Life Isn't Always What You Expect...

I'm pretty sure that everyone know that life isn't always what you expect it to be, but it seems like my life isn't what I expect it to be when I'm least expecting it. I mean, i usually expect the unexpected, but today i was apparently off guard. If you didn't get any of that, don't sweat it.

Today, when my Choir director asked to speak to me 30 minutes before choir practice, I was positive that he was going to give me a lecture about how I've been late (or absent) to practice lately, but it turned out to be something totally different. He actually asked me if i would be (semi) in charge of YCAM (Youth Creative Arts Ministry). That came as a bit of a shock because I never really come off as the type who is particularly organized, but apparently I fit the role.
Basically, I go in about 30 minutes before practice to set up the chairs and the sound system, I do the opening prayer with the group, I help plan events and tours (series of performances at churches around the state, visiting nursing homes, etc.), get new members interested and comfortable, and just generally help the man in charge.

Honestly, i think it's just an tactic to get me to practice on time.

You Learn Something New Everyday

I decided that the title of the post is true, so i've made a New Years Resolution (meaning it probably won't be kept) to write about something that I learn everyday.

Ok, so today I learned that staying up until 4:30 is amazingly fun!
But, like nearly every fun thing, it has it's consequences. I'm SO TIRED! I figured that the 4 day weekend that I have off from school would be an awesome time to get back on a "normal" sleep schedule, but boy was I wrong!
I've also learned that when you don't have a normal sleep schedule, your immune system decides to take a vacation, which explains my sore throat. Actually, I already knew that, but it's just a fact that I choose to ignore. :)

Here's a random thing that I just wanted to post... I can't stop listening to this song!
I just rediscovered recently a band that that was my absolute favorite during my preteen years: ZoeGirl.
I want this song to be my motto from now on, because I've realized that I don't tell my friends how much I love God because, like many people, I'm scared of who they'll see me as. I have no problem telling complete strangers about my savior, which is why I want to be a missionary, but I know that being a missionary starts in your hometown.
I figure that if Jesus wasn't ashamed to die for me on a cross, I definitely shouldn't be scared to do something as simple as confessing my faith, so here's my theme song as of now:

"Believe"

I used to close my eyes and pray the time would pass me by
So I could fly away in my dreams to anywhere unreal
And I'd hide away from everything
I didn't know what was real, I didn't know the truth
There was a day when somebody introduced me to You
And You breathed Your life in me
You set me free...

[Refrain:]
Now I'll shout it from a mountain
That I'm not the same that I used to be
I believe in God, believe in God
I'm not ashamed to talk about it
To a world that slowly slips away
That I believe in God, believe in God

Now at the end of the day when nothing seems to go my way
I've got a friend, I've got a life that's never gonna let me go
Since You gave Your life for me
You set me free...

[Refrain]

Oh, when I feel so alone
He comes to sweetly say
It's all gonna be okay
Oh, when my emotions flow
He comes to sweetly say
It's all gonna be okay

[Refrain]

Bonding Time

These past few days were a great way to end my break.
I camped with my dad in the Florida Caverns and had a blast. It was a cold blast, but fun nonetheless.
We had fun geocaching and exploring, and I even squeezed into a few caves on my own and took a few pictures too.
It's pretty cool how much fun my dad and I are able to have just on our own, except I didn't like him turning my mattress heater off to get me out of bed in the morning...
My friend Bryan (Bo) lives nearby, so he came over often and tramped around in the woods and sat around the nice fire with us.
On our last full day there, we took a tour (for the second time) of the only tour-able cave in Florida, and it was still as fun as the first time.
All in all, it was a good ending to my vacation. I'm still not looking forward to going back to school though...

Music is the Universal Language of Love

Tonight I saw August Rush -which features one of my favorite little actors (Freddie Highmore)- and it was nearly the best movie that i have ever seen.
It was very powerful and moving, thanks to the amazing music that was intertwined with the plot.

In our society today, we have to many ways to communicate: Cell phones, land phones, texting, yelling, whispering, body language, etc... But there is one form of communication that most people don't usually recognize.

Music.

Through music, we have the power to convey our most complex emotions. It communicates feelings of love, passion, anger, hatred, friendship, tenderness, and every other emotion possible. The true composer can infiltrate one or even all of these emotions into one masterpiece.
How this is accomplished will always be a mystery to me, which is what makes it so wonderful.
To me, music is like the stars. Since time began, people have been looking at the stars and wondering what exactly makes them so fascinating. Perhaps it's how far away they are, or how their brilliance contrasts the dark sky... there's no one characteristic that makes them magnificent.
Music is the same way. There's no one element that makes it powerful and moving. For centuries people have created and enjoyed music and wondered at how something so simple could be so impressive. It's that feeling of wonder that keeps us listening, and I hope the mystery is never solved.