I couldn’t post the Facebook 2014 Review because the photos
it chose needed COMMENTARY.
So here are the
brief highs and lows of my year:
January 2014 |
| Opera Workshop Tech Week was in full swing when Pop (my grandfather) died. At the end of a week of family visits and production details, I went to the funeral and grave site, and wept and mourned with my Grandma who had lost her husband of 61 years and my dad who had lost his father. |
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That very night, I conducted our Opera production, “Homage to Mail,”
and
celebrated a successful opening night with the cast.
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Cancun!
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| Chris’ work paid for a vacation to Cancun. This was our second such trip and it was wonderful, though strange to miss the second week of spring semester. |
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| Cancun |
February 2014
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| SCC semester was in full swing and I helped take a group of current students to go see three of our former students starring in “The Marriage of Figaro” at Central Methodist University. Road trip! A short while later, I took another group of current students to The Fox to see the musical, “Once.” |
March 2014
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| Evidence Sings performed for a huge event at my alma mater, Missouri Baptist University. I emceed the event, and then we took a road trip for another concert that night! On Sunday (my birthday), we were back on the road for another full concert. |
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| Grace’s basketball team won first place in the Show-Me State Games! |
April 2014
The semester
was winding down when my great aunt, Ruth, passed away. Just four months after losing her husband, my
Grandma lost her sister.
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| Aunt Ruth is on the right. Pop is holding Phoenix and Grandma is in the background. |
Shortly after, my husband’s Uncle Larry passed away, as well. I was unable to attend the funeral, but my
kids were sadly growing accustomed to their “funeral clothes.”
May 2014
Evidence
Sings had our last recording session on our all a cappella album! We were excited to get it out and into homes
and hearts.
The choir I direct, SCC Singers, gave a fabulous concert
during finals week – “Trip Down Tin Pan Alley.”
We were joined by local instrumentalists and the SCC Show Choir.
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| We also performed with the SCC Concert Band that week. |
During finals week, my
daughter, Grace, was playing “mad cat” crawling on a carpeted floor, and broke
her own thumb.
“Our baby, Phoenix,” passed away a week after the semester
ended. Most of you know that my niece
was born with a genetic condition, Apert Syndrome.
Her birth, 19 months prior, was “like an
earthquake” because our family had never experienced the reality of special
needs and we were looking at a hard life, full of painful surgeries, ahead for
this little one. This was the road we
were anticipating, so when she died, it was a shock to even her doctors. In the words of her daddy, “Her death was a
tidal wave.” It overwhelmed and
threatened to drown us all.
It is a source
of sorrow even still, 7 months later.
This
loss is what I will forever remember 2014 to be.
The day Phoenix died was Eli’s last day of pre-school.
He graduated the next day, so Chris and I put
on our faces and made it through as best we could.
June 2014
Very soon after Phoenix’s death, my parents took
their dog, Henry, to the vet and discovered he had a fast moving, fatal cancer. His loss was felt dearly by my parents who
had just lost their granddaughter, along with the other family members, but
also to my three kiddos who loved Henry like their own.
On the flip side, I co-won
an award for Musical Direction for the work I did last fall on Les Miserables
with The Alpha Players at the Arts for Life, Best Performance Awards. It was an amazing day and I had no idea what
I was in store for! The cast and crew
had so many nominations and took home 5 awards, including Best Large Ensemble
Musical. I was very proud of them all
and very surprised to take home an award. I was even more surprised that I had to make a speech!
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| Vacation Bible School is always an intense week of the year, plus my summer term started at SCC with a full load of voice lessons. |
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| The next week, I also hosted a backyard Bible study, called the 5-Day Club. We had 15-ish kids overtake our home 3 hours every day for 5 days. That was…fun… |
Chris signed up all three kids for summer ball (can you say,
“Baseball 5 days a week?”).
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| And the kids sang at the Cardinals game with their school choir club. |
July 2014
When Phoenix died, my sister, Beth, was 7 months
pregnant with her second baby. We held
our breath that he would be healthy and it was a great relief and sweet joy when
Wesley was born this month. He is so
adorable.
Chris, Isaac, and Grace spent a week at our church camp, Camp Kidjam. Eli and I missed them a lot and lived vicariously through the FB posts the leaders sent out.
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| I joined the American Choral Director’s Association and went the MO conference in Jefferson City. It was amazing. I love learning. |
One July day, I was shocked again to receive news that a
friend in my Sunday School class died in a terrible car accident, leaving behind a daughter expecting her first baby.
August 2014
We took a family vacation to Chicago.
It was 7 days long and we filled every day
with excursions and family time. Wonderful memories.
Eli started Kindergarten!
Grace – 4th and Isaac – 5th.
First and last year they are all three in the
same school.
I started my 14th year at SCC.
September 2014
Evidence Sings led worship for a Revival in
Wright City!
Mid-month, I received an
invitation to come on board as the Music Director for a traveling singing group
at MBU, called SpiritWing.
We had only
four rehearsals before our first event – I was really proud of these students!
October 2014
Evidence Sings led worship for a Women’s
Conference in Indiana – Road Trip!
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| We were honored to share the platform with Cindy Irwin, Christian Counselor and Sex Therapist. |
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| We also gave a concert for these precious ladies. |
The next weekend, we relaxed at a cabin in Steelville for our
annual Evidence Sings Wilderness Weekend!
Chris’ sister, Kelly, visited on her fall break and
conspired to throw Chris a surprise early 40th birthday celebration
since she was not coming “home” this Christmas.
Little did she know, she was also getting a surprise baby shower!
Isaac and Grace have been singing in the St. Charles County
Youth Choir this school year and they gave their first performance at a Trivia
Night.
November 2014
Could it be?
Normal November happenings – Thanksgiving, tree-trimming, family, work,
and lots and lots of music rehearsing.
Christmas concerts were coming!
Oh, Eli had his first Guitar Recital. He did great!
December 2014
December is a busy, busy month for musicians!
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| SpiritWing performed on the Ministry Groups Christmas Concert at MBU and did a wonderful job. |
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| It was a really tough semester, but SCC Singers gave a nice concert together with the Chamber Choir. |
As finals were wrapping up, my great-uncle, Jim, passed
away.
He and his brother, my Pop, had
both reached 81 – he died on his birthday. Jim was deaf his entire life, so there was an interpreter at the
funeral. It’s very moving to see “The
Wind Beneath My Wings” and “I Can Only Imagine” in sign language.
One of the biggest events Evidence Sings has ever put
together took place this month at our home church, FBCH. We gifted them a Christmas Extravaganza;
it was very well received and God was faithful in using our music to touch
hearts.
Chris turned 40 this month and though the party was
technically after the new year, it was a great way to end our year. We did demolition ball with friends and
dressed up like the 1970’s since he was born in ’74. Got caught up on our 70’s slang, too.
So it was groovy.
There you have it:
the good, the bad, the ugly…
and the beautiful.
2014 was a year to remember and I am glad to
leave it behind.
So much loss has made
LIFE feel sweeter and
I’m treasuring the little moments so much more.
Here’s to a better year in 2015!
Grace and peace,
Becky
