trust.

Romans 15:13

The NKJV says:

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The NIV says:

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

: notice these differences :

- believing and trust
- abound and overflow


I once said that believing leads to the act of trusting. Well, according to translators of the Bible, these words mean the same thing.

If you abound in something, say love or joy, it will overflow out of you because you are so filled with it.


And it is by trusting (or believing) that we are able to abound in (or overflow) with hope in God. For everything. In everything. Always.


TRUST. hmm...

Your love, Your mercy, Your light unending!

Here I am humbled by Your majesty

Covered by Your grace so free

Here I am knowing I'm a sinful man

Covered by the blood of the Lamb

- - -

Now I've found the greatest Love of all is mine

Since you laid down Your life

The greatest sacrifice

- - -

Majesty, majesty

Your grace has found me just as I am

Empty handed but alive in Your hands

Majesty, majesty

Forever I am changed by Your love

In the presence of You majesty

- - -

Here I am humbled by the love that You give

Forgiven so that I might forgive

Here I stand knowing that I'm Your desire

Sanctified by glory and fire

- - -

Now I've found the greatest Love of all is mine

Since You laid down Your life

The greatest sacrifice

- - -

Majesty, majesty

Your grace has found me just as I am

Empty handed by alive in Your hands

Majesty, majesty

Forever I am changed by Your love

In the presence of Your majesty

NO PARKING!!!!!

So, I've been trying to think of analogy from the Christian life for this sign for a long time, but I haven't had any brilliant thoughts on it yet. I don't know why I have a facination with this sign...weirdness is the only explanation I offer:) Do you have any analogies to share for this lovely sign?

Great is YOUR faithfulness. Lam. 3

Walking with God is truly awesome.

So why can't it always be clear? Why is the journey sometimes really fuzzy and confusing and tiring? And if God is so awesome and walking with Him such a wonder, why is it sometimes not full of joy, when you know it should be? Why are things so hard to learn and take so long to thump their way into our brains?

Maybe one of the things that makes the Christian pilgrimage so incredible, even when we get discouraged and want to give up, is the fact that there is always so much more to learn. So much more to know. And God just keeps telling us that we don't know everything yet.

Mystery upon mystery slowly unfolding before our eyes. Year upon years of blinders being slowly pulled away until one day we will see clearly and fully.

The majesty of our God.

I say with Paul from Romans 11:33,

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom

and knowledge of God!

How unsearchable are His judgements

and His ways past finding out!

woah. Habakkuk 2:20 in song form!

God Himself is with us,

Let us now adore Him,

And with awe appear before Him.

God is in His temple,

All within keep silence,

Prostrate lie with deepest reverence.

Him alone, God we own,

Him our God and Savior,

Praise His name forever.

if the world was how it should be, maybe I could get some sleep.

It's crazy how things can pop up out of no-where, when you're least expecting it.

I once read this:

sometimes that's just how hard rain comes down.

I'd say that is pretty accurate sometimes. But I still stand by my previous post, that pray is always worth it. Prayer gives you peace, and the will to move on. To move on in His strength and power.

battle on the inside.

praying is hard work, but it's worth it.

everytime.

habakkuk 2:20

I have no idea why, but I keep having
this verse go through my head at
random times throughout the day.
It's been happening for a few days now.

It would be nice to find out.

And the weird part is that the pastor

quoted it at the opening of the

worship service last night in church.

But the Lord is in His holy temple.

Let all the earth keep silence before Him.

and it still hasn't stopped since it started ten hours ago.

and it's not just coming lazily down. It's coming down with...definate purpose.

. . . . .

some beautiful color before a world of white overcomes us.

Um, where do I put it?

It's up to my waist and the snow banks are caving in on me!

frolicking in the yard:P

a world of white around the corner.

There is something about snow that makes me feel...happy and [insert appropriate word that describes what I can't here].



God, keep the Kentucky group safe as they drive in this storm tonight. Keep them in Your arms.

take a few deep breaths.

take in that fresh air!

I smell spring around the corner. And I am SO looking forward to it. I love snow, but I'm ready for spring warmth and sunshine.

I just went for walk and I realized how out of shape I am. Sitting at my desk all day is bad news. For the body, not the brain:)

What is man that You are mindful of him?

And the son of man that You visit him?

Psalm 8:4

oh the glory that the Lord has made.

me.

a hollow tree. duh:P
a woodpecker!! pretty much made me happy.

hair cut.

I lost about 6 inches of hair today.


