Good grief! A month long update!
So, it has been ions since I've updated... Lots has happened, so here's a recap!
Engineers Without Borders Silent Auction went well. We raised almost $1300! It was exciting! The trip to Kenya is coming sooner than I am probably ready. When I get back from break, it's going to be in full swing. I have two more fundraisers to organize, and then it's time for the trip. Gosh, it's going to be awesome! I can't wait!
I hosted some prospectives! That was lots of fun! Two of them are coming to Valpo I think! YAY!!! Kevin and his dad stopped by too on the day that they were visiting Notre Dame. We went out to eat and hung out for awhile. It was really nice to see him.
My choir sang at Transfiguration Vespers at the Chapel! It was an amazing service! We had lots of powerful pieces that went really well. It was our first time performing some of them, so it's nice to know that you worked hard and sang the songs well.
Kelsey and Leah came over for the night on their way back to RF from GVSU! I was going to go with them to GVSU to see/hear Duffy, but the weekend was really busy for me. :( I'll get up there sometime soon, ok friends at GVSU? I promise! But the time with Kelsey and Leah was fun! They got to meet lots of our friends and hang out with them. It was sweet!!!
I GOT MY BIG!!! We had our big/little reveal the last week in February! I'm so proud to announce that my big is Erin Dalpini! She's amazing, incredible, and unbelievable! I love her to death, can you tell??? And everyone says that we are twins, so that's pretty sweet! Check out the pictures on facebook and let me know what you think!
We had a sorority bowling night on March 2nd. It was cool because we had blind dates! We paired up with another member of the sorority and picked a date for each other. Jessica and I paired up. I picked Yar for her, and she picked Chris Jarchow for me! It was lots of fun even though I didn't do too well bowling... :)
School is going OK. Getting a little more uncertain about my choice of major. Is that normal? Perhaps. I'm kinda just flying now and seeing what happens. I'm not sure if it's a calling to something else or if I just am looking ahead at all of the work that I don't want to have to do, but it's definitely in my head. I'm praying lots about this...
SPRING BREAK finally came!!! And what better way to start SB other than KANTOREI TOUR 2006?!?!?! Oh man, good times were had on that trip! We went to Ohio first and sang at a Renewing Worship workshop (We even sang an encore!) They served us Jimmy John's for lunch! Mmmm... it was delicious (especially the pickles, right, John?). We also played a great game of Moose, Moose, Machow!
The next day was in Ohio also. We sang for a church service and a concert in two different places! It was a busy day to say the least. But who can complain when the church held a HUGE potluck for us? Seriously, it was unbelievable! The good ol' Lutheran tradition holds fast! :)
Then Monday came, and our next stop was.... LUTHERAN WESTLAND! We sang at the Lutheran Schools Week assembly. It was so sweet to sing at it. Thanks to Megs, Ruthie, Kelsey, and Christopher for coming out to hear us! When all of the grade schoolers, high schoolers, and college choir sang "The First Song of Isaiah" together - gosh, I was speechless! I've been singing that song forever it seems, and it was so neat to have it sung by such a large group. I think our other songs went over well too. People that sang Witness last year in Concert Choir didn't really like our version better. I'm not sure which one I liked better. I liked the really distinct sound of the changing rhythms that we did this year, but it was fun to sing it faster. After the assembly, Mrs. Storck surprised me with presenting me with the Regional Thrivant Youth of the Year award. It was really nice to have my college and high school friends there for it. My choir then went over to Westland mall (yeah, I know) for some free time while I stayed back at Westland to talk to some people. It was a nice afternoon. Around 4, we headed over to GUARDIAN! They fed us dinner (sloppy joes and an amazing salad and fruit bar), we hung out for a bit, and then sang! The service went well, and there were lots of people there. I can't even tell you how cool it was to have Valpo at home! My choir has dubbed March 6 "Day in the Life of Elyse Gieschen" Day. haha I got to sleep at home Monday night because we were staying at host homes. It was really nice to sleep in my own bed.
The next day was spent on a bus to Batavia, IL (the home of my wonderful big!)! I spent the ride talking to Joel Funk, my new-found friend! Gosh, we really got to know each other well on this trip, and it was an amazing pleasure to do so. He calls me his "ball of energy"! hehe We spent a lot of time together on the bus, at the churches, and in the back row with Erin! Good times... We had the afternoon at Navy Pier to do whatever we wanted. A group of us went to Bubba Gumps (the Forrest Gump restaurant). It was delicious! Then, Christine, Mary, Joel, and I made a Build-a-Bear for Dr. Brugh called "Baby Babs". She loved it. Then we went to Erin's church in Batavia. It was so nice! I was so glad to get to meet her mom and see her church. We sang well too! It was a good end to the tour.
I can't even tell you how great of a time I had on tour. Before we left, I really thought that by Wednesday I would be ready to just get home, but it was just the opposite. I wanted to be home (don't get me wrong), but being with my choir friends was so much fun. I didn't want it to end! Kantorei is full of caring, loving, and fun people that have made my Kantorei experience irreplaceable. YAY for KANTOREI!
On Wednesday morning, we headed back to Valpo. Kris took me from there to Ypsilanti, and my dad picked me up from there to take me home for a whole week and a half! It has been a good week and a half too. I've been working, and it has been nice. I love the people I work with. I've been hanging out with friends too which has been good. I've had some fun nights with them for sure!
I have to say, it is good to be back at Guardian. It's a totally different place from when I left for school. I feel like I am getting so much more out of it now than I ever did before. Church was enlightening, not informative, Bible study was interesting and fresh, and the people seem happy and are delightful! What a blessing!
