It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

"It's the most wonderful time of the year
There'll be much mistletoeing
And hearts will be glowing
When loved ones are near
It's the most wonderful time of the year"

Christmas is my absolute FAVORITE time of the year.
Despite the sometimes gloomy and very cold weather,
there is some warmth that I can never seem to find the rest of the year.
Despite the harshness of finals and the end of another semester,
the world possesses a fresh kind of softness every December.
It seems like everyone gains a refreshed sense of humanity and love for one another.

And, Christmas is almost here! (Only 11 more days)
Finals are almost over! (Evenly though I'm only done with one)
And, I'm almost home! (With a quick detour to Grandma's before I make it back to Missouri)

So why do I think the world suddenly becomes such a better place?
Jesus (Yes, it is the Sunday School answer)
But Love did come down at Christmas, and continues to come down throughout every new year.
I like to think that the first snowfall of the season is our reminder that Love is here,
among us all year round, and it just takes this very special time for us to recognize that.
I'd like to ask those of you that read this blog to take some time to think about this quote:
"I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month"
-Harlan Miller
So, my idea is that on the 25th of every month, we open up that Christmas spirit.
What if one the 25th of every month, you did one "random" act of kindness
and spread that Christmas joy and general goodness throughout the whole year?
I might even suggest putting yourself in the Christmas spirit by listening to one Christmas song
on the 25th each month (I think I'll do this)
Just to remind yourself of the love that came to us that first Christmas,
and is always with us.

As for what I've been up to...
I have been fairly busy actually...
Thanksgiving = Home for 4 days
December 4-5 = Christmas at Concorida (Very grateful to Lisa and Grandma for coming!)
December 6-11 = Last week of regular classes
December 10 = Good friend Lucy and I were "Concordia Christmas Elves" by decorating the
dorm doors of some of our friends
December 11 = Meagan and I redid some things in our room (Rachel moved out);
we lowered Rachel's bed to couch level, and began redecorating a little bit
December 12 = Secret Santa Christmas Party and Wisconsin Lutheran High School concert
December 14-18 = Finals Week
December 14= Day I'm writing this blog, and got through my science final (An A I hope!)
Please keep me in your prayers as I finish my first semester at CUW, and as my family and I travel over a very busy CHRISTmas season! Thanks!
Love, C

Give Thanks to God on High

Thanksgiving is 4 days away! And only 3 showers in the community bathroom before I am on my way home =) Since my last post, life has been anything but normal. I posted on a Thursday, and that weekend (the 14-15) Kammerchor went on an overnight trip to Shawano/Green Bay. I, however, did not attend because Saturday morning while getting ready for the trip, I got sick to my stomach while recovering from a very horrible head cold/congestion. I spent almost the entire rest of the weekend (Saturday and Sunday) in my bed and room. Although I would have much rather been on the trip, it was very relaxing, and as of now, I am MUCH healthier =)
I have been busy working on papers due Wednesday before break, and was planning to spend most of this weekend working on them, but I found out Friday night that Mom was planning to surprise me for the Christ the King Celebration! (She told me, no one else let the cat out of the bag). Christ the King Celebration is a Kammerchor and Alleluia Ringers concert here at Concordia to mark the end of the church year. I had a wonderful evening with Mom and Grandma last night, followed by church, an interesting Bible Study on Revelation, and brunch with Mom, Grandma, Karen, Jon, Eva, Matt, Elise, Madeline and Carly... Very Fun!
Mom, Grandma, and Aunt Karen came to the concert today (which went over very well I think!) and then we went with Meagan to Culver's for dinner (YUM!)
I'll leave this post with the text from one of the songs we sang today, which I find very fitting for the coming holiday (Thanksgiving) and as we think back on this end of the church year, all those Saints who have gone before us to worship Christ, as our KING!)
Love, C

"Give thanks to God on high for saints of other days,
whose hope it was to live and die in love's consuming blaze,
for Christ and His kingdom, His glory and His praise.

