The Hardest Decision

I'm wondering whether or not I should be writing about this while it's so fresh, but I'm going to so that:
1. I remember what happened and what I'm feeling,
2. I can share with you in one fell swoop, and
3. If you couldn't already tell, writing is sometimes the best way I can/know how to process things.

So...

We had to put Charlie down today.

Because I know you're wondering:
He had been throwing up for the last day and half, or so, and the last day was barely moving and just not acting himself, at all.  It's been a very full/crazy couple of weeks for us, and this week is no exception, but I was able to find someone to come stay with Jacob today (on his birthday) during his nap, so I could get Charlie checked out.  Was thinking it would be a quick trip with maybe some meds prescribed, or something.

Come to find out, though, he had a urinary blockage that would require expensive sedation, treatment, and hospitalization to remedy it.  As the doctor was explaining it, I thought, "Well, that sounds treatable, but expensive." and it was.  When I asked if there were any other options, she said, basically, "It's this, or putting him down."  Cue the tears.  That truly hit me (hard) out of left field.

Knowing what to spend on pets is hard no matter what your financial circumstances, in my opinion, but especially for us, as we've just come out of a fairly large home renovation project.  I hated to have finances be a factor in deciding what to do today, but I would be lying if I said they weren't a small factor...and that hurts me to say/type.

The larger factor, and what ultimately made the decision (a little) easier, however, was that this "operation" and treatment didn't guarantee it wouldn't happen again.  It was also not guaranteed that Charlie would be strong enough to come out of the sedation after not having eaten or drank for so long.  He would have had to be on meds for a bit after the operation and special prescription food forever.

Bryant was not able to leave work, but my bestie, Katie, kindly offered to come be with me at the vet when I called her barely able to speak.  Can't say how much I appreciated having someone there to cry with me.  It was just so, so very difficult to know what to do.

What makes me most sad, I think, is not having such a wonderful playmate for Jacob living in our home.  Jacob loved Charlie so much, and even when he saw him last, and Charlie was barely responding, Jacob was loving on him and cooing about him, all the same.  I'd always been looking forward to them playing together, but I also knew the day would come when we had to say goodbye to Charlie, and I'd wondered how we would explain it to Jacob and how he would feel.  Perhaps this is a blessing in disguise in that we won't have to do that, now (though we will have to say goodbye to Pepper, at some point).  He's aware enough to say, "Hmm...kitty...?" in the sweetest voice as he looks for him, but he will soon forget and not know to be sad, and that's ok.

Charlie was with me through the biggest changes in my life (life after college, marriage, moving, motherhood), and though I know he lived a good life, I fear I took advantage of his constant presence.  I don't think it's hit me, yet, that he's not coming back.  Perhaps it will the first time I sit down during naptime and don't have an immediate lap-warmer.  Or the next time I open a can of tuna and don't hear little paws come running.  I wonder if/how Pepper will notice.  I wonder if/when Jacob will ask about him.

But mostly I wonder if I made the right decision.  I know I probably did, but it all happened so quickly, and I was so, so unprepared.  I'm not writing this to fish for encouragement, sympathy, or affirmation.  I'm just being honest as I process something I've never dealt with before - something I never thought to prepare myself to deal with.

I know there is no way for anyone else to understand exactly what I'm feeling, and I will not be able to articulate it all, but I know some of you have had to go through similar experiences.  If that's you, I'm sorry for your loss, and I'm sorry for the way having to make that kind of decision made(makes?) you feel.  There's no way of knowing if losing him would have been any easier had I known it was coming, had he been older (he'd just turned 9), had he been sick longer, etc., but I think I can say for sure that it would have been easier had I not had to make the decision myself.

I know peace will come.  I know time will pass.  I know he lived a good and full life and was well-loved.  But I also know I'm just really sad and wish he was still going to be in our family for the foreseeable future.  As of now, thinking about Charlie and the fond memories of him does not make me sad - I'm glad for them.  Seeing other cats does not make me sad - I still love cats.  Thinking about what could've been - that's what makes me sad.  He was more a part of my life than I realize, I think, and he will be greatly missed.

