Creating

There's something about taking warm silky bread dough out of the bread machine and forming it into loaves that is so satisfying to me.

Something about taking kernels of wheat and making them into something

that smells and tastes so good and is also good for you.

(Butterick pattern picture)

Amy is making this Cinderella dress for Ruby. 

(Like the one in the picture but blue of course)

It's her first big project. It looks amazing and Ruby is so excited,

We were talking the other day about the experience of taking a piece of fabric

and working with it until it's something usable and beautiful.

It's challenging and sometimes frustrating but overall 

it seems like kind of a miracle that we can do that.

Jennifer sat down at the piano the other day and began to play a song.

It's not one that I had heard her play before.

I assumed it was a new song. I was right - in a way.

Jennifer was creating a new song.

We printed out some paper so she could write it down and play it again.

It's still a work in progress but amazing to me as I listen and watch her work on it.

And then I think about the most awesome act of creation.

I think about the little baby moving and growing inside of Amy

How amazing is it that she can be partners with God in creating people!

And Friday we will learn a little more about this little person.

Boy or girl? Any predictions?

More about creating here

I finished my training!

 {picture credit}

Jump up, do a little dance,

and go here for a chance to get $50.00 off Kindermusik tuition.

That is all.

Carry on

I'm no Miss Julee

WARNING - this is another Kindermusik post, if you've had enough feel free to skip it, 

but it's what's going in my life right now.

{this is Miss Julee with Carol Penney - one of the head honchos at Kindermusik}

(Julee, I got this from facebook - I can take it off if you want me to, does that count as getting permission? ;)

I had three classes today. 

Yesterday, after talking with Miss Julee, I discovered that I had scheduled them too closely (and now I wonder if I had too many too). I couldn't get the music to load on to the ipod yesterday, or today and finally gave up after wasting precious prep time fussing with it. 

I had a good turn out and many people brought friends. 

I began feeling calm and completely able, getting to know the moms and their children, answering questions and singing the songs with confidence but as one group left and another came I knew I was on a tight schedule and was not able to answer questions as well or greet the parents and children as well as I would have liked. After the last class, as the last mom was about to leave she turned to me and said, "You need to have more passion for the children.... and get a gate for the stairs, that's what Miss Julee did." It stung a little but the reality is that she was exactly right and I appreciated her honesty and candor. It must not have been too bad though because she still signed up for class 

(even though I wasn't able to make change for her deposit).

I survived the morning and I realized that I have a lot to learn

(which I already knew in my head, but the rest of me was just shocked at the reality). 

I felt a little like crying, but not enough to need to reapply my mascara.

Next I wanted to drown my disappointment in
a three scoop gelato at Costco

(Costco was on my to do list right after I took Jenn her running clothes)

- but really all that would do is give me a stomach ache
and then I'd feel worse. 

I decided instead to indulge in half of a nuts about berries salad at Zuppas along with a half serving of garden vegetable soup (I can only get lobster bisque when I'm with Amy and Jenn and yes, I ate the chocolate covered strawberry first).  Without a growling stomach I could think about this more logically. While I could have done better, I didn't totally flop and people still signed up. So it was a success in some ways. I hoped I'd bee as good as Miss Julee but really, how could I be, she has been doing this for so many years and is totally amazing - still, with all the plans and prep I thought it would have been better than it was. I was really glad to have Miss Julee there to help out and making sure I got the right child in the right class - which almost happened. I did charged a few people the wrong amount but always in their favor.

While I'm no Miss Julee I also realize that she's no Miss Karen.

I'm not sure exactly what that means but I'm willing to continue to work and prepare and find out. 

Miss Julee believes in me (I hope she still does), the moms believe in me enough me to sign up...

I CAN do this. 

But right now I'm going to take a nap.

Sorry for the lack of pictures, while I had the camera ready and was planning to take pictures the batteries were dead.

Deciding to do Kindermusik part 2

While all of these feelings were swirling around, my neighbor and friend approached me and told me she was thinking about not teaching Kindermusik any more. She has taught for 13ish years and has been heavily involved in the training program for new teachers for the last few years - which has become a full time job. I talked with her last year as I considered teaching Kindermusik, but decided that there was no way I could get my own program going with her amazing one literally across the street. She said that one thing that kept her from retiring from the classroom is that she had no one to send her students to... 

