It is so nice that Fall has finally arrived. I think. After the heat and humidity of this past summer I am truly ready for some cooler weather, pretty fall colors, and some great SR shows! I cannot believe that it is almost October...soon the Holidays will arrive, another SR season will come to an end, and we will all take a break...until January, when we can start the 15th year of SR! I cannot believe how far we have come, how many struggles we have overcome, and how many lives we have changed. There are still struggles out there...especially as we fight the economic mess that our country is in, and like any other business, find ways to minimize costs and maximize money coming in to pay bills...especially travel since it just keeps going up, adding fees, etc...but doing Whatever It Takes and Never Giving Up we will survive, just like we always have...and you know why? Because of our GREAT DRUMMERS, all ages, across this country! I just cannot believe the terrific folks that make up this SR family...how much you love it, look forward to it, talk about it, live it, and share it with others...it is because of all of you that fighting the good fight is ALWAYS worth it. Everyday you make me smile, laugh, think, and thank (God) for bringing you all into this drumming world. This weekend, seeing Hopkinsville and Nashville drummers light up the Hopkinsville International Festival Audience...seeing people from all over the world smile, laugh, dance, clap, and then, come talk to us about how great it is to see people TRULY having fun together...it speaks volumes to what you all have to offer the world...to make it a better place...and to bring something positive into a very negative and bleak society that sits out there. People need SR's energy, love of life, and compassion more than ever...so Drum On...and know that everyday, somebody who is down feels a little bit better. BECAUSE OF YOU.
And while we do that, know that Adam himself is singing If I Had You for huge audiences in Singapore to incredibly rave reviews...boy has he come far this year!
Okay, just to say to ya'll "If I Had You" is taking over my life! It came on during music therapy because we were analyzing therapy practices with current songs on the radio, and my friend Joe pointed out I was drumming on the piano and did the whole choreograpy section without even realizing I was doing it. Plus I sang every single word...my class was impressed! By the way, speaking of my class, I said something about this weekend to my professor about the 4 shows I'm doing this coming weekend and I said Sheltered Reality and my ENTIRE class freaked out!!! They love our group, which made me smile. It also makes me wonder how observant they are just realizing I'm in SR when all my clothes here at school are Wartburg and SR (SSDB today!). They all plan on seeing shows this school year now! Steve, maybe we will get a college show to fly up here! ;)
ReplyDeleteSteve-I love the new poll. Much more helpful than a Facebook status questionare!
Wow, Kelli. Your whole class knew about SR? Because they've all seen a show of just because it's all you talk about? Haha, just kidding.
ReplyDeleteI'm ready for fall too! Ok, before I go tackle my homework, I just have one comment to add.
15 years of Sheltered Reality. Wow. I would just like to call attention to the many ways God uses Sheltered Reality every day to change lives and hearts. This is actually really interesting how this correlates to chapel this morning. The one major thing we talked about is how God uses us all to spread his Word. But does God really need us? No, he could do it all himself. He's just taking us along for the journey. And what an amazing journey it is! Doesn't your greatest fulfillment come when you know you are doing something for God?
People at my school know sheltered reality too, I found out cause I say people wearing the ending homelessness not enduring it shirts that we got at a show a long time ago, and I was like hey I have that shirt, and they replied really how its a duluth thing, and I was like sheltered reality was there. They knew exactly what I was talking about!
ReplyDeleteI love Jovanna's last question (well I like the whole thing, but the last question is the best) when you do something not for yourself, but for God you have such a feeling of fulfillment. That feeling that you could do something that God wanted you to do.
one thing that annoys me is how some people forget about why they do good things, and they only do it for the fact that they will feel good about themselves after. NO! that should never be the reason why you do good, learning to do good not for ourselves is something that I feel that society struggles with.
