37 weeks left. 47 songs to go.

Tonight, all I want to do is sit on my couch and eat Blue Bell ice cream with peanut butter (don't knock it 'til you've tried it!). I have no desire to record or write a song, although I have a good chunk of time since Ellie is sleeping and Nick is out of town.  It's nights like these that I wonder... can I really do this?  Can I really write a song for every book of the Bible before 11/11/11?  This is TOUGH!

I put together a "best of" Scripture to Music playlist for those of you who would like to listen to the songs but maybe haven't been able to keep up with the 1 to 2 new songs a week (I can barely keep up myself!).  If you listen to any of the songs, please listen to these.  You can also download most of them for FREE!  If you are reading this on Google Reader, or something like that, just go directly to the blog post.  Hope they encourage you!

I'll also be posting a top four from every "quarter".  Check out the first quarter top 4!

Best of Scripture to Music Project by Caroline Cobb

Nick's going to Sierra Leone!

Today (Tuesday), Nick and 5 others from our church are heading to Sierra Leone, a small country in west Africa that is still trying to rebuild after years of civil war.  

Our church has a partnership with a church in Freetown, and the group hopes to bless that church through pastoral training, a women's conference, preaching at 3 church services on Sunday, and helping them think through some sustainable small business options.  

You might have to zoom in, but the picture below gives a lot more detail on what they'll be doing, and how you can pray. 

In the meantime, I'm headed to Houston and then to Dallas to connect with friends and family.  I get to play a concert in Houston on Thursday, and I get to go to a songwriting conference with Charlie Peacock on Saturday in Dallas (thanks to my sister who is babysitting and my mom who is driving up to Dallas with me to help me with Ellie!).  How cool is that?

Nick and I are both excited about our trips, but I think Ellie and I are especially going to miss having Nick around here.  Reading between the lines, that means I am especially going to miss having Nick around to help me with Ellie! :)  But, of course, I'm also just going to miss having him here - many of you know that when your husband or wife leaves for a long trip, and you can't talk to him/her on the phone, it's like walking around with a missing limb.

Please do pray for Nick and his teammates if you think about it.  And pray for me and for Ellie as we trapse across Texas and miss Nick.  We are really going to be excited to have him back home on Thursday, March 3.

Thankful: #51-#70

As part of my "30 things to do before 30" list, I'm keeping a running list of everyday things I am grateful for.  It helps me be more fully aware of the daily gifts that God gives, and all the sacred moments in a normal day.  Inspired by Ann Voskamp's 1,000 gifts project and my friend Kit.

51. Playing chase with Ellie
52. Finding NPR on the radio
53. Finally being able to record again after being sick for 3 weeks
54. Opportunity to sing for the women at church
55. A talk reminding of why it's important to write songs
56. Unexpected flowers from my sweet dad

57. Laughing at a stupid movie with my husband - "I love lamp." & "Loud noises!!" - do you know which one it is?
58. "His nearness is our good"
59. The way Ellie waves bye-bye, floppy hand style
60. The way she's needing her mom lately
61. The all-day anticipation of a date night
62. Unexpected flowers from my husband

63. Handmade Valentine's cards

64. The way she rests her head on me in her shy moments
65. The clutch of a little hand on my arm as she sits on my hip
66. A breakfast & lunch date - all in the same day
67. Saturday lunch in the park
68. Ellie's smiles as she swings
69. Playing with the band yesterday morning
70. The hard lessons I learned in the year after college, and the way they can encourage someone now.