Christmas Part 1

Saturday night, we celebrated the holidays with my mom's side of the family.  For the past several years, we have all gotten together a week (ish) before Christmas.  Everyone shares some food - salad, wine, entree, etc... and we all plop a squat in the living room enjoying each other's company.  We pick names for gifts so everyone gives and exchanges one present.  LOVE this idea - makes things simple.  :)  Usually, I get suckered into playing Christmas music on the piano for a while and then inevitably, all children under 5 want to play the piano also.  My cousin has 4 adorable children, so they are usually doing something entertaining. It's a nice time to catch up and hear about new (and old) things in people's lives.  We chit chat about everything from work to politics to life changes to college to ... anything and everything!  I love my family and we are so blessed that they all live nearby.  Here are some pictures from the evening! 

My beautiful mother :)

family christmas card picture ... for this year

take 2

first christmas with the love of my life!  (well, almost christmas)

Little Jessica - almost 2 years old

Cousin Rebecca and her boyfriend, Nick

Jordyn and I - she is the sweetest 2nd grader I know

Jordyn's Safta (hebrew word for Grandma) got her a pretty necklace and lipgloss... she's getting so old!

Ben excited about his 2 year subscription to National Affairs  (very interesting journal!  check out their online articles)

My mom loved this scarf...

but wasn't sure how to put it on... epitome of politically INcorrect

tasty dessert success!

Ben teaching Brody pool.  No nonsense allowed either. 

Easy to see why children are precious to Jesus. 

 What is your family doing to celebrate Christmas?  (we have 2 or 3 more celebrations to come - can't wait to share them with you!)

Let the celebrations begin,
- Ren

You have what you say

I've learned a lot of things from my dad over the years.  One of them is that the Bible has many principles in it that God has established and they're working whether or not you believe in the Bible.  One thing that God has established in this world is "You have what you say."  (Mark 11:23-24)  The reason this verse works is because most people believe what they're saying when they say it, without even thinking about it really. 
Honestly, I used to think it was weird that my dad applied truth from God's Word to every little thing in life.  Now, I see that his faith is real.  His faith isn't sunday-only-faith, or believe-what-i-want-when-i-want-faith, but rather faith that lives out God's will in his every day life and TRULY believes all of what God says.  The kind of faith God commands us to have.  Hebrews 11:1 says "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."  If you are sure something is going to happen, your certainty isn't based on faith, it's based on knowledge.  The pastor of the church I grew up in defined faith as "believing in the Word of God and acting upon it, regardless of how I feel, knowing that God promises a good result." 

Back to the principle - you have what you say.  Lots of people are experiencing something in their life - big or small - that is a result of their speech.  I used to say "I'm so stressed" a lot.  a LOT.  (side note: I was one of those people that thought it was somehow impressive to always be stressed or busy, so when people would ask how I was I might respond, "good, but I'm so stressed." or "good, but I'm so busy."  Thank GOD I learned to stop doing that.  Listen for this in conversations you have with people - it's amazing how many people brag about their busy-ness.)  Anyway, guess what. I WAS stressed.   I chose stress and I felt stress because I said it a lot.  Not once or twice.  A lot.  Another example, think about someone you know who might be experiencing depression.  I am not minimizing the real emotional state that people experience, especially when they don't have the resources to deal with a devastating circumstance or a chemical imbalance...  but does this person you know often say (to themselves or others) "I'm so depressed."  Definitely not helping their situation.  My dad said that when I was 2, everyone would tell him, "oh no!  watch out- terrible twos" (or something along those lines).  He knew they were just joking, going along with popluar cultural phrase to make conversation, but he would respond "no. she's great. we call them the terrific twos."  And sure enough, I guess my two year old phase was great.

A small thing that my longest friends might find humorous.  I used to drop my phone a lot.  Again, not once or twice, but a lot.  I also said "I drop my phone all the time" all the time.  I would tell all sorts of people that.  I remember my dad saying... well, you have what you say.  So I decided I was going to stop saying that. and guess what? I haven't dropped my phone in a long time. 

This is one of those principles that is working for or against you whether or not you believe God's Word.  Try it.  Pick something you say that is negative.  Replace it with the positive alternative.  See if it impacts you over a period of time.  It could be big or small.  Maybe a family member that you always speak negatively about is living up to your negative expectations.  Maybe a 2-year-old to call "terrific" instead of "terrible."  Maybe you talk about how nervous or anxious you feel a lot. 

What speech are you going to change?
-ren

Beginning Singers...

