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!

Simple Pleasures

So, I'm a pretty simple person. I like simple things, have a simple little home and a simple two-kid family. I don't wear a lot of make-up or jewlery and don't drive a fancy car.

There are a few simple things that make me happy....

In no particular order:

Doritos and cottage cheese. I'm eating some right now. I prefer a fresh bag of Doritos and the Wal-Mart brand of cottage cheese.

Reality TV. I'll admit--I'm a junkie, and my "drug of choice" is reality TV. I love Survivor, Amazing Race, American Idol, The Biggest Loser, and Hell's Kitchen. I never miss an episode. (Thanks, DVR!) :)

ER. It's almost over and I feel like a part of me is dying. I've watched it for the past 15 years. I really hope it ends well...

Music. I like to think I'm fairly well-rounded when it comes to my music tastes. If there's a person playing a musical instrument or singing with some kind of talent, I'll listen. I absolutely dislike any "woman bashing" rap and Mormon pop. (HATE Mormon pop!)

Snuggling with my kids. This is my favorite part of any day. When Courtnie and I snuggle, I ask her, "Do you know what my favorite part of today is?" She answers, "Right now." I love that!

Talking with my students. I love getting to know them and hope I'm making the right kind of impression on them.

The gospel of Jesus Christ. It's the most simple, basic and wonderful thing in my life.