Overcoming Mediocrity

Our local feed/grain store runs really cute commercials on the radio. They're done by a guy with a really pleasant voice. His voice makes me want to come in and buy large quantities of hay. :) (Which, by the way, we do!)

At the end of each commercial, he says, "Olsen's Grain--where good enough, just isn't."

I've thought a lot about that little catch phrase. It applies to a just about everything in life.

The community where I live/teach seems to have what I call a "culture of mediocrity." It's pretty prevalent, and it drives me NUTS! It's hard to find a person--who isn't LDS--who continually strives for perfection. A lot of students at the high school where I teach have a mentality that they need to do just what it takes to get by. They're happy with the status quo.

This was the mentality of the band I direct when I took over. No pride, no sense of honor or accomplishment. Before I took the job, I would go to the football games and listen to the band and be astonished at the wrong notes! WRONG NOTES!! When you're ready to perform for a crowd, wrong notes should be a thing of the past.

I'm a firm believer that students will rise to the occasion. If you expect mediocrity, that's what you'll get. Since I began teaching at BMHS, I have been fighting that attitude, with varying degrees of success. It's been a constant battle to get them to realize that just showing up for class every day won't make them a great musician. It takes hard work--both inside and outside of class.

I don't think I was born with an extraordinary amount of musical talent. (My parents tell me that my jr. high band director said I had no musical talent.) What I believe I was blessed with was the ability to work hard. I am a very driven person, and I know that this has made me who I am today. I wish I could instill some of that drive into some of my students. They could be so much more.

I was reading a book a while back by Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser, one of the great "band geek" gurus. He said that it's impossible to "motivate" someone externally. I've thought a lot about that as I teach. People need to be internally motivated--the drive has to come from within. So, this begs the question--what am I doing? I'm trying to inspire, teach, share my passion... Am I reaching them? Sometimes I wonder.

I hate this family! :)

I know it's a day late, so please forgive me.

Lindsey, Lindsey, Lindsey...

You're my youngest sister, and you've gone from borrowing my clothes (well, that was mostly Michelle) to a great friend. I'm so glad that you've become the person you have. You have the patience of Job--really you do! I'm in awe of what you do with your kids every day. It would EXHAUST me!!

During the past few months, as we've dealt with a lot of extra-fun family drama, I have grown to appreciate you so much. I appreciate that I have a great friend to call and talk to when I'm feeling down.

I wish we lived closer, but if we did, we probably wouldn't see our husbands very often... Kohl's anyone? :)

Love you lots!
Your big sister

Death and Destruction

So my little girl has had a doll since she was born. Literally. She received it from her Aunt Spring when at her baby shower. I think she may have been two weeks old.


Anyway--it's her constant companion. She is named Sallie. Once, when we were visiting Lindsey in Utah, we accidentally left her behind (Sallie, not Courtnie.) Courtnie cried for weeks and weeks until Lindsey sent her back to us.


There's really nothing special about Sallie. She was probably an inexpensive Wal-Mart purchase, but Courtnie sleeps with her every night and they are great friends.


Enter Polly.


Our dog chews on just about everything. Her favorite chew toys are the ends of new hairbrushes. (Rather annoying.) We woke up one morning to find Sallie's face chewed up. It was pretty bad, but I was able to "Frankenstein" the mouth back together.


Last week Ian found Sallie outside and it was even worse. Polly had taken Sallie outside and was gnawing on her. I thought I could cover it up by pretending Sallie was "lost" and asked Ian to throw her away--quickly. Nothing doing. Courtnie asked where Sallie was...looked everywhere and cried and cried when she couldn't find her. I finally caved and told Ian to get her out of the garbage.


What a scene! I told her that I was so sorry and held her for a while. Courtnie said she didn't care what Sallie looked like, and..."Could I fix her?" I told her I'd do my best, but I'm not sure what I can do at this point.

As you can see--she's missing an eye, has only 1/2 an arm and has even more of her face chewed off.