Teaching beginning singers is hard.  They teach you a lot of ridiculous things in music education programs (like every nursery rhyme you could ever imagine, and oh yeah, i learned to play the tuba. great.), but I did not truly learn the ins and outs of teaching beginning singers.  What do you mean by beginning? you ask... oh, well think can't match the note, don't want to match the note, but want to sing like Trey Songz.  Beginning like, too tired to try on Mondays (because it's Monday), Wednesday (because it's... wednesday.) and Fridays because well who does work on Fridays?!  Beginning like, won't sing "high" if they think it's "high" and talk-sing instead of sing-sing the low notes.  However, the first time we sang a warm-up that sounded semi-decent (everyone almost singing the same note while i played pretty background music on the piano), they were so excited.  That's when it's fun.
 
Anyway, another challenging thing about teaching beginning singers, many of whom don't really want to learn how to sing (but, like I mentioned, want to be the next Beyonce) is deciding what music to sing.  Initially, most students in my classes generally hate everything. "Ugh Ms Cook this song is so dry.  Ugh why we gotta learn this" (I hear that a lot.. even if I bring in a song they suggest.)  I mean, let's be honest. Who has ever seen a group of beginning singers (think Junior high or high school choir concert) and thought, wow I  love that song.  Yeah, exactly.  One bonus about teaching at my school is the kids love gospel choir music.  And most want to sing it like they hear at church.  (Ms Cook, that's my song! I hear that a lot too...)  What they don't realize when they want to sing "that one kirk franklin song" is that there are10 professional singers recording multiple times over each other so that they end up with a choir singing 6 different voice parts.  Not to mention the added benefits of a recording studio.  I mean, we can barely have everyone singing the same note for more than 3 beats, so I think Kirk's newest hit is a little out of our reach.

Then, even when I do bring in a song like "Oh Happy Day" (highly requested), they all only want to sing the melody, get angry when the altos have to sing the harmony, and even angrier when it doesn't sound like Sister Act. haha

Haha sometimes, my students are hilarious.  Actually, they are often hilarious.

Now, I explain all this teaching beginners on here, but I really try my best not to be one of those teachers who is like, "I know more than you and you don't get it so too bad."  (Although at times my patience is tested.)

Okay, so the real point of this post (after that long exposition on beginning singers) is that we started singing "seasons of love" from Rent.  They all associated it with the Macy's commercial, so they enjoyed learning it.  It's a work in progress.  For a change of pace, I decided to show the movie these last few days before Winter Break.

Call me crazy, but I think movies can be really valuable if they're watched right - unfortunately, most movies in school are "free days" i.e. do whatever you want because the teacher doesn't feel like teaching.  So, yes, I'm one of those obnoxious teachers that gave a background of the movie and musical (we're talking brief, like 5 minutes brief... because in a movie like Rent, where so much of the dialogue is in song, it's important for them to have a background of 1989 new york bohemian life style to understand the major conflicts.) and a short worksheet with basic questions, along with a couple questions that require you to think.  I don't let them talk, they earn participation points for watching, and they may not leave, do other homework, text, or sleep.  Yeah, it's pretty intense in room 151. 

I explained to them it's a musical, actually more like an opera - barely any dialogue, yet the entire first class period we watched it, they all sighed every time the characters started singing.  Ugh, Ms. Cook why they singing again? Ugh.   However, I was very insistent that they pay attention.  We paused once per class to talk about what was happening and who was who and today, the 3rd day we've been watching it, 3 out of the 4 classes were eagerly watching to see what happened next.  They were asking good questions about the characters and realizing deeper thematic elements throughout the scenes.  It was really fun!

Happy to be a music teacher,
Mrs. Cook

Anger Management

I have a student, let's call him Joe, who is... unique.  Joe has a very distinct voice- slightly nasal, loud... piercing actually.  Joe also makes a scene when he enters a room.  Whether it's loud walking, dramatic backpack dropping, extreme sighs, singing... you just never know.  Joe also has a physical disability.  I don't know what it's called, but it effects his writing because his arms are shorter than would be proportional and he has less than 5 fingers on each hand.  He's obviously learned to adapt well, in my opinion, when it comes to this part of his life.  However, he has also been labeled as having a learning disability, according to his IEP (individualized educational plan, for my non-teacher friends out there).  I'm not sure whether Joe is actually "learning disabled," to be honest.  But that's kinda besides the point because he's been treated as learning disabled and allowed to slack off, so he does.  Reinforcing the cycle.  Anyway... back to the point.  So, Joe.  Joe has good days and bad days in choir.  He can be really enthusiastic.  He seems to enjoy being the center of attention (who doesn't, though?)  He likes singing (although the distinct voice makes for an interesting choir sound).  He can be as negative as he can be positive.  With the flip of a switch, or one too many rude jokes from an ignorant peer, Joe will lose it.  (Side note - I've noticed a culture of needing to have the last word among my students.  It's extremely irritating.  More on this another time.)  I talk to Joe a lot one - on - one.  He drops his stuff off in my room 7th period (my prep) while he eats lunch, to return for class 8th period.  He occasionally pops by to say hi or I see him in the halls.  I talk to him after class sometimes to discuss how the class went that day.  Joe is VERY aware of his behavior.  He'll say things like, "Ms Cook I had a bad day in math and I was angry and I know I was taking it out on you in choir and that aint right."  For someone who can act so immature, he is much more aware of his thoughts and behavior than other students I have.

