various fishes especially of the raw variety, but after a meal of such delight, I like food very much.
We started with some water and a glass of Merlot, as we talk about the day and and previous conversations. Thomas ordered for both of us, and knew just what I wanted (partly because I told him, and partly because he knows me that well). Soon we enjoyed some stuffed mushrooms and mozzarella marinara; at least, Thomas enjoyed both things. I stuck with the mozzarella; mushrooms stuffed with crab fit into the category of things I don't particularly like due to the funky texture. But I will take Thomas' word for it, and say they were delicious. While we were finishing up those things, our salad came out. It was a normal salad with ranch dressing, but I ate the onions because I like them and it was my birthday meal.
We had a short break to sip our wine and smile at each other before the veal parmigiana came out. We split the entree, but even then I wasn't able to completely finish my portion. It will make a pleasant lunch on Wednesday. We had angel-hair pasta and garlic knots to accompany such goodness, and laughed over the name angel-hair as Thomas mentioned Lorne. Thomas is much more handsome that Angel and much less creepy, mostly because he is not 200-something years old and isn't nearly as moody. The veal parmigiana was covered with cheese and tomato sauce, so of course we were going to have cheesy conversation.
As we let our meal settle, we decided that would would indeed have enough room for our dessert. This dessert was the reason we went to that particular restaurant. The wife of the owner makes all the desserts from scratch and they are amazing. My favorite is the tiramisu, served with hand-whipped cream. I am unable to eat an entire piece myself, but had just enough splitting it with Thomas. Such delightful goodness - all the wonderful flavors melting together in my mouth.
Because I didn't finish my entree, I had just enough to make me pleasantly full, but not overstuffed. Unfortunately, because of the coffee in the tiramisu, I might be wide awake for a while longer. It could be worse, I suppose, and it was worth every bite.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010
Things that made my day
1. Fun dreams: I had some crazy dreams right before I woke up. One was a mystery and I didn't want to wake up until I had solved it.
2. Oatmeal for breakfast: We ran out of cereal and I don't really like oatmeal, but I added brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg and it was really good, especially with my cup of coffee.
3. Paul and Peter: I read Galatians 2 for devotions and found it very encouraging and convicting. I haven't really meditated on that passage before, but as I did today, the passion for the gospel let Paul confront Peter, but not condemn him. I think there is a lesson to be learned on both sides of the issue, but whether I am being confronted, or confronting someone, a love for the gospel needs to be the most important thing. Paul points out how the issue is being perceived, why it is wrong, but then identifies himself as needing Jesus just as much as Peter, who is the one he is confronting. There was too much to summarize anymore.
4. Various phone calls made and received: I have a great family and some wonderful friends too, and I am slowly overcoming my fear of making phone calls...
5. Soccer Game: I watched a replay of Germany vs Kazakhstan while I folded laundry and ate lunch. I really enjoyed the game, and the commentators were really good too. They talked not only about the technical aspects of the game, but how managers motivate and encourage players during the game. It helped that two of the Germany players also play for Real Madrid. (numbers 6 & 8 in the picture)
6. I just read and watch some things about the Chilean miners' rescue. Pretty amazing stuff going on there. Very encouraging.
7. Getting lots done, but lots more to do. Maybe during Spanish today we will make cookies, since I haven't done that yet and needs to before tomorrow.
8. Guests tonight: I am a little nervous but also kind of excited about having our pastoral candidate and his family have dinner with us.
9. Chocolate: Because we don't have anymore cookies, I had some amazing chocolate after lunch. (Oh, I should think about dessert for my guests...) Lindt 70% dark chocolate, I think. Yum! The 65% (I think) was also amazing. I love the way good chocolate melts in your mouth slowly, but doesn't get sticky and mushy too fast. Happiness!
10. My favorite thing on the earth: Thomas. What more can I say?
2. Oatmeal for breakfast: We ran out of cereal and I don't really like oatmeal, but I added brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg and it was really good, especially with my cup of coffee.
4. Various phone calls made and received: I have a great family and some wonderful friends too, and I am slowly overcoming my fear of making phone calls...
5. Soccer Game: I watched a replay of Germany vs Kazakhstan while I folded laundry and ate lunch. I really enjoyed the game, and the commentators were really good too. They talked not only about the technical aspects of the game, but how managers motivate and encourage players during the game. It helped that two of the Germany players also play for Real Madrid. (numbers 6 & 8 in the picture)
6. I just read and watch some things about the Chilean miners' rescue. Pretty amazing stuff going on there. Very encouraging.
7. Getting lots done, but lots more to do. Maybe during Spanish today we will make cookies, since I haven't done that yet and needs to before tomorrow.
