25

Where to even begin...

Those of you on Facebook know that I have been celebrating "birthday week" for over a week, now.  Those of you who have known me for awhile know that I don't usually make a huge deal about my own birthday, much less make it a week-long celebration.  This year, however, lent itself to lots of celebrating...and I didn't resist it.

I'll try not to be redundant here, since I posted about the week's happenings on Facebook, but here is a brief recap of some of the surprises the week brought:

I painted this spoon rest on a birthday present trip to Paint Yourself Silly (and Ivanna Cone!) with my roomie.

One of the very thoughtful and sweet families I teach brought this birthday cookie and a bouquet of flowers for me to their lessons on Monday.

Tuesday started with a spontaneous birthday breakfast with the family I nanny for followed by a trip to the zoo on such a beautiful, sunny day!

On Wednesday, one of my coworkers brought treats to staff meeting partially in honor of my b-day, and I was treated to nachos and a free birthday dessert while out with friends later that evening.

Thursday included lunch with (and compliments of) a dear friend and these cupcakes (from my favorite cupcake shop, Le Cupcake) from a couple very sweet and thoughtful students.  (They were supposed to have lessons that evening, but had something come up, so made a special trip to drop these off earlier in the evening.)

Friday (the 21st) was my actual birthday.  I'm only a little embarrassed to admit I spent the morning cleaning house (since I'd been celebrating all week, I hadn't had a day at home to take care of things like I usually do).  Then, I taught the Children's Music Academy class I teach on Friday afternoons.  The three precious 4 -year-old girls and I made a "music cake" as part of our normal lesson.  I told them we could put some candles on it, though, because it was my birthday.  They had a real hard time deciding how many to put on the cake.  Once we got to 20, they jumped straight to 35!  haha

I have a little bit of downtime on Fridays between teaching the CMA class and lessons, so this week, I  walked across the street to use my only-valid-on-your-birthday free yogurt coupon at Cherry on Top.  What a pleasant surprise to find they have bowl dividers, so you can get two totally different flavor combinations!  Someone was thinking...

Friday evening was spent out to supper with friends (yes, I got the free birthday dessert...and song), then karaoking at a venue no one in our group had experienced.  It was a little sketchy...and we'll probably try somewhere else next time...but a good time was had by all!

We sang "Summer Nights"...good times!  haha

One of my coworkers (and friends!) offered to make me something for my birthday.  I told her I wasn't picky, but that I really liked cheesecake, so she made me THIS!  Almost to pretty to eat, but oooh so yummy!  What an amazing job for her first cheesecake!

Saturday was spent with my parents and extended family, and today they took me out for a birthday lunch before leaving town.

Words cannot express how blessed and loved I feel!  Many thanks to those who sent cards and gifts, called, texted, posted on Facebook, and helped me celebrate the 25th anniversary of my birth!  

I've told some of you that I haven't really been affected by the number associated with my birthday, until this milestone year.  I'm not sure why it seems like a bigger deal to me, but it does...and I feel a little clichè that it's affecting me at all - haha.  It is what it is, though, and I'm just increasingly thankful for the blessings in my life - past, present, and future - and the new opportunities each year, month, and day bring!

Looking forward to seeing what is in store for the coming year!  Thanks for sharing in the journey with me!  ☺

Old-ly,
Kensy

Favorites of the day:

my electric blanket

that cheesecake...!

Room 211 (the church service I attend)

My life this month = (synonyms for "good")

Ok...are you ready?  I have a lot of little things to share:

First of all, we just finished deep-cleaning the coop, and Charlie is bathing himself, because he just came inside from a climb in the tree...in the rain.  (Yep - RAIN!!!)  He was in the tree for probably 20 mins., then found his way down and started grazing in the lawn in the rain.  Needless to say, we have a wet kitty on our hands, but I'll bet he'll be content to stay inside the rest of the day (we let him out on purpose, so he wouldn't try so hard to help us clean)!

I don't want to echo the rest of the world, but can I just say that I LOVE this weather?!  Seriously.

I've been talking to various people quite a bit lately about my "single season," and how I've really come to appreciate the opportunities it allows for me to serve and spend quality time with others.  A friend shared an article, recently, that echos some of my own thoughts: click here to read it!

