The Phantom of the Opera

Yesterday Mom, Abby, Kara P, Becca, Megan, my grandma, great grandma, aunt, and I went to KC to see the Phantom of the Opera. IT WAS SOOOOOO GOOD!!!!!!!!!! EXCELLENT! SUPERB! PHENOMENAL! OUTSTANDING! I could gush on it forever... We attended the 2:00 matinee, I was ready to go see the 8:00 show! The actor who played the Phantom was breathtaking, he WAS the Phantom! Christine was great, and Raoul was ok, but he seemed a little snobbish. Patrick Wilson is still my favorite Raoul. Needless to say, I'm going to do everything in my power to go see it again!

We did have meet an interesting person at the show though. :S I came out of the bathroom and saw my grandma talking to a guy. I didn't recognize him but I figured he must have known her since he kept putting his hand on her back...When we finally got away from the extremely extroverted person, I discovered, she had never met him before in her life! I was a little creeped out, but thought nothing of it as we went into the Theater. Sitting in the Theater with hundreds of seats, I realize that the person sitting directly NEXT to us is...yep you guessed it...Mr. Social-Freak. I was getting very worried and just started praying...:D He asked Abby( who had the unfortunate task of sitting next to the guy) a zillion questions and was getting very personal and was very controlling of the conversation. Finally Kara, being the brilliant mastermind she is, steered him to other topics. LOL!!! When she found out he didn't know what an oboe was, she promptly started discussing classical music. :D It shut him up a little bit. Thankfully he didn't talk during the show...I probably would have done something not so kind...ANYWAY! The moral of this story is, always stay in a group...and always ask nosy people their opinion on Bach's Brandenburg Concerto #4...

Beautiful, Beautiful

Happy Spring my friends! I have been loving this weather, I spent almost the entire day outside! Let's see here is a summary of my life as of March 2009.

School
As you know, this is my last year of high school. I actually only have about 7 weeks left of school, which is a terrifying yet exhilarating thought. I have to take the last test in Chemistry and Economics and I will be done with them. Then I just have Advanced Biology, Geometry, and American History left. I am also doing a Speech class, we are working on a type of persuasive speech at the moment. Kara P., Mom, and I are also doing a Jane Austen literature study, we are currently reading "Emma" our 3rd book.

Graduation
I will be graduating in a homeschool graduation on April 24th. It will be interesting, I'm just praying now that I won't start crying...raccoon eyes are not very fashionable. :D I will be sending out more info soon.

College
I have yet to send in a college application which is really starting to get me worried, but I am trying to remain calm and hopefully we can get it in this week.

Music
My last piano recital is in 2 weeks, and I have about 8 measures remaining that I cannot seem to get memorized, it is driving me insane! The other bad thing is my song wears me out after playing it about 2-3 times, so its hard to practice repetitiously. More practice needed...

Spring Break...or rather lack thereof
This week is somewhat of a Spring Break for me as I don't have several of my babysitting obligations. On Tuesday we are going up to my grandparents house to watch Mom's old home videos we had but on DVD for Christmas. Due to crazy work schedules this is the soonest we could get together. Then on Thursday, we are heading back up there to go see "The Phantom of the Opera"!!!! I am so excited! Friday is back to Orchestra.

Learning
What God has been teaching me now is sometimes your dreams and plans just aren't what God has for you, at least right now. To surrender my dreams and aspirations is very hard, but I am reminded by the verse, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will make your paths straight." I am so thankful for a patient loving God who gently teaches me and doesn't give up on me. One of my recent discoveries has a gift for writing beautiful lyrics and music. Please take time to listen to this song called "Beautiful, Beautiful" by Francesca Battistelli. "Forever Love" is another favorite.

A picture Becca and I took today

Nursing, Phantom, & Cups That Turn Blue!

Well I am back to writing blog entries. Facebook has completely wreaked my Blogger life. :D Here goes...

Last Saturday I went to the local nursing school that I am thinking about attending this fall as they were having a special Nursing Fair. Mom, Kara P, and I went and it was great! I learned that taking the same basic general ed and pre-reqs at the nursing school rather than the mother campus is way less than half the price! Also I got to see the books that they use for their science classes, the Anatomy 1 class book is basically the same thing I am studying now, and I knew 2/3 of the chemistry book! That made me feel a lot better knowing that I wasn't going to be so much in over my head. We got a lot of great information about the school and nursing in particular so I am really excited. I also got to meet several of the professors/teachers and they were all really nice and informative.

