Trust In The Lord

As I end this work week, I look back and see the Lord's grace and guiding hand. As I get older and experience more of life, I am learning that each new day presents a new level of trust in the Lord. It is such a hard step to take, and yet it is one of the most freeing elements of life. Why is it that we so willing trust God for our soul's eternity, yet cannot rely on Him for our daily needs and circumstances?

It is with these verses from Proverbs 3 that I end my week:
My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:[2] For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.[3] Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:[4] So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.[5] Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.[6] In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.[7] Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.[8] It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

[21] My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:[22] So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.[23] Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.[24] When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.[25] Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.[26] For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

I hope they are a blessing to all who read them, as they have been to me this week. Apply them moment by moment, for that is truly about all you can do with life. Live it moment by moment.

Stars at Lyric

I recently went to a concert downtown Chicago at Millenium Park. Stars at Lyric was the theme. I was thrilled to go with a fellow musician. How refreshing to discuss music with someone who understands.

It was a clear, beautiful evening. Perfect for an outdoor concert of vocals, ensembles, and orchestra. Each voice was unique. I was entranced. There was a violin solo that left me with tears in my eyes, it was so beautifully and musically played. The vocals were all the classic arias from various operas. How inspiring to hear arias that I will sing someday voiced by mature, confident singers. I felt each note all the way down to my very soul! And yet, it is also comforting to hear the humanness of each singer. None presented a perfect solo. Yet, in all its humanness, it was perfect----as perfect as it could be, and stunning! Oftentimes, as we listen to CDs, we get the misconception that there are perfect singers, because the CD sounds perfect. We forget the technology involved. How inspiring it was to hear several voices as they are in their humanity, yet with all their training, hard work, diligence, and determination.

Probably my favorites were Elizabeth Futral and Isabel Bayrakdarian. Their voices rang out with excitement, energy, and pure control--elements I long to have as I progress a long this journey!

A Weekend in Connecticut

I recently made a trip to Connecticut to see my best friends, whom I had not seen in over a year and a half since we all left grad school! I cannot even begin to tell you the excitement I felt as the plane lowered into Bradley International Airport! I quickly made my way to the baggage claim and out the doors to the pick-up area. The hardest part of the entire trip was finding Trista's car! Unlike most airports, there was a line of cars parked to pick up passengers---just waiting for long spells without a care in the world.

I screamed with joy as I saw my friend and ran towards her. We hugged and quickly hopped back in the car. It was late, and we were ready to get home, change, and sit and chat! We ate a rather healthy, but late dinner of grilled chix and tomatoes, and we up til midnight catching up! We didn't get it all done in that time though, to be sure.

When I awoke the next morning, it was to a glorious sunny day! Perfect for our plans to walk around downtown West Hartford, which is full of quaint little shops. We had a very relaxing breakfast of oatmeal and tea, then jumped into the car ready for adventure!

Downtown West Hartford truly is quite quaint. We walked from shop to shop, sometimes window shopping, sometimes shop shopping! I was elated when we found a Ten Thousand Villages shop full of artsy crafts and tourist items. And of course, I had to buy something. So what did I buy! A pound of Coffee! But it was a specialty. Toffee Caramel! I am actually enjoying it at this very moment in my life!

One of our favorite shops was an art gallery just opening up. We spent much of our time there just looking, wishing we were rich enough to buy it all and take it back home. I was just excited that beginning artists had someone providing a venue for their road to their dreams.

If you know the Northeast, you are aware that a restaurant specialty up there is Friendly's! We ate there of course!

After our adventures downtown, Trista took me to her favorite grocery mart---Whole Foods! I LOVED IT! I bought some oatbran to bring home! Josh and Trista introduced me to oatbran, which provides me with something to rotate with my oats every morning throughout the week for breakfast! Keeps eating life at a variety.

We got home after Josh did. It was so good to see him! We watched a movie that night--The Queen and drank lots of tea. Josh is an avid tea drinker and makes it his hobby to brew and mix various loose leaf teas! I was treated to several rounds while there!

We also spent some time going through music. I cannot tell you how good it was to have Trista play for me. I am sure the fact that we are best friends plays into the factor that Trista and I really connect when it comes to my singing and her playing! I truly miss that part of grad school. I will be very open to say that one of my prayers is that Trista and I will someday collaborate again on a professional level. I could not ask for a better friend, ear, and accompanist. She is an honest pianist. Very musical and sensitive. One does not find more than one of those in a lifetime.

Saturday was a big, but exciting day for us! We ventured to Mystic Seaport, an outdoor Whaling Ship Museum. I LOVED IT! We walked for hours. And we stepped on to 4 historic Whaling ships, venturing all the way to the bottom of each. I got my first taste of Clam Chowder, and am now sold on it.

It was such a lovely day! I truly miss being outside in the warm sunshine! My whole weekend was literally spent outside. If we weren't touring, we were walking and talking. It was so refreshing---physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

Saturday evening, Trista and I celebrated birthday's. Mine had passed, hers is coming up in late September! We got each other a tea. I got Trista a book with hers, and she got me a CD with mine! We must be friends! :) The evening ended with another movie! :)

Sunday was a relaxing day! We just sat around and talked. I listened to Josh's music (amazing by the way). And we just kinda chilled. The evening was splent splurging on popcorn and a movie---with tea of course.

My last day with my friends was spent at Elizabeth Park. It was such a lovely day, once again. The park had a garden that looked as if it were right out of Secret Garden. Rows upon rows of roses!

I guess I can sum up my vacation by saying, we walked, talked, drank tea, watched movies, played music, and talked some more. I felt as though we had never parted. As it was at grad school, when we parted at the airport on Tuesday, we did not say goodbye! We said "See you soon!" For we will never go without seeing each other. There will never be another Josh and Trista. I love them too much! I will always treasure them in my heart and uphold them in my prayer. I will see them again and for many years to come.