Footnotes

This post is long overdue, but I was waiting for photos of the concert from my mom's camera, so better late than never!

I spent an amazing week at Wanakee directing Footnotes and I couldn't have asked for things to go any better. This was my first year of directing the entire event and I was nervous, but it seems like it was just meant to be. Sue Rudolf has directed Footnotes for the past 20-something years and she had always told me that she wanted me to take over when she was ready to give it up. This year was the year and I am so thankful that Sue entrusted Footnotes to me. She has built an amazing program and it is always one of the best weeks of the summer at Wanakee. Because it is so well designed, it was easy for me to just step in and take over. I was a little concerned that the kids would be disappointed that Sue wasn't there, but I didn't hear a single complaint. The kids were amazing and I had such a great time standing up in front of them every day. It was honestly the most fun I have had all year!!! The volunteers and staff were incredible and it just made for a perfect week.

There is always a Variety Show at Footnotes, which gives the kids and staff a chance to show off their various talents. Here is the Footnotes Staff and Friends singing "I Looked Up", a beautiful song Sarah brought to Wanakee years ago. I LOVE singing with these women. I don't pretend to be a good singer (I like to sing the melody down in the tenor range), but nothing makes me happier than singing with Jean and Sue and other Wanakee folks.

Sue has always said that God is smiling down on Footnotes since it has never once, in all these years, rained on the Saturday morning concert. I was a little concerned this year, since my karma and luck haven't been so great lately, and it did downpour Friday night, but Saturday morning was dry and sunny. Hooray for another beautiful Footnotes concert!!

I'm so thankful I was able to spend this week up at Wanakee. It was everything I needed right now. I could forget about looking for jobs and dealing with life and everything else that was going on and just make music with kids and enjoy being at Wanakee. It reminded me that life is good, even if it might not feel like it all the time. If only I could just stay at Wanakee forever...