THANKSGIVING

I'm really much too tired to blog about my Thanksgiving at the moment.  I did bake an apple pie and thought I should at least post some pics.  It turned out prettier than the last one I made.  Take a look.......

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Then, and Now

It was just two years ago that I was preparing for my last Holiday Concert at MMS.  At the time, I didn't even know it was going to be my last.  The Holiday Concerts were always my favorite!  We would prepare festive pieces and little numbers.  Some of my students would even have a little solo.  

I was wonderful friends with the choir teacher, Sherri.  She's absolutely amazing Christian woman (I still keep in touch with her)!  We combined our groups for a couple of years and had one big Holiday Concert! Our audience was much larger and many of the students were in both groups, so it was nice for them to not have to commit to 2 evenings of performances.  

Music is art.  It's a performing art.   Being the crazy person I am, I liked to make sure and show off all the art programs in my school.  I worked with the art teacher and she had her after school art club design something to be featured along with our concerts.  It's so great to work with others in the art family.  We were each others biggest supporters and number one fans!

Another thing I remember about the Holidays at MMS is that I sorta agreed to grant the principal one special request.  He actually asked me if I could grant his request in my teaching interview.  Of course, it was a simple and fun request.  He wanted me to  play at the annual Christmas Teachers Luncheon.  I would always put on a Santa Hat and lug 3 instruments down to the Library and play for all the other teachers while they ate their annual BBQ Christmas lunch prepared by the principals.  I'm sure I looked like a huge nerd, but I had a blast!  BBQ and live entertainment..... does it get any better than that?  Well, the last year I was there I wanted to show off my students, so I had several of them play solos for the teachers luncheon.  It was a hit!!!  It was a real ego booster for my band kids too!

Today, instead of preparing a band for a Holiday Concert, I went to UMSL and met with a nursing advisor.  I am currently enrolled in 3 classes, but will be adding another when I figure out what I'd like it to be.  Two years ago I never would have guessed that I'd be where I am today.  We didn't even know we were going to be in St. Louis, much less that I'd be applying to nursing school.  It's funny how life turns out and always throws us some surprises.  I can't help but wonder what's next.

Here are some more ME FACTS:

1.  A very large amount of my friends are band directors, professional musicians, worship leaders, and some even have their own CDs.  I'm so proud of each and every one of them!

2.  Here are some of my favorite Christian artists (no specific order):

David Crowder (my absolute fav), Darlene Zschech, Marci Priest Jackson (sang at my wedding), Benjamin Gate, Delirious, and Maple Street.

3.  I LOVE dark chocolate, but don't like milk chocolate at all.  

4.  I drink my coffee black.

5.  I met David while I was playing in the musical "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown."  I got a nice check from it and my husband!

PASSION

If you're someone who is easily offended, please don't read this.....

Last night I had biology class and sociology class as usual.  During my sociology class I was told by the professor (African-American man) that I have every opportunity in the world and special privileges because I'm white.  I told him that I didn't believe his statement was completely true.  I then explained how I had applied to several teaching positions here in St. Louis this year, but didn't get hired because I'm white.  Yes, I applied to schools that were composed of 99% African-American students.  I was optimistic and eager to teach at those schools, but believe I was not given the opportunity to because I'm white.  This is the reason I am even in his class.  I did not land a teaching job this year.  

Either my prayers of finding a teaching job were not answered or God just has a different plan for my life.  This is what ultimately confirmed my thoughts of going back to school.

All of this really got me thinking.....

I've really formed a completely different identity here in St. Louis.  David is the only one here who really knows me, what I've done, my accomplishments, my interests, and my passions.  This is not good or bad, it really doesn't matter if all my friends know everything about me.....that's not my point.  

I do know that I really haven't offered to share much of my past with my new STL friends.  I guess I'm just a go-with-the-flow kind of gal.  When I'm with my Med friends, I can listen to them talk for hours about things I don't have the slightest clue about.  I actually really enjoy it!  The Med Wives I am friends with talk about their children, their churches, and all about being a mom.  I'm alright with that too, and I enjoy it!  As much as I enjoy all of this, I am still different.  I don't know anything about biology (I'm trying though) or medicine, mommyhood or playdates.  I do not share the same socioeconomic status, geographic background, family situation, or religion with many of my friends.  

I'm going to share more of my identity in this blog 

and who I really am.  

I think this is actually more for me than for those who read it. 

 I guess I just don't want to forget the person I am or was.  

A Few Facts About Me:

1.   I have now had 1 1/2 years off from teaching.  Teaching is a tough job, but I loved it!  There are days that I'm 100% happy with doing what I'm doing now, and there are days where I want to quit everything, grab a baton or pick up my clarinet, and go MAKE MUSIC!  

In case you didn't know.....   

Yes, I was a teacher!

I taught MUSIC!  

I was a BAND DIRECTOR!  

And I was GOOD at it!!!   

I made this Sponge Bob to go along with the Sponge Bob theme song we played at a concert.  

The concert theme was "At the Movies"

We even gave away door prizes!  This encouraged people to come to our concerts.

The students loved Sponge Bob, so he was given a permanent home in our band room.

2.  CLASSICAL MUSIC IS MY FAVORITE!

3.  I want Beethoven's Symphony No. 7, Mvmt. II  played at my funeral.  

4.  The only books I really enjoy reading are about music history, composers, printing and publishing, etc.

I can't deny it or run from it any longer......  

I am PASSIONATE and head-over-heels in LOVE with MUSIC!  

What are you passionate about?

BEAUTY

Audrey and her Yorkie, Famous

My friend, Amanda, posted this on her blog.  Her mom sent this to her recently.  It's Beauty Tips by Audrey Hepburn.  I liked it so much that I wanted to share it with all of my blog readers too.  Thanks Amanda!

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. 

For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. 

For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. 

For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day. 

For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. 

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone. 

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. 

As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, and the other for helping others.

Week @ A Glance...... and then some

Here's what has been going on in my world since I last posted.........

Monday:  Toured my new school, UMSL!  Had biology and sociology class, took exam in Sociology

Tuesday:  Girls Night Out at Bailey's Chocolate Bar - it was Awesome!

Wednesday:  Biology class and lab 

Thursday: Did several loads of laundry and had Ethics class.  Late night Walmart run after David took his Ambian ---- this made for a very interesting experience.

Friday: Ran some errands, had dinner at a friends house, went to a crazy Halloween Party down by the river at Big Daddy's

- We don't really celebrate Halloween, but decided to dress up this year.  David was a cowboy and I was a cowgirl.  

            

Saturday: Algebra class, took algebra exam, studied biology, and wrote a paper

Sunday:  Studied biology, had Ethics study group

Monday:  Wrote 4 papers, studied biology, took biology class and made a 94/A!!!!!

Tuesday: Went to lunch with a friend to celebrate her birthday (a day late), VOTED, and watched election stuff on TV, OBAMA became the President-elect

TODAY:  Biology class and Lab, my instructor congratulated me on my A (I've come a long way!), took Ethan on a long walk and ran through the beautifully colored leaves, made a birthday gift for a friend

Tomorrow:  Study for Ethics exam, take Ethics exam