to begin: aspen, colorado

hello everyone...

i have been wanting to begin a blog for awhile now, and i have finally decided that now is the time! this blog will [hopefully] chronicle my journey as an opera singer, and serve as a place for me to write on all the ways God continues to prove himself faithful. whether you believe that or not, i hope this blog will be interesting, insightful, and meaningful. i know it will be meaningful for me.

to begin: aspen. yesterday i arrived after many hours of travel in the beautiful aspen, colorado. i am here for the aspen music festival and school which runs from june 22-august 21. i have the incredible opportunity to sing alongside some of the best and learn an immense amount about this beautiful thing called music. i can hardly believe it and am so incredibly thankful! i cannot wait for the festival to begin: to begin learning and singing and building relationships with teachers and colleagues.

this morning i woke up to cloud and mist covered mountains right outside my bedroom window. i opened the window a crack and heard a rushing creek running through the small woods behind my house. i was so taken by the beauty of creation and the sound of the rushing water. water refreshes, renews, cleanses, quenches, reshapes, and re-creates. i am reminded that God is always working in me through His Holy Spirit making me new, and beckoning me to drink of the living water he offers. so much in the last year i have looked for other comforts, other strongholds to keep me stable and secure. i want to be caught up in the mighty refreshing and cleansing power of the Living Water, and stand on the mighty fortress who is my God.

i also went on an adventure by myself today--exploring downtown aspen with only a map in my hand. i wandered around and became familiar with my surroundings, enjoying every minute of it. i don't remember the last time i went on an adventure, doing something unfamiliar with no fear. too often i let myself get comfortable, enjoying the illusion of control. i want to adventure. i want to explore. life is too short to live in fear and in comfort!

to many more adventures this summer, and to much more growth!

[ for god gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self control. 2 timothy 1:7 ]

.samantha.