In our hearts and in our music...

(Note written yesterday August 30, 2011, after the passing of Dr. Virginia-Gene Rittenhouse)

My heart has been heavy today as I have tried to wrap my mind around the loss of a truly incredible lady. I say my heart, but really I think it’s all of me. There is so much to say; yet there are no words. I have just sat in silence and wept.

She was a legend, an inspiration, a rock. She was unique, feisty, and incredibly talented. She didn’t understand the meaning of “no”, this combined with her incredible vision, opened doors for remarkable opportunities and experiences.

A favorite memory is going to her house in Massachusetts and eating her famous apple crisp while she told stories of early ensemble escapades with Connie, Glee, Shawn, and others. Or how she tied with herself on violin and piano in a music competition when she was young. She would recount the stories with dramatic flourish, or wry humor. She never slowed down, she napped during concerts, on the bus, or while still standing, she was famous for calling people at 3 am, and was so determined in any pursuit that it was compelling.

I wish I could have known her better. I wish we could see the reach of the impact she has made on the world. I wish we didn’t have to say goodbyes. It is impossible to number the lives she has touched or to know just how much she has impacted mine.

My life would be very different if it were not for her. The places I have been, the people I know, the experiences I have had that would just not be if it weren’t for her.

As Dr. Bingham said in typical Australian fashion: “She broke the mold when she was born”. There will never be anyone like her again.

For those of us who knew her, we will never be the same. She has irrevocably altered our lives and in so doing left a legacy. I now have a huge network of ensemble family, many of whom I have not met, that I feel a connection to because of our shared or parallel experiences. She can never truly leave from among us because she is in each of us. She is in our memories, in our hearts, in our music.

She loved to quote Bach in saying that “Music is to be played to the glory of God and the refreshment of the spirit”. It amazed me how on tour I could be completely exhausted before the concert began, and then feel rejuvenated by the time it was through. It is amazing the way music transports and refreshes. Yet perhaps most beautiful was that driving her love of music was the mission—the greater impact she wanted to make on the world beyond those that could hear the music.

You gave your life and love, your spirit and energy, your all to the mission of music. You nurtured in me a love of music, a passion and purpose, a strength.

We miss you Dr. Rittenhouse more than you could know. Until we meet again at the biggest ever ensemble reunion…

The Brother

Siblings are our biggest fans, our greatest critics and our best friends. I am blessed to have three such best friends.

My brother was my first sibling—rather I was his, but in the history of me, this is how it is told. We became siblings together whereas the youngest sister to come along filled out the sibling unit and got three all at once.

Brothers are protectors, educators, and sages. Mine, was mostly my friend. We shared a room the first few years and had matching bedspreads. He taught me how to tie my shoes, whistle, and swing on the monkey bars.

Despite having the role of protector, my brother endangered my life on countless occasions as he sought to teach me about the world and life. We climbed trees, built dugout forts, blew things up, jumped ice floes in the river, climbed the sides of buildings to then jump off of them, and built what we then considered massive snowboard and sled jumps.

He was there to take me to drivers ed, and then college; we have traveled the world together and now we share an apartment. He is still there to share his wisdoms (whenever he is in the country). Being a frequent traveler, he has a lot to say on the subject—from what to wear, to what routings to take. One day he said I needed to dress up because people who look professional are more likely to get upgraded. The next time he told me to dress down because it was a holiday and everyone knows that only novices dress up on those days. He has opinions on baggage, what side of the plane to sit on, and what time of day to fly.

I will admit he does know what he is talking about. Between the amount he travels and his natural ability to talk his way through difficult situations he knows how to work the system. He gets free baggage, free upgrades, and frequent free tickets. We tease him that he is too spoiled to ever fly economy again with all the normal people like us. We say that he is super-elite-plus-premier-executive-star-platinum-special-dude.

The other day I was flying back to D.C. and he gave me a couple of his upgrades—allowing me to fly first class! He had done this for me once before a long time ago, but this time I got it. I got why he loves first class, I got how it can spoil you. I got it.

It is a completely different experience when you fly up there. As usual I was traveling with a lot of luggage. I had a display booth and a lot of other material with me amounting to 2 70lb bags and a heavy carry on. I breezed right up to the counter, the lady tagged my bags and cheerfully checked me in apologizing for the wait. She printed out my boarding passes and slid them into a gold envelope. I walked up to the gate and boarded before everyone else via the red carpet.

When I sat down in 2A, the flight attendant brought me a drink in a real glass and kept refilling it until I told him not to. Later they brought me a little bowl of roasted nuts, then dinner. First a cloth was draped over my tray table, then a tray of food was brought served on real dishes—a salad with a chilled salad fork wrapped in a cloth napkin!

I guess the fact that I was so mesmerized by everything is a testament to the fact that I am indeed a novice and wasn’t sure I really belonged in first class. I am used to barebones travel. I will sleep on the floor of an airport so that I don’t have to pay for a hotel, I will carry my luggage on so that I don’t have to pay baggage fees, I will bring a lunch so that I don’t have to spend money on airport food… As I stood up to walk the red carpet for my next flight, I identified with the guy sitting on the floor with his backpack eating dried fruit. I felt like a bit of an imposter walking the red carpet in sneakers and jeans. However, I think I could easily get used to this. This was just domestic; I think it’s the international flights—with the flat seats that really do you in.

I was the first one on and off the plane, I had no baggage fees, my luggage was already waiting for me when I got to baggage claim (with the priority tags, it doesn’t have to go through the conveyor like all the other luggage), they fed me, and the customer service was very attentive and accommodating. Plus you have a huge cushy seat and don’t have to share it with half the person next to you and you don’t have to fight for a place to put your carryon. What’s not to love?

