Latest Thoughts...

It's been a while since I've blogged...need to get better at it. :) Anyways, not a whole lot has been going on except for lots of work. Oh, and I got to see my family a couple of weekends ago right around my birthday and that was nice! Too short, but nice for sure. It just made me miss them more, so now I'm looking forward to Christmas (which I'm sure will come up super fast!)

More on my mind... is to learn to not worry. The other night at Inversion (the young adults group at the church I recently started attending) our pastor talked about worrying and how God tells us not to do it. It was the perfect thing for me to hear, because I've been doing a lot of it lately. Especially since the move here to TN. I'm constantly wondering what God's plan is for me here, when I'm going to start school, how I'm gonna get money figured out for school, what kind of job I'm gonna get when or begore school's over, etc. And more than often lately, I'm worrying about finding a husband. It sounds stupid, I know. But many many years of waiting and wondering can take a toll on a girl. I'm ready to find the man that is meant for me. Sometimes I think to myself that being single is the best thing for me right now, but other times (especially when I see my other friends or just other couples in general) I wonder why I don't have it. And it frustrates me, because I've never been that kind of girl that has "boys" on the mind all the time, but recently I can't help but wonder why I've had to wait so long. I think I just need to pray and focus my mind on other things.

Stars Hollow

On mornings that I don't have work (which is usually on weekdays,) it seems to be a morning richual that I watch Gilmore Girls while eating my breakfast or cleaning the apartment. I never seem to get sick of it being on...especially the earlier seasons. Today's the first episode that Jess is in :)

Anywho... I partly blame the life in Stars Hollow for me wanting to move to a smaller area. No, Nashville is no where near the small town/homey feel, but it's similar I guess. Especially when I take a visit to Franklin. Although I think I've realized that I'll always be more of city type girl, I always wanted to live somewhere with 1 traffic light, some dirt roads and little shops where everyone knows each other and sees each other daily. I know now, it's probably not for me but it still seems charming. Then again, I'm sure it's not at all what Lorelai and Rory experiance. Nothing they protray on TV ever is.

Anyways, that was meaningless blog. haha.

Good day :)

Got a home a couple hours ago from a concert near downtown with Jenny! The artists that played included: Thompson Square, David Nail, Jake Owen and Chris Young. Those were the acts we chose to stay for, then decided to head home before the final 2 performed. Chris Young was as good as I expected him to be and David Nail's voice blew me away! It was nice to get a night out and experiance all the goodness Nashville has to offer.

I love living in a town that's surrounded by music and puts so much emphasis on it! Like I've said before, it's times like these that I'm reminded of all the reasons why I wanted to move here in the first place.

The sibling

I'm super excited because my sister Kelli is going to be coming into town tomorrow evening and staying through Sunday morning! She lives in Hebron, KY which is about 3 1/2-4 hours away from Nashville. So she's gonna be making the drive to come and visit her little sis. I love it when I have visitors, because I get to show them around...and I'm always happy to have a little piece of home around. :)

It always goes back to this... the music.

So anyone who knows me well, knows that I'm a total Glee nerd. :) Needless to say...today's Tuesday and Tuesday night = Glee episode. Which in sum = to a very excited Amy. There's so many reasons why I love this show, but like most things I do and love it all goes back to one thing. Music.

I've been involved with music (more specifically in choir) since the 7th grade. I've always loved to sing and that inticed me to join the choir in middle school. With the risk of sounding cliche and cheesy, I fell in love from the second I heard all of sing in together in the silliest vocal warm-up. From then on I was hooked. Ms. Blakely was my choir director from 7th-12th grade is originally to blame for my love and passion for choral music. She was by far the teacher through out jr. high and high school who had the most impact on me. No matter what kind of stupid high school drama was going on or what kind of crappy day I was having, twice a day ( 0 and 4th period) I was able to runaway from all of that and make music. Even better, it was with some of my closest friends. At the end of senior year I was so sure that that special thing I had was ending and that what I considered one of the best things in my life was over.

