Lavender and Bell

I hoped to have something extraordinary to blog about on my 200th post. Hmm.....I'll just tell you about my Monday. ;-)

Busy as usual, I was able to accomplish quite a few things. I got a good head start on a rather large printing project that's set for this week. With only one minor setback, I'm hoping to finish it in record time! If you're at all familiar with the thickness of "Manuscript Evidence" you may be skeptical.....but I AM determined. :-)

The thought occurred to me yesterday that our lavender may be ready to harvest -- our lavender that we planted several years ago and is finally producing a good size harvest! Last year, since I was in Thailand I missed the harvest so no dried lavender for us. I barely caught it this time! I absolutely LOVE the dark shade of the Hidcote Blue lavender. Definitely my favorite variety.

    

The evening concluded with a FABULOUS concert featuring violinist Joshua Bell. I have been wanting to see Joshua Bell live in concert for years now, so to finally have the opportunity was incredible! It was actually a late birthday present for Christopher, but he confirmed my thoughts.....it was worth the wait. A few months ago I was listening to the classical music station (at a time I wouldn't normally) and I happened to hear them mention that Joshua Bell would be in Bellingham! *Gasp!* He usually only comes to Seattle and the tickets are outrageous. Well.....you can't beat $30 tickets at the Mt. Baker Theatre in Bellingham! I know....I was shocked myself. And of course, the place was sold out. :-)

This is a piece that Joshua Bell performed last night. It was unbelievable! His music nearly brings me to tears, it's so beautiful.

Well, my blog may continue to remain quiet in the coming month or so. I am preparing to go as a counselor to youth camp next week and I am SO looking forward to that!  Then....take a breath......I'll have a weekend to prepare for a lengthy trip to Mexico. More about that later.

The Weekend

I'm just now getting around to writing about last weekend due to a pretty crazy week, but it was so great that I couldn't just leave it unsaid!

First, let's start with Saturday.  It was mostly sunny and just plain beautiful. I love how the Lord has been blessing us with beautiful weekends. The morning started off with outreach and I had the privilege of partnering up with one of the teen girls. I love our teens so much and I am excited to get to know them even better as we prepare to go to Mexico together at the end of the summer.

In the afternoon I played wallyball with some friends. It's been so long! First, a little background. Bro. Benjamin Hall is here from Lehigh Valley Baptist Church to do some training in our church for the month of May.  We got a group together and headed off to the gym to play a game (or four) of wallyball and I hope we haven't scared him off! :-) But it was great fun. Wouldn't you know, at the start I was the only one who knew how to play but by the end I was the only one who hadn't won a game!! Haha.....I think round two is on the way so that can change. :-)

Sunday morning arrived, and with it, the ordination of a new pastor.  BBC Oak Harbor now has the privilege of calling two men "Pastor".  The Lord has blessed us tremendously with wise leaders who take their responsibility before God seriously.  Men who consult the Word above any of man's opinions and are not afraid to stand strong for its doctrines and teachings.  I hope we'll never take it for granted!  Even though we were exhausted by the end of the day, it was SUCH a joyous time for the entire church. One of those sink-into-the-chair-with-a-huge-smile-on-your-face moments. :-D  After the afternoon service we headed to Rebecca's recital.  Video coming soon......

(Pictures by Linnea Rawls)

No More Dots and Swirlies!

A few years ago I began decorating cakes with a friend. We would do it for special occasions (if we were brave enough!) but because we hadn't taken a class we were learning things the hard way and didn't know many of the technics.  Many late nights were spent bent over a cake applying royal icing flowers or fretting over crumbs in the frosting. We were unfamiliar with how to use the tips so we were pretty limited with what designs we could do.....dots and swirlies pretty much completed our style.

I am so excited to say I've completed Course 1 in Wilton Cake Decorating! I have learned so much in this class, easier ways to do things! No more dots and swirlies for me.  Ok......yes I'll still use them, but I don't feel as limited.  I hope to take the more advanced classes at some point. I would LOVE to learn how to make all of the beautiful flowers with gum paste, fondant, and royal icing. At some point I hope to post tips and things I've learned in the class. Stay tuned!

Here was my final project....

Pictures from Concert

My friend, Hannah, and myself performing our duet at the Emerging Artist Concert in La Conner.

