WHY WE TEACH MUSIC

Not because we expect you to major in music;
Not because we expect you to sing all your life;
Not so you can relax, not so you can have fun;

But so you will be...human. So you will recognize beauty. So you will be sensitive. So you will be closer to an infinite beyond this world. So you will have something to cling to. So you will have more love, compassion, gentleness, good--in short, more life!

Of what value will it be to make a prosperous living unless you know how to live?

~ Source unknown

Dust if You Must

Dust if you must, but wouldn't it be better,
to paint a picture or write a letter,
bake a cake or plant a seed,
ponder the difference between want and need?

Dust if you must, but there's not much time,
with rivers to swim and mountains to climb,
music to hear and books to read, friends to
cherish and life to lead.

Dust if you must, but the world's out there
With the sun in your eyes, the wind in your hair,
A flutter of snow, a shower of rain.
This day will not come around again.

Dust if you must, but bear in mind,
old age will come and it's not kind.
And when you go - and go you must -
You, yourself, will make more dust!

(anon)

This morning I ran across a partially filled glass of water right in the spot where Julianne had left it.  She and the "littles" have been gone for 2 days and I just barely noticed it.  Do you think I moved it?  No.  It'll be a while.  The night before they left, I was leaving the kitchen after everyone had gone to bed.  For some reason I turned around and scanned the counter tops, where macaroni, bananas, fish crackers, cookies, and starburst candy had all been distributed lovingly for 3 weeks.  (It was snack bar city!)  I stood there with my hand on the light switch.  Do you think I turned it off?  No.  Not until I replayed those sweet faces and voices in my head for a few minutes.  No.  I'm not ready to clean off the crumbs just yet.
 It'll be a "little" while.

Another good reason not to dust!

I Feel Pretty Loved!

Would your children do this for you when you turn 60?

 

Would your visiting teachers put up a banner like this in your neighborhood?

      

Maybe this year won't be so bad. . .  I feel pretty loved!

 Now for my two new favorite songs for the decade:

"Six-ty Candles"
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoOuTSBAWWA)
and

 "Happy Birthday, Sweet Six-ty!"
(http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x73532_neil-sedaka-happy-birthday-sweet-si_music#.UXtk4ko4zAk)

Yep, it'll be me, with the volume up!





 

And this . . .

 

is Love.

This is love. . .

 

This is love!

Laughing or Crying?

A few days before Jeff graduated from middle school, an assembly was held during the day to acknowledge the students’ accomplishments.  Carianne and I attended.  We sat on the bleachers in the gymnasium, a few rows up; with me in front of her.  My camera was ready, and I was proud to share in Jeff's landmark day.

The band played festive music as each of the 8th grade classes orderly entered the hall, single file.  Parents and fans cheered when they spotted their children.  We sat on the edge of our seats, waiting for the first glimpse of Jeff.  Before I clearly saw him, there was a distraction of wild and cheering uproar  behind me.  My heart sank when I realized the way over-done craziness was for him.   I was so confused I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.  I did not know these war cry sounding people, and I knew they didn't know me.

My first thoughts were,  “I wished I had volunteered more in middle school, so I could have prevented wild influences of people like this affecting his life!’  Now it was too late.  Who had he been hanging with, that assumed it was OK to get his attention in such an obnoxious way?  I built up courage and slowly turned around to face the group, fearful for what rowdies I might see.  Looking  over my shoulder, in their direction, I saw . . .  no one.  No group, not even a young high school student.  Empty bleachers; except for a few grandparents and . . . Carianne.

When I turned to her, her demeanor was calm and relaxed.  The sun was shining on her hair from the windows above and she seemed to be enjoying a carefree afternoon.  When I looked at her eyes, they told me nothing except contentment.  But I had to turn around a couple of times to study her in unbelief, before I put her name on the confusing clamor.  

I smile about it now.  It was a moment I'll never forget.  As serene as she seems, I'm secretly glad she knows how and when to pull off a gut wrenching display. . . . like being a one man fan club for her brother on a special day. . . .  or on a good roller coaster!

Happy Birthday, Carianne!  You are a beautiful daughter and mother, with more faith and hope that  cause those who love you to cheer wildly for all your dreams to come true!

I love you, dearly!
Mom

  

a quote

I love this:

"The same God that placed that star in a precise orbit millennia before it appeared over Bethlehem in celebration of the birth of the Babe has given at least equal attention to placement of each of us in precise human orbits so that we may, if we will, illuminate the landscape of our individual lives, so that our light may not only lead others but warm them as well."

Neal A. Maxwell, That my Family Should Partake, pg 86