natalie’s blog

While the front-runners in the 2008 Presidential campaign do nothing to excite me, quite the opposite is true of Peter DeGraaf. The DeGraaf family have been friends of ours for years and I was thrilled when I learned that Mr. DeGraaf, after considerable thought and prayer, decided to run for the Kansas State House Seat […]

It’s official. Here’s what I’ve been working on. Check it out…

Yesterday I almost died. Well, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but I awoke at 6:40 a.m. with a start and became immediately aware of a horrible sick feeling. I spent the next 24 hours in various stages of sickness - I’ll spare you the details - and thought all kinds of profound thoughts […]

Do you want to know the secret to getting a lot done? Here it is in a nutshell: structured procrastination. I love this concept! Probably because I’ve been doing it for years. Silly me, I just always thought it was a bad habit. I’m relieved to discover quite the opposite. It makes me feel much […]

Memories, memories
flitting through my mind,
racing, reminding, compelling
transporting me to other times.
So much to remember,
so much to recall,
the images grow fainter
’til I can hardly see them at all.
But oh the joy to sit with friends
and jointly to reflect
on times gone by and memories made
so that I shall not forget.
Pen and paper have their place
but cannot […]

One of last weekend’s projects: paint and redecorate the basement hallway.
Here’s what it looked like once I got it cleared and taped and ready to paint.

This is the most recent picture I could find of what it looked like before the redo. Bland white walls, very marked up and badly in need of repainting. I […]

Just read this anecdote and couldn’t help but smile…
There was this man who, many years ago, worked for a large business. That was his lifetime employment, but he wasn’t happy there. He wanted to go into business for himself. He saved his money and finally had enough that he could quit and start his own […]

After I finished my teaching year with a couple of piano camps in July, I took some time off. Here’s a recap of some of what I’ve been up to…
INDEPENDENCE, KANSAS

I spent four days with Andy and Nicole in Independence. The first night they took me to the local miniature golf course to play […]

As I approached the front door of the brick building, I breathed yet another quick prayer that I would find favor in the eyes of the manager, or whomever I would have to speak with to resolve this situation. I had never had this experience before, so I wasn’t quite sure how to handle it […]

…all too soon, I’m afraid! I gave all my piano students a spring break and made an attempt to tackle my spring break to-do list. To satisfy everyone’s curiosity, here’s what I managed to get done from my list:
Thoroughly clean bedroom and studio
Go through closet; dejunk and reorganize
Buy fabric and make skirt
Finish homework and prepare […]

…play in the snow!

a heartfelt word upon my lips
a prayer within my heart
I offer to the Lord on this Thanksgiving Day.
for all the blessings
he bestows
Far more than I could ever say.
for bright sunshine
and cloudless skies
For all creation that ceases not of God in heaven to proclaim.
for parents dear
who by word and deed
Impart to me God’s eternal way.
for sisters […]

A friend of mine e-mailed me, asking the following question: “Hey, what are your beliefs and thoughts on semi-blind dating?” She said she thought it would be a good topic for my blog, too, so I told her I’d post my answer here.
 
You know, I’ve heard people caution that dating often causes one to see […]

Gathering rocks to make a fire pit.
Roasting bratwurst over the campfire.
Walking along the beach.
Listening to the wind whip the sides of the tent through the night.
Gazing up at the brilliant glow of the full moon.
Walking along a nature trail.
Sitting under a tree reading a good book.
Waking up to sunshine and clear blue skies.
Watching kiteboarders sail […]

I just returned from a weekend at the annual conference of our Kansas Music Teachers Association to an exciting new development and just had to share the news. It’s official…(are you on the edge of your seat yet?)…we now have high speed Internet!! Hooray! And we’re only about three years behind the 40+ million U.S. […]

A number of people have requested that I post pictures from our New Year’s Eve Masquerade. I was not inclined to do so because the event doesn’t particularly conjure fond memories for me. I am so much more inclined to share with others about things that I consider successful or at least that have enough […]

Alright, so I guess “tagged” is the official term. Either way, Lydia has requested that I post the following information in these Seven categories of Seven items each:
Seven things I hope to do before I die:
1. Become fluent in reading New Testament Greek.
2. Go skydiving.
3. There’s a place in the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee where […]

One of my most often induced sources of irritation is that phrase, “I didn’t have time.” It is used by old and young alike, most often in conjunction with an explanation for why they have not fulfilled a task that was their responsibility. (You should see the look on my face when one of my […]

Woohoo! I’m so excited! I just received the Interlinear Greek-English Bible I ordered! I’ve wanted for so long to have an actual Greek Bible to read and when I recently saw this one that my friend Julie S. has, I began my search for one more earnestly. I really like the format of this particular […]

Wow…how do people keep up with blogging every day? I’m so amazed at those who can come up with so much quality material on such a regular basis! And I’m quite grateful to them for doing so, as I benefit greatly from their writings.
Part of my current problem is that I’m trying to develop a […]