This year, I was lucky enough to be able to join the University of Notre Dame Folk Choir. It was easily the best decision of my life. I have been blessed to get to know so many wonderful, unique, TALENTED, loving, joyful people and I wouldn't trade my experience thus far for the world. I can't wait for the next three years :) I don't think I'll ever be able to fully express how much I love this choir and how much it means to me. But here's a start with my favorite memories, traditions, and songs from my first year as a Folkhead:

1. Back massages during vocal warm-ups
2. Mass for Our Lady
3. Fist bumps and hugs during "Lamb of God"
4. Concert for the Missions
5. "1...2...3..." "MOO!"
6. "Holy God"/"Holy Song"
7. Sunday Worst outfits
8. "Day Is Done"
9. Cheering/Clapping/Snapping for soloists during rehearsal
10. "A Walking Prayer"
11. "Perfect Praise"
12. Chats with my fellow FC Smicks on the bus and while waiting for rehearsal to start
13. "Ubi Caritas" (both the Durufle and Gjielo versions)
14. Folk Choir Dance
15. Liv's Easter Dinner!
16. "Set Your Heart On The Higher Gifts"
17. "Pelotza Rona"
18. The "Princess Bride" and guac party
19. "Guide My Feet"
20. Goodbye Hug lines at drop-off points after tour
21. "Bread For The World"
22. "Hello, I looooooove you, goodbye!"
23. Guadalupe Mass music
24. "O Nata Lux"
25. "Blest Are The Merciful"
26. Chatting with friends on the walk over to mass
27. "Tip of the tongue the teeth the lips the tip of the tongue the teeth the lips the..."
28. "Make Of Our Hands A Throne"
29. Playing Taboo at the FC Graduation Party
30. "Escucha! Put It In Your Heart"
31. Kirner Fam Coffee Houses
32. "Rest Your Hand Upon Me"
33. Winter Retreat Weekend
34. "Thee Will I Love"
35. "Jesus The Lord"
36. Finding random and hilarious quotes, notes, and drawings on music
37. "Run With The Light of Christ" (My HeartlaND tour solo!)
38. Preludes
39. "Tune My Heart According To Your Will" (My very first FC solo!)
40. Folkchoirween Costumes
41. "Hail Holy Queen"
42. Michigan City Prison Visit
43. "Rosa Mystica"
44. Stephen, Mario, Victoria, and Joe Mo's dancing at the back of the churches
45. "Come My Way, My Truth, My Light"
46. Seder Meal
47. "An Irish Blessing"/ "A Heartland Blessing"
48. Pre-Mass Brunch
49. "Out of Darkness"
50. "Come and See"
51. FC Dance Group Costumes
52. Kickback
53. "Christ Be Our Light"
54. The Barbecue/Pool Party in Wichita
55. "O God You Search Me"
56. Pre-Rehearsal Dinners
57. All of the gorgeous photos Annie takes
58. "Pie Jesu"
59. "I Am Vine"
60. Thank You cards from the kids at St. Adalbert's
61. "We Are One Body"
62. "There Is A Love"
63. The last time singing with everyone in the Loft
64. "Restless Is The Heart"
65. Dancing/Swaying/Head Bopping during upbeat songs
66. "Like Water For The Thirsty"/ "Like Something For That Other Thing"
67. Soooo many rounds of Mafia
68. Quite a few rounds of Psychiatrist
69. Also a few rounds of "Late for Work"
70. "From Age to Age"
71. Plainfield Correctional Facility Concert
72. "Adoramus Te Christe"
73. All the beautiful churches we got to sing at on tour
74. "Christ Has No Body Now But Yours"
75. "Siyahamba/Happy Birthday Song"
76. "Top 11-ish Days of Tour"
77. Senior Week Meals
78. "The Lorica of Ballyloughlin"/ "The Lorica of Ballin'loughlin"
79. "JEE-su, Lover of My Soul"
80. Getting distracted looking up at the Basilica ceiling and walls during mass
81. "Jesus Lives"
82. Amazing host families during tour
83. "I Have Been Anointed"
84. Sand volleyball games and Team Special K
85. "Come To The Living Stone"
86. That Bollywood dance that all the upperclassmen all know that's very strange to watch
87. "The Lord's Prayer"
88. Wrap-Up Retreat
89. "Give Me Jesus"
90. "The Ground"
91. City of RENEGADES emails in my inbox
92. "Niiine new neckties and a nightgown and a nose..."
93. Tour Quote Book
94. "Karen Kirner, Randy the bus man, Outerbridge Jim Corcoran, Loyal, Geoffy, Joseph, Gabe, and the blond girl, Sphn, Skiff, Tony, Peter Spallito..."
95. Karen and Christian's amazing organ postludes
96. "Notre Dame Our Mother" on the bus on the way back to South Bend
97. "Shelter Your Name"
98. "Lead Kindly Light"
99. "Hallelujah My Father"
100. "How Can I Keep From Singing"