Music Notes

...a couple of firsts, actually!" I exclaimed to Abby as we exited a small second-hand shop. The "firsts" I was happily referring to were these:

1. We managed to both enter and exit a second-hand shop (one that holds some interest) in less than 5 minutes (impressive, eh?); 2. I bought a dress (skirt/top combo) that I didn't even try on; and 3. I paid only $4.00 for this dress!

You may be wondering of what calibre this dress is - does it fit (perhaps even "has this girl lost her head?")? Well, it must have been a bridesmaid/grad dress at some point; it is also in perfect shape! It is lovely lavender, shimmering/sparkling material. The skirt fits me perfectly, if a little on the long side (even better!); the top will need some alteration. Now all I need is an occasion (maybe another Garden Party - at our house?!)for which to once again donne this dress which had me almost feeling like a princess - Mark thought it didn't "fit" my "personality" though. "Its just that you're too... well, it doesn't look normal on you" he explained further as he monkeyed around on the railing after I asked for his opinion. Mmmm, I think I just might ask one of the female poulation for their opinion next (Cher, Amy, Rach, etc.??). I guess I'll have to wait awhile for that though...

Some of my friends - actually, most of my friends are in University/College/Whatever ;-P . A few of them have already told me of the things that have either happened to them and/or of adjustments they have had to make in their new locations. One of my friends had the lovely "welcome home" of her car being broken into shortly after she resumed school, and her purse - and ID - were stolen (thankfully I just heard back from her and her purse and ID have been found - yay, Kristen!!), and those of you who may now have to carry pepper spray...  Whoo! Amsy, all I can say is I wish I could be there to protect you from all the brutish - but not blind - men who prowl the streets of Philly! Just the other day I received quite a "welcome home". I had just finished backing in the mini van into the garage when my door was flung open and I was in the middle of a crushing bear hug from my baby... er, not-so-baby brother, Mark! Its not everyday that I get a hug like that, so I took full advantage of it! After all, whose 9-year-old brother will excitedly open the door for his sis when she's barely even home yet?! 

We're just back from attending the newly invented (?) Fall Family Conference... that was absolutely great!!  Pastor Kiernan (sp?) Stringer spoke and once again my eyes were opened to the love God has for me - not because of anything I've done, but simply because He, by His infinite Grace, chose me, loved me, and I am totally perfect in His eyes... I am valued as I am, because I am His. It just about blows my mind that the Perfect and Awsome God accepts me on the basis of the sacrifice HE made... to take my place so that I could be loved unconditionally by my Father as His child, blameless in His sight, no matter how many times I fall and mess up. So many people today are looking for that kind of love and acceptance in so many places - relatives, friends, neighbors, peers, husbands, wives, girlfriends and boyfriends... the list goes on and on! - and yet they cannot find the perfect love, the perfect person to make them feel accepted and valued.... and they fail to look for this love from the giver - the One Who is Love! I hope and pray that we, the ones who have been blessed beyond measure, are ready and willing to not only exude this love to those we may come into contact with, but, with joy and love for the ones brought across our path, point them to the only One who can truly love them... beyond their wildest imaginations!!

In love with the One Who is Love,

~C     

I was just flipping through an old Grade 6 liturature book (after reading "The night the bed fell" by James Thurber to my siblings), and I came across a story called "The Apple of Contentment" by Howard Pyle. The reason the story first caught my eye was for no other reason than that the main charecter in the tale was named... you guessed it - Christine! It is one of those "classic" stories in which the two older sisters are more well liked by their mother than the youngest sister (Christine); hence the older sisters are well-dressed and well-fed while the youngest sis is dressed in rags, and is always hungry. It's basically the run-of-the-mill Cinderella (or Cinderfella?!) story, except that instead of a glass slipper and fairy godmother there is an odd little gray man and bean that looked like a lump of coal.

"That," said the little man, "is a seed from the apple of contentment. Plant it, and from it will grow a tree, and from the tree an apple. Everybody in the world that sees the apple will long for it, but nobody in the world can pluck it but you. It will always be meat and drink to you when you are hungry, and warm clothes to your back when you are cold. Moreover, as soon as you pluck it from the tree, another as good will grow in its place."  (Italics added).   

Yesterday I had a great time at Marineland with family and friends (homeschool group). The place was practically empty because kids are back in school, so we could go on any ride as many times as we wanted. I went on every ride but one (another scrambler that I just didn't feel like riding at the time). The 300-ft. tower, called quite fittingly the "Sky Screamer" was absolutely amazing - they boost you up so fast it just about blows your socks off - not to mention the drop down! Needless to say, the day was a blast!!  Near the end of it, I hung out with Esther and went on a bunch of rides with her. She finally left my dizzily perched on a park bench so she could once again hit the rides nearby. She was such a whirl to keep up with!

Anyhow, I think I have finally managed to come back to earth, though I'm just so excited to start a "new" schedule. It does include alot of time at the piano, but most of my time spent on the bench is enjoyable, wonderful and fulfilling at best and boring at least (which isn't too often). I will miss the teacher I've had for the past 11 years - Love ya, Aunt Marilyn! - but I'm quite excited to continue my studies with the Karen, who has agreed to teach me my Grade 10 Piano and beyond. 

Well, that's it for tonight. Thanks for listening!

~Chrissy

Hello and welcome to my blog! I'm very new at this, so due to my past sucess (or rather failure) of attempting to post, I'll just keep this short and hope it actually works (for the third time!). I'm hoping that I'll have both the time and energy to write on occasion, and so keep you updated on the happenings of my life. Here goes...

~Chrissy