2 Posts in one day!
I know...hard to believe after a long hiatus, I have 2 posts in one day. But, don't get your hopes up, this is just a small one.
Earlier this week, I won my very first blog giveaway! What an exciting way to wake up on Tuesday morning, with an email from Sabrina, a FABULOUS photographer that goes to church with me downtown, letting me know that I had won! It's her birthday week and she decided to giveaway something from a company every day this week, and spotlight companies that give back. Monday's company was fashionABLE , an amazing company that I heard about a few weeks ago. For the 3 of you that read this, go check it out and buy a scarf! If not, definitely read their story...very impressive.
I cannot wait to receive my scarf! I chose the ecru charcoal and will have to budget some more of these into my wardrobe.
Happy Friday - enjoy it :)
until -
Whassy
Friday, October 26, 2012
Worship vs Performance
So, confession, I started writing this blog post over a month ago, but got distracted and obviously never did, but it is something that has weighed on my mind a lot lately, so I thought I would blab on about on this blog that no one reads :)
I spent most of my life performing. My mother says that my personality was very apparent at an early age, saying that anytime we were out, even while I was still in a stroller, I wanted my presence to be known, I wanted everyone to know that I was there. That personality lent itself well to the talent of singing that I seemed to be gifted with from a very early age. Not only singing, but performing. My parents purchased a video camera when I was about 6 or 7 years old and every single time the camera was on, I found a way to be directly in front of it. One of the funniest examples of this is when my sister and her friend, Shelly, also a performer, were singing to Janet Jackson’s Escapade. You can see me clearly stick my head out of my bedroom door down the hallway, see the red ‘record’ light lit on the camcorder and race down the hallway, sliding in front of the camera to be the star of the show. That story repeats itself one way or another throughout most of my life. Performing has always been second nature to me, like a 6th sense that I just sank into whenever I needed to, on stage or not.
But over the last 6 years, I have done very little “performing,” in the strictest since. I probably sing now more than I ever did before, but it’s a different use of my gifts. Since joining Grace Church 6 years ago when I moved back to Greenville for a new job, I have been on the worship team. I have been a member of the worship team for 5 years now, but let me tell you, I still am terrified every time I sing. It's a completely different feeling. You're standing up there, in front of a microphone, on a stage, in front of hundreds of people, sounds a lot like a performance, right? Wrong. When I'm on stage for worship, my job is to help lead the congregation in song and praise. It's not about my hitting the money note, or flashing a smile at just the right time. It's not about me at all. I am just a vessel, blessed to be able to use the talents and gifts He has given me. It is one of the most bizarre feelings I have ever experienced, and it's not something I think I could really describe, but knowing that there is another force coming off of me, like a "Holy spirit filter" in front of my mouth, filtering the sound and projecting it across the congregation. When I used to perform all the time, I would gauge how I sounded by the looks on people's faces or the amount of applause I got during the song, or a standing ovation at the end. I almost expected it and if that didn't happen, I would wonder what I could have done differently. Now, when I sing in worship, I don't think about any of those things. My view is beautiful, as I watch my church, worship corporately. I am truly blessed.
Enough babbling for now...I could go on for paragraphs, but I shall refrain...at least for now :)
To any of my former LJ Singers - "You might not recognize me without my tulip applique dress and my cordless microphone, but I a Lake Junaluska Singer."
Until then --
Whassy
I spent most of my life performing. My mother says that my personality was very apparent at an early age, saying that anytime we were out, even while I was still in a stroller, I wanted my presence to be known, I wanted everyone to know that I was there. That personality lent itself well to the talent of singing that I seemed to be gifted with from a very early age. Not only singing, but performing. My parents purchased a video camera when I was about 6 or 7 years old and every single time the camera was on, I found a way to be directly in front of it. One of the funniest examples of this is when my sister and her friend, Shelly, also a performer, were singing to Janet Jackson’s Escapade. You can see me clearly stick my head out of my bedroom door down the hallway, see the red ‘record’ light lit on the camcorder and race down the hallway, sliding in front of the camera to be the star of the show. That story repeats itself one way or another throughout most of my life. Performing has always been second nature to me, like a 6th sense that I just sank into whenever I needed to, on stage or not.