The Pediatric teacher also commented on I believe you Jessie! Lol, she found out we were homeschooled and told us about one of her homeschooled students who graduated last year whom she absolutely loved. Mom and I instantly thought of you. :D On a side note we also got these awesome cups that turn purple when cold and blue when warm! Isn't that exciting! Ok that was my little girl moment. :D If you know me, you know I have a lot of those, let's just say I'm easily amused.

Let's see the rest of the week is pretty much normal, I have piano and speech tomorrow. 2 rounds of babysitting on Wednesday, and nothing Thursday. On Friday however we have a crazy schedule with extra rehearsal times. I'm hoping to have a chance to eat sometime throughout the 8 1/2 hour day. :D

On March 26, I get to go see the Broadway production of "The Phantom of the Opera" in KC. I am SO EXCITED!!! That has always been one of my favorites so when I found out it was in KC, I had to go. Well I think that is about it, have a great week!

Kara

P.S. Here is a sweet quote I found today, had to share!

"Don't marry the person you think you can live with; marry only the individual you think you can't live without.”- Dr. James Dobson

My Weekend & a Valentine's Day Thought

Hello everyone! I have had an exhausting, yet great weekend. On Friday we had normal Orchestra/Choir classes, but with an added 45 minute rehearsal for our performance Saturday morning. We didn't get home until 7:30 pm.

Saturday morning, we had to be in S-town at 8:45 for a Valentine's breakfast. After which Kara P, Abby & I hung out in Springfield shopping and eating. Yes, here is the headline, I tried Starbucks and I am in LOVE!!! Wonderful stuff, I had a Vanilla Latte and I am going to have to study up on my Starbucks lingo.

We then went to an amazing, beautiful Symphony concert at 7:30. They played West Side Story, Rhapsody in Blue, Romeo & Juliet, and Warsaw Concerto which I had never heard before but loved it. What is really bad about going to the symphony is it always makes me want to learn another instrument, man those french horns are awesome, and the percussion people. I really want to get a piccolo too, they are so stinkin' cute!

Valentine's Day, aka Singles Awareness day...it does make you think. On the holiday celebrating love, as a single, it does make you wonder and miss that connection you would have with a spouse. But, I know that what God has called me for right now is to be focused on Him. I think so many young people today, even those who are Christians, miss that special bonding time that was made to be between you and your Lord. Everyone wants a strong and lasting marriage, but the only way to achieve that is if it is built on a rock, the Rock. By taking this time, to dig deeper into God's word, by studying His word, you get to know the Matchmaker and ultimately prepare your heart and your life for another.

When I was 14 years old, I was reading a book in The Life of Faith Series. In this book, the main character was given a challenge by her mother to surrender her heart to Jesus, and give Him the key. He was to be the one to decide who AND when it was to be unlocked. This struck a chord in my life, and I surrendered that part of me to my Jesus.

Several years ago, I read a fictional story that illustrated this walk. Here is my summary of it.

You sit, looking at an uncompleted painting. The Artist skillfully, expertly brushes paint across the canvas. Yet you sit staring at it...a blank spot. "Artist, look here, its empty, there is nothing there."
"In my time, child", He lovingly answers.
I sit there staring at this blank spot, for what seemed like ages, getting angry that He wasn't doing anything with it. "When are you going to do this part?", I ask impatiently.
The Artist gently calls, "My Child, take a step back."
When I did, my heart stopped, all around the blank spot was a beautiful picture. Of me. It was my life, orchestrated in a beautiful collage of colors. I am in awe yet I still ask, "But why haven't you painted the blank spot?"
He sighs, and takes my hand, "You were so caught up in the one blank spot in your life that you missed all the other beauty that I was creating, and improving. One day, it will be time to complete it, but with all the other colors around it, it will make the blank spot all the more beautiful when completed. Trust Me"

This beautiful story resonated with me, I didn't want to stare at the blank spot of my love life and miss all the other things God was teaching me.

"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart."-Psalm 37:4

Now don't take this verse as, "If I obey God He will give me whatever I want." He may, but He may not. What He promises is that if you trust Him, He will give you your true hearts desire, whats best for you. Rest in that, and enjoy the painting.

Rebecca Faith: Sensitive

I was thinking the other night that I only got a 1/4 of the way through my sibling bios. If you missed Megan & Luke's click their names. Next in line is Becca.

