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| Shangri-La is in your mind, but your buffalo is not. - Actual Chinglish billboard in China Here are two pictures of my other personal favorites:  
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| So it's not even the end of September and my Christmas playing schedule is already pretty full with three programs on three consecutive weekends. SNU's production of The Messiah on December 3rd, First Baptist Duncan on the 10th, and Village on the 17th. I can always squeeze a church in with a Sunday morning program on any of those weeks too. This is seriously my favorite time of the year - getting to play with new people and seeing old friends. Sadly, Village isn't doing much of anything this year... again. No one can really tell me why. It's just frustrating. We joined the church under a music minister who had built up a phenomenal music program. It was one of our main draws to the church, with five musicians in the family. Over the past six years we have watched the choir and orchestra dwindle down to almost nothing. And so our "grand" production this year will consist of each "group" performing a couple of mismatched songs. Yee-haw. I would invite my sax buddy back for the shindig, but I honestly don't think she would much enjoy playing. At least I will have two good opportunities to play Christmas music this season... | | |
| So my computer is being mean this morning... no big deal... I only use it to do my job anyway... of course now everyone needs information that I can only get off of my computer... COME ON THREE-DAY WEEKEND!
In other non-computer related news, David got cable, Internet and phone hooked up on Tuesday. He was standing in the middle of the living room admiring his "man TV" when I got home. I feel validated having a house, he feels validated having a big screen with fifty-million cable channels. Marriage is all about compromise people.
I have been playing horn a BUNCH! It is so nice not to have to worry about disturbing people above or below me. I got my OBS music a couple of days ago, so that has taken up much of my practice time. The new music is really amazing, but admittedly more difficult than in years past. I am excited at the prospective challenge - I need to make sure that everything is up to par by the first concert in a little over a week.
Lastly, an update on my first choir night - what can I say, three-year-olds can be the cutest and most exhausting little people in the world! I love all eight of them very much already. I do have one that is quite the behavior problem, but the children's minister at my church has implemented a plan that seems to be making a difference on some levels.
It's funny how God uses someone so young to make such an important point - we are called to love ALL people, not just those that we deem "worthy." Another thought that hit home hard - often the people we would be least likely to associate with are the people who need our caring attention the most. You cannot look a child in the eyes and say, "Your behavior is terrible! I'm sorry, but you are no longer welcome in choir." Instead, you take each minute (and I truly do mean minute with this child) as it comes and make sure to highlight the positives at the end of the night. (For example, another child got hit, but there was no blood involved.) Finally, when it is time for everyone to leave for AWANA's, you take the child in question and say, "Thank you for coming to choir tonight. I really liked how you played the instruments. I love you very much. Please come back and see me again." | | |
| So the house repairs are going well... We are learning to dread David's dad asking us if we know how to fix something... a "no" answer is always followed by the phrase, "Well today is a good day to learn!"
I'm just kidding. We love Dad. He has helped us out a bunch! Pipes, washing machine, kitchen sink, doors, wall repair, electricity, you name it! My Daddy and my brother are painter extraordinaires and the Moms are great when it comes to figuring out where to put things. Beckers is the world's greatest picture hanger, even if her methods are a bit complicated for me!
Sadie is happier than we have seen her in a long time. She loves HER new house! There is a huge double glass door that looks out on the back yard and all the birdies. Her favorite room is the guest room... because we keep it closed off. She wants to get in there so badly! Chloe was less sure in the beginning, but she quickly adopted the bedroom window seat as her spot. The whirlpool tub and the enormous kitchen sink are also favorite spots of our little fish. Mommy did almost lose her... she got UNDER the house. Thank goodness she is the cat who comes when called! Daddy patched up that hole quick!
On completely unrelated house news, I am teaching three-year-old choir this year with Lynleigh. We were under the impression that we would just be "helpers." I found out last Saturday that I was the director! I am kind of freaking out. I know I will have at least eight kids - the pastor's grand niece, the music minister's son, the children's secretary's son, three lactose intolerant children, one child with celiac disease, three kids who are not potty trained, one door-dasher, one little girl who made it very clear that she did NOT want to be in choir, and MANY bossy parents! Help me... anyone? Please! Oh and my literature is for five-year-olds. That will need some revamping... If I live through next week I might consider making this an annual thing :)
Not much else to report... I will get house pics up soon! | | |
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Ta-Da!
Welcome to the Snelsons' new home! We are now the proud owners of a mortgage... and on a completely unrelated side note- the home that goes with it! After five months of planning, almost two months of searching, and a full emersion into the cut-throat and often dishonest world of real-estate, you are seeing the finished product.
David would have me mention that I didn't even want to look at this house originally. I was totally sold on a little house off of 34th and College. Thankfully, our realtor had a bad habit of dragging us to every house that he thought had "potential." Needless to say, I fell in love with this one the moment I walked in the door. A huge kitchen, back deck, beautiful tile work, Jacuzzi tub, and a gorgeous lawn are just a few of the high points. Now if only the neighborhood was better... random people just come up and expect to walk in the door... no consideration of say, the DOORBELL! Just kidding Beck! You and your parents are a really BIG draw!
Our next few days will be filled with the smell of paint... okay, I could have phrased that better. We are moving on Saturday. (We already moved from the apartment at the end of July to my parents while we were waiting for closing.) Drill-Sergeant Dave is insisting on a wake-up call at 500 hours and a go-time of 600 hours. That's fine... as long as I see Dream Land at 1800 hours on Friday. (I apologize in advance to any of the OBS brass should I start to snore.) If the Army of One wants to stay up until 2300 hours painting, that's his deal.
I will post pictures of the inside as soon as I get everything in its proper place... and the lime green trim out of what will become our office.
FYI - if you are interesting in buying or selling a home, please consider our friend Sri Jonnada. He made a stressful experience less so, was ALWAYS mindful of our needs and wants, and even helped me through a complete emotional break-down. You will not find a person more dedicated to you in the real-estate industry. We are proud of what he helped us accomplish, but are more delighted still to call him our friend. | | |
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