Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Joanna

Dear Joanna,
You are such a talented musician. I am constantly impressed by your dedication and focus in choir and in sectionals. You always kept everyone else in check and were a wonderful example, I cannot tell you how much that respect meant to me. You are a wonderful friend and I don't think I ever properly thanked you for being my friend. I am so happy that you were in Bel Canto this past year. I was really happy I had the chance to get to know you better within choir, but also within the music building. It was nice having you in my other classes as well. I am constantly impressed by your love of music, your dedication, and your work ethic to work as hard as can and better yourself in any and every way you can. I did not only witness this perseverance for excellence in Bel Canto, but in watching you perform in Performance Forum, and in the practices Pat held. You truly are a wonderful musician and in case someone hasn't told you recently, I thought I would enlighten you. I have a great amount of respect for you as a musician, as my classmate, but mostly as my friend. I know we did not become as close as I may have wanted over the past year (crazy music major schedules), but I am thankful to have had the chance to spend time with you in Bel Canto and other classes. You are so sweet and you were always able to make me laugh with your fun comments and quick comebacks. I love that you, Elizabeth, and Katherine became such good friends and could not be happier that you are all living together. You three were three of my favorite people that I met this year and in choir in general (shh, don't tell the others). I think you are a wonderful person and the friendships and relationships I have had the pleasure of watching you develop are heartwarming. Thank you for your kind letter in my scrapbook. It meant a lot to me. I appreciate your gratitude, it was unnecessary, but greatly appreciated. I hope we continue to stay in contact and be friends, because I really value your friendship. I know you are going to grow so much in the next few years as musician in the music building and I hope to hear all about it. I love you very much. God Bless! Love in Him, Christina

Monday, January 2, 2012

Elizabeth A.

Dear Elizabeth,
I do not think there is anyone in this entire world nicer than you. You are literally the nicest person I have ever met. I know a lot of people probably tell you that (believe them, it's true), but I really do mean it. I have never met someone with such grace and kindness. You have a sweetness about you that you can't help but love. I can literally picture you strolling through the woods singing with the birds, the image fits you. You have a kindness that just radiates from your very being and others are drawn to you because of you. I knew you would be a wonderful friend. I knew you were nice just from looking at you. I remember my mom coming to find me at parent's dinner and saying, " That girl, right there, the pretty blond one, she looks SO nice you need to talk to her! You should be friends with her, I like her!" My mom is an excellent judge of character. :) You have such a beautiful spirit about you. I have never met someone how cares for people in such a fun, kind, and genuine way. I am so thankful that you are my friend and that I have had the chance to receive that kindness. You have touched this choir with your love and God's love that shines through you. You always were there to warm my heart with a smile, a hug, your excited nature, and an encouragement whenever I needed it. Thank you for all of your kind words to me through the course of this year. From sectionals, to choir, to opera, to other classes, and just as your friend. I am so thankful for everything you have done for me and by smiling, being such a happy person, always brightened my day and inspired me to be the same way. I love you very much. You brought so much joy to this choir and I know you touched everyone else's life just as much as your touched mine. I loved watching you, Joanna, and Katherine become so close. I am so glad that you three are such good friends! I love you three to death, I can't even tell you. Thank you for being so focused in sectionals and always making me feel special. It meant so much to me and I don't think I every properly thanked you or Joanna for that. You are so incredibly talented and your voice is gorgeous! I have loved getting to hear your sing and watch you grow as a young woman and a musician. I know God is going to use your gifts in many incredible ways. Enjoy these next few years, they are some of the best years you will ever have and a true gift. You are beautiful on both the inside and the outside. Thank you for allowing me to be apart of your life and being a wonderfully true friend to me. Your excitement in seeing me all the time, especially when I came back to visit school (yes, I'm writing this letter pretty late, but they were just so emotionally difficult! Plus, I had so much to say!). That was so sweet and so encouraging! It really made me feel so incredibly special and loved, I really needed that. It was nice meeting that boyfriend of yours. He seems so sweet, I am so happy for you! I hope to get to see both you and him again and get to know him better. I know we will not lose contact, Elizabeth, you are too good of a friend and you mean too much to me for me to ever lose you from my life. I love you and I miss you! Thank you again for always being the wonderfully delightful and sweet you! God Bless!
Love always, Christina