Their vision long-fulfilled, our prayer is still the same:
upon their work of faith to build, their word of truth proclaim,
for Christ and His kingdom, and for His Holy name.

New tasks today are ours who serve a world in pain,
new calls to challenge all our pow'rs of heart and hand and brain,
for Christ and His kingdom, while life and breath remain.

Give thanks to God on high for all the future sends,
in praise of Christ to live and die who calls His servants friends,
for Christ and His kingdom, whose glory never ends!"
-Timothy Dudley-Smith

Alright

Alright is pretty much how I'm feeling right about now... I'm in the process of getting over a cold which had been coming for days, and finally hit hard Sunday morning, probably because I had too much fun the night before at Peter and Emily's wedding. I have begun to realize just how short and uninformative my posts are, so I'll try to make this one a little bit better.

So what have I really been up to since I came to Concordia? As I try to answer that question, really not much, but too much at the same time. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, I go through a pretty packed day from 8-6 (including my lunch, organ and flute practice, and chapel). On Tuesdays and Thursdays I try to get up and work out by 8:30 but that hasn't been happening as much lately as I'd like it too. After my shower, I practice flute (or have my lesson) some point in the day, practice organ, go to Chapel Ringers, and Band, and have pretty much the rest of the day off. This schedule has really worked out well for me because I have time to get all my work for MWF done, and not really have to do much after classes on MWF (when my brain is pretty much fried) Aside from my daily schedule, I don't really do much else. I still have my favorite shows to watch on Wednesday (Glee) and Thursday (Bones and The Office) nights. Recently I have become involved in two Bible study groups which I really enjoy, one on Monday night and the other on Tuesday.
I have never had a bland weekend. I have always had something going on or somewhere else to be (with many thanks to Grandma for her trips out to get me!) Most recently, two weekends ago, was fall break, and boy, was it good to be home, sleep in my queen-size bed, and just sit at my own dinner table again. This past weekend, as I mentioned before was my cousin, Peter and wife-Emily's wedding. It was a lovely ceremony and reception, and it was wonderful to see Jon and Dad (again, I had just seen them the week before) and especially, Sandi, who I haven't seen since mid-August, and will get to see again at the end of the month! This up-coming weekend, Kammerchor is going to be singing at a church in Shawano (Saturday night) and Green Bay (Sunday morning), and I may be having a prospective student from Zanny's church stay with me Friday night, so this weekend should be enjoyable as well.

Well, I hope I've covered pretty much everything for now, and I KNOW I say this EVERYTIME, but I'm going to try to be more faithful about my posting. (speaking of which, where have all of you been? I love to see what's going on in your lives too!)

I'll leave you with a few lyrics from Darius Rucker's "Alright" (where I got the title of today's post) "It may be a simple life, but that's ok. Cause if you ask me baby, I think I've got it made" "And I've got all I need, and It's alright by me"

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY AND WEEKEND. GOD'S BLESSINGS

Love, C

p.s. all of the pictures are from this past weekend at Peter and Emily's wedding. From top to bottom: Sandi and I; Peter and Emily's first dance (unfortunately this was the only picture I got of the Bride and Groom); Cousin Andy, Grandma, and Dad; Jon and I... ENJOY!

Missing Missouri

"Caught up in Missing Missouri cause I wanna be with my family..."
Wow, it has been a long time since I posted on here! I have been busy, busy, busy with school, practicing piano and organ, visiting family, and having visitiors of my own! Fall break is just around the corner... less than 48 hours til I'm on my way home! I'm not really sure what else to say... so look for more when I'm more informative...
Christa

You've Got a Friend in Me

"You've got a friend in me. When the road looks rough ahead, And you're miles and miles from your nice warm bed. Just remember what your old pal said, 'Boy, you've got a friend in me'"

What a wonderful week I've had. Although it wasn't a full week, i was pretty busy. I have had the pleasure of getting to know people more and more, and am quickly developing a great group of friends. The highlight of this week was most definitely the weekend. Meagan and I hosted a game night with mostly band friends, but also some other awesome kids! Saturday, we had a game, and the Pep Band played (which was for sure an interesting time!). That evening, most of the people from Game night went to Bayshore mall for a dinner at Applebee's and some time to explore the mall. Hope you have a wonderful week! Here are some pictures from the weekend. Love, C

Roommate Meagan and I

Paul decided to climb into our storage unit...