With our teacher, Marilyn Brossard.

All the performers! (Haha....the angle makes me look SO short!)

Upcoming events....

It is April 2nd. The beginning of a very busy month. Spring break has been wonderful! I've enjoyed a good amount of rest balanced with much busyness. My main accomplishment was working in the print shop, which I loved! I really miss working in there with the hum of the machines, the music to sing along with, and the books to pray over concerning who might read them in the future. 

Now that April is here I'm looking ahead to what comes next. First, school starts tomorrow. I have a LOT on my plate and will only be able to handle it with the Lord's strength. My classes are: Intro to Sociology, English Comp.III, Music Theory III, Ear Training III, Choir, Small Vocal Ensemble, Piano lessons, and Voice lessons.  My little elephant eraser buddy in the picture is to remind me that the only way you can eat an elephant is one bite at a time.  The same with this quarter...one day at a time.

 Next up on the agenda is a Wilton Cake Decorating class!! I've been wanting to take this class ever since I started decorating cakes several years ago.  Being self-taught I have had to learn a lot of things the hard way and I'm sure there are many of the basics I still don't know. I don't have a lot of time to get into decorating at the moment because of school but I know that if I don't take this class I might never do it. It's such a good skill to have! I can't wait to learn how to use all those tips I've had forever. :-)  Plus it will be a fun time to spend with my mom as we do it together.

Lastly, on April 14 I have been asked to play at a concert in La Conner! It's the Young Emerging Artist Concert. "La Conner Institute of Performing Arts is proud to showcase the talents of this year's outstanding young artists from Skagit and surrounding counties.  This concert promotes interest in music by offering free admission to everyone under age 18.  Concert participants receive honorariums and certificates recognizing their achievements" A friend and I will be playing a duet and I will also be playing a solo. It's going to be an interesting experience as it will be my first time actually "performing" so to speak other than recitals. But I think it will be fun and I'm looking forward to it!

Well, that's April-to-come in a nutshell! We'll see how this goes....

College Fun

Today was a new experience in the life of Alyssa. Yes you guessed it...college! I didn't start college today, but I did visit the campus I will be commuting to. The campus here does not offer the music classes so I will be commuting to the main campus that is about 45 minutes away. Anyway, I HAD to go to the big campus to sign paperwork for the GI Bill (what makes my college free) TODAY! Tuition is due on Wednesday and if those papers weren't signed I'd be hunted down for payment. :-) Ok not really but I didn't want to take the chance.

It was quite nerve racking to go there. I felt very....inexperienced! Little Alyssa...the homeschooler who has only once stepped into a public school....and that was to take the SAT. How was I supposed to find my way around this big campus?! After asking two people I finally found the VA Office. Whew!

So I had this issue when registering for classes. I knew that there were more music classes to take but I had to have permission from the music director before I could register for those classes. Because they don't offer the classes here the advisors weren't able to help me in that area. I had tried calling the director and leaving emails but to no avail. Talk about stressful!

So that was just a little background. I was sitting in the VA office signing paperwork when another lady helping went to find out if the music director was in (Since I happened to be on the campus). A few minutes later she came dashing in exclaiming, "Alyssa! She's waiting for a student to come and said she would squeeze you in. But we have to run!!" So off we ran across the campus to pay a visit to the music director. I was all out of breath as I introduced myself. haha....great first impression! It was such a miracle how it all worked out. She gave me a lot of clear direction regarding the music transfer degree. Looks like I will be taking piano lessons! For those that know me, you might think that's silly. BUT I have been wanting to take piano lessons for a good while now. It's finally happening! And she's the piano professor at the college so I know she'll challenge me.

So that was my exciting day. Classes start January 4th! YAY!

A New Record!

Blogging from work again....they said they are coming to fix our internet today, but we'll see.

Yesterday I hit a new record!! You see, I keep track of all the books I read in a notebook, and I've kept track since 2005. Two separate years I reached the total of 24 books, but couldn't seem to inch my way past that number. This year, my goal was to read more than 24 books. Last night I finished book #25!! WOOHOO! I am hoping to get one more in this year, but things will be pretty crazy from here on out between work, college preparations and Bible Institute. Any suggestions for my next book?

I'm An Addict...