As a personal policy, I try really hard not to write students up.  It sends them out of my authority, almost as if to say "I can't handle you... they'll deal with it."  I pretty much don't go there, except for the non-negotiables in school policy (refusing to submit cell phone upon teacher request or cursing someone out, etc...).  I've only written a couple students up this year so far.  Success.  But the other day, Joe was so out of line, I had to write him up.  Kinda.  I talked to him after class back and forth and explained that while I try to be patient, I will not tolerate disrespect.  We discussed that no matter how disrespectful students are to me or each other, I never disrespect them (more on that another time).  Anyway, Joe was not happy about this write up, but I was frustrated and felt like I was out of options.

After Joe left and I had silence to myself (rare at school - or in life really), I realized I might have acted emotionally.  I try not to do this with students, but I do.  The problem was - if you threaten, you have to stand by it... right?  This is my theory... 99% of the time.  However, I'm not perfect.  So, what a dilemma.  I was starting to wish I hadn't told Joe I was writing him up.  I was replaying the scenario over and over in my head.  I decided to just put the writeup in the trash.  Was this the right choice? I don't know.  The next day, Joe was silent.  Didn't sing.  Didn't talk.  Didn't make scenes.  Just sat there.  (moping, immature, sulking, yes.)  The following day, Joe was back to normal, enthusiastic Joe but not disruptive.  I saw this glimpse of a student that I see like twice a week (that I try to constantly reward and give positive attention to).  I don't know if he assumed I didn't send the write up in.  Or if he thought I forgot.  Or if he forgot.  I really have no idea.  I still don't know if I did the right thing either.

Today, Joe was a little nutso but not off the charts.  I could tell this other student was bothering him and so after class I asked him about it.  We talked about how some people just say things to get a reaction (which is why I "wait" for silence instead of reacting or yelling... more on that later).  At the end of our conversation, he asked me if I thought he should take an anger management class.  He asked it quietly, like a secret, even though there was no one else in the room.  This student, who can drive me absolutely up a wall (though I try to never let on), who is a complete psycho on unpredictable days of the week, who is a ridiculous jokester, who can be hilarious, who writes with 3 fingers and tells it like it is... this kid asked me for serious advice.  He really wanted to know what I thought.  And he wanted help.  Teacher moment? yes.  I went on to point him to Jesus (he said he was a Christian) and we talked about controlling reactions, reacting emotionally, strategies, etc...  We concluded an anger management class might help with strategies for reacting to negative situations and that a faith-based class would be the best.

Sometimes I miss the little ones.  I miss their cute questions and funny stories.   I miss their weird presents and pictures.  But when I get to have a real conversation with a teenager who needs help in life and I can point him to Jesus... in a public school... then, yes. I love working with the occasionally psycho, sometimes brilliant, and unpredictable adolescents. 

A teacher in the making...

God's Word

The Word of God...

• Is eternal - "The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of God endures forever." - Isa. 40:8
• Is powerful - "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" - Heb 4:12 
• Guides us - "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." - Psalm 119:105
• Refreshes us - "The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul" -Psalm 19:7
• Corrects us - "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." - 2 Timothy 3:16
• Leads us to Jesus - "The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word." - Hebrews 1:3

This list could go on and on.  Take a minute to meditate on the following passage about God's Word:

 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.  There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.  He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.  The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.  He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.  He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.  Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.  The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.  (John 1:1-14)

Wait a minute?  Is that pronoun right?  He, the Word?  Yes.  He, the Word.  The Word of God became flesh...  Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ fulfills every prophecy made about him hundreds of years before He walked on the earth.  Jesus Christ IS God's Word in human form.  He became like us (Philippians 2) born in a manger (Luke 2), over 2000 years ago, forever to change history.

Ask God for a supernatural revelation of his Word to you personally in this Christmas season.  His Word is LIVING, so no matter how many times you've read that passage, it can come alive to teach you in a fresh, new way.  

Resting in the peace God's Word provides,

-Renee 

   

5 months

Today is the 5 month-iversary for Ben and I :)

Woohoo!!!!

5 months ago to the day, we committed our love and faithfulness to one another...

This was one passage we had read at our wedding (Colossians 3:12-17)
 ¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
 ¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.


We have by no means perfected all that (good thing we have a lifetime together), but we are walking through life side by side now.  

5 months down, a life time to go.   

