Friends and other blessings...

(Trying Columbian soda for the first time!!!!)

(Me, Mook and the king...!)

(Some really awesome gal pals...we were on our way to dinner!)

Hello dear readers! Welcome again to my journal:) I promised to add smaller entries more often, so here goes... I must say that one aspect of coming to school that I never pondered much over was that of making friends.In my mind, I saw myself studying music and practicing into the wee hours of the morning, and being solely focused on my work without regard to creating friendships and learning to rely on those closest around you. I have been so incredibly blessed in not only having the most wonderful roommate (her nickname is Mook!) , but also having the chance to be with so many other Christian young ladies on campus.

(Watching the stars and playing games at night on the beach!)

This past weekend, the Christian group here on campus-CRU- took a weekend retreat over in North Miami beach. The goal of this time was to allow all of the young believers on campus to have a chance to draw closer to God, to each other, and to the realization that we need the support that comes from being a part of God's family and fellowshipping with our brothers and sisters...

These are just a few pictures that I took from this special weekend. Each photograph holds a beautiful memory for me and symbolizes the importance of having true friends. These young people are close to my heart, and are part of my family away from home...

Chapter One

Well, it's been some time since my last post. Needless to say, since moving to the Miami area and beginning school ,my world has been thrown into an uproar and has been slowly transforming into a lifestyle that I could never imagine possible for myself. My days are filled to the brim with music. Through theory, aural skills training, accompanying, and lessons (to name a few) I have begun developing a taste for what the life of a musician in the 21st century entails.

I have been working on revising a piano/voice duet that I wrote earlier last year for an upcoming concert at the U. (That's what we call the university of Miami!) I'll actually find out tomorrow whether or not my score was chosen by my professors for that particular performance. I am so excited!

One of the really neat opportunities I am having now is the chance to sing in one of the ladies'
choirs here at school: Cantilena. Our music selection is varied and fun and beautiful. I say all this because we just had our first conert to night and it was phenomenal.The pictures I am posting can give you an idea (!)

So far, my opportunities to share the gospel here on campus have been bountiful. There are so many ears that are willing to listen to the truth, and yet I find that often it is my own sin and selfishness that prevents (or slows me down) from being ready to share the word at any moment.

I realize that this message is a bit shorter that my previous entries, but I DO plan to post more often. Keep checking back for updates!!!

Love, Kate

My Final Farewell

Dearest Friend,


This afternoon I had the immense pleasure of performing for a benefit luncheon for the Anson County Arts Council in Wadesboro, NC. For quite some time now, plans had been underway for this event-and I was very honored to be able to participate.

The Arts Council has been such an incredible means of encouragement and support to me as a student artist- providing me with performance opportunities, helping me gain exposure etc... When approached by one of the board members about being the guest performer for this afternoon's lunch, I was thrilled accept!

For the past few years, the Arts Council has been putting on three "Bach's Lunches" over the summertime in an effort to gain support for their renovation project of the old Ansonia Theatre ( a wonderful historic theatre in downtown Wadesboro with an intensely rich biography!)

In appreciation for all that has been afforded me through the council and its kind board members, I composed a special piece of music for this Bach's Lunch and titled it "Ansonia". I do believe it was received well...:)I consider my time spent with the council as a truly sweet time in my life. Now, as I prepare to begin my professional career as a composer, all the memories and faces of gentle souls who warmly prodded me along as a child and into my young adult years flood back to me, and the Arts Council holds many such dear faces.

May the most remarkable and enduring of blessings be with these kind people, and may their efforts to strengthen and encourage the youth of our community through the world of art never be forgotten.

Affectionately Yours,

Kate

p.s. I hope you enjoy a few of the photos I have enclosed below!








My mom and I arrived at the church at around 11:20 a.m. Imagine our surprise when we saw this sign outside! It was a pleasantly warm afternoon, brimming with promises of a beautiful time of fellowship and music. What a combination!






Haha- can you tell that I talk with my hands??? This shot was taken from across the dining table by my mother, who thought my engrossing account of how music is built around "themes" would make for an...interesting photo. Thanks, mom. :) (Although now that I think of it, I don't look very excited, do I? Just a thought...)











I played altogether six pieces of music, ranging from the first song I ever performed as a student composer, all the way to a piece that I finished two nights ago-"Ansonia". I composed and dedicated this music to the Anson County Arts Council, and performed it in honor of the future young artists who will one day grace the stage of the renovated Ansonia Theatre...

A very kind gentleman complimented my playing and asked me if I wanted to go to New York one day to pursue my endeavors there---now, do I ever??

Following the performance, I had the opportunity to talk with some of the wonderful people who came to the luncheon. We shared a good deal of smiles and hugs and made promises to meet again. I intend to keep that promise!

