UAB Honor Band

This past weekend was the UAB honor band for high school. I was chosen to participate in it. Thursday we had auditions to be placed in a band and a certain chair. I was 5th chair Gold band. I was so excited because my band director was my old band director Mr. Wright!!! We learned 4 songs in just 6 and a half hours. we had practice Thursday night, Friday, and a little bit on Saturday. I love doing UAB honor band. It's a great experience for anyone to be apart of. It helps you grow as a musician and make friends. You meet people from all over. This weekend there was this girl in the same band as me who lost her mom Friday during practice. She had the courage to come back to practice and even come to the concert yesterday. While you are at honor bands you get to meet people who can have an effect on you. I know that girl sure did have one on me.

Samantha Mahoney

Samantha is an 11th grader at Clay-Chalkville High School. She plays the saxophone at her school. This weekend when we did UAB honor band we were put in the same band. On Friday during practice she received a phone call that I know changed her life forever. When she got the phone call she left practice about an hour and a half later she came back. After lunch we found out her mom had just died from kidney cancer. Samantha came back and finished practice. Yesterday at the concert she came and performed knowing that's where her mom would've wanted her to be. We played a song called Chrous Angelorum. Samantha announced this song and dedicated it to her mom. Chorus Angelorum is a song about death. Samantha is a strong young lady who influenced me a lot this weekend. We didn't really get to talk but I know if we had we could have been really good friends. She was a influence on me without even realizing it. I wish the best for her and her family. My prayers are with her through this difficult time and I hope yours will be also. It is going to be a difficult road ahead for her and her family but with the prayers of everyone and the help of God everything will be okay. Now is the time where she is going to need her band family, UAB honor band family, actual family, and friends the most. I know I will never forget the courage of Samantha. It has impacted me forever.

Christmas

Christmas is in 2 weeks!!!! Can you believe it!??????? Everyone is making list for things they want, making plans for what they are going to do, and plans about who they are going to spend it with. During this season it is supposed to be a time of giving and spending time with your loved ones and people are forgetting that. We get mad when we don't get exactly what we have on our lists but think about the people who don't recieve any gifts. Think about the people who don't have any family to spend Christmas with. Not everyone is able to celebrate Christmas. The soldiers over seas being thousands of miles away from their families but we're worrying about what we are going to recieve and if it will be better then everyone else's presents. Personally I do even care about getting presents I just love spending time with my friends and family, looking at all the decorations and lights, decorating the tree, and seeing everyone happy. What are your priorities at this time of year?

Black Friday

This past Friday was the yearly day some dread while others like...............Black Friday. It is always after Thanksgiving. This is one of the things that don't make sense to me. How are you going to be "thankful" for everything you have but then the next day you are willing to fight someone just because of a good deal. I mean just because your parents might have taught you to work for something you want but that doesn't mean to start throwing punches because someone got to a certain item before you. There is something called walking away and get the item later but to fight for an item is really kind of childish. We teach little kids not to fight over toys but then people go and fight over a item that is "on sale". Trust me if you got to fight for an item it's not worth it. Go home and get it some other time.

Having Surgery

Tuesday I am having surgery. I really hate the idea of being put to sleep. I have been dreading this day for almost a month now. I'm fine with going to sleep willingly but when it comes to medicine putting me to sleep I start getting scared. One thing I have to remember like so much other people is that God will be with us through times like this. If you get scared or worried God is there. Don't think you can go through with something hard God will be there. You have to turn to God when things get rough or scary. He will be there for you watching over you making sure your okay.

Feeding the Homeless

Yesterday I went with my best friend to feed the homeless. We fed about 75 people. They were all so sweet and appreciative. It was just a little thing we did but they loved it. There are a lot of people out in the world that are homeless or don't have food. We need to help these people as much as we can. God helps us all the time. Why not share our blessings with other people? Some people don't know how to ask for help so it's our job as Christians to help people when we see them struggling or going with out. We shouldn't fuss or complain about it. We should be happy we are given the opportunity to help someone else.

Nationals

Well the band just got back from the High Step Marching Nationals. While there we won several trophies. The award we are most happy about is being the Champions. We competed against other bands across the country and we are the best. We are extremely grateful that we won again this year and have directors,parents,family, friends, and teachers that come out and support us.