Lesssons From the Snow

Last year I could totally relate to Jacki's sentiments about growing up and losing the child's sense of the term "snow day." Working for my Dad full time, I fully expected him to graciously allow me to escape the weather and stay home whenever we got a significant amount of snow. After the first few calls for "Take is slow, watch out for the crazy drivers," I began to realize I was a big girl now, and needed to get used to driving in bad weather. College at Southern my first year certainly didn't allow me to practice my winter driving. Last year I learned.

This year, with dismal hopes and the awareness that I really was in the "work world," I mentally prepared to face the blizzards in my little volkswagon bug. To my great surprise last week, I was told I better stay put, since we didn't have too much going on that day anyway. What wonderful news! It was all the more wonderful because I didn't expect it. I got oodles of fun things done I wasn't planning on having time to do. Figuring it was a one time deal, I savored it and moved on. Then today, with forecasts of snow, turning to freezing rain and ice, I got another call. Another unexpected "hurray!" I got some extra school work done, lovingly tended to my piano, and am taking a little break on here.

I think what I am learning from all of this is that is that I really am growing up. You'd think that at 21, married, and in my last year of college I'd have figured that out. Oh well, I don't catch on so quick. Even amidst this realization, God and my Dad gave me a few unexpected blessings. The real beauty is appreciating them for all their worth when they come.

New Side Job

Here's another one of those things I never though I'd find myself doing: being paid to be a church pianist. No, not in the Adventist church, clearly. Playing for our own dear church was something I never pictured doing as a kid either, but here I am doing that, and now I'll be playing for an Episcopal church as well. I'm not quite sure how it originally got started, but I have played for Episcopal church and Federated Church in Arlington as a sub when their organist couldn't be there. News travels quickly in a small town, and it soon led to me playing for the Arlington Elementary and High School, for their music concerts (A much greater pay I might add). It had been about a year since I had been asked to play for any of these place, though, when I got an email asking me to sub for the Episcopal church in Bennington, for their Christmas pageant. Another little side note about small towns: you see people you know everywhere. Sitting in the front row of that church during the pageant was my gynecologist! I guess I shouldn't have been too surprised, because she is our neighbor as well, just 2 houses down.

After playing for the pageant, I discovered that the church had been without an organist for months. This seemed quite strange, as most churches try to get subs whenever they are to be without music. Due to this interesting fact, the members were overwhelmed with gratitude after being without music for so long. The arrangements have thus been proceeding for me to be a regular pianist there 2-3 Sundays a month. This surprised me, as most churches prefer the organ. Be that as it may, they wanted me to do it, and I am delighted to oblige. A few more $s every month lessens the financial crunch my schooling creates. God is good. :)

The Beginning of the End

With the beginning of the new year begins my 2nd to last term with Kaplan. More than a little ecstatic about that! Not only will I have more free time when I am done, but my bank account can actually do some prolonged growing without monthly depletion! More than these things, however, I have begun to truly fall in love my degree. Too many terms were spent on courses all supplementing my core nutrition classes, and now that they are finally here, everything has come together. All of the interest and excitement I had during my first nutrition class at Southern and now intensified, as I learn continually more, and approach the time when I can put it all into practice. As to what I will actually end up doing when it is all said and done, only God knows. But as I strongly feel He led me into this profession, I also believe He will lead me to the right job when I am done. Until more news....