The Ort Family

some friends kindly hosted 5 of the students on Sunday

Paul Stefan and Ana Marie went on their first road-trip to and from Indianapolis – an over 10-hr. drive.  There were some adventures along the way!

Paul Stefan and Ana Marie attended a Creative Tension string workshop in Indianapolis from April 13 – 22.  They worked on violin technique with Mrs. Gardner, who teaches students to play without wrong tension, thus producing an excellent sound.

all the students and teachers of the Creative Tension string workshop

listening intently to technique and practice explanations

Mrs. Gardner teaching

working on bowing wrist movement

Ana Marie with Christa - student of Mrs. Gardner and excellent practice assistant

Ana Marie with her roommates

Part 1

Last Saturday, I returned home from 6 weeks in Indianapolis.  The whole time was filled with intense study of music theory and composition.  The Lord showed Himself strong in helping me to understand and pass the exams, as I could not have been successful on my own.

“…it is made clear that everything which comes to us — even when we seem to have acquired it by our own labor — is a straightforward and free gift from God.” -John Calvin

With our excellent instructor, Kathy Blankenship, who also became a dear friend.

Principles of Harmony graduates! (L-R: Alicia, Ana Marie, Courtney, Kathy, Jesse)

The classroom.

Our chord progression work.

More chord progressions...yes, it does make sense .

Working on assignments.

Assignments!

We girls decided to go outside for a change of scenery.

Working on the 13th floor one evening.

Discussing my final project with Kathy.

Our snack table

Working in the lobby one evening.

Enjoying the Blankenship's hospitality on a Sunday afternoon.

What every Harmony student loves seeing on his/her assignment: the green check-mark and smile!

The Blankenship family.

Encouragement on final exam day.

Working on my final project.

Composing for my final project.

My home for 6 weeks.

Trying to take some creative pictures.

Another one

Another

Entering my final project onto my laptop.

One of our last meals together.

Encouragement during Final Project week.

Singing my final project at the final concert.

Our class playing a hymn arrangement at the final concert.

Singing a blessing song for Kathy.

Since February 2nd, I have been in Indianapolis attending Principles of Harmony – a music theory course.  Yesterday, the 1st phase ended.  God has been so merciful in helping me to understand the concepts which are not natural for me to grasp.  All knowledge is a gift from Him!  Below is a short overview of my time here so far:

This is what greeted me in the morning on the 3rd of February!

Here, Kathy is teaching, and we are working with chord progressions on the board.

Here are the students of Principles of Harmony 1 with Mrs. Gomez and the Blankenship sisters. The Blankenship family had us all over to their home on Sunday the 15th. Their hospitality was a great blessing!

The Indianapolis Training Center staff hosted a Valentine's Banquet for everyone at the training center on Monday night. Their creativity and hard work was impressive!

The Harmony class with Mrs. Gomez

My roommate and me at the Banquet

The Girls in Principles of Harmony 1

The view from the 13th floor

The view from my room yesterday afternoon. Aren't the clouds beautiful?

This is what I've been doing since February 2nd.

Last weekend, I enjoyed a hike in Arkansas with 20 others from Grace Bible Church.  Truly God's creation declares His praises, as was evident in Hawksbill Crag and Big Bluff.  How small and frail one feels while gazing at a colorful forest covering the hills when standing only a few feet from a hazardous drop or while carefully traversing a narrow path when diversion from it most certainly would result in death.  How insignificant we humans are compared to the Creator of the universe, and yet we are the pinnacle of His creation – the sinners He chose to send His Son to die for, that we may be eternally reconciled with Him.  What a great and awesome God we serve!

For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. – Romans 1:20

Click the picture to see an album of photos!  

Yet another passport experience…

Passport and Ticket Officer: Are you with that lady?

Peter: Yes.

Officer: Is she your sister?

Peter: Yes.

Officer: She was born in Nepal and you were born in Pakistan.  Is that normal?

…Paul Stefan comes up to show his passport and ticket…

Officer: And where were you born?

"Are you from Hungary?" – a man at the bus stop

Last week, I had the privilege of working as a counselor at Sovereign Grace Teen Camp hosted at Beth-Eden Bible Camp in Missouri.  It was a new experience, and a blessing from the Lord to be able to participate.  The other experienced counselors welcomed me wholeheartedly.  Working with the young people was a great delight.

The campers enjoyed dressing up for the Hawaiian Theme Night .

 

 

On Friday, Paul Stefan and I played in our violin teacher's studio recital.  The excellent instruction of Mr. Hamm was evident as I listened to the other students.  We are extremely blessed in being students of a superb teacher! (more…)

The Christian Home Educators Fellowship (CHEF) of Oklahoma held it's annual highschool graduation on May 17th.  As every other year, I greatly enjoyed attending and witnessing what was a special day for some of my friends.  This year, 55 seniors received diplomas from their parents.  May God guide them all in their next phase of life.  (more…)