Rebecca was born on May 23, 1998, I was 7 and I still remember it. She was the first baby that I actually got to help with. I guess I was a very advanced 7 year old, I changed diapers, did laundry, and cooked meals. I remember Becca was a very round baby, big cheeks and thighs(lol she is going to love me) and I carried her everywhere.

As she got a little older, she loved dolls, dress-up, and anything pink and frilly. A couple years later she turned to horses and says she doesn't like anything "girly", I think otherwise.

She is a very warm, friendly little girl, but can also be very sensitive and emotional, I guess following in some of her sisters footsteps...She is also very funny, and loves to laugh. Megan and Becca are often referred to as the Siamese twins for they are seldom found without the other.

Becca's lifelong best friend KandaceOne of my first "photo shoots" I used to make one of the kids my "doll" for the day, dress them up and take a bunch of pictures.

Another shoot, a normal Becca face.

Becca, Megan, and a friend's mini pony

Becca & Megan dressed themselves up and asked me to take their picture

Becca being Becca

One of their latest concoctions, I think they are mutant mice from Mars...or Mickey Mouse

A Week in the Life of Me

I guess it is time to post something, I haven't because there is really nothing worthwhile to post about right now. But for the sake of all you thousands of people who hang on my every word(ha ha), here is some stuff from my life.

A Week in the Life of Me

Monday
After breakfast I do some sort of exercise, lately it has been Pilates. I have noticed a very great reduction in my back pain since starting it, which is awesome. I then do my school, lunch sometime in between and then get ready for Jane Austen literature class, and P.E. class. Our P.E. classes have included going bowling. Lol my highest score this week is 78...yeah not good. I then go to teach 3 lessons at 4:00. Dinner finishes up Monday.

Tuesday
Same morning routine, then I go to piano lessons at 11:00. Grab lunch and head to Speech class from 1-3. I then get to go home, maybe get some school in, and then teach 2 lessons at 4:30.

Wednesday
Breakfast-Exercise-School. I go to teach 4 lessons at 3:30, grab dinner, and then got babysit for a homegroup.

Thursday
Breakfast-Exercise-School. I actually don't usually have to do anything until 5:00 for another bowling experience (it is completely tearing up my nails!).

Friday
Mom wakes us up at 6:30, we fight over the bathroom, and finally get out the door around 8:00. After picking up a couple friends, we head to Orchestra. I have the chamber choir class first, then Jane Austen class. Next is another choir class, lunch, followed by 3 orchestra classes. By the time 4 comes around I am completely dead. We go home and I hide out in my room until dinner. Abby, Madalyn, Emily, and I sometimes watch a movie after dinner or just goof off. :D

Saturday
Thankfully, NOTHING!!!!

Sunday
We go to Sunday school at 9:30, church starts at 10:30. I alternate from Childrens church on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th sundays, Nursery on the 4th, and the 2nd sunday getting to listen in "big" church. Sometimes we go out to eat, which is usually El Rodeo(if you haven't ever been, you're missing out), or we go home to eat what Dad cooked for lunch. I relax a couple hours, then prepare the lesson/craft/snack for babysitting that night for Growing Kids and a home group. We usually have 18 "older kids" and last week I started a lesson series based on the book "The Treasure Tree". Last weeks lesson was on how the Bible is our "treasure map" to the greatest treasure. We also made mini pizzas with biscuits, the kids LOVE to cook. Tomorrow I believe the lesson is on bravery and being a good leader.

That pretty much finishes out my week, nothing too exciting, just trying to remember to do the next thing and not worry about "later". At the moment I am prepping for taking the ACT hopefully for the last time on February 7th. I would appreciate prayer, at least to help me not worry so much about it.

Lol, as you can tell in the last couple of posts, worry is defiantly one of my faults I am trying to improve. I think this is an issue for a lot of people, I just try to remember that I gave all my worry to the Lord, and to not be an "Indian Giver". If you give Him your fears/worries, don't try to take them back, they are His. Just live one step at a time.

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.- 1 Peter 5:7
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.- Psalm 68:19
Cast your cares on the LORD and He will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.-Psalm 55:22
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life.- Matthew 6:27

Me explaining to Abby the benefits of coloring in the lines...

The fabulous bowlers....

Oh Danny Boy, Oh Boy Oh Boy...

Ok, so when we were looking for some songs on YouTube, we came across this version of "Danny Boy" by the Muppets. Lol, we are in love with Animal! Enjoy!

Kara