Then I met Fullerton College. Long story short, my experiance in concert choir made me decide to change my major from U.S. History to Music after my 1st year of college education. My 4 years in concert choir and chamber singers gave me understanding and explination of why I had spent all these years in love with music. I learned so much about composers, techniques and genres of choral music and it made me appreciate it that much more. But at the end of the day when it had been conquered...it was still that haven of making incredible music with some awesome people. For chamber singers ( a smaller choir with about 25 people or so) we did more traditional and intimate music. Dr. Kathi Rundus was our director and she's hands down the most knowlegeable person I've ever met when it comes to vocal studies. Not to mention, she's freakin' amazing at what she does...which includes both teaching and being a powerful soprano. And for concert choir (which is anywhere from a 60-100 person choir) we did more of the massive sound type music along with a lot of gospel songs. The music we did with this group was usually my favorite. Concert choir was (and still is) directed by John Tebay. I can honestly say that John Tebay is like a 2nd father figure to me. And if I may say every woman should marry a man just like him. He's one of the most considerate, talented, nice and Godly man around. Everybody that John knows and works with loves him and rightfully so.

Being in choir provided me with so many opportunities. I've traveled all over to places all over the east coast and Italy. Going to Italy was the best experiance up to date...but that's another blog. :) Anyways, I'm constantly thanking God for giving me the gift of music in my life and giving me opportunites and people that I love so much and will be ingrained in me forever.

Well...Glee's on in about 3 minutes, so I think it's about time to wrap this up. Hope ya'll are having a good day!

p.s I recently found out that John Tebay has been diagnosed with prostrate cancer. Please keep him in you prayers.

Fall and relief

This morning we tried out a church in Brentwood. LOVED it!! I'm so happy that I finally feel like I've found a church that I can see myself attending and hopfully get involved in.

And in other good news... it feels like fall today! I woke up and it was chilly outside :) Boots and sweaters, here I come!

That big ole' thing called Faith!

My friend/roommate Jenny and I

So the church hunt continues tomorrow! Hopefully (by the looks of what I've read online about this one) it'll be a success tomorrow. It's been a lot more difficult to find a good church where we (my friend/roommate Jenny and I) feel we could attend and get involved. So far the churches we've tried have been too small with no fellowship opportunites, too traditional for our liking or unforntunately just a little weird. Anyways, I'm just hoping and praying that God leads us to the right place.

It seems like putting my faith in Him is the majority of what I've got going on for me right now. I'm beyond thankful that God's providing for me and taking care of me. And at the same time, hours at work have been becoming slimmer, therefore stressing me out a bit more than I would like. I know stress... we're friends from way back in the days of what felt like a billion classes and hours at work back home. But it's a completely different story when you're having to make sure you're taking care of your bills, rent, food, etc. All the little things that were just there for longest time. Food magically appeared in the fridge once a week or so. Nope not here. All of a sudden, I have to go to the store, spend the money I earned and buy things that I need... not just what I "want." So I guess this is life's way of saying "Welcome to being an adult!!" I cannot lie... so far it kinda sucks. I think what's made it the most difficult is that I'm doing all of this away from the comfort and support of having my family and friends around. I'm crazy blessed and thankful that I have as great of a friend and roommate to live with! But I also miss my other friends. The ones whose arms I can fall into and cry when life got all sucky and hard. The ones who doing all the simple stuff with all day made for the best days ever. I miss the presence of my parents, sister, niece and nephews joking around and almost always making me feel better.

But, this is all part of chasing the dream. This all part of that "faith" I knew I'd have to make stronger than ever when I got here. I need to start waking up everyday reminded that I'm on the path of where I want my dreams to come true. I know I don't know all that's in my future, but I know God's plans exede what I can see right now in front me in the present.  

Me my partner in crime/bff Lauren :)

My dear friend Ashley and I in Italy in the summer of '08.

Me and my lovey Tiffany a few days before I left for TN.

Tatiana and I at the Glee concert :)

Me and Amanda in San Fran.

Me and my friend of 18 years (and still going) Emily.

The whole family last Christmas.

P.s. Sorry for the multiple pics...just want to show off how I have the most beautiful friends and family ever!