Thoughts

Did you look outside as you awakened, and wonder if this was the day?
Did you think to praise God and thank Him for all that He did for you and the love that He poured out upon you before you took your first breath and as you took your last?
And were you sad because you were leaving your home, or did your heart sing because finally, after all these years, you were coming to the one place where your heart truly belonged?
Do you remember anything you left behind, or is your entire being consumed with where you are now?
Is it anything like what you had imagined, or is above and beyond what you ever dreamed?
I can't imagine...standing, falling, singing, shining, in the presence of the one man you've loved all your life, finally, face to face.
Now you are free from yourself, this world, this pain- it must be the perfect rest you never dreamed could be found.
But then, you didn't find it, did you?

Here in the darkness, it found you.

Why do I feel that in some sense, you're still near me? Is it that you left a bit of yourself in me before you left?
Is it that you and I really were more alike than I thought, and it's only now that you're gone that I'm able to be aware of the character qualities we shared?
Everone says they can see you in me- years ago I would have been mad, but now I know better. Why wouldn't I want to reflect someone who lived to reflect Christ?

Or do I feel that you aren't so very far away because
really, heaven is closer than I ever imagined?
And the One you love is loving me, holding us both in His strong, tender hand.
We both belong to eternity, just one of us is still stranded in time. I will, and must, continue steadily on, for there is much for me to do . Your work here is done, but my purpose has not been fulfilled. I know not what it is, but I have complete confidence and trust in the Orchestrator of all.

His will, not mine, be done.

Gaudete

Ramblings

School, it starts on Monday
Oh, where has Summer gone?
Though the days are growing shorter
my "to do" list is really long.

My friends, they have their schedules
They live sane and happy lives
But no! Not for Miss Rachel!!
Insanely busy until she dies!



This morning I went to the school with my mother, and after I had looked in all the classrooms I sat out front on the curb and played my guitar. It was so beautiful- it's a perfect day outside. I was overwhelmed with contentment just playing there, considering the glorious world that God has made for us. I sang as I played, surrounded by the crisp morning air with the sun shining down and blue sky, perfect blue sky, above me. How can they say that it all came about "by accident"? How can they say "there is no God"?

Rachel

Cabin Pictures!!

Here's all the family!

This is the cabin

UNCLE KELLY!!!!!

Beautiful coastal sunset

Risk tournament!!!

Ships Ahoy!

I love tall ships! Masts, rigging, guns, bowsprits, all of it! I toured two ships while I was in New England. The first was the Mayflower II, an exact replica of the first Mayflower that came over in 1620. There was this really cool old guy dressed as a crewman from 1620 going on and on about "these crazed puritans, thinkin' they can tame no man's land, and all over a religious tizzy wiv' the king". It was awesome, I learned so much about the original Mayflower, her crew, and passengers. The bunks on board were so narrow! I was getting claustrophobic just thinking about sleeping in there - sometimes two together! And the crewmen didn't like having passengers just milling about on deck, interfering with their work and all, so all these pilgrims just sat around below decks, in the DARK, singing together and reciting Scripture. I'm amazed at their steadfast courage and faith. I wonder if any of them had realized until that journey what a vastly life-changing commitment they had made, by choosing to follow Christ wherever He led them.

cat guts and horse hair

For a long time I've thought that being part of a string quartet or something would be fantastic, but I never thought that I'd be able to have a family ensemble. Highstrung!, The Dickson 5, and Greener Blue, are all string ensembles made up of musical siblings, and they're awesome!! I guess you have loads of opportunities to practice when you're all living together. Anyways, when Josh expressed interest in starting a second instrument, I was constantly sending him mental-telapathic signals, "violin, viola, or cello ....violin, viola, or cello...." He must have been experiencing some static, or other signal interference, 'cuz he ended up choosing the trombone. As it is, trombone/violin duets aren't exactly the sweetest thing around, so shortly thereafter I gave up on the whole family stringed instruments idea.
This last year my brother David began to think about a second instrument, and I wasn't trying to influence his choice at all. "Clarinet? Sure thing. It's a great sounding instrument. Someday you can play the coolest part in Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue", not to mention "The Cat" from "Peter and the Wolf". Go for it!" But then, right about the time my orchestra was wrapping up the season with our finale concert, David said that he wanted to learn cello. Cello! I told myself not to get my hopes up - I pointed out some more positive benefits to choosing clarinet. But no, all summer its been "cello, cello, cello". So once I got back from my three week trip to New England, Mom and I went over to the music store in Hillsboro and the next day bought David a beautiful cello and some beginners books. He was so excited!! He's hardly put it down since; he loves working at it. The enthusiasm must have been contagious, because the same day Joshua came to me and asked me to teach him how to play viola. I couldn't believe it! The two of them immediately started putting together duets, trios, piano ensembles, all that. It's so cool! We have so much fun just playing around, working out harmonies, and listening to the sounds we're making. We aren't quite to "music" yet, but man, is it ever fun getting there.

