....and no this won't be a huge update post. I've just been asked several times when I'm going to post something to my blog again and since I haven't had a chance to upload all the apartment update photos I figured I would at least let you know I'm still alive.
Swamped, but alive :)
I have a huge deadline looming - December 31 to be exact. That's when the company's website launches. That's when I can finally stop working 10 hour days. That's when I can reclaim my life :)
So if you don't hear from me in the next few weeks don't worry - it's because I'm coding the other website so that I can finish it on time. Or at least on the revised timeline. By Dec 31st.
If you think about it - pray for my sanity - specifically coherence of thought as I'm tying databases together. And for my eyesight as staring at screens all day when it's so dark out side even with the office lights on is rough :) 'Tis the season of light-induced and ocular migraine's for me. So I'll always have a bottle of Excedrin on me for those who also suffer...
Quick update since I can't resist - I'm here, I'm typing - why not?
I was in CT this past weekend at the Revolve Tour with 13-16 year old girls as a chaperon. Fun times. Also reminded me of how old I am LOL. I had a great group of girls though - and the weekend went so well Katie was left wondering when the ball would drop so-to-speak. But thankfully none did- It was the Lord - we were and are still thankful :) The night before we left I slept at Katie B's house and dreamed about presenting a poem/song I had written in Latin to the pope for him to critique. He loved the first verse but wasn't keen on the other two. I remember 'verit' being in it and it translating into something about John - whether Baptist or the Apostle I don't recall. I remembered the dream after seeing a sticker on the bus steps that said 'kneeling bus' which I thought ironic :)
This week - I head to Ohio to prepare for the board meeting presentation this Friday. I'm picking up a coworker from the airport at 6:30, which means I'm leaving NY around 11-ish. Just in time to beat the storm that's supposed to be coming in. Hopefully I won't be driving through it as I head south.
Speaking of driving, pray that what ever is going on with my car is fixed. My car did not pass inspection the first time because there were too many 'not ready' warnings. No check engine issues, it just 'wasn't ready'. Which makes no sense to me, but apparently after many days of start and stop driving it's supposed to reset the car's EEPROM chipset and be ready to be inspected once again. It would be a huge blessing if that could take place tomorrow, so I can drive my car to Ohio and not one of my parent's. That and apparently there are now chunks of 'stop leak' coolant system sealant that didn't dissolve correctly over the weekend, so my car has been overheating, which is has never done in the 6 years I've owned it. So tomorrow on top of trying to get it inspected my dad will also be suctioning the coolant system so I don't over heat when I (hopefully) take it to Ohio on Wednesday.
Thursday is prep for the Board meeting presentation, and Friday is the presentation to the Board. Not really concerned about the presentation aspect, provided I can get a few more pages on the website done.
Then I head home on Friday after the meeting, probably around 1 PM, to try to make it in time to grab dress rehearsal shots at my parent's church's musical thing that evening at 7pm. Then Saturday I'll probably head to the Finger Lakes, for some much needed respite.
Ok - a much longer update that anticipated, but hey. You should know me by now :)
and then some...
So I woke up this morning after a great Sunday evening and a late drive home with that raw feeling in your throat right behind your nose... not good. That usually means I'm getting sick. Again.
It was easier when I lived by myself when the 'sick' season came around. Mostly because my interaction with people was extremely limited so I avoided sinus things very easily. Now not so much. However, if I had a choice between isolating myself in my apartment and hanging out with friends I'll choose the latter. It's worth it :)
So the fact that I'm not feeling so hot is clouding my judgment.
It just makes it harder to ignore comments like 'will we ever see you on the weekends?' and 'why would you ever get involved with that music group when there is so much to do here?'
Discouraging. And hard brush off when this music thing has come so far so quickly. This past weekend on the drive to practice I was praying that the Lord would give me lyrics. Give me a song. Sometimes I feel like I have so little to offer and other times I feel so full of my own pride that I feel useless because I'm in the way. It's a constant back-and-forth wrestling against my prideful flesh and against the lies of the evil one who would try to shame me into silence.
The good news is I think I have at least one chorus. And the beginnings of another song that I woke with on Sunday morning. Funny thing is it's like I was writing in preparation for this trial... I've been reminded of late of Paul and the 'thorn in his flesh'. And of the Lord's response to his request, "My grace is sufficient for you..." And I woke up early on Sunday with a melody and the beginnings of lyrics for this song. Which I've been singing to myself for the last few days as if I heard it on the radio. Kinda weird, but a blessing nonetheless.