It's going to take a while to get used to it. But apparently it needed it because the ends were really dry and wispy, so.....what can you do.




In other news, I had to stay at Cassy's overnight because of the snow/ice/rain/wind storm last night. That was weird. And only because it was too dangerous to drive in such weather with a broken windshield wiper. Thanks for the bed Cassy...second time this week:) I love you.

i like the verse of the day >

Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded you?

be STRONG and

COURAGEOUS.

Do not be terrified;

do not be discouraged,

for

the Lord your God

WILL

be WITH YOU

wherever

you go.

some observations on friendships:

• friendships are a blessing from God
• you can't have a friendship that works if it's not two-sided (Thanks for pointing that out to me Jacinda.)
• being a true friend takes hard work
• honesty is one key to a good friendship
• friendships are meant to encourage
• being a friend means being there no matter what
• friends share what is on their heart, hurts and joys
• just like there is a winter season, there is a winter in friendships (but spring is around the corner)

stop thinking about yourself!

sometimes you have to realize that even if you don't need someone's friendship anymore, they might still need yours. a lot.

...put others interests before your own....philippians 2

James 5:16a

Confess

your trespasses

to one another,

and
pray

for one another,


that you may be

healed.

an applicable song.

You are the author of knowledge
You can redeem what's being done
You hold the present and all that's to come
Until Your everlasting kindgom

Lord I don't know where all this is going
Or how it all works out
Lead me to peace that is past understanding
A peace beyond all doubt

You are the God of tomorrow
Turning the darkness to dawn
Lifting the hopeless with hope to go on
You are the author of salvation

Lord I don't know where all this is going
Or how it all works out
Lead me to peace that is past understanding
A peace beyond all doubt

Oh Lord you are the author
Redeeming what's been done
You hold us in the present
And all that is to come


Lord we don't know where all this is going
Or how it all works out
Lead us to peace that past understanding
A peace beyond all doubt

Newsboys - Lord

more on friendships.

So, I had a little memory-trigger after I talked to some of my friends today. Yay for gchat:) Here's what I remembered.

You know those wonderful old kid tapes you used to listen to 10 times a day, with songs like Behold What Manner of Love, This Little Light of Mine, and other songs based on Bible passages? Well, I remembered one of those songs today. It goes like this:

Make new friends

But keep the old

One is silver

And the other gold

I'm thinking that this has some sort of significance in how we treat this whole problem of new and old friends, more important and those that are beginning to fall by the wayside. Read it one more time.

Make new friends

But keep the old

One is silver

And the other GOLD

Meditate on those words for a minute.

Here is what I'm thinking. New friends are great. A blessing from our heavenly Father for sure. But old ones are just as important. Don't let new friends distract you from the old ones. Also, talk with your old friends about it, if that is possible or applicable. Open up this issue. If you're having a hard time figuring out where you stand and what's going on and how you feel about your friendship fading. If you can't let go of those friendships, talk to them about it if you can and see how they feel. Chances are they feel the same as you, but are afraid to bring it up. Are they ready to move on? Then it's okay. So can you. Do they still want to be close friends like you used to be? Pursue that.

I tried that. And with God's help, I plan on doing the latter. Keeping in mind one word:

priorities.

Just because I see certain friends more than others, I shouldn't let that get in the way of friendships that are harder to pursue on a regular basis. I'm scared that I will fail again though.

That's all for now. Except for one question: does anyone know of a Bible passage that may have inspired this song???

blessed.

Anton and I have been going out for six months now. I can't believe it.

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you [all] with joy. Phil 1:3-4

sweet passage.

For You will light my lamp;

the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.

For by You I can run against a troop,

by my God I can leap over a wall.

Psalm 18:28-29

Every New Day (FIF)

When I was young, the smallest trick of light,
Could catch my eye,
Then life was new and every new day,
I thought that I could fly.
I believed in what I hoped for,
And I hoped for things unseen,
I had wings and dreams could soar,
I just don't feel like flying anymore.
When the stars threw down their spears,
Watered Heaven with their tears,
Before words were spoken,
Before eternity.

Dear Father, I need you,
Your strength my heart to mend.
I want to fly higher,
Every new day again.

When I was small, the furthest I could reach,
Was not so high,
Then I thought the world was so much smaller,
Feeling that I could fly.
Through distant deeps and skies,
Behind infinity,
Below the face of Heaven,
He stoops to create me.

