Thoughts on Chorale reunion from a Chorale dropout

Last weekend I visited my alma mater: Oklahoma Christian University.

It's located just north of OKC in Edmond, and even though I live in Norman, I rarely go back to campus. It's by choice; OC just doesn't seem like home for this season of my life. But the retirement of the long-time choir director (and the fact that Karissa was a dedicated member of the music department) enticed me to return for one weekend.

I was in Chorale for three semesters and for the first two, Chorale was a joy. It's how I made my first upperclassmen friends. Life got busy after that and my class and work schedule didn't mesh with the Chorale practice schedule, so I dropped out.

Still, I wanted to go back this weekend.

It was like I had never left. I hung out with the rowdy kids and got dirty looks from the serious kids. It was wonderful.

And the concert, where we sang a 120-page piece that I had never laid eyes on before, went wonderfully. It was such a great weekend to remember that I love music and I love performing.

Karissa and I weren't friends when we were in Chorale together. And I bet Dr. Adams is SO GLAD, because we wouldn't have been even slightly productive. In fact, during this picture, we got dirty looks from the more studious former Chorale members. Worth it. 

Our new friend Tami, who is just as fun and sassy as I like to think we are. She kept us safe and SANE the entire weekend. She also  took all the pictures I included today.

Also, see how red our eyes are? I teared up sobbed during the last movement of the mass and during the last song. It was such a special moment to be a part of. 

Live well

This article perfectly expresses something that Karissa and I talked about last week: all seasons of life are worthy of living well.

When you are a student, learn as much in and out of the classroom as possible.

When you are single, take advantage of every opportunity to be free, discover who you really are, and make 1,000 memories that you wouldn't make otherwise.

When you are married, be an awesome husband or wife.

When you are a mom or dad, make it your mission to be a great parent to your kids.

When you are widowed, a grandparent or living in a nursing home, share your history and your knowledge with everyone. And be spunky like Betty White and/or Jessica Fletcher from Murder, She Wrote. Or classy and debonair like Christopher Plummer. 

Life is too short to sit in an ivory tower and sigh about what you are missing. No matter the season, live well.

dreams

One day, I want a house with a white picket fence. A house with a big front porch where I can drink sweet tea sprigged with mint from a heavy hobnail glass. I want nice big porch swing, as big as a daybed, with a nice bright cushion for lazy days of lounging.

I want wooden floors, old furniture and things that tell a story from a time before me. I want a bright sunny kitchen with a farmhouse sink and a breakfast nook. I want a library. A library with stacks and stacks of books--old, new, and all containing that bookish smell that promises adventure and excitement.

I want to plant a tree in my yard and watch it grow. I want redbud, magnolia, dogwood trees. I want to grow something beautiful, some thing useful. I want to pick a tomato off of the vine in the summertime and eat it fresh. I want rainy days and starry nights.

I know these dreams don't have a place in my life right now. But later. These dreams are for later.

Photo from dlanham's photostream on Flickr.

Do something about your dreams

Source: littlebgcg.com via Kaylee on Pinterest

Be bold today.

During the last two weeks of January, I decided to buy a car, chopped 5 inches off my hair, got glasses, changed my phone number and decided to move to Oklahoma City from Norman.

Sometimes you just have those days, you know?

And after a few months of searching for the perfect place to live, I am happy to say that I have an official move in day to a lovely apartment. In just two short months, I'll be living within walking distance to work (my dreams of being a quasi-urbanite are coming true!) and the property has an awesome pool to boot. Very excited to see what the summer holds.

Whispers and shouts

Sometimes God speaks in a whisper, and sometimes He shouts and you can't avoid hearing him. Then there are days where His voice is more like a combo of the two, a whisper-shout that is peaceful but still powerful and insistant that you listen.

Today has been one of those days. But it's good, because at least when God tells you to do hard things you know that you are headed in the right direction. And when you know that God has a plan, that He is good and that you are in sync, it makes all those stupid anxieties seem powerless. Fear has no place in the presence of God.

Image from Google.

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,
It was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness,
It was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity,
It was the season of light, it was the season of darkness,
It was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair,
We had everything before us, we had nothing before us,
We were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way." 

--Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

Happy birthday to Charles Dickens, a writer who captures the spirit of this generation just like he captured his own.