More Recital Pictures!

Here are some more recital pictures! Enjoy!
I will have my videos on YouTube soon!

The rundown

I am going to give you a quick synopsis of what has been happening since the recital! I can't believe it was almost two weeks ago! In case you care, here is what I have been up to the past couple of weeks.

Last week I was preparing for the mock audition, chamber music concert, and woodwind quintet concert this week at school. Not to mention getting feedback for my thesis and trying to make edits!

This week I got sick from allergies, yay, and was having a hell of a time preparing for everything I needed to play for, and feeling run down. I tried to let go, knowing that ultimately it is in God's hands and that everything will work out. Of course, it did, and I even heard back from one of the National Flute Association competitions I entered. I found out I got first alternate for the Orchestral Masterclass Competition. There are three people that are attending, so if any of them die or hurt themselves I get to go! Tonya Harding anyone??

Last night the chamber music concert went well. I played a Haydn trio with another flute and a bassoon. It was great except for me having a coughing attack during the second movement. I was extremely worried that tonight would hold the same fate, but I decided not to take any medicine and I felt better today! Our Woodwind Quintet Concert went ok tonight. I had a couple of brain farts, but overall we pulled off our big pieces.

So, tomorrow is catch up day on all of the laundry and house chores I have been neglecting. I am also going to send out some CD's/DVD's to relatives who weren't able to come to the concert. And I am getting my hair done! :)

Side note: I just started reading Crazy Love and like it already! More to come!

Here are the only pictures I have from the recital! I will be getting more tomorrow I hope from Jared's dad!Program

Stage...I know pretty boring, but artsy! Thanks Kimberly!

Recital Aftermath!

I had such an amazing time performing this weekend and hanging out with friends and family. Thanks to everyone who flew in to see me and spend the weekend in LA (I know that is so rough for all of you who came from Texas...hehe!) I don't think I could have asked for a better recital and reception. I can't believe that many people showed up to watch me play the flute. I feel so blessed that I get to do what I love! I took a few pictures of all of the beautiful flowers everyone gave me! I had way more flowers than vases and had to give away two bouquets to Katie! I can't wait to do another recital! I will post some more pictures of me at the actual recital as soon as I get some from family and friends and I am hoping to get my website up soon with recordings!

Day before recital post!

My recital is tomorrow! I can't believe how fast this year has flown by! I can't decide if I am more excited to see my family and friends from Texas, or about the actual recital! I have invested so much time into the pieces on my program and am so excited to perform them! To relate my excitement to some of you who are non-musicians, think of buying a new outfit/car, etc. and wanting to show it off, or investing in a project at work and finally getting to present it. I am also excited about having the entire weekend after the recital to hang out! We are going to the beach and having a cook out Saturday, if it doesn't rain, and going to church and a fun restaurant for lunch Sunday! Have a happy Easter for those of you I won't be seeing this weekend!

Communities of Performance

I found this on the Resurgence blog this morning. There have also been a few other articles about communities of Performance vs. Grace, but this one put it so simply I had to share it. Growing up, I went to a church that was a community of performance. Not that the people were horrible or mean (I had a lot of friends and people that cared about me), but all of these bullet points explain the community that was surrounding me. Even though grace was talked about, there would be disappointment or disapproval if laws/rules were broken, and emphasis was put on helping "bad people." Looking back, I am frustrated because I am still a sinner by nature and need Jesus just as much now as those "bad people" who haven't found Christ. I believe it was a way to make themselves feel better that they were "fixed" and their mission in life was to fix broken people. The problem with that, is they become hypocrites, and I feel committed to pray for communities like that now, and also to be highly aware if my community is communicating grace or not....something to think about. I would love to hear your story about the type of community you are in or a community you have been in in the past.

Communities of Performance

• People talk about grace, but communicate legalism
• Unbelievers can't imagine themselves as Christians
• Drive away broken people
• The world is seen as threatening and 'other'
• Conversion is superficial—people are called to respectable behavior
• People are secretly hurting
• People see faith and repentance as actions that took place at conversion
• The gospel is for unbelievers

Communities of Grace

• People can see grace in action
• Unbelievers feel like they can belong
• Attract broken people
• People are loved as fellow sinners in need of grace
• Conversion is radical—people are called to transformed affections
• People are open about their problems
• People see faith and repentance as daily activities
• The gospel is for both unbelievers and believers

Money

Been thinking a lot about this lately, not about how to get more, but how to be financially prudent and open to what God wants to do with it.
We had a good friend (you know who you are) give us a reality check over Christmas about how we were probably viewing our savings account as our money instead of God's money. We had never vocalized it, but we have not ever given money from that account to anyone but ourselves, and mostly it is just sitting there...As what most savings account are for....to save. BUT...because we were holding the account with closed hands so to speak, our eyes have been opened to how we can better use this money. Not to go out and give it all away, but to be aware to what God is leading us to do with it. I have had many joyful experiences since letting go of "our money".

He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. - Ecclesiastes 5:10

I have been struck lately with the thought that God is sufficient for all our needs, and He knows what we need when we need it, so it is not up to me to hold on to things for a "rainy day." Yes, be prudent, but not to the point of mistrust or fear. It is so freeing to know and verbalize that it is not mine!