Happy Holidays

So I hope everyone has had a lovely break thus far. I know mine has been quite enjoyable. I've spent time with pretty much all of my friends, seen some decent movies, eaten a LOT of food, embarrassed myself at ice-skating, and exchanged some pretty sweet gifts.

There's really not a whole lot else I can say in this blog except that I'm excited for:
-the upcoming Ski Retreat
-(hopefully) acceptance letters from college in a couple months
-my last exams in high school
-turning 18 tomorrow
-the NFL playoffs (go Packers)

That's all for now.

Live big, stay classy.

Christmas

There is snow. On the ground. Outside my house. In Cincinnati.
Inspiring me to share my LOVE of the winter/holiday season. I'd take a day like today over any hot, humid summer day.

Here's a list of reasons I love Christmas:
-Family/Friends. Everyone comes home from college, family from out of town appears and we all get to catch up on what's happened since last year. I sometimes wonder if THESE are the moments that are most real, and we get to live our perfect lives for one week at a time, and then pause it all until the next year when everyone gets to be together again.
-Snow. There's something almost poetic about a white lawn, iced-over trees, and that amazing way snow piles up on windowpanes and Christmas wreaths. It's beautiful, and I'm not being sarcastic.
-Strangers. Have you ever noticed that when you walk around your neighborhood, or go downtown, instead of merely passing by indifferently, nearly EVERYONE you see wishes you a merry Christmas? It's like for a brief period each year, people really do care enough to at least notice each other. It's better than nothing.
-Music. All time favorite song: "Christmas Time is Here" from the Charlie Brown movie. Maybe it's somber, maybe I'm cliche.... but that song is so festive even in its slow, jazzy way. I even love the cheesey remakes of classic Christmas songs that you hear in department stores as you shop for gifts.
-The service. For some reason, I'm more enthralled in the Christmas Eve service at Armstrong more than any other service all year. Something about the lighting, the spirit within everyone there, the joy... it really opens my heart to what God is saying. It's a tradition in my family to go to @ least one of the Christmas Eve services.
-Decorations. OK, so this one ventures into the secularization and commercialization or whatever... but I still love it. I love driving slowly through Terrace Park this time of year to see all the houses decked out. Garland wrapped around fenceposts. Candles lighting up each window. Christmas tree prominently displayed in the front window. The occassional reindeer and Santa.

I may add to this later.
Merry Christmas to all.
Stay classy, live big.

Clique 6

The above title refers to the ever-growing "boy band" at VI. At some point this summer, we dubbed the band "Clique 5" as a joke, since we had 5 band members and the group "Click 5" was still kind of not obsolete. Kinda sorta... ok they were already obsolete.
Anyway, if you missed VI this week, you missed a big one. Not only was there a decent crowd and lots of energy, but we debuted 2 new band members. Alex Sneider joined Dustin at the mic, and Sam Franer helped me out with some backup guitar. These guys were incredible. They sort of just melted right into rehearsal, and adapted really well to everything we threw at them. And of course there was the worship set last night, where I think everyone on stage but Phil wound up jumping along to.
Anyway, be sure to congratulate Alex and Sam on an awesome set and, more importantly, on becoming a part of our worship team and helping make sure that next year when Trey and I graduate and Phil gets hitched, there's still a band around. Alex and Sam, you guys rock.
The band isn't done growing yet. We're always looking for new talent- bass guitar, electric, singing, cello, pretty much whatever you can throw at us (and no, it does not HAVE to be a boy band- we welcome ladies t00).
God bless guys!
Live big, stay classy.

PS- This Christmas, be looking forward to some carols courtesy of the VI band.