Dear Father, I need you,
Your strength my heart to mend.
I want to fly higher,
Every new day again.

Man versus himself.
Man versus machine.
Man versus the world.
Mankind versus me.
The struggles go on,
The wisdom I lack,
The burdens keep pilling
Up on my back.
So hard to breathe,
To take the next step.
The mountain is high,
I wait in the depths.
Yearning for grace,
And hoping for peace.

Dear God...
Increase.

Healing hands of God have mercy on our unclean souls once again.
Jesus Christ, light of the world burning bright within our hearts forever.
Freedom means love without condition,
without a beginning or an end.
Here's my heart, let it be forever Your's,
Only You can make every new day seem so new.

Hallelujah.

thinking on it.

And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. Romans 16:20


My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:18

friendships.

Life can be so confusing sometimes. Confusing in a weird and discomforting sort of way.

Like relationships/friendships. These confuse me a lot sometimes. And make me feel uncomfortable. Sometimes guilty. And make me wonder how they really work. Be curious about whether other people have the same things happening in their lives as me. Strangely distanced friendships.

There are the friends you used to be really close with and share tons with, and see lots, and you have billion of amazing memories, as well as hurtful and growing memories. And then somehow those relationships faded in a short summer and are only somewhat there. You see them and you have great times. But the closeness is gone. You feel a sort of distance between you.

Then there are the friendships that, no matter how long you don't talk or email or keep in contact with, you can just bounce back to where you left off and keep going. Sharing. Confiding in. Nothing will change those friendships. I am so thankful for these.

And then there are the friends that you are closest with now. Who you talk to a lot, share with, miss even if you don't see them for just a short week, go to parties with. The ones that you would label as your "best friends". The ones you share almost everything with.

And of those "categories", there are the ones that you can talk about God with. And the ones that are only fun and laughter and to talk about God would be awkward. And yet both sides are Christians. This always confuses me.

I can easily say with all my heart that I love all of my former and present, "close" and "distant" friends. I do. But it's not the same.


Life changes when you get older. I am reminded of that again and again. As I spend more time on this earth. This year has been a huge flip for me. A strange, yet good, experience. Different "close" friends, a boyfriend, keeping up with two families, keeping up with a growing and vast number of friends/acquaintances.


I experienced it all over again this weekend. Seeing friends I haven't seen in a while and hanging out with them. It's hard to balance. To think about. To keep hanging onto so many special and wonderful people.

Why do friendships have to fade like that? Why does keeping up with so many people have to be so hard? How can you keep friendships that once meant so much to you and hold onto them forever? Why do friendship mysteriously fade? And mysteriously grow and become more important than others? Do you experience this same thing?



"Friends are friends forever, if the Lord's the Lord of them."


True. But hard. And the only way that this is true is because of the Lord's help.





It's hard. I don't know if I like it.

breath taking.

Story: After a 5 minute visit to Cambridge half an hour ago to do some photocopying, I looked in the rearview mirror...

...and saw this:

I quickly dumped my bag on Amy's lap and told her to get the camera out and take pictures! She did...all the way home. (The first picture is compliments of Amy.)

Then when we got to our driveway, we hopped out of the car, I grabbed the camera, turned the flash off and took a bunch more. These are some of them.

Moral of the story: It's a good idea to look in your rearview mirror when you're driving. If you don't, you might miss it ("it" shall be left for you to discover).

sports?

How is it that people think they can make me play sports?




Man. I'm a push-over. I give in too easily.

And people know how to make me feel guilty...


Has someone failed to inform them that I am a musician, not an athlete? My limbs are very important. And not to be stressed or hurt by athletic taxation!

last of kiwanis.

The masterclass was amazing. I have some work to do:)


And I got first place for sight-reading.




I had fun, and learned a lot, but...I'm glad it's over too.

masterclass.

The adjudactor of the senior piano classes selects 8 people every year to have a masterclass with him - which includes a 15 minute lesson with him and watching him give the other 7 short lessons as well.


I was one of them!! Pretty stoked about that.

It's today.

done.

I just finished that crazy big project.

Now I can finally get back to studying that History.





And register for four exams....ahhh!!

Somehow actually registering for them makes is so much more real and scary and stressful.

important to remember I think.

read todays 'verse of the day'. I think it means a lot. Think about it.

He who covers an offense promotes love, but he who repeats the matter separates close friends.
proverbs 17:9

day two.

I received second for my Mozart Sonata in A major. Quite happy with that.