Long time

My, it has been a while....so much going on, but now that it's all finishing up I actually have time to post on a blog. Not that what I have to say is very new to the people who read it, but all well. Orchestra is officially over for the year. Some of the kids, including my friends Morgan and Aaron, are touring in Japan with the orchestra. I tell you, some people get all the luck! This weekend I'm babysitting as a fundraiser so I can go to this summer's Reformed Youth Ministries Conference. I'm looking forward to it; it promises to be a good time of teaching and fellowship.

I get to go back east this summer!!! For two weeks I'll be in Boston and New York with my aunt and grandmother. I'm so excited! The last time I was there was in 2003, and we only stayed a few days, so I'm thrilled that I'll be able to spend so much time there. It'll be my first trip without my whole family along.

Only five days of school left!!! I'm struggling through these last days, partly because I'm so close to done, and partly because I'm not really sure about what comes next. I'm not doing orchestra next year; I auditioned for Girlchoir, but I don't know if I've been accepted or not. I don't know exactly what's happening for school next year, or how many piano students I'll be teaching. Sometimes I wonder if the people I know now will still be talking to me next year! But God always , ALWAYS has a perfect plan up His sleeve, so I'll trust Him wholeheartedly, and pray for faith to do so.

"The strength of my LORD's love, it shatters the scales
And its depth give a new peak to climb/
And it grants me the grace to accept who I am
Who I am, that You have designed." - Chris Rice, Sam's Song

Grace and peace,
Rae

Sophie Scholl

I've never really been exposed to foreign films; this is only the second one I've seen. But I find it facinating that a WWII movie spoken completely in German should seem so relevant to 21st century America.
Sophie Scholl and her brother are two Christian students in Munich, Germany in 1943 who write and distribute fliers "propogating" the need of the German people to rise up against the dominion of Hitler and throw off his oppresssion. They promote peace, freedom, and moral standards. Their arguments are not based on mindless emotion, rather they present well thought out ideas founded in Christian principles and logical reason. They choose to fight Hitler with words and rhetoric rather than rash, violent actions. Both Sophie and Hans, her brother, are unwaveringly confident in their faith in Christ and in God's divine will, even when faced with Nazi "justice".
As Sophie is examined by a criminal inspector, she clearly states her conviction that all people -German, Jewish, mentally and physically disabled - are created in God's image, and that no man has the right to serve out Divine judgement on the lives of others.
For years and years America represented all these things: peace, freedom, submission to God, moral standards. It was the Germans who promoted war, political oppression, and a lack of value for human life. Yet here we are in 2006 America, and culture thinks not twice about thousands of daily abortions, "assisted suicide" for the elderly, and a total rejection of God and moral standards. Isn't it ironic, then, that such a vibrant, passionate voice against these things should come from a German film? Nor is that all. The Gospel is presented in Sophie in a pure, unassuming way that is neither vague nor obnoxiously "in-your-face" because it is shown, not with preaching and tons of words, but with the faithful lives and sincere prayers of steadfast believers.

You've no doubt figured it out by now, but I loved Sophie Scholl and I heartily recomend it to everyone who has a desire to learn from history in order to defend freedom and Christianity in our own country.


Jane Austen quote of the day: "Those who do not complain are never pitied."- Pride & Prejudice

uh -oh.

As y'all know, Sunday was Easter. As is custom (for some unknown reason) I hid lovely little dyed eggs around the house ('twas raining outside) for my little brother to find. There were a ton of plastic eggs, and 12 real eggs. He found all the plastic eggs, and 11 real eggs. Not good. And while the child cannot find the egg, the hider remembers not where it was hid. So some fine day in the conceivably near future, we will all walk into the house only to be attacked by a rather unorthodox aroma, and my birth certificate will no longer read "Rachel", it will be changed to "Mud". I think I want to move to Australia.

On a far happier note, I am so excited about my level 8 piano ajudication on Friday! Endless oodles of gratitude to RBR, Sam, and the 2nd and 3rd graders for all the encouragement. I love playing the piano and I can't wait to start working on my level 9 music.

"Why are people always so darn quiet in sanctuaries? Make a joyful noise, for pete's sake!" - my piano teacher