No. 2 *Love* - Foamy Soap

I did tell you that this list wasn't in order of importance, didn't I? I sure hope so.

Number 2 love is *foamy soap*. Oh the fun. I've always loved the sensation of washing my hands with that wonderful foam. You know the instant foaming containers that you can buy from Pampered Chef, but then they stop working very shortly after? What disappointment I always have when using them and no little foam bubbles come out!

I've just returned from a vacation in which for two weeks straight I was able to enjoy foamy soap. In every bathroom on the Lispcomb University Campus had foamy soap, even the smelly, gross dorm room bathroom. A little burst of happiness would come over me when I got to use it.

One evening...one very late evening or early morning, I felt the need to share my joy of foamy soap, and was heartily laughed at...but I think, that I really just managed to share my love of the little foam bubbles.

I know, it is a silly thing to love, but I think if it brings you happiness and a little chuckle, it's totally worth it!

No. 1 *Love* - My Family

So many people, on Facebook or blogs and such, write lists of items or of things that they love...it's so good to reminded of things we are thankful for and love about life. I often find myself caught up in everything that wrong in life. 

I too will start my list of loves. I plan to expand a little more on items then just a list and each will have it's own post. Some will be obvious, and so not so much...Hopefully it will remind other to be thankful, while getting to know me better.

So, number 1. Family. Yes, I know, so obvious and one talked about often, but true none-the-less.

Mom: My mom is seriously the wisest person I know. Which is a blessing (and annoying at time too, you know?!). When going through life, she is great person to go and talk to, but just know you'll get advise! And good advise. And Godly advise. And advise you know you should follow. 

My mom with her grandgirls (and added bonus of their cousin Karina :) She is such a great "Nanny".

Lisa and Cam: Lis and I have always gotten along, although with 6.5 years between us and her moving out when I was 17, I'd say that we've never been super close. Although certainly not, not close, if you follow. But even now she is such an example to me of a Godly woman, amazing wife, and ridicously amazing mother. Her relationship with her husband, as well as how they raise their daughters *together* (please note the importance of together) is truly an example to me.

Reid: I love my brother. This past year I haven't seen him as much with him being got with school and such and hm, I don't like it! Such is life, but love when he is around to listen to me complain about life and have him first comfort me and then tell me to get over it. I love to hang out with him, go to movies, watch his sporting events, and talk about life with.

Alanna, Megan, Cadence, and Monica: Bah, and they just bring joy. Being the youngest in the family, I wasn't around little kids that much, so I like being the fun aunt. I like playing and then giving them back to their parents.

Alanna and Megs thought my photo-booth was pretty awesome!

I have this picture as my desktop right now and am constantly reminded of the love I have for them everytime I open my laptop.

For some reason I feel like this picture is very much missing my dad. When together with everyone is when I miss my dad the most. I know he would have been proud of who we are, but still would have inspired for us to be better. He would have been such an amazing grandpa to the girls. I miss him most for my mom and this stage of life that she now has to face on her own...but I was so blessed to have him there for 14 years and instil values into our family and my life that last.

Yes, I'm truly thankful for the family that God has given me.

Fernie

Back in June some of my very favourite people and I went away for a weekend of relaxation! It was truly glorious. A couple in my church has a condo in Fernie that they gladly let people retreat to. So Jenessa, Jocelyn, Laura and I headed down.

We read, ate hiked, slept, and just had lovely time for two days. Here are some pics from that fantastic event (or non-event).

I realize I do the "cheesy" grin a lot!

The weather wasn't lovely, but it was fair. No rain!

Off on our little hike.

Laura cracks me up in this picture!

Water and skittles, what else do you need an hike?

Random bathtub infested with spiders...strange.

Lovely girls in God's creation.

Priceless moment! I *love* this picture!

Matchy match.

Hmmm, not sure...

Our trail got a little steep and sketch-mo, but we continued on like troopers. :)

Twin Creek Falls...or something like that...

Sisters

Lunch time!

Jocelyn coming to rescue her camera from my little hands! :)

Laura's turn with the camera, under the tutelage of Jocelyn.

The crown of Fernie, the historic oil derrick. ;)

This little old beaten up trailer was attached to a brand new SUV, very odd picture!

Workin' the rigs.

Not more skittles.

Little pretending here...

I did manage to completely fall off this "thing"...quite painful and a hand full of slivers (we had to stop the movie later that night so Jocelyn and Laura could operate on my hand! I'm such a chicken)! I'm so thankful I didn't smack my head and or break my arm before my big concert and holiday!

