Tears

We never know what a day will hold or when life will take an unexpected turn, but that has happened this week with the word that Carlon's dad has been diagnosed with acute leukemia. We were shocked by this because even at 83 he looks and acts like a man much younger, and has been very healthy. Two weeks ago Carlon was up in Omaha for the weekend, and his dad was out snow blowing, again, a part of the country that hasn't seen dry ground since October! Energetic, healthy, strong, kind, loving, compassionate, caring, wise, gentle, able, the husband every wife would want to have, the father every child should have, a man who has patterned himself after the words of Scripture, who loves the Lord with all of his heart, who has lived a life completely sold out to Christ and is by far the most incredible man I have ever known. Lord - we need him, he is everyone's rock - we can't say good bye to him - not yet. Oh yes - and prayer warrior, in the very truest sense of the word. You have blessed our family and all of our families through this godly man. Quiet strength, quiet love, quiet trust. Pour your blessings out on him, minister to his soul as only You can, Father. Sing over him, and if it would be Your will Great Physician, please heal him.

Never say "Never"

This weekend I had the opportunity to something I never thought I would ever do - in fact I said at one point I would never do that, because I didn't think that I could do it! I directed a regional children's choir called Circle the State With Song. Circle the State is a choral festival held all over the state of Oklahoma according to regions for students in 4th-8th grade. I first became involved in CtSwS about 14 years ago while I was teaching K-5 music at SWCS. I would encourage my 5th grade students to participate each year. In my music program, it became one of the privileges of being a 5th grader, plus, those who attended Circle the State could try out for the All State Children's Choir. I would also take some of the music from Circle the State and use it for my 5th grade Spring contest at Tri-State in Enid and our Spring choral program. We worked so hard. Students would give up lunch hours to practice for Circle the State and try out for All State. The music was always very challenging and beautiful, introducing me and the children to folk songs from around the world, sacred music, and contemporary arrangements. By the end of the year we had learned how to sing the songs well, with all the artistry a small school choir could muster. Each year my 5th graders would be so proud of their accomplishments and I'd always hear things from them as they moved on like, "We were the best choir ever, right Mrs. Tschetter?" I remember once as we were leaving a CtSwS festival, one of my parents said to me, "You could do that!" meaning direct the regional choir. I thought in my heart - "That is very nice of you, but, no I could never do that in a million years - and I am happy being a participant. That would be impossible. Nope not me. Ever."

You see, CtSwS was my mentor. I would sit in the rehearsals in awe of every director and what they did. I deeply respected the other teachers who I met and thought they must be the best teachers in the world. I wanted to be like them! They worked so hard. When students would go to All State it was like being given a trip to Disney Land, as far as I was concerned! Sitting in those rehearsals and watching those directors was beyond anything I could have ever imagined. The sound, the beauty, the amazement. I wrote down everything I could, tried to take in every word - wishing I could have the knowledge it took to create something so exquisite.

Being able to be a director this year wasn't necessarily a dream come true (I was scared to death) - but it gave me a chance to give back to those who have done so much for me over the years. And, it was an experience I will always, always treasure. Don't ever think Never, and don't ever say Never. You just never know. Our dreams don't begin to touch the Lord's dreams for us - and, we never know what new life song He will bring our way. Cantate Deo! Sing Alleluia!