Anna’s Blog

So it's summer and...I'm in need of money.

My brother, sister and I had a brilliant idea to host a garage sale this Memorial Day weekend to bring in some fundage. :)

Picking stuff out of my closet and emptying my drawers was kind of like spring cleaning, if but a little late. Thankfully, I was able to get rid of a lot of clothes I've been hanging onto since eighth grade!

Though we didn't get a lot of traffic, we were able to raise almost a hundred dollars! ...There were still a lot of clothes, shoes and jewelry left over, but the day after our sale ended, we carted it all over to the local Goodwill.

And now I have enough money to go to see the new Indiana Jones movie!

Posted by Anna at 12:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

My family and I were sitting around the dining room table tonight, recalling memories from the good ol' days...our childhoods.

As we were talking about the playhouse out back, I remembered how I had stolen one of my mom's bracelets and buried it underneath the swing. Probably only six or seven years old at the time, I had then made a treasure map, marking the spot under the swing with an X...to return a week later to dig it up again. When I did, I couldn't find the bracelet, much to my mom's chagrin. Naturally, I wondered if it was still there.

So after dinner, I trekked out to the backyard, armed with a shovel and some gloves (it was kind of cold, and I didn't want blisters!) to try and find the buried treasure I had abandoned all hope of finding all those years ago. I dug. And dug. Aaaand dug. There was no sign of that bracelet anywhere. All I found was a carrot and a plastic toy airplane. Then, I thought, maybe I had buried the airplane and pretended it was my mom's bracelet. Ah well. I had had enough adventure for one day, and settled for that theory.

Posted by Anna at 12:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I know, I know...I live NOwhere near an ocean, but that doesn't mean I can't visit a beach! Lake Michigan might as well be an ocean...you can't see across it, it's freezing cold all year 'round, and it has a sandy coastline...aka...a BEACH!

My friend Cindy and I went to the beach in Holland today. As is normal in Michigan, the weather is completely unpredictable. It was about 50 degrees out in the sunlight, but much cooler in the shade. We had a great time, anyway, walking along the beach toward one of the famous Michigan lighthouses and the pier.

...We certainly look forward to revisiting the beach in the warmer months ahead!

Posted by Anna at 12:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Today is my little brother's seventeenth birthday! I cannot believe how old he's getting...and I hate that it means I'M getting older too. It's insane to think that next year, I'll be twenty! That sounds so...OLD!

Anyway, it wasn't a huge ordeal, but we had a lot of fun watching movies and reminiscing!

Ah life. ...Mmmmm, cake!

Posted by Anna at 12:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This Friday, my brother and I attended our high school's annual musical production! This year: Little Shop of Horrors!

I was always really involved in our theatre programs, and it was rather sad for me to be on the outside looking in, as it were. I miss it! And this year, the production was simply amazing. The sets were borrowed from the real deal, so everything was legit. And the lighting and sound were run by hired professionals. People that know what they're doing. ...And at Allegan, that's a big deal.

The kids did a spectacular job! The level of professionalism and talent they displayed really sparkled onstage. Needless to say, I was jealous.

Posted by Anna at 12:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Welllll, I'm back in good ol' Allegan, Michigan!

It's such a strange change of pace from living at school to living back with my parents and siblings. Complete independence to...somewhere in-between that and not total dependence on my mom and dad. It's some sort of...middle ground. A strange place to be, for sure.

I sleep most of the day, while my brother and sister are still in school, and watch movies and read. It's...the life? I feel like I can't wait until I start training at camp! I'm going to be a counselor again this summer, and I have to say - it's the best way I can think to spend my summer months! But in the meantime, I've gotta find a way to spend my time!

I've been babysitting a bit, trying to get some spending money. The little girls I watch are ridiculous. :)

Lately, besides sleeping, etc, I've been reading. I know, I read a lot...but I've recently been reading quite a deal in my Bible. It's been awesome. I just finished reading Hebrews (it's one of my top probably FIVE favorite books of the Bible), and now am rereading Deuteronomy. It's an interesting perspective, juxtaposing a message written to Jewish believers in the New Testament, and their counterparts of the Old Testament. If you haven't read either of these books together (or at all!), I would highly recommend it!

