142 posts tagged “music”

• Had my youngest 2 children.  One in 2000 and one in 2002.
• "Retired" and became a stay at home mom in 2003.
• Spent 5 years in a book club.
• Served on church council and started directing 3 musical groups at church.
• Learned to play handbells.
• Made lifelong friends.
• Moved home to MT.
• Put a large addition on a house.
• Built a house.
• Entered my 30's.  I'm now on the downward side and I must say, my 30's have been the best!
• Traveled to Pittsburgh twice (Steelers games), Las Vegas, Jamaica, South Carolina, Wyoming, Minnesota, Glacier National Park, New Hampshire, Kentucky, Disney World twice, and Utah.
• Was part of a Babysitting Co-op.
• Became interested in landscape photography.
• Served on PTO.
• Volunteered with various groups.
• Said goodbye to one dog and hello to a new one.
• Started a blog ;)

Thumbs Down:

1. Our house still hasn't sold yet.  There's a lady who loves it and wants it but her husband doesn't think they need a new house.  Feel free to pray that she changes his mind!
2. I helped Ray grout the main bathroom yesterday.  All I did was wipe off the excess and 3 of my fingers are split.  I won't be doing that again without gloves!

Thumbs Up:

1. This gorgeous weather we've had in November is totally making up for the crummy October.  I can now make it through winter.
2. I have 1 room left to paint in the house before we move in.  We hope to have carpet installed in the next 2 weeks and move in shortly after.  We might have a few things left to finish when we move in but that's ok!
3. Friends from Jamestown are coming this weekend to go hunting on our ranch.  It'll be fun to see them and Jace is totally stoked to see his godbrother that's the same age as him.
4. Chorister Choir sang for a church brunch last Sunday and it was classic (the one time Ray didn't record).  The 2 yr old twin-siblings of one of my singers decided they wanted to be with her.  So, they took turns coming up and standing by her and attempting to sing the song, that they didn't know, very loudly.  It was classic!  I guess I have some future members on my hands.
5. Friends who are willing to take time out of their busy schedules to help me paint.  Not only that, they're willing to do the cutting because I'm so bad at it!
6. My mom making us hot breakfasts every morning.  Today it was french toast and sausage.
7. My brother's new girlfriend.  I think we're going to become fast friends!

Today was the first performance of the new kids' choir that I started at our church here.  I was missing 2 kids but thought they did a fantastic job!

Fumble:

1. I'm having 3 moles removed from my back next Monday.  I had 2 removed in college and my chiropractor suggested I have a few checked out at my last appt. before we moved.  I finally got around to it yesterday.  At first, the Dr. thought there were 2 that just needed watching but then she found one she didn't like under my bra strap.  If they're removing one, we might as well just get rid of all 3. 
2. Jace's flag football team got creamed last night. 
3. The Steelers lost on Sunday because Jeff Reed missed 2 field goals.  I could've understood missing one in the pouring rain but 2?!

Touchdown:

1. We're ordering our kitchen cabinets today or tomorrow.
2. The perfotaper finally arrived last night and began work today.  I'm hoping things will move along now!
3. The start of Fall TV programming.  I enjoyed DWTS and Castle last night. 
4. The kids are acclimating soooo well here.  I'm very happy and excited for them.
5. The 1st practice for my new kids' choir here was last Wednesday and I only had 6 kids (2 were mine).  When I scheduled it, I didn't realize it was an "early out" day for school.  The church program that is before my choir had less than half of the kids that attended the previous week so I'm hoping my attendance will be much better tomorrow.  I'd really like a minimum of 15 kids.
6. I went to my first handbell practice last week.  I've always wanted to learn to play.  It's harder than I thought but the others said I did amazing for my first time.

