A Brief (okay maybe not brief) Rant

I am SO tired of ridiculous people overlooking the arts, considering them unimportant, and deeming them useless in society.  People need to APPRECIATE the creativity, the beauty, the magic that comes from the arts.  Music, theatre, dance, visual arts, creative writing, etc.  These are ALL art forms and the artists and their creative efforts should not be shunned, overlooked, or looked down upon. 

I honestly don't think some people realize just how their lives would change if there was no art.  To begin with, buildings would all look the same because there would be no creative architects to come up with beautiful designs.  There would be NO form of entertainment...forget music, forget theatre and film and screen, forget paintings...none of this beauty would exist.  The only beauty around would be what God put on his beautiful Earth...and if we don't start taking care of it, then it won't last for long either, but that's another rant for another day. 

I posted this on facebook earlier today; some stupid person asked me what my major was and I told him music education, and more specifically, piano.  You know what he told me? That I had better have a good minor.  I told him that I was quite confident that this is what I am supposed to be doing and I wasn't worried one bit (though it was hard for me to control everything that I wanted to say to him). 
And I'm not worried...God gave us music and surely something used to glorify him can't go wrong.

God gives us the talents we possess and if we don't use them he can take them away.
I want to be able to share my passion and my gift with others so that they may share it with another generation, and another, and so on and so forth. 

People need to get out there and support the arts! There are SO many ways that you can help: 
-Support your local Arts Council
-Support local musicians, theatre groups, art galleries
-Talk to your school board...tell them that the arts programs need just as much support as any other activity
-Learn more about VH1 Save the Music; it's a great foundation to donate to, but just more national than local. 
-If your kid, friend, or whatever wants to become an artist of some kind, don't discourage them.  Give them all the support and encouragement that you can possibly give. 

Without support, the arts are extremely vunerable and threatned because many people just don't appreciate the beauty of it all.  With support, the arts will flourish, bloom and grow into new and different creative expressions.  Support the arts, support creativity, give the arts a chance to survive; otherwise the world would be an unhappy place. 

Foundation for a Better Life

I absolutely LOVE the Foundation for a Better Life commercials.  They are the most touching commercials out there.  My favorite of course is the little boy playing the piano and the concert pianist comes out to do a duet.  It is so cute and it makes me cry EVERY time. 

Spring break so far:

• Went shopping in Asheville with TJ, Kristin, and Lindsey after I got off work on Saturday.  I bought a couple of really great dresses, flip-flops, and some other fun stuff! 
• On Sunday I played for a Palm Sunday service at a Lutheran church because I had to fill in for my piano professor.  It was a lovely service.   
• I finished an 8 page paper for my really dumb, pointless child development class that I've put off for...months.  :) 
• TJ and I went to see How to Train Your Dragon which was really, really, super cute and I bought a Toothless the Dragon shirt to wear to see the movie.  It was definitely in the kids section. 
• Went shopping in Buford with Jenny and Rachel.  I had SO much fun getting to have girl time.  We took silly pictures and laughed a lot and got confused when we ordered custom frozen yogurt. I got to go to world market, which was AMAZING! I bought an Indian scarf, a crocheted beret, and some japanese candy (yummy!).   
• Now I'm at work, bored out of my mind.  But TJ brought me Taco Bell so all is well with the world.  :) 
• When I get home I'll probably practice piano and work on homework. 

That's been my Spring Break so far.  Eventful mixed with the upleasant effects of unintentional procrastination.  ;D

Love,
Me ;)

So Wonderfully Blessed

I was looking through some really old pictures from when I was around 2-5 years old and it just reminded me of how blessed my life has been. 

I had the best childhood; I have the best Dad and Mom that always did and still do their very best to give me what I need in life and provide me with a loving, supportive environment.  I love them so much and I'm so lucky to have such awesome parents. 
I have someone who's been like a sister to me since we were born; Rachel and I have had our ups and our downs but even when we're in our downs they only last for around an hour at the most.  She's the best friend a girl could ask for and I love her with all my heart.
I also have the best grandparents in the world.  Not only did I have 2 real grandmas and papaws...I had so many sets of "adoptive" grandparents from church.  I still do to this day.  I'm their "little girl" and I love it! I now only have one real grandparent, but she's amazing and I am so thankful for her! Granny is such a strong, intelligent, beautiful woman and I appreciate her and what she has done in life. 