Katie graciously obliged when I asked her to take one last picture of us.
(He was just sleeping here.)
♥

Sadly,
Kensy

Favorites of the day:

Jacob's excitement about his birthday festivities (and the fact that he kept wanting to sing "Happy Birthday" to me every time someone sang it to him)

family and friends

BIG news!!

Hey there!

I've been working on checking things off my long-term to-do list in the past week, or so, before summer wraps up.  This has included working on/completing various tasks at Arts Inc., finding my own health insurance plan, and...buying a NEW CAR!!!!

No, I hadn't been looking for long.  Yes, I'd been thinking about it for a while.

As much as I love, love, love Paulette the Prelude, I knew I didn't want to go through another winter wondering whether or not I'd be able to get out of the driveway, to/from work, etc. in the snow.  Also, more space would be ideal when helping friends move, carpooling to various events, and hauling trumpets/groceries/music boxes/kiddos with car seats.

Paulette will be going back to her home in Topeka...and will surely be missed in Lincoln.

So, I decided that if I'm going to go bigger, I'm going to go big...SUV-big.  My parents had also been looking to upgrade and had done some worth-while research that was very valuable to me once I decided to start car-shopping.  I did a little looking and researching on my own and found this:

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport (Turbo)

It was everything I didn't completely know I was looking for, and was a really sweet deal - a used car, but a 2013 model!  I decided to test drive a couple other makes/models of similarly-sized vehicles before seeing the Santa Fe in person.  I wasn't super impressed with them, and all the Santa Fe's great attributes I'd seen on paper more than confirmed when I saw and drove it for the first time.  It was meant to be.  ☺

The guys at the dealership (Sid Dillon of Lincoln) were not pushy, but instead, were very helpful and so accommodating through my entire first car-buying-experience.

Because they needed to detail the car and I needed to finalize my auto insurance, I didn't drive it off the lot the day I bought it.  So, it didn't really feel real for awhile...even after signing 74,152 forms and writing the largest check I've written to date.

Buuut...when I got to drive it home (to work) the next day (today), I realized, "OH MY GOSH!!!  I JUST BOUGHT A NEW CAR!!!!  AHHHH!!!!!!"

It doesn't hurt that a friend works in the detail shop at the dealership and put some extra hours and elbow grease into making it extra beautiful.  LOVE it!!!

I haven't decided on a name, yet, but I'm pretty sure it's a "he."  Bring on the suggestions!  ☺

Ecstatically,

Kensy

Favorites of the day:

wedding-induced reunions

prayerfully-supported life decisions

garden-fresh cherry tomatoes

good grammar

Meanwhile, at the coop...

Caught yellow-faced...

Happy summertime (officially)!

I really can't believe June is almost over, and since I've heard many others express similar sentiments about time flying, I won't dwell on the fact that I don't know where the month went.

Instead, I'll share some great happenings from the month, so far...mostly one in particular: My best friend got married a couple weeks ago!!!!  It still hasn't hit me that she is a wife...with a new last name...and a husband!  Talk about time flying - sheesh!  Yes, lots of friends and acquaintances (older and younger than myself) have gotten engaged/married/had children in the recent past, but this one hit closest to home.  I'm so incredibly happy for them and excited to see what the Lord has in store for their lives from here on out.  It's just crazy to think how our paths were basically the same from 2nd-12th grade, then diverged a bit upon choosing different colleges, then even more when I decided to make Lincoln my home, and now she's married...yet our friendship is still the same as it's always been.  I could say the same for other people in my life, but this was just a pretty big deal, and I'm obviously still trying to wrap my mind around it.  Thanks for bearing with me.  ☺

In other news, the end of the private lesson term at the studio has brought some sweet notes and gifts from my students, among which were these beautiful flowers:

They've lasted for over a week, and Charlie has been pretty good about leaving them alone...until tonight, that is.  Apparently, he just couldn't wait till we got home to eat something, so helped himself to the lily leaves.  What he didn't count on, I'm sure, was the dusting of pollen that came with them.