Stange photo of Jocelyn in the bathroom. I'm sure she'll find this photo awkward. ;)

Our little living room.

Laura busy cooking us lunch!

It was so great to get away. I'm so thankful for my friends, vehicles to get down in, time to get away, God's creation to enjoy, His provision and safety, and so much more!

Away is Different

We know this right? Being away from home or in a different place than normal is well, for lack of a better word, is different. Not bad, but different. I'm away from home right now...in the southern states. Talk about different! 

How about heat? You think 29 is hot? Try 38C! Liv and I comment every time we set outside on how many steps it takes for the heat to hit us. Sometimes it's right away, or we'll simply say "Four" or "Two". And then you head inside and *freeze* with the air conditioning...

How about the accent? I haven't really gotten to know anyone too well yet, so I haven't had the comments on my accent, but man, others are so different! I love it and find it so funny sometimes. But, I'm trying to stay very true to my Canadian "accent".

How about food? Can any one say fried chicken? Holy crow, or chicken should I say? It seems like every meal has fired chicken...I can't remember the last time I ate fried chicken at home.

How about the buildings and history? Maybe this is unique to the campus I'm staying, but I'm loving the trees, benches, amazing building with brick and pillars...so lovely! (Lipscombe University in Nashville).

This is the view from my dorm room:

How about "American"? Now, this isn't a bad thing, and maybe American's feel like this when they come to Canada, but I very much feel bombarded with "American". Our entire show is on American history, patriotism, and just yeah, a lot about America...

But, it's all good! Just different, right? I'm enjoying the heat, the accents, the history, not so much the food, and I'm proud to be Canadian!

Finally here!

Well, the week of insanity of almost past! Tonight is the opening night of The Silver Screen Gala: A Night of Music. Long name, but it works, because it's a *big* concert! Definitely the biggest I've been involved in.

I'm so excited, and so nervous at the same time...I'm having those thoughts of "What is we're terrible?". I know we won't be. We've put in too many hours of work (seriously, hundreds and hundreds and hundreds) to be terrible. There will be some rough spots, but there always is, right?

The music isn't actually stressing me out too much. And I'm really choosing to not be stressed at all, but it's been crazy leading to this point. Who, in their right mind, takes on tickets sales (for over 700 assigned seats), and props, and is concertmaster, and is on the creative planning team, and is on the board? Well, clearly I'm not in my right mind, but we already knew that!

But, we're down to the last details. Stage is set, just a few more items to add. Tickets are sold, almost. Music is practiced, as much as it ever will be. Thank you cards are written. And now I just need to doll up for the concert, and wait out a day at the office!

Two more days, then a little bit of freedom! I'm so excited for the concerts, as well and the freedom afterwards!

Life...on steroids!

Anyone who knows me, knows I like to be busy...sometimes a little too much. But my theory is that I get more done when I actually have things to do! Life is slowing down and activities are less, but I'm still managing to keep busy (are you surprised?).

Three things are keeping me busy right now.

1) Work: Currently my list has over 20 uncompleted items on it. And I didn't add them all. And more are added daily. The boss is coming in today, so I'm trying to get all those little things done for him before he gets here and leaves on vacation next week (so I'm blogging right?).

2) Choir&Orchestra: Dress rehearsel in a week. Concerts in 9 and 10 days. Freaking.Out. I'm so excited and there is so much still to do. I'm concertmaster, tickets sales (for only a portion), co-props manager, on the board, and anything else I choose to dip my fingers in (which seems to be a lot). Oh, did I mention practicing?

3) Fine Arts Summer Academy: On July 9th I'm heading to Nashville for the "Fine Arts Summer Academy" with the Annie Moses Band. http://fineartssummeracademy.com/, just watch the video here and you'll see how much work I have to do. I'm going to focus on this more after my concert if finished, but definitely trying to squeak some solo practice in when I can.

Therefore, here is my schedule for the next week:
Tuesday (today):   Work; boss coming to town.
                              Pick up props and set up stage.
                              Rehearsal.
Wednesday:          Work; 2 meetings booked
                              Pick up more props and set up more of the stage.
                              Extra Rehearsal.
Thursday:              Fly to Vancouver
                              Figure out the best use of my time while not at home. Rext? Or productivity?
Friday:                   Vancouver; fly home.
Saturday:               Hike Rundle Mountain
Sunday:                 Church (I've missed the last two Sundays! Terrible person...)
                              Practice perhaps
Monday:               Work. Concert Prep. Practice
Tuesday:               Work. Dress Rehearsel!! Massive set up time!
Wednesday:          Work. Last minute preps for concerts. Probably some panic moments.
Thursday:              CONCERT! Forget work...to excited!
Friday:                  CONCERT! Sad and relieved because it is over...

