I Belong

If you know me well you'll know that I don't pick favorites very often. Ask me if I have a favorite color and I'll say blue. Or Burgundy. It depends if I'm wearing it or looking at it. Favorite food? Depends on my mood. Favorite movie? Do I have to pick just one? See, I just don't do favorites. So when I do actually say I have a favorite something it's a very big deal for me and it really means I'm serious about it.

This is my favorite song.
Definitely and completely.

It has such a simple message and yet it's one that I think we forget too often. The combination of the words and music moves me so much and there is no way I can listen to it anymore without crying.

Things of this earth will fail us. People will fail us. Our dreams will fail. But God never will and we belong to Him forever and forever. That's why we live. That's how we can live.

I'm not going to say anymore. I just wanted to share it with you. Listen here.


I Belong, Kathryn Scott
Not angels, nor demons, no power on earth or heaven
Not distance, nor danger, no trouble now or ever

Nothing can take me from your great love
Forever this truth remains
I belong, I belong to you

Not hardship, nor hunger, no pain or depth of sorrow
Not weakness, nor failure, no broken dream or promise

TES at Canyonville Christian Academy

My Mount Everest

Life has been busy. Crazy. Wonderful. Blessed.

I turned my last college class in on Saturday which was both scary and a relief. I fried my brain last week and so this week was dedicated to cleaning, laundry, music practice, and sleeping. Yes, sleeping. Nap time has never felt so good.

Today I walked by the bookshelf we have in the hall and stopped and stared at it a moment. "That looks tacky" I said, motioning to the sheet music that was stashed on the bottom two shelves. So, I stopped right there and organized it. Sorting through old music I came upon violin music from 9 years ago. "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and the "String Builder" book. I laughed. We used to think that music was so incredibly hard...and it was...at the time.

Stephanie and I still play violin and it's amazing to see how our many years of practice have paid off. Last Sunday was our yearly violin recital and all four of us participated. Natalie accompanied the students on piano, Christina performed a viola piece, and Stephanie and I each played a violin piece. Christina has been studying viola from the same teacher for over 6 years and I for 5 and Stephanie for 3. We really have a good relationship with our teacher and she has pushed us and we've grown.

I have to admit that I haven't always enjoyed playing the violin. In fact....I downright hated it for a few years. I wanted to quit. I wanted to do anything but practice. Lessons were torture and many times I'd be fighting back the tears. Why? I wasn't good enough for my standards. I didn't play just for the fun of it. No, I had to be perfect, but I wasn't. I never will be. I don't have that kind of talent for it. Instead of just accepting that and doing the very best that I can do, I just preferred to continue despising lessons and playing. But then, sometime last year, God showed me my sin in this area. He showed me the point of my playing and how fun it can be. I decided that I'd learn to love it again. After hating it for such a long time, it took a bit of effort to change my habitual bad attitude regarding it, but there has been no going back.

Stephanie is better than me, but I don't mind anymore. Last Fall in our orchestra, when we joined, Steph and I were both placed in the 2nd violin section. Then, she was moved up to the 1st section while I stayed in 2nd. I didn't mind; the 1st violin music was difficult! But then, I was also moved up to 1st and I began the challenge of learning tough pieces. I had to really work at it, but I did it; I performed our last concert sitting in the 1st violin section.

New music was passed out a few weeks ago and it's going to be a challenge. Many times I've wanted to ask if I could move back to 2nd. But, that would be giving up. I may sit in the very last chair in the 1sts, but, moving back to the 2nds would be a defeat. And there is a way to fight this-it's a lovely little word called practice. One of my goals for the summer is to practice these pieces until I know them so well that my heart doesn't skip a beat when it get to the 32nd notes in 7th position. AH!!! :-)

I thank God so very much for giving me the ability to play and the opportunity to take lessons. He pushed me through my perfectionist attitude and brought me to love this instrument. Twinkle

Twinkle Little Star was Mount Everest to me 9 years ago...but today it is an ant hill. Those 32nd notes in 7th position are a huge ocean that I have to swim today, but tomorrow...tomorrow they'll be a little grain of sand that I'll crush under my foot. Well, at least that is the hope. :-)

What is your Mount Everest? How will you climb it? Without God you'll fall time and time again like I did. But with God you'll soon be at the top and looking back at how far you've come. If you hate Mount Everest you'll miss the beauty of the climb and the satisfaction of persevering.

Climb and Conquer. With God all things are possible.

Adventure Bluegrass Festival 2007

On July 27-28, 2007, we were at the Adventure Bluegrass Festival in Stevenson, Washington. We had a wonderful time performing, meeting other bluegrass bands, jamming, and just enjoying bluegrass music.

We had fun jammin'.

Performing at the Skamania Lodge.

The Emmons Sisters with the Grascals

The Emmons Sisters with the Steep Canyon Rangers

The Shoe

I am propped on the front porch,

down beside the scarlet impatiens.
Glazed in dew, I await eight o' clock
when I will emerge as a needed possession.
The trials I face, such as
malodorous socks, are objectively little
compared to the high society with which I step out.
I find rumors of abandonment and rejection
to be impractical and unimaginable
knowing my value as I do.
My job security is exceptionally favored
among the socks seeking my protection.
Have I anything to fear
besides an occasional puddle?
Daily, my twin and I serve together,
bearing the weight of the world.

-Christina Emmons

Question: Who is the painting by?

Growers Market

Well, it's nice to be back at the market! Downtown, there is a Saturday Growers Market, and for the past few years we have been performing there. Last summer our Saturdays were booked at other places, so we were sadly only able to make a few weeks.

It felt wonderfully nice to get around early and drive down there and set up. The weather was beautiful and the perfect day to sing! The market was bustling with many, many, people and it was good to see some of our friends who sell goods there.

I hear it is going to rain next Saturday, but if it doesn't, you might find us downtown playing. Come on down and see!

-Victoria

Friendship Quotes

A. "A friend hears the song in my heart and sings it to me when my memory fails." -Anonymous

B. "True friendship comes when silence between two people is comfortable." -Dave Tyson Gentry

C. "Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival." -C.S. Lewis

D. "Those truly linked don't need correspondence. When they meet again after many years apart, Their friendship is as true as ever." -E. B. White

E. "A true friend shares freely, advises justly, assists readily, adventures boldly, takes all patiently, defends courageously, and continues a friend unchangeably." -William Penn

F. "A good friend remembers what we were and sees what we can be." -Anonymous

G. "What is a friend? I will tell you...it is someone with whom you dare to be yourself." -Frank Crane

H. "Don't be dismayed at good-byes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetimes, is certain for those who are friends." -Richard Bach

I. "How lucky I am to have known someone who was so hard to say goodbye to." -Unknown

Posted by Natalie.

Playing Around...Practicing in California

February, 2007
Posted by Victoria

San Francisco Bluegrass and Old-Time Festival

San Francisco, California

February 8, 2007

An edible gift from some wonderful friends.

Posted by Victoria