Danielle Blog

Last Sunday in Advent

Hello!

I haven’t been writing much, because it seems like no one is really around. But I did have an email from a friend who has read some of my blog in order to keep up on things. So, I suppose it is worth a bit of an update.

As you have guessed, I call Texas Seestor pretty much everyday to see how everyone is doing in their household. TS’s blood pressure shot up the other day, so she is now on BP medication, but this is far better than when she gave birth to my first niece. So, it is great that she is doing better in that sense.
Baby niece – still no nickname – although my mom suggested Squeaky – is doing well. She eats a lot (to be expected) and is slowly getting her sleep schedule flipped around from being nocturnal to being more awake during the day.
Older niece – I suppose she needs a new nickname too! – hasn’t shown a whole lot of interest in her younger sister. She has always been pretty scared of small things that are animated. She was scared of the Elmo that giggles and moves and the same with a doll. So, she is still pretty cautious of her sister.

In news about me, we had a decent practice for the Christmas Eve special music duet with solo section on Wed night. The guitarist and keyboardist who played with us for the first practice cannot be at the Christmas Eve service (to my knowledge), so on Wed night, new people had to learn their parts. I am assuming it will come together. I know that our vocals sound good.
The only thing that is a little worrisome is that I woke up with a sore throat/cold this morning! eek!
I’ve been sneezing a lot since Friday, so I’m praying it will pass and that I can participate to the full extent at the services. I’m part of a quartet that is going to sing some carols before the services too. AND I am part of the usual group up front leading service for the last 2 of the 3 services which are my favorite – the candlelight ones.

*big breath*

So, my voice has to be up to par!

Otherwise, I’m doing a lot of grading. I finished all of my shopping for presents that have had to be shipped. Now I just have a few easy things to pick up for family where I will hand them their gifts.
I’m grading finals all day today. I’m (obviously) avoiding doing them right now. They shouldn’t be too bad once I get started. I just have a bit of a mental block about doing them, unfortunately.

I have been to two choir concerts in a fantastic church in downtown Mnpls. One of them was by all of the choirs at our school, which was just fantastic!

Tonight, I attend the concert of a woman and her sisters who have formed a band called Redpath. The lead singer, Lauren Redpath was the worship leader at our church for a while. We stupidly didn’t hire her permanently, because people thought that she didn’t have enough experience in working with instrumentalists. She also didn’t bring in any new songs while she was with us. BUT her voice is so outstanding, it is a real shame, in retrospect. However, the church that she is at now is huge, and she is obviously getting more exposure.
I like to think that this is all part of God’s plan for her and her sisters.

I think it will be a great concert since it was so terrific last year – and that was when she and her sisters were just starting to form their group. So, they ought to be even better now!

I’ll tell you more about it once I go.

For now, I suppose that I need to get some grading done before I go to church. I’m looking forward to church. We’ve been singing all of the traditional christmas songs this Advent. And the children’s messages for the lighting of the Advent candles have been particularly good this season. Finally, the sermons have been spot on too!

Okay. Now I really am going to go. See you!