Good to Be Back

Just finished the first week back to school. Very tiring but verrrry satisfying! I can't believe I get to do what I do all day long!!

Just Finished

I just finished 3 great books! I have been reading reading reading for the last few days and Oh how I love a good book!!

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand

Shanghai Girls

Peony in Love

Today, I am starting Homeland.

Getting There

I'm getting ready. Getting ready. Ready to get out of town for a week. Ready to get back to a schedule. Ready to start the new school year. Ready to enjoy the last bit of summer!!

Blues

For me, Facebook has become a place where I go and feel unhappy with my life. I used to love reading about what my friends were doing. Now, I just feel unhappy with what I'm not doing. Everyone's life sounds so exciting compared to mine. Vacations, business trips, hanging out with friends, dinner dates, etc etc etc.

Part of the issue is I am spending WAY too much time reading about all the fabulous plans everyone has. WAY too much time. When I look back at this summer, I'm afraid I will remember it as the summer of indecision and unhappiness. Not how I want to be living my life.

I have plenty of things to do in my own fabulous life. Plenty. The problem is, none of them sound or look glamorous or exciting when compared to trips abroad, trips to the coast, and just trips to the nearest city.

I don't post everything I do on facebook. I don't want to live my life so publicly. I don't post every single picture I take or every single thing I do throughout the day. Way too public for me.

Instead of worrying about what everyone else is doing, I need to get busy living my life.

Consider

I guess I have to consider it a job well done that my oldest is moving into his own place this weekend. I guess we (sean & i) did our best with him and that he is able to move into his own place.

This parenting thing is ... not sure what the right word is. I can't believe how much energy time passion love emotions sweat worry grief joy pride and regret I have put into this relationship only to have him move out.

But I guess, it's really the goal from the start! My head keeps telling me that but my heart is screaming something different.

While I'm excited for him and happy for him and happy that his younger brothers will no longer have to share a room (YIPPPPEEEE) I can't help but be a wee bit sad for me.

So, I keep reminding myself to consider the job I've done and sigh a big sigh when I remember it's only 3 more years until the next one will be ready to leave.

just

be nice.

Winding Down

Whew! This semester has been a whirlwind of contests, concerts and rehearsals! I had NO idea how busy I was going to be!

And, I could not be happier. Ü

One!

Ones for both choirs! Woot!

Thank You

Today, one of my students told me thank you. He looked me in the eye and told me thank you. It was one of the nicest things I have ever had said to me.

Heartbroken

Tonight, I am heartbroken. My friend lost her father tonight. He had not been ill, so it was completely unexpected.

Never miss the opportunity to tell the people in your life that you love them. Never. We do not know when it will be our time.

Are you happy? Are you spending your time with people you love doing the things you love? I am. I spent many years not doing so, but finally, I know that I am.

My friend and her family are in my prayers. May they know the peace that passes all understanding.

Honestly

Another award show? Another opportunity to watch famous people give themsevles more awards and praise?

How about an award show for people that help people. Really help people.

Wouldn't work would it. There's no money or glamour in helping kids learn how to read, or helping special needs children learn to feed themselves, or facilitating learning. We can't sell commericals for that! Who would want to buy a beautiful ball gown or put on a tuxedo for that?

Pondering

I have a lot of people that I call friend. According to facebook, I have 463 "friends". How is it then, that I have no one I talk to on a daily basis except for my husband and children?

In my new job, I spend most of the day talking to my students and not other teachers. Maybe it's because I work with much older kids now and you can actually talk to them (not about personal things, calm down)and I don't really work with a team. It took me a few days to get used to this new level of interaction. Older kids are much more into who you are and what you think and they watch EVERY move you make. In my new position, I'm much more isolated from other adults, well except for Dee. Ü

Maybe I'm not a good friend. Maybe the people I used to think were my friends were really just people I saw at work and we were work friends. Adult friendship is tricky. Balancing family time, work time, personal time and friend time. Maybe I'm just being sensitive and blah blah blah.

Books & Things

Just finished reading "The Last Chinese Chef". I can't remember the last time I so enjoyed a book. I learned about Chinese cooking, meal preparation and some Chinese history.

I've started working on "Into the Woods" with the TSU theater department. Great cast - going to be another wonderful experience.

Getting ready for contest... lots to learn about entering events in the computer, making sure the song selections are on the PML, entering the right number of groups and solos, getting everyone to practice, memorizing GERMAN, scheduling ensembles to practice when EVERYONE is present.

And just because I didn't have enough going on, I started a show choir. Yes, that's right, a show choir. Some of my happiest memories of high school were show choir. I know that going to those rehearsals and play practice were the only things that kept me alive at the time.

Not sure why I'm really writing all of this down, but wanted to keep track of what's going on in my life right now.

Snow!

We are on snow day #3. And to add insult to injury, it is -16 this morning!!

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.