"So what kind of music do ya'll sing?"

When people learn that I sing in the Corpus Christi Cathedral Pontifical Choral - otherwise known as "the adult choir", that question is often asked. My reply is usually, "Come join us this Sunday at 9:30 and you can hear for yourselves. Or tune in as we are on Channel 13."   Here are a few clips from a performance last summer....Beethoven's Hallelujah chorus. I love this piece. It's so majestic and grand!  Of course we do much liturgical music in English and in Latin, such as Mawby's sacred Ave Verum. We do contemporary and traditional music and this one is a favorite as it moves my very soul...the youth choir joined us on this one. And finally, this requiem  - written after the 2004 Asian Tsunami's...the words are so beautiful, the hymn so simple. My good friend and assistant choir director Dr. Lupe Rivera explained the story. I have pasted the lyrics below - I love them as each line contains an eloquent prayer. We all, literally, fight tears as we sing this piece. Did I say I love our choir???? It is truly an honor and a blessing to be a member.

                       Written after the 2004 Asian Tsunami’s: Requiem by Eliza Gilkyson  

Mother Mary full of grace awaken,

All our homes are gone, our loved ones taken,

Taken by the sea.

Mother Mary calm our fears, have mercy.

Drowning in a sea of tears, have mercy.

Hear our mournful plea.

Our love has been shaken, we wander our homelands, forsaken.

In the dark night of the soul, bring some comfort to us all,

Oh Mother Mary, come and carry us in your embrace,

Let our sorrows  be erased.

Mary fill the glass to overflowing.

Illuminate a path where we are going.

Have mercy on us all.

In funeral pyres burning, each prayer to your mystery returning.

In the dark night of our soul, our shattered dreams, please make them whole,

Oh mother Mary find us as we look for embrace,

Lead us to a higher place.

In the dark night of our soul our broken hearts you can make whole.

Oh mother Mary come and carry us in your embrace

Let us see your gentle face – Mary.

Faculty Collaborative Workshop = chance to catch up with old friends

I recently attended a two day workshop in San Antonio - it was great seeing former friends from grad school and other colleagues.Many of the former grad students were in my cohort of science/math educators in grad school at UT. Now, these folks are like me, in their faculty positions, getting ready/have submitted tenure documents, and it was great seeing them! Also one of my former grad school mentors -- it was awesome catching up! This topiary was in the middle of the restaurant at the Omni and I thought it was so cool and so different! Sorry, no people shots. Too busy chatting and presenting!

Skype totally ROCKS!

It's awesomeness! I just discovered my new laptop has a web camera built in. So, after a brief text to Annie, we both downloaded Skype and within 5 minutes there was Annie and Audrey talking on my computer with a full screen image of them - and they were watching me!  Audrey kept trying to figure out where her Momma was coming from, peering into her computer. I saw her new haircut (which is adorable) and her new bedspread (owls!). We have a date tonight for a bedtime story. Ya GOTTA love technology!!!! Send me your Skype I.D. so I can add you to the list!! Yayyyy!

West Virginia!

I recently took some time to visit Scott in his (far away) home of Lewisburg, West Virginia. It took a whole day to get there, and a whole day to get home, so we had one day to get as much in as possible. What followed was a FABULOUS day full of fun and new experiences!

Scott attends the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine -- in four years he will be a doctor. He had just finished a major lab exam in anatomy. I can't show pictures of the lab or the cadavers --- suffice to say as a scientist and an educator, I was completely blown away when he took me inside the lab. Seeing all the organs and systems and parts thereof of this generous woman who donated her body to science -- it was A-MAZ-ING. I will never forget it and have a whole new respect for teaching this subject, and the elegant design that comprises our body. Here are some pics from Scott's beautiful school - built where a military academy once existed (hence the canons...they don't use them on the medical students!).

This is the inside of  large theater sized classroom -- students had just finished their exams so no one was studying. You can see everyone has their space -- complete with food, supplies, personal items -- they practically LIVE in here, studying together, learning in a collaborative space. Totally awesome and completely in line with the research that tells us that studying together increases learning exponentially as opposed to studying alone (get in your study groups students!!!!).

Not every school has crystal chandeliers in the foyer...this place was both beautiful and functional in its mission - to train a future cohort of physicians.

We had dinner that night, and got up the next day to explore as much as possible. We headed to West Virginia's New River Gorge where the 3rd largest iron arched bridge (largest in the U.S.) was constructed over New River. You can stack two Statues of Liberty AND a Washington Monument under this bridge and still have 20 feet of clearance! On the way to the New River, we saw this:

WOW! Let's see the bridge from the air! And so we did!!!!! I had a BLAST!!

