Standing for the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem has always felt a little different for me than for others. My dad has been active in the U.S. Air Force for 33 years. He has served on active duty and in the active reserves throughout my whole life. Through these positions, my dad has been on many extended work trips, deployments, and a fourth of our weekends working. This has led him to miss many of my concerts, events, and celebrations throughout my life in school and college. My dad has always been hesitant to stand up when veterans are acknowledged, but I always nudged him on. I was a proud daughter of my dad, who helped keep this nation safe. He taught me how to respect veterans, the American Flag, the National Anthem, and this country. My dad is not my only relative who has sacrificed and fought for this country. My great-grandpa served in World War 2, serving in bomber airplanes, while my great-grandmother helped build the very same planes he flew in. I have been to many air museums to see the planes they once built. Since a little girl, I have pictured them working as a team to support other military branches and keep this country safe. Although I considered the Air Force as my future path for some time, I have taken a different path, which led me to college. I currently go to College at Concordia University in Nebraska, where I am studying to be an Elementary Educator. Through my experience, first-hand learning about the military and this country, I have discovered a passion for sharing it with others. After graduation in two years, I plan on teaching underprivileged youth the foundation of our nation’s history and helping them have a similar passion and respect for this country and those who have served to make it what it is today. I am working to have an Early Childhood and Elementary degree, and my English as a Second Language certification to help students who are new to the country understand why it is important and the sacrifices that happen to help keep it safe and free. When the bell rings in my future classroom, I will set the example and expectation for my students that we are proud of those who served and served with an understanding of the hard work, sacrifice, and dedication many men and women give to help this country stand. I will continue to hear the National Anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance differently as I will always be proud of my dad and great-grandparents who served and the sacrifices that were made.

Born on a Wednesday, a week later, I was under the bell tables being rocked to the sweet sounds of bells. Bell music has filled my soul and life from the car seat, to a front pack, to dancing around the tables, to finally ringing. In 5th grade, I was old enough to join my older sister, mother, and grandmother in making music for our church. Since then, I have played in one, if not more, handbell choirs every year and had amazing opportunities to ring. I have had the privilege of being surrounded by people who are as passionate about bells as I am. My grandmother bought her own four-octave handbell set to start a handbell choir at her church. Using her bells, my knowledge and passion for handbells were expanded through solos, duets, quartets, and other small group opportunities. Sharing handbells at 4-H performance days and through demonstrations at the Kansas State Fair, I got to share my love of handbells with a different audience population. In 2022, I took a risk and auditioned for Global Bronze Productions' National Youth Handbell Choir led by Kevin McChesney in Virginia. This forever changed my handbell experiences. I love playing McChesney's music, and playing under him for ten-hour rehearsals made my love for ringing blossom more. Returning home, I shared the joy and excitement I had experienced with my mother, which led us to join Global Bronze Productions’ professional choir for the Ringing Nativity directed by Brian Childers at the Museum of the Bible, and the Great Christmas Ring on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Experiencing this with my mother was a dream come true. I then brought the Great Christmas Ring back to Kansas, where I got ringers from many choirs to ring at movie theaters and a Hallmark movie convention in Kansas City. Between these events and workshops with Jason Krug, Christine Anderson, Danny Lyons, and Cathy Moklebust, exposure to composers has expanded my techniques and passion for playing. Each composer has a special touch that makes their music unique. Some of my favorite pieces I’ve played were Tempest by Kevin McChesney under the direction of Kevin McChesney and Savior of the Nations Come by Sandra Eithun. During Covid, Jason Krug wrote many pieces for 8 or 12 bells, which I would play as a duet or quartet. These were a great way to continue to share handbells and play during Covid. My favorites by Krug are Kingsfold and Arise. Graduating meant leaving my handbell choirs behind, so I searched colleges that had handbell programs. I auditioned the day I moved into Concordia University Nebraska and was placed in the advanced choir my first semester. Their 7 octave choir has been a highlight of my week, twice a week for my two years of college, and it will continue to be till I graduate. It is one of the only collegiate handbell choirs in the Midwest. I am looking forward to bringing my small group music to college and encouraging our ringers to take on a new challenge that I grew to love. From birth through college, I have been blessed by bells. Can you really play in too many choirs or have too many bells? I love playing 4 in hand, and can play 6 in hand. My skills as a musician have grown through playing handbells for four church choirs, a community choir, two college choirs, duets, solos, and quartets. With bells in my hand, music in my soul, and a passion in my heart, I hope to bring the joy of this instrument to others.