Courtine has now taken drastic measures to protect her precious Sallie. I think she has her wrapped up in at least four blankets and has tied her robe around her as well.

When I had cancer, my mom took my doll, Sarah with me to the hospital. While I was undergoing surgery to remove the tumors, my mom took Sarah and made her a new body (or gave her new stuffing...I'm not sure which.) My mom told me Sarah had surgery just like I did. Kinda cute. I wish I could do this for Sallie. We've tried making her a new doll, buying her a new doll, and nothing can replace her Sallie doll.

What's a mom to do? :)

Band Geeks ROCK!

This past Tuesday was the first band concert I was able to attend featuring my son, the trumpet player! (I was in the hospital having kidney surgery during his December concert.)

I was the proudest mama in the room, I'm sure. How cool is to perpetuate the band geek gene! :) He's improved so much this year, and it made me remember what it was like to teach beginning band. It's amazing how they grow from barely being able to put their horn together to actually making decent sounding music in just a few short months.

I'm looking forward to great things to come! He loves it, and so do I! :)

Happy Birthday, Joshie-Squashie

Today is my "little" brother, Josh's birthday. He's 29--the last year of youth.

Since he was only 10 when got married, I missed out on a lot of his growing-up time, and don't have a whole lot of memories of him as a young person. I do remember travelling to Roosevelt to watch him play football. He was (and continues to be) a great athlete. He is proof to me that you can overcome your genetic make-up when it comes to size and weight! :)

I also remember the few months when he came to live with my husband and I in Arizona. He was struggling with a lot of things, and just seemed unhappy. I remember very fondly the Sunday when he had what I can only call a "mighty change of heart." He worked out his issues with the Lord and became the man he is today.

When he returned from his mission, he found an AMAZING woman. I don't know if he tells her often enough how lucky he is to have her. I'm so grateful that they live close to us so that I can call her a good friend. Their kids are the cutest on the planet--I mean it!

Anyway--I'm glad they're here now. We have a few years together to make some great memories. One of them was last night when we went to dinner together. We went to Texas Roadhouse, and I "let it slip" that it was Josh's birthday. Towards the end of dinner, they brought out the saddle for the birthday boy to sit on. His face was priceless. My Blackberry phone camera can't capture it, but I tried.

Love you, bud. Happy Birthday! :)

Your "big" sister, Amie

Homemade Oreos

One of my fondest "pre-marriage" college-life experiences is living with my Aunt Sarah. She was awesome.

A few fun memories...

Watching her create her "Seven Wonders of the World" shirts for her fashion show collection.

Eating Ben and Jerry's Cookie Dough ice cream--back when it was the ONLY cookie dough ice cream.

Trying to figure out new cuisine creations that you could make with whatever was in the fridge at the time.

Trying to understand our Chinese roommate. (?)

Making homemade oreos.

I absolutely love these oreos, but I don't make them often enough. (Probably because I eat them!) I have made them for my band students and they always beg for more. One student actually offered me $20.00 for a batch. (I didn't do it...too weird!)

I'm making some today for our marathon 5 hour "Guys and Dolls" rehearsal. It makes me miss my Aunt Sarah. :'(

Anyway--they're so delicious that I thought I'd share the recipe, along with some helpful tips I've learned along the way...

For one batch:
1 Devils food cake mix
3/4 cup shortening
2 eggs

Mix ingredients together--it will form a thick, easily handled batter.
Roll into 1" balls and place about 2" apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes. My original recipe says 7-8 minutes, but in my oven I have to cook them for 10 minutes. You'll know they're done with they start to "crack" on the top. They'll look a little doughy still. I leave them on the cookie sheet for a few minutes before letting them cool on a rack.

For the frosting--you can make your own cream cheese frosting or buy it. (I buy it--it saves time.)
Here's a cream cheese frosting recipe:
8 oz. cream cheese
1/4 cup butter
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 lb. powdered sugar

When the cookies are cool, match up two "sides" and frost one side.