Alex

Dear Alex,
You are incredibly wonderful friend that I could not be more grateful for. I am so thankful that I had two years in Bel Canto with you. You are one of the nicest people I have ever meant in my life. You are so genuine in everything you do and everything you say. You love people in a way that I completely admire and you love everything to the fullest. You have the biggest heart and God's love shines through that heart and that smile each and every day. You have blessed many lives, including mine. You have an infectious laugh and you laugh at everything, which I absolutely love and miss like crazy! I am so thankful I had the chance to get to know you your freshman year, but even more thankful that you stayed for another year and I had the chance to get to know you even better and become closer friends. That was really special for me. I am so happy you were there for my senior year, because you helped make it one of the best years of my life. Officer meetings were so much fun with you there and I always valued your opinion and input. You are so positive about life, please do not ever let that go, it inspires me every day. I love you so much! I can't even tell you how amazing I think you are and how truly grateful I am for your friendship. It was so fun spending the past two years with you. Even going to Pizza Hut on tour with you was a blast! You are a wonderful friend and you constantly encouraged me. You believed in me as president, as a leader, and as a friend and that will continue to touch me and bless me in ways I could never fully thank you for. Thank you again for your constant friendship and your genuinely happy and pure spirit. You are a blessing to me and you were certainly an incredible blessing to every single person in this choir both your freshman year and this past year. I know you will continue to bless people and God will use all of your talents to bless His people for the glory of His kingdom. You are a beautiful woman, Alex. Love shines through your beautiful face and your kind heart. I love you very much and I miss you! Keep me updated on your life! I value your friendship and never want to lose that. Thank you again for being in choir, but more importantly, being my friend and sister in Christ. God Bless!
Love always, Christina

Holly

Dear Holly,
Thank you so much for being a part of this choir this past year. I am so thankful to have had this group and even more thankful for the chance to get to know you better. You a beautiful woman on both the inside and on the outside. You have been such a wonderful friend to me. Thank you for allowing me to be apart of your life and sharing so much with me. That made me feel more special than I could ever tell you. You are so incredibly talented. You have a beautifully mature and gorgeous voice. I know God is going to use that amazing gift in some incredible ways. I cannot wait to see where He leads you. I will be praying for you as you follows the path His has laid out for you and as you continue your journey through college. Thank you for sharing that gift in choir as well. It was so nice to hear you sing solos and I know you touched many people and your section with your gift. It was so nice getting to visit your home on tour. I enjoyed getting to see where you live and I loved seeing your mom again, she is a wonderfully sweet woman. I know how important moms are and I'm glad you and your mom are so close. I really relate to that. Thank you again for being an important part of this choir and helping make my senior year even better. You were always so sweet to me both during choir and outside of choir. I'm glad I had the chance to have other classes with you outside of Bel Canto. Never forget how beautiful you are as a woman of God and a friend to many. Thank you for being my friend and encouraging me in ways you never realized you were doing. I love and miss you! God Bless!
Love always, Christina

Rachel K.

Dear Rachel,
Thank you so much for being a member of this choir. You are so beautiful on both the inside and the outside and I have loved getting the chance to know you even better this past year. I am also so happy I had the chance to spend time with you outside of choir as well. Being in the opera with you was so much fun and I loved all the random things we messed around doing back stage during rehearsals, sometimes performances (haha!) this past semester. You are so very talented and I loved getting to watch you perform. You are an incredible musician and you're right, you were totally born in the wrong era from your vast amount of opera and everything opera related, but we are so happy you are in our era. I have learned so much for you and I respect you so much. You are an incredible blessing in my life and thank you for blessing the choir with your love and talent. This year would not have been the same without you in this choir. I cannot think you and not think of your awesome red lipstick, don't ever change that, I love it! You take beautiful photos as well and thank you SO much for taking individual shots of every girl in the choir. That meant so much to the girls, Dr. Hughes, and myself. You are so great, I can't even tell you! I love you and miss you! God Bless you in whatever path He takes you down, I know it will be an amazing one.
Love always, Christina

