Which way is up?

It's getting quite busy around here! I have a rehearsal or performance every day from now through May 6th! And May 7th, I board a plane for a much needed vacation in Orlando with my husband and two friends from college. Between now and then I have the opening of the spring opera scenes with Loveland Opera Theatre and my students' studio recital. When I get back, I have to get right back on my horse and get ready for the closing of the spring opera scenes, as well as the Bach B Minor Mass, in which I am a soloist. After that, everything kind of stops and I won't know what to do with myself. But that's ok, because it will be a very busy fall with a full schedule at UNC, a full studio at home, and my third choir tour to Rome.

Greeley, here I come!

Ok, so I've finally wrapped my mind around the idea that I am actually going to grad school in the fall. After being turned down by CU and unable to afford DU, it had kind of lost the reality feel. But yesterday, I got a letter that I have been awarded a graduate assistantship at UNC which will pay nearly half of my in-state tuition. I will have to give up part of my private studio, but will be able to maintain a good portion of my schedule and favorite students. I started registering for classes last night. It's really going to happen. Yay!

James 5:16

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed." - James 5:16

On Good Friday, my Lord willingly died for my crimes, but I, consumed with worldly issues, barely acknowledged Him. On Easter Sunday, my Lord rose from the dead, proving His divinity and His ability to fulfill His promises. And I overslept and missed the annual celebration of the greatest event in all history.

I felt the weight of my guilt and shame, but my Lord said "Rejoice! I have lifted your heavy burden!" I wrote of my transgression in my journal to be remembered, but my Lord said, "Child, I remember it no more." Satan tempts me to punish myself so I will feel that I have made it up to God, but my Lord says, "Beloved, this is what it's all about. I died for moments like these."

I have experienced Easter today. My sin was my choice, not the Lord's. Yet, "He works all things together for the good of those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

Thank you, mericiful Lord for forgiving my horrible neglect of your incredible sacrifice. I am humbled in Your presence. I love you, Lord, and I want to honor you. Refocus my mind, and help me love you and honor you more.
Amen.

The Johari Window

My friend, Mellifluous, introduced me to this neat site! I choose the words I think describe me, and then my friends select the words they think describe me, and we see how they match up. So, I invite you to share with me who I am to you.

Click here to visit my Johari Window.

Dead-ant, dead-ant......

Oh my gosh, The Pink Panther is hilarious! I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard at a movie. The best part was probably seeing Mom laugh again. I highly recommend it.

So, my cat, Tigger, smells like pepper today. You know, like, table pepper. I have no idea why.

Un-break her heart

I'm playing various favorite MP3's on the computer while I play solotaire, and "Un-break My Heart" starts playing. This has been one of my favorite songs since the first time I heard it. It's so smooth and passionate and Toni Braxton sings it SO well. But tonight it was a whole new song to me - as though I'd never heard it before. Tonight, it became personal, an emotional song that makes my chest tight with restrained emotion. It sounds like my mother's lament. And I realize that this is just like the opera heroines who sing glorious high C's just before they die of tuberculosis. This is not a song that could be sung in "real life." It would have to be wept.

Don't leave me in all this pain,

Don't leave me out in the rain,

Come back and bring back my smile,

Come and take these tears away,

I need your arms to hold me now,

Nights are so unkind,

Bring back those nights when I held you beside me

Un-break my heart
Say you'll love me again

Un-do the hurt you caused when you walked out the door

and walked out of my life,

Un-cry these tears I've cried so many nights

Un-break my heart

Take back that sad word goodbye,
Bring back the joy to my life,
Don't leave me here with this tear,

Come and kiss this pain away,

I can't forget the day you left,

Time was so unkind,

Life is so cruel without you here beside me.

Un-break my heart
Say you'll love me again
Un-do the hurt you caused when you walked out the door

and walked out of my life,
Un-cry these tears I've cried so many nights
Un-break my heart

A cross-cultural discussion

I have a relatively new voice student named Jose' who became an American citizen last year. We extended his lesson a full half hour today just discussing cultural topics. It was really fascinating. Jose' spent his early years living in California, then moved back to Mexico for several years before returning to the US to go to high school and college. So, naturally he's bilingual. What I found so interesting is that he says he generally thinks in English, but prays and does math in Spanish. Some of you know how fascinated I am with how we learn and process information. My analytical mind is having a field day with this scenario!

We also talked about the immigration issues. He loves our country and abhors why other Mexicans move here and then resist the culture. It's to take advantage of a benevolent system. And that's not right. He is certainly an example that this behavior is not characteristic of all Hispanics living in the United States. He's angry that so many moochers have given his race a bad name in the US. He thinks the law under current debate is perhaps too strong to be ethical, but agrees that something needs to be done to correct the situation. It was an enlightening discussion.

Praise the Lord!

Thank you to all who have prayed. Karen's surgery went perfectly and she is out of recovery and doing well.

Prayer Request

Please remember to pray for my stepmom, Karen, who has mastectomy surgery tomorrow (Monday) and for complete healing of her cancer.