It took me awhile to figure out where the yellow came from, because he didn't knock over the vase ...then, I noticed a bite out of a leaf and put two and two together.

Lastly, I have a couple shameless plugs for work:
Please contact me if you or someone you know would be interested in attending the Nebraska Jazz Camp (middle school-high school aged students).  Registration deadline is July 1, but we can get you in afterward, too, if necessary.

Also, the Lincoln Municipal Band's 2013 season is nearly in full swing!  Mark your calendars on Sunday evenings at 7 p.m. starting July 7th through August 18th for some excellent music at the Antelope Park band shell.  "Like" the band on Facebook for more information and updates...and we'll hope to see you there!  ☺

Stay cool,
Kensy

P.S. For those of you who don't already know, my brother has an internship in Pennsylvania this summer (with CNH), and my parents and I are driving out to see him soon!  So, hopefully, my next post will include some pictures and exciting stories from back east.

Favorites of the day:

building new relationships

the color of polish on my toenails

road trip snacks

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!)

Where did the month go?!

Somehow my summer "break" during the month of July always turns into a do-everything-and-see-everyone-you-can-while-you-have-free-time sort of frenzy.  So...I'm going to attempt to play catch-up (not ketchup...though I do love ketchup) in one post.


Since I last wrote to you, I have:


-hosted a game night.
-gone to a kickin' 3rd of July party...and earned 4th place in the backyard games tourney, thanks to the help of my very capable teammate.
-taken a trip home (to Topeka) which included: best-friend-pool-time (as well as crispitos & slushies and Chick-fil-a & shopping), quality family time (including games, grilling, and homemade ice cream!), lunch with Dad, trip to see Mom's new workplace, and a reality check for Charlie (he had to stay in the hot garage for awhile, and I hope it made him appreciate the fact that he's an indoor cat).
-attended a wedding and super fun reception.
-hosted/coordinated/attended quite a few events for various groups through work...most of which have been outside.
-visited my good friend near Yankton, SD (this trip included lots of lake/beach time, good food, games, s'mores, grilling, and much-needed catch-up chats).
-replaced the rugs in the bathroom after Charlie shut himself in there overnight while we were gone.
-led Bible study (discussion centered around Ester and Job, because I'm currently reading through the Old Testament).
-spent an entire day and evening at home alone (with Charlie, of course) - got a whole lot done that day!
-learned enough chords to play a few songs on the guitar!
-taught some lessons (by appointment) at the studio.
-picked the first of (hopefully) many cherry tomatoes!
-attended my roomie's sister's baby shower - the first of many for this season in my life, I'm sure!
-finished reading a "blook" about dating/relationships.  My brother shared it with me months ago, and I've been reading it little by little.  Check it out - it's worth a read!  Even if you're fairly far removed from the dating game, as I am.  ☺  Here's the link: http://thedatingblook.wordpress.com/
-accumulated a couple kiddo stories:

• I had a summer cold/cough at the beginning of the month and had to miss a day of nannying.  When I saw the kiddos the next week, I received quite the greeting (absence makes the heart grow fonder...?) and the 3-yr.-old told me, "If you're ever sick again, I will be a doctor and fix you up on your face!"  I don't quite know what she meant, but it was followed by a smile and big hug.
• When I was letting a kiddo pick out a sticker for passing a piano song, he picked one with lots of smiley faces on it.  This soon-to-be 1st grader counted the smileys on the sticker by 5's (after figuring out they were in rows of 5) and declared, "There are 35 smiley faces.  No wait - 36!" and pointed to my smiling face.  I said, "I think there are 37!" pointing to his smiling face.  ☺

I am continually amazed at all I've been blessed with and grateful for the people and relationships in my life.  I spoke in the Bible study I lead about the phrase "for such a time as this" found in Ester's story.  I believe God has been preparing my heart "for such a time as this."  Though I sometimes wonder when the next "season" of my life will come, I am embracing this one and the opportunities I am able to partake of that I wouldn't be able to if I were otherwise "attached" or had anyone but me to care for.  He is continually teaching me to live in the present and strive to bring Him glory in all I do.  


