It has been hot.... real hot. We have all had cabin fever. And have been cranky. Some days the little window air conditioner we have could barely keep up with itself let alone the room it was in. Outside has been worse. But lets not talk about unpleasant things.

Yesterday afternoon the rain came. I don't think that it has rained since June (I can be proven wrong on technicality, but it hasn't rained like it needs to rain.) Today, the coolness of the morning greeted us in such a way that I knew today would be a good day. Not to cool. And thank you God not to hot. Today has been a day for doing things.

However, I had an appointment to keep, well a morning one and then an afternoon one. I took my boys with me. Yup, a little disgruntled about the situation. So afterwards I surprised them by taking them to play and walk around the park and then to get sno cones. Its amazing how one day of great weather soothes the soul. Mends hurt feelings. In the same way reading His word does. I need to work on spending more time outside and with Him.

A look at the head joint. 

Any idea what this is? Someone gave it to me last night. It has six tone holes like a pennywhistle. It holds like a flute, but with a strange little mouthpiece so you don't have to worry about embrouchure. A fife, maybe? 

So much to do, so little...

It's been way too long since my last post. I guess we've all found ourselves in over our heads as far as business. A., I think of you often, even though I don't get to see you so much during the summer.

I've been so busy since I started teaching. And the church I go to has been eagerly creating opportunities for me to use what musical skills I have. Not that they're suffering for musical talent. They have wonderful singers and musicians, great guitarists, and the pianists and organists are topnotch. It's just that they're always looking to plug in new musicians any way they can.

I've rediscovered tin whistle, which is a little-recognized, but much-heard instrument. Most people who enjoy movies have probably heard it played. It's the instrument that makes the theme to Titanic so haunting. Most people think it's a flute played very expressively. It's not. It's a Celtic instrument, kind of an end-blown flute. I played whistle right after I graduated from college, put it away for a long time when I was busy with ballet, then raising a family, and now I'm back at it. I use it as a devotional tool. Sometimes I play to God. Sometimes I laugh or weep with it. And sometimes I play it in church. Our scheduler has put my whistle on the offeratory list. Not long ago we put together an arrangement of "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" with violin, tin whistle and piano. I hope it was as devotional to listen to as it was to play.

Only thing is, now I have three instruments (whistle, guitar, keyboard), plus voice, to keep up with and practice each day and still be conscientious about raising the kids and being a good wife and mom. This could never have happened when the kids were younger. And it's my feeble excuse for not keeping up with the blog.

A., I'm praying for you during the busiest part of raising your new boy. You and your family are on my heart often.

I know many of our two or three regular readers are out of the habit of checking back, but if you ever check this way again, please drop a line in the comments. I'd love to hear from you. And I'll try to get busy and write regularly again.