Celebrating the best 5 months of my life,
-Ren

Mixture of Emotions

I'm currently experiencing a mixture of emotions that are all over the place.  I think they're canceling one another out to equal blah.

I spent the day at a Professional Development. Throughout the fall, public school districts hold professional development days (or teacher institute, staff development, whatever) to "professionally develop" the teachers while the students are at home sleeping or playing video games or the like.  Thankfully, our administration tries to keep the meetings short and the preparation time long... meaning lots of time to plan, prepare for students, collaborate, etc...  Today, however, was one of those all-day-meetings.  No complaints though. From what I've heard and seen, we have it pretty lucky when it comes to these days (where I work anyway...)

Maybe you're wondering... "Emotions from professional development?"

We spent the last hour of the day discussing ACT scores.  Now, since I teach music, I'm a little out of the loop when it comes to certain things in the building.  However, all juniors in the state of Illinois recently took a practice ACT.  They take it in the fall and we get their results around this time of year so that they have a few months to improve their scores before the official school-wide test in April.  There are several times they can take the test throughout the year, but the school administers the test for free in April to all junior level students. 

For those of you who have been out of high school for a while, the ACT is scored out of 36 - a composite score that is made up of an English, Math, Science, and Reading tests as well as a written portion.  This is one of 2 main tests used on college applications, the other standardized test being the SAT.  Colleges generally accept a score from one or the other, and the ACT is the more common test midwest area schools use.

The average score at the high school from which I graduated is 24.6 (2009-2010 junior class).
The average score at the high school where I currently teach is 16.1 (2009-2010 junior class).

I learned a lot during our P.D. today.  The students who teachers think are the "top students" in our school - students who take AP and honors classes, students who are over achievers in every area, students who have good attendance and 3.8 GPAs (for better or worse, I was one of these kids in high school...) they are scoring between 16 and 19 on average.  The highest score in the building last year was a 26.  In case your math is fuzzy, that's less than 2 points above the AVERAGE score at Prospect  High School in Mount Prospect, IL.  (where there are always a couple kids who score the test perfectly each year.)  Granted, Prospect is higher than the state average and it's a very good high school.  (The average composite score for the state of IL is 20.4.) 

But, what I was so hung up on was these "honors kids."  These top kids.  These kids who teachers in my school give A's to.  Supposedly they are learning... Why aren't they scoring better?  I know not everyone is a test-taker.  But at least one out of those 400 kids has to be a "test taker."  And many of them sat through 10 Saturdays of ACT prep class. 


There are all sorts of theories.  Teachers blame the tests.  The test writers blame the teachers. The kids blame themselves.  Everyone points fingers.  And there probably isn't just one reason for the gap. 

I'm not so concerned however about the gap between the kids I grew up with and the kids I teach.  I'm concerned about the kids I teach. Period.  The kids I teach are smart.  they are intelligent.  They enjoy learning.  (Side note - you should see the look on some people's face when I tell them that in person... and rightfully so.  With all the horror stories the media presents about Chicago's terrible south side schools, it's no wonder that someone I was with before I started working at Simeon literally called the kids there "animals," not that he knew any of them personally. That was just his educated assumption...) 

Anyway, a lot of the kids I teach are lacking skills, but not because they don't want them.  This is a major generalization, and mostly just me randomly processing my thoughts... but they don't know how.  They don't know how to learn.  They don't know how to comprehend.  They don't know how to "BS" a well written essay.  They don't know the language of the questions.  They just don't know.  and yet we're giving them A's in school.  Passing them through.  this is a  HUGE problem.

so, for the emotions...

Astounded - at the low scores.  In fact, the lowest composite score in our building was a 10.  Several students scored at a 10.  That is lower than the score you would receive (according to the stats) if you randomly guessed on every question throughout the test.

Frustrated - at the gap. 

Confused - what to do?  How do we move the scores?  Especially the scores of the students who are bright, creative thinkers.

Encouraged - I really like the administration at our school.  He has a whatever-it-takes attitude.  Tell them truth lovingly... your score is not competitive for good state schools.  If you want to go to _______ for college, we need to work hard to raise that score.  They are looking a positive school-wide strategies for raising the scores of the kids and they are taking lots of teacher input.

Irritated -  by teachers who don't take any responsibility for their teaching and blame everything bad on the kids.  Oh wait, but all the positives are the teacher's doing...

Hopeful - Simeon is on the right track.  These students have the ability.  This is not a hell hole or a drop-out factory.  These kids are bright, creative, intelligent, and have lots of potential  (especially the new freshmen class). 

Intrigued - Teaching music, I don't think a lot about ACT scores.  But it's changing my outlook - given the freedom in my curriculum (um, I don't have any standards or assigned teaching curriculum goals), what can I do in my classroom to help prepare these kids for college?

