Happy Last Year!!!

Before I get so wrapped up in the year ahead, I can't help and be amazed at the past year. My life has changed in dramatic ways and so much for the better. Some highlights include:

Chris and I are engaged!! - January 8th

My Senior Recital - February 24 

Mission Trip to England - June

Thanksgiving in New York City - November 

Student Teaching beginning band! - Fall Semester

Graduating with a Music Education degree! - December 

Family vacation to the Grand Canyon - December

What an amazing year! There's no way I could have foreseen any of this, and it seems as if its all gone by in a blur! God is SOOO good to us, and at times its easy to forget that none of this compares to His glory and His kingdom. I hope that everyone has had a year filled with family, love, friends, hope, and growth, and that next year will be as good. 

The gift.

Last night at our Christmas Eve Service, we talked about the gift. How God gave His son to us. Not out of obligation, but out of love and hope. Thinking of all the gifts I give others for Christmas, its not so much what I give them, but how I give it. And how I give love to my family and friends. Is it out of obligation because this is what I am supposed to do? Or is it out of love and selflessness? Because my heart has been molded and matched up to the Holy Spirit's that I can't help but give love? 

"And Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart." Luke 2:19  

December 13th, 2008. THE BIG DAY!

It's done! A have a degree. I am not I feel ready for this, but apparently HSU sees otherwise. Graduation was fun and I had an awesome party the next day.  Pictures to come. So, for now I am still working part-time at the YMCA and searching for teaching positions. One of my classes (my 5th and 6th graders) are throwing me a party this week, I am so honored. God has been so good through everything. He has brought me through school, provided amazing friends and teachers, and given me someone who will be my partner in life. He has continued His blessings this week. I found out today that I will be able to pick up my insurance at the YMCA at the beginning of the year. It's already Christmas for me! 

Step 1

We put down a payment on my dress today and got fitted! My grandmother wanted to buy my dress for me as a gift, so thanks grandma!!! 

1 more day until Thanksgiving break

3 more days until New York

2 more weeks until student teaching is finished

3 more weeks until graduation!

Thank heaven for little girls

I love little girls. Not in a creepy way. Just love everything about them. I was at the mall today and while I was there a couple of this is why I love little girls scenarios happened. I was looking for a dress for the upcoming (11 days and counting!) Tannahill Intermediate Woodwinds Concert and I happened to walk by the girls section of Dillards. Christmas dresses. Red, black, velvet, bows, ribbons, and even some dresses that came with matching dresses for a doll. It was beautiful. And then when I was walking out of Macy's, in the window of Bath and Body Works, were 3 little girls in plaid jumpers playing in the display. They saw me and all began waving and were so excited that they were being displayed. Adorable. 

Colour

Research tonight. 

New York, New York

 3 more weeks until we will be bundled up in new coats, Conan O'Brian, Wicked, Carnegie Hall, ice skating in Central Park, and the Macy's Thanksgiving day parade! That's right folks, I'm off to New York! My new purchase for the trip will include a red or white peacoat. Some that I've been eyeing.

 

I've been on the lookout for jobs in the area. And my search has now broadened to jobs in Texas. No one is hiring mid-semester and there are already a limited number of music positions.  I'm hoping that the school I am student teaching with will hire me for the rest of the school year. 

God will provide.

Chris is on his last tour of the year. Which is good news. We can start focusing time and energy into finding a church together and getting involved. Making new friends and or course planning the start of our lives together. 

 

Music is my life

Today I discovered an amazing song by Dylan: Make you feel my love. I have absolutely NO clue where I would be without music. It is such a necessity in my life. I am no good at words. They just don't come easy to me. Music is so much bigger than words could ever be. And hear I am trying to explain in words how nothing else can move someone the way music can. I'm not a believer in fortunes, but everybody loves to open their fortune cookie right? I have a frame by my bed with a fortune in it that reads: Your love of music will be an important part of your life. 

Last night I actually had a life as a normal person. No student teaching obligations and no YMCA. It rocked. 

Y-M-C-A

Trying to have two jobs is a complete nightmare. You think, yes!, I don't have to work today, but then wait, there's the other job. In our head it seems that it can work. You need extra cash, you'll work a couple hours at a fitness center. But four weeks into it, you have no more will power. 

12 more weeks until graduation. And one of those is Thanksgiving. :) 

So I started student teaching this week. Band Director's are not the friendliest people in the teacher world. For some reason I thought that this would be a breeze. Coming back to my old high school with my middle school and high school teachers to student teach, I would think they would be treating me like a prodigy. I quickly came back to reality and found myself feeling out of place and awkward. Things will smooth out.....

Since I've moved back home, my dad has come up with these rules for me:

- If you are not married, of the opposite sex, and alone in our house together, it is inappropriate. Regardless if you are dating or not.

-Candles are not allowed in my room. Only the living room

-Missing church on Sunday if you are out of town is against the Bible. '

How old am I you ask? 22. 

How old will I be in 2 weeks? 23

The England playlist. I intend to update the list and put some info and thoughts on all the songs so check back soon. 

1) All You Need is Love by The Beatles

2) Fidelity by Regina Spektor

3) London Calling by The Clash

4) Awakening by Switchfoot

5) Legacy by Nichole Nordeman 

6) Yours by Steven Curtis Chapma

7) Take to the World by Derek Webb

8) Come to Me by Jill Paquette

9) The Father's Song by Matt Redman

10) Come Ye Sinners by Robbie Seay

11) Fool for You by Nichole Nordeman

12) The Hammer Holds by Bebo Norman OR Blowing in the Wind by Bob Dylan

13) Blowin' in the Wind by Bob Dylan OR Orphan Girl by Emmylou Harris

14) Either Way by Wilco

15) Fix You

16) The Trumpet Child

17) Where the Streets Have No Name by U2

18) Shed a Little Light by James Taylor

19) Across the Universe by Jim Sturgess

Tonight I was reminded that this is not my home. All of the things that I think are good in this life can not come close to eternity with the Lord. My heart is not all in right now. I am too dependent on the things of this world. For those of you who don't know, I will be going to England on Friday to speak to students in high schools about Christianity. 66% of the population have no actual connection to church or faith. It will be a very different environment from most mission trips that I have gone on. Please pray for the 14 of us going and for the 900 students we will be speaking to. Pray for the religious teachers that are allowing us in their classrooms, that they will allow us to be flexible and that they too will be open to the gospel. 

On a lighter note: Life in orchestra camp is going fine. Thursday we the kids are performing at Artwalk, and having a pizza party afterwards. But instead, the Dominoes guy showed up with 32 pizzas tonight. Whoops. Also, there have been two incidents of couples making out in practice rooms. 

My first day of band camp

This week I am being a counselor for the Abilene Summer Music Festival. I have 14 girls that I am in charge of and they have asked me every question possible. One middle school boy saw me looking at him and told all his friends that "That girl is always looking at me." then yelled out at me, "What do you want from me?" I can tell he's already made it into my top ten campers. I completely forgot that living in the dorms meant that I needed bedding and towels. So I sure did sleep with no pillow last night.

My dreams last night consisted of:

1) My wedding took place during church one Sunday morning. I started getting ready five minutes from the start of the service. My dress was a miniskirt in the front and really long in the back. It looked horrible. And I was wearing my glasses. I asked Holly to put on my veil and she stuffed it into my hair.

2) I was being convicted of a felony because I defended myself against a mentally handicapped guy that tried to shoot me. 

3) And I woke up late for the Abilene Summer Music Festival.

And then I woke up late for the Abilene Summer Music Festival.