Simply Trusting

Busy as this time of year may be, one of the features that I love about this place is that there is always something going on. This evening I was privileged to attend an art exhibit by some BFA students, and I was touched by the level of their talent and excellence. Visual art intrigues me because it seems to me to be the visual equivalent of the textures created by dynamics,  articulation and expression in music (Artist friends, feel free to disagree…this is merely my perspective) Add individual personality and you have something truly unique.  This last week also held home soccer games, which I always enjoy. Many of my students and small group girls are on the soccer teams, and it is so much fun to watch them passionately contributing to their teams.  Staff Recital was also held on Wednesday evening. I was thrilled to take part for the first time as a teacher. As scary as the moments are before I start to play, there is nothing so satisfying as losing yourself ...

Do you ever get to the end of a week and wonder where the time went? After a restful and adventurous spring break, we are flying towards the end of the year. This past weekend held a number of school events, all of which were extremely enjoyable. This coming week is a 4-day week because of a national holiday on Friday, and Monday-Thursday we will be holding our annual Music Festival. Next week is Junior senior banquet, and staff recital is the following week. Somewhere in the midst of all of it, my mom has a birthday, my brother Tim graduates from Cairn University (woot!!), and I'm training for my first half-marathon (yikes!). It's easy to wish away one event after another, and dream of a time less busy. Instead, I've been asking God to make me aware of the smaller moments which are significant, but might be harder to spot because of life whizzing around us; to cause me to be still and know, and rest. For example, on Monday evening my small group met at my house. These incr...

With only one week to go until spring break, the days are full and exciting! Last weekend BFA hosted a festival for which students from many different schools and countries traveled to our campus. They participated in honors band, orchestra, and choir, practicing hard for several days and performing two concerts. I was originally tasked with helping to organize meals, doing airport pickups, and other logistical tasks. The weekend before the festival, I received a heads-up that the choir accompanist who was originally scheduled to come might not be able to make it. Monday morning, I was handed music and Thursday morning I found myself playing for the rehearsal. For any of you who felt compelled to pray for me last weekend, this is probably why. :) I definitely felt a lot of sympathy for my group piano students, to whom I give sight-reading assignments on a regular basis. The challenge of working with a conductor, music and students who were new to me was exciting, and the joy felt in th...

Someone wise once said, "March goes in like a lion and out like a lamb." I don't know who was listening and took note, but that's definitely been true in southern Germany! We haven't had a lot of snow, but we've definitely had some cold weather. Last week, we had occasional hints of spring, which left us hoping it would stick around. Today I enjoyed a long walk with a friend, soaking in the beauty this area has to offer in spring time! I'm amazed at the color and contrast our Creator has woven perfectly into His Creation! Other than the beautiful weather, there is a LOT going on right now! Last weekend, the entire high school packed into buses and got away from Kandern for a little while. I've been co-leading a small group of senior girls this semester, and during the retreat weekend, we had a chance both to listen to amazing teaching from the Bible, and discuss what was being taught. During the discussion times, the girls were very open and it was ex...

As I sit and write, I have to admit that I'm battling a strain of a virus that has been making its way around our community. I'm on the mend, but I do apologize if this post seems a bit disjointed. Jumping into a new role in a familiar setting has its challenges. Adjusting to teaching here has included a rather steep learning curve. When I first came to BFA as an RA, I quickly realized that life here involved taking on new things that didn't seem "comfortable". Teaching piano in a group setting  was one of those things for me. When the idea first came up, I wasn't sure it was a great idea. Three weeks in, I'm having a blast and enjoying connecting with the students. As in every classroom setting, every student possesses a different level of musical knowledge, so at this point as I start out, my biggest responsibility is to observe how each student learns. Some are more tactile, some are auditory and some come with a broad base of musical knowledge alre...

For He has said, "I will never leave you or forsake you." So much promise in one simple verse, and spoken by God who never changes. This was close to my heart this week, as I stepped into my first official week of teaching here at BFA. I've been pondering what to write all week, and am eager to share about my first week of teaching!  I've spent the last month working through the curriculum materials made available to me so on Monday I felt as prepared as I knew how to be, and yet still had that 'new teacher' butterfly sensation. This semester, I am responsible for two sections of group piano classes, and Music Appreciation. The students seem eager to learn and I'm looking forward to the challenge of keeping things interesting while progressing according to the course guides. The students have about a week at the beginning of the semester to finalize their schedules, so teaching this week was challenging because class size fluctuated a bit. I think that our...

Dear Reader, First I want to say thank you for stopping by my blog. I've been thinking that I really have no idea who sees this. So, especially if you've been checking in for a while now, thanks for staying with me. In case you weren't aware, this Christmas I once again experienced the joy of the season in Germany. Christmas is such a beautiful time of year here, and as I walked around Kandern, I felt compelled to pray that this beautiful little town will know the One Whose birth they are celebrating with so much enthusiasm. Pray with me that Light of Christ will shine brightly here! The last 4 years have been full of so many thoughts and adventures. Last Wednesday began the start of a new season of adventures here at BFA. Along with several other people, I shared a three-minute testimony of my journey here, and home and here again, officially beginning this season at BFA. The thought of new memories and events happening is at once exciting and saddening. I treasured my ...