Let Freedom Sing!

so i was actually "fussed at" yesterday for not posting anything to my blog for a couple of months! my, how the tables have turned...i used to be the one doing the fussing and now i'm on the receiving end. go figure!

anyway, so what has jilly-vanillie been up to lately? hmmm, where to start...workin, karate-in, singin, ebayin...will definitely have to post long and detailed posts about each soon =)

most recently, in preparing for the "Let Freedom Sing!" concert at TPAC, i had a de ja vou moment...friday night dress rehearsal i was volunteered by one of my buddies to sing a solo. okay, concert a day away, asking me to do solo day before, where have i heard this before? yes, Amanda Jane, i felt your pain (and nervousness!!!) from christmas kick in and then i remembered the positive you focused on...hey, at least this doesn't give me time to be nervous about it! tru dat!

so, the solo went well (my 15 minutes of fame from being featured in Nashville Lifestyles magazine a few months ago seem to have been extended) as did the whole concert. and this year, not only did the music resonate deeply with me as it always does, i began to realize why fighting for freedom is so important for all of us. we are all in bondage to something. whether it's physical, emotional, spiritual, ideas, addictions, fear, poverty, wealth, expectations, i could go on and on. we all need to be freed from something. Yolanda King (Dr. King's daughter, yes i met her, got autograph and picture, very cool) said, "...in order for all of us to be free, we need to embrace our differences, until they don't make a difference..." and another speaker said something to the effect of "we've already been set free, that's the hard part! now, we have to stay free, that's on us."

amen, sister. tell it. highlight of the evening...watching Yolanda King give her father's "I Have A Dream" speech with the film of her father being projected behind her at the same time, also with the orchestra playing "Battle Hymn of the Republic" underneath and us the chorus singing it after Yolanda finished by saying, "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"