Life. is. good.  (In spite of the heat.)


I hope you all are staying cool and enjoying the last of your July.


♥,
Kensy


P.S. Charlie sends his love.

Favorites of the day:

Brown Sugar and Cinnamon Pop Tarts

unexpected notes/mail

dinner dates with Jesus

Impulse...wild hair...call it what you will.

Hey there!

Really quick - a couple stories before I get to the real reason for this post:

Charlie's latest "thing" - jumping up and hanging onto door frames.  Yep - he leaps almost 5 feet into the air and hugs door frames...for no apparent reason.

Also, one of my teenage boy students drew this (to earn a "motivation system" point):

And now, drumroll, please....

I bought this today!
For those of you who care, it's an Alvarez from the '80s.

Here's the explanation:

Since so many families take vacations, have baseball games, etc. during the month of June, I have quite a bit of downtime at the studio due to them missing lessons.  So, while teaching in the room with lots of guitars in it, I decided to pick one up, and with the help of a book, try to learn a bit.  I enjoyed learning something new so much that I wanted to be able to continue the learning at home!  I talked to one of the guitar teachers about it, and he pointed me to a local guitar shop (where he also works and which happens to be right across the street from the studio), and I went on over there during a break today...and walked out with a guitar!  I'm looking forward to the challenge and potential it presents!  Any suggestions or tips are welcome!  ☺

That's all, for now.

Happy Friday (almost)!

Strummingly,

Kensy

Favorites of the day:

"Appletini" Crystal Light

teacher discounts

fresh pineapple

Those were the days...

As I sit here with my toenails drying, everything checked off my to-do list, practicing trumpet for the fun of it, and of course, writing a blog post...just because, I'm thinking that there will (probably/hopefully) come a day when I look back on these times and think, "Those were the days..."  You know the song, right?  We had it on a player piano roll, and it was one of our favorites!  Click here to refresh your memory.


Anyway...this evening, I'm cherishing this season of life and trying to not take it for granted.  Though there are days when I long to be married/starting a family/etc. as so many of my friends/peers/acquaintances are, I really love setting my own schedule, doing only what I want to do (and when I want to do it), being able to see/help/hang out with friends as often as I please, the list goes on and on!  I also love knowing God has me right where He wants me...and though I'm ready for whatever comes next, I'm also content to stay in this "place" for a bit.


A couple entries for my "nanny diary":
While the 5-yr.-old was playing out an intense chase scene involving a semi-truck (cattle carrier), "The Lion King" (little plastic Mufasa figurine), and Scar (another plastic lion figurine), he was not only narrating the story, but giving it its own theme music.  I couldn't quite decipher whether or not it was original or something he'd picked up from a show, but it was definitely meant to intensify the scene he was creating.  It reminded me of "The Emperor's New Groove."  (If you don't understand this reference, watch this video.)


After complimenting me on my painted toenails, the 2 1/2-yr.-old asked, "Can you do those on your kitty?"  Meaning, "Could/do you paint your cat's toenails?"  This came completely out of the blue, and I had to laugh out loud before explaining to her why I don't and will never do so.


Mmmk - that's all, for now.


Happy Father's Day (almost) - especially to my dad!!  ☺


-Kensy

Favorites of the day:

being sought out (for a variety of reasons, but in this case, to play trumpet at church)

young men who notice your "foggy" headlight and offer to do a restoration treatment on it

grocery shopping

Good tears

Hey, all!


This past weekend, I got to witness the marriage of one of my good college friends to the man of her dreams!  It was a beautiful ceremony (as were all the festivities!) - such a testament to God's faithfulness.  I was reminded of the perfect plan He has for each of us and how intently we need to trust His timing in our lives.


