I’m happy.

I’m sitting here at the computer, smiling, and thinking of the blessings that the Lord has given me this year. I am grateful to the Lord for the recent season of rest from school, for the time I had with Don, the kids and our family, visits with friends of many years, and a week at the beach. Now there are new challenges, a full schedule, and positive growth in my children’s lives. I’ve got some nice challenges before me at school, and I hope to grow in my teaching skills and give my students a fulfilling year musically. It is enjoyable to be working with such delightful and talented children, and there are so many of them! What fun for me as a teacher! There are 41 in the 6th grade choir, 27 in the MS choir, and 33 in the HS choir, which is a huge leap in numbers for all our groups. There’s a nice dynamic in the classroom that is dressed in bright eyes amidst a sea of smiles. Already, they’re producing beautiful tone, and they recognize how cool it sounds when they all do it together. I’m still smiling.

Even more wonderful is the desire to reach the kids spiritually. (It’s also humbling and terrifying, and makes my knees weak, for I know my own struggle with sin.) We have a tremendous opportunity before us to go and take the worship of the Lord with us as our primary focus on a trip for our choir. We’re scheduled to go and sing 3-4 concerts in Cathedrals in England in February. Our program will be composed of sacred american music in the genres of Shaker Tunes, Folk Hymns, The Spiritual, Jazz, and contemporary Gospel—each song pointing to Jesus and the message of salvation. We will also incorporate Scripture and readings. Pray for these young men and women as they prepare and work toward going.

Please pray…

*that the students will be able to raise the amount of money needed to participate in this ministry opportunity

*that the Holy Spirit might captivate our hearts and minds as we digest the text and the music for these programs

*that our students might serve as lead musicians and worshippers—worshipping as they sing, presenting the Gospel in song and in Word

*that the Word of God would reach the hearts of the listeners as it rides the melodies of our children’s voices

*that we would be ambassadors for Christ everywhere we go

I’m still smiling, but now with nervous anticipation. It’s going to be a busy year!