And we witnessed quite the show from one of my competitors...crazy performance! Literally, a performance, not just a competition. I think he thought he was performing in front of a huge crowd.

"check this out" he says.

I've been listening to Mark Mathis for a while now. I like his music. Thanks Anton:)

You should check out http://www.myspace.com/markmathis. Listen to his songs.


And especially his new song, Christian Schools. Also, click on the link for his blog and read the post on that song. He was homeschooled!! (Sorry, I just thought that was cool because so was I. And I also only went to school for the same grades as he did. Just thought that was cool!)

kiwanis.

day one:

first place for my prelude and fugue:)



woot!!!

nice thought.

I wouldn't even be mad if anyone decided they would share some new music with me:)

Please?

my earthly dwelling place most of the time.

THIS is where I sit every day...except on weekends...and study. Things that you will always see on my desk: a glass of water, a bountiful supply of pens and pencils, a Bible, a stack of paper to write quick notes on, a laptop and printer, books and papers either neatly piled up or strewn across the desk, and candles.












Here is the stack of books that my teacher gave me last week to thoroughly analyze. I don't think I knew what it meant to thoroughly analyze a music book until now. These are not just books. They are music books for beginning music students.

Alfred, Bastien, Boris Berlin, Hal Leonard, Celebrate Piano.



I am a third of the way done, five hours later.

new look.

again.

I got bored with the old one:)




Happy Valentine's Day...

the love of a little boy...

...for his family.

evidence of which we did partake this evening for Valentine's Day - a beautiful heart shaped chocolate cake, which was schemed up and eagerly anticipated for months.

we could 'taste' the love:)

we love you too Aaron.

cringe.

our piano is really out of tune!

i hope it actually stays in tune this time.

because it's really frustrating when it doesn't.

what if you should say you don't want me in your life?

dedicated to all my dear friends: I love you.

What if there was no lie
Nothing wrong, nothing right
What if there was no time
And no reason, or rhyme
What if you should decide
That you don't want me there by your side
That you don't want me there in your life
What if I got it wrong
And no poem or song
Could put right what I got wrong
Or make you feel I belong

What if you should decide
That you don't want me there by your side
That you don't want me there in your life

Ooh ooh-ooh, that's right
Let's take a breath, jump over the side
Ooh ooh-ooh, that's right
How can you know it, if you don't even try
Ooh ooh-ooh, that's right

Every step that you take
Could be your biggest mistake
It could bend or it could break
That's the risk that you take

What if you should decide
That you don't want me there by your side
That you don't want me there in your life

Ooh ooh-ooh, that's right
Let's take a breath, jump over the side
Ooh ooh-ooh, that's right
How can you know when you don't even try
Ooh ooh-ooh, that's right

Ohhh - Ooh ooh-ooh, that's right,
Let's take a breath, jump over the side.
Ooh ooh-ooh, that's right,
You know that darkness always turns into light.
Ooh-ooh, that's right
What If by Coldplay

Psalm 55

Micah 7:5-7

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

I hope you will remain my friend for a long time. That I won't hurt you. Or you hurt me. That Christ will help us be loyal friends to each other.

hoky dina.

I'm a little freaked out....and feel kinda old.

wow.

update.

they're getting better slowly:D


~ ~ ~ ~

notice the new 'verse of the day' feature!!

Clive "Jack" Staples Lewis

C. S. Lewis is probably ranks up there as one of the most popular, and well loved, Christian authors. I think my favorite of his writings are The Chronicles of Narnia, especially The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.

-

-

-

- - - - - - -

-

-

-

-

-

-

So, my brother has been listening to the Focus on the Family Radio production of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobw over the past few days...right outside my bedroom door. Which makes it very easy for me to multi-task: listen and study at the same time:) I think every time I hear this story, I see more and more of the imagery Lewis used of the story of Christ.


Last night we watched the movie (the "new" one). I think the part that affected me the most this time was when the witch and her evil army meet Aslan at the stone table and mock him, beat him, shave him, tie him up, dance in victory over his scared body, and kill him. If that is anything at all like what it was really like when Jesus was tormented and humiliated by His enemies, that whole section of the Bible makes a lot more sense, and a lot more sorrow, to me than it used to.

I also used to think that Lucy and Susan where the disciples that Jesus took with Him when He went to the Mount of Olives to pray. But I don't think so anymore. I think that they represent the women who were always present, following Jesus, through His death, burial, resurrection. They were always there, weaping and watching. Just like Lucy and Susan. (Read Matthew 27:55-56, 61, 28:1-10.)

