Currently Listening Oh No see related

I've recently learned the meaning of the phrase "the daily grind." I really thought I couldn't be busier than I was at school. Then I got a job. A 9-5 job. (more like an 8:30-6 job) And I realized that having a job without breaks in between classes can be pretty exhausting. Hence I've come to highly value a night when I don't have to go anywhere.... and a computer is the last thing I want to spend my time on. That should explain the extended xanga absence. It's not that I don't like you all. I just don't like computers. But I'm trying to catch up...

I went to Prague. Yes, it was amazing. Here's some pictures:

The veiw from the plane:


We sang Verdi...


... at a concentration camp... where the prisoners sang the same piece


The Memorial Service:

In Prague, in front of one of the world's oldest clocks

And were serenaded at the world's greatest restaurant:

It became a sing along - they played "Home on the Range" and we broke out in four part harmony. (we were all voice or musical theatre majors) It was amazing.

Currently Listening Nickel Creek By Nickel Creek see related

“If we try to re-introduce the rare moments of inspiration, it is a sign that it is not God we want. We are making a fetish of the moments when God did come and speak, and insisting that He must do it again; whereas what God wants us to do is to ‘walk by faith.’ How many of us have laid ourselves by, as it were, and said - ‘I cannot do any more until God appears to me.’ He never will, and without any inspiration, without any sudden touch of God, we will have to get up. Then comes the surprise - ‘Why, He was there all the time, and I never knew it!’ Never live for the rare moments, they are surprises. God will give us touches of inspiration when He sees we are not in danger of being led away by them. We must never make our moments of inspiration our standard; our standard is our duty.” ~ My Utmost for His Highest (Oswald Chambers), May 1

finals: done. (i still don't believe it)

the future: prague, new attitude, the warehouse (i.e. "working" with grace and casey), recording, waiting tables (perhaps), trying to make as much money as possible to stay in college.... of course all of these wonderful things are "Lord willing"

 =) 

Currently Watching Dead Poets Society see related

"Not even the timy dewdrop lacks the care and attention of the Lover of all. Shall I then think of any detail of my earthly life, even so little a thing as a minute of one of my hours, as without meaning? How shall I answer to my Master for my time?" ~ Elisabeth Eliot

I've been dreading this week. Yep, this would be finals week. But when I read this quote I realized something: I've been dreading something that has been ordained by God. I never have trouble with the fact that God has ordained the big, important, fun aspects of my life, but I don't tend to value the annoying day to day circumstances of my life in the same way. But if God cares for every detail of my life, how can I waste any of it?

After finals, I get to go here:

(that's Prague - yes, the one in the Czech Republic... for all you uncultured swines) I'm going with my chorus at school to sing Verdi's Requiem. We're singing at the site of a Nazi concentration camp that is being opened up as a museum. The story behind it is pretty fierce: the prisoners sang the Requiem (which is all about asking God for salvation and deliverance) while they were in the concentration camp. Survivors say that it was a way for them to "sing what they could not speak" to the guards. This helped them keep a sense of human dignity in the midst of so much physical and emotional torture. So yah, its pretty awesome that we get to sing it over there... and it's pretty awesome that they're paying for most of the trip. God is good. =)

And hey, congratulations to all of you ACTS participants... all the hard work paid off and God most definitely blessed the performances. Seriously, if you had seen the dress rehearsal you would agree... what happend that weekend was a miracle. =)

Currently Listening Diamonds on the Inside By Ben Harper see related

This is what they teach me at school:

"The truth is like castor oil, it's bitter to swallow and people don't want it: so, you make them laugh and when their mouths are open, you poor it in." Harold Clurman

Well folks, it's been awhile since I've been with xanga... our relationship just needed a little time off because there have been more important things going on in life. They include:

- my mommy's show! pleeeease pray for everyone involved in ACTS (the original docudramarockopera)... let's just say that we're not exactly on schedule and it'd be awesome for God to use this show in a powerful way... it might help if the show was all the way written. so uh, prayer would be awesome!! (oh yeah, the show's in two weeks =)

- a chorus concert, which is tomorrow night. here is an actual excerpt from an actual song that we are actually singing:

"Love a 'tater pie an' I love an apple puddin' an' I love Sally Goodin'.... Sally is my doozy, Sally is my daisy, when, Sally says she hates me, I think I'm going crazy."

yes, these are the actual lyrics. i love chorus.

- and then of course, normal school's been happenin'... but what's normal to me is probably not so normal to most of you.... ahh, the life of a rock star =)

- I'd also appreciate prayer cuz I might be taking a semester or year off... and I have to decide in a week. cool, huh? I'm sure God has a perfect plan... just really don't know what it is yet! (any time now, Lord!)

-

Currently Listening Birth of the Cool By Miles Davis see related

Spring Break is over.

It's been a good one, but it went by too fast, as always. Here are some highlights:

- I just did a back handspring. Two of them, actually. Unless you've ever been a gymnast, you probably have no idea how happy that made me. It's been a least a few years, so, I mean, honestly... i was pretty darn proud of myself. This could definitely be the highlight of my week, except that it has to compete with...

- COLDPLAY!!! Need I say more? I went thursday with Erin, Sarah, Mary, and Katers... Fiona Apple was somewhat of a letdown (not that I was expecting to be thrilled by her - she was just downright creepy and it ALMOST put a damper on the whole evening), but after Erin and I moved from behind the stage and the very top level of the MCI center, we enjoyed Coldplay all the more. My favorite was when the yellow ballons fell from the sky and glitter went everywhere. And hey, we even did pretty well driving in DC! That was a first. Maybe the fact that I wasn't driving had something to do with it...

- I beat all the boys in Clue. This was intensely fun. I used to beat all the boys at arm wrestling, but in recent years that hasn't worked out so well. Clue is my new venue for  male domination. mwahahahahahaha

- I also got to do fun stuff like catch up with Evelyn, Ally, Lisey, and uh, my FAMILY!! I spent more time helpin with mom's show, which included spending more time with younger brother Danny. Then I did things like play Halo 2 with my... seven year old brother. This would be the same one who sings songs from Rent and is fluent in French. What a special kid. Got to have some financial/whatdoesthefuturelooklike talks with Dad (always a personal favorite!), acting talks with older brother Jesse (who is in a show at Olney Theatre right now... so proud of that boy), and my older sister is FINALLY coming back from India/Korea on Tuesday!!! She's been there for almost two months - mostly in India, at Yesupadem's place... but then she decided to hop on over to Korea. I mean, why not?? She's pretty much my hero. I will miss wearing her clothes and using her laptop, but she is worth more to me than all of those wonderful things. (Please, nobody tell her I was wearing her clothes... seriously, she will KILL ME. This is not a joke)

So yah, spring break was good. Ahh, back to the real world...