The last of the bad pictures....

Check out my birthday present!

Worship....a Response

"When I can not stand, I'll fall on you" - Lord, I Need You, Nockels

I'm more likely to try to stand on my own, than fall onto Jesus.  I want to be a worshiper that chooses to fall on Jesus rather than stand on my own.

Music Lessons

Mika and I just got back from her choir trip to San Francisco to participate in the Heritage Festival.

It was so much fun to spend 6 days with my daughter and her friends.  And along the way we learned alot!!!!!

The JOURNEY is important... the first morning in San Francisco we traversed along the Great American Parkway in Santa Clara to Our Lady of Peace Shrine and Church to rehearse.  Of course it was early and after a long day, we would have loved to stay in bed but.....

PRACTICE is crucial.... you don't get the BEST things in life by laying around or only giving it a little bit.... you have to GIVE IT ALL!!!!!

FUN along the way is an ABSOLUTE.... we were able to do some really fun things on our journey to the festival

Pier 39

A's v. Yankees

There is a time to put your game face on.... which means HABITS are everything.

The kids took everything Mrs. Hultgren had taught them and performed beautifully. 

The adjudicator said, "Stellar" :)

FRIENDS make it all worth it and way more fun!

even for the moms :)

Knowing when to CELEBRATE... a well deserved HOORAY!!!!

REMEMBERING why you are here.... to sing, sing, sing!

Its important to know who the LEADER is .... I don't have any pictures of their faces, but this trip had two very important leaders.  Sometimes people get confused and want to take over, but this causes a bit of chaos.  But when one knows who the leader is and is willing to submit to that, things go a lot smoother.  Thanks Mrs. Hultgren and Mrs. Fritz. Planes would have been missed, outfits awry and they definitely wouldn't have sounded nearly as amazing without you.

And finally, it is important to know when to be an individual and when to be a TEAM..... choirs are interesting things.  These kids accomplished something that they could never accomplish as individuals, they had to be a team and rely on each other.  The entire time we were gone they had the opportunity to move and work as a team, whether it was getting out the door or to board a bus, or touring Alcatraz or singing or receiving their trophy.... they were a TEAM (whether they wanted to be or not :) and some kids admittedly had a very hard time being a part of the group)

I just have to add a little something about choirs, although the kids did a great job and it was a lot of fun to listen to them and watch people to react to them.  This has very little to do with them, they are a fined tuned instrument in the hands of their director.  she knows their strengths and weaknesses and through years of experience knows how to get the sound that makes jaws drop.  You might be surprised when you hear some of these kids sing on their own, it may not sound much different than the kids in your backseat.  But the kids have allowed themselves to be molded and have been willing to put aside their individual identity.  Most of them have put in time practicing and a lot have worked very hard.  The recipe of appreciating the journey, establishing habits that lead to success, good leadership, awesome teamwork and a willingness to submit will work every time.  Here's to the All City Children's Choir of Cheyenne, Wyoming thanks for all you taught me in 6 days!!!