Picture Update!

AWANA T&T (3rd-6th grades) Fall decorate your leader as a scarecrow game time
Loving game time with these kids each week!!!

Cousin Josh's 13th Birthday - Pizza Cake!!!
Spending a week with my cousins in Ohio was awesome!  Lots of fun, laughter, and music happened!!!

AWANA Grand Prix - Representing the ACChoir! (A replica of what I will be living on for 15 months...)

Some of the awesome 8th graders in my Trek group!

Family Thanksgiving 2013

Except for a few ingredients (and of course the turkey and lingonberries) all this came from our garden!!!

Candlelight Carols 2013 - From the other side...with my college roommate

Crazy friends enjoying a night out seeing the ZooLights at Lincoln Park...and of course laughing a LOT!!!

Hello again everyone!
 Life has been busy. No, not the kind of busy as when I was in school, but still busy. I'm now working multiple part-time jobs (janitor/secretary with my grandparent's business, teaching piano, balloon arranger/artist at a balloon shop, and any other jobs that come up!),  doing various work/projects for my mom & grandparents, taking care of the garden, and serving in AWANA with both the Jr.High Trek group as well as the Sparks/T&T girls.  Every week's schedule is different, which I do not particularly enjoy, but this is where God has me at this time - I'm learning to be even more flexible with time than I already was!
 At this point, I am waiting for June to arrive.  'For what?', you ask. Well, if you didn't already know, I have been accepted to be a Choir Tour Chaperone with the African Children's Choir.  I am so excited for this opportunity to serve! I have always wanted to work with kids, in ministry, using music (and I love traveling), which makes this practically my dream job! Granted, I will be raising support and not receiving a paycheck.  With this opportunity I will be traveling for 15 months, mainly on a coach bus, with about thirty 7-10 year olds and 8 other chaperones. Most of the tour will take place in the United States, but some weeks may be in Canada. Approximately the last 3 months we will be in the United Kingdom, before the kids head back to Africa.
 Though I do not know my specific job other than chaperone (every chaperone has a job such as sound tech/head education teacher/music supervisor/etc), I will wear many hats during the tour. From what I have been told so far, my music tours with the Moody Symphonic Band have prepared me well (other than the fact that they were 2 weeks, not 15 months...haha). This is just one thing of many that have come up the past couple months that I have wondered why God had me involved with certain extra activities or learning opportunities - both in life and in the classroom. Many times this month the things that I have learned, even from years ago, have been necessary for me to apply to my life.
 Tranisitioning from school life back to home has been a challenge, especially when I'm starting to think about preparing for the next step of my life with the choir.  I am still learning so much each day; but God is good and He is gracious to let me fall, stand back up, wipe off my knees, and help me go at it again.  So many times we forget that He is there holding us up, desiring that we would take His help - not as wimps, but trusting in the God who IS our Strength! We cannot live life alone. We need the Light to guide us. We need a single set of footprints to remind us that He is carrying us. We are not alone (Romans 8:38-39). WE NEED THE LOVE OF JESUS!

1st NFL Game ever

The 5 Browns Concert! (one was feeling ill so she didn't stay for the cd signing)

Cubs game with my Uncle Rich!

Museum fun with my sister and cousins!!!

Summer!

 Dear Friends,
 There have been so many changes and so much that God is doing and teaching me in my life that updating my ministry blog has taken a back seat. Hopefully I will write soon, but for now here's a few more pics to update you briefly on what has been going on in my life. In regards to the many changes and learning that has been happening, I ask that you continue to pray with me for the next steps in this life-long journey of following Christ. Hope to talk with you soon! Blessings!

The wonderful ladies of 4 West!  So many memories made on this dorm floor - gonna miss them!

The awesome youth/college/singles group at my 'Chicago' church! Miss them!

My Graduation Fan Club aka my Family!

The lady grads of 4 West!

Hockey Fans!

The Awesome Eagle Cabin - cabin counselor and team leader at Great Lakes Bible Camp

Teaching Bible hour to my 1st grade class at VBS - Colossal Roller Coaster World

A week with some of my cousins is bound to have a lot of memories and laughter!

Met "Daddy Ray" Barnett - founder of Music for Life/the African Children's Choir at an interview weekend to work with their ministry...still waiting to hear back

Picture Update

My bros from freshman year -  Danny, C.W. and Hapner

Sarah's Senior Piano Recital!

Phoebe's Birthday!

Kelsey's Senior Voice Recital!

Junsu and I at the shooting range...oh the memories!!!

Organ Recital at the Mormon Tabernacle - with Peace

One of the more interesting set-ups on band tour...

This church had their time zone clock priorities right!

Moody Symphonic Band Spring Tour 2013

The biggest church on tour - sweet lighting too!

4West Seniors!

Geraldine band tour memories...you had to be there - with Emily & Cindy

4west at JSB

Kelsey, Phoebe, Me

Phoebe, Me, Chandler

Band Seniors!

2012-2013 MSB Exec Team

Aidan:2013-2014 Band Prez, Heather:2012-2013 Band Prez, Jay:2011-2012 Band Prez

Mr. Gauger - Conductor/Director of the MSB

My last MSB concert - 45 people in my personal fan club, but at least a couple hundred came to the concert!

It's been awhile...

Faithful Friends!  It has been such a long time since my last update before Christmas!  There are reasons…life has been crazy busy and has thrown some curves that both needed to be faced head on and others dodged. All in all, Christmas break was refreshing and I was able to spend some time with my extended family and lots of friends!  Starting back up the semester was good, especially knowing that it was my last before graduating!!!  School/band family went through a rough time when God called home our dear friend, Micah. Yet, we have seen the Lord’s faithfulness and provision in strengthening us and bringing us together as the body of Christ. Founder’s week was a great time of being reminded of this as well, and also encouraging us in serving the Lord faithfully. Spring break just finished, and as a band this year we went to Wyoming/Utah/Colorado/Nebraska/Iowa for our tour. This was an awesome time with friends and ministry, and I cannot believe that it was my last tour with the band!  Didn’t I just transfer in to Moody?  Currently, we are in the middle of recording our new cd, which will be out after next year’s recording (every 2 years a new cd comes out). It’s a very exciting time, yet I have begun to realize just how much life will change after graduation. I am going to miss so much of the ministries I have invested and poured my heart into!  Yet, as the Lord says in Psalm 46, “Be still and know that I am God”. This has been a verse that I have held onto the last couple months. He is in total, absolute control of my life and all that happens. I need not worry. Nothing surprises the Lord.   
Obviously there is much more, but life continues to go on and I have more homework to get to now…hopefully we can talk soon!
*New pics coming soon as well!!!