Jackie

Dear Jackie,
The girl with awesome pipes, boy, how I miss you! Jackie, you are such an incredible person. You have this care-free and spunky side to you that I just love and adore. Yes, you know how to be serious and when it is time to get serious, you always are up for the challenge, but I love the life that just radiates from you. You live life in a way that everyone in the world should envy. You have the spirit of life in you, more importantly, the Spirit of God and He shines through you every day. I am so thankful for you love, your spirit, and your kindness. You have been a wonderful friend to me. I have loved getting to sit one section over from you and look over at you and smile, but also having had the chance to get to spend more quality time with you as music majors. You have an amazing talent, don't let anyone tell you differently. I am so proud of everything you accomplished this year and everything I know you are going to continue to accomplish. God has blessed you with this gift and I cannot wait to see the road He leads you down as you continue to use that beautiful gift. I love you very much. You are a wonderful friend to me and you have always made me feel so special by encouraging me, hugging me, loving me, and being excited to see me. You are great and you make everyone around you feel great to. Never lose that. I love you and I miss you! Keep my updated on your life, because I know you are going to live every moment to the fullest. Miss you already!
Love always, Christina

Kris

Dear Kris,
You have been one of the most influential and meaningful people in my life this past year. I am so grateful to call you my friend, because you are an amazing friend and an amazing woman. I have watched you in choir this past year, helping others, sharing your stories, being my favorite little fireball (you totally are, don't deny it), and being a wonderful sister in Christ to not only me, but the rest of the girls as well. You have encouraged me in ways that I really needed. You were exactly what I needed this last year and I am so thankful that you were placed in my life. Everything you said from calling me "El Presidente" to the respect you not only showed me, but taught me that I deserved to have and for making me feel special just for what I have done and what I do. I always wanted to make a difference, always wanted to help people and be someone they could rely on, help the choir to grow and love another as sisters and friends and let you all grow into the people you were going to be as you battled through the transition from high school to college life. I never thought that I had any sort of impact or anything I did was anything special, but you told me differently and I can never tell you how much your support, your love, your encouragement, your faith, and your belief in me as president, but more importantly as a friend, has meant to me. You touched my life and I am so very, very thankful for that. I never needed to be recognized, that was never the goal, but I am so touched that you did that for me anyway. I am truly humbled and moved by your kind words in your letter to me in my scarpbook. You are way too good to me! Thank you for being a wonderful friend! I am so blessed to have such an incredibly God-fearing, God-loving woman that I admire and respect be such a huge part of my life and a wonderful friend to me and many others. Thank you for everything you have done for me and this group. I know you are going to continue to move people and show people what's God love looks like. He has incredible plans for you and I cannot WAIT to see where He leads you. I love you very much and I miss you, girl!! God Bless!
Love always, Christina

Janna

Dear Janna,
I am incredible grateful for you. You are a truly wonderful and amazing woman and I am so proud to call you my friend. I have had the pleasure of watching you grow into this even more incredible young woman over the course of this year. You have overcome obstacles and faced many challenges with grace and poise. I am so proud of you for everything you have accomplished and completely your freshman year. It is a wonderful feeling to have completed another year or semester and you should be proud of yourself for all of your hard work. I love you so much. You have been so wonderful for me. You have impacted my life in a wonderful way and I am so grateful to you for helping make my senior year the best and most memorable year of my life. You are so kind in everything you do. You love people in a way that I greatly admire and you have always equally reached out for me in love, friendship, and sisterhood and that really meant a lot to me. Though we never got to go to dinner, I hope to have that chance some time soon and I hope we continue to stay friends, because I am thankful for you and I enjoy having you be apart of my life. Thank you for allowing me to be apart of yours. I cannot tell you what it has meant to me all the times you have encouraged me and your kind words that have lifted my spirits in times you were not even aware I needed it. You were always there with a kind smile and a hug to make my day a little brighter. When you came to me for advice, you really made me feel special and needed and that means more to me than I could ever begin to tell you. Thank you again for the woman you are and who you are in my life. You are beautiful woman on the inside and the outside and I am so happy I have had the chance to watch God work in your life. I know you will continue to wonderful things for the good of His kingdom. I love you.
Love always, Christina

