Concerts & Small Group

This week has been wonderful and full. On Tuesday, I was able to get off work in the morning to join Nick for chapel. Meredith Williams had scheduled a special concert during chapel hour with the Annie Moses Band. I hadn't heard of them before and did some research earlier this week. I was hooked once I went to their website (www.anniemosesband.com) It's a family group from Nashville; the parents are renowned songwriters and arrangers and the six kids are all amazing at instruments- in fact, the oldest three were top class in Julliard on violin, viola, and cello. I had to go to work right after the concert, but asked Nick to stay for a question and answer time they had after on my behalf. The family also happens to be incredibly spiritually mature and intelligent & Nick was thoroughly engrossed in listening. He called me right afterwards while I was at work to tell me about what they'd said:

"Lauren, did you know that a child's most formitive years are between THREE and TWELVE?!?! If we start our kids on instruments at nine or ten, it's a lost cause... IT'S TOO LATE!!!!"

"Lauren, did you know that after autopsy research, they've found that a musician's brain weighs more than a person that doesn't partake in music? They actually absorb more information!!!"

"Lauren, did you know that they practiced four hours a day? Even in elementary school?!"

"Lauren, they talked about the Christian's responsibility to conquer the fine arts for Christ. That's just what we'd been talking about this year!"

He originally didn't want to go and hear them (crowds aren't his thing), but it was obvious that he thoroughly enjoyed it!

Both of us are simultaneously going through some great books on health (both eating, emotional, and lifestyle). Months ago, we'd received the book The Maker's Diet by Jordan Rubin from Nick's mom. I'm just now getting to it and it's incredible. I've truly not been able to put it down. Nick was also interested in the controversial book What They Don't Want You to Know by Kevin Trudeau and purchased it this past week. We both find that they parallel almost identically in information although Jordan Rubin is a medical doctor and a born-again Christian, so I find his insight a bit more refreshing and sound. The books we've been reading have spurred a lot of conversations between us and we decided to act upon it this weekend. We happen to have a humungous whole foods/organic store called Suzanne's around the area and we decided to go check it out. We spent over two hours reading labels, sniffing products, etc. We must sound nuts, but we were so fascinated! We had a blast. I happened to find a company that makes all natural household cleaners that I fell in love with (me... falling in love with household cleaners! ha! would've thought?). They all come in matching scents, so everything from your laundry detergent to dish soap to shower cleaner can all blend and make the house smell uniform. I could easily get stuck on organic everything... the only thing is, some of it is so expensive. We'd definitely have to cut corners in order to convert what's in our cabinets.

Tuesday evening I had my orchestra concert at Missouri Southern. We'd had our first rehearsal in the fine arts theatre the night before and I fell in love with it. They have beautiful wood paneling around the stage like JUCO does... absolutely beautiful and the accoustic's were amazing. I think the concert went rather well. More than anything I was just extatic that my family drove all the way down to come see it. They drove four hours back north right afterwards... well into the early morning. It meant so much to have them there. I'm especially glad they saw this concert because I think the next one might be interesting. The director (also my violin teacher) doesn't exactly get American culture, so our pops concert is kind of a little bit of everything. We'll be doing Greensleeves and the Star-Spangled Banner in May. I think it's kind of funny!

Last night was our small group. We brought snacks. Nick decided to make Texas Cavier, his specialty. No one had heard of it before and we were excited to bring something new. When we brought it, I realized it had an odd, sour/tart smell to it. Neither one of us were able to pinpoint what was funny about it, but decided not to say anything while there (hoping no one would notice). Luckily, I don't think anyone noticed. Next week is spring break, so those of us staying in town are going to have a Bring-part-of-an-Italian-meal night and play games/movies, etc. We're looking forward to it a lot.

Tonight starts the small group from church. Tim said there was a big response to joining a small group so we'll be interested in seeing how many people show up.

Then tomorrow.... we leave for KANSAS CITY!!! YEA!!!!