Wee_Wonderous_Works's Xanga

I Love My Family

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 19:31:49 GMT

This evening, I practiced piano at home—something I've not done in a loooong time. Afterwards, I went for a walk outside with Dad, cause it was a pleasant, beautiful day, and the others were gone. I am loving and feeling so much closer to my family after the India trip—it's amazing! I feel like somehow we all got to see more of each other, work together in ministry, and so each other interacting with a team, and with new people we met. We've realized where each person is at, and learned more about each other's strengths and personalities. Somehow seeing each other 24/7 in a different context was very valuable. And we've all bonded around India—having a growing love for and interest in it. I think perhaps also knowing I will be moving out so soon, and may never live with my family again makes me love them all the more—I already miss them sooooo much when I think about it, and it brings tears to my eyes.... But I know it is time, and the changes, though perhaps difficult, are necessary and will be valuable in teaching me many things and preparing me for the future. I think just lately I have stopped criticizing my family and wishing they were more like this or that, and starting deeply loving the little things about them, and realizing the blessing they are to me, in so many unique ways that many others' don't experience from their families. My little sibs especially are growing up soooo much so fast, and it's been really good to spend more time with them and bond more with them, since Anjali has been away this month. I hope I can keep a close relationship with each of them as I move out of the house. Anyone have any tips on how to do this?

Canoe Trip

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 04:04:38 GMT

Soooo....I know, I haven't posted in forever, and I'm not really sure if I want to keep my Xanga going, but I have started typing some journal entries for myself, and thought that maybe occasionally I'd find something to share on here. So here's about last weekend's canoe trip.

This weekend was the annual CYA canoe trip. I had missed the last two, so it had been a while. We had a small group of 10 in 5 canoes, but I was pleasantly surprised that it ended up being one of the best trips, in my opinion. The group consisted of Eric, Craig, Steve S., Carrie, Angie, Laurie, Laura P., Rebecca P, Alissa, and myself. Friday night's traditional camp arrangements didn't work out, as the site was full, but God had other, better plans in mind for us! We camped at Calkins' instead as our back-up, and it turned out to be a great blessing, because shortly after we arrived, it POURED rain and their was quite a thunderstorm. We were setting up tents just as it rolled in, and wow it was amazing. For a while, the Platt girls and I hung out in the tent with the rain puring around us, while others huddled in the barn. The rain continued to pour, and we had some amazing lightening displays of purple. I was worried about the weather for the next day though, and I remember praying that if God wanted us to go, that he would grant us dry, storm-free, and warm weather the next day, even without humidity (though I didn't believe that was possible, as it had been an extremely humid day). We finally had a nice dinner of corn chowder, broccoli, and hot dogs with brownies, all cooked on the grill in the barn. It was quite cozy sitting around in camp chairs in there, and we very very grateful that we had a dry place to cookout, unlike if our original campsite had been available. After a talk by Mr. Calkins about light from 1 Jn. 2, we talked around the campfire for awhile before heading to bed. I was soooo tired after my crazy week at piano camp, and slept deeply straight through till morning, despite my very damp sleeping bag, and having forgotten to bring a pillow.

The next day dawned, and we set out to canoe. The sky was still cloudy, and thunder occasionally rumbled in the distance, causing us to fear a storm. However, to our amazement, it gradually cleared up until we had a bright, sunny day, with get this—next to NO HUMIDITY!!! I was shocked, and overwhelmed by God's care and love for us, in even this little way, far beyond my poor faith to believe He could do it when I prayed. Having only 5 canoes, we stayed close together for the most part, and the water level was high because of the earlier heavy rains and flooding, making for easier canoing and lush, green surroundings. So lovely and pleasant in the afternoon! Some memories:

The first accidental (or so he says) canoe tipping by the infamous canoe-tipper Steve when he was trying to goof off and splash another canoe or something, and somehow accidentally flipped the one he and I were in in the process. I was completely unprepared, but fell laughing into the water, thinking it was hilarious—for a few moments. Then I began to feel the throbbing from my right knee and leg having hit a rock pretty hard, and began to get concerned cause it didn't subside quickly. I had to rest for a while, but was able to continue enjoying our adventurous canoe trip.
Having splashing wars, mostly started by me, and seeing the surprise on others' faces. Somehow, they didn't think I had it in me!???
Tying all 5 canoes together like a raft, with the whole group lazily floating down stream, while eating brownies and corn chips, letting the people in the outside canoes do the work. The looks of astonished passers-by. lol. Standing up in our canoes and singing psalms. Good group fellowship!

