Well, folks....

It's been real, as they say. Tomorrow I'm off to Bible School. (at Fairwood Bible Institute for those of you who don't know.) In case you haven't noticed, I've been gently weaning you all off your addiction to my blog by not posting. I hope you appreciate my great efforts. :-) I am not yet sure what will happen to my blog. I may email posts to it, and I have it set so that comments will be emailed to me, so I may keep it up. On the other hand, it may go the way of all the earth...we'll see. I'm definitely not planning on spending much time on it.

Anyway, tomorrow after church I'll be off. I've been somewhat anxious at times about transitions and such, but right now I'm feeling really good about it. I know I'm ready to be off to new and different things, that God wants me to be there, and that the teaching I will get there will be incomparable. My closest friends are going, I'll be in a place I love, and I have my own little room to retreat to when necessary. The year is going to be good.

The funny thing is that at the back of my mind I have this funny little feeling that I won't get there; I've been talking about being in Bible School for so long it has almost turned into an abstract concept! However, several trips over to move boxes and boxes of stuff in and a pile of stuff still to go have convinced me that I really am going.

(oh, and just to stem the tide of questions that I sometimes get, I am not training to be a pastor or a nun. Yes, I have been asked if I was going to be a nun. I'm going to learn more about God and to focus time on letting my relationship with Him grow before the rest of life comes along.)

Before I leave you now, I must formally announce that I have driven in Boston. Not through Boston on 93. By Faneuil Hall and off through Somerville. By myself. Am I grown up or what. In case you can't tell, I'm feeling very proud. (I drove my dad's car back home for him while he sailed his boat to Porstmouth. Originally the plan was for me to hop right back on the highway, which wasn't too far from where I dropped him off, although far enough to be an adventure considering all the construction and one way streets. However, the on ramp was out of order or something so I followed a long detour. 'Twas great fun if rather stressful.) Just had to let you all know how amazing I am!

Oh, and feel free to pray for me and the year. It never hurts.

Cowboy Pie

I made a "mystery pie" the other day. Only it wasn't a mystery because members of my family kept walking by and asking what on earth I was making. I tried to avoid detailed answers, but replying, "Oh, a pie. Just some sort of pie," to their queries didn't cut it.

As they each scanned my recipe I was delighted with different reactions.

"Don't you dare make that!" was the reaction of one brother. I think he felt I was wasting a chance to make a perfectly good dessert.

"hmmmm," accompanied by raised eyebrows was a common response.

I also heard some incredulous laughter.

Buoyed up by this encouragement I pureed the pinto beans I had been soaking, mixed them with sugar, nutmeg, milk, and egg yolks, and poured them into a pie crust. Once the pie had set (it took about twice as long as it should have for some reason and made me very nervous it wouldn't work at all!) I topped it with a meringue and served it for dessert.

Much to my own surprise, I must admit, it was quite delicious! Tasted something like pumpkin pie, a little like mincemeat, and a little like custard. It definitely didn't taste like beans. My brothers even ate it!

*Feels proud of herself and oh, so courageous and oh, so economical. After all, gas has topped three bucks here, and one must do something to conserve. What's cheaper than beans?*