Facebook added a new feature to their site. Not sure if you've seen it yet, but it's located on the right side (where they generally have nonsense ads and such) and it's called, "On this day..." It shows status updates from you and your friends exactly a year ago from the day. This feature is amazing for sentimental types, like myself. :) I laughed when I saw my status update from a year ago. It made me thankful for where I am today... and also a bit relieved! No more school for me. Although, I will definitely miss the peaceful, country drive to Graceville each morning.

Over a year and a half ago, I wanted to start a new series on this blog called "Behind the Music." After one post, I gave up. I know that God wanted me to share these stories... but I still struggled with being so vulnerable. I felt God nudge my heart again to share what He's done in and through my life... so almost 5 months ago I tried to smooth it over by doing a "Behind the Music - New Day EP" recap and gave one sentence summaries of all the songs on the album.  But God has convicted my heart of silence. What good would it do for me to write songs and share them with people, without sharing the reason for which I sing? The pain and hurt and all that is behind some of these songs... may in fact be someone else's inspiration and hope. I see a world that is lost without Christ... and there's a joy that can ONLY be found in Him. I need to share that. I want others to know that without Jesus, without His grace in my life, I am nothing.

So, I'm going to try again. This week, I'll be posting my second entry in my "Behind the Music" blog series. I'm going to be real and vulnerable and share these stories, with the hope that someone out there will be encouraged.

If you missed my first entry, click here to read the story behind my song, "Beauty." 

I am officially back to work. I cannot believe how fast this summer flew by! It was filled with so many wonderful trips and opportunities... I wish I could do it all over again. Instead, I am left to revisit all my blog posts of the past couple months and embrace nostalgia. But you know, I probably didn't blog enough of the great memories of this summer and for that I am very disappointed. But I am trying to change that and keep this blog updated a bit more. :) On that note... August is a sneaky, little month. 

I always forget that it's coming so soon (more like, dreading it). And this year we started back sooo early... on my mom's birthday, as a matter of fact - August 5th (public schools don't start back until the 15th). But don't feel too sorry for me, there are definitely some benefits of starting back early. We get a fall break AND a thanksgiving break, plus a pretty long Christmas break (a month long!) so I am more than content. I am loving my schedule so far too - I have four classes a day, including a high school chorus that I'm really excited about teaching (looking for great Christmas music/musicals right now, by the way, so feel free to leave me any suggestions!) I love being with kids all day, it makes me even more excited about having my own one day! Although, I've learned that my stern face comes a lot easier than I would have thought. Teaching has become a passion for me. Surprisingly so. Probably because I get to teach one of my greatest passions since I was a young girl... music. :)