On the First of February

February 1, 2017

I've been writing more, just like I have over the winters of the last five years. For whatever reason, my blogging discipline always suffers when I enter that zone. My mind swarms with ideas, but my creative juices are poured out into word documents and whatever notebook I'm currently filling. I'm here today with my third mug of hot water of the morning, so let's have another one of our chats. 

I started the new year off by downloading the Spotify app. This is at least the third time I've tried to give Spotify a go. I still prefer the variety Pandora provides without any work from my end. BUT, one month in and my favorite discovery is the "Weekly Playlist" they make for me. It's spot on. Last week it was all peaceful piano. This week's list has been smooth jazz. Now I just need to remember to save the songs I especially like each week.  Do you use Spotify or Pandora? I'd love to hear any tips you have! 

Last weekend, we went to a going away party for a guy that was in a Christmas show alongside my brother and sister. I got to talking with his Mom and it turns out that we used to live in the house that his grandma's sister had built. When I was a kid, his great-grandparents lived down the street and I used to visit with his great-grandpa on my way to town. It's strange how small this world is sometimes! That chance meeting is going to stay with me for a while. It's the kind of happy wave I delight in riding. 

I finally talked myself into going to a sport night that a new friend invited me to join in on. I even talked myself into playing pick-up basketball for the first time in years. I forgot how good it feels to run up and down the court and to play defense. The volleyball afterwards is fun, but the basketball caught me by surprise. Do you ever get to play sports? 

Ever since last fall I've been baking bread every chance I get. It's a simple no-knead bread that my friend Evy taught me to make four winters ago. Mix 3 1/2 cups flour, 1 1/2 tsp yeast, 2 tsp salt, and 2 cups warm water in a large mixing bowl with a plastic spoon. Put a lid on it and wait at least 1 hour (or all day or overnight or however long). Turn it out onto a floured surface and shape it into a round loaf. Bake it at 450* on a parchment paper lined baking pan (DO NOT SKIP THE PARCHMENT PAPER) for 30-40 minutes. ENJOY. This goes super well with a hearty soup or salad. Or toasted with cheese. You can't lose. 

Oh, spotify just threw in some gospel rap. Sho Baraka's "Here, 2016" is a welcome addition to the playlist! I've been listening to Lecrae's old album "Rebel" when I'm running around town. So far, I have the intro song memorized and now I'm working on "Got Paper" because it's too good not to. Do you ever memorize raps? So much of my Scripture memory happened by way of the rappers I've listened to since jr high. My Mom calls them mini-sermons. I call them gooood. 

Louisa May Alcott has me thinking about kindness. Do you know how rare a genuinely kind person is? I think that is the quality that I admire most in people. I always thought it was loyalty or honesty, but it's definitely kindness. I'm glad I know that now. What about you, what do you admire or value in a person? 

Well, I'm off for now. Maybe I'll be back soon! 

What's on your mind today?