A Year in Review: 2012

My journaling habits truly took a turn for the worst around May, so I have little documentation of one of the most eventful years of my life. Here is a short chronicle of my year, January 2012-January 2013, in case my grandchildren wonder what I was up to way back in 2012.

The Headlines:

• Said goodbye to Tsukasa, as she moved back to Japan in February
• Played piano at our church's women's retreat in February
• Visited NYC with Mom and Sia in March
• Gave my senior piano recital in April
• Finished all my college coursework in April
• Became an aunt for the second time in April (on the same day as finishing my coursework, even!)
• Took a "summer intensive" piano course in May and June
• Moved into our new church building in June
• Celebrated all summer long with four bridal showers and a bachelorette party (whew!)
• Welcomed my sister home for six weeks in July-August
• Exchanged marriage vows with Ty in July
• Moved to my new house in July
• Hosted a bridal shower at my house in August
• Began my senior music education internship at a nearby elementary school in August
• Found an amazing new piano teacher and began studying with her in September
• Threw a bridal shower for a friend in September (with my mom's help and at her house)
• Attended our first wedding as a married couple in October
• Hosted the 4th Annual Halloween Musicale at my new house in October
• Voted in my second presidential election in November
• Played in a master class in November
• Attended another wedding together in November
• Threw another bridal shower for a friend (again, at my mom's house!)
• Conducted and accompanied pieces for my elementary internship winter concert in December
• Attended our third wedding in five months - 'tis the season, apparently!
• Graduated with a double bachelor's in December!
• Switched our schedules, due to Ty's new work position - we are thankful! This early-riser is bravin' it until 11PM.
• Enrolled in my first-ever ballet class this January (yes, you read that correctly)

Between the Lines:

• Wrestled with finding a balance between work and rest - again; while it's always a struggle for me, I feel that the past year has been one of learning and growing on this front
• Felt tremendously blessed by our pastor's gift of premarital counseling; every meeting was a lathering of Grace
• Discovered I enjoy classroom teaching more than I had anticipated; it was hard to say goodbye, especially to the kids I saw most often in ensembles.
• Also discovered that I love practicing, performing, and teaching privately more than I ever have
• Found a small group with which Ty and I felt completely at home
• Realized that I'm not naturally very domestic, but that it's a skill I can develop
• Felt the reality of "growing up" this year more than any so far. Life changes, but we have a God who is Faithful.
• Felt a spirit of adventure grab hold of me this year - I want to try new things and go new places, whereas before I would have been too fearful of "change"
• Tyler makes me laugh - every day! Without him, I know I'd take a cynical outlook and tend toward workaholism. He is just right for me, and I find a new evidence of that daily

Everyday Philosophy

Food for thought on developing a complete philosophy - not just a theology - of Christianity. Below are some quotations from Francis Schaeffer's book Art and the Bible.

"The Lordship of Christ over the whole of life means that there are no Platonic areas in Christianity, no dichotomy or hierarchy between the body and the soul. God made the body as well as the soul, and redemption is for the whole man."

"...if Christianity is really true, then it involves the whole man, including his intellect and creativeness. Christianity is not just 'dogmatically' true or 'doctrinally' true. Rather, it is true to what is there, true in the whole area of the whole mean in all of life."

"...the Lordship of Christ should include an interest in the arts. A Christian should use these arts to the glory of God - not as tracts, but as things of beauty to the praise of God. An art work can be a doxology in itself."

"Do we understand the freedom we have under the Lordship of Christ and the norms of Scripture? Is the creative part of our life commited to Christ? Christ is the Lord of our whole life, and the Christian life should produce not only truth - flaming truth - but also beauty."

The Hiatus

Returning to your blog after a great passing of time is like meeting an old friend after a long absence. It may be slightly awkward at first but after the initial plunge you fall easily into a comfortable rhythm of conversation. At least I hope it's that way with blogs.

Four months ago, I joined the ever-popular social networking site to stay in touch with far-away family and friends, but I recently decided it wasn't for me. This isn't a self-promotion or judgement of others; it's just my opinion: I prefer the blogsphere. So after a long hiatus and a slight design make-over, I've returned.

Stay tuned. (But don't hold your breath too long!)