Just Another Morning

Dear Friend,

I write again tonight with the joyful abandon of a child-eager to share the wonders of this world with all who have an imagination and a ready spirit. Care to join me over a cup of tea?
This morning dawned as mornings usually do, and I had the chance to watch the sun rise high above the tree line that stretches far and away from the borders of our farm. How magnificent, exquisite! Too often I take for granted the gift of light and day and all that is afforded to mankind through it. Can you imagine what a life of dusky skies and no sun would be like? Think of how dismal our lives would be...Thankfully, our Creator has provided us with a rather substantial ball of fire that has done its fair share of shedding light upon this earth for quite some time:) Aaah.... the bliss of summertime and the freedom to enjoy these simple pleasures!
Speaking of pleasures, a lovely surprise awaited me at the mail box this afternoon! For my birthday this year, my mother (see her blog here: http://www.woolytales.blogspot.com ) had a wonderful seamstress commissioned to sew some dresses for me to take to school in the fall. To complete my wardrobe, my mother requested several dresses and skirts that would supply me with a sufficient wardrobe and a happy heart...
Well, this afternoon, two of the dresses arrived and they both fit PERFECTLY! One was made from a solid, forest-green cotton material, and the other a civil-war brown with a very fine print in black. They truly are beautiful. I probably should mention that I dress in a very Victorian style, although comfort and simplicity are my main priorities when sewing or searching for dresses. Of course, staying true to the historical period is always an enjoyable experience, but since I probably won't be having a roommate at school with a willingness to button me up every morning before classes...Well, sometimes a zipper will have to do;)
I plan on (hopefully!) purchasing a camera before leaving in August. My mind still functions under "rolls of film" , so it's about time I catch up with technology, don't you think? If I can get a camera sooner than later, then I will work on uploading pictures of the things I talk about in my posts. Maybe then the words on these pages will become more real for you as a reader, and not just the verses of a writer in her corner of the world...

Until then,

I remain respectfully yours,

Kate

Getting Ready for College...At Last

Hi There! It's been awhile since my last post and I am hoping to fall back into the groove of writing again. It's been another year of growth and learning for me-in my faith, schooling, music, and essentially entire life. Over the past months, seemingly insurmountable obstacles have been conquered, broken hopes and dreams restored, and a resurgence in my faith in Christ as my only hope and redemption has blossomed within me. Soli Deo Gloria.
The chapter in my life entitled "HIGH SCHOOL" is finally finished- including years' worth of writing, re-writing, and editing. Now, as my university education looms ever nearer, I look back at all the many wonderful blessings and memories during the past four years and cherish each with a happiness that seems to grow every day. Truly, the days for me now are bittersweet. It is with joy that I enter college life with many wonderful plans for pursuing music composition, but I also long for the comfort and rest found within the arms of my family. My prayer is that my trust will be rooted firmly in the Lord, and that I will look to Him always.
In two months' time, I shall step on the campus grounds of the University of Miami and (hopefully!) enter an exciting time of my life. My roommate and I are communicating back and forth, eagerly sharing ideas for what to bring, how to prepare, and praying about how we can be shining lights for the Lord while at school!
I hope to post more regularly, and look forward to sharing this journey with you all!

Bleaching, Pressing, Packing

Tonight I have begun packing for my upcoming trip. Tonight? you wonder. Well, rightly so. You see, I have a tendency to wait until the last minute to do important stuff, like make sure I pack my toothbrush and plenty of socks, so I decided to remedy that situation by starting early.( Four days ought to do it :) Hopefully I won't forget anything...
Recently I finished a book by Alexander Solzhenitsyn entitled One Day In The Life Of Ivan Denisovich , a rather horrific account of life in a Soviet labor camp. It was cleverly written and kept me interested throughout, though the heart-wrenching part was that it really happened to real people. I have now begun Ana Karenina by Tolstoy and will write my thoughts on it when I finish it.
Our garden is blooming profusely now- no more scraggly plants and weedy-looking areas. Most of our produce this season has been green, from cabbage and collard greens, to green beans and asparagus. Even the tomatoes are green! (They're just beginning to ripen now :) Our biggest dilemma has been the cabbage, though. I suppose when we planted the vegetables we didn't pay much attention to the labels- instead of broccoli and lettuce, it has ALL turned out to be cabbage! What to do, what to do!
Anyhow, the folks down our road and the families at church have been thrilled. Plenty of cabbage for the rest of their summers.>grin<
Well, I think I'll stop for this evening-more later.

To Illinois and Beyond...

I just got the official schedule for my upcoming week at the Illinois-Wesleyan Summer Composition Institute. Yes, I'm nervous, but excited,too! Everything from 20th century orchestral music to modern-day film composing is planned to be covered, as well as techniques and ways to develop compositional ideas. All paricipants will be writing a small piece for piano, cello, and flute while there, and at the end of the week it will be performed and recorded by faculty. Right now, I'm trying to get last minute preparations ready, as well as trying not to panic about switching planes during traveling. (I've heard way too many stories about missing flights) But I'm sure everything will be fine.
On Monday morning my dad and I took our trailer up to the Livestock Auction in hopes of finding the right cattle to add to our stock. We didn't see anything there that really persuaded us, so we just went about doing a handful of errands and getting ready for the soccer games that night. He and I coach my brother and sister's team, the Crew, and this will be our last week for the season. Several games had been rained out , so we're playing four to finish the season this week. Monday night, we won 9-0, and yesterday we won again, 7-1. Thursday and Friday will determine if we get to be undefeated this year, so we'll see what happens...
Mom and dad went up to Charlotte today to buy some clay so that my mom can turn more of her pottery (wow-is she an artist!) and tonight my siblings have piano lessons. I usually go too; however, tonight is my turn to milk our dairy cow Hershey, but I'll talk more of that later.