Hey everyone! It's been forever since I last posted. I really don't have anything exciting to share except that it's my birthday today, and I'm getting old. I used to look forward to my birthday. I would inform people that I was almost 16, or almost 18, even if my birthday was still another five months away! I don't do that anymore. I'm kind of at that age when birthdays get less and less exciting as the years progress. However, birthdays are always what you make of them - I could choose to be excited about my birthday! I am excited that I'm still alive and God has a purpose and a plan for me on this earth.

Okay, if I keep typing I'm going to start rambling, so I'm going to close this out. Have a good week ya'll!

OKAY!!!!!! I'm updating!!!!! My friend absolutely refused to comment on my last post eight times, so here I am

Nothing exciting has happened to me in the last two months. Let's see... I leave for school every morning at 6:45am, and I don't get back till late afternoon. I teach piano and violin lessons on Mon., Wed., and Thurs., and I work at a bulk food store on the week-ends. I play piano and violin in my school orchestra, I'm part of a piano ensemble, and I'm in a string quartet. I'm pretty much busy every minute of the day, and even though I still live at home, I don't see my family very often. Although my life is very full, I feel blessed. When I think about it, I guess something exciting has happened to me. I'm learning contentment. Slowly but surely, the Lord is teaching me to be still and know that He is God. Most people probably wouldn't know it, but I suffer from Attention Deficit Disorder on occasion. If my routine doesn't change the slightest bit after a week or so, I go absolutely crazy! There has to be something new thrown into the equation sometimes. The Lord definitely has a sense of humor - my daily routine has pretty much been the same since school started!(I don't really think it's so funny, but I'm learning anyway)

I do have some very interesting teachers this year, and a few stories about each of them as well. My music theory professor is British - he is extremely proper. Whenever someone answers a question right he says, "Well done chaps!" or when we answer something wrong he says, "Oh, that was naughty!" You have to hear those phrases with the British accent, it's absolutely hilarious!!! He has the class laughing all the time! He often commences the class with, "Alright me lovelies, let's get started!" Somehow he makes the 7:45am class bearable! My French teacher is actually French herself - imagine that :) She thinks most American customs are silly, and she is a complete non-conformist to the University's policies and rules. She speaks English very well, yet she still has a very thick accent. If we don't understand something, she calls us names. Some of her most frequent endearments are: "Bird-brains", "Birdie-brains" and "Dodo birds". I think the first English word she learned was "bird". Even though she is a bit of a pill, I'm glad I have her as a teacher. She obviously know the language forwards and backwards, so I'm getting the best education. My Music History teacher is not British, and does not call us names, but she still makes class very interesting and enjoyable

So, that's my life, in a nut-shell. My family is doing well - we're all looking forward to the holidays when my sister can come home! I hope all of you have a blessed week. Remember, God is still in control!!!

Hey everyone! I hope ya'll are having a great summer!

I'm enjoying my last gasp of freedom before school starts in two weeks. Although I've worked quite a bit, I have still managed to fit in some fun, summer activities

Last week I saw two really great movies in theaters with some friends - "Bourne Ultimatum" and "Becoming Jane". Completely opposite plots, era, and genre, but both worth seeing. "Bourne" gets the prize for having the coolest ending I've ever seen; it gave me goosebumps!! "Becoming Jane" definitely gets the prize for the most heart-wrenching ending I've ever seen. I'm still trying to put my heart back together from that one; I was a sappy mess for two days!!!

Saturday I went to an Akron Aeros game with some friends. Okay, I like baseball and all, but I don't really pay attention to the little details. My friend Andy kept asking me what the batter's batting average was. How am I supposed to know?! I don't follow things like that!! He kept asking me, and then laughing when I said I didn't know. After a few minutes of laughing at my expense, he pointed to the scoreboard, which displayed the batting average of the present batter. It was up there all the time! Wow, I learn something new every day  I told my friend Sarah Jo (Andy's wife), that they should put more interesting statistics on the scoreboard such as age, height, personality, availability, etc.

Yesterday, a not so funny thing happened to me before church. I was on the schedule to play my violin during the morning service. I arrived at church before Sunday school, in plenty of time to do a sound check and practice. I opened my violin case and stared at it for a full ten seconds. Something was not right... something was missing... MY BOW WAS NOT THERE!!! Now, a bow is kind of necessary to play the violin effectively, and I had no idea where it was. I've never forgotten to put my bow back in the case before. Really not quite believing my eyes, I sheepishly told my dad. Being the funny guy that he is, he suggested that I pluck the whole song - ha, yeah. Figuring that my bow was probably left at the music store where I teach lessons, I opted not to go home and decided to call my previous violin teacher who goes to my church. Fortunately everything ended happily, and I was able to play in church using my teacher's bow. On the upside of things, I got to hear an awesome missionary speaker at our church yesterday. He is from a group called Mobile Modular Ministries, or Tri-M Africa. He and his group travel around to different countries in Africa, and set up ministry training for the native pastors and leaders there. The men don't have to leave their home or ministry to go to school for four years, they can learn while ministering at their churches. The group is a little low on funds, so they need a lot of prayer. I think it's just great that we can be a part of supporting a group like that, in finances and in prayer.

Well, that's about all I have to say right now. God bless!!!

Summer Vacation

  Normally our family goes on vacation for a week or so, but this summer was a bit different. Due to work schedules, church functions, etc., we were only able to take a long weekend. We also took Anna back to Michigan for another year in Life Action Ministries. Although vacation was way too short, we had a great time! We ended up going to Put-in-Bay, a lovely little island on Lake Erie. Here are some pics of our fabulous vacation

The ferry that took us to the island. (The ferry also carried cars and bicycles)

My lovely sister Anna, and my handsome brother Patrick. (I told my brother to at least look like he was having a good time!)

My lovely grandma :)

This quaint little town on the island resembled an seaside town on the East Coast.

There were about a hundred boats docked in the wharf

My youngest brother Jesse, trying to catch a glimpse of the water from the ferry :)

My brother Drew; ornery as always!

The threesome :)

Me and my lovely sister Michaela

My lovely sister Rebekah

A fountain in the square

Grandma and Grandpa with the grandkids :)

My sister already posted some of these pics on her site, but I think they're good enough to post again :)

I really love this one!!!

My parents :)

Okay, these cute little vehicles were the highlight of my day. Not only are there cars on the island, but people can rent golf carts and bicycles as well. Because I was the only kid in my family old enough to drive the golf carts, my dad and I were the designated drivers of the day! The cool thing is, all cars, carts, and bikes are created equal on the roads of this island;  sometimes it was mass chaos!!!

I kinda had trouble parallel parking

Cousin Garrett

We visited the monument of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry. He led the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812.

Commodore Perry

These guys were awesome! They were dressed in the traditional Navy garb that was worn during 1812, and they gave a half hour presentation about the War.

They performed a musket and bayonet demonstration after the presentation. They very nearly took out a wedding party across the field when they fired the muskets! 

My other siblings got some excellent pictures of the water and the beaches. There are also some beautiful houses and Bed and Breakfasts on the island; some overlooking Lake Erie. I would encourage anyone to visit!!!