playing the oboe is...

I recently said yes to once again picking up my oboe and playing in an ensemble and orchestra for our church's Christmas concert. Because I actually have a few important parts and feel like the weakest player in our otherwise talented orchestra, I'm quite motivated to practice hard and often. I tried to do a search on any information that might help my technique, and stumbled across this humorous entry on the internet. The writer (Esther Wheaton, an oboe player much more accomplished than yours truly) lists some results found on the internet, followed by her own comments. Please note I did not write any of what follows, but I do concur! If you do not understand an entry, you might be because you've never tried to play the oboe...

So I did a Google search on the phrase “Playing the oboe is”… The results are interesting! Some are normal and I would expect them, some are funny, some are wildly misinformed. Anyway, here are some of my favorites:

playing the oboe is having a good supply of reeds on hand.
But it is more of an adventure when you don’t.

Playing the oboe is one of those talents which not many people can say they have accomplished
True!

playing the oboe is harder than it should be
Yes, playing the oboe is unique. Although it seems many of the other sources liken it to swimming underwater and cross country running.

playing the oboe is not an easy thing and you will be physically tired

Playing the oboe is not brain surgery. Making a reed on the other hand…Jim always says making a reed is not brain surgery, but I’m pretty sure it’s close.

playing the oboe is an expensive proposition
Hurrrrrrgh

playing the oboe is very attractive at the moment
This was a result from someone looking to take up a second instrument. Oh the surprise they have in store.

Playing the oboe is a little crazy and masochistic at times, but it is also wonderful.
This is a result that I wrote! Aww. This is how I feel about the oboe.

playing the oboe is to be a good musician
Well, more often than playing the violin, anyway.

playing the oboe is easy once you’ve got a good reed
I wouldn’t say easy, I would say easier and also more fun.

Playing the oboe is like living on the edge
Like the edge of a knife? Of a SHARP knife?

Playing the oboe is possibly one of the easier options for the dyslexic pupil
I don’t know how this works, precisely.

Playing the oboe is an unnatural thing to do,” says symphony oboist James Gorton

Playing the oboe is almost like blowing into a straw all day. It does something to your brain
SOMETHING TERRIBLE

Playing the oboe is a life long journey
Down a road plagued by wolves.

Playing the oboe is never going to look as cool as strumming a bass, but the oboe player is doing amazing things with music
Whereas that bass player…

Playing the oboe is like trying to play with your lips pressed flat against a brick wall

playing the oboe is that we just look weird when we play
I always get multiple chins. It is awkward.

Playing the oboe is pure prayer
Like a crashing plane, but without a wing.

playing the oboe is that you get dizzy alot because you have to blow like really hard to get the sound and when you play a high note you have to blow really fast and I get light headded alot. [sic]
This is my favorite result, I think.

Playing the oboe is not a practice; if the oboe had never been invented, we could still, somehow, live full lives
LIES AND HERESY

Playing the oboe is fine, but being a musician and a music student in particular are not my favorite things

Playing the oboe is not that different from using a computer

playing the oboe is good for lung function and for strengthening mental processes
STRENGTHENING?

filled to overflowing

In light of Thanksgiving, I thought I would begin to literally count my blessings and name them one by one. I tried to look past the obvious (but no less meaningful) things like family, friends, and material possessions to some of the things that might otherwise get overlooked. Here's a sample of my list...

Things I could live without but am nonetheless thankful for:
-coupons, consignment shops, and sales at Kohl's
-flannel sheets
-the produce section at Meijer
-automatic doors on our van
-the sun shining in our family room windows in the winter
-free cookies at the grocery store which motivate my youngest to behave while we shop
-a purring cat on my lap
-that I still have my oboe and sort of know how to play it

Things my children have opened my eyes to:
-the hard work of construction workers and farmers
-fantasy
-bedtime after a long day
-the color black
-Wii
-the Aunt Millie's bread man
-dogs
-how many sources of protein there are besides meat
-not crying over spilled milk

Little things that really do matter:
-an encouraging word at just the right moment
-friends who say they will pray for me and really do
-people who say thank you
-smiles of understanding at a child's misbehavior
-a child who tells me, "You're the best, Mom!" when I least deserve it
-my husband taking over the kids and ordering me out of the house for some time alone after a particularly trying day

From our church:
-17 years of shaping and learning under our departing pastor
-the most recent EWO mission conference
-the book of Colossians and women who wanted to study it as badly as I did
-seeing the MOMS group in action
-praying again with prayer corp members

Especially this:
-3 days and nights away alone with my husband for our 15th wedding anniversary
-homiletics every week for BSF
-watching my daughter learn from and overcome a difficult situation at school
-absolute truth
-hard situations which cause me to depend desperately on God and know Him as never before
-breakthroughs in prayer
-conviction of sin
-the lavish love of God and forgiveness of sin in Christ

I somehow feel like the richest woman on earth, but then I am a daughter of the King. Enjoy counting your blessings and have a blessed Thanksgiving!!!

gladdening the heart of a child

Happy third birthday, Josiah!! He couldn't even wait to get out of his pajamas this morning to commence the birthday celebrations. He wanted cake and candles but had to settle for a few presents to start the day. All he asked for was a digger and a helicopter. It wasn't hard to satisfy his simple requests.

A birthday cake was created with all his favorites, and lots of love.

Now comes the hard part...waiting for the party to begin! That's when my camera fell into the dog's water dish, so my picture-taking ended abruptly, though we did manage to get this shot:

We're grateful to everyone who made his day so special!

bedtime

When Micah and Rachel were little tykes, they both slept with their blankies and numerous stuffed animals. You can see below where Josiah stashes his stuffed animals at bedtime...under the bed!Here's his usual sleep friends: a helicopter, various diggers and construction equipment, airplanes, and trains. And yes, as of last week, Puff the Magic Dragon.
Sweet dreams! We pray you don't get poked or incinerated! (Who needs bedbugs?) Perhaps his blankie offers some kind of protection we don't yet understand?

cousins and yummies

Josiah and cousin Elliana are just a few months apart, and really enjoy it when they get to play together!

Tonight Rachel tried a recipe from an American Girl book we picked up last week. It was a hit! (And yes, that is a sword tucked into her belt.)

Cream Soda Floats

2 scoops vanilla ice cream

cream soda

garnish with vanilla cookie

that the world may know

This hymn was introduced to me at our missions conference recently as a favorite of many on staff with New Tribes Missions, an agency that takes the gospel to unreached tribal groups. The words are powerful, and as I ponder them, do I really dare to think of what God may do if He answers such a plea for His people? Do I dare contemplate what He may do through me?

Set My Soul Afire
Set my soul afire, Lord, for Thy Holy Word,
Burn it deep within me, let Thy voice be heard;
Millions grope in darkness in this day and hour,
I will be a witness, fill me with Thy power.

Set my soul afire, Lord, For the lost in sin,
Give to me a passion as I seek to win;
Help me not to falter, never let me fail,
Fill me with Thy Spirit, let Thy will prevail.

Set my soul afire, Lord, in my daily life.
Far too long I've wandered in this day of strife;
Nothing else will matter but to live for Thee,
I will be a witness for Christ lives in me.

Chorus
Set my soul afire Lord, set my soul afire,
Make my life a witness of Thy saving power.
Millions grope in darkness, waiting for Thy Word.
Set my soul afire, Lord, set my soul afire.

room for two?

Snuggling on the couch and sharing a pillow is always a treat. Here's a rare picture that actually includes Mommy...