A Severe Case of Blog Neglect

 

Time stops for no one.

 

Like seriously, sometimes I wish it would. Dude, we're half-way through 2014 already. What. even. happened?! 

I guess I shouldn't be alarmed, because every single year this moment rolls around and....yeah. It's a continuous cycle. The equilibrium of life would be lost, without it.

Anyhoo, if you though this was the typical opening to an apologetic "sorry I've been so absent" post, I hate to break it to you but.......

 

.......um, yeah, that's what it is.

 

I hate writing apologetic posts explaining my absence from the bloggy hemisphere. On one hand, I feel guilty about being gone, but on the other hand....I have a life. I can't be on the computer all day and honestly doing so hurts my eyes. So yeah.  Plus I just haven't had /time/.

 

Valid excuses, people. Totally valid excuses. *cough*

 

 

Soooo much has happened this year and especially these last few months. My being overflows with exhilaration and near-terror because some stuff occurred that I just...wasn't....expecting. God totally has a sense of humor, and to say He works in mysterious ways is a major understatement.

The thing is, His plans always make sense - even if, in the heat of the moment, they seem so crazy and just..."excuse me, what?"

 

We humans have such a limited understand of the grand scheme of things. We only see a few inches in front of us at a time. I can't trust my own judgment and vision, because it's an incomplete work that must be constantly renewed and adjusted according to Scripture. I can't trust my emotions, because they lead me into the pits of depression, the mountains of narcissism and the whirlwinds of complete madness.

 

It truly is all about walking by faith, and not by sight.

 

Oh yeah and all these pictures are from last month's annual week-long beach vacay.

 

 

 

It was a lovely trip. Always is.  I love the beach, even though I may be a country girl through and through. I got to visit a lot with my cousins, grandparents and of course my own immediate family, which is always nice.

 

My cousin and I...quite a duo.

 

 

So besides the beach, what's been happening lately? Well, I.....

• Had a pretty major art commission - actually, a childrens' book cover.
• Started writing once a month for the Survival Mom  blog.
• Been working on promoting my piano lessons business.
• Tomorrow (erm...later today I guess it is? haha it's trippy sometimes being a night-owl) I have an audition at the Ocala Piano Conservatory concerning the furthering of my own musical education. This has been something I've been praying over for two years now. It's nothing short of incredibly daunting, and immensely tremendous.
• Graduated from high school!! (whooooo!)
• Been trying to finish my ICR creation science courses.
• Began the process of looking for an agent to represent my historical novel, TROF. Been working on the query letter and all that glamorous (not) fun.
• My band and I got to play at our first PAID gig! It was a living history event in Ocala. (below are some pictures from it)
• I decided I'm a hippie free-spirit of sorts, minus the irresponsibility, drugs and all that junk. 

 

If only I could make my entire income from music gigs...it couldn't get much better than that. Seriously. Being a musician is awesome.  And it's even more awesome when people are willing to pay you well for it...

 

 

So yeah, a lot has been going on and so much more is ahead. Life has been crazy and you know what? That's the best kind.

 

To end this not-so-apologetic post, here's a few random jams I found which you should check out because they're just so chiiiiillllllll. Not to mention, addictive.

 

| Changed (DJT Remix) - Mario & Vidis |

 

 

| Beautiful Life - Martin Roth |

 

 

| Foreign Language - Flight Facilities | (loooove <3 )

 

 

You're welcome.

 

So what's been new with you peeps? I have missed you guys. Catch me up on things?

 

Soli Deo Gloria,

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Oh, hiiiii.....wait, you're still here? You didn't go? Why are you still here? I just left my closing signature a mere inches above....um, this is the part where you go comment....

 

 

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You're still here. Why?

 

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Wellllllllll then.

 

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Okayyyy so you're probably curious now why I didn't end the post already.

If you actually took the time to read all this....props to you! You're smart. And probably a bit suspicious, by now. Good. *rubs hands together*

Well, your efforts shall not be unrewarded. You see, my dear reader, this is not the end of the tale.

Not everything has been laid on the table.

 

There is still news which I have yet to share.

 

News.

 

 

News.

 

 

News.

 

 

NEWS.

 

And with that, I leave you with a single hint.

 

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Bye, y'all. ;)

Randomosities, Art & Fluffy Nothingness

Well, today you get a big pile of stuff that doesn't even fit together. Randomosities. Blurdom. Craziness.

You get an attempted self portrait I did last night. I can't decide who it really is, though. Me, my contemplating, pondering self? Or ContentiousPianoNut (name changed to protect character), who is basically me in written form, in my novel? If that's the case than I gave her a SERIOUS hair cut which she would hate immensely. Of course, I guess I would hate it, too. But that's just the way I decided the hair would look best, here.