It's cool how the stone table is broken, like the curtain in the temple. They both showed the fulfillment of something.

I could go on and on, but...you should read/watch/listen to it again yourself soon. And read the whole story of Jesus humilitation, death, burial, and resurrection along with it. Read and ponder.

psalm 34 verse 8.

oh, taste and see that the Lord is good.

in awe...

I don't know what's going on, but God is doing whatever it is, that's for sure.


It's amazing when you can actually see that He's working and showering His grace all over.

painfully aware of human weakness.

Yes I'm encouraged.



But that does not mean I don't have a source of bitterness as well. This is mine. The sight of a tensor bandage reminds me that I can be spiritually well and physically not at the same time. Happy and sad. Full of joy and full of annoyance. On a high. And a low.

My arms are causing me trouble again. Which basically affects everything I do. Writing, typing, playing piano, playing violin. It's just frustrating that the most important part of my body right now is the least healthy. The part that looks at this picture and says, 'you're my best friend.' My arm. And Guelph Kiwanis is in a week and a half. At which I compete and perform three times.

Arms, get better!

encouraged.

This past weekend we had youth group on Saturday night, and then we had lunch and another Bible study on Sunday.

We addressed UNITY in our group.


And tried a new idea for Bible studies. Instead of using study material, we each read a passage (Romans 14) alone for 20 minutes and then got together in small groups to discuss what we found and read and thought about it.



I'm strongly encouraged by the results so far. And the enthusiastic feedback from people on how much they liked it.

Youth group was actually encouraging to me this weekend. That's amazing!

post on love.

as I said before, I have been learning a ton about love in the past few months. hopefully this summary makes sense. It is only a small taste of what I have been learning and am being tested on.

based on I Corinthians 13:4-8a



Love is patient. bearing or enduring provoking or annoyance, puts up with things that you don't like in a person.

Love is kind. thoughtful, always puts others before themselves, caring, there when others need a friend or a chat.

Love...does not envy. does not expressly show that they are jealous of someone else, is content with what God has given them.

Love...does not boast. does not parade around and talk about themselves all the time.

Love...is not proud. same as boasting, not full of yourself, but humble in Christ. I think humility and love are very similar, and closely connected.

Love...is not rude. puts others first, thinks about how actions/thoughts/words will affect those around them.

Love...is not self-seeking. forgets about themselves and what they deeply desire and serves others unconditionally.

Love...is not easily angered. even when jealous, or bitter towards someone, you don't show your anger, you keep it inside. Which explains where it says that we should be angry and not sin (Eph 4:26).

Love...keeps no record of wrongs. does not let someone else's rude actions towards them keep them from returning love to that person, but forgives no matter what.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. does not support lies in anyway, but does everything possible to promote truth and destroy evil.

Love...always protects. cares for, treasures, cherishes.

Love...always trusts. believes, relies on, and depends on God, and relays that to those who need to be uplifted in that.

Love...always hopes. has faith in God's plan, encourages when the road is rough.

Love...always perseveres. holds on to the Word and the promises of God, keeps pressing forward.

Love never fails. is everlasting, never ending, contiuous, always pulls through, always present.

Christ in me is love. Christ in you is love. Christ IS love!



No matter what (in other words, no matter who/when/where/why/in whatever situation) it is . . .

LOVE.

That can never be emphasized enough.

for tomorrow.

happy birthday my dear Justine.

I love you. in many ways.

'happy sigh'

Wow.


I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOO glad to be back. I just checked out the blogs I have on my blog roll and I've missed you all soo much!! Well, I've seen all of you, but I haven't been on your blogs in a while, and I missed that part of you all.

I have nothing extra-ordinary to say yet. I have to get into the whole blogger mode again. One thing I'll say is this:

God's been teaching me about TRUE love.

fast over.

After almost one whole month, I am finally back.

Fasting is good, even though it's [insert extreme word here] hard!



Okay, I need to catch up in the blogging world. I'm going to start by checking everyone else's blogs:)

not stopping.

deciding that I get a lot more done without these things previously mentioned, I've decided to continue.

for an undetermined length of time...


maybe I'll come back one day. to blogger and gchat.

but please don't forget that I have email still. And I use it.

news flash.

I'm going on a blog/chat/internet fast.

Starting with one week. Maybe I'll go longer.


Don't let this cut off our friendships though. I have email and phone still:)

church this morning.