Confident - the Lord brought me to Simeon for a reason.  He has given me a supernatural love for these students and I will seek His guidance and wisdom about this job. 

Thankful - for the education I received and for the Lord's goodness in my life.

So, what about you?  Do you read about education in the news?  Ideas for raising the scores?  Ideas about the roots of the gap?  I'm interested to know what people think...

A local teacher who is refusing to get caught up in the mumbo-jumbo of protests and teachers unions, but rather work at my teaching practices to best educate the students,
-Renee

Messiah 3 and 4

The 3rd and 4th songs in Handel's Messiah are straight from Isaiah 40:4-5

"Every valley shall be raised up,
   every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
   the rugged places a plain. 

And the glory of the LORD will be revealed,
   and all people will see it together.  

For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” 

Jesus is a life-changer. He alters things.  Eternity changed when the glory of our Lord was revealed in Jesus Christ, God's Word incarnate.  God has a way of doing things that we might perceive as "backwards," but then again whose perception should we assume is right? ours or the Creator of the Universe's?  (Sadly many people would answer that question "ours."  But, narrow is the gate...) 

The valleys raised up, the mountains made low.  Backwards

Love your enemies.  Backwards

Forgive those who wrong you infinite number of times. Backwards.

It's as if Isaiah was shouting - Get ready because Jesus is coming and he will turn your world upside down.  Prepare. Prepare. Don't miss this one. 

What a relevant message for us in this present day.  It hits me in two ways.

1.) Do I have a supernatural revelation of Jesus Christ that is personal to me?  Does it truly personally effect me that Jesus came to earth to live a perfect life.  That my Savior and Redeemer was born in a manger.  That Christmas (as much as I love lights, trees, sparkles, red and green wrapping, and presents) is actually about the King of the World.  Am I ready to approach this season?

2.) Am I preparing for his return?  Get Ready.  He's coming back. The prophecies throughout the old and new testaments ring true - Jesus is returning in glory beyond our wildest imagination.  Is my heart ready?  What will I be doing?  Will He say, "well done my good and faithful servant?"  Because "the glory of the Lord will be revealed and all the people will see it together" whether they believe it or not. whether we're ready or not.  

Handel's Messiah puts this text beautifully to music, but more important than the music is the scripture's implicit question... are we ready? 

Preparing,

 -Renee 

Bible Highlighting System

Is it too early to think about goals for the New Year?  (aka: New Year's Resolutions)  I've been reading through the Bible this past year (last year's goal for 2010) and had a desire to go deeper in to the Word, but wasn't sure about a consistent system that I could use for marking my Bible to achieve this.  This article is a helpful resource for marking your Bible in a way that will increase scripture knowledge/ memory and help you (and me!) study the Bible more deeply.  Thanks God for the internet - there are tons of articles like this all over the world wide web :) Here's to a new-years-resolution in advance... cheers! 

"I have hidden your Word in my heart that I might not sin against you." - Psalm 119:11

Deeply desiring more of the Word, the Truth,
-Ren

Handel's Messiah Intro

Disclaimer:  This post will likely reveal the choir nerd inside of me.

The most well known part of Handel's Messiah is "The Hallelujah Chorus."  (One of my favorite sections occurs at 1:32-1:57 in this recording on youtube.)  Short music lesson - Messiah is an oratorio, which is like an opera (story that is all sung), but with no costumes, scenery, etc...  So, it was written to be performed in its entirety so the audience would hear the whole story Handel was communicating (all of which comes from scripture).  Especially at this time of the year, we often hear the "Hallelujah Chorus," but not the rest of it.  I'm not trying to harp on the people who only perform the Hallelujah Chorus.  However, Handel composed Messiah, brilliantly setting to music another writer's libretto (text written for music) which intertwined prophecies about the coming of the Messiah with scripture testifying about Christ's life, death, resurrection, and ultimate victory over sin and death at the end of time.  (It's written in 3 parts.)  Handel actually composed it for secular theater performance.  Back in the day, an oratorio would have been common entertainment for the upper class.  Most people that could afford it would have gone to see Handel's Messiah when it "premiered."  I've tried to think of a modern day comparison... maybe semi-similar to when Mel Gibson directed Passion of the Christ.  This movie got a lot of hype, so I'd assume a lot of non-Christian people went to see it, and they heard a LOT of scripture in those 2 hours.  I'm not sure if that's the best comparison.  Anyway...

Some of the blogs I write over this holiday season will include scripture from Messiah in the order it's performed in the oratorio, so I wanted to give a little background on the piece.  (I'll use NIV, although Messiah uses King James Version.)  Regardless of whether or not you ever get to hear it performed all the way through (which I highly recommend, even if opera isn't really your thing), the scripture is true.  The message is true.  More than a beautiful work of art, Messiah testifies to God's grace and love for the people He created.  From the beginning of time, God told us a Savior was coming.  The Savior came, fulfilling every prophecy made about Him.  He lived a sinless life on earth, died on the cross bearing the weight of the sin of the world, and rose from the grave conquering death!  He promises to come back and defeat Satan once and for all.  We know how the story ends - Handel knew how it ends too.  He quoted Revelation 5:12-13 at the end of Messiah, the choir singing, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!  To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever!"