Welcome to my life. After that begins Arts Academy prep in full force. But, I'm pretty must stoked about it all! Now I just need to survive on less sleep and we'll be in business.

Over and out to get all that work for the boss done.

p.s. Please, please, please, if you want tickets for my concert, I can hook you up! You don't want to miss it!

Who Am I?

So, if you didn't know this already, but I'm involved in lots of different "things". I like to say extra curricular, but there isn't a whole lot of curricular in my life. 

Lately I've realized that at each difference place or activity, I tend to be a little bit of a different person. I know they are all "me", but different sides come out in different places. Orchestra, Friends, Family, Youth and Work...

FRIENDS

 I can honestly say I'm happiest about who I am with my friends. Around my friends I feel maybe the most like "me". It definitely has a lot to do with who my friends are (they are awesome!). They bring out the best in me. 

When with them I can be fun, loud and crazy, but then at the same time I can be serious and emotional (oh, the number of times my friends have had to deal with that!), and then most of all, I can be "spiritual". I don't mean that in a trite way by any means. You know how with certain people you can just open up? That's how I feel with them. I can talk about God, what I understand, what I don't understand, what I disagree with, or really anything.

I love my friends, and I love being me with them...and I laugh more than ever with them too.

CHOIR AND ORCHESTRA (why don't have I have a photo?!)

I think I'm pretty similar here as with my friend, just may a little more mature. I don't quite let loose like I can. As concertmaster and part of the creative team, there isn't as much of an opportunity to really let everything go. 

But in a way, it is different. I can be the musical and creative me. I can gush about how hard or amazing a song is. I can just talk music and creativity. I'm a confident in who I am, but know that I'm certainly not the best musician there and am totally okay with my limitations. I'm motivated to get better and just have fun. This is very much the funnest and most satisfying activity I do.

YOUTH

Oh a place for me to be extreme. I lead Bible Study, and will make a total fool of myself while singing High School Musical with them (hmmm, or by myself). 

I don't feel like I'm a great Bible Study leader. I could put more effort into it, and after doing for five years, I feel very much like I'm in a rut that I don't have the energy to get out. I'm really seeking the Lord on what He has in store for me next year.

But, oh the fun I have with them...the silliest can abound and just can be so much fun! I love letting the girls be silly and not be so serious about being in high school. I like to hear about the boys, the hardships, the friendships, and just about life. The hugs I get from them are my favourite part of church.

WORK

I would have to say this is where I least like "myself" and where I least like myself. While I'm confident in who I am, I'm the least confident here. I'm not really sure what happens to me. 

Over the last year I've been working primarily by myself.  I'm a social person, but can't and aren't at work. I find this puts me in a strange head space. I really don't know if I want to be left alone and just given work that I can do independently. I crave that at times. And the rest of the time I just crave for the reality of last year, when I didn't have masses of responsibility and I could just count on other people to make decisions for me.

God is pushing me in my job. I've spent the last three months trying to figure out if I want to stay or not. The state of "transition" has been there for months and I'm not convinced it will ever leave. I'm tired.  It's stretching. It hurts.

But it isn't that what God does? He moves us from comfortable to make us stronger, to make us call to Him and Him only. I know that if I were to just throw in the towel now, it was feel like epic failure. I'm being given so many amazing opportunities to grow in my career and as a person. So, I'm still here,  up and down more than ever, but still going, continuing, and pushing through.

FAMILY

Oh family. I would definitely say I take on the "youngest" role. After all, I am the youngest. I'm silly, I make very stupid and silly jokes and laugh at them more than anyone else, until Reid looks at me, shakes his head, and starts laughing.

I would also say that I have the "youngest syndrome". I let other take the lead, I sit back and expect others to do things for me, I don't lead out in serious conversation often, and have a hard time opening up.

I love to hang out with my family.

________________________________

So, that's me. Sort of. I'm not really sure how to explain me. Is there actually a way to explain someone? I find it interesting how different parts of me come out in different areas. And I'm happy with who I am, know there is always room for improvement. I'm not perfect yet. ;)