It's ALLLL good.....

Well, on Friday, Josh came home, so now I'm happy. Because I REALLY enjoy having Josh around. And it's really cool because it's like now that he's like been gone to college and coming back, I'm not so awkward when he comes home. Like the first time he came home, I was acting like he was a guest or somthing which was REALLY awkward. But anyway....then on Saturday, I had an awesome day at home. Which was weird. Because usually, I go places to do stuff with friends because I don't think that I can find anything to do at home. But regardless, I had fun. Yesterday was pretty awesome too. We had company over (although I admit, I feel bad because I TOTALLY forgot to get my mom a mother's day gift until Saturday, and then told her that I wanted to get one, but she said that it wouldn't be worth the gas so....ah well). And the company was fun. I tried spotting one of the girls on her backhandspring, but...well, it didn't turn out too great. See, I have like NO arm strength whatsoever, and she had never done one before. Sooo.....I ended up straining my arms (mainly my right arm) to flip her over. And even once I flipped her over, her arms collapsed. But oh well. Now I'm stuck with a sore arm. And I need to practice. So I better get off. Later,
Rachel

New Post

Okay, so....I haven't written anything in over a week, so....this will be a lame post, but whatever. So....today I went to see Iron Man. It was okaayyy, but I prefer Spider-Man. Like....Spider Man is just an overall better role model. For example, he's not a flirt. He has his ONE high school soulmate who he is in love with and wants to marry. Also, the things he does aren't for the gain of money or fame, but for the good of others. But I won't over-analyze the movie. Overall, it was good. Anyway, last week I got my ACT scores back and I'm really thankful because I did way better than I expected which is a huge blessing. And then my parents made flight reservations for camp, so....they are pretty certain that I'll be going. Which makes me very excited and thankful. And this camp will be alot more intense musically than last summer. According to the coordinator of the summer programming, they treat you like adults at this camp. Soo....there's alot more responsibility. Plus, I'll get voice lessons. Which...sorta brings up another thing. Last night my dad asked me for the first time in like a year would I still like to make a Christian cd. So....I guess I'm once again praying about my career path. Like I am certain that whatever direction I go, I will use piano. And I have been certain for like two or three years that I am GOING to be a concert pianist. But...I just need to pray about whether or not I should take the path of singing or being a classical pianist. And if I do, then I'll probably minor in voice in college. So....I just don't know!! Anyway, it is an absolutely gorgeous day and I'm gonna go enjoy the rest of it. Later,
Rachel

Another song I really like

If you want me to-Ginny Owens



Oh, by the way, no criminal content Abe. ;)

Toccata by Claude Debussy

This is one of the pieces that I'm currently working on, and I really like it!

Untitled

Well, lately I've been a bit busy (which I love, by the way). I'm totally enjoying this summer-like weather. Anyway, I found out that I got accepted into the Eastman Summer Music Horizons program! So I'm hoping and praying that I'll be able to go. And even if not, I'm also hoping and praying that getting accepted into that will give me an edge on getting accepted into Eastman. So.... I found out about that on Tuesday. On Wednesday, I went clothes shopping with my mom. On Thursday, I had trio practice. On Friday, I had a down day. On Saturday, I went shopping at the Mall of America with a friend. We were gonna go to an open gym thing (bc I will need to try to regain my gymnastics skills if I do happen to go to Eastman and do intramural or club gymnastics), but decided on going shopping instead....which was prbly way more fun than doing a few flips for an hour,LOL. And then I'm really starting to look forward to the end of the school year. I only have two more weeks (including this week) for Literature and History and only 4 more weeks for Algebra 2 and Physical Science. And I'm looking forward to this summer and next year for school. I know that whatever route I go, the Lord has His plan for me and next year will work out fine. I'm going to try to audition for the Minnesota Youth Symphonies as an accompanist for next year. And I'm also looking forward to having a bit of an exciting year with starting on a couple of college courses next year. Anyway, this is getting long again,LOL. Later,

sweetggirl

Not watching the wall

Well, I didn't make it to the finals in the Schubert Club, but that's okay. I had fun and it went okay. I ended up having a panel of judges sorta like American Idol. There was the Randy (okay, it was a lady though) and she wrote some good critiques on my music, but also wrote that she liked my performance. Then there was the Simon (and yes, he was a guy) who was pretty mean. His only statement on my etude was, "It doesn't seem like you know what you're doing with this piece." and the other critiques were basically the same. I sum his critiques up with, "You don't know what you're doing, you piece ruiner!" And then, there was the Paula. She was really nice, and her final statement was something to the degree of I have promising talent and to not give up. Ah, the joy of judges. And then yesterday, I had the ACT (dum dum dum dummmm). And I've come to realize that I'm not too good at test taking. After about fifteen minutes, I get a bit distracted and start staring at the ceiling or something and then realize that I'm timed and stuff and try to focus once again. And also, I'm not good at taking extended tests. After about the three hour mark, my brain turns to mush and I can't think! Anyway, now time to explain the title of my post. The other day, I was reading another convicting devotional from Joni Eareckson Tada. It was called "Don't watch the wall". She explained that race car drivers are trained that the must not look at the wall, no matter how hard they get bumped, or off track, or anything. That if they look at the wall, they'll freeze. She puts it in everyday circumstances, like how we look at the "Walls" in our lives and as a result, tend to get frozen up and worry about the future's problems rather than the present's opportunities. She reminds us that Paul says that we need to set our hearts on things above, and adds,"It's advice worth following, or you just might hit the wall." And that is something I really need to pray about. Instead of complaining or worrying, I need to focus on things above, not the wall right in my face. Later,
sweetggirl

Be content in all things....

I'm still struggling to completely get over my cold. My ears are terribly plugged, and that's making me nervous about Saturday. Anyway, yesterday I was pretty down (as seems to happen more often than it should with me). Sorta drowning in the muck of despair. And as I was going to bed, I thought about Pilgrim's Progress. How Pilgrim was stuck in the dungeon of despair. The Giant even gave him everything necessary to kill himself. Yet...SOMETHING kept him from doing that. It wasn't until he and Faithful (name correction...?) were very near death that Pilgrim dug around his clothes and found a magic key. Okay, it wasn't really MAGIC, but somehow, that key fit into all of the locks. And after using that key, they were able to get free. And it occured to me for the first time ever that perhaps that key is God's Word. The Bible is the key to getting out of any mucky or despairing situation. So I thought of the verse in Philippians (4:11) where Paul says that he speaks not in concern of need, but that he has learned to be content in all things. So Paul was locked up in jail, arms in cold stocks, utter darkness, dampness, coldness, no friends except through letters, whipped, beaten, deprived of MANY necessities, yet he learned to be content. In ALL of those things. And my mom talked to me and told me that my external circumstances will NEVER make me happy. And I know she's right. If I had a bajillion friends, if I could drive, if I had a job, if I got every little thing I asked for, I would ALWAYS want something more. She told me that life will only get MUCH much harder and that if I don't learn to daily apply myself to deeply studying Scripture now, I never will. And I will always make some excuse. And she's totally right. This is my down season. A lil over a year from now (and this summer if I go to a camp I'm looking at going to) I will be combatting the world from every single angle. And "cram prep" doesn't work when it comes to spiritual battle. Anyway, wow...another long post. Sorry! Later,
sweetggirl