Principles of Harmony 2
March 17th, 2009Last 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 
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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.
Principles of Harmony part 1
February 18th, 2009Since 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!
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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.
2-month review
January 31st, 2009Here is a review of our last two months:
Couples Conference in Dallas
11 years at LEI - December 2008
11 years in America - Paul Stefan now LEI tech support
Assisting Daddy in his work
The Christmas fellowship of Grace Bible Church young adults (some not present)
Grace Bible Church goes caroling in the neighborhood.
We gave a plate of cookies to those who opened the door.
The LEI Falam Chin primer - ready for use!
We attended a wedding in Sapulpa, and this gazebo presented a pretty picture in the town.
Have you ever seen a wedding cake this nutritious? (No joke)
Spending New Year's Eve with friends and visiting missionaries.
Paul Stefan taking a turn in a unique game we played with the whole group.
Exhortation for the new year.
The clock strikes 12 - it's 2009!
Our first Saturday in January was a very busy day. First, we hosted a neighborhood brunch to get to know our neighbors better. It was a success, in our opinion, and we are glad that a good number showed up.
Our neighbors also enjoyed getting to know each other.
One of Peter's former lawnmowing customers enjoyed looking at his pictures.
After the brunch, we drove to Oklahoma City for an Institute in Basic Life Principles reunion.
The IBLP reunion.
After the reunion, Paul Stefan and I attended another meeting across the hall.
We learned more of what is going on regarding our freedoms, and how we can be vigilant to keep our government in its place.
One Thursday evening, Ana Marie enjoyed babysitting for some co-laborers at LEI while they attended a dinner for LEI directors.
Celebrating Christ’s Birth – the 25th
January 17th, 2009
Some friends and neighbors of ours host a yearly Christmas brunch, so we again walked the block to their house where we saw many friends and enjoyed their gracious hospitality.
A turkey dinner!...Notice the flower placed prominently on the table. I was amazed to find it blooming in our sunroom, but realized that it is so fitting for this time of year since lilies(a similar-looking flower) are used at the time we celebrate Christ's death and resurrection. The whole reason we can celebrate Christ coming to earth is His atonement for sins that sinners may be saved.
Paul Stefan helped me figure out how to play Barista .
Humility – Christ coming to earth
January 2nd, 2009I heard the following read at church, and wanted to share it here as well. Celebrating Christ coming to earth should cause us to meditate on Who He is. This sermon excerpt expresses well the awesomeness of our Lord in showing to what great extent He humbled Himself.
“He, by whom time was made, was made in time.
And He, older by eternity than the world itself, became younger in age than His Own servants in the world;
He, who made man, was made man;
Through a mother whom He brought into existence, He was given existence;
Hands of a woman whom He formed, carried Him;
Breasts which He filled with milk, He nursed;
In a manger, He Who is the Word cried as a baby, in speechless infancy – and ever since has left all human eloquence speechless!”
translated into English from a Latin sermon by Augustine of Hippo
Celebrating Christ’s Birth – the 24th
December 31st, 2008
our mantle decorations
Paul Stefan kindling a fire - something that we enjoy each winter and that helps with our indoor temperature in cold weather, not to mention that it's very cozy!
Reading the story of Christ's birth.
the story of Christ's coming to earth
We sang carols, and were accompanied by Peter and Daddy
Singing Carols
Nürnberger Lebkuchen - a German treat
This was Peter’s gift to Daddy – a large framed print of our family in Venice. Daddy plans on hanging it up in his LEI office.
December birthdays
December 31st, 2008
Our mother's birthday was on December 10th.
Since I neglected getting a picture of Mommy on the 10th, here is one taken another time. It's a great one, don't you think?
The LEI staff celebrated Mommy's birthday, but she wasn't able to go in to the office that day, so we sang to her over speaker phone and took home the extra cake.
Peter turned 17 on December 16th. It's hard to believe he's already to that age!
a great combination!
A license to drive a motorcycle
December 14th, 2008
Peter is now the happy owner of not only a motorcycle, but a license to drive it! We celebrated his accomplishment with a Starbucks outing on Thursday night.
Thanksgiving
December 12th, 2008On November 27th, our family remembered, like many do each year, the bountiful blessings God has bestowed upon us. We spent the afternoon with good friends, read 1 Chronicles 16:8-36, enjoyed a delicious traditional Thanksgiving meal (turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, etc.), engaged in good conversation, sang songs, ate dessert, and shared things we are thankful for.
singing songs with Peter and Nathaniel on guitar
The whole group – (L-R) Ana Marie, the Do'Ouro family, Georg and Martha, Nathaniel and Lauren Scott, Paul Stefan, Peter