Thanks to her...

I'm not the same person I used to be.

And, well, I suppose she's not the same person either.

The verse "iron sharpeneth iron" has proved truer to me than ever before since I've known her, and basically, now that God has crossed our paths, I don't think they'll ever lead too far apart again.

The term "friend" just doesn't cut it. It's more than having something in common with a person that makes a special pal... And this certain person could use the right words to explain it, but I can't, so I'll do it the best way I know how, and use pictures.

This girl knows how to give just the right daily encouragement when I need it, and going through 2 years of Verity, God knew I needed someone like her: walking, praying, eating, laughing, talking, cleaning, studying...there wasn't a whole lot that I did without this friend by my side, and for that I am forever grateful!




She laughs at me, and I crack up at her. We make a great team...especially when we've studied our brains out all day. Ha, I still really can't believe we went out in "public" like this.



Never has there been a time where she isn't praying and desiring God's will for her life.  Her example is invaluable to me, and to everyone else who really knows her.

  

Oh, but there's also a great daring side of her too...she just sometimes needed me to bring it out in her.

 




Lest you think this picture applies only one way, let me inform you that there are many other pictures that are kindly being left out of this post that could have an opposite meaning...

Ok. so it was usually me.
 

More than anything, she's always been there, not just when she felt like it, but unconditionally. Thanks.



So if you haven't noticed already, this post is dedicated to my amazing friend.
Because it's her Birthday...
Because I really, really like her...
Because she's one of the few people who actually read this blog...
Because I can't imagine the last 2 years without her.

Happy Birthday Alicia,

~Rachel

No longer can I keep my amazing friends in a state of ignorance to the adventures of my life this season...so you shall finally have some posts!

When God answers prayers, I believe He has a way of giving us much more than we even expected. In the case of my request to: "please give us lots of events/jobs/gigues/serving opportunities to play for this Christmas..." we received, um, plenty! Hopefully I'll be able to visualize them in the next few posts.

So, thus begins the first escapade.
                                                                         ~~~


As we walked along the crowded pathway from the "green room"(where all the actors and actresses hang out) to our destination at the top of the hill, we shivered despite our velvet jackets, floor length skirts, black boots, and large bonnets perched upon our heads. It was obvious the temperature was below freezing that night; everyone felt the chill, in fact everything felt it too...including my poor little violin tucked under my arm. At about the 1.30 point of our extensive 2 minute walk, there was a snap. Almost like the sound of a pistol being cocked or a pop can being opened...or an E string giving up the ghost.  

I sincerely hoped that it was was just the peg unwinding because of the cold, but alas, my string had indeed snapped at the head, and was hanging on for dear life. In a despairing spirit I began to play Christmas Carols with a genuine pasted smile on my face. Fortunately, I play the harmony parts and don't use the E string much, so all was well...Until...



Ten minutes later we walked up to a table and began our normal spiel: "Hi there! How are y'all tonight? (Insert random things like: "So what have y'all done tonight?" "Boy, that chocolate cake looks amazing!" "You ever been to Stone Mountain before?" "Do you know what instrument this is?") Does anybody have a favorite Christmas song we could play for you?"

And then we pray. That no one at the table asks for Grandma got run over by a reindeer, Gee Whiz, it's Christmas! The Anniversary Waltz, The Devil went down to Georgia, or "Metallic Music" on the violin. And yes, we've gotten all those requests. Oh, and you don't realize how many Christmas songs there really are until you're required to play all of them on request!

Anyways, this time it was an easy "O Holy night" which the mom started videotaping for her Grandma because it was her favorite Christmas song. After a quick Jingle Bells for the little girls, we started to head to another table...when I overheard one of the daughter's little whiny voice pipe up with "Mommy, mommy! I wanna hold the violin! I wanna play it! Pleeease? Her mom tried to shush her, but I turned around because it's my job to make everyone in the park as happy as can be (at least that's what we learned at orientation).

"Well," I began, feeling like if this were my little kid, I wouldn't give her what she wanted just because she whined for it, "if you are EXTREMELY careful, you touch the strings very gently, and don't grab at it, I will let you touch my violin." Her mother looked thankful. The little girl looked expectantly as she reached out to strum the strings...

Meanwhile, my mind was on random subjects such as if the grandma would cry she heard the recording of O Holy night, what we might do on our next break, and biblical child training...It was on anything but the fact that I'd recently broken a string.

*SNAP!!* -- *GASP* -- *hand frozen in mid-air* -- *starts laughing*
That was the string, the mother, the little girl, and me, in that order. Her poor mother thought for sure her daughter had broken my violin and the world had come to an end. The weak little string sprung from it's abode and flung headlong to the dusty floor. "It'd been taut, of good might, it had finished its chorus, it had kept the beat." (ok, yeah that was corny)

And then I gave what was left of the string to the little missy as a memento...hopefully she'll remember not to whine in the future.



If our audience enjoys our entertainment (and remember that they have them), some give us "thank you bucks"...little fake bills they received with their tickets which we put in for a drawing of different prizes. If they really like us, they give us real $ tips...which we cannot receive unless "pressed upon us 3 times." Let's just say, some people are delightfully persistent in this world.


                                                                         ~~~

It's really has been a great experience to work at a place like Stone Mountain. http://www.stonemountainpark.com/mini-section/default.aspx?id=42 An average night can be from 5,000 to 20,000 people who come to the little "village"--alot of people that could be influenced. Just being around hundreds and hundreds of lost people every night has given me a revived passion for souls. And it's remarkable, but just playing one or two songs for people can reveal so much about them. You can tell almost every time by their mannerisms and expressions who has the hope of God, who has a peace in their lives, and also who is searching, desperate, and miserable. I pray that the christian songs that we play, the smiles we give, and the little comments we drop will make a difference in someone's life for eternity.

Oh, And those who are Christians can usually tell about us too.
Tonight we had a conversation that went like this: "Beautiful, just beautiful! You have such talent. Where do you go to school?" (Us: "It was a small college in Indianapolis called Verity, very small Christian college...) "Do you have any association with ATI?" (Us: Well, as a matter of fact, yes...) "I knew it! As soon as you started playing, I thought to myself, 'They're probably homeschooled, Christians, in ATI...' and I was right!"

How do they know? I'm even wearing royal blue instead of Navy.



Hannah and I with some of the other Carolers

 
One night we were allowed to bring our students, and put on a little program for the village.


They were quite the hit of the hour!

God bless you, every one,

Rachel

(Oh, and thanks to my amazing brother/photographer John of course for most of the photos!)

Greetings World!

This, friends, is Rachel's computer hacker, striking once again from the depths of the virtual world of helpful individuals.  Xanga is obviously not one of Rachel's numerous interests, hobbies, or priorities.  Therefore, it is with much *regret* that I take it upon myself (the good soul that I am) to assist Rachel in this worthy cause.

Since graduating from college in May, with a B.A. in music, Rachel has had a most interesting summer.  Finishing courses, trips to the Dominican Republic, swimming, family events, church events, music, the beach, and food have been some of her activities.  Currently, she is hosting (along with her family) several Verity-ites for the GA homeschool conference.  In addition, Rachel also turned another year older, and yes, my friends, I must note that she is indeed getting old. 

I believe I shall close here because it is just possible that Rachel will finish this update...pictures to be included...

Til next time...

Rachel's Personal Computer Hacker (er, that is, Assistant)