A few of us girls lying out in parked canoes “sunbathing” and pretending we were re-enacting Anne of Green Gables with the girl lying in the canoe, and then pushing off into the water. Whereupon Steve promptly jumped onto the end of the canoe, riding it out with us, and tipping it once we were in deep water. We told him he had read his script wrong—Gilbert was supposed to SAVE the girl from a sinking canoe, not overturn the canoe!
Climbing rocks and jumping into the water over and over again at a deep spot—soooo fun! Only the current was strong, so we girls often had to be rescued from being pulled out too far.

Yup....it was a good trip, and YOU should consider going next year....(that is if anyone actually still reads this)...

Friday, March 21, 2008

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 22:30:24 GMT

I passed my recital hearing this morning--yay!!! This means I can now officially say that I will be giving my Junior recital on Saturday, April 12, at 5pm in the Eidson-Duckwall Recital Hall at Butler. You are all invited--it would really mean a lot to me if people would come!!! (This is something we musicians work really hard all year towards.) The recital should be over about 6:30, and there will be a reception following! I am sharing this recital with my friend Amy from school, and after each of us has our solo section, we will be playing some amazing Dvorak Slavonic Dance duets!

My program is as follows:

~Mozart "Fantasy in D Minor," K. 397
~Debussy "Fuilles mortes" prelude
~Rachmaninoff "Prelude in D Major," Op. 23, No. 4
~Ravel "Sonatine"

+ 2 fast, folkish, fun duets!!!

In case I have not convinced you yet, here are a few MORE reasons to come: (lol)

*To better understand why Amy and Nirmala are ALWAYS busy practicing

*To hear the REST of the pieces whose snippets you keep hearing as you pass the piano practice rooms

*To see the dynamic duo in action on the extremely fast, fun, and folkish Dvorak Slavonic Dance duets

*To see for yourself if Nirmala's hair can indeed be straightened

*To support the arts, and more specifically musicians you know

*To take a break from your hectic life, relax in plush chairs, and hear a FREE concert of piano music by your favorite junior piano majors

*To enjoy amazing food and fellowship afterwards

The Obvious Stated

Sat, 10 Nov 2007 03:30:32 GMT

I don't really use this blog anymore.

Just figure I might as well keep it for old time's sake, and so I can look back on my life of the past year or two.

If you want to keep in touch with me, try Facebook!

Wild West Photo Shoot with my Mission Team in Kansas

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 01:53:02 GMT

Happy on a gorgeous summer day...

Fri, 25 May 2007 00:17:00 GMT

Finally, at last my summer plans have been falling in place, and this makes me very happy. To be specific, I am definitely going on the RP Missions Trip to Minneola in July and finally purchased my ticket today. So I will be gone from July 5-August 4 for a busy month of serving an RP congregation in a tiny rural town in Kansas. We'll be putting on a VBS, tutoring elementary kids in summer school, hanging out with the youth of the town, playing games, leading devotions, and seeking to share Christ, possibly some practical work as well. Should be a very full, stretching, and exciting time, and I'm looking forward to it. I don't know any of my teammates yet, but we have a pretty large team I believe, and most of them are from Ireland.

As far as jobs, I have not been able to find something flexible enough for my schedule and that I wouldn't mind doing as a regular job, but just in the last couple days I did confirm that I was going to teach a theory class at Butler's piano camp for Jr. High-High School kids, and that will be a paid position (if only for 4 days). I may get a position assisting with another class as well. Also, I will be helping out a percussion class that a grad student is teaching for inner-city youngsters two mornings a week in June, and this pays pretty well. So it's not bad, and all stuff I would like to be doing anyway. Though it would still be nice if I could find a family who wanted childcare once a week or something.

