Wake Me Up When September Ends

It has been a crazy few weeks since my last post. My reasoning for a gap in my posting is a two-part problem: 1. My schedule is ridiculous this semester and I'm still adjusting, 2. My computer, Chuck, has gone on to the great beyond. So, the few moments I spend at a computer is never a leisure time, always just to finish up some homework. I was able to steal away my roommates computer for a short time while she is off at another one of her meetings. I applaud that girl for handling all that she does; she is VP of our Senior class AND President of Oasis (formally known as LIFE Club).

My computer dying is just one small thing that has taken place in the past few weeks. Many things have been happening, some good and some not so good. One of the good things is that I am now a Bryan College Chamber Singer. This is both a blessing and a curse, but mostly a blessing. The curse is merely because it adds more to my heavy load, and also will cause some scheduling issues with my church job. The blessing is the that I have another opportunity throughout my last year here to perform, which I love, some amazing songs. Our repertoire this year is amazing. The focus on many of the song is relying on God for strength and comfort, which is very fitting for me. The songs are all very meaningful to me this year and I foresee it being difficult to make it through a concert without tearing up.

Many of you may be wondering, "Charlee', you say you have such a busy schedule. What is that schedule like? If I wanted to call you, when are you available?" So, being the considerate person that I am here is my schedule.

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays:
10 am - History of Church Music (Senior Seminar on Fridays)
11 am - Chapel
12 noon - Intro to Fine Arts
1 pm - Weather Studies
2 pm - Analytical Techniques
3 pm - Chorale
4pm until 8pm - Church (Wednesdays only)

Tuesdays:
9 am until 1 pm - work
2 pm until 4 pm - Lab
4:30 pm until 5:30 pm - Chambers

Thursday:
8 am until 10 am - Bowling (Yes, this is a class, and it is awesome!)
10 am until 1 pm - Work
1:45 pm until 2:45 pm - Piano Lesson
2:45 until 3:15 pm - Duet Class
free until Chambers from 4:30-5:30
8 pm until 9 pm - Bible Study

Also, I practice every night from 8:30-11:00 So that's also a bad time to call. :-)
If you are looking at this schedule and thinking I don't have time to speak to you, just remember... WEEKENDS ARE FROM GOD! I'm always available then.

Now time for me to be honest. This semester is not at all how I imagined it would be. I really came in thinking that this year would be the best academic year of my life. God had other plans in mind. I am starting to realize that in order for me to realize me dependence on Him, He knew I'd need to struggle a little bit. My class load and homework load is a bit overwhelming this year. Throw in work and practicing with that and every day is a battle to not break down and give up. With my computer issues and some personal issues that I'm facing, my whole world seems to be falling apart at some moments. Yet God, in the midst of storms, seems to provide His amazing peace. I am reminded of this in one of the songs we are learning for Chambers. It is titled "I am not Afraid". The chorus states this:

I am not afraid
I am not alone
You hold me in Your hands
And will not let me go
Though the waters rise
And though the winds may blow
I will not be afraid
For I am not alone

I so glad that in the midst of all my stress, worry, weariness and yes, even drama, God placed this song in my life to remind me that I am not alone. There have been a lot of times in the past few weeks when I have felt very alone. Thank you, God, for holding my hand and never letting me go.

Now, all I can say to you, my professors, my piano instructor, and even God... "Wake me up when September ends." In other words, let me know when all this madness is over.



Wake Me Up When September Ends
Green Day

Read more...

Movin' On Up!

Today is my official move-in day to my brand new apartment here at Bryan. What a great way to live out my Senior year here in Dayton. I think I will miss dorm life like crazy, but I know this apartment will allow me to build a deeper bond with the girls I'm living with. I am excited to be living with two of my dearest friends and I am looking forward to getting to know the other three girls better.

The biggest challenge I'll be facing is secluding myself from the rest of the campus. Rudd, the music building and the building where I work, is the closest building to the apartments. The advantage is I'll have the shortest walk of anyone to class and work. The disadvantage will be that I no longer walk down a dorm hall, through a lounge, around the Triangle (our school version of a 'Quad') , through the Student Center which finally dumps me outside of Rudd. My chances of seeing people as I walk to my Musical Dungeon has just dropped from 99.9% to around 0.5%. I know I will need to work hard at spending time with people; afterall, this is my Senior year, my final chapter in 'the best days of my life.' I don't want to look back regretting a single moment of this year. What will make this a challenge is with my recital approaching in March, the stress will get to me and I will lock myself away in my pracice cell... er... room. Also, not eating meals in the Cafeteria will make seeing people even more a challenge. So hopefully I will find my balance and not it interupt my studies and music.


Back to the moving part. Let me give you all a poor quality camera phone tour of our apartment. For those of you who are a little slow, the picture at the top is the outside of the apartment. Now walking in the front door you'll see our living room, which is clearly in need of a rug, coffee table, and a TV (hint, hint).


Then as you move beyond the living room you'll find the kitchen which is fully equipped with a fridge, sink, tons of cabinets and drawers, stove and a convection oven. Yes... I will now be learning how to cook from a convection oven. Oh buddy! This will be an adventure in itself.

Past the kitchen is Kirsten and Jessica's room and to the left of the kitchen is their bathroom. Instead of showing tons of pictures, let's just skip on upstairs!


As you reach the top of the stairs you will go straight into Britney's and my room. Lovely isn't it? And big!!! See mom, I made my bed! That is all the work I've done so far with moving in... much packing left to do at the Tromanhauser's and then unpacking it here. Fun times! The closet is MUCH smaller than my old dorm room, so this may present a challenge, but Britney and I are up for it!

Lastly, we'll take you to the bathroom, which is between our room and Anna and Liz's room. The bathroom as you can see is very big! Plenty of room for us to spread out all our girly primping items... or all of their girly priming items... I'm sure my straightener and small make-up bag will fit in a drawer somewhere. What you may not see in this picture is the fact that there is a the actually toilet room to the right and behind the camera there are two seperate shower rooms. We are going from 4 girls sharing one shower to 2 per shower. How lovely! :-) I hope you all enjoyed this brief tour. Be sure to come visit for a full tour once our place is fully decorated.




Movin' On Up
Rhett and Link cover

Read more...