Music Lover

I have grown up enraptured in the intoxicating melodies sung by mother, the attempts by my grandfather ;), and the notes that come straight from my heart. I started in church, singing in the children's choirs, then progressed to dance lessons, and finally piano and violin lessons. Now, I teach children's choir and I am in the handbell choir at my church. There are rare times that you will drive past me and I will not be singing to the radio. What I loved about music as a child has transcended time and only grown more acute as the years have passed: no matter how I am feeling, I am certainly capable of finding songs that fit my mood, and will lift it when necessary. My parents used to tell me that I smiled so much when I was little that you could not understand what I was sayingand I was proud of that; I lost that during the rigorous of academics in high school. But I am happy to report that I found it again. I was telling a friend recently that I finally found what makes me truly happy, and it is music. For many years I thought that I would pursue a career in the arts; I thought that I would become an accomplished pianist or violinist, but times have changed and now I am an English major. It's still the arts but a little different form. I get nostalgic just thinking about music, I used to think that I would be a great musician one day, until I recently realized that it did not matter so much, as long as I still enjoyed it and as long as I was playing for the right reasons.



"The Reason We Sing" by Avalon is one of my favorite songs right now because the words are perfect "The reason we sing, The reason we lift our voice is more than just making harmony, The reason we sing is to praise the One who gave his life to be the reason we sing". Not only do I enjoy harmonizing with this song but it truly captures the way I feel and the reason I love singing and music in general: it is because I am praising the Lord! It also reminds me how grateful I am that I have this love for music.

"You Can't Hurry Love" by The Supremes is a favorite of both mine and my sisters. It is performed on one of her favorite television shows and that is how we were introduced to it. It is a fun, upbeat song and at first I liked it for that, but now I realize that the words are right when they say that in relationships you have to give and take and find compromise, and how important it is to wait for the right guy to come along. I have learned this from observing the relationships around me and I am in the process of waiting, although I wish that time would stop being so slow and bring that right someone now.

"One Step at a Time" is one of Jordin Sparks' big hits. It also has a great upbeat tempo and the words are fitting for my life because over the last few months I have been learning a great deal about myself. Some of it has been painful while other things have been of great encouragement, but through the whole process I have learned I have to take one step at a time. I have to go through the painful in order to experience the relief of putting it to rest and I certainly cannot run if I do not learn to walk first. In a broad perspective I had to go through a lot over the last few years in order to be where I am: I am more confident; finally, I know who I am and now I can be myself.

"How Far is Heaven" by Salvador is one I always have to turn up in the car. Heaven is going to be a wonderful place and how can I help but not look forward to it?!

"Sweet Home Alabama" by Leonard Skynard has sentimental value for me and a very close friend. We use to listen to it in high school, and of course the movie is great too. So whenever I see or hear one of them I think of her and the fun times we had together in high school.

"Dancing Queen" is one of ABBA's great songs and very well known. It is a feel good song that was fun playing especially when I was 17 and could relate to the words. I actually saw the show "Mama Mia" on Broadway and they did a great job on this number. Now I tease and say that my dog is the dancing queen because when my mom is about to feed her, she does this backwards jumping movement to get to where my mom puts the food down. You have to understand, she has these short corgi legs and she's 14 but she gets very excited about her supper. I love watching her, actually she is with me now and would love to eat.

"This is My Now" by Jordin Sparks seems to fit the way I feel because it is the beginning of a new school year and I am excited about my classes and the different activities I am involved in, so this really is my time to shine and make the most of what I have been given.