The Bread Dough

I don't like to check my work. I was terrible about checking my work in Math class and the fact that I didn't do this step often reared it's ugly head especially in multi-step problems. However, I have learned the hard way that checking your work is a vital step. An example you ask? Of course I have an example! :o) 

When my husband and I married nearly 11 years ago, we received a bread machine for a wedding present with a cute little box of bread mix to go with it. What a wonderful gift for a newlywed! Easy peasy in the kitchen and still be able to look like a pro. Well.... the people who thought up this idea had never seen newlywed Nell in the kitchen before. ;o/

We'd been married two weeks when I decided to get the bread machine out of the box with it's little box of bread mix and give it a go. The only thing I had to do with the mix was dump it in, add the water and turn it on. Piece of cake right? Or should that be piece of bread? ;o)

The recipe on the box called for one cup of water on top of the dry mixture. Somehow in the steps to and from the sink with the measuring cup, I got it into my head that I only needed one third of a cup of water. Of course, I didn't see it was a problem when I poured the water in and turned it on. I walked away for a few minutes and came back to peer in the little window on top of the machine. I looked in and thought, "Uh-oh, that doesn't look right." So, I did what any newlywed would do. I said, "Babe, I need your help!  This doesn't look right to me." So, the dutiful husband entered the room and looked in and pronounced things just fine. He said, "Hon, it's okay, I'm sure it looks weird until it's risen."

So, I walked away for a few more minutes. Came back and looked in again and this time, the would-be bread mixture looked really bad. And again, I called for my husband. "Babe, I'm serious! Something isn't right here." Big sigh from the husband and he came to look again. Only this time he said, "Hmmm, no I guess that doesn't look too good, does it?" So, we got the box and checked and I saw my mistake. Sigh again. My hubby suggested I just throw in the extra water and see if it would just go ahead and finish working the dough and bake up okay. "It'll be fine," he said. "Just pour it on top and let it finish the cycle." So, I did.

I'm sad to say that what we ended up with was not a loaf of bread, but rather all of the mixture condensed into what looked like two slices of bread smashed together. What do you think my hubby did? Yep, you guessed it! He ate it. He's such a sweetie. :o) I have to say it was a most humiliating experience and the first of many, many kitchen blunders for me. ;o) However, as I thought about it, it made me wonder.... as I often do..... :o)

I often have a plan the Lord has so carefully laid out for me with clear instructions and somehow in a very short period of time, I have it all very messed up, but I'm not able to see the problem until it's too late, sigh. I take a look and something doesn't seem right, but there's nothing for me to "put my finger on", so I do nothing. I come back again and I know something isn't right, and by the time it occurs to me to check my Instructions, it's royally messed up.... I gotta check my Instructions a little more often because even when I can't figure out exactly what's wrong, I know my Instructions will provide the guidance needed to remedy whatever blunder I've gotten myself into, kitchen appliances included or not. ;o)

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,  that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."

- 2 Timothy 3:16-17

The Unwelcome Visitor

One day, I looked up as I was fixing my hair and a very small spider dropped down right in front of me on his web. My first instinct was a sharp inhale of surprise. That was the wrong thing to do.

Upon my intake of breath, the spider was pulled in close to me and somehow, in the course of that one breath, the spider found himself inside my nose! I'm sure this was as terrifying to him as it was to me because he immediately began to scurry as fast as he could which, as you might imagine, sent me into a tizzy!

I just happened to have tissue nearby and I crammed it up my nose as fast as possible in the hopes of squishing my unwelcome nostril visitor. It worked. I pulled the tissue out and surveyed the mangled spider and breathed a sigh of thankfulness that the invader had been neutralized! Blech! I felt a fleeting momentary sadness over the poor little spider's fate and then, it was over and I moved on with my day, only shuddering every once in a while. ;o) I mean, I'm sorry, but it was my nose and I wasn't gonna share it with someone who would cause a ridiculous amount of sneezing throughout the day! Hmph.

Do you know what God spoke to me through that one little story? I'm just gonna warn you, it's weird! But then again, you already are prepared for weirdness through my little stories aren't you? Wait! Don't answer that! ;o)

God's anger is like that fleeting sadness I felt over the poor little spider. It only lasts for a moment and then He moves on. Why don't I? See, I just happened to be beating myself up about something dumb I did a while back. I had confessed it and been forgiven, but I was just absolutely positive that God was still a bit miffed with me about it and He used this memory of a spider and my momentary sad thought to illustrate the time His anger lasts. See! I told you it was weird! ;o)

Am I the only one who finds herself recounting past blunders and beating myself about the head and shoulders? Am I the only one who thinks God surely is not gonna forgive this thing, again! Am I the only one who thinks God is constantly annoyed and irritated with me because of something ridiculous I did.... years ago? Am I the only one? Seriously?

"For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for life;
Weeping may endure for a night,
But joy comes in the morning. " - Psalm 30:5 

Labor Day!

It's Labor Day! Which means we all do no labor, right? Well, at least that's what it means around my house!  ;o)

My sweet hubby has to work for a time today, so my girls and I are taking a short trip to a neighboring city to visit their mall and their Chick-Fil-A! Sadly, we have no Chick-Fil-A in our little corner of the world and so we take a road trip every now and again to have a little treat. I'm extremely excited to get to go with my girls and just enjoy the day!

For now, though, we are hanging out in our pj's watchin' tv and eatin' junk for breakfast! ;o)

We've only been through two weeks of school and I must say I'm extremely thankful for a break already! The Lord knows just what we need when we need it, doesn't He? An extra day of rest! Yippee! I plan on enjoying it! See you here on Wednesday for some Scripture and some meaningful thoughts... at least I hope so! ;o) Have a great day!!

Got Rhythm?

I am a music teacher. I love it. :o) I have taught music in many different ways over the years - church Christmas pageants, children's choir, piano lessons, etc. This year, I've started teaching music in a classroom again. I love it. Now, there are many aspects of music I love, but I think my very favorite concept is the one I always start the year with - rhythm. :o) Rhythm is a wonderful part of music that is the most versatile in my personal opinion. Let me show you something... :o) 

This is one of my favorite percussion pieces. Of course because it has kiddos in it! :o) But also, I think it's because it's so simple; however, let me tell you, it's not easy! Whew! I tried this particular piece with some students of my own and it was ALOT of work!  There are two things this piece employs.

A steady beat. An ostinato. These two things are not the same. One is an even pulse in which every beat has the same length. The other is a pattern that moves, and not every beat has the same length.The steady beat keeps the slow even tempo of the composition moving along, but can honestly be dead as a doornail all by itself. The ostinato keeps things interesting, gives you something to enjoy along the journey of the steady beat. However, if the ostinato didn't have the steady beat underneath it to give a firm footing, it would speed up or slow down and lose the continuity of the musical phrase. You can't have one without the other, they need each other.  

My faith is my steady beat. It's my even pulse that moves my journey of salvation along. My works in my faith are my ostinatos. They definitely keep my journey interesting. ;o) If I don't have the works to experience my faith in action, I am frustrated because God created us to be experiential, relational beings and something is definitely missing without my ostinatos in my faith walk. If I try to experience the journey of salvation without the firm footing of faith, my works fall apart and mean nothing and all I experience is frustration, again!  Isn't the Lord smart to remind us again and again we need both?

Like the piece above, it's so simple; however, that doesn't mean it's easy... ;o)

"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."

 - James 2:26