i who have died am alive again today

I love being reminded of how much I adore being a teacher.

I found two audition songs for one of my students the other day that I was really excited about, but I had no idea how she would react. I got a text from her today exclaiming that these songs encompass exactly who she is and she couldn't be more excited to sing them. That made my whole day.

I love that one of my biggest (yet simplest) joys is helping my students discover new art and embrace it and make it their own. I love it so much.

In other news, I just got home from my huge trip to New York and Pennsylvania. I had some time off work so I took time off of my private voice lessons and went back east to visit my friends and family.

I have between 20 and 30 friends in New York now (no exaggeration) because they all moved to pursue their musical theatre dreams. I could not possibly be prouder of all of them and how hard they are working. It's been a big struggle for me, though, being the only one who stayed in California. I wondered at times if I was supposed to move, too, and if I was just too afraid to leave everything behind to pursue the dream I had for years.

I prayed repeatedly before I left that God would show me His plan...His desires for me. I wanted to know if New York was where I belonged or not. And He answered my prayer.

I am supposed to be here. California is where I belong, with my family and my students and a life that God has built for me that I am so blessed to have. It astounds me every day just how blessed I am and how full God has made my life.

Being in New York made me realize that I am not giving up my dreams...my dreams simply changed. And that's okay.

I have experienced this incredible sense of freedom since this trip - a freedom of knowing that God has a plan for me and it's okay that the plan does not include New York. I finally have this sense of peace about where I am in life and where God is leading me.

What a beautiful reminder to trust after going through such a difficult period of growing up. I am so grateful.

i thank You God for most this amazing
day:for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky;and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes

(i who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun's birthday;this is the birth
day of life and love and wings:and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)

how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any-lifted from the no
of all nothing-human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?

(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)

-e.e. cummings

I who have died am alive again today.

This is the birth day of life and love and wings.

Now the ears of my ears awake and now the eyes of my eyes are opened.

I thank You, God, for most this amazing day.