Update

So what's been keeping me busy lately? Well, not much of anything unusual other than, well...
I guess there have been a couple new things.

Two days ago I got my driver's license! We got to the drivers license facility at 8:00 (right when they open) and we were the 15th person in line! Fortunately there were only two others in front of me for a drivers test, so we were able to make it out by 9:15, so I guess that wasn't too bad. There was another boy who just turned 18 there also. He went out for the test right before me, and when he came in he told his dad that "it went well", and "the guy is out breaking a limb right now". I couldn't figure out what he meant but when I went for my test drive, sure enough, he spent quite some time breaking branches off the bushes at the back of the parking lot before and after my test! Go figure. I got in the Suburban, started it up just like he asked, and he still stood there for another minute breaking branches. Anyway, I didn't do anything difficult in the test, and I never left the small town streets or made it over 30MPH. At the end, he told me that I could go in and get my picture taken, and that was it! I always guessed it would be a little more fun, but, oh well.

Last Monday Stacey Weidner (one of my piano teacher's students) came over to practice a two-piano piece that we're going to play at a recital in May.

As you can see, we have our living room re-arranged to allow for two pianos side by side. I like it this way, but I guess it's not very practical, so we put everything back in it's place yesterday.

One of the primary reasons that we had to put everything back, is because I needed the digital piano downstairs on Wednesday, for a piano lesson that I was giving to a student that I just started (the piano had to be downstairs, because Jessica uses the Grand Piano to teach other students at the same time). I'm finding that teaching piano can be very fun, and I really like the student that I have. He's very bright and eager to learn. Hooray!

Well, most of our family is (for one reason or another) down in Alabama right now, other than Joseph and I. So, needless to say, Joseph is learning just what kind of a master I can be (just kidding).

Well, I've got to go check up on him. :-)

TTFN!

Rain, or Shine, Sleet or Snow, spring is coming!

Anthony: To answer your question, I don't know if it's going to snow on openning day, but one thing is for sure. Spring is coming, even if it comes with snow. Today we went out to play some catch...

yes, even in the snow.

We did take some videos of us throwing, and boy do I have a lot to work on!

Thank God for Beauty

This morning I awoke to a beautiful sight outside. Isn't God's creation wounderful?


And no, I guess this man-made computer screen can't fully convey the amazing beauty.

Mini Update

Methinks a mini update would be a pleasant addition to my blog at this time.

Here's a quick succession of events starting last Wednesday, and going through next Monday.

Last Wednesday night one of my piano teacher's other students came over to our house so that we could practice a two-piano piece that we are going to be performing at a recital in May. We moved my Grand Piano into the middle of the room, and put the Digital Piano to the left of the Grand Piano, so that it'd be set up how we'll be set up on stage. The practice went well, especially considering that I'd only had my part since the Tuesday a week before. We're going to be playing No. 5 Valse from the Sleeping Beauty suite by Tchaikovsky.

Thursday night we had the monthly Musicianship Class that my piano teacher gives, in our living room. Typically this class is held at my piano teachers house, but it was at our house this month so that her students could get a chance to play on my piano before the Guild Auditions which will be held at our house this spring. This month each of her students got a chance to perform their two-piano pieces for the class.

Last night we went to Harvard Bible Church for a Concert given by Jacob Bernhardt, and Daniel Ziesemer. It was a benefit concert for a trip that Mr. Bendorf (pastor of Harvard Bible Church) will be taking to Russia.

Tonight Kenton and Anna Skarin, and Jeremy and Sara are coming over to make plans for Liberty Day 2007 - 2008.

Tomorrow we're having the Hirst family, and Jeremy and Sara over after Church.

And Monday we're having the Bernhardt family over for dinner, and some fun in the evening.

Well, there you go! Gotta run. Stay tuned for more later.

Liberty Day Pictures!

Finally some Liberty Day Pictures. I don't feel like spending a lot of time describing the event, so if you want to know more about Liberty Day, click HERE to go to the Liberty Day Site.


Jacob Bernhardt and Daniel Ziesemer provided some excellent music during the program, as well as the Prelude and Postlude music.



We were delighted at the number of attendees who showed up in costumes.



The primary event of the evening was the re-enactment of the 2nd Virginia Convention.
In this picture, Col. William Riddick (Luke VonHolten) kneels in prayer at the opening of the convention.



Here Robert C. Nicholas (Mr. Strand) voices his opinion of opposition to the resolution presented my Mr. Henry.



Col. George Washington (myself): "I will raise at once a force of 1000 men, subsist them at my own expence, and march myself at their head, to the relief of Boston!"



Here Thomas Jefferson (Mr. Webb) declares that the acts of Parliament in closing up the port of Boston, are the acts of a foreign power, that should by all the means in our power, be resisted.



In this picture Edmund Pendleton (Aaron England) hopes that the country will proceed slowly, before rushing the country into war.



Patrick Henry (Joshua Erber): "are fleets and army's necessary to a work of Love, and Reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not I beseech you sirs' deceive ourselves longer! These are the implements or war and subjugation, the last arguments to which kings resort"!




This year we sang two songs, "The Faded Coat of Blue", and:



"Just Before the Battle Mother, I was Drinking Mountain Dew"



"I hear the bugle sounding mother,
My sould is eager for the fray,
I guess I'll hide behind some cover,
Then I hope I'll be Ok".



Closing the program, Dr. Paul Jehle gave an excellent dramatic presentation on the "Five Necessary Ingredients for The Transformation of a Culture".



After the program there were a series of Military Drills for some of the boys, and young men. Here Col. George Washington trains six fresh recruits.



In this picture the Merchant of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, explains a few details to his six recruits.



After that there was dancing, refreshments, and fellowship. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of the dancing, but Mr. Wiese did an excellent job teaching the dances and keeping everyone together.

Altogether, it was a very enjoyable evening.

Hope to see you there next year!

Maybe Later.

Ok, I was going to post Liberty Day pictures, and I would have if I could have, but I keep getting a message "connection with the server has been reset" over and over again, so I'll have to try again later.

Untill then,

Jonathan

Liberty Day Pictures Coming Soon!

Hopefully I'll be able to get some of the Liberty Day Pictures up here soon.

Stay tuned!

Jonathan