A Little Rambling

I have been severely lacking in motivation, both for doing homework and writing the blog I need to write. I submit instead, for your perusal, a mini-blog. Good Reasons to Cry 1. Happiness 2. Being loved 3. Relief 4. Cutting onions 5. Laughter 6. Release 7. A very touching scene in a movie 8. Evocative music 9. Joy 10. Forgiveness

I slept in this morning, thanks to the Feminist Theory and Music conference that overtook the SoM this week, wreaking havoc with classroom usage and cancelling several classes. After a conducting class filled with flirting - yes, I said it! - and some observations of rambunctious 3rd graders and eensy weensy adorable 1st graders, I got to meet up with Rebekah to spend an afternoon not looking at our cellphones or other electronics, but merely enjoying one another's company. We went to As You Wish to indulge our introverted, artistic selves. I haven't been in months, and being covered in glaze again (literally, to my own misfortune) was quite therapeutic. It's such a lovely way to spend time with someone without having to really talk all that much. You sit side by side, absorbed in your painting, meticulously dabbing glaze on your piece with a paintbrush that is clearly missing the better days before several dozen children jabbed it into clay crevices and mooshed it a

As I pulled up to school this morning, I saw a cute little dust devil off to the side of my car. While absentmindedly admiring the tricks that wind can play with the loose dirt that lies all over Arizona, I realized that it smelled funny...and that it was coming from under my hood. Oh dear. Turn car off, check engine, can't see anything now, run to class, call Daddy. Thanks be that today is Monday, when I am at school for many, many hours straight and don't have to go to work! Thanks also be to sisters who offer their cars, friends who offer their trucks, and friends who look under my hood and help me out. Extra thanks to daddies who come out to campus after work to dig around in engines in the dark and wait for the late tow truck while you go home and do homework. (that's you, Elisabeth, Shantel, Josh, and Daddy! You are all appreciated!) And another thanks that mom happens to be working out of state this week, so while my car sits as a lump in the driveway, I h

In my quest for a blog topic tonight, one thing kept coming up over and over - children. On Sunday, I was reminded of just how much I love my little pre-k's. We've been learning about Jesus's miracles, and our lesson was on raising Lazarus from the dead. I only had two little boys, and they took turns being Jesus and Lazarus as we acted out the story. They knew that story cold by the time they left! I enjoyed my morning of narrating adventures on the train tracks, coaxing a boy out of the corner where he was pining for his mommy, and being used as a receptacle for imaginary meals from the new toy kitchen and a driving surface for all sorts of wheeled vehicles. I was crawled on, clung to, tackled, hugged, and cuddled. Above all, I got to see their little faces get excited about learning the truth of Jesus. On Saturday, I went the Arizona Kodály Teacher's Society workshop. The presenter was a delightfully energetic, 80 year old nun. I originally resented having t

I love surprises! I'm sure it stems in part from the fact that I am rather difficult to surprise (scare is another matter entirely). I love when you get to plot sneakily for days or weeks, nearly bursting with a secret that you know will be better if you keep it but that you just yearn to tell so the person will know how happy they get to be. I have this difficulty with presents, parties, rainbow cakes , etc. For Labor Day, we decided we would go down to Tucson to surprise Ryan. We got ahold of his roommate - and his mother, who nearly spoiled it! - and managed to set everything up is surreptitious secrecy. Road trips with the Knights are fun - both cars independently sang Disney songs the whole way down. It was fabulous. We arrived much earlier than planned, so we strolled around and ate some lunch, mocking U of A as much as we could. notice Drew proudly sporting his Arizona State shirt! Back at the apartment, Ryan arrived slightly earlier than we were expecting, so there wa

I was going to blog tonight about my exciting adventure yesterday, but then (hic) I did homework and wore out my brain. (hic hic) And I'm still (hic) exhausted post-(hic)adventure. So you'll just (hic) have to (hic) wait. These hiccups suck. (HIC) There, I blogged. Good(hic)night loves.

Today was Bex's 19th birthday, so I made her a cake. A rainbow cake. In a jar! I had SO MUCH FUN with this! I saw the recipe here , and proceeded to spend another hour or so browsing through some of the deliciousness contained in this blog. I have such a love for creating in the kitchen, and I don't usually get the time to enjoy that during the school year. I've decided it may be more important than sleep, so I stayed up making the cakes last night, and tonight cooked my own delicious spin-off of a king ranch chicken casserole. Spicy! I have another, less colorful but equally sugary, recipe to try this weekend, too. :) Anyways, these cakes captivated me. I lovelovelove bright colors, which is why I love flowers and dresses and markers and coloring books and sparkles and lisa frank and my little ponies and little kids. I was already delighted before the cakes baked, when they looked like this. I had fun playing with the colors and the batter, making