On the good and faithful God has set His love;
When they call He sends them blessings from above.
Stand in awe, and sin not, bid your heart be still;
Through the silent watches think upon His will.

Lay upon God’s altar good and loving deeds,
And in all things trust Him to supply your needs.
Anxious and despairing, many walk in night;
But to those that fear Him God will send His light.

In God’s love abiding, I have joy and peace
More than all the wicked, though their wealth increase.
In His care confiding, I will sweetly sleep.
For the Lord, my Savior, will in safety keep.

back to work. back to school.

started work again today.

studying starts on monday again. oh joy.

I will try to fix you.

Crying hurts sometimes.

I hurt. For me. For friends. Crying sucks. But it's good if it makes you feel better.

- - - - - - - - - -

On a happier note:

Happy Birthday Anton.

an odd feeling. and a good one.

I wrote the letters 2 0 0 8 for the first time today. Well, for the first time in reference to the year 2008 anyway:) It felt odd. And I started thinking about what this year will bring, particularily in May and June (exams, and turning 20!!!) and I started getting scared and anxious and stressed out.

- - - - - -

This is my new favorite passage.

Isaiah 43:1-7
1 But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned . Nor shall the flame scorch you.
3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
4 Since you were precious in My sight, you have been honored, and I have loved you; therefore I will give men for you and people for your life.
5 Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, and gather you from the west;
6 I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' and to the south, 'Do not keep them back!' Bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the ends of the earth -
7 Everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.

- - - - - -

Maybe I should think a bit more what this passage says. That God loves me. And so I shouldn't worry about what this year will bring my way.

beauty. right in my front yard. great start to a new year.

a fresh year.

welcome 2008. with a hug. and a cry. and singing around a fire in the middle of a whole lot of snow. with your friends. fellow Christians. and God. in His beautiful 'up north'. at my second home - campfire.

look outside. at the trees. the snow. the beauty and majesty of God.

Read Psalm 19.
yeah.

tiredness.

finally a day of relaxation and staying home-ness.

I think that's the craziest Christmas I've ever had.


it was crazy fun! but now I have to stock up on energy for NY at campfire.

they're gone. but the partying continues.

my relatives left at 6:00 this morning. and yes, I got up to say goodbye. (I didn't cry!)

haha. and then I went back to bed. It felt good.

So today my whole family, minus me of course, went to Blue Mountain with my mom's brother to go skiing/snowboarding for the first time ever. Lucky them. I'm staying home...and going to another Christmas thing...and protecting my very important limbs from breakage.


What do I do at home all alone? For a whole entire morning? Well, pumping the stereo is a given...maybe I'll work on my puzzle.....and take a nap:)

it's begun.

partying has begun....

and their visit is almost half over already:(


I like jamming and recording with Curtis (my "pretty much" super tall, fun, ever-laughing cousin) he reminds me of Chris Muis:P

yeah. I love Christmas for all the family fun.

CHRISTmas.

I was sitting on the couch by the tree reading my Bible and it hit me all over again.


Christmas is not about trees. It's about a baby, who is called

Wonderful
Counsellor
Mighty God
Everlasting Father
Prince of Peace

Amazing love. Amazing miracle of love.

house invasion!

my aunt and uncle and four cousins from NC are coming tomorrow night!!

I'm super excited. even though my room will be invaded by my two younger sisters for almost a week. it's worth it.

when your mind won't stop.

i fell asleep listening to Jack Johnson last night.

trees.

Christmas trees smell so good. mmmm...so good!

I love looking at them, looking at the presents underneath.

"Christmas" is so pretty.

christmas is in the air.

my Christmas looks like it will consist of:

• opening gifts and hanging out with my family
• my aunt and uncle and four cousins from NC
• food, tons of it!
• playing in church on Christmas morning
• sharing gifts
• caroling on Christmas Eve
• skating with my church
• family gatherings
• sleeping in as long as I want
• maybe reading a book
• practicing piano...
• Christmas music, hopefully Sufjan
• meeting lots of new people
• and hopefully, lots of snow...just no snow storms please:)

I'm pretty excited...only two more days of studying and finishing cards and gifts. Wow, I can't believe it's actually almost here.

thoughts on version of the Bible.

i think i like the NIV. i've been hearing it a lot lately in church, and hearing it in youth group Bible studies too. and i think i like it. sometimes it has words that i like better or i can identify with easier. and other times it has way better sentence construction!

it won't stop.

it just keeps snowing. and snowing and snowing! and it's so beautiful. better than beautiful. gorgeous! so much gorgeousness:)

.

snowed in.

church was cancelled this morning.


oh snow. i love the cozy feeling it leaves you with when you're "snowed in" and you have a coffee in your hand as you watch the snow coming down. and you're home with your family.

yet, i still would rather go to church.

coldplay.

on sunday i heard this song for the first time. i almost cried.

and now i'm borrowing Nadine's zen and i've been listening to it over and over.

i love it.