8. Guests tonight: I am a little nervous but also kind of excited about having our pastoral candidate and his family have dinner with us.
9. Chocolate: Because we don't have anymore cookies, I had some amazing chocolate after lunch. (Oh, I should think about dessert for my guests...) Lindt 70% dark chocolate, I think. Yum! The 65% (I think) was also amazing. I love the way good chocolate melts in your mouth slowly, but doesn't get sticky and mushy too fast. Happiness!
Monday, October 11, 2010
Pirate Party
Saturday was our latest pirate party. This time we went out to my parents house so we could have more people and a slightly more kid-friendly environment. We had a few new people, besides my family, so that was lots of fun too. Sometimes I wish that we could just invite tons and tons of people because it would be fun to see everybody dress up like pirates and try their hands at feats of skill and danger. The kids that we have right now are just a little too young to have things for them to do besides play around, but next year we will have to plan things for them to do too.
Since it was over dinner, I made a potato stew and everyone else brought things to share. I also made a cake decorated like a pirate flag. The stew was an adventure because I had never made stew for that many people before. I didn't know precise quantities or how long it would take to cook, but it turned out delicious and was ready on time.
The chocolate cake with chocolate icing was an adventure too. Baking the cake was easy, but I had trouble getting the cake out of the pan. I had greased and floured the pan like you are supposed to, but it didn't want to come out. Eventually it did flop out, but left the bottom layer in the pan. I then made some icing... I think from now on, I will buy icing. It didn't turn out very well. You may ask, "how can you ruin icing? It is the easiest thing to make." Well, I found a way to mess it all up. It wouldn't spread, so I ended up piecing it with my fingers like fondant. The white decoration was easy though, and everyone thought it looked good too. And Thomas said it tasted wonderful, and that was what mattered the most.
We tried a few games. The worst one was trying to push someone off a plank into the ocean, but it turned out to be too easy. We had a three-legged race, which Mom and Dad won. They were amazing, and really cute too. Kate and I did really well, and I think we tied for second with another pair of girls. The boys...did fine, and it was fun watching them fall down, trip over each other, mess-up timing and loose the race. hehehe The final game was the human knot. It was a little awkward, but I enjoyed it all the same, but we couldn't completely untie ourselves because we were in two circles completely mixed up. Once one of the circles got solved and let go, then the other circle was easily solved.
We didn't get any group pictures, but I tried to get at least one picture of everybody. When I get them developed I will share them. The only downside to such fun is that baby pirates need to get to bed, so these fun times can't go on as long as they used to. Also, we had to clean the house because Mom was having guests the next day. But I hope everyone had fun. I know I did.
Since it was over dinner, I made a potato stew and everyone else brought things to share. I also made a cake decorated like a pirate flag. The stew was an adventure because I had never made stew for that many people before. I didn't know precise quantities or how long it would take to cook, but it turned out delicious and was ready on time.
The chocolate cake with chocolate icing was an adventure too. Baking the cake was easy, but I had trouble getting the cake out of the pan. I had greased and floured the pan like you are supposed to, but it didn't want to come out. Eventually it did flop out, but left the bottom layer in the pan. I then made some icing... I think from now on, I will buy icing. It didn't turn out very well. You may ask, "how can you ruin icing? It is the easiest thing to make." Well, I found a way to mess it all up. It wouldn't spread, so I ended up piecing it with my fingers like fondant. The white decoration was easy though, and everyone thought it looked good too. And Thomas said it tasted wonderful, and that was what mattered the most.
We tried a few games. The worst one was trying to push someone off a plank into the ocean, but it turned out to be too easy. We had a three-legged race, which Mom and Dad won. They were amazing, and really cute too. Kate and I did really well, and I think we tied for second with another pair of girls. The boys...did fine, and it was fun watching them fall down, trip over each other, mess-up timing and loose the race. hehehe The final game was the human knot. It was a little awkward, but I enjoyed it all the same, but we couldn't completely untie ourselves because we were in two circles completely mixed up. Once one of the circles got solved and let go, then the other circle was easily solved.
We didn't get any group pictures, but I tried to get at least one picture of everybody. When I get them developed I will share them. The only downside to such fun is that baby pirates need to get to bed, so these fun times can't go on as long as they used to. Also, we had to clean the house because Mom was having guests the next day. But I hope everyone had fun. I know I did.
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
What I need to hear
I need to hear the gospel again.
Today was a crazy day. I didn't really get a break because students didn't do their work, so I had to make sure it got done because I can't fail or fire them from a student newspaper. I had to set up for music classes, give a Latin test, correct books, find a costume, catch a ride, go to a voice lesson, and make supper. I did have a little bit of time between school and voice, so I began reading a book at Thomas' work. And since supper I have had a break. But it was still a crazy day and I feel like I didn't do anything profitable, but merely existed.