I met with our pastor yesterday about starting a kids’ choir but finding a good practice time is the hard part.  They already have an after-school program at the church from 3:30-5 on Wed. so I think that day is out of the question.  Every other day is filled up with sports activities so I’m putting some feelers out on Sunday evenings.  They also have a new Activities Coordinator position that he thought I might be interested in.  The job description is rather intimidating and I think impossible to get done in a maximum of 20 hrs / week.  Think I’ve already decided it’s not for me.  Some of it I would enjoy but some of it sounds like you arrange a lot of the confirmation and Sunday School programs which is not my field of expertise.  It also doesn’t make much sense for me to do that for $10-$12 an hour when I could make more working for mom. 

I did get invited to join the music selection committee after commenting on some of what I was doing in Jamestown.  They're moving to one service which I told him concerned me because we like a contemporary service.  His plan is to make it a mix.  Right now, he has two very traditional people and one contemporary person on the music selection committee so he said I could balance things out.  I also found out he has my favorite book for contemporary music so I’m excited about that. 

I also plan to join the Sanctuary Choir and Handbell Choir.  I've always wanted to learn handbells but they practiced on Mondays in Jamestown and I couldn't see spending another night away from home.   

We celebrated Cody's birthday Friday night.  He invited 5 friends.  First, we went to the movies.  We let the 12 yr olds go to a PG13 movie, "Terminator", which was Cody's first and the rest of us went to "Up".  I must say it was better than I expected.  After the movie, all the boys got to spend the night.  Things are sure changing as the boys played outside until dark and then played Rock Band, texted on their phones, and listened to music.  We finally shut them down at 12:30 am.  Jace and Lily each spent the night at friends' houses so at least we were short those 2 kids!  Sadly, I forgot to take any pictures so I feel like a baaaaad mom!

Sunday was the last time both my kids' choirs performed in church under my direction.  Between services, there was a teacher recognition breakfast and I was practicing with my AWE group.  A friend came and told me I was needed at the breakfast so I knew something was up.  In front of everyone, she presented me with this beautiful book from the kids.  Each kid made me a page.  Then, our Children's Education Director said some nice words and started choking up.  I probably should've spoken but I was already tearing up and knew I wouldn't be able to get through saying anything.

Out in the hall, I started going through the book which was making me cry more.  Then, the mother of a boy whose in my choir came and told me that she admires me, is inspired by me, and wants to be more like me.  I could hardly speak.  I don't believe anyone has ever told me that I inspired them.  Finally, I just had to go in the bathroom because I couldn't hold the tears back. 

Once I composed myself, I went back into church to prepare for the service.  My accompanist gave me a silver, musical note necklace that says "Praise" and two of my other choir kids gave me a bouquet of flowers.  It was very overwhelming.  I told the kids since it was my last time to direct them, they needed to make it super good.  They delivered.  Luther Choir sang "Abundawunderful Life" and Chorister Choir sang "I Wonder How It Felt".  I had Ray use the real video camera so we'd have it in good quality.  Unfortunately, that means I can't share the videos on here.

I had several other lovely comments after the service.  I will sing with the AWE group one last time on May 31.  That is if I can sing without crying!

Saturday night, we had a going away party for the kids.  We rented a place in town called the Bunker and my friend's husband DJ'd for us.  The first 1/2 hour, the 6th grade girls were in one spot,

the boys were in one spot, the 3rd graders were playing tag, the kindergarteners were doing a craft project or being shy, and others were eating. So, I had our DJ, Gndsgang's husband, play the YMCA and the Hokey Pokey.  That finally got the kids dancing. Some kids played foozball, some watched TV, some cooled off on the deck, some ate, and others just goofed around! There were a total of 40 kids there and the party lasted 2 hours. This is how everyone felt at the end of the party.

Lily completely made this song up.  I hope you can understand the words because they're pretty neat.

Jace had a speaking part.  He's usually very serious during these programs and won't look at us to avoid smiling so we were surprised that he got the giggles when he had a little goof on his lines.

The file for the 3rd graders song is too big so I'll have to upload it to You Tube later.