But over the last 6 years, I have done very little “performing,” in the strictest since. I probably sing now more than I ever did before, but it’s a different use of my gifts. Since joining Grace Church 6 years ago when I moved back to Greenville for a new job, I have been on the worship team. I have been a member of the worship team for 5 years now, but let me tell you, I still am terrified every time I sing. It's a completely different feeling. You're standing up there, in front of a microphone, on a stage, in front of hundreds of people, sounds a lot like a performance, right? Wrong. When I'm on stage for worship, my job is to help lead the congregation in song and praise. It's not about my hitting the money note, or flashing a smile at just the right time. It's not about me at all. I am just a vessel, blessed to be able to use the talents and gifts He has given me. It is one of the most bizarre feelings I have ever experienced, and it's not something I think I could really describe, but knowing that there is another force coming off of me, like a "Holy spirit filter" in front of my mouth, filtering the sound and projecting it across the congregation. When I used to perform all the time, I would gauge how I sounded by the looks on people's faces or the amount of applause I got during the song, or a standing ovation at the end. I almost expected it and if that didn't happen, I would wonder what I could have done differently. Now, when I sing in worship, I don't think about any of those things. My view is beautiful, as I watch my church, worship corporately. I am truly blessed.
Enough babbling for now...I could go on for paragraphs, but I shall refrain...at least for now :)
To any of my former LJ Singers - "You might not recognize me without my tulip applique dress and my cordless microphone, but I a Lake Junaluska Singer."
Until then --
Whassy
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Are you there blog world?! It's me, Whassy!
Hey there blog world. I know it's been months and months, but I'm still here. I promise. Life has just been busy. So many things have changed, and I need to update the blog with all that as changed, most notably the big move to The Abbey. It sounds fancy, but I'll explain in more detail later. Hopefully even give a little house tour. Just know that all is well, I am good, and I am still Whassy.
Until next time...a photo from the big of event of July...the Peden Reunion.
Whas
Until next time...a photo from the big of event of July...the Peden Reunion.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Should I stay or Should I go?
That seems to always be the question...should I stay or should I go? I ask that question all the time, regarding my job, my apartment, Greenville...South Carolina....it's always a gigantic billboard in the hamster wheel that is my brain. Don't get me wrong...I LOVE the south, especially South Carolina, and even more special in my heart is the place I've called home my entire life...Greenville. I've watched this city grow up, along with me, and I love walking downtown, or seeing the Blue Ride mtns on my drive to work. It's a beautiful and majestic place. However, there are some other cites that I have always loved, and most of those cities are in the great state of Tennessee.
When I was in the 4th grade, my entire family went to Nashville for our family vacation. I can remember feeling like I was home, for lack of a better word, as soon as I stepped out of the car. We went on a dinner cruise on the General Jackson and as soon as they started playing Rocky Top, I rushed to the stage and danced like a crazy woman. Luckily, I was only 9, so I got a way with acting slightly insane and it coming across as cute. Over the years, I have travelled to many cities in the Volunteer state and have loved most of them. I spent a lot of time in Chattanooga, working with the Glenn Draper Singers/Junaluska Singers, and recruiting students there while I was working at Converse. I loved wandering around downtown and walking over to Coolidge Park. It's a very artsy/fartsy city, nestled in the gorgeous valley of the mountains. There's also a period of my life where I spent almost all of my weekends in Knoxville, while dating a real live UT boy, who we lovingly refer to now as He Who Must not be named. Even during that, I loved going down to the Old City and loved the summer I interned at Knox Opera.
Even after all of that, Nashville is still my favorite city in Tennessee, and probably my next favorite city after Greenville. It's one of the first cities I learned to navigate, sans map and Garmin. The Whas-Whas prevails over the streets of Nashville! (my niece and nephew refer to me as Whassy, therefore Whas-Whas when I am rockin' my amazing sense of direction.)