Today was gorgeous, so I had fun strolling around Butler campus, the canal, and Holcomb Gardens after I finished practicing and teaching for the day. I took a bunch of pics on my new camera phone, and I'd post some if I knew how to download them. Tt's just soooo pretty out there with the flowers, fountains, waterfall, canal, a gazebo, and more! If you haven't been there, you should go just to walk around and enjoy it some pretty day.

Summer...is a weird thing

Fri, 11 May 2007 23:31:58 GMT

So summer is here....or at least school is out! Exciting, relieving, relaxing, but also sorta like--now what??? There are so many things I want to do, and yet they are mutually exclusive is seems. Like getting a summer ob and earning money so I can actually go places and do things, but then I can't take off the time to go anywhere. Hmmmm. I would really like a flexible part-time job so I could have a little income but still take off to go on a missions trip or to COVFAMIKOI, and for the one-week internship at Butler's Piano Camp. Anyone know of any such jobs? Or perhaps someone who needs a regular babsitter? Advice would be appreciated.

One More Final, One More Project To Go

Thu, 03 May 2007 22:01:30 GMT

Tomorrow is my HUGE Music History final. The other finals have gone well, but I'm really scared aboutr this one. It is over ALL the vast anount of material we've covered in class this semester, and much of which I've not grasped thoroughly with this terribly difficult to understand professor. For the final, we have to be able to write essays on just about anything--which is terrifying. He always ends up putting little obscure things on the essay tests, when we've worked so hard to study the basics and things that seem important. And his grading is quite tough. So far, I've studied like crazy and been doing fine. But there is no way I can be that thorough with this much material. Please pray that I'll spent my time well and focus on the right things. I just want to keep my grade where it is, and not see it drop because of this awful final. Thanks!

After that, all I'll have is my (really time-consuming) iMovie project to finish by Tuesday. It involves a slideshow of Scotland pics, VERY PRECISELY timed to a fraction of a second to change with the beat in the music, plus titles, transitions, and video.

Hope finals are going well for everyone else!

An Evening to Remember

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 00:49:25 GMT

Thanks so much for all your prayers!!! I really felt them when I was on stage. Although earlier in the day I had been really blah and just unmotivated and uninterested in playing, of course the adrenaline rush kicked in before the concert. What I had really wanted was to be able to be emotionally involved and expressive in my performance, not just go through the motions of playing without feeling. And the Lord blessed that beyond what I could have imagined--I was really able to relax after a while, turn of the negative thoughts, stay in my little "bubble," and play with my whole heart like I do when I'm playing for myself without worrying about the audience! It was an incredible feeling being able to channel all that adrenaline into a better performance instead of letting it detract as it so often does. I kept trying to tell myself that " I only had one chance to make the audience fall in love with this music the way I am in love with it" and it seems like it was successful from the audience's comments. For once, I had let go, found that I really WAS prepared, and actually enjoyed many moments of performing. Of course, there were minor blips, but far fewer than there could have been. And I was quite tired toward the end of the performance. But all in all, my teacher and I were very pleased with the outcome. Here are some pics of me and friends at the reception following.

Today is the day...

Fri, 13 Apr 2007 14:07:04 GMT

I will be giving my first recital tonight along with another piano student Caitlin Foster. Please uphold us in prayer, and if you are in Indianapolis, you are welcome to come!

Where: Eidson-Duckwall Recital Hall on Butler Campus
When: 8pm tonight
Program: I'll be playing Beethoven Sonata #9 in E Major, Op. 14, No, 2 and Schumann Papillons, Op. 2
Caitlin will be playing works by Haydn, Debussy, and Rachmaninoff.

Reception to follow in the Ford Salon

*EDIT* PLEASE pray that my mom would be well enough to attend. She became quite sick over the night, and if things don't drastically change, it doesn't look like she'll be going anywhere today.