For me, weddings pretty much always mean tears (of joy and happiness).  This was definitely not an exception.  I hadn't had a "good cry" in awhile, so once I started, I wasn't to be stopped...for the whole weekend, it seems!  Here are most of the instances that evoked tears for me this past weekend:

• hymn/song selections before the wedding ceremony even began
• two grandsons kissing their grandmother's check after escorting her to her seat at her grandaughter's wedding
• groom seeing his stunning bride for the first time
• hymn/song selections during the ceremony
• beautifully choreographed first dance
• Maid of Honor's speech
• Best Man's speech
• various points during a Dave-Matthews-Band-centered worship service (esp. the song "He Loves Us")
• the song "I Won't Give Up" by Jason Mraz (video with a beautiful explanation of why he wrote it and a live performance - click here)
• this proposal video: click here (please watch this - soooo cool)

Such a wonderful celebration of life and love happening amongst the various tragedies/illnesses/unfortunate circumstances that have hit close to home, lately, leaves me with many more thoughts on all these situations.  We won't delve into all that, for now, though.  All I know is I am so very thankful to be so very blessed.


I haven't posted much about Charlie, recently, so for those of you who have been missing this segment of the "scoop," here you go!  (Those who could care less can skip past the pictures.)

I had just washed this (his cat carrier/time-out spot) out and was still washing the blanket that goes inside before putting the lid and door back on.

He felt the need to make use of it right at that moment, though.

Also - it was his 2nd birthday yesterday!

Typical.

Better.

No, I didn't throw him a party.  FYI - pictures in a hat was the extent of the festivities...and a "special" can of food. There were no balloons, candles, singing, etc.


Speaking of balloons - did you know the supply of helium on the earth is quickly disappearing?!  Look it up...


Tearfully (not really - it just fit the bulk of the body of this post),
Kensy

Favorites of the day:

birthday celebration staff meetings

flexibility (in scheduling, etc.)

sugar snap peas from Mom's garden

Favorites of the week/end

Yep - it's a special edition post - lucky you!  

Favorites of this week and weekend:

such amazing work places, coworkers, and bosses

banana bars (with cream cheese frosting, of course)

Zumba

Raising Cane's (if you live in Lincoln and haven't eaten here, you should probably change that real quick)

wearing skirts and flip-flops

the Hunger Games trilogy (It's been on my summer reading list for months, but I decided to break down and read them now, instead.  I started them Tuesday night and will start the third book tonight.  They are excellent.  There's really no other way to say it.  You should probably read them...seriously.  No, I haven't seen the movie, yet, but hope to soon!  Any takers? ☺)

laying outside and reading...in March!

stamping weekend

bike rides!

Scrabble/Words with Friends

massage voucher on Groupon (and $5 in Groupon bucks to use toward it!)

baby cinnamon roll (recipe courtesy of Pinterest)

this guy:

Quick student story:

I asked one of the 6-yr.-old girls I teach (the one who wanted to set me up with her uncle) if she had any questions at the end of her lesson.  She said, "Yes - Do you celebrate Thanksgiving?"  I replied, "Yes, why do you ask?"  She said, "Well, some people don't."  Fair enough.

Enjoy the week,

Kensy

P.S.  Thanks for the 6,500+ page views! ☺

Even more things to share!

Happy March!  

I feel like I just keep sharing day-to-day things with you...hope you don't mind!  These are things I wish I could tell a lot of you in person, but don't have the opportunity to do so, so I'm sharing it via my blog.  If there's something you'd rather hear/read about, please let me know!  

The 4-yr.-old I nanny for and I were playing "army guys" the other morning.  I had to put the setting-up-of-bases on pause while I fixed lunch, and when we resumed playing, this is what I found:

He explained, "Your ship was dirty, so I put the cleaner guys up there.  My big ship is REALLY dirty, so I put five cleaner guys on mine." (For those of you who are unfamiliar with army guys, these are actually minesweepers holding metal detectors...) ☺

Also - this has been a regular occurrence for awhile, but I keep failing to capture the moment:

Charlie's warm spot.