Karissa

Dear Karissa,
I am so thankful to have had the amazing chance to get to be your friend. You are an incredible woman and friend and it has been a blessing to have been apart of your life in choir and outside of choir and watching you grow over the past year. You are so sweet and I have loved getting to know you better. I have loved all of our fun jokes and being able to look over at you from the Soprano 2 section and make a face at you sitting all the way over there in the she-bass section. You are such a beautiful person, Karissa. God's love shines through in so many ways. I know that you have influenced my life with your kindness, you friendship, and your sarcasm. :) You love so many people and I know that everyone is grateful for all that you brought to this choir and continue to bring into everyone's lives. You have been a wonderful friend to me. You have always encouraged me and kept in the loop on what was happening in your life, as well as, stayed interested in my life. Not many people are equally interested in my life, but I am so grateful to you for being a true friend and going above and beyond to reach out to me and ask how I was doing on a day to day basis. Again, you truly have been a wonderful blessing in my life and I know you will continue to be one. I love you so much and I miss you! I miss getting to hang out with you and the rest of the girls in our Perfect 7 group, we had so much fun! We will have to have a reunion or something. Don't worry, I will be back to visit again. Thank you, also, for being so happy to see me when I came to visit. That meant the world to me and made me feel really special. You are wonderful! I love you! Thank you again for being you and God Bless you!
Love always, Christina

Elizabeth S.

Dear Elizabeth,
Thank you so much for being apart of this ensemble. I am so grateful to have had you in this choir and have had the chance to get to know you better. You are such an amazing woman and I am proud to call you my friend. Even though were only in BC Group 7 together for one semester, I really had fun hanging out with you and the rest of the group being the Perfect 7. You truly are one of the nicest and most fun people I have ever met. You have always encouraged me in ways you never realized you were doing. Thank you for always being there to hug me and bring a smile to my face. I am so happy to have had the chance to watch you make some awesome friendships in Bel Canto and I hope it impacted you as much as you have impacted the choir as a whole, your awesome she-bass section, and my life as well. You contributed to making my senior year fantastic and truly memorable and for that I am grateful. Always remember that God has an amazing plan for your life and I cannot wait to see where he leads you. Don't forget about it me, I still want to hear all about your life and how the rest of your college years treat you! It passes WAY to quickly so enjoy the time you have. You are beautiful woman on both the inside and the outside, never forget that either. Oh, and if you want to twirl your hair, keep on twirling, it's a cute thing you do, don't let other people break a habit that makes you, you. :) I love you and I miss you! Thank you again for being my friend and my sister in Bel Canto and in Christ.
Love always, Christina

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Maegan

Dear Maegan,
Thank you so much for being you. I do not think there is any other way to phrase that, because you, as woman and child of God, are incredible. You are beautiful person on both the inside and the outside. God's love shines through you in so many ways. His love shines in the way you love everyone around. It shines in the beautiful smile that constantly plastered across your equally beautiful face. It shines through your incredible art and the talents He has blessed you with. It also shines through your friendship to me and the rest of the choir. I was so thankful that you shared some of your testimony with the whole choir on the bus. That was truly a blessing to us all and I was so happy that you trusted and loved us enough to share it. You love and constant encouragement throughout this year has meant more to me than I could ever tell you. You worked so hard in choir and I always smiled looking over to your section and seeing you working your tail off. You have such vast amounts of perseverance, it truly is admirable. I also loved getting to spend the night at your house. As I told you when you were showing me your room, it meant so much to me that you chose me to stay the night and meet your family. One of many of not, it meant the world to me. I love you so much. You are wonderful friend and you have the greatest spirit. Your kindness is indescribable and thank you for sending it my way on more than one occasion. I have loved getting to know you even better and I hope to continue to get to know you as time goes by. You really lifted me up when I needed someone to hug me, encourage me, or simple be there for me. You may not have been aware of it, but it really touched me to see that kind of constant love and sisterhood displayed to not only myself, but the rest of the choir on a day to day basis. Thank you for being a wonderful friend and sister in Christ. I love and miss you!
Love always, Christina

Rebecca C.