I loved spending my falls wandering through the streets of Franklin and my annual visits to Battle Ground Academy, where I recruited my first student. There's something so unbelievably vibrant about the city, but something that is so quintessentially southern. What an amazing combination!
I rant on and on about this because I can't help but think....sometimes I want to just pack it all up and move there. Really with no plan at all...of course the city is pulsing with the greatest music, and how much I would love to be a part of that. How, I feel most like myself when I'm singing and surrounding myself with music...but I don't know if that's where I should be. Am I chasing after dreams that I should have lived 10 years ago, am I finally reaching out to the place where I need to be and where God wants me to be or am I just living with my head in the clouds....I'm not sure which one it is, but I'm definitely thinking about it.
So...until then blogesphere...I remain in G-Vegas...enjoying this gloomy day at home, in my PJ's, catching up on the new fall shows on my DVR, while enjoying a mandatory work from home day.
Until then --
Whassy
When I was in the 4th grade, my entire family went to Nashville for our family vacation. I can remember feeling like I was home, for lack of a better word, as soon as I stepped out of the car. We went on a dinner cruise on the General Jackson and as soon as they started playing Rocky Top, I rushed to the stage and danced like a crazy woman. Luckily, I was only 9, so I got a way with acting slightly insane and it coming across as cute. Over the years, I have travelled to many cities in the Volunteer state and have loved most of them. I spent a lot of time in Chattanooga, working with the Glenn Draper Singers/Junaluska Singers, and recruiting students there while I was working at Converse. I loved wandering around downtown and walking over to Coolidge Park. It's a very artsy/fartsy city, nestled in the gorgeous valley of the mountains. There's also a period of my life where I spent almost all of my weekends in Knoxville, while dating a real live UT boy, who we lovingly refer to now as He Who Must not be named. Even during that, I loved going down to the Old City and loved the summer I interned at Knox Opera.
Even after all of that, Nashville is still my favorite city in Tennessee, and probably my next favorite city after Greenville. It's one of the first cities I learned to navigate, sans map and Garmin. The Whas-Whas prevails over the streets of Nashville! (my niece and nephew refer to me as Whassy, therefore Whas-Whas when I am rockin' my amazing sense of direction.)
I loved spending my falls wandering through the streets of Franklin and my annual visits to Battle Ground Academy, where I recruited my first student. There's something so unbelievably vibrant about the city, but something that is so quintessentially southern. What an amazing combination!
I rant on and on about this because I can't help but think....sometimes I want to just pack it all up and move there. Really with no plan at all...of course the city is pulsing with the greatest music, and how much I would love to be a part of that. How, I feel most like myself when I'm singing and surrounding myself with music...but I don't know if that's where I should be. Am I chasing after dreams that I should have lived 10 years ago, am I finally reaching out to the place where I need to be and where God wants me to be or am I just living with my head in the clouds....I'm not sure which one it is, but I'm definitely thinking about it.
So...until then blogesphere...I remain in G-Vegas...enjoying this gloomy day at home, in my PJ's, catching up on the new fall shows on my DVR, while enjoying a mandatory work from home day.
Until then --
Whassy
Monday, August 15, 2011
Reoccurring dream...
First, a point of disclosure. I have crazy dreams. I always have, for as long as I can remember. My most favorite dream is a classic depiction of my personality and take on life. I was at camp, where I spent most of my summers in high school, and a good friend was looking everywhere for me and couldn't find me. When he finally did, he handed me a gorgeous silver necklace, which was all the rage, circa 1998. As soon as he gave it to me, I frantically searched the camp for a frying pan. So frantic, that I could actually feel the panic I was going through in my sleep. FINALLY, I found that elusive frying pan and immediately placed my brand new silver necklace into it. After a few seconds, the beautiful necklace had melted, not into silver, however, but into cheese. I'm not talking creamy goat cheese or a lovely brie, I'm talking government cheese here people. The one with an odd orange tint to it, you know? Well this dream had me in a tizzy the next morning, so I sought out the advice of my sage mentor at the time, and she unveiled a seemingly perfect explanation of the dream. I take the good things in life, and turn them into cheese. Well, maybe not cheese exactly , but definitely something lesser than the good that the thing/situation/opportunity really is.
