Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Won't you be mine?







How is everyone? It's kinda funny to think that I have friends snowed out of school, other friends in nice warm places, others that are getting covered with ice and others with rain. We are all so separated...but still connected..? haha I'm being too serious for my own good I think. Basically what I am trying to say is that I miss you all very much, I love you, and I thank you for the place you have had in my life. Thank you for your love, care, thoughts, encouragement, and prayer. I seriously wouldn't be on this cold, frozen, beautiful island if it were not for you. Thank you.


So, to answer the many questions...last week went well. I had an issue with on stage movement during my sound check on Thursday...basically my prof told me that I stood like a stiff church girl and I needed to move more. He told me to not be so stiff like. He made the comment that I am afraid to move from the hips down...so I looked silly singing a rock song. He said don't be such a "church performer" (in a not mean or bad way...just the fact that I looked like I was singing for a church congregation...) I was shocked for a few minutes(okay hours) but I snapped out of it and came through in the performance that night. I sang, walked, moved, and loved it all! No mom, I was not inappropriate...I simply moved to the beat of the song...so don't worry...you don't need to fly out here.

Wednesday in class we did "The Real School of Rock" (pictured above...). My prof picked 4 girls that don't play instruments and taught us how to play something kinda okay...basically I played 2 guitar chord progressions: "Wild Thing" and the other had something to do with rock and roll... It was funny really. But I had a good time. I'll be a metal rockstar soon mom, don't you worry!!!

The weekend was fun. We had a girls and guys night on Saturday night. All the girls went over to our prof's (Warren's) house at 4:30 in the afternoon for a 2 movie+dinner Jane Austin special. We watched "Emma" and "Pride and Prejudice." It was tons of fun just to chill with the girls...we even started a game of MASH...yes, that silly game we all played in the back of the bus to figure out our destiny. Needless to say we were very girly...haha!

It is such a relief to not have to perform this week. After 2 weeks of full blown stress I am a bit more relaxed...I'm working on 2 songs and then the lyrics of a few others. Song writing is hard and yet fun at times. It lets you get things out in a way you don't usually get to say them. I am excited to see where I am at after my 100 bad writes! haha (they say it takes 100 bad to get 1 good...I'm starting to feel like it will be 1000 bad...)

I am still loving the classes and the people. It is just strange to me that I "have to" watch movies and then I "have to" sit and listen to people sing for class. In the long run we will have a final that will take some time and be very thick...but we are told it can be done. The effort to put together a solid song and set for a performance is very draining and sometimes more exhausting than my classes at Taylor, but I am loving this.

The people never stop amazing me. I come closer and closer with them each and every day. It is so amazing to think that we are all here at this time...we are supposed to be here...I am learning so much from them and so much about myself. It is so great to know that I may be far away from home, but I am not far from those who care about me.

Next weekend (the 24-25) we will be in Boston. We are all ready to get off the island, so we are looking forward to that. It will be fun to get away. My friend Liz keeps asking me what food I want...yeah, we are antsy. I'm excited to go hang out in a city for a change of pace. We all can't wait!

Some of the CMC Alum came and performed a concert for us last night. It was really fun. I enjoyed listening to people who were in my shoes a year ago and are now touring throughout the east coast! Crazy!

Beyond that nothing much is happening around here...getting ready for another CMC Live on Thursday and writing more songs is the usual buzz around this place. I continue to learn "Kelsey Lessons" and miss my friends and family...but this place is becoming more and more like home for me. I told my mom last night it's kinda like Alaska for me...I can't simply go once...I'm sure I will be back here at some point, I'm slightly attached! haha!

Please know that I am thinking of you all often and I pray for you. Continue to keep me updated and let me know what I can be praying for. I love and miss you all so much!!! Thank you all for the continued support and encouragement.

with love,
~Kels
Prayer:
~my cousin went into brain surgery today, pray for her recovery...
~one of my friends here has just found out she has 4 small lumps of cancer in her throat...not fun for a singer to hear
~Confidence for myself...there are times I still wonder why I am here and if I am cut out to be a professional performer...I have the heart, not the confidence...
~health...everyone around here is getting sick!!!
~depression...we want sun, but get rain and sleet. Now I know that you all are dealing with 5 feet of snow...the problem is, all our songs are sounding very depressed...
~safety as we travel and as people leave and come back
THANK YOU!!!