Anticipating Christ's return,
- Ren

p.s. If you want to see Messiah performed in Chicago, I've heard this performance is great, although I've never been.   
          
 

Stolen Organizing Ideas

I like things to be organized.  I like finding new ideas for ways to organize things and I enjoy cleaning out the junk drawers, closets, filing cabinets, etc. (Of course, the ultimate goal is to not have to clean them out because they're already organized...) Anyway, here is an idea for keeping track of all the random recipes, centerpieces, and decorating ideas you find in magazines.


Enjoy!
-Ren

can you post another blog's article as the only thing in yours?

This blog I read today has something relevant for anyone who has been, is, or will be in any circumstance that is not ideal :) Check it out here!

thankful for a God who is with me,
Ren

When you get a husband?

The Friday before my birthday at school, a student asked me what I was doing over the weekend.  I told her it was my birthday on Sunday so we had plans to celebrate. 

Kahliya: How old you gonna be Miss Cook?

Me: Guess.

Kahliya: 30?
Me: down.

Kahliya: 29?

Me: down.

Kahliya: 28?

Me: down.

Kahliya: 27?

Me: down.

Kahliya: 26?

Me: Come on….

Kahliya: 31?

Me: Down…

Kahliya: uhh 25?

Me: Down

Kahliya: 24?

Me: down

Kahliya: 23?

Me: Finally! 

Kahliya (in one breath): Ms. Cook!! How you a teacher? 23? Are you sure?  Don’t tell the boys!

Me: Kahliya, I’m married.  Even still, there are so many things wrong with that statement.

Kahilya: Ms. Cook!  You married? When u get a husband?

(Sierra runs down 3 risers and up to my face, grabbing my left hand to stare at the rings)

Sierra: A husband? You got a husband?

Me: I got a husband this summer

Sierra: why you didn’t invite me to the wedding? Man, I be dancing up and all over the place and you gotta invite me to those weddings Ms. Cook.

Kahliya stands silently still stunned.  Then interjects: I’m glad you cut your hair.

Last thing – I introduced myself as MRS. Cook the first day, and had a name tag on my desk for a month that said Mrs. Cook on it.  I always wear my wedding rings and occasionally tell stories about my wonderful husband.  These girls must take frequent trips to la-la land.  Gotta love ‘em.

A woman who got a husband,

- MRS. Cook 

Women's Retreat (Part 2)

Women’s Retreat – Part 2

In the afternoon, Dee discussed the relationship between Ruth and Naomi in the Old Testament as well as the impact of pride on our relationships with others. 

-       The “dark side” of a woman’s relationship gift of intimacy is that she has a greater tendency to cling to people, to find security and identity in earthly relationships.  (Take anything wonderful that God has created and in this world, there will always be a “sinful twist…”  The original intent of God’s design gone wrong.)

-       Ruth said goodbye to her terrible past and latched on to the family of God.   Naomi showed Ruth grace by accepting her (though she might not have been the daughter-in-law she’d hoped for), and then Ruth in turn showed Naomi grace when Naomi wanted to be stuck in bitterness.  In Phillip Yancey’s book, What’s so Amazing about Grace? he explains that grace is amazing because it’s unnatural.  Hurting and withdrawing is natural, but forgiving and loving is unnatural. 

-       Ruth and Naomi had both experienced suffering.  Dee pointed out, as a recent widow, that suffering opens up one’s ability to have compassion towards others who are suffering. 

-       Jesus’ last commands were “others-centered.”  He wanted believers to love each other – by believers’ love for other believers, the rest of the world will notice that we are different.  That we are disciples of Jesus.

-       Dee showed a video clip of the testimony of Carla Faye (I forget her last name)- in the 80s, she was the first woman in Texas to be executed for murder in over 100 years, and she was born again while in prison.  In her testimony she stated that Jesus came into her heart and changed everything – prior to knowing Jesus, she didn’t care about how she’d hurt lots of people, and Jesus showed her the depth of her depravity and for the first time, she cared.  Dee asked us, how many times do we not care?  Pass by homeless people on the street, hear about domestic abuse, sex trafficking, etc… because we are saturated with such stories, we become hardened – which shows us the depth of our human depravity caused by pride.  And Jesus loves me? How much I need a Savior!

