Thanks to Christina for tagging me...
Where I was 10 years ago: Living in our little house in South Salt Lake. Josh was 1 1/2, I was teaching piano in Heber, Provo, and Salt Lake, and deciding whether or not I'd keep traveling to teach.
Things on my to-do list: Organize my house, run more, and start practicing more regularly.
If I became a billionaire: Oh, my. Tithing first, then I'd start a few foundations (one for providing music lessons for underprivileged children, one for housing assistance, and one for people to apply to when they're really in need but have nowhere to turn), build a bunch of Habitat for Humanity houses, buy E & N their dream house down the street from me :), donate a ton to the Perpetual Education Fund, do a bunch of microloans, pick out my dream grand piano (but only if Christina hadn't bought one for me first), pay for a fantastic vacation with all of my dearest family and friends. Oh, and hire a cleaning lady.
Three bad habits: Not going to bed on time, procrastinating, and eating too much
Five places I've lived: Long Beach, Yorba Linda, Friday Harbor (but only for a month), Provo, Salt Lake City
Five jobs I've had: Office work at State Farm Insurance, Cinnamon Works bakery, YMCA youth counselor, accompanist, piano teacher
Something most people don't know about me: I went to college on a percussion scholarship, not a piano scholarship.
I tag all my loop buddies and Stephanie.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Things I'll Miss About This Winter
Spring is really almost here, and I'm excited! For once, I got my taxes done before April, so I can really enjoy the season :)
That being said, there's always something I miss about each passing season. So here's my list:
I'll miss...
An actual snowy winter. This winter was so wonderful! The snow came often, which kept the air cleaner, and it stayed cold so the snow stayed on the ground. I didn't have to suffer through one of those brown winters with terrible air that I hate so much.
Boots. (Not shaving my legs...need I say more?)
No bugs.
Kids getting bundled up and playing outside for hours, making forts and snowmen and having snowball fights.
Snowshoeing.
The quiet of a snowstorm, the way it blankets the world and makes me feel like holing up indoors, making cookies and reading a good book.
There's no stopping the seasons, though, and there is DEFINITELY a downside to winter, like running with a hat and gloves, cleaning up all those sopping snow clothes, feeling more isolated from the neighbors, and watching it get dark at 5:00. So bring it on. I can't wait for flowers, trees in bloom, hanging out on the front lawns with the neighbors while the kids ride bikes, park days, picnics, and flip flops.
That being said, there's always something I miss about each passing season. So here's my list:
I'll miss...
An actual snowy winter. This winter was so wonderful! The snow came often, which kept the air cleaner, and it stayed cold so the snow stayed on the ground. I didn't have to suffer through one of those brown winters with terrible air that I hate so much.
Boots. (Not shaving my legs...need I say more?)
No bugs.
Kids getting bundled up and playing outside for hours, making forts and snowmen and having snowball fights.
Snowshoeing.
The quiet of a snowstorm, the way it blankets the world and makes me feel like holing up indoors, making cookies and reading a good book.
There's no stopping the seasons, though, and there is DEFINITELY a downside to winter, like running with a hat and gloves, cleaning up all those sopping snow clothes, feeling more isolated from the neighbors, and watching it get dark at 5:00. So bring it on. I can't wait for flowers, trees in bloom, hanging out on the front lawns with the neighbors while the kids ride bikes, park days, picnics, and flip flops.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
What Kind of Cello Am I Anyway?
So we've been cello shopping (witness the last post) for a little while. Josh has decided that he'll tolerate piano, but that he truly loves the cello. I love watching him start to identify with something that will enrich his life so much. He now has two great passions: soccer and cello...a good combination in my book.
Josh has played eleven or twelve 1/2 size cellos in our quest for the "right" instrument. I love that he's so opinionated about them, but it did make for a lot of running around. As he played each one, we talked about the qualities it possessed, whether the tone was open, closed, large, small, nasal, clear, rich, shallow. It was a complicated process for an eleven year old and a pianist, but the choice finally became clear, and we are now the proud possessors of a beautiful handmade cello for which Josh feels a great affinity. It responds well to him, and he is encouraged further to reach for bigger things.
So today I kept thinking about my life (because sometimes I do that...OK, I do it too much) and was thinking about being an instrument in God's hands. I've always responded to that idea, of course, as a musician. The differences in instruments I've played and what I can really accomplish on each is made abundantly clear, like the concert I played at a nursing home on a spinet without a working pedal (not good) or playing at the Assembly Hall on Temple Square with that amazing 9' Steinway (it responds almost to my thoughts, I swear.) Sometimes I'm afraid I am so caught up in my troubles and trials that I respond to Heavenly Father more like that nursing home spinet or the rental cello Josh tried than I do like the Steinway or the cello Josh chose. He can still use me for what He needs, but I may not be as effective. It's when I allow myself to be open to loving those around me and not focusing on myself, my little corner of the universe, that I really can affect change in the world. I'm far from being a Steinway...but maybe if I keep my heart open, I can continue to grow in my ability to help the world.
Josh has played eleven or twelve 1/2 size cellos in our quest for the "right" instrument. I love that he's so opinionated about them, but it did make for a lot of running around. As he played each one, we talked about the qualities it possessed, whether the tone was open, closed, large, small, nasal, clear, rich, shallow. It was a complicated process for an eleven year old and a pianist, but the choice finally became clear, and we are now the proud possessors of a beautiful handmade cello for which Josh feels a great affinity. It responds well to him, and he is encouraged further to reach for bigger things.
So today I kept thinking about my life (because sometimes I do that...OK, I do it too much) and was thinking about being an instrument in God's hands. I've always responded to that idea, of course, as a musician. The differences in instruments I've played and what I can really accomplish on each is made abundantly clear, like the concert I played at a nursing home on a spinet without a working pedal (not good) or playing at the Assembly Hall on Temple Square with that amazing 9' Steinway (it responds almost to my thoughts, I swear.) Sometimes I'm afraid I am so caught up in my troubles and trials that I respond to Heavenly Father more like that nursing home spinet or the rental cello Josh tried than I do like the Steinway or the cello Josh chose. He can still use me for what He needs, but I may not be as effective. It's when I allow myself to be open to loving those around me and not focusing on myself, my little corner of the universe, that I really can affect change in the world. I'm far from being a Steinway...but maybe if I keep my heart open, I can continue to grow in my ability to help the world.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Saturday, March 1, 2008
The Fish of the Living Dead
The Fish is NOT DEAD. Not. I went to go dump him Tuesday night (because it was one of those kinds of days, where you leave a dead fish in a bowl for a while. Okay, for the entire day) and Josh said, "Mom, he's still alive." I said, "No, Josh, he's finally dead." Josh said, "No, Mom, he's moving." And whaddya know? Sure enough, he was still moving his gills. That darned fish. Now I have to clean his bowl again.
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