Summer Goals Revisited

At the beginning of the summer, I let you know what my summer goals were.  As school starts on Tuesday and summer is pretty much officially over (with the exception of the inspirational teacher movie marathon I am throwing myself tomorrow), I thought I should let you all know how I did on achieving my goals.

1) Reread Jane Eyre.  I finished this one in June, and enjoyed it more this time around than I think I ever have before.  (I love this book, so that is saying a great deal.)  I also read many other books this summer, like I was hoping to do.

2) Memorize the piano part to the Starke/Holst "We Praise You and Acknowledge You, O Lord" out of the hymnal.  I thought this would be the most challenging of my goals, but I did it and did it much faster than I thought I could.  The more I work on memorizing piano music, the easier it becomes.  I never really understood why my piano teacher insisted I memorize occasionally, but I now wish that I had spent more time on it when I was younger.

3) Re-learn calculus.  I got a good start on this, and am satisfied.  No, I didn't get to integrals and spent my whole time with derivatives, but, I still feel like I got the good brain workout I was hoping for.

4) Finish the deck.  This one did not get done.  I did get a little more of the deck stripped.  It rained a good deal this summer, and it is not something I can do during the rain.  The weather has been nice lately, but I tore up the belt on the belt sander and need to replace it, plus, my knee has been bothering me, so I really don't want to be kneeling on the deck, even though the weather has been beautiful lately.  (I know these sound like feeble excuses, but, I was by far the least motivated to achieve this goal.)

Now, it is time for school to start and all of the chaos that comes with the school year, including choir, handbells, Beta Sigma Phi, church youth committee, and PTL meetings and other school events.  Plus, in October, I am starting the Lutheran Teacher colloquy program, which means that I will be taking a course a month for 8 months.  Let the craziness begin!

Hymn of the Month - The King of Love My Shepherd Is

I apologize that this hymn is a couple of days late.  I've been busy getting stuff ready for school and just remembered that I hadn't yet written my post for August!  Part of the goal before school starts is to get the hymn of the month posts done through November.
Anyway, this month I picked one of my many favorite hymns - "The King of Love My Shepherd Is" by Henry W. Baker.  This hymn is mostly based on the 23rd Psalm.  My confirmation verse was Psalm 23:1.  Here is Psalm 23 in its entirety:

23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2     He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3     He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
    for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
    I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

Frankly, I am not really going to go into an explanation of the hymn as it is rather self-explanatory.  As you read this, use it as a prayer.

The King of Love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am His.
And He is mine forever.

Where streams of living water flow,
My ransomed soul He leadeth,
And, where the verdant pastures grow,
With food celestial feedeth.

Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
But yet in love He sought me
And on His shoulder gently laid
And home rejoicing brought me.

In death's dark vale I fear no ill
With Thee, dear Lord, beside me,
Thy rod and staff my comfort still,
Thy cross before to guide me.

Thou spread'st a table in my sight;
Thine unction grace bestoweth;
And oh, what transport of delight
From Thy pure chalice floweth!

And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never.
Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise
Within Thy house forever!