My New Job

I have the most exciting new job! After a series of pretty typical jobs, I happened upon an opportunity to accompany a couple of choirs associated with Children's Choir of Chico. This organization was started about 8 years ago by Susan Tevis, the main conductor, who is an absolute musical genius with a number of prestigious music degrees. She is wonderful to work with and fascinating to watch. I am constantly amazed at her ability to help the children and women produce such a high caliber of musicality when many of them don't even know how to read music. It is so exciting!

Bel Canto

Here is a picture of Bel Canto, the 6 grade through High School choir that I accompany. They are fun kids who enjoy singing and socializing together. Susan works a lot with them in Solfege (do re mi fa sol la ti) which is a favorite of mine from college days. They have lots of energy and keep you on your toes. There is also a nice variety of students which include a number of home schoolers :) We have an overnight retreat coming up soon which should be a great opportunity to get to know all of them better

Bella Voce
This is a perfect example of our women's choir. They are a really fun group of students, moms, grandmas, etc. that love to escape for awhile together to talk and sing. Sometimes our practices are filled with more giggling than singing :) We have some beautiful pieces we're working on and I'm looking forward to showing them off at our concert this fall.

The best thing about this new position is that it brings me back to what I love to do...music! I didn't realize how much I missed being in a musical atmosphere until I started going to rehearsals. It feels so good to be back! This job also gives me a lot of flexibility which is perfect to accommodate my growing little piano studio. It is so nice to not only be working but also loving it as well.

Me in a Nut Shell

Like everyone, I have a few things that light up my life. These include:

My Handsome Hubby

Ok...so apart from being totally gorgeous and being everything I ever wanted in a man, he still manages to be funny, thoughtful, inspiring, and my best friend. We love doing everything together and especially treasure our time walking, reading, and talking together. He loves anything chess, economic, political, sport, or outdoor oriented. Here he is conquering a 14,000+ peak with his dad.

My Family

I had a nice picture but the computer ate it so I'll just describe how amazing they all are. I have three beautiful sisters, two of which are happily married and one very grown-up 15 year old younger sister who already has the boys wrapped around her little finger. My mom is the official Genealogist of the entire extended family while dad keeps busy at the real estate office. We love being together and feel blessed to have such a happy and healthy family.

My Music

I love music, especially the exquisite creations of the Masters such as Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin and Liszt. Music is such a beautiful medium we have to communicate our emotions when words just aren't adequate, a gift only our Heavenly Father could have created. I believe wholesome music provides just a taste of what the glorious realms of Heaven above must entail. I feel blessed to have music be such an integral part of my life and look forward to passing on the gift to my future piano students.

Books!!!!!

There is nothing like curling up with a mug of hot chocolate by a crackling fire with a good book. My mom instilled a love of reading within all of us girls at a very young age. Since then I have been completely hooked. I love reading a variety of genres but my favorites include anything by Dickens, Charlotte, Emily, or Anne Bronte, Jane Austen, and Elizabeth Gaskell.


My Love Affair with Food

I am pretty much obsessed with food and as a result love to cook, pour over countless issues of Taste of Home magazines, and catch my favorite cooking shows on Food Network. I am a chocoholic and so naturally my favorite things to whip up in the kitchen are decadent desserts that make your mouth water just thinking about them. Pictured at the left is my favorite birthday cake, Chocolate Cookie Dough Cheesecake. It just makes me happy thinking about it! :)

My Mountains

I love my mountain home in Leavenworth, WA. I spent many blissful years hiking the hills, playing in the creek, gathering wildflowers, frolicking in the snow, etc. Growing up in the country instilled within me a deep love of nature and reverence for all of God's beautiful creations. I am often overwhelmed by this wonderful world that He has created for us. I feel blessed to have been raised in such a pretty place. Our family's little canyon will always hold a special place in my heart.