The end of one...and the beginning of another.

Happy New Year!!

I hope this finds you and yours well, staying warm, and recovering from the busy-ness of the holiday season.

Speaking of that season...it was great here...but so, so busy!  I'd like to share a few highlights with you:

I was blessed with so many wonderful gifts from my students!  I was (am) floored by their thoughtfulness and generosity:

Gorgeous flowers, beautiful necklace, and delicious cupcakes!

One of the families I teach asked me to accompany them to the Lorie Line Christmas concert!  It was such a festive and well-done show, and it was the perfect way to get in the holiday spirit and kick off the season!

They performed "The 12 Days of Christmas" and invited all the kiddos in the audience on stage to dress up in costumes and play the parts of each "item." It was pretty cute...and clever!  Calling birds = penguins with large phones, Lords a-leaping = frogs, etc.

My trombone student (and his family) invited me to the Canadian Brass Christmas concert!  I've played many arrangements by this famous brass quintet, and it was such a treat to see them perform live!  They were ultra-talented...and funny!  What a fun, informative, impressive show!

THEN, this really great guy I know took me to a Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert (and out to a fancy dinner afterward, no less!  Gotta love Lidia's).  What an amazing and entertaining show!  I would definitely recommend seeing the perform live if/when you get the chance.

Christmas was spent on the farm after a short trip to Topeka (and KC), then I welcomed the New Year in NE, KS, and OK.  Praise the Lord for winter breaks, flexible work schedules, my new car, and safe travels!  ☺

This week brings the start of the new semester...and the new year.  As I've told you before, I don't do resolutions.  I'm sure, however, that 2014 will be a year full of new adventures, growing relationships, and countless blessings.

♥,

Kensy

Favorites of the day:

quality time with loved ones

an extra day to recuperate after the break (today was a "cold" day (as opposed to snow day) - no school...or lessons!)

a free combo meal coupon from Don and Millie's due to putting my business card in the "free lunch" drawing!

playing Scrabble while watching "The Wedding Planner"

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

Happy New Year...AND Happy One Year! : )

Happy 2012, all!  I've told you before I'm not one to make new year's resolutions, so that's not what this post is going to be about.

Instead, I'd like to tell you a little about my wonderful break!  Most importantly, I've been able to spend some quality time with some of the people I love most!  I've traveled some, relaxed quite a bit, played some awesome games, watched some quality movies, and eaten some absolutely delicious food!  All this was possible, because my primary occupation runs on the school calendar...which means I still get school breaks!  Can't tell you how thankful I am for that...and for my other employers' flexibility.  

Don't worry - I have worked some since I've been back in town.  It's been strange (and nice!) to go to one job in the morning and come straight home when I'm done.  It's also been nice to have some quality time to get lots done while I'm there!

If you read my last post, you're familiar with some of the precious gifts I received from my students (check it out if you haven't, yet!).  I've also received some super cute picture cards and letters from some of you and truly appreciate being added to your Christmas lists!  Charlie and I had a great time in Topeka, again, and were able to give and unwrap some wonderful gifts.

I'm so very thankful to have a family who is willing to house (and babysit) Charlie.  It relieves the stress and guilt of leaving him home alone, which in turn allows me to fully enjoy my time away.  He's never without someone to play with, and as a result, this was a common occurrence at various times during the day (until Dad kicked him off the furniture☺):

Speaking of Christmas gifts...and Charlie - Do you remember a certain gift I received last year? My family gave me the items and other means to adopt a kitten.  I waited till I was back in Lincoln to pick one out, and one year ago today, I adopted Charlie.  I won't get sappy on you, but it was a pretty great gift.  ☺

Lastly, for those of you who don't live in Nebraska, I just thought you should know that it was 68-degrees today.  I resisted the temptation to wear flip-flops...and later wished I had.

If you have a resolution you'd like to share, feel free!  I might write about a couple of things I plan to do better this year in a later post...we'll see. 

Fondly,

Kensy

Favorites of the day:

being able to go out on a whim

road trips

checking things off my to-do lists