Things I am Thankful For in 2010

-My incredible boyfriend, Daniel, who has changed my life in the last year of dating!
-My great family, whom I have become closer to over the last year. I love them all so much!
-My grandmother, who has shown me so much about taking life into your own hands and making the best out of it. She has expressed to me the importance of people and good friends. I value her wisdom and her wonderful giving heart! I am thankful, this fall, that she is still with us!
-Daniel's family. They have all made me feel so at home and comfortable. I feel like a part of their family!
-School. I am so grateful for the opportunity to go to the University of Denver, receive the education I am, and leave debt free.
-Linda Wang, she is an amazing teacher and I am thankful to have become closer to her this past year.
-Financial support from my parents. As much as this is frustrating at times, because I don't like being a burden on anyone, I am so very thankful!
-A good roommate and a nice apartment. I am safe, with a roof over my head and a place to call my own.
-Great students who have helped me see my love of teaching!
-A supportive church community group. I have really enjoyed getting close to a handful of people, from many different age groups and walks of life, who care about me and are involved in my life.
-A church where I see the Holy Spirit working to bring together so many unique groups of people.
-Finally, I am thankful this year for the work that God is doing in my life. He is creating a new identity for me, one that is more independent and strong. It is something that I have struggled with, but one that I am beginning to see the benefits to. He is working in my life and transforming me. I am a different person this year than last year and for that I am the most thankful!

WINTER BREAK!!

Classes: DONE!!
Lessons: DONE!!
Finals:DONE!!
Orchestra Reading: DONE!!
Concerts: DONE!!
Juries: DONE!!

that's right-break time!! YAY!

QUARTER COUNTDOWN

Quarter countdown: 5 days left
Classes: DONE!!
Lesson: 1
Finals: 2
Orchestra reading: 1
Concerts: 1
Juries:1

CAN"T WAIT FOR BREAK!!!!!

staring out the window

When I consider your heavens,
   the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
   which you have set in place,
⁴ what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
   human beings that you care for them?^[c]
 5 You have made them^[d] a little lower than the angels^[e]
   and crowned them^[f] with glory and honor.
⁶ You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
   you put everything under their^[g] feet:
⁷ all flocks and herds,
   and the animals of the wild,
⁸ the birds in the sky,
   and the fish in the sea,
   all that swim the paths of the seas.
 ⁹ LORD, our Lord,    how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Psalm 8:3-9

Yesterday, as I was sitting in church, I glanced out the window and noticed three children playing on the playground at the park across the street. After that my attention was completely fixated on those children playing. My mind began to compare those children to me, as I was now standing and singing worship. Does God view us differently? Is God involved more in my life, because I'm in church, than the lives of those children? Does He love me more? I don't have answers to these questions, nor do I feel like I NEED answers.
 I was, however, overcome with the beauty of God's sovereignty. God had perfectly planned out that mornings events, blessing the children and me. He blessed the three children by giving them each other, providing time for them to play together, providing the tire swing so that they could all swing together, providing a park where they are able to play, and by creating a warm, sunny morning so that they could play in the park. Looking back on my childhood, the times I played with my friends in the park are precious moments. I am sure that these children will also cherish this time together, as they look back on it later in life. I am sure that God will use this moment, later in their life, possibly to remind them how special family is. God was blessing my life by providing a church to attend, a church body to fill the church, a family to feel a part of, a wonderful boy to sit with, and worshipful songs to sing. As I was watching the children, I was reminded how God had also blessed me in my past, by providing family and friends and a multitude of parks so I could also play.
What amazed me most of all, was that God placed these children at this park, me in the pew I was in, and had Jerome open the adjacent window so that these children could touch my heart. Not only had God blessed each of our lives separately, but had gone one step farther to connect us. In my time watching these children, my heart was worshipping God and His awesome work in a more heart altering way than the songs we were singing. Watching these children turned my heart towards God in amazement of His control over every detail of my life.

Being Crafty

A couple days ago I decided to try my hand at earring making. I went to Michael's after orchestra and bought supplies. I decided to make turquoise earrings to make the shirt I was going to wear the next day. Unfortunately I had to buy an entire strand of turquoise beads, instead of just two. I guess I can save them for another time. I ended up making two pairs.I had so much fun putting the earrings together! I enjoy being creative!














Next I think I want to decorate my apartment for Christmas!

Sibelius

Today I am playing the Sibelius violin concerto in performance class at school. I have really struggled with this piece. It is so opposite from the Mozart style that I so naturally sway towards. It requires a passion and a carelessness that is unnatural for me. It has taken me 10 weeks to find that sounds, but hopefully I have found it. My one prayer for today is that I do not receive a single comment saying "don't play it like Mozart" or "you need to give more". I really feel like hearing that would be crushing! My other reservation towards playing this piece is that it seems like it is everyone's FAVORITE piece. They all seem to have their own ideas about this piece. They will all be listening to me from the perspective of "is she doing what I would do?" The truth is that I really DO like this piece, surprisingly. I really WANT to play it well. If that means that I have to put every ounce of energy I have into it, if that means my body hurts by the end and I am exhausted, that is what I am willing to do! This piece is so hard, but I have also worked so hard on it. I am ready! .....let's go do this! :)

SNOW!

It finally snowed this week! It seemed to take FOREVER this year for it to snow. It is already November!

I love snow! It reminds me of my favorite season: winter, my favorite holiday: christmas, my favorite color: white and my favorite thing: family! Snow is God's way of covering the worlds filth in a clean, white blanket. Snow draws people together. Either it pulls them inside together or they all go outside to play in the snow. Snow means blankets, drinking hot drinks, candles, fires, cinnamon, pine, mittens, scarves, boots, slippers, sweaters, and of course: cuddling!