Therefore I am dissatisfied with myself, with my world, with my job, with my students, and with my day. I know in my head I did good things. I showed my older students that their work affects others and their lack of work hurts others. And though it inconvenienced me, that doesn't really change the fact that I love them. And it won't change the way I treat them, it just means I am going to insist they do the work, maybe earlier next time. I also gave my younger students hugs and smiled at them and sang to them, even though they were the wiggliest I have ever seen them, and some were about to drive me to distraction. I found a dress that might be able to be altered for a costume sewing project I might take on this month. I spent some good time with Thomas, and I sang freely with my voice teacher.
I know there are no good reasons to be dissatisfied with everything. I know my feelings not based in fact or reason, but probably more in the rain weather and hormones. But I feel them all the same and it is making me grumpy and froggish.
When I was in highschool, Daddy gave me a little essay thing about feeling froggish - like a blob of worthless life. But in fairy tales, frogs get kissed and turned into handsome princes. The writer then asked, "what is the job of the church? To kiss frogs, of course." To find those feeling froggish and remind them of who they really are - who God made them to be. Well today I am the frog and I need those reminders. I need to hear the gospel.
The gospel that states God loves me with a love that is not based on what I do, but on who I am. He loves me because I am his baby girl, his daughter, his precious princess. He loves me in spite of my grumpiness and pouting, and reaches out to me even when I don't want to talk. I am too valuable to him to let myself get in the way of our relationship. How do I know he loves me this much? even when it doesn't feel like love? even when I am grumpy? even when I can't understand?
I know that Jesus loves me, because the Bible tells me how Jesus Christ, God's Son, became a human being like me, but unlike me because he was perfect and did nothing wrong. But he used his perfection, not to make people feel dumb, but to show them what perfect love felt like. Then, before God, he took all the nasty things that people did, and died for them, letting them have his perfection. He took my grumpiness and froggishness and apathy and died for them, letting me stand in perfection. And then he rose again giving me his hope, joy, peace, and love. That's how much he loves me.
And that is what I need to hear, again and again and again.
Today was a crazy day. I didn't really get a break because students didn't do their work, so I had to make sure it got done because I can't fail or fire them from a student newspaper. I had to set up for music classes, give a Latin test, correct books, find a costume, catch a ride, go to a voice lesson, and make supper. I did have a little bit of time between school and voice, so I began reading a book at Thomas' work. And since supper I have had a break. But it was still a crazy day and I feel like I didn't do anything profitable, but merely existed.
Therefore I am dissatisfied with myself, with my world, with my job, with my students, and with my day. I know in my head I did good things. I showed my older students that their work affects others and their lack of work hurts others. And though it inconvenienced me, that doesn't really change the fact that I love them. And it won't change the way I treat them, it just means I am going to insist they do the work, maybe earlier next time. I also gave my younger students hugs and smiled at them and sang to them, even though they were the wiggliest I have ever seen them, and some were about to drive me to distraction. I found a dress that might be able to be altered for a costume sewing project I might take on this month. I spent some good time with Thomas, and I sang freely with my voice teacher.
I know there are no good reasons to be dissatisfied with everything. I know my feelings not based in fact or reason, but probably more in the rain weather and hormones. But I feel them all the same and it is making me grumpy and froggish.
When I was in highschool, Daddy gave me a little essay thing about feeling froggish - like a blob of worthless life. But in fairy tales, frogs get kissed and turned into handsome princes. The writer then asked, "what is the job of the church? To kiss frogs, of course." To find those feeling froggish and remind them of who they really are - who God made them to be. Well today I am the frog and I need those reminders. I need to hear the gospel.
The gospel that states God loves me with a love that is not based on what I do, but on who I am. He loves me because I am his baby girl, his daughter, his precious princess. He loves me in spite of my grumpiness and pouting, and reaches out to me even when I don't want to talk. I am too valuable to him to let myself get in the way of our relationship. How do I know he loves me this much? even when it doesn't feel like love? even when I am grumpy? even when I can't understand?
I know that Jesus loves me, because the Bible tells me how Jesus Christ, God's Son, became a human being like me, but unlike me because he was perfect and did nothing wrong. But he used his perfection, not to make people feel dumb, but to show them what perfect love felt like. Then, before God, he took all the nasty things that people did, and died for them, letting them have his perfection. He took my grumpiness and froggishness and apathy and died for them, letting me stand in perfection. And then he rose again giving me his hope, joy, peace, and love. That's how much he loves me.
And that is what I need to hear, again and again and again.
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