For example I in my extra time try to volunteer as much as possible, cause I know that I am here to help others, just like we all are. While going to meetings to sign up for volunteering I hear a lot of oh this is really fun you will enjoy this, well who cares! It doesn't have to be fun, the not fun work needs to be done too! and when you get the not fun work and when your done, people go oh now doesn't that feel nice. Its not about the feeling you get, its about how you could have just changed someones life, or made an impact, but too many people focus on themselves way too much. Yes, I know that sometimes that feeling is good and should be felt, but that should be your reason to do something good. Find a better reason cause there are MANY!
Sorry, that was my little rant of the day! ;)
Harhar Jovanna! I actually don't talk about it much. And on that note with your comment about chapel something else happened at chaple for me too! The pastor was talking about using gifts to benifit others, and he started to talk about this group he saw a few years ago who have a message of success. My first thought was "No Way! He isn't talking about SR is he???" He was! He didn't know I was in it until after the message and I went to talk to him. It was totaly a God thing! He is interested in helping to get SR to Wartburg! Now back to watching Buffy for my vampire class, yes that is right vampire class! :(
ReplyDeleteYOU HAVE A VAMPIRE CLASS?!! RUN AWAY!!
ReplyDeleteI just typed a big long thing in response to everyone's posts, and sure enough, it got erased. Joy.
ReplyDeleteI'll retype it tomorrow. Today, since Steve was marveling at how SR is now almost 15, I'm just gonna say that the show that got me to join SR is coming up! That means it's almost been a year since SR entered my life! Wow!
I have known about SR for at 5 years but I have been "apart" of it for 3 years. Let me tell you I don't know what I would have done if it wasnt for SR. 15 years wow! I was 3 years old when it started. I know my life has totally changed since I joined SR, and I know im not the only one.
ReplyDeleteI feel like it has been FOREVER since I have been on here......well it has. I felt soo bad when I got on here and there were 3 new posts...I have been super busy with all these Bible studies and things I am going to in the evenings that I am exhausted by the time I get to my room at midnight....but I AM back! I also injured myself once again....this time it's for real. I was at color guard practice working with my rifle (I am new to rifle) and I did a toss and it hit my pinkie and I found out after a week of pain it is fractured....I just love my life...These past few days have been really stressful and I just can not wait until next Monday when I can see my local SR family once again!!!!
ReplyDeleteKristen, YAY!!!! Im so happy for you!!!! I wish I could see my SR family. I guess I have to wait a little while longer for that. I got a job so now im going to Iowa on my own terms. :) Which I like.
ReplyDeleteAmanda, that is so great!! Kelli - a God moment at college - how great is that. Kristen, we'll pray for fast healing. Jovana, I agree a vampire class may keep me up at night. Sonja - the time flies when you are having fun and doing good in the world. I too would be an SR groupie if I didn't have any responsiblities to keep it all going. And we did attend a show without our son last year...because we missed everyone. We talk all the time to whoever will listen to us about SR. WE are Blessed to be a part of it and Called to Share our Message to make the world a better place. Love our SR family!
ReplyDeleteFrom the first time I saw SR I knew it would be the thing for me.In a few weeks it will be the Nashvilles fourth year of being started. I remember when we started we was just playing the eight note beat on the floor. I KNOW over the last few years we gave people the confidence to be the bets they can be. I also made alot of friends in the last few years that turn out to be family SR family
ReplyDeleteIn art class, my teacher plays the radio and If I Had You came on and it made me smile. My teacher even asked what I was smiling about..lol I was like SR plays this!!! He called me a dork and walked away. Then I almost missed the bus because I was talking to my English teacher about SR. She thought I was in the Band for the school and I said "nope.
ReplyDeleteI want to be! But I'm in a group called Sheltered Reality though!" Then she started asking all these questions so it was fun. I enjoyed talking to her about SR. She wants SR to play at her church. So thats exciting!!!! :D
Kelli
ReplyDeleteI am the guardian of a drummer in the Southwest Iowa group. I grew up in Waverly and both my parents work at Wartburg. If you can get a show on a Saturday we would definitly come up!
Great comments everyone, and William and Laurie...great to see you guys on here! Feel free to comment more often as I love hearing from everyone about their feelings/thoughts/etc on here! Rock On!!
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