Sunday, July 30, 2006

Choir Camp































Another one of the Malone's summer music camps, choir camp has filled me with many wonderful memories.

~Christy

Friday, July 21, 2006

Harp Camp



































Picture 1: Danielle & me

Picture 2: Lunch time!

Pictures 3 & 5: The majority of the girls playing during our ensemble practice.

Picture 4: Brittany, my awesome partner

Picture 6: Me playing harp

This past week I attended harp camp which was taught by friend Hannah Malone. Some of the things I learned included:

--Playing harp for 2 1/2 hours a day non-stop can stiffen your back and produce callouses
--Hymns and Celtic songs on the harp
--I have a short thumb (which God made for a purpose)
--The harp sound is soothing just as David and Saul found it: "So it came about whenever the evil spirit from God came to Saul, David would take the harp and play it with his hand; and Saul would be refreshed and be well, and the evil spirit would depart from him." (1 Samuel 16:23 NASB)

Having no experience on the harp whatsoever, I made tons of mistakes and sometimes that was discouraging, but like I learned in the Bible study which we had each day, God wants us to do our best and give however much we have to give whether it's just a tiny bit or a whole lot. Fortunately, Hannah was very patient with me, and although I'm still a long way off from ever performing at Carnegie Hall, I'm striving to glorify God in what I have to offer.

~Christy

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

An Independent Birthday on Independence Day







Top: Paul attempts to light all 83 candles without burning himself.

Middle: Granny

Bottom: By the time all the candles were blown out, the cake looked like it had experienced "meltdown"!

The Roaring Twenties... the Great Depression... World War II... Korean War... the Baby Boomers... Vietnam War... Desert Storm... War on Terrorism... she's lived through it all. "She" is my grandma.

On July 4th, 1923, Frances Virginia Gulley (later to be Hastings) was born on the 147th birthday of our country. Now she's lived through the 230th birthday of America and her 83rd birthday. She's not just seen history happen--she's made history happen. In every activity she's done, she's created some kind of history. Some things were more important than others, but nevertheless all affected a future generation. And so will every decision you make.

*Words from Granny*: "Make your motto WWJD."

Thursday, July 06, 2006

Remembering our heroes!

1798~Noah Webster~July 4th Oration

"Our fathers were men--they were heroes and patriots--they fought--they conquered--and they bequeathed to us a rich inheritance of liberty and empire which we have no right to surrender... Yes, my fellow freemen, we have a rich and growing empire--we have a lucrative commerce to protect--we have indefeasible [inalienable] rights--we have an excellent system of religion and of government--we have wives and children and sisters to defend; and forbid that the soil of America should sustain the wretch who [lacks] the will or the spirit to defend them. Let us then rally round the independence and the Constitution of our country, resolved to a man that we will nevr lose by folly, disunion, or cowardice what has been planned by wisdom and purchased with blood."

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Our forefathers risked their lives for our freedom! Historians estimate that during the Revolutionary War about 25,700 soldiers DIED for us and future generations!!! So that I could enjoy all that I do... so a pauper boy could turn out to be the president of the U.S.... so my mom could immigrate to America... so my dad could own his own business... so that I could be a Christian.

Let us not abuse our freedoms but rather be visionary just as our fore-fathers were toward future generations!

As Americans we talk a lot about "our right to happiness, our right to liberty, our right to do this or do that." Yet in reality we have NO RIGHTS! I do not have a right to live! It is only because of Him and His blessing towards
America that we have freedom! We must always remember that!

~Christy

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Independence Day by Tom and Sondra Wright

"The Fourth of July, Independence Day, Our Nation’s Birthday. Whatever you call it, we celebrate America’s independence from England on July 4 each year.

As a nation, we have endured for 200+ years to become a significant independent and powerful force in the world. We were founded on the principles of equality and religious tolerance, of equity and opportunity, and of rights and responsibilities. Several generations of men and women have defended our precious freedom with their lives.

As we celebrate this year, let’s take a moment to remember those who paid the ultimate price for freedom – and to remember their families. It is sometimes easy to think only of the glory of their sacrifices, and to overlook the sacrifice of their families. War is never glorious, no matter how romantic the notion created by Hollywood. War has casualties that go farther and deeper into the fabric of our nation than we may realize. Those who died are buried with fanfare, as befits a nation’s fallen valiants. And their families learn to go on, just as we have, in spite of their loss.

But think for a moment of those who were declared missing in action, or who were prisoners of war. Their families must endure, often for years, and sometimes without an end to their pain and loss.

Remember all of our nation’s fallen when you celebrate this year. Remember those ceremoniously laid to rest; remember those who were captured, imprisoned, even tortured; remember those whose fate remains unknown. And remember, too, the families of all of them.

Death, no matter how noble, is never easy for those left behind.

We send our thanks to the veterans - living, dead, and missing – and their families."