What I've Been Up To

Forgive me for being so MIA lately. I've been quite overwhelmed with things lately, especially the plans for the recital. I had a near panic attack on Tuesday just because things are still so up in the air. Please pray we can make more detailed plans on Monday. 

There has been lots of cancellations and rescheduling going on in the studio so my schedule has been all of out whack this week. I also had a chiropractor appointment on Thursday. She did an adjustment to my left hip which was pretty intense. I didn't think much of it at the time, but later that evening my body just felt uneasy for lack of a better word and I was so exhausted I fell asleep in the chair while Hubby watched two episodes of NCIS. I'm so ready to feel better. I have an appointment with my massage therapist this Thursday - please pray I can get consistent treatment that will start showing some real results. 

The sun has been out most of today, but we only have a high of 16. It's supposed to warm up to the 20's again next week. 

Today was a busy day. Hubby and I enjoyed breakfast out at our favorite spot then we stopped by the grocery store and picked up what we need to make Hubby's dad's famous spaghetti sauce. It was tradition that only George (Hubby's dad) made the spaghetti sauce, so Hubby is continuing that tradition. It really is the best sauce I have ever tasted. It's been cooking now for several hours - the longer it cooks, the better it is. Spaghetti with the special sauce for lunch tomorrow is a special request of Daughter #2 - it's been years since Hubby made a batch and she was quite little, yet she remembers it. She's bringing several of her friends over, so the house will be full of young men ;). It will be fun. 

After I unloaded the groceries and made sure Hubby didn't need anything else, I went to the church to practice and to meet with a fellow piano teacher/musician. She is accompanying a local choir in an upcoming concert and a few of their pieces require the use of an organ. I was asked to play these pieces for them in the concert since they don't have a trained organist available, but I had to decline because of the recital coming up and all the work I'll be doing preparing for that as well as my studio recital. When I got a look at the music, I knew I made the right decision. Fortunately they did find someone to help out, but Susie, their regular pianist wants to try one of them on her own. Susie is an excellent trained pianist - far exceeds my skills - but is just now starting to explore the organ and she wanted my help in getting started. It was fun to connect with her - normally she's the one helping me, so the role reversal was nice for once. She seems to be genuinely interested in the instrument whereas she wasn't before. She's in her 30's and raising a family, but it's still nice to see another younger person showing interest. She is quite the musician, so I'm sure if she decides to practice faithfully she will be very good. 

I also feel good that I was able to pay some bills, do my online banking, balance the checkbook, organize my photo files on the computer again, catch up on emails and serve up an easy stew for supper. I'm thinking I may try and write a letter to a dear friend tonight. 

Yesterday (Friday) was Johann Sebastian Bach's 329th birthday. I celebrate every year - his music has taught me so much about music in general and helped me learn how to play the organ. I am grateful. That is some music which is said to be written in his own hand that I'm using as my background for this month. 

I am currently obsessed with the music Gabriel's Oboe. I tried it on the organ today - it's going to take more work than I originally thought. I can't get it out of my mind...it just plays over and over and over in my mind. I am conflicted about playing it in church, my training tells me it's best left for a wedding, yet I find myself trying to find a way to use it. I emailed my mentor and he's giving it some thought. He had never heard it before. 

Well I guess that's all from me for now. I hope everyone has a 

wonderful Lord's day tomorrow.