Sunday evening

I've had a good weekend - much better than last weekend. I have started the Ladies' Bible Class/Quilting class and it was just so good to get together and share with other women, to study the Bible together and to pray for each other. The quilting is just an added bonus. I've made my first block, and made a correction in my block instructions (my excuse for making a quilt each time). I'd show you a picture, but I think my camera must have been stolen out of my van as I can't seem to find it anywhere. Oh well, it's just a "nice to have", not an essential. It also meant that I had to get the guest room set up properly as a sewing room. It looks pretty good; there's room for four machines to be set up, and yet when my kids come down there's still room for a single bed in there.

This evening I went over to WCC to help with the Bible Quiz group. We're learning the book of Luke. That was also good, to help mentor a group of students who want to know the Bible better. I baked some gingerbread (the cake kind), which also went over pretty well.

I'm nearly completely planned for tomorrow and I've done at least an hour's piano practice; so it's been a very productive day (and weekend). I am so thankful for the Lord who gives me strength in these very tough times. He is my rock and my hiding place.

Warmer

It was actually warm enough this evening that I had to open a window in my living room, subjecting the entire neighbourhood to my piano practice. It's a nice problem to have.

First Week

I've finished the first week of school. I am teaching only one class, Grade 9 English, plus working as a teacher-librarian. I'm delighted with the class, and also that it's going to be a really non-stressful assignment. I need non-stress in my working life because my personal life surely isn't right now. Hopefully things will improve there too.

This weekend has been productive, despite a slow start. Yesterday I worked really hard at procrastination all day (and having many years' experience at this, I can say that I did it really well!). I therefore finished an entire quilt top; queen/king bed sized. What I should have been doing was working on my unit planning; however I've done that for four solid hours this afternoon, so it did get done too. What I haven't done is practice piano or do laundry, so I guess that's my task for this evening. I also need to write my Sunday letters, but that may be reserved for early Monday morning. We'll see how far I get tonight.

Bereft

Bereft - adj 1. Deprived of or lacking something - usually used with of. 2. Bereaved.

How are you feeling? I'm feeling bereft.

"If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it;
if a foe were raising himself against me, I could hide from him.
But it is you, someone like myself,
My companion, my close friend,
With whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship
As we walked with the throng at the house of God."
Psalms 55: 12, 13

"I can do it myself!"

Part of the joy of being an adult is the realization that I can do it myself. Then comes the further realization that I can't do everything by myself and that sometimes I don't want to do it and sometimes I have to do it anyways. This week has been a little frustrating with a lot of little things that I haven't been able to do by myself.

I bought some high stools to fit under my eating bar (some assembly required) and had to get my nephew to carry them in from the van for me. I now have them partially assembled, but cannot manage to figure out the wordless instructions and will have to be rescued by someone else. I have some pictures that need hanging and they're big enough it's a two-person job. Lots of little things like that.

However, it helps me to realize that we're all dependent on the grace of God and if that grace is acted out through others extending their grace to me, then perhaps I just need to be a better recipient of that grace. Thank you Lord for your grace. Help me to ask for and to receive grace from others when I need it.

Labour Day

I've decided that I will offer the Ladies' Quilt Class and Bible Study once more. I haven't done it for at least three or four years and I'm living in a different city now. However, this means that I need to pull out all of my materials for the class and check to ensure that they're up to date, find my samples, etc. I can't find one entire (almost) finished quilt, which means I must have left it in Yellowknife (rats anyway). However, I do have another finished set of sample blocks, so I've got them out and ready to go. There's 15 of them, but I think I'd prefer 16 for a queen-sized bed, so I've researched another block that will fit into the lesson series and have cut out the pieces for it. I'm alternating cutting and sewing with piano practice. They're both sort of fun and sort of work.

Today I went over to Ruth's and helped her sort through the clutter in her bedroom and decrease the total amount of clutter substantially. Seeing as she helped me unpack and get settled, it's only fair. Then we went out shopping for a little bit for essentials that either she or I needed, and then I came home to have a nap before doing home kind of essentials.

The one thing I needed to do today and didn't was lesson planning - but although tomorrow's the first day of school, it's not a teaching day, so I can prepare for it tomorrow night. (Nothing like leaving things for the last minute, eh?) The thing is, I always have to think about things for a long time before I can put them down on paper, and I'm still in the thinking, digesting stage.

New Year

I don't know why we don't celebrate New Year's Day at this time of year instead of in cold and dark January. Today was the first day of school for me (and the other staff); the kids start back on Tuesday. Tuesday was my first day of piano lessons with my new piano teacher. Everything seems to start new again in the fall.



About piano lessons: she's going to work me hard. She gave me a Grade 1 theory exam to try and see where I am in my theory. (She e-mailed me today that I got 90% - which makes me feel good because I essentially did it without studying). She emphasized the importance of sight reading, and reaffirmed that I have to practice it everyday (sigh, I know. It's just that it's not as much fun as some of the other stuff). Then she gave me a piece to learn for next week! (OK, it's not at grade level, but still!) etc. I'm really going to enjoy this, but I'm also going to have to work really hard.

Ruth and I went to an auction last night. I was thinking that I hadn't been to an auction for over 20 years (as long as I've lived in the north), but Bram reminded me that we regularly go to the Rotary Bike Auction in the spring. However, that's not the same because all they're selling is bikes. This was a real auction, with an incredible assortment of junk that you wonder why on earth people are bidding on, together with real treasures that only you recognize. I got some things from both categories (as did Ruth). I'm not going to itemize because some of them are going to end up being presents. Spent too much money, had a lot of fun, as did Ruth.