Yup you read it right.....I'm addicted! To what? WALLYBALL!!! It is the most wonderful sport in the world! A lot of people have never heard of it. If you are at all familiar with Raquetball it will be easier to picture in your mind. It is played in a raquetball court with a net stretched across the middle. Picture the ball as basically a larger raquetball. Very bouncy! The game is played basically the same as regular Volleyball. EXCEPT you can use the walls! That is the very best part of the game. You can bounce the ball off the walls in all sorts of angles to get the ball in the spot you want. Another great aspect of the game is that there is no chasing of that ball!

When I was 13-14 and we lived in Iceland I pratically lived at the gym. No kidding, I would go to the gym every single day and a lot of times it was to play Wallyball with my friends. This was partially due to the fact that I had to do PE everyday for A Beka. When we moved away I hardly ever played because I couldn't drive and in Iceland I could just walk to the gym.

Recently myself and some friends have started the tradition of a weekly Wallyball game. I am remembering now why I used to play almost every day. It's a blast! Slamming against walls, falling on the floor.....much more fun than it sounds. haha It's a great time to spend with friends (sometimes we are laughing so hard we are doubled over) but you get a really good workout! Seriously, if you like to play any type of sport you MUST try this. Once you play one time, you WILL want to go again. Beware lest you too become an addict...

Happy Birthday, Mom!

So now the time has come...last day of her thirtieth decade...Yes you read right..she's 40! Tonight we celebrated my mom's 40th birthday (even though it's not til tomorrow) and we had a great time! Several families from church came over and my mom cooked up some real good Seafood Gumbo. MMM!!!!

Mom has been SUCH a good mother in so many ways. There have been many times where she's been in the "single parent" shoes while my dad was away on deployment with the NAVY. Through years of that she's always been right there with us ready to jump in on any fun that might be in view or to give wise council when needed. After many hours of chatting on my bed over the years, I can truly say that my mom is my friend. Happy Birthday, Mom! I love you!

The cake I made for my mom...

An Accomplishment

This afternoon I finished a book that I have been working on since the beginning of July.  If any of you know me, you know that that is a LONG time for me to be working on a book!  The book is David Copperfield by Charles Dickens.  If you are familiar at all with Dickens you know that his books are no easy read.  They are usually very thick and have so many characters that by the end you almost don't know who is who!  That just makes it all the more interesting. :-)  I have recently become a fan of Dickens (this is my third Dickens book this year).  I find his style most intriguing! He doesn't present his story in a boring, straightforward way.  Far from it!  He describes things in such detail you feel as if you are actually in the story witnessing the scene first hand. 

As for the book, it would be difficult to summarize due to so many subplots.  The story is told by David Copperfield as he relays the happenings of his life, starting with his birth. (It's rather humurous...the first chapter is titled "I Am Born")  In his life he learns what it means to have a disciplined heart through the unhappy circumstances of his life.  Dickens does a wonderful job creating an intricate plot intertwined with detailed sub-plots.  It's enough to keep you interested the entire way through!  My favorite quote is: "Some happy talent, and some fortunate opportunity, may form the two sides of the ladder on which some men mount.  But the rounds of that ladder must be made of stuff to stand wear and tear; and there is no substitute for thorough-going, ardent and sincere earnestness."  I hope every person makes the effort to read Dickens, and hey, if you aren't a reader there are always the DVDs. :-)

An Insanely Busy Week!

My my my....this past week was incredibly busy.  I was definitely forced to stretch myself in things that I don't normally do. The beginning of the week began with baking of the Graduation cake.  The Christian School at our church had four graduates this year and Kali and I volunteered to make the cake.  It was a simple design (because we don't know anything else...hehe) so things weren't too stressful.  I am pleased with the way it turned out. 

The Graduation ceremony was SPLENDID!  Each of the graduates had great speeches and the charges given by the parents were enough to make you cry.  Pastor Jeremiah was the guest speaker and....WOW.....that's all I can say.  It was SUCH a good message!  And one that could be applied to everyone, not just the graduates.  So yes, it was a wonderful evening.