FIX YOU

When you try your best, but you don't succeed
When you get what you want, but not what you need
When you feel so tired, but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse
When the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can't replace
When you love someone, but it goes to waste
Could it be worse?

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

High up above or down below
When you're too in love to let it go
If you never try you'll never know
Just what you're worth

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

Tears stream down your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream down your face
And I...

Tears stream down on your face
I promise you I will learn from the mistakes
Tears stream down your face
And I...

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

i like the relaxing sound of coldplay. and their songs about feelings and life. even though they don't always give hope...the hope of Christ. it just triggers something in me.

"You're will be done"

2 Corinthians 12:9-10:

'But he said to me,

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power

is made perfect in weakness." Therefore

I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses,

so that Christ's power may rest on me.

That is why, for Christ's sake,

I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardshps,

in persecutions, in dfficulties.

For when I am weak, then I am strong.'

i'm blogging this for Ben and Anton:)

yup.


because i played a harpsichord on Monday before the choir concert.

and i didn't just play anything on it. i played a fugue.



wish you could have heard it. it would have made you laugh.

sorry everyone else....there's an inside joke here:)

yes!

someone's stress is over tonight.

i found it.

http://www.myspace.com/dustinkensrue

the other songs aren't my favorite. but Please Come Home is pretty good.

friends forever.

a recent email from a dear friend since i was small, who i have so many precious memories with, and a prelude played by another friend last night, and reading blogs, and talking to people has renewed my passion for this song.

i can never thank God enough for people. and more than that, for friends.

Words: Deborah D. Smith
Music: Michael W. Smith

Packing up the dreams God planted
In the fertile soil of you
Can't believe the hopes He's granted
Means a chapter in your life is through
But we'll keep you close as always
It won't even seem you've gone
'Cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

And friends are friends forever
If the Lord's the Lord of them
And a friend will not say never
'Cause the welcome will not end
Though it's hard to let you go
In the Father's hands we know
That a lifetime's not too long to live as friends.

With the faith and love God's given
Springing from the hope we know
We will pray the joy you'll live in
Is the strength that now you show

But we'll keep you close as always
It won't even seem you've gone
'Cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

concert.

it went well. very well indeed.

Sonia is close the the best director ever.


all praise to God for His indescribable gift of love.

christmas.

choir concert in 5 hours. i'm the pianist for the highschool choir.

oh dear.


i'm getting sick of Christmas and the holiday festivities haven't even begun.

oh dear.

dance with all your might.

i've decided i like dancing.

