Swish, swish, swish.
As I crisscross down the mountain, I lean into my downhill ski and drop my shoulder with each turn.
Concentrate on your balance and making even turns, I remind myself. Relax your arms and lean into the mountain.
Swish, swish.
55 Hymns by Black Composers
18 Books to Read This Year (2023 Book List)
The Old and the New
Here we are: another year before us full of possibility and promise. Leaving another year behind with mixed feelings of delight, sadness, and everything in between, as is usually the case.
But we never really leave it behind, right? It's not as simple as turning the page on the calendar and erasing everything that's come before.
2022: A Year in Review
Happy New Year's Eve!
It’s my tradition here on the blog to share a year-in-review post on December 31—a look back on our favorite moments and the things we learned and made and experienced during the year. 2022 was a year of highs and lows; busy seasons and slow seasons; music, baking, old-house projects, and a little painting.
Here's a look back on our year:
The 8 Best Books I Read in 2022
Do you keep track of the books you read each year?
I started doing this a few years ago and it's been fun to see this virtual bookshelf expand.
This year, I read 35 books—the most I've ever read in one year! The difference? I bought a Kindle.
Editorial: The Squirrel Who (Almost) Stole Christmas
“A whispered chaos swirls in the mind of those who carry unmade decisions,” Emily P. Freeman writes.
And for those of us who feel the tension between outward signs of change—the frosty mornings, the wisps of wind through the cherry tree, the shifting light at end of day—and inward ones, we know this is true.
The days are shorter, but our to-do lists are longer; the natural world around us is slowing down, preparing for a season of darkness and quiet and rest, but we are moving faster, preparing for a season of light and holiday performances and dinner parties.
How to Find the Right Piano Teacher
A friend reached out recently to ask about how to find a piano teacher for her two young children.
"Any pointers on how to find the right person?" she asked. "Do you think going to a school is better or finding someone to come to us is better?"
The interview process for finding a music teacher goes both ways:
Editorial: The Six-Decision Cup of Coffee
“A whispered chaos swirls in the mind of those who carry unmade decisions,” Emily P. Freeman writes.
And for those of us who feel the tension between outward signs of change—the frosty mornings, the wisps of wind through the cherry tree, the shifting light at end of day—and inward ones, we know this is true.
The days are shorter, but our to-do lists are longer; the natural world around us is slowing down, preparing for a season of darkness and quiet and rest, but we are moving faster, preparing for a season of light and holiday performances and dinner parties.
How to Use Handbells to Underscore a Reading
Musical underscoring in worship (traditional and contemporary) is a creative way to elevate spoken texts, connect musical elements that may be separated by reading or prayer, or highlight a drama or moment of prayer in the service. Today, I'm sharing a step-by-step guide to creating your own musical underscores for worship using handbells.