All that to say...I have crazy dreams, as evidenced above, but never have I had a reoccurring dream for as long as I can remember. The strange thing about this "reoccurring" dream, is that the situation is not what is reoccurring, but the starring character. I have had over a handful of dreams about this guy I grew up with. I believe I have literally known him my entire life. His family is good friends with my family, and when you grown up in such a small town, you pretty much knew everyone around. I have stayed connected with this person, but not as much as I would have hoped over the years. The even more disturbing thing...most of the dreams involve marriage or a relationship of some kind. The first being a reality competition, that he never knew about, but showed up at the altar. Even stranger still...I remember the feeling of when he took me in his arms and knowing without a shadow of a doubt, he was the one I was supposed to be with. Another one, where during the rehearsal, I had no idea who the groom was, and he didn't reveal himself until I met him at the altar.
The one last night might be the most bizarre yet. No marriage this time, but a trip with my small group from church. That group of people is like my extended family, so that is a major step, even in my dream world. Bu this time, we weren't together, just there as friends.
Now, I am by no means claiming to be prophetic in my dreams, not at all. I don't even own a technicolor dream coat. I'm just confused. What does this all mean?! Am I just being tormented in my sleep by my subconscious psyche, does this represent some grander/metaphoric meaning, or am I simply just very entertaining when I sleep? Like a good movie marathon on TBS? Who knows?! I surely do not. Nevertheless...this makes for great cocktail party conversation...now if I could just find a few more to attend...
Later folks...hope to post some poignant blogs later on today.
Until then ---
Whassy
All that to say...I have crazy dreams, as evidenced above, but never have I had a reoccurring dream for as long as I can remember. The strange thing about this "reoccurring" dream, is that the situation is not what is reoccurring, but the starring character. I have had over a handful of dreams about this guy I grew up with. I believe I have literally known him my entire life. His family is good friends with my family, and when you grown up in such a small town, you pretty much knew everyone around. I have stayed connected with this person, but not as much as I would have hoped over the years. The even more disturbing thing...most of the dreams involve marriage or a relationship of some kind. The first being a reality competition, that he never knew about, but showed up at the altar. Even stranger still...I remember the feeling of when he took me in his arms and knowing without a shadow of a doubt, he was the one I was supposed to be with. Another one, where during the rehearsal, I had no idea who the groom was, and he didn't reveal himself until I met him at the altar.
The one last night might be the most bizarre yet. No marriage this time, but a trip with my small group from church. That group of people is like my extended family, so that is a major step, even in my dream world. Bu this time, we weren't together, just there as friends.
Now, I am by no means claiming to be prophetic in my dreams, not at all. I don't even own a technicolor dream coat. I'm just confused. What does this all mean?! Am I just being tormented in my sleep by my subconscious psyche, does this represent some grander/metaphoric meaning, or am I simply just very entertaining when I sleep? Like a good movie marathon on TBS? Who knows?! I surely do not. Nevertheless...this makes for great cocktail party conversation...now if I could just find a few more to attend...
Later folks...hope to post some poignant blogs later on today.
Until then ---
Whassy
Monday, August 1, 2011
What a day...
So, today is not my favorite day. We have 3 people here out of a team of 6. This definitely has the makings for a not fun day and I've already cried thrice! I hate being a girl. BTW...I'm pretty sure my job is slowly eating away at my soul...but I'm heavy duty praying about what God wants me to do. Do I suck it up and keep going, or make some gigantic leap of faith and do something totally off the wall, but entirely all that I want to do? I still don't know, but I'm not discouraged, just confused and praying that I make the right decision.
Back to reality that is this day now.
Whas
Back to reality that is this day now.
Whas
Monday, June 20, 2011
It's time for a change
It's official - Changing my blog URL to Life as Whassy. I feel like that name really portrays more of what this blog is about. That's all for now. Be back soon with more posts. I have lots of ideas running around in my head!
Whassy
Whassy
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