After graduation began preparation for the wedding.  Chris Spence and Anna Schenck were married this past Saturday......AAAHH!H!!!!!  I can't believe they are married now!  They are so perfect for each other.  Anyway, they asked me to play in the wedding and I felt so honored!  The only thing....I had never played for a wedding before.  I felt COMPLETELY out of my comfort zone.  I felt like I had no idea what I was doing.  I thought to myself "well...after the rehearsal surely I will have things down and feel more confident!"   not so much....I felt even more nervous after the rehearsal which did not go so smoothly.  After much prayer and practice the day of the wedding came.  I was SO nervous!!  But the Lord came through for me and it all went down as smooth as butter.  There were a few little tentative hiccups that the Lord gave me the ability to surpass and I am STILL grateful for that! All in all it was a wonderful day!

So after the wedding Kali, Maggie, Linnea and I went to see Cinderella, the musical, at the Whidbey playhouse.  It was wonderful!!  The actors were very talented and all had great voices.  So I have an ironic story.  When I was 8 yrs old I tried out for Marta in the Sound of Music at the Whidbey Playhouse.  It was SO daunting for me at the age of 8 because I had to sing a solo in front of the theatre full of people. (Now when I was little the theatre seemed huge, but when I went back I realized that it was SO tiny!!  I think that's funny)  but that's not my ironic story.  I tried out for Marta and made it past the first cut.  It was down to me and another girl.  This other girl was VERY talented!  She sang Matchmaker and was all dancing around the stage with her broom. LOL  She seemed to be a natural for acting.  hahaa and there I was standing like a stick in front of the mic singing a Patch the Pirate song.  The second part of the try-out was actual acting.  I didn't make it past that part.  While waiting to see the play I was reading the biographies of the actors.  I read Cinderella's , aka Candace Baker's, biography and it said she was 20 yrs old and started her acting career at the age of 8 playing as Marta in the Sound of Music.  NO way!! After ALL these years?!  Sure enough...it was her!! I still can't believe it.  I had a chance to talk to her afterwards and she was shocked and just laughed that I remembered her!  Aside from that ironic moment, the play was incredible!  I am hooked on the music now and it is constantly going through my head. :-)   We are watching the movie tonight and I can't wait!

Well I think I have written enough to bore anyone. hehe.  This next week holds even more excitement as the SPGs head to Washington DC for LTIA. (more on that later) 

Farewell, Kali and Maggie!

Yesterday a family in the church had a big get-together to celebrate their son's graduation from highschool. Yay!! So at the party we had a farewell cake for Kali and Maggie from the SPGs. I had the privilege of making it, and it was so fun!! I am SO loving the whole cake decorating thing. It's getting easier, and I think I need to move onto something harder than "dots and swirlies". :-) I am hoping to take a class soon and that will broaden my repertoire a little bit. LOL

Maggie and Kali will be missed immensely! They have been a major part of this church for SO many years and a big part of my life recently. I have enjoyed all the fun times of HWY 20 campouts, sleepovers, hot tubbing, playing Sorry Card Revenge, singing around the piano, talking and so much more! Even though they'll be across the mountains, we'll still have ALL of the fun memories. I definitely plan to make many trips to Twisp!

They won't be leaving until the beginning of July, so we still have some time left with them. We'll have to make the most of EVERY day!! Without overtaxing ourselves of course. ;-) I am sure you'll see another post later with more fun pictures and reminiscing as they draw closer to their departure.

Happy Birthday, Rebecca!

Today we celebrated Rebecca's birthday.  Her birthday was last Friday (she turned 10!!!) but she had some friends over today to celebrate.  Last night I began to make her cake, and I must say I was very pleased with the results.  I wasn't sure how it would turn out and I did run into a few bumps, but you can't go wrong with a musical cake!!  She was thrilled with it, and that's all that mattered.

I can't believe she is 10 now!!  She has certainly grown to be a very beautiful and talented little girl. 

Home Garden

This morning my dad and I put up our home garden.  I am absolutely thrilled!!  I have done tons of gardening at the holly farm but there is a different rewarding feeling that comes with digging in your OWN garden!!  It's so nice to have one "for my own particular use." ;-)  It's a small start but I just can't wait to harvest all the veggies!  Here's what I planted: Carrots, Radishes, Bush Beans, Cabbage, Broccoli, Onions, Lettuce, Cilantro, parsley, and dill.  My dad worked really hard at putting up the fence.  It's not a beauty, but it's certainly sufficient to keep out the "wabbits".