The calm before the storm

Boy, it seems like every time I get through a crazy-stressful week and look forward to some calm, the next week only ends up just as packed as the last. Thankfully, this week is stuffed more with Glee Club events than school work. I found out today that we have rehearsal every day and then performances on Friday and Saturday... Throw in small group, Mukappa, and a 5 page book report, and that calls for some serious time management!
On another note, Thanksgiving break was really good. I've noticed a lot more energy and enthusiasm in my attitude this morning; I think I was able to get some much-needed rest. It was good to see David again and I can't wait until the whole Tebbe clan is under one roof in mid-December. We need to start hoping for a good snowfall so sledding works out.

Back Home

Back home at last. It's a struggle to stay awake, but I'm doing my best for the next hour and a half or so; don't want to get my days and nights mixed up. Yesterday I drove Laura and her brother Mark up to Minneapolis where they are spending Thanksgiving with family. It was really good to meet her grandparents - very kind, welcoming people. This afternoon I drove back home and now I'm sitting in front of a roaring fire talking about books with Mom and Dad. David comes tomorrow night - can't wait!! Although many would disagree, I think the Midwest is extremely beautiful in the winter, especially western Wisconsin. I love the different shades of browns, reds, and golds. Everything is dead, yes, but there's a sort of comforting solitude to it all. Makes me want to wear Carhartt pants and sweaters.

Tight vocal chords

Well tonight is the first basketball game of the season. All my housemates are painting "Fiddler" (our starting center housemate) on their chests and going together. I, however, am going to a dress rehearsal for Bruckner's Mass in F Minor. The angst. There is absolutely no way I can complain, though. Glee Club has been an amazing blessing to me this semester. I love singing with a bunch of guys who also love it. I love getting out of practice and it's already dark. I love performances, and the nervous jitters that accompany them. In the large group performances I love standing in what feels like a sea of people, all singing their hearts out. I love singing with an orchestra playing along. I love working with Dr. Somerville and how his praise draws instant grins and proud, straightened postures. The Bruckner especially has been a privilege to work on - I confess I am completely unworthy of performing it - it deserves a voice far more accomplished than my own. So I've found myself at once humbled and in awe this week as we've been rehearsing it. It will truly be a joy to perform it tomorrow in front of my family. I don't think my dad has heard me musically perform since I was in 8th grade.... The other great thing about this mass is that it stretches my range almost as far as it will go in my natural voice. Octave or 6th jumps are routine, and I've found my voice has grown much stronger the longer we've worked on it. I'm off to rehearsal now, but I'm going to take pictures tonight and I'll put one or two up. Lord, thank You so much for music....

The start of something new

Hi everyone! I guess I'm jumping on the blog site band-wagon.... I'm enjoying writing more and more these days (a good thing, considering I'm taking three English classes next semester) and I figured this would be a good place to keep people generally up-to-date with my life. So here we go.... Life has been very, very busy lately. Although it's tough and a little stressful at times to keep up with school work, my days have been filled with much joy and laughter recently. I'm completely loving and thriving in Autumn, good music performance on a large scale, anticipations of next year, and of course the surprising joys and blessings of a growing relationship. =) Some random pics from fall at Wheaton....