music practice

It was a long, but good day today. I was in the office at Lakeland most of the day, Anna was playing over at Henry's house, and then we went over to my mom's for dinner after I picked Anna up. Mike and Rachel came over for dinner, then Mike and Anna went home and Rachel/Mom/I practiced music for a women's worship night that is coming up in a few weeks. It was fun to sing and play with them b/c we don't do that very often. Things started to get silly toward the end (no surprise there) and there was more laughing and joking than singing or playing. I'm glad that we are able to have fun with each other and also make good music. There is one song we started off with that I think will be really cool. It ends with use in three part harmony a cappella and it sounded really good. It's amazing when you get people from the same family to sing together how similar their voices are and how well they blend together. I am singing in a concert for Glory House Services at the end of April and think it would be cool if we did that song.
   Glory House Services is an organization that supports Haitian-Americans in the KC area and also supports schools and medical work in Haiti. It's founder, Idalbert Joseph, is the teacher of my Creole class and has become a friend of mine. The event on the 23rd is to get information out about GHS, the Creole class offered through UMKC, and to accept donations. Idalbert asked me if I could sing with his church's praise team and also do some songs on my own. This Friday I am going to practice with the worship team and try to get three Creole songs under my belt :) I think it will be fun....we'll see what I write about on Friday night!
  Music has always been something very present for me for as long as I can remember. I say 'very present' because it is always right there with me. Either a song running through my head, listening to Mike play his guitar (like I am now :)  ), singing at Lakeland, practicing with Mom and Rachel, singing in my car....it is always there. Music stirs my soul and is a way for me to connect and worship more than any other medium. So I am grateful and thankful for being able to sing and play with my mom and sister tonight and look forward to when we can do it again. A line from a song I sang in college just popped in my mind, so that is what I will end with tonight...

"My life flows on in endless song above earth's lamentations. I hear the real though far off hymn that sings of new creation. Through all the tumult and the strife I hear that music ringing. It sings an echo in my soul. How can I keep from singing?"