Recital Reflections

Okay, I think it's time for a normal life post (not that my life is normal... haha). Last Thursday night was a very momentous, fun, and exciting event: my last piano recital. I have taken piano lessons for nine years from an amazing, godly woman in our church, and the Lord has opened up to me an entire new world through music. It's like learning to read: once your know the basics, you can find out anything you want to know through endless books and resources. In the same way, once you know how to read music, you can play anything, and it is so thrilling!

There were thirty students in the recital, and I got to play three times. Once was a solo piece, Fantasie Impromptu by Chopin. I have always dreamed of being able to play it, but didn't imagine I'd be able to play it so soon. In September, when I started learning it, I wanted to give up and play something easier. But Mrs. Briggs gently pushed me on, and sure enough, through many excruciating hours of practice, I learned it!

I also played a duet of Yankee Doodle with my sweet student, Kameran. This is her first year, and I was so proud to see her playing so perfectly in front of so many people!

And, I played a duet with Mrs. Briggs that was a combination of Shout to the Lord, Lord I Lift Your Name on High, and Great is the Lord. It was so glorious to magnify the Lord with music together!

After the recital, we had a celebration at my house with some friends and family. We had a campfire, sang along to the guitar (not me playing... I fail at that! lol), and walked out in the woods in the pitch black of night! I couldn't get any pictures because it was so dark, but it was so much fun. I didn't want it to end! And, my parents blessed me with a dozen beautiful red roses as well.

 I am so thankful for the years of lessons and eighteen recitals to remember over the course of them. And I will NEVER stop learning when it comes to piano!

It's Been Too Long!

Okay, so once again, I have neglected posting. Sorry y'all, but, when life gets busy, internet is not exactly my top priority! It's been another crazy month. I keep wondering when life is going to settle down, but it looks like it just keep getting busier!

What I've been doing:
     ~Reading The Christian Counselor's Manual by Jay Adams and gaining invaluable insights about bringing people to hope and change through God's Word,
     ~Continuing to read Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem (hoping to finish it by Christmas),     
     ~Preparing to play the epic song "Fantasie Impromptu" next month in my piano recital,
     ~Visiting my brothers and friends in Kentucky and enjoying Christian fellowship, lots of laughs and good talks, and helping my brother and his fiance prepare for their wedding
     ~Having six girls over for a Bible study/sleepover and doing WAY too much giggling and game playing ;)
     ~TRYING to finish my high school subjects - Spanish 3, History, Literature
     ~Staying busy with about a hundred and one other misc things that come up in life!

What I've been learning:
     ~Our pastor is teaching about Esther on Sundays and I'm learning about Esther's wisdom, courage, and faith in God. She used her winsome ways not to charm and manipulate, but to rescue a nation. Also, seeing the contrast between Mordecai's humble faithfulness and Haman's pride and ungratefulness.
     ~Reading in Joshua in my devotions is encouraging me to fight HARD against the "ites" (sin) in my life - even if it takes a long time and isn't a pretty battle, I must let NONE remain,
     ~God is really convicting me about how I treat my family. I am such a "servant" in public, but I'm not a true servant unless I'm willing to serve EVERYONE. Especially my family, since my duty is first to them.
     ~And another big things God's revealing is my critical spirit. Why is it that when I look at something, the first thing I see is what's wrong? I want to see through hopeful - not skeptical - eyes.

What I am excited about:
     ~My brother's wedding in less than 7 weeks!!
     ~The snowbanks in our yard are finally melted and it's warm enough for short sleeves :)
     ~My last recital ever is in 4 weeks. It will be a sad goodbye, but a wonderful finale.
     ~God is not letting go of me and never will. No matter how many times I fail Him, He continues to love, chasten, and sanctify me. He has plans for my life!

So that's my life. Happy Spring, everybody!

Peace in the storm

It's been a busy couple of weeks. Between my counseling course, music lessons/practice, school,, and attempting maintain some sort of a social life, I haven't had much time for blogging. Then, throw influenza into the mix, and life is REALLY overwhelming!

