Today is my 21st wedding anniversary. Twenty-one years. Whee! It's been quite a ride!

Best Ever (that i can remember)

Today marks the end of the Christmas/New Year break. Instead of dreading going back to work, I am actually feeling.... joyful. Yes, joyful.

I made these over break...

They are ornaments for my boys. Love them!

I watched movies, played card games, played a keytar(rock band 3), cooked, laughed, played banjo, played guitar, sang, cleaned, loved and dreamed these past 10 days.

My dad came for Christmas. It was the first Christmas morning I have spent with him since I was in 8th grade. It was good to have him here with my family. Oddly enough, I don't think I took any pictures. Instead, I just enjoyed the moment.

So Very Proud

Knitting Socks

Christmas 2010 was a good one. New phones, new clothes, and first Christmas with my dad since I was in 8th grade!

Knitting socks is my plan for break. Alex really, really wants me to knit him socks so I must oblige!

The Stuff That Dreams...

Tonight was a dream and a prayer come true.

I am so very very blessed. Making music with people, sharing music with kids young and old, spending all day singing, talking about, listening to, practicing music... so blessed.

Is spite of myself, I am right where I'm supposed to be, doing what I was meant to do.

My mom was right.

'Tis the Season

I would love to know why/how all the lights for our Christmas tree magically stop working over the year while sitting in storage.

Honestly

I don't know what is wrong with some people. Their mom's obviously didn't tell them what mine did... if you can't say something nice, keep your f-ing mouth shut. (my mom didn't say the f-word but it needed to be said here)

Seriously.

Answered

My prayer was answered! I am so blessed!

The Joke Is On Me

I knew I would love this new job. I knew it but I know I didn't understand how it might change my life.

I am tired. Bone tired. I am tired from working so hard to herd 90 very bright, very outgoing, very ALIVE high school students every afternoon. I am tired from having 4 rehearsals before school each week. I am tired from play practice every evening until 9ishPM(next week until 10PMish). I am tired from being "0n" the entire day.

What I didn't see coming... I didn't expect to love 6th and 7th and 8th graders with as much passion as I do. They are the start of my day and the zany, creative, inquisitive, funny, curious, appreciative students I have are such a joy!

I also didn't expect to worry and care and fret over my high school students. I had several students struggle with life this week... eligibility, getting kicked out of their home, car accidents, grades, college decisions, and depression.

Tomorrow, I am taking 8 students to a music festival. Six of these students are eligible to audition for the All State Choir. No matter the outcome, they are All State in my heart. I am so blessed to get to be a part of this with them.

All the days and weeks and months that I despaired that I wouldn't ever feel the joy and pain and fulfillment and exhaustion that I feel right now... Silly, silly me.

ARGH!

Just having one of those days. I guess I now understand that "those" days or moments only help me to better appreciate the other days!

5 Minutes

Just wait 5 minutes. Things will be better. And if they aren't, wait 5 more.

Autumn

Fall is my favorite season. Love the cooler temps, chill in the air, color of the landscape, color orange, pumpkin spiced EVERYTHING, and knowing the holidays are coming.

Now that I am older, the one thing about fall I don't like is the political season. How people can call themself a Christian and be so unloving is something I cannot fathom.

Still

lovin' every minute of it!

I have pinched myself and I know I am awake.

It's really true.

I get to play, sing, listen, talk about, teach, think about music all day long.

Woot!

City

This summer, our vacation plans changed at the last minute. We decided to head to Chicago and spend some time with my sister and her family.

We headed to the city the first day there. I used to spend a lot of time downtown when I was a student at Illinois State University. Part of me would love to live there. Another part of me was very grateful to arrive back in Kirksville.

Playing Favorites

Do you have favorites? Favorite food, books, clothes, color, music, people?

What makes these things your favorite? Habit? Familiarity? P0pularity?

I have been in pain this summer and trying to figure out why. Why am I in pain? Why am I sad? Today, I realized it's because I am not a favorite. And it hurts. It hurts to inhale and exhale. I have to be careful to not breathe too deeply or I might crack open.

There are things I could do to make myself a favorite, but I cannot bring myself to do them. It goes against everything I am.

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

I don't think I've ever done so much laundry in my life! Or cooking! Or cleaning! Or laundry!

Oh my goodness!

When you are playing two different sports in each day, you have to change your shirt 3 times... sweat soaked doesn't even begin to describe how the shirts are coming home! Ick!

And the socks! OMG the socks!

24 on the 24th

Well the test was interesting.

Ethan won 4th place in show me games tennis.

I am cleaning my house... no one is home but me...

School starts in 24 days.

I've got A LOT to do.

Excited doesn't even begin to describe how I'm feeling.

32

days is a long time to be without a car. Especially when you live in a town without public transportation.

Just sayin'.

Hmmm

I've been busy... I can't wait to felt and line!