These are really good the next day...the cream cheese penetrates the cookie and makes it oh-so-yummy.

Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

You Found Me!

I'm hoping that changing the name of my blog and/or email address will stop the hurtful comments.

I'm glad you found me! Stay in touch! :)

Words I'm Striving to Live By

And behold it is written also, that thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy;

But behold I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you;

That ye may be the children of your Father who is in heaven; for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good.

Therefore those things which were of old time, which were under the law, in me are all fulfilled.

Old things are done away, and all things have become new.

Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.

My Husband

I'm pretty lucky.

I found a great man. Well, to be more specific...he found me, since he saw me first.

It was truly love at first sight, as I melted when I saw his muscles. As I got to know him better, I realized that he would be able to not only take care of me physically, but also spiritually.

He can be pretty romantic when he wants to be, but in rather unconventional ways. Today he surprised me with what he called a "bouquet of chicken sandwich." He brought me my favorite chicken sandwich from Wendy's.

I remember reading an article in the Ensign when we were first married about a woman who complained that her husband never brought her flowers. I chided Gordon about it at the time, because he didn't like to bring me flowers. (I can count on one hand the number of times in our marriage that he has given me flowers...and we've been married almost 19 years.) The wife in the article said that it took her a while to realize that although her husband doesn't bring her flowers, he does so much more.

I've realized that, too.

When we were first married, Gordon promised that he'd make me laugh every day. He's kept that promise, and has been a great comfort and a wonderful friend to me. He listens to me when I whine, holds me when I cry, and loves me when I complain. He is a wonderful father to our two amazing kids and honors his Priesthood and his position in our church. I am grateful to have him in my life.

So he doesn't bring me flowers--so what! :) He brings me a bouquet of chicken sandwich!

April Showers Bring...

Auditions! I HATE them.

So this month we have Color Guard auditions, Drum Major Auditions, and Drumline Auditions. This is always a stressful time for me. I have a hard time disappointing kids who work so hard for something and fall short. I know I shouldn't try to please everyone, but I'm a "people-pleasin'" kind of gal, and making kids upset is upsetting to me. I really, genuinely care for my students and their happiness, and letting them down easy is hard.

I've had many, many auditions myself, and one thing I learned--especially at BYU, is that there's ALWAYS someone better than you. When I was in high school, I was the "king fish" in a small-ish pond. (Well, our school was pretty big, but the band was a smaller microcosm of it.) It wasn't until I auditioned for a scholarship and for groups at BYU that I realized I wasn't all I thought I was. It was humbling, but a learning experience. That's what I hope my students get out of it. Every experience is for their good. That's a bitter pill to swallow when you're a kid.

So--here we go. Color Guard auditions were today, Drum Major auditions on April 30 and Drumline auditions somewhere in between. It will be a drama-filled few weeks as the speculations and musings about next year's band begins. The real drama begins once results are posted, as there's always a surprise or two. I just hope the kids will trust my judgement (they usually do) and know that I only--only--want what's best for the entire band.

Time will tell! :)

I Heart My Job

I had a really great day. Wanna hear about it? Here it goes...

Third period--concert band--LaToya.

LaToya is a senior this year, and I've been her band director for six years. (I taught her in middle school as well.) She started out on clarinet in the 6th grade, but when she got to high school she asked if she could switch to baritone. As I always need low brass players, I was (of course) ecstatic!

She has learned to play this instrument very well, all the while continuing to play the clarinet. She has earned a spot in our All-Region Honor Band for the past three years. She also plays trumpet in our jazz band.

The BMHS concert band qualified for the State Concert Festival this year--it's the first time in about 10 years we've done it. For State, we have to learn all new pieces, so I picked Gustav Holst's "Second Suite in F" and a really cool newer piece by Bruce Yurko called "Night Dances." "Second Suite" has a couple of really amazing baritone solos. I didn't choose the pieces because of the solos, but they are really nice.