Posted by Anna at 11:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well, Chorale Tour is over. And it's time to say goodbye once again.

This group has become like a family to me. It's rather incredible - though we were forced to spend 24/7 with each other, crammed onto a bus, exhausted and not always in the best of health, I never saw anyone fight or become openly frustrated with anyone else. We've really bonded, I think. And I'm going to miss it.

Our Chorale President, Chad Ingram, gave out awards in our final meeting at Kristin Richter's house yesterday. Everyone was given recognition...so much thought had been put into these awards! It was truly encouraging to see that people have taken note of others and their attitudes and musicianship and friendliness. I was given the "Enthusiastic Service" award. I almost cried as Valerie handed me the certificate and then shook my hand. Chad went on to say that he (and others in the choir) were always encouraged by me and my positive attitude and energy (I'm SO hyper before a performance...and after...and during...), that my personality really brightens the room. Others said that it was awesome to see a freshman really get involved, not to be shy and quiet around the upperclassmen, but to be friends with literally everyone, open and outgoing, always with a positive attitude. You have no idea how awesome that was to hear!

I don't know what I would do if I wasn't involved in a choir. I just love the sense of community. But in any high school choir I was a part of, I loved the people, sure...but because we're all so dedicated to our cause, our mission, and our love for the Lord, we share an even more special bond. And under the direction of Dr Shockey (one of the most professional, intense, and noble men I've ever had the pleasure of knowing and studying under), we can truly come together and have a simply marvelous time simply marveling at our God.

I'm going to miss this.

Posted by Anna at 11:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last night we stayed in an incredible place in Maine: Shiloh Chapel.

Really welcoming and old, our rooms in Shiloh are pleasant enough, but at night, it seemed like it could be the setting of a Gothic novel. I was reminded of any number of Hawthorne's stories... This place is steeped in such fascinating history - you can imagine how I so loved my stay there!

The host took us all through the old building, telling us the tale of the place. Briefly, it was the home to a 'Christian' cult in the late nineteenth century. The religious sect started uprightly enough, focusing their efforts on prayer and evangelism - a training ground for missionaries. The coolest thing about the place, I thought, was that in the main tower (and in another that has since deteriorated after the buildings fell into decay from disuse) there was a 24-year-long prayer vigil. For 24 years, men and women of commune took shifts praying for missions and the Kingdom, 24/7...without ever a break in the vigil. I just think that's awesome!

Years passed and the founder, one Reverend Frank Sandford, kind of lost it. At its height, the cult was virtually self-sufficient, and the Reverend refused to let anyone leave. He believed himself to be a prophet, and forerunner of Christ's Second Coming. His group was meant to usher in His Kingdom on Earth. Before the deterioration of the cult, Sandford became involved in a few legal mishaps, even to the point of spending time in prison for manslaughter. It's a fascinating story, to be sure.

The property has since been bought, and Shiloh Chapel is a nondenominational church, with dorms for boarding families and...choirs. Here's a link to their site, if you're interested in more information:
www.shilohchapelmaine.org

Posted by Anna at 11:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

School's done, but I'm not.

A few days ago, thirty-three or thirty-four of us rolled out of the circle outside PBU's chapel. CHORALE TOUR commenced! The purpose of this tour (of New England, this year) is to not only get the word out about our school and music courses, etc, but also to simply minister to churches and schools with the message of our program.

Our songs this year focus on the birth, the life and the Resurrection and Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ. "The Christ Event." Sixteen or so songs long, the program is remarkably diverse for a Christian college choir such as ours. Though we do sing hymns, the program features pieces by Dave Brubeck, Eric Whitacre, as well as literature from the Baroque and Classical periods. I love the contrast, and, according to feedback I've heard from the audience-members, it keeps the hour-and-a-half long program interesting.

Every night, we stay with a family from the church, along with our roommates for tour and perhaps another group depending on the supply of host families. My roommate is Pearl, one of my good friends and fellow freshman in Chorale. She's mostly rather loud and hilarious, and I've enjoyed getting to know her even more during our stays together.

Posted by Anna at 10:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)