oh to read again...

I miss reading. It used to be I could spend hours curled up on the loveseat with a novel in hand, lost in the adventures and romance of a fictional story. Or sometimes I would challenge my thinking by wrestling with some of John Piper's works or re-thinking my role as a wife in a godly marriage. I love to read poetry, fiction, history and classics, and especially enjoyed to discuss the books I read with friends.

In my younger days, I can recall my mom asking me to help set the table at dinner time, only to find me slowly circling the table, book in hand, as I tried to place the silverware in the correct spot without breaking my flow of reading. Or I would attempt to read in the car once it got dark (before I got terribly car sick), holding my book up to catch the light of the headlights behind us until it proved impossible to make out the words. In college I would retreat into the library and curl up on the "sleeping chair" to "read" my homework...though it almost inevitably ended up in a nap.

I love to read. Why is it I never have time to sit down with a book? My hubby is just as busy as I am, and yet he can read through 3-5 books in a month or less!! On top of his daily Bible reading! I am in awe. Maybe I'll pick up some pointers from him. But in the meantime, I'll look forward to Christmas vacation, when I will hopefully find some time to read again...

Life has just been far too hectic for me as of late. I never seem to find the time to blog...and when I do have the time, I sit in front of the computer screen like a zombie, my brain devoid of all thought or creativity. Hm.

Part of what has been keeping me busy has been planning for and preparing for the wedding of a dear friend of mine this coming weekend -- she's actually marrying my husband's cousin, so she actually gets to be grafted into the family! It's terribly exciting... :) There has been much to do to get ready, as I am in the wedding party and have been scurrying about making sure my dress gets made correctly. Today we had an almost final fitting, and it should be completely done by tomorrow! Praise the Lord! :)

Other exciting, and not so exciting, news has been the loss of one of my piano students of 2 years. It was sad to tell her goodbye, and yet I trust that the Lord has bigger plans in mind, and I've actually already heard of another person who might be replacing her! Plus I'm going to try to start picking up some more piano students anyway....just to make my life even more complicated. :)

Picturesque Autumn

Last weekend we had glorious weather -- mid 70s - mid 80s -- and Joe and I took advantage of the beautiful blue skies by having Joe's sister, Melissa, snap some shots of us for our Christmas cards. I tried to load some on Facebook, but they came out with a strange tint that I didn't care for, so I thought I'd share them here and give y'all a sneak preview of some of our favorites...enjoy! :)

This was at an apartment building in Nelson, it used to be a middle school. Isn't the ivy along the brick walls amazing??

This is at a spot called Buena Vista, but we all call it the Alma Bluff. It looks out over the Mississippi valley, isn't it beautiful? :)

Yay for swinging! :)

Kissy kissy! :)

Melissa wanted to catch a shot of us jumping together, but we never managed to get in the air at the same time! This is the best shot, and I think it captures both of our personalities well. :)

I love how it looks like Joe's telling me a secret! ;)

The aerial view :)

forgiveness

Today was a day where I just had to laugh. Or yell.... Isn't it amazing how people can refuse to forgive and move on? They think that they are pursuing a higher ideal of "making the world a better place", when really it's their own stubbornness that keeps it from being that way. *sigh* I'm so glad I have a Savior who forgives me. Unconditionally. I find great peace in that thought. Regardless of the number of times I do something stupid, belittle a friend, or act out in anger, He is always right there beside me. As the Bible says:

"...He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross." (Colossians 2:13b-14)

Amazing...and speaking of amazing, this video is incredible! I know I'm stealing the idea from my brother's post, but it's too moving to pass up. I was in tears the first time I saw it. Watch and be blessed...