Last Thursday (Valentine's Day) I had three piano lessons - my regular lesson, a lesson I teach, and a practice/lesson with Pastor for Sunday (I'm learning to play off of chord sheets! It's so exciting!!). Friday was full of school, of course, and ended with Bible study, which always one of the highlights of my week. And finally on Saturday I went to chiropractor appointment at eight a.m., then went to counseling class, and had just an hour at home for lunch and a much needed phone conversation with Erik. We were quickly out the door again for a baby shower for one of my closest friends from church (her little girl is due march 29th - yay!), and afterward spent the evening with a friend.Talk about busy! I think all the busyness took a toll on my immune system, because by Monday I was totally incapacitated with the flu. I haven't gotten the flu in a long time, so I had forgotten how awful it is. I was so exhausted I couldn't even watch TV. I could do nothing but lie still, yet I was to achy to sleep. It was especially agonizing for me because I am an on-the-go person who doesn't like to do nothing. For three days I lay in my feverish suffering, and then things started to look up on Thursday. I couldn't go to music lessons yet, but at least I could sit up and do school part of the day. And then by yesterday, I was quite well, and by evening I was able to go to my church's Christian school to watch the girls' basketball teams last home game, and go from there to Bible study. I was blessed with an amazing, long, deep heart-to-heart with Katy, who hosts the Bible study in her home. It was a late night, and I slept until ten this morning. And now finally, after all the chaos, I'm able to catch up on blogging.

So that is my narrative of the past two weeks of my life, for any of my friends who want to know. I also have lots of things on my mind and heart that are either too personal ans weighty or too hard to express. But they are not all burdens; there are also many blessings and exciting lessons filling my heart. God is so good, and he never lets go of me. I'm in awe of that. Life has been somewhat stormy lately, but I have peace in it. Even if I am inadequate, and failing, getting behind in my school, not playing piano in church, and continuing to fail and sin and hurt people daily, HE is sufficient. His grace is sufficient, and His strength is perfect in weakness. I have peace. And I am so blessed!

I love you all; have a blessed sabbath!

Adventures

Well, life is as busy as ever! The past week has been mostly just school and normal life, but tomorrow I leave for Florida! I am am So excited because 1) I have never been to Florida, seen the ocean, or even been on a plane before so it is a new adventure, and 2) My very dear friend Katy happens to be 10 minutes away from where I am going (my grandma's cabin) and she just had her first baby very early this morning so I cannot WAIT to see them both!

My life is a wonderful adventure these days and I am loving every minute of it. Here's a sampling of some of the wonderful things going on in my life these days:
1) Practicing Moonlight Sonata (3rd movement) for a recital on may 17th, and my part of an 8-hand arrangement for church in 2 weeks
2) Reading the book Radical and studying it with our youth group
3) Planning for a month long trip to Arizona this summer to intern with a missionary pastor's family in a Hispanic church plant (which happens to be only a few hours from the Grand Canyon - maybe I'll get to see it!)
4) Going on a plane for the first time this week
5) Looking into/praying about going to New Tribes Bible Institute after high school
6) Going to Florida, seeing the ocean, and maybe even swimming with manatees - how cool is that?!
7) Seeing a friend who is now married, in her own home, and a mother! I can hardly even comprehend it!
8) Going to a "Heart of Addiction" counseling conference next week at our church
9) Watching another brother move away and my last one preparing to be gone for the summer - yikes!
10) Experiencing my walk with Christ becoming more personal than ever in prayer

I am so blessed!

Guess what! Today I taught a piano lesson for the first time ever! :) :) It was exciting. I'm teaching an adorable little girl in our church who is very musically talented. After so many years, it was really fun to go back and look at my old primer books.

Cody is leaving for Kentucky tomorrow to spend 3 weeks with Erik, volunteering at the Creation Museum. Without him round, my life is going to be extremely boring! I am sure it will be wonderful for them, though, because they don't get to see each other much anymore. Having my brothers growing up and moving away while I'm just a junior in high school is strange.


I'm going to go bake some chocolate chip cookies to send for the guys tomorrow. Mmm :) Have a great night all!

God is good, and so is life!

Wow. So many thoughts. I went to the IABC Heart Seminar on Friday and Saturday, and, as usual, learned a LOT. I was reminded of how deceitful and desperately wicked the heart is, and how God is our only hope and His word has all of the answers we need. I also gained lots of specific information about specific things - idols of the heart, lies I often believe, and how to overcome sin. And of course, how to counsel others about the same things. I also met lots of new friends, which is always great.