Dear Rebecca,
You are such an amazingly talented, bright, sweet, and wonderful person. I am so incredibly blessed to have had the chance to get to know you better and have you apart of this choir. I know this has nothing to do with choir, but do you know how incredibly blown away I was at Final Cut??? You got up there, did your thing, and blew everyone away! My roommate was sitting next to me and she said, "Is that one of your girls?!" I said, "YEAH IT IS!!!" I was so proud of you and so impressed. You have a beautiful voice and I am so glad you are a music major. I know you are going to go on to do incredible things with the gift God has given you. It was really special for me to have you in choir and other classes in the music building as well. I loved getting the chance to get to know you better and spend time with you in a true element. You are such a fun and awesome person. I loved looking over in the middle of choir and making funny faces or doing one of the many random things we do. You made things more exciting and a ton of fun. I am so grateful that you were in Bel Canto. You were an incredible asset to the choir, but also to my life. You are a wonderful child of God and a beautiful person both inside and out. You were a constant encouragement and friend to me throughout the course of the past school year and I can never truly tell you how much that meant to me. Thank you for being my friend and my sister in Christ. I love you very much and miss you like crazy, girl!
Love always, Christina

Brigina

Dear Brigina,
Thank you so much for being apart of choir this year! I am so grateful to have had the chance to get to know you better and become your friend. Did you know you have one of the best smiles in the whole world? No one can look at your smile and not smile themselves. There is a happiness and compassionate part of you that shines from you. I knew I wanted to be friends with you the moment we went. You were so sweet and full of so much life, you couldn't help wanting to be around you more! You are truly one of the nicest people I have ever met in life and I cannot express that enough. You lifted my spirits when you were not even aware you were doing so. You encouraged me and loved me when I needed it the most and even when I didn't, you were still there with an encouraging word and a friendly hug to let me know I am loved by many. I am so grateful for your friendship and love. God's love shines through you, Brigina. You are beautiful person for who God has made you to be. Your smile made everyone in choir feel special and loved, thank you for constantly brightening our spirits and being such a wonderful blessing to this choir, the girls, and my life. I love you so much! I miss you! Thank you again for being a wonderful light in my life and making my last year in choir even better.
Love always, Christina

Lisa

Dear Lisa,
I do not think I could ever begin to tell you how awesome I think you are. You are such a wonderful and incredible person! In case you did not already know, I truly admire you. You have this wonderfully bright spirit. You love people in such a true and honest way that matches that of God's love for us. You love everyone in a way that is without judgment and full of love to its fullest extent. I want to thank you for being my friend. You have been one of the greatest blessing in my life. I miss you! I love you very much. You have been on the best and greatest friends I have ever had. You have stood by my side for years, loved me, and made me feel special and important at some of the lowest moments for me. You are truly a light in my life and I am so thankful for you. You have been a gift from God as my friend. Thank you for letting me be your friend and always making me smile. We have so much fun together! It meant so much to me that you allowed me to stay with you the summer before my senior year. I loved getting to stay with you and get to know you and your family better. You all made me feel right at home and accepted me into your lives and into your family. That experience alone touched my life in a way I could never truly thank you for. I have loved getting to stay with you and spend time with Nana. I loved getting to room with you on tour this past year and I have also loved having you in choir. You were an asset to this group and don't you let anyone tell you differently. You are incredibly beautiful woman, Lisa, on both the inside and the outside. I love you so much my dear friend! Thank you again for also showing me what it means to be a true friend through your love for God and His children.
Love always, Christina