This is unrelated, but I also recently watched this very inspiring and awesome video about a mute girl finding her voice: click here to watch it, too!

The weekend before last I made a trip to Kansas to visit my brother and celebrate my grandpa's 90th birthday.  Highlights from that trip included:
-forgetting my dress for a wedding we went to, but finding one to wear (that I like!) for $10!
-a motorcycle ride
-being reminded to be patient and not take matters into my own hands
-a mini-hike to a river/sand bar and sitting in the water, letting the current go around us (at nighttime)
-piano/guitar worship/jam sessions
-seeing extended family and friends!
-hearing Grandpa's thoughts on life and our purpose in a spontaneous sermon-esque birthday speech (he's a retired Lutheran minister)
-quality bro-time

At the end of last week, I traveled with two of the new teachers at the studio to the Denver area for some Children's Music Academy (the class I teach for preschoolers and their parents) training.  It was such a great trip, and I could talk lots about it, but here are some highlights:
-catching up with a good friend from NWU over a reindeer hot dog (he had an elk one)
-quality time road-tripping with the girls...complete with Mad Libs, snacks, music, and getting-to-know-you convos
-meeting some truly amazing people (esp. the couple we stayed with - the woman who wrote the curriculum and her husband, who now co-owns and helps run the company)
-having supper and spending quality time with my cousins
-lots of great conversation - professional and otherwise
-being reminded that my mission field is my work place(s)
-beautiful weather and seeing the mountains!!
-sleeping in this super comfy bed:

We started our fall semester at the studio on August 1st (one of the reasons you haven't heard from me in a month), and we're off to a great start!  I have a couple brand new students and some who are new to me.  I always love getting to know each of them, so I give them a survey to fill out about themselves.  One of the 2nd graders brought his back with an answer that completely melted my heart:

He was completely serious - doesn't know the concept of "brown-nosing."

I'm going to an awesome progressive musical-type event tonight.  I don't really think there's any way to describe it, and there isn't anything to compare it to, but it sounds pretty sweet, so you should check it out and come, too!  Hopefully, clicking here will take you to the Facebook page.

I think that covers it all!  Thanks for reading, as usual!

I hope this finds you and yours well and you have a wonderful weekend!

Blessedly,

Kensy

Favorites of the day:

OPEN WINDOWS!!!

friends

fresh produce and pesto (My adult student has been bringing me lots of goodies from her garden, including a TON of basil!)

♥ = full

Hello, hello!


First of all, Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers (and mothers to be...and future mothers) out there!


I've been busier than usual with some extra "music librarian" duties (by the way - add "clock battery changer," and "calendar flipper" to the list) at Arts Inc.  These have included scheduling and making visits to middle and high schools in Lincoln to tell music students about all the opportunities offered through our groups.  It's kind-of fun, but time-consuming...and makes for longer days than I'm used to.


Anyway, as a result, I have some kiddo/student stories I've been dying to share.  Please enjoy...


I don't remember whether or not I told you all about this when it happened, so I'm going to tell you (again?) before I add to the story:

A few months ago, one of my students (whose mom regularly sits in on her lesson) brought an iPhone to show me a video...and was VERY excited to do so.  With no explanation, I watched, and gasped/shrieked fairly loudly.  The video was of their family (her and her two younger brothers) looking in their oven and finding a bun.  It was the video they were showing family and friends to announce her mom's pregnancy.  Then, last week at her lesson, she brought an unmarked shoebox and was beside herself with the anticipation of me looking inside.  I opened the lid to find two rolls/buns with googly eyes and pink bows.  I probably had an over-reaction to this news, but she was soooo excited to show me and I am soooo excited for her/them!  I also just loved their creativity in sharing the news.  ☺



On our way home from taking her brother to school, the 2-yr.-old I nanny for said, "I wished I could be a bird."  I said, "How come?"  She replied, "For fun.  I'd be a pretty bird, so then, everyone would say, 'Look at that pretty bird!'"  I said, "Yes, that would be fun, but you're already a pretty girl!"  She giggled and said, "I guess it would be fun to fly, too."