 
The helicopter had a glass bubble window and no doors. It's a Bell 47-G2 built in 1950-something. Our pilot was awesome and talked to us about the sights as we listened and gawked at the sights....it was a GLORIOUS day and perfect for my very first helicopter ride!

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SO excited!!!! The view was INCREDIBLE!

We landed and decided to hike over and see the bridge from the ground view...

 Then it was time to fill up at holy SHEETZ ...

 and proceed to our next destination!!

 This is Scott's home away from home when he isn't studying during the ski season. Snowshoe Mountain is close enough to Lewisburg to get in a good day of skiing, and is gorgeous. We decided it would be fun to go explore the mountain in the Fall and see the gorgeous and rugged country!

Here is a pic of Scott skiing this past winter - the snow was AWESOME!

The wildlife was pretty cool - some cool birds including a resident Red Tailed hawk and we heard a deer snort nearby. This was the only bear I saw the entire trip:

After hiking around Snow Shoe and hearing the tales of many skiing escapades, we headed back to Lewisburg, and I noticed yet another amazing rock outcrop. A former geology minor, I have always loved the rocks and stories they tell. This outcrop was fabulous...an anticline created millions of years ago from uplifted sedimentary  rock. We stopped and climbed and explored. I collected a few samples to put in my luggage, all of which created a bit of confusion when going through security at the airport!

Back on the road, listening to Blue Grass music on the satellite radio -- seemed appropriate -- what's for dinner?! The Mason Jar, a popular restuarant, had it's all-you-can-eat crab legs special -- we decided that was an EXCELLENT choice!

It was a fabulous trip and wonderful to explore with Scott. Can't wait to return!!!!!! I love you Scott!! xo

Blessings and Transitions

Flowers from thoughtful Jen to brighten the day:

A photo of Audrey sent by Annie in California -- Audrey sleeping peacefully on Shirley Pearly the Pillow Pet, holding tightly to Jewell the Pony - both from her Grandmomma. I so miss her.

 But, how can one be sad when all is so good -- new house with a yard, a school within walking distance, new friends, wonderful family friendly Navy base complete with drive-in theater (free), bowling alley (free), lots of Moms with children, great medical care and...a family.

Flowers are wonderful, photos sure help ease the hollow place in my heart -- but just seeing this family and knowing the happy times that are on their way...blessings. Huge, major, wonderful blessings.

The Last Hurrah - for Audrey and her (Grand)momma

You know Audrey is moving to California. Brand new place with new school, new home, new friends...and no Momma - what she calls me. It's been bittersweet - seeing her family so excited - and deservedly so! - but knowing we will no longer be, quite literally, 100 steps from each others door. Even at 4 and a half, she knows this. So, we had our last weekend together while Annie and John had a little get-away. We got as much as possible out of that weekend as we could possibly fit in. Apologies for the blurry pics -- I have a new phone now and hopefully photos will be a bit better.

 

My good friend Liz cut my hair - and Audrey got a haircut too!

                                                     Fun times at the Chick-Fil-A playground!

 We went shopping and found a little pony that came with a little house...Jewell the pony went everywhere and continues to ride along wherever Audrey goes!

Jasons! No, she didn't finish the baked potato. Jewell is being loved more than potato being eaten.

                                                                                Coloring book and crayons!

 

I had a meeting at the college with some students. So Audrey, and the pony, and the pony's house - also made the meeting. Huge whiteboards kept her very entertained!

                                                                             Banana cheerios are the BEST!

  I was invited to a wedding shower this weekend and Audrey came along. She LOVED the Mariachi Band that played! Me too!! So much fun eating cake, cookies, talking to everyone and dancing with Mariachi's! Other happenings included eating homemade custard ice cream at the place with the "hairy umbrella's" (thatched roofs over tables), eating fresh fruit at the Farmer's market, shopping and more shopping because Momma loves buying Audrey clothes and wanted to avoid shipping costs...for now.

The weekend came to an end, everything got packed up, the moving truck was loaded, and after everything was packed including 2 cats, 3 crabs, 2 cars and much stuff, Audrey, Annie and John took off for California.

I got the following a day into the trip...in case you can't tell, that's Wolfey (from my trip to Colorado) and Jewell the pony. They must be enjoying the hugs!

I shall so miss you Audrey Anne --- and Annie and John. It's been awesome being a part of watching everyone grow through the years and to see your dreams coming true!
I love you,
Momma

Jen: Pilot and Future Lawyer

A new advertisement distributed by Jen's 'night job' - attending law school at Thomas Jefferson School of Law. I think I would go there after reading this!  Go Jen Go!