A Saturday Adventure

Last night, I had practice at my church for Youth Sunday that was supposed to be tomorrow. After practice, I went with Taylor to see "The Phantom Of The Opera". The movie started at 10 and lasted about three hours. So I got out well after 12 and didn't get home until about 1:30. So, as you can imagine, I was very tired and looking forward to sleeping in.

Of course, my life usually doesn't work out quite the way I want it. So, I was awakened this morning at 7:00 by my mother telling me I had to get up and immediately get ready and leave. It had started snowing, and there was quite the possibility that I would get stuck down in Icard.

Therefore, on an early Saturday morning, my father and I were driving in the pouring snow up 321. Right outside of Blowing Rock there was an accident. Don't worry, we weren't involved. However, it did make us have to stop on a hill in the snow. Needless to say we had a hard time starting going again. We finally made it though, stopped for some lunch, and got me back to the LLC.

So, I've had an adventurous Saturday. Slipping, sliding, and carousing around in the snow can make for a frightfully fun time. Goodnight all...it's another snowy night in Boone...don't you wish you were here with me?

May God keep you this and every night.

"To the world you are just one person, but to one person you could mean the world."

Truly Terrific Thursday

So, I will start by saying that today was a truly terrific Thursday. As far as classes went, it was fairly normal However, we had a little snow shower today. That always seems to put me in a good mood.

Of course, it being Thursday, I was at my usual post in the Appalachian Symphony Orchestra. By the way, you should all come to our concert on March 3rd. First, because it's going to be a really good concert. Second, because that's my birthday!!

Where was I? Oh that's right, my truly terrific Thursday. As some of you may know, Thursday night is my night to snowboard. The night started out rough, but sometime around 7:30, it just clicked. All of a sudden, I could snowboard! So I started making runs down the mountain, not falling like before. I got to see a lot of great people, several of my T.F. friends, as well as some old hands from East Burke.

Good friends, good snowboarding, good weather...a truly terrific Thursday. I go to bed tonight in pain...I've never been so sore! I'll survive though, and will emerge even stronger.

Don't forget to start sending in you're comments. You can write about anything. I'll take comments, questions, stories, just write me something! Hopefully...if you people leave me stuff, I can start posting it next week.

May God keep you this and every night.

"Do not save your loving speeches for your friends till they are dead. Do not write them on their tombstones, speak them rather now instead."

A Bedtime Story

Hello my friends. Tonight I think I'll tell you a bedtime story, or at least start one. Get comfy, here goes....

Not so very long ago, in a not so far away land lived a young boy. This boy knew from a very young age that he was destined to do great things. His early education was like the other children's. However, the child developed a talent unique from the other children. He usually kept to himself during playtime, and was found to be very intelligent by adults.

In his middle years, he began special training to nurture his talent. His teachers all loved his abilities and he quickly became one of their favorites. He was never very popular with the other children, but he didn't mind. For this young man always remembered, that he was destined to do great things.

Finally the time had come for him to him to advance his studies. During this time, he had a teacher that encouraged him and his talents. One day the young man got the chance to start his destiny. He was made a prince of the kingdom, and put in command of the largest army. The prince always led his army with honor, courage, and valor, and always emerged victorious.

However, there were those in the kingdom who wished the prince harm. An evil sorceress constantly challenged the young prince. This sorceress used her evil ways of deceit and manipulation to attack the young prince. The prince fought with all his might, and was worn down by the constant attacks. However, in the end he defeated the evil sorceress and was stronger for it.

However, all was not well with the prince. He felt like he was missing something, and indeed he was. Because, as we all know, a prince is incomplete without his princess. Thus, our young prince began a quest to find his princess.

Now in the kingdom, there were many fair princesses to be found. The young prince offered his loving hand to many, but only a few took it and began to walk beside him. The prince however progressed no further than being friends with these fair maidens. As a result, he was forced to watch his beautiful princesses go off to live their lives with other dukes and not-so-very-kind princes.

One day, the King told the prince it was time to go off into the world and that his duties with his army had been fulfilled. The prince was forced to give up the command of his army. He had to leave all that had become a part of who he was. Then, he went off to fulfill his destiny, leaving all he had grown to love.

When he arrived at his new home, the prince knew no one. The nights were cold, and the terrain very uneven. His castle was on a hill, far above the town, so he was secluded from the rest of the world. However, he soon made new friends, but always remembered his old friends. There were fair princess at his new home as well, and just as before, the prince held out his loving hand for those that would take it and walk beside him.

So did the prince fulfill his destiny? Did he find a princess and live happily ever after? This author cannot answer either one of those questions. For you see, the prince still lives. He is still striving for his destiny. He is still writing his story, even at this very moment......

There you go. A bedtime story for you. May God keep you this and every night.

"In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, for in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed."

Friend Week

So, I've designated this week as friend week. So far, you've read what I've written. This involves me sitting here, usually around midnight, racking my brain to remeber the day's events, and find the inspiration within them.

So, now, it's your turn. As a part of friend week, my blog will be devoted to what you, my friends write. So therefore, I charge you to leave comments to this posting. They can be about anything and everything. (I am particularly intrested to find out what you think about me). So just take 2 or 3 mins to leave me a few sentances.

I'm counting on all of you. You don't want to dissappoint the doctor do you? I didn't think so. So leave those comments, and let friend week begin!

"But if the while I think on thee, dear friend,All losses are restored and sorrows end"
~William Shakespeare

Be Of Good Cheer

Today's world, there are so many problems. So many things to be afraid of. As human beings, we have such a complex and wide range of emotions. Sometimes we're up, sometimes we're down. We fear many things.

Some fear actual things like spiders and snakes. Others fear more abstract things like the unknown or being alone. Some people fear that they're not making an impact. Some people just fear.

There's good news. God wants to help us with our fear. Matthew 14:27 says "Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid". If we allow him, God will help us eliminate our fear. If we let him. It's up to us. He's waiting to help us, if we will only ask.

So my friends, be of good cheer...and as always may God keep you this and every night.

Here's a funny little quote I found
"I'm tired of all this nonsense about beauty being only skin-deep. That's deep enough. What do you want, an adorable pancreas?"

Baby, It's Cold Outside...

Let me start by stating the obvious...IT"S COLD!!!! Maybe you don't understand. It hovered around 0 degrees all day today. That is really, really, cold. It's so cold, I got reports of people going outside, and their eyelashes freezing together.

I've spent the majority of the weekend alone in my room. It was great at first, but it quickly got boring. Being left alone to my thoughts, can be dangerous. I tend to start thinking about all kinds of things, and usually end up making myself sad. So, I fought myself and my thoughts. I composed, arranged, watched countless hours of mindless TV, conducted practically every piece I know.

However, this weekend was not without inspiration. I witnessed another snow in Boone. It was beautiful. Snowflakes falling from the heavens covered the Earth with a blanket of white. Everywhere I looked were breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. I wish my friends across the state could be able to wake up to what I did this morning.

Later this afternoon we had the lottery for living in the LLC. I drew number 24. Not that great a number, since there are only 25 spots. But, I've put my faith in God, and he's going to help me get in here somehow.

I go to bed tonight, in a fairly neutral state. Not real happy, but not quite sad. Just....neutral. However, tomorrow is another day, another chance to laugh, grow, love, and live.

As always, may God keep you this and every night.

"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant."
~ Anne Bradstreet