I grew up having so much fun; I had so many toys that I pretty much wore out, and I played outside and helped in my Granny and Papaw's campground, and in my Grandma's garden, and helped Daddy around the yard (always in a matching baseball cap) and rode in the eighteen-wheelers with him. I got to feed baby cows and chickens and play on dairy farms. Mom always put make-up on me on Saturdays and she would sponge roll my hair atleast once a week; and she and I would have so much fun just giggling while washing dishes or making dinner. I got to go to Disney and meet my life-long hero, Mickey.

I grew up around family and church family...a lot of kids don't have either anymore.  Family is what is important in life; its what makes you rich.  It doesn't matter if you had the best toys, graduated valedictorian, attended an ivy league university, make 6 digits per year...if you don't have family, you don't have anything.  Your life is the relationships you have. 

I still have all the great relationships I had as a child and a few new ones to add. 

I have TJ, my other best friend and I love him very dearly.  He keeps my life funny, and loves me for me.  He's supportive and caring, he knows me like his favorite book, and I honestly don't know what I'd do without him.  He makes me happy.  I love thinking back on the first time I met him and how much fun we had singing "Anything You Can Do" in the BNats broadway review; I love how he used to attack my head with a pencil everyday in class (which he still does).  There are so many wonderful memories and I can't wait to make more. 

I also have my new and old friends.  They're all great and I love them all!  Each one is special in their own way and without them, getting through would be pretty rough at times.  They've all touched my life in one way or another, and although some have "deserted" me, I still love them and I've still been changed for the better because of them. 

Most importantly, I have my relationship with Jesus.  He is the one who has blessed me with all this happiness.  He is the true reason I'm happy all the time; its not just because I had a good night's sleep, or a good day at school.  Jesus is the sunshine in my heart and soul and I'm so happy, so very happy, that I have the love of Jesus in my heart.  I know I may not be the best all the time, but because of Jesus, I am forgiven and because he died for my sins and because of his love for me, I strive to live for Him every day. 

My life has been SO blessed and tonight I stand in awe of the blessings God has given me.  He provides, He lifts up, He heals, and He gives me strength.  Sometimes the way He does all these things is through people.  The people in my life...they are angels and without them and God working through them, I would not be the person I am today.

All Glory, Laud, and Honor be to you, Oh Lord. 

Let the festivities begin

As of 12:30 today spring break officially began!  Thank goodness!  I was beginning to need one! After work tomorrow I'm going shopping!  Yay!  I also bought some Robin's Egg Blue nail polish today.  I don't know why but I really wanted it and I absolutely love it.  Its so different. 

I bought myself a new book called "Eat, Pray, Love."  I thought it looked really good and I'm already a good way into it.  Anyone else read it? 

I also just finished a book by Victor Borge, a famous pianist and comedian.  It was just funny little comedy bits about different composers.  It was HILARIOUS! 

Anyway...can't wait til Beauty and the Beast!  Its going to be such a FUN show!!!  I've waited to be in this show for five years and I'm so happy I finally get the opportunity to be in it.  The music is beautiful as is the story.  Aaaaa! Its going to be great! 

Bedtime now!

Love,
MEEEEEE

Not for the Life of Me

I absolutely LOVE Sutton Foster. Her voice is fantastic and she has such a youthful, feisty, energy. This is a fun song and so is the song "Flight." I'm not sure if its from a musical but it is an AMAZING duet. Be sure you listen to that one!

Love,
Me

LIFE...not like the game

So, I used to jokingly call my planner/calendar my "life" because I'm a busy girl and I have to write everything down in it.  Well I'm not kidding now; when I almost lost my planner yesterday, I nearly had a fit of hyperventilation.  I have all my important dates, homework assignments, work times, etc written down in there.  So I guess my planner really is my "life;" hmm that's sad.  :D 

Anyway I'm giving a speech today on Mickey Mouse!  I'm really excited about it; this is a good thing since I normally get sick thinking about giving a speech. 

Wish me luck! 

xoxo

ME!