Also, for those of you not on Facebook, here's a funny moment from today:
A mom brought her teenage son to Zumba today...he was the lone male in a room of 20.  He was a pretty good sport about it for about 40 minutes, then he went to lift weights.  Definitely made for an even more entertaining class! ☺


Looking forward to the band concert tomorrow and a photo shoot this weekend (results to follow shortly, hope)!


Anticipating spring,
Kensy

Favorites of the day:

my new wireless mouse (after Charlie chewed the cord to the receiver of my old one...)

BOGO Noodles & Co. on Leap Day!

Show and Tell

Hello!


So, there have been a few things in the past few weeks I've been wanting to share, but none really warranted their own post, so I'm sharing them all at once.  Enjoy! ☺


First of all, here are some pictures of the icicles (I don't know if I've ever spelled that word...) after our big snow storm a couple weeks ago:

The left side of this picture is north, as is made obvious by the blown-in icicles.   Gotta love that north wind...

Too bad the coop is white - these were really cool (and intense) ones!

Cute little guys.  It got warm before they grew up.

Here's a link to a video of the solo I played on our HAA faculty recital a couple weeks ago.  (It's part of a concerto I played on my senior recital at NWU, and one of my favorite pieces I've ever played.  It's on E-flat trumpet, by the way.)  Click here to watch!

This is from a 5th grade student.  She is doing a persuasive essay in school about "why kids should play at least one instrument at a young age."  AND she made me this picture/doodle page/?.  Love it.  ☺

The cats at Arts Inc. used to get in the file cabinets all the time when they were kittens.  Haven't had them open much when they were there lately, so they were excited to relive their childhood this week.

A music joke a friend recently shared:

C, E-flat, and G go into a bar. ...The bartender says, "Sorry, but we don't serve minors." So E-flat leaves, and C and G have an open fifth between them. After a few drinks, the fifth is diminished, and G is out flat. F comes in and tries to augment the situation, but is not sharp enough. D comes in and heads for the bathroom, saying, "Excuse me; I'll just be a second." Then A comes in, but the bartender is not convinced that this relative of C is not a minor. Then the bartender notices B-flat hiding at the end of the bar and says, "Get out! You're the seventh minor I've found in this bar tonight." E-flat comes back the next night in a three-piece suit with nicely shined shoes. The bartender says, "You're looking sharp tonight. Come on in, this could be a major development." Sure enough, E-flat soon takes off his suit and everything else, and is au natural. Eventually C sobers up and realizes in horror that he's under a rest. C is brought to trial, found guilty of contributing to the diminution of a minor, and is sentenced to 10 years of D.S. without Coda at an upscale correctional facility.

Finally, I received two things from students on Friday: some fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies (yum!) and this:

At first, I thought she was just showing it to me, but when I asked what she put in it, she replied, "Well, I wanted to give it to you to put all your little stuffs in - I don't want you to loose all your little stuffs."  I have no idea what "little stuffs" she's referring to, but I graciously accepted the gift. ☺ (This from the same 5-yr.-old girl who made me a paper bouquet of flowers and the princess tiara.)

Hope you all have a wonderful week...and a happy leap day!

Thanks for reading,

Kensy

Favorites of the day:

Paint Yourself Silly

Raspberry Squishy from MoJava

Birthday Cake Oreos (yep...limited edition - get them before they're gone!)

this quote from the movie "How Do You Know?" - "Of every thought I had about you, and there were millions, the one that never occurred to me is that my mind wasn't exaggerating."

Thankful for...and Out of the Mouths of Babes: Part 3

Hello!  


I'm not going to take time to greet you further than that, because you're going to need all the time you can get to read this post!  Enjoy!  : )


First of all, I finally took a Zumba class this morning...and loved it!  Guided dancing targeting heart rate and all muscle groups for 50 minutes to awesome music?  Yes, please!  If only it were offered more often...and at more convenient times!  Oh well - I'll take what I can get!