A few more days until I head back to Valpo! Let me know if you want to hang out!
Engineers Without Borders Silent Auction went well. We raised almost $1300! It was exciting! The trip to Kenya is coming sooner than I am probably ready. When I get back from break, it's going to be in full swing. I have two more fundraisers to organize, and then it's time for the trip. Gosh, it's going to be awesome! I can't wait!
I hosted some prospectives! That was lots of fun! Two of them are coming to Valpo I think! YAY!!! Kevin and his dad stopped by too on the day that they were visiting Notre Dame. We went out to eat and hung out for awhile. It was really nice to see him.
My choir sang at Transfiguration Vespers at the Chapel! It was an amazing service! We had lots of powerful pieces that went really well. It was our first time performing some of them, so it's nice to know that you worked hard and sang the songs well.
Kelsey and Leah came over for the night on their way back to RF from GVSU! I was going to go with them to GVSU to see/hear Duffy, but the weekend was really busy for me. :( I'll get up there sometime soon, ok friends at GVSU? I promise! But the time with Kelsey and Leah was fun! They got to meet lots of our friends and hang out with them. It was sweet!!!
I GOT MY BIG!!! We had our big/little reveal the last week in February! I'm so proud to announce that my big is Erin Dalpini! She's amazing, incredible, and unbelievable! I love her to death, can you tell??? And everyone says that we are twins, so that's pretty sweet! Check out the pictures on facebook and let me know what you think!
We had a sorority bowling night on March 2nd. It was cool because we had blind dates! We paired up with another member of the sorority and picked a date for each other. Jessica and I paired up. I picked Yar for her, and she picked Chris Jarchow for me! It was lots of fun even though I didn't do too well bowling... :)
School is going OK. Getting a little more uncertain about my choice of major. Is that normal? Perhaps. I'm kinda just flying now and seeing what happens. I'm not sure if it's a calling to something else or if I just am looking ahead at all of the work that I don't want to have to do, but it's definitely in my head. I'm praying lots about this...
SPRING BREAK finally came!!! And what better way to start SB other than KANTOREI TOUR 2006?!?!?! Oh man, good times were had on that trip! We went to Ohio first and sang at a Renewing Worship workshop (We even sang an encore!) They served us Jimmy John's for lunch! Mmmm... it was delicious (especially the pickles, right, John?). We also played a great game of Moose, Moose, Machow!
The next day was in Ohio also. We sang for a church service and a concert in two different places! It was a busy day to say the least. But who can complain when the church held a HUGE potluck for us? Seriously, it was unbelievable! The good ol' Lutheran tradition holds fast! :)
Then Monday came, and our next stop was.... LUTHERAN WESTLAND! We sang at the Lutheran Schools Week assembly. It was so sweet to sing at it. Thanks to Megs, Ruthie, Kelsey, and Christopher for coming out to hear us! When all of the grade schoolers, high schoolers, and college choir sang "The First Song of Isaiah" together - gosh, I was speechless! I've been singing that song forever it seems, and it was so neat to have it sung by such a large group. I think our other songs went over well too. People that sang Witness last year in Concert Choir didn't really like our version better. I'm not sure which one I liked better. I liked the really distinct sound of the changing rhythms that we did this year, but it was fun to sing it faster. After the assembly, Mrs. Storck surprised me with presenting me with the Regional Thrivant Youth of the Year award. It was really nice to have my college and high school friends there for it. My choir then went over to Westland mall (yeah, I know) for some free time while I stayed back at Westland to talk to some people. It was a nice afternoon. Around 4, we headed over to GUARDIAN! They fed us dinner (sloppy joes and an amazing salad and fruit bar), we hung out for a bit, and then sang! The service went well, and there were lots of people there. I can't even tell you how cool it was to have Valpo at home! My choir has dubbed March 6 "Day in the Life of Elyse Gieschen" Day. haha I got to sleep at home Monday night because we were staying at host homes. It was really nice to sleep in my own bed.
The next day was spent on a bus to Batavia, IL (the home of my wonderful big!)! I spent the ride talking to Joel Funk, my new-found friend! Gosh, we really got to know each other well on this trip, and it was an amazing pleasure to do so. He calls me his "ball of energy"! hehe We spent a lot of time together on the bus, at the churches, and in the back row with Erin! Good times... We had the afternoon at Navy Pier to do whatever we wanted. A group of us went to Bubba Gumps (the Forrest Gump restaurant). It was delicious! Then, Christine, Mary, Joel, and I made a Build-a-Bear for Dr. Brugh called "Baby Babs". She loved it. Then we went to Erin's church in Batavia. It was so nice! I was so glad to get to meet her mom and see her church. We sang well too! It was a good end to the tour.
I can't even tell you how great of a time I had on tour. Before we left, I really thought that by Wednesday I would be ready to just get home, but it was just the opposite. I wanted to be home (don't get me wrong), but being with my choir friends was so much fun. I didn't want it to end! Kantorei is full of caring, loving, and fun people that have made my Kantorei experience irreplaceable. YAY for KANTOREI!
On Wednesday morning, we headed back to Valpo. Kris took me from there to Ypsilanti, and my dad picked me up from there to take me home for a whole week and a half! It has been a good week and a half too. I've been working, and it has been nice. I love the people I work with. I've been hanging out with friends too which has been good. I've had some fun nights with them for sure!
I have to say, it is good to be back at Guardian. It's a totally different place from when I left for school. I feel like I am getting so much more out of it now than I ever did before. Church was enlightening, not informative, Bible study was interesting and fresh, and the people seem happy and are delightful! What a blessing!
A few more days until I head back to Valpo! Let me know if you want to hang out!