Savoring Summer Pt. 1

*Sitting on the porch in the cool early morning with knitting and journal

Atlas - the end of the chapter

8.22.08 "I am quite excited about being hired for the teaching position at Atlas...so many more lives to influence and children to love and bless."
I can hardly believe I have already come to the end of the Atlas chapter in my life. The past two years have gone by so quickly! I never would have imagined what an important role this school would play in my life. Through my time there I have learned soooo much about teaching, working with children of many different personalities, and some about working with difficult people ;) but through it I have also met a wonderful friend and of course without knowing Ms. Dawn I never would have gotten to meet Michael.
Each student there has come to mean so much to me - yes, even the difficult ones. They are all a huge part of my life and saying goodbye to them tomorrow is going to be quite difficult. Sadly its only a warm up for saying goodbye to my private students at their recital next week. I am thankful that some of them will take summer lessons so I don't have to say goodbye to everyone all at once but I know that it is only delaying it a few months. I have to keep reminding myself of what a beneficial thing it is going to be to move half way across the country, to get completely out of my comfort zone and have a fresh start. I know it will provide many opportunities for growth but I cannot deny the fact that leaving all of my students has been one of the hardest parts of making this decision. I will miss each of them tremendously but I will always treasure my time with them, their smiles and the lessons they have taught me.

"Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, oh, abide with me!"

This is my hope and prayer for today, that despite everything - all the craziness, chaos, decisions, planning, hurt feelings, joys and every day mundane-ness - that I would live in the presence of the One who holds all things in His hands.

Fun in the kitchen

Soulemama is one of my favorite blogs currently and when I found a recipe there for making your own crackers I knew I had to try it! The idea had occurred to me previously but I'd never actually seen a recipe and these looked pretty tasty. This being my first free Saturday in several months it seemed like the ideal time to attempt making them and they turned out really well...so well in fact that I'm not sure there will be many left by time Lindsey gets home later and can try them ;) I put coarse salt on all of mine, oregano on one half (which are terrific dipped in pizza sauce...yum!) and added dill to a few just to try it since I love dill so much. They were such a success I'm now quite interested in finding more recipes for various kinds. After all, making your own crackers just seems to fit in with wanting to make your own deodorant and laundry soap...I'm so glad Michael doesn't think all this is too weird ;)

Here's the recipe for anyone who wants to try them...

Parmesan Cream Crackers

Mix: 1c flour, 1/2t salt, 1/2c finely grated parmesan cheese, and 4T butter. (The original recipe says to do it in a food processor, I did mine in the blender, but I think I could have just as easily done it by hand, possibly with a pastry blender and made less of a mess)

Add: 1/4c of cream or half and half and mix gently until it forms into dough.

Roll out to 1/2 inch thick, adding flour as necessary. Transfer to a baking sheet lightly floured or lined with parchment paper. Lightly score if you want to break into squares after baking. (I think I might try separating them first next time.) Top with salt, sesame or poppy seeds, minced garlic, herbs etc.

Bake at 400 for 10 minutes until lightly browned.

"The world cannot be discovered by a journey of miles...but only by a spiritual journey, a journey of one inch, very arduous and humbling and joyful, by which we arrive with the ground at our feet and learn to be at home."
~Wendell Berry

Freedom

I am fully embracing the freedom of this phase of life...the ability to stop at a park on a whim after a long day of finals, teaching and rehearsing for half an hour. To sit on a bench in the gentle sunshine, relishing the the breeze which carries the scent of honeysuckle my way, writing in my journal, refreshing and nourishing my tired spirit. What will you do today to embrace your own unique season of life?

Simple Pleasures...

• A cool refreshing breeze on my walk this morning
• Spotting where all the wild blackberries are blooming so I know where to find them later in the summer :)
• New favorite songs
• Quotes: "Love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction." ~Antonine de Saint-Exupery
• Blooming geraniums on the porch