Your grace is sufficient for me, Oh Lord;
Your grace is sufficient for me.
Help me remember when the trials come
that Your grace is sufficient for me.
So you can't hear the melody, but it's clear as a bell in my head... and now comes the fear that it's already been written and I'm just regurgitating it :)
Anyway, working on verses for it. And I'll still need melody and music help, but it's a start. And it's a message that apparently I need to remember.
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.and another verse that brings comfort...
II Corinthians 12:9-10
But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed...So a slightly discouraging day. But not enough to make me discontinue the path that I believe the Lord has me on...
1 Corinthians 4:7-9
Listening to: "Fool For You" by Nichole Nordeman on FLN
Reading: 'Vitals' by Greg Bear. Just started and it's rough plot is the modern search for immortality.
Studying: 'Living Beyond Yourself' by Beth Moore. Week 5: Peace Be with You. Still catching up on homework :)
For those of you at Prayer & Praise last night and for those of you who are just interested in the chocolate pie recipe :) My family makes these pies every year for Christmas.
This recipe is usually found inside the Baker's German's Sweet Chocolate box, but as microwaves came out they modified the recipe. This is the 'old school' stove top method. Something about nuking chocolate doesn't seem right to me... Next time I make something for a recipe I'll post pictures... Enjoy :)
Prep Time:
- 10-15 minutes to make
- 3-4 hours to set
Ingredients:
- 1 Baker's German's Sweet Chocolate Bar (in the green box)
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/3 cup milk, divided
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 cups cool whip
- 1 graham cracker crust
Directions:
- Place the chocolate bar and 2 tablespoons of milk (taken from the 1/3 cup) in a medium to large sauce pan. Heat on medium, stirring often till the chocolate is melted and the 2 tablespoons of milk are mixed in. Be careful not to burn the chocolate as it will ruin the taste of the whole pie :) Remove from heat.
- Add the cream cheese, sugar and remaining milk. Stir until smooth.
- Fold in the cool whip until the color is consistent.
- Pour into graham cracker crust and add a dollop of cool whip to the top. I like to add either mini chocolate chips or chocolate curls to garnish the top.
- Freeze for 3-4 hours and pull out 15-20 minutes before serving to allow it to thaw for cutting.
Usually you want to eat these when they are just starting to thaw. Last night they had a chance to soften up a bit too much. Still tastes good though :)
Finally set up my stereo in my office, so I can actually listen to the radio - specifically FLN. At one point I started listening to my 'old' radio stations - the ones I grew up with...and though I liked hearing some of the same songs I remember from way back when, it reminded me why I walked away from listening to those types of stations. The world view they project is not Biblical by any stretch of interpretation.
Which is why I'm careful about the music I choose to listen to. And why I've come to believe knowing the lyrics of the songs I listen to is so important. Words are powerful. And why listening to FLN is so refreshing :)
And now the real reason for writing today after such a long blog pause - I just heard a Sidewalk Prophets song and it really struck me today, so I thought I'd put the lyrics up. I pulled them from their website which you can find here: Sidewalk Prophets - The Words I Would Say
The Words I Would Say
Three in the morning, and I’m still awake
So I picked up a pen and a page
And I started writing just what I’d say
If we were face to face
I’d tell you just what you mean to me
Tell you these simple truths
CHORUS
Be strong in the Lord
And never give up hope
You’re gonna do great things
I already know
God’s got His hand on You
So don’t live life in fear
Forgive and forget
But don’t forget why you’re here
Take your time and pray
These are the words I would say
Last time we spoke you said you were hurting
And I felt your pain in my heart
I want to tell you that I keep on praying
That love will find you where you are
I know cause I’ve already been there
So please hear these simple truths
CHORUS
Say… from one simple life to another
I will say… come find peace in the Father
Be strong in the Lord
And never give up hope
You’re gonna do great things
I already know
God’s got His hand on You
So don’t live life in fear
Forgive and forget
But don’t forget why you’re here
Take your time and pray
And thank God for each day
His love will find a way
These are the words I would say
Felt like someone would need to hear these words as much as I did today :)
Listening to: "Revelation" by Third Day
Reading: 'The Body Farm' by Patricia Cornwell. Just finished '206 Bones' by Kathy Reichs and started on this novel. Stuck in the forensic murder mystery genre lately.
Studying: 'Living Beyond Yourself' by Beth Moore. Week 5: Peace Be with You. Still working through the homework for this week even though my friend and I already met and watched the video (which was good). She's gone for a few weeks so we won't meet again until early December. That gives me plenty of time to catch up on my homework :)