 I actually rather like how I did her...er...my hair. If you have any honest, blunt critique I would appreciate hearing it, even if you tell me you think my work is terrible. Personally, to me, these days, empty flattery is worth almost nothing and blunt truth is worth a million bucks or more.

It's an art to be able to tastefully portray what you're REALLY thinking about something, in a loving, gentle way, without coming across as sugar-coating it or dumping heaps of fake praise.

I appreciate compliments as long as they are heartfelt. If they are, then it's a blessing. Sugary cotton-candy consistancy fluffy nothingness? Words spoken simply because the person wanted to try and be 'polite' or overly generous? It is hard to stomach flattery. I am not bashing the lovely people who pour heaps of compliments and tell everyone "good job" a gazillion times. I know a number of very sweet people who do this and I am not saying it is evil. It can work well with little children in building confidence and affirmation of their talents and jobs well done.

There comes a point however when honesty and semi-blunt or even downright bluntness can enter and be fully appreciated. I embrace honesty and heartfelt words. The friend that may only compliment me once in a while? And, when he/she does, it is done very sparsly? I can usually tell they sincerely mean it when they tell me I did a good job.

It's harder to believe the person who dumps bucketfulls of "GREAT JOB!"s on you seemingly 24/7.

Sincerity.

There's an untold amount of value in that virtue.

Ok, ok, I'll stop ranting about fluffy nothingness and flattery.

Did I tell you this last Saturday Southern Lights got to play at another venue?

Well, in case I didn't. We did! The venue? The annual McIntosh 1890's Festival, which attracts 50,000 people yearly.

It being a super fun time of fellowship. My beautiful, sweet grandmother helped us with the transportation of getting there and accompanied us during the day, which was another huge blessing.

I know God blessed the opportunity and used us to point people towards Him. It was so amusing to watch people's reactions as they passed us or hung around and listened for a few minutes.

Typically, people appear either 1., amused, 2., curious, or 3., blessed, when they see/hear us playing.

We haven't been doing this but only two occaisons now, but Maygan had the idea to open her violin case so people could put in tips if they wanted. We just started doing this last week at the Micanopy Festival, and it went very well there. Here? We made almost 70 dollars in 1 hour. Let me make it clear, just in case the idea arises that we are performing for money, we aren't. One thing I didn't care for about having the case out was how it could possibly give us that appearance.

We play because 1., we want to point people to God through our music, and 2., we just love doing it for the fun of it. We don't need money involved, to have a great time. It IS an added blessing though, and we were blown away by how much the Lord allowed us to receive that day. It will help in saving for Maygan's new violin and my new guitar among savings, tithes, and other things.

One of the most common refrains I hear from people when we're performing is how they "never see accordion-players around anymore." Apparently I am the last accordionist on earth. (not really, (derrr) but they sure make it LOOK that way) I don't even know why entirely that I even picked the accordion as another instrument to play. It's such an awkward, unusual piece, really. And 16 year old American girls don't typically play them these days. I have yet to meet one and when I do that will be a most interesting event.

But it's kind of an amusing relationship, the accordion and I.

On the one hand, it is so big and clunky and rather humorous. But on the other hand, it is different, unusual, unique. Maybe I'm somewhat crazy for picking such an instrument at my age. But that's the side which I like. I love how people walk by, a perplexed look on their faces to see a young girl playing an instrument typically embraced by elderly people, and CERTAINLY not the teen culture of today. I can't deny that I like being different.

Here be my fabulous fiddling friend and I enjoying some ice cream after about an hour of music. Boy, was that stuff good, too. Mmmm.

Well, I'll stop jabbering now. I have algebra to work on and I'm sure you're probably bored to death listening to me yack about being an accordionist and all that insanity. DO tell me what you thought of the sketch though. I don't need to repeat my thoughts on sincerity and honest critique. 

Happy Tuesday!

Blessings,

 

New Music Page!

https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Southern-Lights/340318162728357

In case y'all didn't know, one of my best friends, Maygan, and I just started a folk music duo/band called Southern Lights. She plays fiddle/violin, and I play accordion. Hopefully soon we will also be adding vocals to our music as well as guitar and eventually banjo. But that all will come in its proper timing. ;)

FOR NOW...we are a little twosome that loves to make music and glorify God through our music. We play a mixture of genres, but typically prefer folk, country, gospel and Irish/Celtic. We play at local festivals and events in North Florida.

WE WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT IFYOU COULD GO AND "LIKE" OUR PAGE.

Ok....maybe I was going a bit overboard when I put that all in caps, no? LOL. I am inclined to think that was a bit much. But anyhow. We vastly appreciate your support in helping us spread the word about our duo.

Sooo....if you do....a thousand thanks and hugs to you! {thankyouthankyouthankyou}

Ok. I'm done with the shameless self-promotion.

Hope y'all are having an extremely blessed week so far!