Secondly, I've been meaning to share this with you for quite some time:
After hearing a pastor talk about writing things he's thankful for in a very visible in his home each day, my roommate and I decided we'd like to do the same.  So, with some butcher paper, markers, glitter glue, and an ugly, scratched painting with a beautiful frame on clearance at Bed, Bath and Beyond (with a coupon, too, thank you!), we created this:

The marker box is affixed with a 3M strip, so residents and guests can add their blessings whenever they'd like!

Another thing: toward the end of my longest night of teaching last night, a 5-yr.-old student brought something she'd made for me:

Want to make my day?
Just bring me a tiara you made for me to wear.  : )

Finally, I've had some gems of quotes so far this week - enjoy:


As we turned to his new piece to learn and I read the title, "Morning Has Broken, " a 12-yr.-old student remarked, "Better get the glue!"  Definitely made me laugh out loud...which was his intent!


I gave farm animal stickers one day this week, and as an 8-yr.-old girl student was deciding which horse to pick, she said, "My favorite horse color is brown...that's my favorite hair color, too, because I like Selena Gomez...I wish my hair was brown (she's a natural platinum blonde)...and I'm growing my hair out to be like hers, but I don't think I'll ever be like her - my hair isn't curly enough...and I wish my name was Selena, but I don't want my last name to be Gomez, so we're not twins twins."  My response, "(pause to take it all in) I think you have beautiful hair and such a pretty name!  Let's get back to playing piano, now."  : )


The same girl was mentioning, for some reason, that her mom works downtown.  She then shared this thought, "I love downtown!  The only thing I don't like about it is people living on the streets in the cold, cold weather.  I just feel bad!  If I wanted to live on the streets, I'd choose someplace warm...like Florida."


AND as great as those all were, this one might take the cake:
I was playing Barbies with the kids I nanny for, and the 2-yr.-old shared that her Barbie was going to have a baby.  The 4-yr.-old boy said to that Barbie, "You huff and you puff and you blow that baby out of your tummy - like the big bad wolf did to those houses!"  What?!  No, we didn't subsequently have the "birds and the bees" convo - I just laughed as he proceeded to ask for his Barbie's pants to be changed to a skirt, because "she likes fashion."


See why I love my life?


Blessings,
Kensy


P.S. Kitty litter update: It's not working out.  Getting a covered litter box and going back to the clumping, chemically stuff.  Oh well.  Here's a recent picture of Charlie.  : )

Favorites of the day:

smoothies

music

the "not a fan" journal/study

(forgot to give this a title)

Welp...another awesome weekend here!  

Today consisted of lots of productivity, including taking down the snowmen and putting up the Valentine's day decorations.  I found this cool bowl thing (does anyone know what it really should be called?) at an amazing Goodwill in Omaha yesterday.  I'll put other, classier things in it later, but for now, we have plastic candy hearts and curly ribbon.  We'll see how long it lasts with a certain someone in the house...

Speaking of Charlie, I didn't want to be the crazy cat lady who shares everything about her cat, but this might be useful information for someone else:

I've been tired of sweeping/vacuuming up kitty litter every other day for awhile now, but didn't ever make an effort to change anything.  I recently picked up some recycled paper kitty litter, though (not as messy as it sounds), and changed out the litter box today.  Charlie didn't seem to be a fan for awhile (he actually tried to eat a piece), but I finally heard him digging around in it and was pleasantly surprised to see he'd used it!  We had a mini-celebration...and will hope this works out.  So far, it seems to be much cleaner and not as chemically potent.  (I've heard pregnant women are not supposed to change kitty litter, because the dust is harmful...?  I don't fall into this category presently, but hope to someday, so we'll hope the new litter works out.)

We started a new study in Sunday school/Bible study today - it's called "not a fan."  Check it out!

Also, I just joined Pinterest...and had to switch to Facebook Timeline to do so.  Ugh - the sacrifices we make.  Just kidding.  It's sad to think that is even considered a sacrifice to some...and that it could actually upset someone, and probably has.

Fighting addiction (to Pinterest, of course),

Kensy

Favorites of the day:

Larry Crowne

the Cheesecake Factory

practicing trumpet (who would've thought this would ever make the list...but it felt good today!)