Since it has been so long since I had written a decent post, I decided to give a brief run-down of the highlights of Junior year.  Here goes.  In somewhat chronological order. :)

1.  Labor Day Weekend

Spent in NYC.  The memories.  Who doesn't decide to go into Manhattan at 10 p.m.? 

2.  Cendrillon--my first ever opera performance

And what a wonderful cast to experience it with.  We even had our own unique family "dance" to kick off each performance.

An additional blessing was the overwhelming amount of support that was shown on my behalf.  Family and friends came quite a distance to see me perform.  I'll never know whether they were truly supporting me or just wanted a chance to see the real "witch" come out.  :)

3.  Finals Celebration

A trip to OH to celebrate the end of Fall 2011.  Hands down favorite memory was caroling in the snow in Cleveland with these delightful people.  It still causes warm fuzzies.

 4.  Bluebeard's Waiting Room

Wearing a shockingly large wig for my second opera performance with this cast of women.  Priceless.  Never mind the fact that they had to put up with my pretentious character, they also had to dress me, attach my wig and jewelry, and do my hair and makeup.  What fun!  What fun!

Yes, as a matter of fact, there was that much room under the hips.  :)

5.  Spring Break--NYC

Student rushing Don Giovanni at the Met!  Wonderful performance with two dear friends!



Brooklyn Bridge at night with those same friends and my bestest friend ever, My sister.

6.  Junior Recital 

Sadly, I do not have any pictures and the videos take a very long time to upload.  However, it was a highlight.  :)

Although I can hardly believe it, I am now a senior.  The next year looks exciting as well.  I will attempt to keep updated a little more regularly.  It's time to think Graduate Schools.  Yay!

Hear Me, O God, Nor Hide Thy Face

Isaac Watts

Hear me, O God, nor hide thy face but answer, lest I die;

Hast thou not built a throne of grace to hear when sinners cry?

My days are wasted like the smoke dissolving in the air

My strength is dried, my heart is broke and sinking in despair.

My spirits flag like with'ring grass burnt with excessive heat;

In secret groans my minutes pass and I forget to eat.

But thou forever art the same, O my eternal God!

Ages to come shall know thy name and spread they works abroad.

Thou wilt arise and show thy face, nor will my Lord delay

Beyond th' appointed hour of grace, that long expected day.

He hears his saints, he knows their cry, and by mysterious ways

Redeems the pris'ners doomed to die and fills their tongues with praise.

This is one of the pieces that Oasis Chorale will be performing this summer. The arrangement is by Alice Parker which means it is pretty near sheer genius.  We will be singing it in rough, early-American style.  I think it will end up being a fun piece to perform and definitely a new sound for most audiences.  :)  However, what really struck me was the text of this piece.  I find that it is the cry of my heart.

The feeling of emptiness—we all know it. That hopeless, energy-less feeling of worthlessness. Recognizing the depths of our sin and feeling that there will never be enough grace to cover it all. We are hungry. We are broken beyond our own repair. This song is the desperate plea for mercy and grace in light of the our sin-ridden beings. It is seeing ourselves in light of who we are. Defiled. Distorted. Dysfunctional. Dirty. (There sure are a lot of “d” words to describe the broken us.) Proud. Broken. Depressed. Then it calls upon the Truth—who God is. It is the sinner, in desperation, begging God to be who he says he is. Asking him to show up and redeem the despicable piece of dirt that we are. It is believing that He can and will redeem us to the point that our hearts are completely transformed and our mouths are filled with praise and joy. Believing that he will take us from the worst to the best. This is what we long for. And we hope with all our beings in these moments of despair in what we know to be true. We hang on with every remaining ounce of strength there is because it is our ONLY hope. And when it happens, it is a work of the supernatural. We do not understand how redemption happens. We only know that we have been redeemed. We are no longer facing death. We are free.