Christina and I at the game (a 17-20 loss to Valpo)

Jared enjoying his birthday dessert as Aileen and Joe look on

Lucy and I coming out of the fountains at Bayshore

Real Fine Place to Start

Well, I am done with my first week of college, and am nearing the end of my three-day weekend, a lovely weekend, I might add. My classes are going well, even though somes days are pretty full and lengthy. This weekend was by far the highlight of my week though. On Friday, Jon drove up to Mequon, and we met up with many family members for Adam and Nicole's wedding reception. Saturday, we were privileged to use Aunt Karen's Brewers tickets to see the game from very great seats (despite a 3-2 loss, still a fun time!) That evening, we went to Lisa and Al's for some of Grandma's pork chops, and a very enjoyable meal. Sunday, we went to early church with Grandma, and brunch with Aunt Karen, Uncle Jon, the Krugs, the Lorenz's and Grandma. Later that day, we toured the Miller brewery and went over to the Krugs again for some play time with the kids, ice cream, and a couple hours of talk with Lisa and Al. Oh, for dinner Sunday, we had the famous "Grandma" meal.. pot roast, mashed potatoes, carrots, and a lettuce salad... DELICIOUS!!! Today, Jon and I caught up with Lisa, Elise, and the kids at park, and then came back to Mequon. As I type this, he is on his way back home, and we are all getting settled again at school. Hope you enjoy these pictures as much as I enjoyed the weekend! Love, C

Jon and I at the Brewers Game

The Sausage Race... the brat won!

Eva trying on Jon's shoes (she had done this at Graduation as well)

Maddie driving the car after brunch at Maxim's

Jon and I just chilling at Grandma's

Fly Away

"And If I promise you that I'll be back someday,will you set me free so I can fly away?"

Today, I am in the middle of my first day of college. So far, I have had Physical Science, Music Theory, a choir audition (during the time I will normally have choir, or so I believe), and Interpersonal communications. In about 15 minutes, my final class on MWF starts, which is Old Testament.
Tomorrow I will have Pre-Uds which I think is just talking about observation hours for teaching, Lifetime Fitness, and Wind Ensemble. I am greatly enjoying my time here so far, and I am becoming more and more certain that I chose the right place.
I am looking forward to this upcoming weekend (Labor Day) very much. We already have a day off on Monday, and Jon has decided to come up and see me! We're still trying to figure out what we are doing on Friday night, but we will be spending the weekend in Brookfield with the family, and I'm very excited to do that!
Well, I'll post more on my classes, and the goings on here when more comes up, and when I know more about my classes.
Love, C

The Night Before Life Goes On

So, yesterday, I got all moved in, and enjoyed a lovely dinner with Mom, Grandma, Aunt Karen, and Uncle Jon at Chancery. My room (for right now) is actually pretty neat and organized. Megean has moved in, and Rachel will move in tomorrow. We have had two band rehearsals already, and they have gone really well. It's so nice to be in a good group! Right now, we're on break til dinner, and I'm contemplating what to do about my extra credit hour (drop organ, or something else). I've been enjoying my time getting know the band kids before everyone else gets here. At our lunch break myself and 6 other band students played a quick game of Apples to Apples... no one technically won because we had to leave in the middle of it to go to another rehearsal. Well, I'll post some time! Love, C

Hello

This is the "Christa at college" blog. I will still continue to post on Memos from Missouri, but this is solely about what's going on in my life. Each Blog title will be the title of a song that reflects what's going on in my life, or my mood, or whatever. Usually, part of the song will also be posted. One line in "Hello" by Sugarland is "In the same moment that one thing ends is the same time that one begins" As I leave my life in Missouri behind, I feel like this is a very fitting line to thing about. Well, it's time for lunch, so more will probably be posted later.