I love when this popped up in my email. It's hard to imagine that they sang this individually without hearing each other, in their own homes (during a distance learning, at home day) and then it was put together into this.
Abigail is on the right side. And even though I will miss (terribly) the concerts of the Holiday season I will soak up any videos sent my way.
Scott and I just completed a parent letter of recommendation for our daughter's college application.
We poured over each word and tried so hard to let them see what we see in Anna - in just one essay.
How is that even possible? Our darling daughter.
Man, I hope our words brought life to her already wonderful application.
I am so over the moon thrilled for my girl as she has started this next stage of her life. I feel gratitude for God clearing paths in her life. I feel sadness that little days are long gone. I feel complete and utter joy for the future He holds.
I love you Anna Jinag Qian more than you can imagine. We all do.
We had such a fun, perfect, relaxing Friday after a looooooong week of fun, tiring, tricky teaching.
Scott went with the girls to one of our speciality grocery stores and bought a ton of fun foods and they made this charcuterie board for us to enjoy while watching a Christmas movie. They made the boards so pretty and fancy while I sewed two sink curtains for Christmas. I know it seems crazy to teach all week and jump into a project that I have to concentrate to do (like sewing) but it's wonderful for me to do something so different from my classroom.
This was Abigail's (non allergic) charcuterie board. She was so excited and she was so sweet.
And to top it all off, after showers (and no makeup) and cozy pjs (with flannel sheets on the beds... yeah) we decorated the tree that is at the top of the stairs. It holds all of the family ornaments... trips we've taken, one for every year that the girls picked out... for sure, lots of memories on this tree.
Such a fun family night
I know I've been documenting a lot of this stage with Anna but I don't want to miss or forget one little bit!
Today she submitted to her top choice college. And this was the moment!
Scott was right by her side this night and was every step of the way. The hours they spent together are countless.
She has been working on the essays, her Commmon Ap, all of it for over a year!
Well over a year! I love her so much and am so proud of her.
It's hard to believe, really. Wasn't she just holding my hand and holding in tears as she walked into kindergarten?
Well what a week it has been. Lovely in my classroom. Lovely in my home. Not so lovely in the news. We are hoping for this to all be over soon {yes, all of his craziness to be over soon} and for Joe Biden to begin to make plans toward the White House in January. But goodness, it's not over until he put his hand on that Bible... I can't wait!
I thought it would be lovely to put something so different on the blog of mine. Something musical. There is magic in music.
Let me 'set the stage' for you {so to speak}
In Anna's applications to colleges she is including some of her extraordinary viola playing. We decided to record her on the stage in Scott's school. Lights on, concert attire, empty audience.
And so to take you minds off of the world right now, place yourself in a seat right here {turn up your volume} and listen to a seventeen year old and her viola. There is no background piano. No conductor. Just Anna and her strings. {and about 13 years of Suzuki training in her heart}
If you'd like to leave a comment I'll be sure to pass it along to Anna. Just scroll down and click comment. It will say 'needs to be approved by the author' and I'll see it first in my email. Don't worry, I'll click yes and add it to the blog.
I can't really explain how much 'work' being a senior in high school is. I suppose it doesn't have to be. She could take all easy classes. She could just watch shows all night. She could not apply to college. But not only is that not an option in our home - it is not something that would ever occur to her. She is driven and hard working. She is taking 5 AP classes and holding an over 4.0 average. She is in the highest level orchestra, Solisti, and she is living her best life right now. So many dreams have come true for our little girl, and so many more just about to as she finalizes applying to colleges. I am so very proud of her.
Recently, just before it snowed! I whisked her off for a 15 minute senior photoshoot. My thought was to capture one picture in the fall, one in the winter, one in the spring. I only really need one so if I do a photoshoot in each season I should be able to capture just the one that we all love.
I have so many to edit but for now... here is Anna as a senior in high school.
I've known since she was 5 that she'd be holding a viola in her hands for her senior photos. In fact, I can't imagine that viola not in her hands.
Oh my goodness!
And just so that I remember I love the time that she is spending with Abigail on all of her short days and all of the days she's home on hybrid weeks. They have a such a lovely routine and and been together so much. I am grateful for so so much.
Also, just for me to remember, this was the 3rd mentoring/discipling morning Anna and I spent together. She and I .... every weekend in this last year home.