All in all, the retreat was great.  In addition to all that God showed me, He helped me to make a few new friends.  Plus we got to stamp our own stationary – woohoo!  (If we’re close, you know how much I love cards) J

Random note – my friend Kristen signs her blogs with a clever thought about what she had been writing.  I don’t know how to explain it really, but I’m going to copy her.  You’ll see.  (The best form of flattery… right?  Thanks for the idea, KG!) ;)

A better friend than I was yesterday,

-Ren

Women's Retreat (Part 1)

Last weekend, I went on a women’s retreat where the featured speaker was Dee Brestin, a Christian author who focuses on Bible studies for women.  She is the mother of lady in our small group.  Anyway, this retreat blessed me SO much and I wanted to share what I learned.  It’s a lot, so I’ll write it in two parts.  J  

The retreat’s focus was women’s friendships, based on Dee Brestin’s book The Friendships of Women, which I’d highly recommend to anyone!  Her writing and wisdom certainly apply to women of all ages.  She first outlined the unique ways men and women are wired.  Because of the way we (as women) are wired, we innately desire and seek out more intimate relationships with other women.  Men generally do not seek out intimate relationships with other men.  She pointed out, as a side note, that men who are perhaps more spiritually mature will often be able to name 1 or 2 other men with whom they feel comfortable sharing deep concerns – Jesus was close to others and he valued intimate relationships.  I agree with her – I always notice when a man seems to care deeply about the concerns of others because he sticks it out in our macho-man society and seems to represent Jesus a little more clearly.  Anyway, you can read the book if you want all the scientific details of how men and women are wired differently and the impact on our friendships.  Otherwise, take my word for it and let’s move on.  

Dee spent the majority of the morning session focusing on the relationship between Mary and Elizabeth (Luke 1).  Main principles:

-       Elizabeth was Mary’s mentor.  She gave the best definition of a mentor I’d ever heard (for which she credits someone else).  A mentor is like the car in front of you in a blizzard.  When you are driving in a blizzard and can’t see the street or road lines, you can follow the tail lights of the car in front of you to safety.  A mentor is someone who is going where you want to go and doing it well a few years ahead of you.  It is much wiser, she noted, to run to a mentor instead of a peer, who has no idea where to go next usually.

-       Mary went to Elizabeth’s house when Elizabeth was 6 months pregnant with John the Baptist and Mary had become supernaturally pregnant with the baby who would be the Messiah.  Imagine Mary on foot 70 miles to see Elizabeth.  Might she be thinking did that really happen?  Did an angel just tell me I’d be pregnant?  When Mary arrived at Elizabeth’s house, before Mary could say anything, Elizabeth began prophecying over Mary.  How encouraging to Mary!  In an age of technology, it hadn’t really occurred to me that Elizabeth wouldn’t have known about Mary except by the Holy Spirit.

-       Elizabeth affirmed Mary’s faith and character – “Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished.”  These are the types of affirmations we, as Christian women, need to give to our friends. 

-       Mary knew scripture, evident in her famous Magnificat where she quotes 4 different Psalms.  Even as a young teenager, she had the psalms etched into her heart, so that as she prayed, the verses poured out.  Jesus said “out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.”  What if the Word of God was overflowing in our hearts so much that it came out all the time?  Dee quoted Bonheuffer (a young pastor who stood up to Hitler which eventually cost him his life – about which there is a new biography) who said, “It is a dangerous error among Christians to think the soul can pray by itself.”  Wow.  Convicting.  There is immense power when one prays God’s Word to Him.  Lord, this is what you promised and I believe it.  That is how I should be praying.

To be continued...

- Ren

Alsie

Elsie (Ben's sister) came up with the idea to refer to Ben and I as "renben" because this nickname simplifies things for when she is talking about both of us because it takes out the "and" from ren and ben.  I mean, the girl is a genius ;)  So, Ben has, in turn, decided to call Elsie and Alex "Alsie."

So, Alsie came to visit last weekend.  We had a lovely time together.  They recently got engaged and have set the date for their wedding as May 28th.  We are SO excited for them and had a wonderful time with our newly engaged family :)  They are both applying to law school at the University of Chicago (among others), so Ben and I made it our mission to persuade them into coming to Chicago!! (Ok ok, we'll let God take care of it.  But we're praying for them to come here if it's HIS will.  And we're praying for our will to align with his will.  Note: different from praying for his will to align with our will.  I've done that. Bad plan.)

Here are some pictures from our visit.  They are a few highlights, but most of all we just love spending time with one of our favorite couples and we loved celebrating their new engagement.

Enjoying dinner at Medici's - a local restaurant

Fun first night dinner (although we give the restaurant a B or lower...)

Taking turns with pictures in front of the pretty pumpkin garden.

Neither of us has had a sister before! :) woohoo!

Last picture with the same background, I promise :)

Grilling out near the lake

Using our amazing grill tools (wedding gift) for the first time on the worlds' smallest grill.  Not sure what that tool is for?

