Thank Goodness for Music

This might not be very interesting, but since I keep writing about how tiring school is, I thought I would write about how Lucky I am to be part of so many great choir experiences during our time in Colorado. When we first moved here, I joined the Larimer Chorale right away, which is a group of 100+ singers that rehearse major choral works and other great literature for 4 concerts a season. I love being part of a big choir - it's a unique experience, and I have met some of the most amazing people. I learn alot from our director about how to be a better director, too.

Shortly after I started that choir, I joined the Larimer Chorale Chamber Choir, which is a much smaller group that rehearses mostly early a capella music. This semester we are performing Christmas music around town and doing a big dinner at the country club. It reminds me of our high school madrigal dinner a little bit. We are wearing costumes and everything. I'm excited about it. To help out, I cut out a pattern the other day for the first time (I do not sew at all). I am realizing how much work making clothes is, and I really appreciate being able to just buy them at the store.

Then, last Fall, I joined the Rocky Mountain Chamber Singers, which is a small group of very talented musicians that performs a wide variety of a capella music. Most everyone in that group is a professional musician in some capacity, so it's incredibly fun to be part of. We have 2 concerts a year.

Last but not least, is church choir!! This summer I got to take over directing the choir and picking all the service music for church. It's been a labor of love. I absolutely enjoy every part of it - reading the Bible lessons for each Sunday and finding music that enhances the themes, and rehearsing a wonderful group of adults who want to give glory to God by using their musical gifts in worship.

So... I guess I am now realizing just how blessed I am to be involved in these wonderful musical experiences. Not just for the music, but for the friends I have made and will hopefully have a very long time. I truly believe that singing has kept me sane throughout the transition to living in a new town, to embarking on and finishing an intense masters program, and everything in between. I don't know where I would be without music.

Happy Days

Fall is here! It was so much colder today than it has been. Last night we had a big storm with lots of rain, and it really changed the temperature. I have also been spotting lots of leaves turning already. This weekend I will hopefully see more because we are driving to Estes Park again. I'm not sure if I'm excited that it's Fall or just excited that it's our last Fall here. It's not that I hate living here - actually, I have really come to appreciate this beautiful place alot. I will miss the seasons changing and the summer, especially. It's just that I absolutely, positively cannot wait for us to graduate and move on with the next phase of our life. I am considering putting up a countdown for May 14. Do you think it's too soon?

In other news, Charlie is now done with his internal medicine rotation, which means he gets to be home in the evenings again! We are both so happy. And this weekend I started my volunteer service for a class and I got to take care of nine 3-4 year olds. It was a blast!

Kilt, anyone?

Yesterday we went to the Highland Festival in Estes Park, which turned out to be a fun but cold day. We thought we were dressing warmly, but apparently we needed our full winter gear for this occassion, as it decided to rain the entire time we were there in the freezing mountain valley. We had never been to anything like this before (except the Renaissance Festival, like I said), and it was a truly unique event. From the moment we stepped out of our car and walked behind a family of 5 all dressed in matching kilts and plaid accessories to the bowling balls shot from 7 cannons before we left, it was a sight to behold.
My two favorite things we saw were the Scottish and Irish dancers and the sheep-herding dog demonstration (you're asking, what??). Charlie really liked the sporting events, including throwing a small boulder as far as you can, throwing a big stick with a bowling-ball sized weight at the end after spinning 3 times, and hurling a 56-pound weight over a 17-foot bar. Here are some pictures from the day.




Decked out Scottish man. Note the row of porta potties in the background



The dog obeyed so many different commands and it would lie in the grass like it was invisible.


And that's why the sheep followed orders.


They had a parade of Highland dogs and these were the biggest, the Irish wolfhound.

I thought these were cute, they look like mini-airdales.

These dancers reminded me of dolls, and their hair reminded me of beauty pageants.



We found the "Stewart clan" to which I am distantly related on my Grandpa Stewart's side.


And Charlie found this kilt. Actually, I made him pose with that, and no, he did not buy it or wear it.

Ooh, and I forgot one part of the day. We saw this band called "Brother" that was kind of a rock band, featuring a guy who played the bagpipes with such fervor it was like the electric guitar.

The Lately

So, nothing much is new lately - just more of the same for both of us. Charlie is working harder than ever at vet school. He is doing so much at the hospital, for so long, and he definitely deserves several gold stars. It seems like Charlie is doing work for the hospital at least 15 hours every day, and one day it was a whopping 26 straight! Yet he always has a smile on his face and time to talk with me about my day. I admire him so much for that ability. Charlie has patience for people like no one else. This is just one example of why he is so awesome and fun (this is at Disneyworld):


In my realm, I am home alot more than Charlie, and I really have nothing to complain about, but school is making me verrry tired. And it's only the 3rd week. I hate to start counting down to the end of the semester already, but I am so ancy for one class especially to be finished: physiology. I never took biology, not even in high school, and my last chemistry class was in 10th grade, so needless to say I have had a very steep learning curve in physiology. Thankfully we are kind of done talking about chemical structures and cells for the moment and we are learning about systems of the body (who would have thought?).

If we get very lucky and Charlie is free one day, we may be able to go to the Highland festival in Estes Park this weekend. It would be so much fun to go! We've never been, and people say that it's an amazing thing to see. In my mind I'm kind of imagining the Renaissance Festival, which I think is so fun, but I know it's not that at all. I guess I just haven't been to enough "Festivals" to know. Here's hoping!

Love You, Daddy!

"My daddy has to go away, but he'll return most any day. Any moment I may see my daddy coming back to me." That's the line from that Shirley Temple movie called The Little Princess, and for some reason, that's what I thought of today when my dad left for his deployment overseas with the Army Reserve. It makes me so sad that he has to leave and be away from my mom for a whole year, especially because it's not like he gets to go anywhere pleasant. But I hope this year will go by fast and we'll hear lots of good stories about the places he's been to. Love you, Daddy!