Today we were working on the first movement and it was time for the baritone solo. LaToya played it so beautifully that I started to cry. When the solo was over, I stopped the band, and before I could even say a word, she said, "YES!" with a huge grin on her face. She was so proud of herself. That meant more to me than I can say. It is so cool to work with students and watch them progress and feel good about what they've accomplished. It was one of the highlights of my career.

On a side note--one of the other highlights happened about 13 years ago when I was teaching 5th and 6th grade band. We were playing "Barbara Ann" by the Beach Boys and Matt Watson was playing the drum solo in the middle. He'd never really felt good about his performance, and felt anxious about playing it. We did an assembly/performance for the school where he had the chance to play it. He NAILED it! When he finished, he held his hands up like a rock star and "saluted" the audience. I can still see his face and his spiky blond hair.

I'm so grateful for my job. No two days are the same, and every day provides me with new joys and challenges. Teachers in my field tend to burn out after a while. My hope is that by remembering the good times, I can overlook the headaches and the hassles, and remember that it's all worth it.

Por Que?

Can anyone explain to me why the water from the drinking fountain in my new band room tastes like pencil shavings?

Not that I go around tasting pencil shavings, but it definitely has that aftertaste. Yummy!

At least I'm getting my fiber for the day! :)

Peace

Where can I turn for peace, where is my solace?
When other sources cease to make me whole?
When with a wounded heart, anger, or malice,
I draw myself apart, searching my soul?

Where, when my aching grows, where when I languish
Where, in my need to know, where can I run?
Where is the quiet hand, to calm my anguish?
Who, who can understand? He, only One.

He answers privately, reaches my reaching.
In my Gethsemane, Savior and Friend.
Gentle the peace he finds for my beseeching.
Constant he is and kind, love without end.

Choice and Accountability

When I was in the Young Women's organization as a youngster, the Church changed the Young Women's program. Ardeth Kapp was the president, and I remember being at the meeting where the new Young Women's theme and the values were introduced. I can still recite the theme, and remember all of the values.

One that has had an increasing relevance in my life is "Choice and Accountability." The older I get, the more I realize that EVERY choice I make has a consequence--be it good or bad. This is EVERY choice--from what to eat in the morning to whether or not to take the time to say my evening prayers. Case in point--if I eat anything with cinnamon in it, I get an upset stomach. Sometimes I eat it anyway, but I have to deal with the consequences. :0(

I love quotes...I put them up everywhere. In that vein, here are a few of my favorites regarding choice:

There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist, or accept the responsibility for changing them. --Denis Waitley

It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.--J.K. Rowling

Until a person can say deeply and honestly, "I am what I am today because of the choices I made yesterday," that person cannot say, "I choose otherwise" --Stephen Covey

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. --Martin Luther King, Jr.

My personal favorite:

The secret of life isn't what happens to you, but what you do with what happens to you. --Norman Vincent Peale

Favorite Scripture on the topic:

27 Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself. 2 Nephi 2:27

I have had a lot happen to me over the course of my life--most of it health-related. I have strived (and have not always succeeded) to maintain a positive attitude throughout it all. I keep telling myself that, "Well, at least I'm here!" It would be so easy for me to wallow in self-pity and misery, but that wouldn't do anyone any good. Not only would I be miserable, but it would make everyone around me VERY miserable. When I'm being poked with an IV needle for the 6th time in one visit, the nurses always remark about how good I am, and how positive I remain. This shocks me, as why would anyone choose to be difficult in that situation? What choice do we have?

Bottom line--life is all about choices. Some are big, others small. The biggest choice we have in life is how we deal with the "crap" we are dealt in our life. (And we're all given our dose of crap!) We knew we were going to be faced with trials and tribulations when we came here. If you believe, as I do, that we knew--at least to some degree--how difficult this life would be before we came here, then how can we be surprised at the hurdles that come our way? We're here! We have a body! We get to experience life! I can imagine how happy I was to get here to Earth--even though I knew I'd have my fair share of difficulties.

My hope is that I'm doing all I can do to live up to the gift that my Father in Heaven has given me. He gave me, well...me!