Intense game of super scrabble

I guess it's not going so well for Alex...

Elsie was probably winning super scrabble.. she's a pro

Add caption

We love the Italian Beef at Ben's new favorite restaurant - Portillo's

Bowling lane in hyde park where you keep your own score.  Proud to say that team BenRen won ;)

Proud that everyone's burgers AND buns fit on the tiny grill!!

Ben, Alex, and Elsie also went to visit some of the sites at the University of Chicago.  They loved the campus - hopefully they'll love it so much they'll come back for 3 ish years to study. 

Thanks for visiting, Alex and Elsie!  We loved having you :)

-Ren & Ben

Weekend with the Cook Boys

Ben's brothers, David (10) and Will (8) came to visit last weekend.  We had been planning for them to fly out from Nebraska alone until my mother in-law discovered it was the same cost to fly the boys out as unaccompanied minors as it would be for she and her husband to just fly out and spend the weekend out here too.  The boys stayed with Ben and I while Chris and Paul stayed downtown- a rare weekend "away" since they have 2 little ones still :)

Our weekend was definitely fun filled and eventful.  Friday night, we went to the Sox Game.  $3.00 tickets from Stubhub in the nose bleed section + nachos + curly fries + hot dogs = fun night despite the pathetic loss.

David was really into the game! (okay, it was staged)

Stadium in the background- all in all, a great night

Will got the best curly fry all night! tasty ;)

After the Sox game, we went back to our apartment where a desperately tired Renee went to bed... needless to say, the boys did not.  I'm pretty sure they played Wii with Ben untill 1 or 2 in the morning, which probably explains everybody's tiredness the next day.  Saturday (10-2-10... our original wedding day) was freezing and rainy in the city, but we still had a great time.  We went to the Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower- which I had never done before even though I've lived near this city my whole life)! What a fun adventure...

The new glass additions are scary and amazing!

Floating over the city :)

We introduced the boys to Portillo's (Ben declared after his first visit "it's my favorite restaurant") - David and Ben went to Navy Pier to try mini golf (Will and I wimped out- too cold) and had to skip it because of the torrential downpour and wind.  We had a cozy night at home with pizza and Wii... what's not to love!?

The next day, we met Ben's parents at Moody for church and then went to Rainforest Cafe. 

Waiting for the train

Funny statue inside the Merchandise Mart

All of us at lunch

All in all, it was a great weekend.  We love our family.  My family is mostly here in the Chicago area... Would we love to have everybody in one place? Of course!  (For those of you whose families are all in one spot- what a blessing!)  But we are so glad to be able to host visitors and we're thankful we can travel back and forth frequently.   It makes the family-in-multiple-states thing work.

Well, thanks for reading :) For now- it's back to enjoying my day off work.  Agenda: clean, lesson plan, lunch with Ben, read, rest and relax.  (Maybe I'll even get crazy and write another blog post.) 

:) Ren

October 2, 2010...

... for those of you who received a save-the-date to our wedding, you may or may not remember that 10-2-10 was our original wedding date.  That's yesterday.  A couple thoughts about 10-2-10 and why that date will always remind me how great God is.

1. If you were outside near Chicago yesterday, you know that the weather was horrible- raining, freezing.  We were having a sibling weekend with Ben's little brothers and walking all around the city in the freezing rain.  Let's just say I'm glad we weren't walking from the church to the restaurant we had booked in that weather yesterday.

2. I have officially been teaching for a month and going to school to work for about 2.  I cannot IMAGINE doing this commute (to 87th street off of I-94) all the way from my parents house in Mount Prospect.  Even more than that, I can't imagine this past month of school happening successfully while in the last month stage of wedding planning. 

3. Ben and I spent our first month of marriage with wonderful family in Omaha which would not have occurred if we hadn't have gotten married until yesterday.

4. By the grace of God (and with a little bit of gracious, kind persistence from my dad), the original restaurant we booked returned our partial deposit, although the contract did not permit this.

5. I am sitting next to my husband of 3 months enjoying a quiet Sunday night of football in our first home. 

Life is good.  God is good.  He made it possible for us to get married in July 3 instead of October 2 because He knew that would be best for us.  Back in March, after we had planned many many details for the Oct. 2 wedding, we decided to move up the date.  Many people thought we were nuts (although we appreciate the continued support of our closest friends and family.)  I think most people figured we were just anxious to get married (which was partially true... okay, very true, but not the only reason for moving the date) or pregnant (obviously false).  But, we had a clear peace from God about moving the date, so we went forward with it.  In retrospect, moving the date was absolutely the right choice.  Advice: listen to the Lord even if a lot of people around you think you're nutso.  He always knows best.

I'm happy to sign off tonight as a married woman of 3 months and not 1 day :)

-Ren