ie. square dancing


i'll teach you sometime. it's so much fun.

~~~~

and weekends are very nice.

yeah.

sometimes that's just how hard rain comes down.
~unknown

please come home. please come home. I love you.

i've gotten a lot of good songs from a good friend lately. i really like this one. it is based on the story of the prodigal son from Luke 15:11-32. i know, i know...songs aren't the same when you're just reading the lyrics rather than hearing the musical version. but i couldn't on the mySpace site for this song, so...this will have to do

. . . . . . .

Well, I woke one morning
Found you staring down at me
You said "I'll take my share now, father please"
And you took your money
And you took your leave
You drilled my heart and turned your back on me

And you hit the town
And you hit the bottle hard
You race 'round in your fancy cars and you blow all your money
On brothels, beds, and bars
Before you know your broken times get hard

I still stand here waiting
With my eyes fixed on the road
And I fight back tears and I wonder
If you're ever coming home
Don't you know son that I love you
And I don't care where you've been
So please come home

And now you've hit bottom
All those open doors have shut
And you're hungry stomach's tied in knots
But I know what you're thinking
That you troubled me enough
Nothing could ever separate you from my love

I still stand here waiting
With my eyes fixed on the road
And I fight back tears and I wonder
If you're ever coming home
Don't you know son that I love you
And I don't care where you've been

Yes and I'll be right here waiting
'Till you come around the bend
And I run to you and hold you close
Won't let go again

So, please come home
Please come home

Don't you know son that I love you?
And I don't care where you've been
Please come home

~ Dustin Kensrue

overflow.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

flow over Your rivers into my life. of:

joy
contentment
love
compassion
kindness
selflessness
trust
patience
hope
humility
faith



i am called to worship You.
i will wait for You

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

exams=stress

so apparently some people thought my last post was
interesting:)

- - - - - - - -

and here I sit while millions of people my age are stressing about exams. I'm glad I'm not one of them. I just stress out for them because I know what exams are like. Well, not four in one week, but I know exams are stressful. I think I'll be there in the spring. Don't get too jealous of me yet:) My time is coming. One Advanced Harmony 5 exam and one History 5 Romantic Era to the Present exam within two days in May, and a lovely Practical ARCT Piano (with two parts, one playing, and one teaching) exam in June. ugh. So while I support all you in exams right now, I expect it all back in a few months. :)

commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established. proverbs 16:3

a little look at what i study day in and day out.

okay. so this is a really boring post. i don't blame you for not reading the whole thing. or not reading any of it. but here is a small itty bitty glimpse of what i study and teach myself everyday in music history. like i said, this is only a very small portion of it.

its pretty exciting. but boring. at the same time. if that's even possible.

- - - - - - - - - -

The life and music of:

Robert Schumann (1810-1856)

Robert Schumann was born in Zwickau, Germany, to a bookseller who passed on his literary love to his son. At his mother’s insistence, he studied law, first at the University of Leipzig, then at Heidelberg. During this time, he immersed himself in the poetry of Byron and Goethe, attending an occasional lecture, and surrendered himself more and more to his passion for music, daydreaming at the piano. After convincing his mother, he returned to Leipzig to study under one of the foremost teachers of the day, Friedrich Wieck. He practiced intensively to make up for his late start, but physical difficulties in his right hand fingers ended his hopes as a pianist. He turned to composing, and in a burst of creative energy, composed his most important piano works while still in his 20s. His literary bent found expression in The New Journal of Music, which he founded, and under his direction, it became one of the most important journals for music criticism in Europe.

In the 1830s, his hectic life was intensified by his courtship of the gifted pianist and composer, Clara Wieck, daughter of his teacher. Her father opposed the marriage with a vehemence that bordered on the psychopathic. Clara was his supreme achievement, and he refused to surrender her to another. The couple was forced to go the court against him, and in 1840, they were married. Robert was 30, and Clara 21. This was Robert’s year of song, in which he composed over 100 Lieder, which represent his lyric gift at its purest.

The two musicians settled in Leipzig, pursuing their careers side by side. Clara became the foremost interpreter of Robert’s piano music, and contributed greatly to the spread of his fame. But neither her love, nor that of their children, could ward off the growing withdrawal from society that plagued her husband. Moodiness and nervous exhaustion grew into a severe breakdown in 1844. The couple moved to Dresden where he appeared to recover. However, the periods of depression returned even more frequently.

In 1850, Schumann was named the director of Düssendorf, but he was ill suited for public life, so he had to retire from the post. He began to complain of unnatural noises in his head. He continued to experience auditory hallucinations, once even rising in the middle of the night to write down a theme he imagined had been brought to him by spirits of Schubert and Mendelssohn. This was his last melody. A week later, in a fit of depression, he threw himself in the Rhine river, and was rescued by fishermen. Clara had no choice but to place him in a private asylum near Bonn, where he died two years later.

Schumann is the true romantic. His piano pieces brim with impassioned melodies, novel changes in harmony, and driving rhythms. He often attached literary meanings to his music, giving them characteristic titles. He was especially fond of cycles of short pieces connected by a literary theme or musical motto.

Schumann ranks second only to Schubert in composing Lieder. A common theme he liked to use was love, especially from a woman’s point of view. His four symphonies are Romantic in feeling, and communicate a lyric freshness that has preserved their appeal.

- - - - - - - - - -

like i said. i don't blame you for not reading all of that.

:P

a gift.

someone i've worked with for the past two summers gave me a really amazingly good Christmas present at LW.

druppies!! and not just a few....a huge bag of them. double salted and everything.


oooh man. so good....and addicting:)


and embarrassingly enough, a funny story is attached to them...cough cough.


thank you Sarah!

tired.

Living Worship was great! Wentworth was good.

. . . but my vocal chords are dead. and i'm super tired.



i need a week to catch up on sleep. and get my energy back.


before next weekend hits.