In which we adventure to Chicago and Wisconsin

This week felt like 3 weeks worth of teaching, random work, and fun adventures. Thankful for each part of and also for the rest at the end to help recharge for another busy week to come. 

Downtown Chicago adventure with my dear student (and friend) Shannon! 

After Chicago, I went straight to play for a surprise 60 year wedding anniversary party. So sweet and beautiful! Then I went nearly straight to Huntley to join Zachary's family on a short weekend camping trip to Wisconsin. 

After a wonderful swim in the lake, we sat on the bank and read a couple chapters of The Bookends of The Christian Life by Jerry Bridges and Bob Bevington. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it! So full of grace and truth. In the context of the rest of the chapter, this passage especially moved me today.

"Making God's love contingent on our action is a sad but common misunderstanding in the church. Remember, a believer's union is never in jeopardy. For God's love is an eternal love that had no beginning, that shall have no ending; that cannot be heightened by any act of ours; that cannot be lessened by anything in us. While our sense of communion with God may fluctuate, his love does not grow and diminish. The wrath of God against the sin of saints was completely exhausted on the cross." 

In which Of Wire and Wood goes gigging

I've taken the habit of playing and singing a hymn with the mandolin every night before bed and I think it might just stick around a while. 

Wednesday night date night at Olive Garden = *Eyebrows* :) 

Practice with the boys. 

A freshly sealed driveway is a thing of beauty :) 

Annie got back from England in time for one more sleepover and Graham's date! 

Saturday I had CODA recitals and then in the evening, played my first gig with Of Wire and Wood! Grand fun and great music! We even had people up and dancing on a few tunes! 

Then I went home and slept for 11 hours :) Sunday was a wonderfully quiet day with lots of cleaning and time in the scriptures and sunshine and rest. 

Sunday night, Zachary and I met up at Grahams to watch a sermon together. Really good stuff from Psalm 148.

Then we went for a walk to talk about it and ended up at the bridge where we sat and sang hymns for a while. A great end to the past week and a wonderful beginning to this one.