In the CMA (Children's Music Academy) class I teach, we chanted the "Fuzzy Wuzzy" story near the beginning of class.  Then, toward the end of class, we used our keyboards to tell stories.  My example was a caterpillar down low on the ground (low notes) becoming a butterfly who flies high in the sky (high notes).  One of the students wanted to share his story next.  It started with a caterpillar in the forest who ran up a tree and back down again a few times trying to outrun a bear who was chasing him.  Then, the caterpillar stopped on a branch above the bear and started pulling out the bear's fur, one piece at a time.  Eventually, the bear had "no hair," and his name was "Fuzzy" (as in "Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair)!  And they lived happily ever after, he said.  I was astounded by the connection he made (he's only 4!) and his ability to bring the class full-circle.

Now, to get you up to speed on this weekend:

We had our student recital for the studio yesterday.  All my students did such a wonderful job, and it was so fun (and rewarding) to sit back and listen to them share what they've learned.  

I received flowers, gifts, compliments, and lots of hugs...and I wasn't even the one performing!

Then, today, I took a spontaneous trip to Manhattan, KS.  Two reasons for the trip:

1. surprise Mom for Mother's Day

2. meet Norman (my brother's pet baby goose)

There are no words...

We were instant friends...he was preening me.

Who knew birds could be so cuddly?!

My heart is so full after this trip.  For some reason, I really felt the need to spend some time with the family, no matter how brief, so I just went.  Meeting that precious goose was pretty great, too!  ☺


One more thing:  While I was on my drive this morning, I passed a cemetery in the middle of the Flint Hills.  As I drove past, I noticed an older man sitting near a headstone in a lawn chair...alone.  Whether he was visiting his mother or his wife, I do not know.  Either way, though, the sight instantly moved me to tears...and made me even more grateful for the opportunity to spend time with loved ones.


With love,
Kensy

Favorites of the day:

Coldstone

Norman

"guy" time

quality car time (and the Passion 2012 speakers on CD)

A couple quick musical thoughts... ♫

Hey!  


Lucky you - new blog posts two days in a row!  ☺  Just wanted to get a couple things out while they're fresh:


Remember that student who won't let me say "give him a hand" without commenting?  Well, this evening in class, the boys asked me to play the piano (it's a baby grand), so they could watch it work.  I asked them to wait patiently till the end of class, then granted their request.  When I was done playing (I played part of a Clementi sonatina), the same little guy said, "I'll give you my hand!  No, I want to give you BOTH of my hands - that was awesome!"  Warmed my heart!


Also - this Friday I have the privilege of performing at the NSBA (Nebraska State Bandmasters Association) convention with the NWU band.  Since I'm performing with them, I'm attending a couple rehearsals this week.  One was this afternoon, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself!  I can't tell you how great it felt to play in an ensemble again...and a quality one, at that!  My dad always told me to enjoy and not take advantage of my opportunity to play and perform with such quality groups during my college years.  I can't say I enjoyed it every day then, but now, I do so very much appreciate and value the many musical and non-musical opportunities and experiences these ensembles and performances provided.  Thanks, Dr. Z and fellow musicians, for the opportunity this week.  To quote Dr. Z, "Feels like old times."   ☺


That's all for now!


Hope you all have a happy Tuesday!


Nostalgically,
Kensy

Favorites of the day:

Bible study

mini cupcakes

gentlemen (polite men)

♥

Hey there!


Hope you all had a lovely Valentine's day!  Thought I'd share a few of the Valentines I received:

A chocolate apple!  I'd never seen one of these before, and embarrassingly enough, it took me a second to understand why I was getting one...  ☺

She loves piano!

I don't even care that he spelled my name wrong - love free-handed hearts from first graders.

This is from the same little guy who drew the heart above.  He and his twin sister made these chocolate dipped spoons with a heart marshmallow and sprinkles in a little heart pouch with a packet of hot cocoa mix for their class and teacher valentines (46 in all - he explained the very lengthy process and the fact that he had to write "So-and-so, you warm my heart" 23 times!).

