simple joys.

i am putting off taking my online french midterm. i am still up in the air if taking french online was a good idea, but it was definitely a necessity. i'm more of an interactive, classroom learning type of person. online coursework and i do not mix well.

i'm attempting to sing every day, and this altitude has really affected my voice! breathing isn't really an issue anymore. i have rarely been short of breath today. i have had a headache for awhile and the inside of my nostrils and sinuses feel like the sahara desert. i'm going to try listening and miming through some of my music tonight...as i feel pretty icky and am currently drinking a wonderful cup of throat coat. according to my incredibly intelligent friends at the cleveland institute of music, a singer should not sing after consuming this healing tea. i honestly don't know what i'd do without those great people. just fyi: the tea has a relaxing/numbing agent that coats the muscles of your throat. you could potentially do some damage to your vocal mechanism because your muscles are slightly numb. so, although tonight is a bit more low key, i'm definitely not complaining!

this blog is titled simple joys, and here's why: i had no big adventure, but experienced a lot of little blessings during my day here in the beautiful aspen, colorado.
here are some of my simple joy highlights:

1. greek yogurt and colorado honey for breakfast. the honey is raw and unfiltered and is the sweetest honey i've ever had! oh yum!
2. daisy, my adopted golden retriever, is the sweetest pup there is.
3. 70 degrees and sunny. enough said.
4. there is nothing like the beauty, power, sight and sound of flowing water. perhaps this is one reason why the Lord instructed us to baptize from flowing water.
5. free public transportation with really friendly drivers.
6. the best cafe latte i've had since i was in florence, italy with my wonderful college choir
7. a coffee maker, a ceramic bowl, a wicker basket = $5.
8. the fact that my kroger plus card works at the grocery store here.

i cannot believe that i am here still. and i cannot believe the spirit of peace, joy, and contentment the Lord has been giving me. i can't remember when i have experienced this much solitude and genuinely enjoyed it. i am an extrovert and a bit of a home-body. i love companionship. i like change, but it is difficult for me to adjust at first. this time of change has had a peculiar ease, and i'm incredibly thankful for it. i'm praying that as the school and festival start, and things will become challenging and stressful, i will continue to center myself in Jesus and the peace that he gives. i think this is true for people in all walks of life: worrying doesn't add anything [positive] to your life.

thanks for sticking through to the end of this post. :)

[ be still and know that i am God. psalm 46:10]

.samantha.