What I realized though, is that it’s not just all the perks that come with first class, the people who fly first class are a different lot as well. There is a community among frequent fliers and they are jovial and interesting. The guys I was sitting next to said they were umpires and were very funny to talk to.

So here’s to you Peter-Michael: a terrific chef, logistician, and brother. We do spoil you rotten, but you deserve it. You are much loved.

Happy independence Day

This weekend I got to spend with my Shetler cousins, See the progess of their garden, and view their home fireworks show. It was great to spend time with them. Then I headed up to Philly for the day and went door-to-door with the Pennsylvania Youth Challenge and my dear friend Dana.

I love storms

While at camp meeting this past week, we experienced some storms. It was hot and humid one day, rainy the next, cold, sunny—we had everything. Well, Wednesday night I was in the teen tent and they said there was a tornado watch in effect and they were monitoring the weather. There was a significant amount of lightning and the sky started to turn color, some “cloud movement” was sighted and they decided to evacuate the kids into the basement of the auditorium. Suddenly there were hundreds of kids spilling into the basement and their leaders were frantically trying to figure out how many of the kids from their tent were there and parents were coming looking for a specific child. I stood outside for a bit watching the churning clouds and the people dashing for the shelter of the auditorium.

I love storms. I love lightning, and rain, and the sheer power of them. I understand how dangerous storms can be, but I also am quite fascinated by them. I guess I like the perspective it gives me of how small I am in the grand scheme of things…how great God is…

I think I really fell in love with storms when I was living in Nebraska. The Midwest has fabulous storms and the level landscape lets you see for miles. I came back one summer and realized that the prairies had grown on me and that I loved them. I sat transfixed as I watched lightning bolts dance across the horizon from one end to the other; it was breathtaking.

I remember laying out on the grass one hot summer night watching a storm roll in. Lightning flickered across the sky: pink, green, and purple lighting up the darkness. Before long I was in a downpour, icy rain pelted my face and steamed on the warm earth; I was soaking wet, but I felt so alive.

Anyway, back at camp meeting in the basement, the leaders were making order of the chaos and got their kids sorted and divided. Our tent went into an empty racquetball court and continued the meeting where we left off. I knelt down to roll toy cars across the floor with my new friend Jedie, before joining the teens sitting cross-legged on the court floor. While the storm raged outside, we opened the Word of God, sang a deafening rendition of We are Soldiers, and bonded. I love storms.

Michigan Camp Meeting

I officially love Michigan. I came here for the Michigan camp meeting to set up a booth for ADRA in the exhibit tent and have been here for several hours a day.

There has been so much to do that I am really glad I came for the whole 10-day camp meeting. In the evening I have gone to hang out in the teen tent and I have really been blessed. I have just generally enjoyed hanging out with them, but I have also been blessed by the evening messages and the way I see the young people responding to them.

My Tio Ric also just moved here, so I have gotten to spend time with his family in the mornings and help them get settled a little. He is managing an enormous greenhouse project that we just call “the farm” and I finally got to go over there and see it.

I have been at camp meeting all week and I guess this is the most time I have ever spent at any camp meeting. I came here to hold a booth, but have gotten involved in all kinds of other things and have met some really wonderful people. I have gotten to talk to some of our donors and people who want to get involved as well as just share how God is blessing, and listen to people’s stories.

The week was too full. I could easily have kept busy with just the booth, or just the teens, or just the farm, but it has been wonderful to have the opportunity to be here at all.

So yes, I love Michigan, I love camp meeting, I love the teens I have gotten to know this week, I love my little cousin Isabelle, I love the way I have gotten to see God working here, I love the way it has impacted my life.

Adriana's birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today is my sister's birthday! Twenty-three years ago Adriana entered the world, and my life has never been the same.

I would not be the person I am today without my siblings. I have learned so much from them; I have been inspired, challenged, educated…changed.

There was a time that a line was drawn down the middle of our room to clearly define sides, and now I begrudge the space and hours that divide us.

I love you sister, best friend.

Specialized

I guess you can specialize in anything...

Wisdom

“You need not go to the ends of the earth for wisdom, for God is near. It is not the capabilities you now possess or ever will have that will give you success. It is that which the Lord can do for you. We need to have far less confidence in what man can do and far more confidence in what God can do for every believing soul. He longs to have you reach after Him by faith. He longs to have you expect great things from Him. He longs to give you understanding in temporal as well as spiritual matters. He can sharpen the intellect. He can give tact and skill. Put your talents into the work, ask God for wisdom, and it will be given you. “ --Ellen White Christ’s Object Lessons, pg. 146

Land of the Free?

Contentment

"To live content with small means, to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy not rich, to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly, to listen to the stars and birds, to babes and sages with an open heart; to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never, in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden, grow up through the common." --William Channing

I am a quote collector, it's true. Small wisdoms passed down that I can gain from. It's good to be reminded to slow down. To "await occasions", to live simply and not expect too much at once. Finding the beauty in little things, nay, in everything, this is truly living. There are so many things that I love, but a few that come to mind are: thunder storms, the smell of fresh cut grass, a good run, fresh berries, babies, paper, down comfortors, water, photos, family, freedom, love.

Adri's Graduation

Here is a glimpse into Adri's graduation weekend celebration. I was so glad I got to go home and be a part of this special weekend. It had been many months since I had been home (136 days to be exact) and it did my heart good to be with my wonderful family and friends. We are all very proud of Adri. Proud of what she has accomplished, proud of who she has become, proud of where she is going...but mostly we just feel lucky to have her in our lives.

It was a moving, meaningful weekend full of hugs and tears. It was all very special, but I think what made it so special was that God was very much at the center of it all. He is the One who gives us life and breath and purpose in our lives.

Prayers and best wishes for the road ahead, dear graduate, we love you.

*Our friend Elwyn shot several of these lovely photos. Thank you!