I also received precious homemade cards from the kiddos I nanny for, as well as thoughtful cards in the mail, phone calls, etc.  Needless to say, I felt the love on Valentine's day! ☺


Wanted to share something else from my week:
I can't remember whether or not I've told you all this - I'm teaching a couple CMA (Children's Music Academy) classes this semester.  For those of you who may not remember what that entails, it's a 50-minute group piano class for 4- and 5-year-olds and their parents.  We do a different activity every 4 minutes (or so it seems) for the sake of their attention spans.  Activities include learning rhythm and note friends, playing piano songs, dancing, singing, ear training exercises, games, etc.  It's a two-year curriculum, and by the end of the class, the students will be playing at a "level one" in most piano method books.


I taught one of these classes last year, but all the students decided they'd like to take private lessons with me, instead.  So, I didn't have a class at the beginning of this school year.  This semester, however, I had a few enroll in a beginning CMA class, and I was able to pick up the continuation of another teacher's class.  Both are lots of fun to teach - one class is only little girls, and the other is all boys - each comes with its own challenges.  haha


The other night, the boys' dads came with them, so we didn't have any moms in the class.  The boys recognized this, and one said, "But the moms are the beautifulest ones!"


Another story about the same little boy: Whenever someone does something well or tries, period, we clap for them.  I usually say, "Give him a hand!"  When I say this in the class of boys, however, the one little guy says, "What?!  I can't give him my hand!  I'd have to cut it off!" or something to that effect.  So, he's trained me to say "Give him a round of applause!" instead.  The other night when I said that the first time (instead of "Give him a hand!"), I heard him whisper excitedly to his dad, "She didn't say 'Give him a hand!'!"  ☺


If you or someone you know might like to join a CMA class, feel free to come check it out!  You can go to http://harrismusicstudio.com/ or call the office for more info.!


Enjoy what's left of the week and have a great weekend!
-Kensy

Favorites of the day:

my weekend plans (seeing "The Vow" with girlfriends, then going to visit my brother!)

this new computer...again

getting a few of my great-grandma's old Valentines in the mail from my grandma

Resolutions...kind-of.

Hey, strangers!  I know I said once upon a time I'd stop apologizing for lack of or tardiness in posting, but I would like to this time.  So, sorry for the lack of posts so far this year!


This week was the first week of lessons after break.  I've gained a few more students and a couple group classes (CMA - Children's Music Academy), so even though I said my schedule was full last semester, it's really full this semester.  No complaints here, though - they're all wonderful students and I love seeing/helping them grow, musically and otherwise!


Speaking of my students, I asked a few of them if they made any New Year's resolutions/goals (in order to create a segue into piano/trumpet/practicing/etc. goals for the new semester).  Some of them had some fairly generic ones, but one really impressed me.  I asked my 13-yr.-old trumpet student if he'd made any, and the first resolution out of his mouth was, "Grow closer to God."  This was followed by, "Get straight A's." and eventually, "Practice trumpet more."  I was pleasantly surprised by his willingness and shamelessness in sharing this (the first resolution) with me.


I believe I told you last year that I'm not one to make resolutions, myself, but due to a few falls off the "good habits" wagon in December and the holiday season, I have one main goal for the new year: to be "up and around" at a decent time (before my teacher roommie leaves the coop) each morning.  This will also mean I need to be in bed at a decent time...I'd become somewhat of a night owl before the break started and realized this would be a real hard habit to break if/when I had to, so decided to break it before that time came.  As a result of being up in the morning long before my obligations for the day begin, I will be able to accomplish other daily life goals, such as: reading a few Bible chapters and prayer journaling, working out at the Y, practicing trumpet, misc. housework, blogging, etc.  I'll also have time to eat a healthy breakfast and pack a smart lunch and snacks for the day.


It's all been going well, so far!  Feel free to hold me accountable to any/all of it.


Now, to ask a favor of you all:
I've asked this a few times before, but I'd really love any questions/topics of conversations/post requests you might have!  Having some "starters" would make it a little easier to keep this scoop fresh!  ; )


Enjoy the rest of your weekend!


Graciously,
Kensy


P.S. Mark your calendars for a FREE lunchtime recital on January 27th - lunch and music provided for free starting at 12:10!  More to come on that later...but for now, know that this is one of the reasons I'm practicing more lately.  : )

Favorites of the day:

free cupcakes for giving blood (or trying to)

Sleepless in Seattle

stamping weekend