I’ve been meaning to write a blog for quite a while, but it’s been CRAZY tring to find time! I’m enjoying all my classes (especially Music Theory and Aural Skills), but there is one class that I don’t like, and that’s biology. I was looking forward to taking biology because I am interested in learning about life, but I hadn’t expected exactly what this class includes A LOT of–evolution. Since I went to a private, Christian school from kindergarten through 12th grade, I have never been taught evolution. I’ve learned about it, and I’m familiar with what it is, but I was never taught it as fact.

My biology professor LOVES evolution. He’s already brought it into the lectures along with his favorite saying–”It doesn’t matter what you believe. Your beliefs have NOTHING to do with the facts of science, and they don’t change the facts of science.” Yeah, we hear that about every day. Needless to say, I don’t like the professor very much. He rambles on and on and acts like he knows what he’s talking about while I sit there thinking, “You have NO idea what you’re talking about.”

It makes me sad that so many people believe that evolution is true. It’s ridiculous. My professor teaches it like it’s fact and they know FOR SURE that it’s true, when really they don’t. It reminds me of 2 Corinthians 4:4, which says, “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” Satan will take any little thing to turn people away from God, and I see him doing that here. So many people are taught evolution in elementary school. No wonder they believe it. They don’t know anything else. Only God is able to remove the blinders from their eyes so they can see His truth.

I don’t think anything I say to my professor will make him change his mind, but God can. Of course, I have to sit through his class all semester and learn evolution so I can do well on the tests. Even though I will probably be boiling in my seat hearing him teach these things, it will be good for me to learn the lies that are being taught. Hopefully I will learn how to counter evolution better as a result.

I guess I really had no reason to worry about not making the USO (University Symphony Orchestra) again this year. I had a pretty good audition yesterday, and afterwards Dr. Guyver said, “See you Monday in Studio B”!!!! So then I knew that I was still in it. Mr. Fuchs was very encouraging too. He told me that it was good to hear me play again. I am 10th chair out of 13 second violins! There are TONS of new seconds this year, and my stand partner is this new guy. So I’m excited to make lots of new orchestra friends! I’m all moved in now with my two roommates, and we’ve been having lots of fun! The only bad thing right now is my allergies. They’re HORRIBLE! I’ve had a headache for about a week now, my eyes are red and itchy and I sneeze a lot. But that’s okay. I’m glad to be back in Greeley and once again a member of the USO.

Oh, yes, I musn’t forget my moving tradition–going to the French bakery! Yum yum! So after I eat my DELICIOUS pastries, THEN I’ll be on my way.

Well, I am all packed and ready to move to Greeley tomorrow! I am EXTREMELY excited to move in with Loni and Ashley, and I can’t wait to see all my friends again! Not so excited about the orchestra audition, but hey, when you’re involved in music, it’s a part of life. I’ve practiced a lot this summer, and I can tell that I’ve improved. It was hard to work on things a lot of times during the school year cuz Kim would tell me SO many things to work on all at once, but this summer I’ve had a chance to catch up and work on the things she helped me with. I had a really good practice tonight, and I can play a lot of the stuff up to tempo (except the 4th movement of the Mozart–whew! SOOO fast!).

I just can’t say enough HOW MUCH I love music! We did so many fun things on our trip, but I think the moment I enjoyed THE MOST out of everything was last Friday night when we had a “concert” at the Gerlachs’ house. It was my idea. I had brought a couple duets along, and I thought it would be fun to play with Becca and Jessica. So we did violin and flute trios. I also played the Rachmaninoff piece I learned last semester–a solo! I’m surprised at myself that I even wanted to play it, but I REALLY felt like performing that night. I actually found that I WANTED people to listen to me, even when I practiced. That was no problem because there were so many people around all the time. It probably would have been impossible for me to be alone if I wanted that. Grandpa Chuck absolutely LOVED my playing. He could tell that I’ve gotten better, and he kept asking me “so, do you think you’ll get a job performing soon?” and “are you recording yet?” LOL I’m not THAT good! Anyway, back to Friday night. After our performing we had a worship time. Jessica or I played the chords on the piano, John and Nathaniel played guitar, and the rest of us sang. It was SO much fun. I can’t even describe it. The Gerlachs are so much like family, and even though we usually only see them like once a year, we are always so close when we’re together. I loved having all of us together in that little “music” room playing music together and singing. I even got my violin out and played special parts when Jessica was playing piano. It was SO awesome!

This is kind of a random blog, but it was SUPPOSED to be about me leaving for college tomorrow. I remember last year I was sad and nervous. The first night there was HORRIBLE. Katherine wasn’t there yet, and I was all alone in a strange place. Wow. This year will be different for sure–I’ll be with Ashley Tippie! And then Loni is coming on Friday! I’m so excited! I’ve really missed them this summer. I made so many good friends last year, and I can’t wait to be with them all again. But I will miss my family a lot too. I’ll have to ask Daddy questions over the phone, no more drinking vanilla tea on the patio with Mommy while we read our books (Mommy, I’m NOT trying to make you cry–we’ll do it again when I’m home), no more late night talks with Bosling (my nickname for Becca–don’t ask), no more working out in the basement while John plays his Cameroon choir music, and little Steve…half the summer it was just me and him at home with John and Becca away on mission trips. I’ve had so much fun with him, and he’s so cute! I’ll miss him tons! Oh, and Sydney! No more bedtime scratches for her for a while. But I’m ready for my second year of college! So here I go!

Some more pictures from the trip:

Stephen singing in his “microphone”–John’s foot!

Josh with his African shirt

playing in the fountains!

early inhabitants?

cousins Stephen and Aaron

Shoshi’s “Little Teapot” pose

Happy 50th Anniversary Grandpa Chuck and Grammie Sue!!!

me and my mommy

Stephen’s driving!

Becca, Jess and me

party with Mommy’s friends from high school!

Stephen and Nathaniel

Daddy and “Uncle” Eddie

Jayne and Mommy–best friends from high school!

posing

sleeping on the LONG drive home