(que heavenly music).

The rest has been like a dream... 

 

you know, one of those dreams where everything around you is moving quickly and you are stuck in slow motion - well sort of. The training can take up to 4 months, but I will finish mine this Thursday after 6 weeks - and this with a trip to Lake Tahoe, a short jaunt to Sacramento/San Francisco, a week in Park City, the boys moving out, Jenn and Mark starting school and texturing, painting and recarpeting the basement... 

(whew, deep breath, in and out, in and out). 

and you wonder why I haven't been blogging

While it has been a little (OK maybe more than a little) crazy around here, things are coming together, classes are filling up and teaching is

SO MUCH FUN!!!!

the moms and kids are so cute and it's just perfect for me. I am so excited about this new venture in my life. Now I just need to figure out how to cook for three.

and what to do with all this extra milk.

Deciding to do Kindermusik

Written a month ago

I remember when I was expecting baby #2. I knew the amazing amount of love I felt for Aaron and wondered if I could ever love another child as much as I loved him. I couldn't imagine it was possible and felt a little guilty. But when Amy was born my ability to love increased beyond what I had ever felt before. She was her own little person and I loved both of my children incredibly.

I remember being pregnant with Jennifer. It had been a very difficult pregnancy and as I sat in the rocking chair feeling her kick my hand, I knew she would be my last baby. I shed tears more than once at the realization that the time was quickly approaching that I would never feel a baby moving inside me again.

I find that I am apprehensive again as the next few weeks will bring about some major changes in my life. 

BUT, realizing that I worried about past changes

and also realizing I have loved my life since those changes took place

gives me faith and hope that the transitions that are coming will also bring great joy.

This fall we will have just one child at home. 

When did I get this old? 

Isn't it just old people that have all their children grown and gone? 

Now that I am done with school and my children are growing up and moving out what will I do? Cooking, cleaning, yard work - stuff like that of course - but I feel like I want more,
maybe need more. 

With both granddaughters living in different states I miss them. 

A lot. 

I feel like I have a lot of love to give,
some mothering and nurturing still to give,
I miss the sounds of little giggles and squeals of delight in my home...

but in reality, I only want it part time.

A prosperous time of life

Tuesday Rob moved out.

Tuesday I held my first Kindermusik practicum class. 

Wednesday Christian moved out.

Wednesday Jennifer started her sophomore year of high school.

Wednesday Mark attended the first day of "back to school" meetings.

Mark got back from a trip to New Jersey at about 10:45pm on Tuesday night. It was late and we enjoyed some time to get caught up. It was quite late when I got to sleep. Wednesday morning my alarm went off at 6:15..."Really,.... 6:15... I don't think I got up this early last year and it worked fine". I hit my snooze... just 5 more minutes. (I NEVER do that) Next thing I knew there was a knock at the door and Jenn whispered..." are we still having scripture study at 6:45?" I bolted out of bed, yes.... yes... of course..... be right down. I buzzed around in my nightgown packing her lunch. She sat down and ate while Mark began reading. Her ride came early but she was ready.

(wish I had some pictures, sorry)

I sat down and hoped this is not a sign of things to come.

Mark had a day full of meetings (so much fun!). I came home from aerobics to Christian all packed up and ready to move into Heritage Halls. He did let me shower, which I greatly appreciate. When we unloaded the last of his stuff it was lunch time. Robbie texted me to let me know his first day of classes went well. We decided to meet at Panda Express and have lunch. (Love the mushroom chicken)

"This is a prosperous time of life for you"

I'm not one to take fortunes that you get in cookies very seriously but when I read this in mine, I felt a great sense of peace and comfort. Silly I know, it could have easily applied to either of the boys and been just as fitting. But somehow it felt like it was just for me. I know "prosperous" is often viewed in terms of making money, but with so many changes in my life right now it felt more like being able to grow and embrace the changes and find success. A vote of confidence.

(fortunes found in cookies are subject to the consumer's own interpretation)

So I will end with a fortune for you:

"Live long and prosper"

I'll be doing some catching up too.

Did you know...

I will be teaching Kindermusik this fall!
I LOVE Kindermusik.
We are almost done fixing up the basement and
I have finished all my training except for my practicum.
If you're interested in trying a free class go here for more information.

(and no I'm not pregnant... I've seen a lot of those lately too)