what happened to your FACE

Life is rich. I've really been enjoying summer. On Sunday, Ashley, me and 5 other people performed some of my songs at a concert. My dad's nonprofit, the Row House, put it on. A traveling musician and new friend of my family, Josh Garrels, was on the East coast and agreed to play a show at our church. The seven of us (new band name: Take My Bird For It) played a longish opening set for him. First of all, Josh was great. He is a hip-hop-inspired, Jesus-following man who writes genuine and lovely and groove-filled music, playing two instruments: sampler and acoustic guitar. (I know, right? Watch this. Or download his new record for FREE here.) Our group (a 5-member girls choir and my drummer/brother) had only come together once before (on the previous Tuesday,) but everyone did so well. I was really impressed by everyone's natural, raw talent, good instincts, and passionate musicianship. Once again, I was gently (yet forcefully) reminded of the Lord's goodness in providing me with friends who love music and so loyally follow me on musical adventures- which lead to other adventures, where other friends inevitably are- how, how, Lord, are you so good to me and so kind? Oh, Praise God! It was fun to perform for those 200 folks who cheered as well as clapped, some of whom came up to talk to me afterwards. Strangers! From other states! Into my music! Ashley and I were talking to a woman named Leona and I remember a brief moment of eye-contact between us that said "What?- so much affirmation- could this be happening??" After the show, we tidied the church -pushing the baby grand back against the wall, returning the pulpit to the stage, distributing the decorative balloons to willing children- and then I talked and drank iced tea with a handful of lovely people at my friend Bethany's house.

Hugely wonderful.

I had a conversation with my dear friend Julie, who lives in Virginia, today. We were talking about how good it is to be occupied, to work, to have your hands busy and your days filled. Maybe when we are more mature, down the line when the Spirit has molded us more, we will be able to sit and rest all day without becoming depressed or angry or lonely. But at this age, we both agree, we need things to do in order to be content. I wrestle with this a lot. But I think that in order to rest, you also need to work. And I love resting.

I've been working full time. This has been good. The kids I watch are: a 6-year old boy and an 8-year-old girl. (Even though my instincts are probably old school, there's no way I'm putting their names on here. Seems like an intro to a bad 90's movie where the kids end up abducted by Russians.) These kids are sometimes really chill, and sometimes hilarious. The boy got all riled up yesterday while explaining a nightmare he had to me. "I thought I woke up! But I was still in my dream. And my mom was there! But she didn't have a face- just lips! And I was like, 'MOM! What happened to your FACE!?" Later, we were at piano lessons. I let him borrow my phone to type messages on the screen so I could focus on my book (sign of a great babysitter, eh?) He typed some bizarre stuff, and then blew me away with typing this: "I love mom and dad." It was really cute, I thought. My other job vaguely involves burritos ;)

I love you all. I have thought of you quite a lot these last weeks, and am so completely grateful for this blog. Thank you, thank you, for being my friends. I'd love to end this post by asking after your prayers for me: I have become more aware this weekend that I need to pray more. I want to be in communication with the Lord more, and become more sensitive to his hourly leading- but I fail so often to talk to Him, to give Him time. Pray for me in that, friends: it would surely help. Keep writing. -hb