Okay, so, I got a camera for Christmas and I've kind of been going nuts taking pictures this month. I love it! So I thought I'd share some. They aren't that spectacular because my camera isn't the best, and I'm certainly no photographer. But oh well. :)

My puppy dog! She's so cute :)

Very red outfit...  ironic cuz I've never really liked the color red.

I was felling very colorful this day!

My fluffy kitty <3

I'm still skeptical of this copycat who lurks in my bedroom, above the bathroom sink, and various other places...

Ah, the expression of so many emotions! I love piano :)

Purpose in your heart

So... I have less than two weeks or school left! I'm SO glad! The only subjects I have left are math, science, and history. I spent 2 hours on history today and now my neck really hurts from the position I was in. :-/ But, my jaw is felling a lot better. I've been on a no-chewing diet for the past few days, and I think it's helping. Eating soup and applesauce does get a little old though! :P

I got a new piano book with the music for 19 songs by Chopin. I'm excited to get working on them! I also got the piano music for "Moonlight Sonata" by Beethoven, which I LOVE. It's not very hard, so I should have it learned before long.

And to leave you with a little bit of what God's teaching me -
"But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself." (Daniel 1:8)
Daniel made a commitment ahead of time to do what was right, no matter what, and he took a huge step of faith to do that. I want to have that kind of faith! :)

Life...

Soooo...

Last Saturday we had drama team practice in the morning, and then we discussed with Pastor Jim, a few other adults, and a bunch of us teens whether or not we would be able to do the skit for the Teen Power-Up, and in the end we decided that the best idea would be to just go through with it, so I am SO EXCITED!! Please pray for the Power-Up that it will go well and many people will see Christ through it. I think it's going to be really good, and I can't wait! After we got home from practice, we went to a home-school picnic and stayed for a few hours. That was nice. I was supposed to babysit that evening, but it didn't work out.

On Sunday I had my friend, Vicki, over for the afternoon and we did a photo-shoot. (I always love it when we get a chance for a photo-shoot =]) We got a lot of nice pictures and it was a lot of fun. :)

Monday started another week or more school. Yesterday we had another drama team practice which went well, but it was a pretty long day for me.

Today I went to piano lessons and loved it! I'm getting a really nice book of Christmas songs this year. I know it seems way too early to be thinking about Christmas, but the songs take a lot of practice and I want to be able to play a bunch of them by Christmas time.

God has been teaching me a LOT lately! I've been memorizing a lot of scripture and reading a lot too. I have read all of the New Testament except Revelation this summer. I can't really write everything I've learned, but basically, I have been learning to walk with God all the time, have joy in Him, and not be ashamed of Him.

That's about it. Thanks for taking the time to read this! God bless.

School and skits and stuff

Hi! Sorry it's been so long since I've written (do I say that every time? lol =]). It's hard to keep up with posting. A lot has happened; I'll try to post a summary of it. Let's see... I started school this past Tuesday. It was hard to get used to it the first couple of days, but I think I'm adjusted to the new schedule now. I usually like school because I'm the kind of person that likes a very structured, scheduled, orderly life. (You may not know it by my bedroom, but it's true =P)

This past Wednesday I did school again, then in the afternoon was drama team practice for the Teen Power-Up. I mentioned before that we're doing the "Everything" drama, which is REALLY awesome and powerful. I'm not in it, but I go to the practices anyway to fill in for anyone who couldn't make it, and just to help whenever I can. We stayed through from practice until prayer meeting that evening. At prayer meeting we got some disappointing news.... we might not be able to do the drama. There was some concern that the dancing/choreography wouldn't be appropriate, and a couple of other things. Everyone has been REALLY praying about it these past few days. I think that it has a really powerful message that is exactly what we want to express at this event, and if we do it it will be a huge ministry. At the same time though, we don't want to offend anyone, or cause anyone to stumble. So PLEASE pray that we would figure it out and be able to make it happen.

Yesterday I went to piano lessons! I am on my 5th year of lessons and they just started up again for the school year. I'm really excited - I love piano! Then today hasn't been terribly exciting, just school and chores, but it's been a good day. Tomorrow will be busy... we have drama team practice at 10 AM, then a picnic to go to, then I'm babysitting from 4 PM until late that night. I'll write more later I guess! :)