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

Levi

Happy July!

The update I have for you today is about my guitar.

Due to the extreme humidity levels last week and the fact that the guitar I bought had been inside (in a controlled environment) for who knows how long, there were a couple kinks that showed themselves once I got it home.  (These "kinks" resulted in a rattling sound when I played the lower 2 strings.)  So, when I took it in to get this checked out, the workers suggested I just return the guitar and look for a different one, rather than pay for repairs.  I decided to go ahead and return it, but not look for another one there, BECAUSE my wonderful aunt and uncle/neighbors happened to have a guitar just laying around, wishing to be played!!  It came complete with a hard case and everything!  Though it's a little bigger than the one I had before, it produces a really nice sound and will definitely serve my guitar-playing purposes!

Meet Levi.
(The brand is "Dean," but I know too many Dean's to name it that.)

Hooray for things working out and family members who always seem to come to the rescue!  Hopefully, I can have a lasting partnership with this instrument and maybe share the fruits of our labors with you all, someday.  I am making some progress - I've learned the four chords necessary for most worship songs and a couple riffs from rock songs (thanks to the help and guidance of a friend).

Also - I got to spend some quality time with my cousins and sweet second cousins (2 precious little boys) this weekend.  AND thanks to the wedding of one of the amazing "office girls" at the studio, we got in some quality "teacher time" outside of work.  I love quality time, no matter who it's with (ok - it may matter who in some situations)!  I can't remember whether or not it's one of my love languages...hmm...  Maybe I should take that survey again and find out.

Lastly, if you're ever looking for something to do on Sunday evenings, and you're on Facebook, you should check out the Lincoln Municipal Band's page!

Happy (almost) Birthday to my super awesome brother, and Happy 4th of July (a few days early) to you all!  

With increasingly calloused fingers,

Kensy

Favorites of the day:

"The Pursuit of God" by A.W. Tozer

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/

rhubarb jam

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

#100!

So...apparently this is my 100th post!  I noticed the count on my list-of-posts page before beginning a new one and was pleasantly surprised to see that number!  It makes me think of "100th Day" projects in elementary school!  Sorry - I'm not going to make a picture with 100 Cheerios, beads, marshmallows, or pennies for the occasion.  Here are some other stats, though:

• I've been blogging for exactly 1 year and 7 months.
• There have been 7,267 pageviews from...
• 10 different countries!

Thanks again to all you faithful readers!  Again - I'd like to extend the offer to write about anything you request (within reason), so feel free to leave a comment, anonymous or otherwise.

I hope you all had a great weekend - I sure did!  Saturday was spent at the pool and a summer concert/festival with friends.  It was pretty much the perfect summer day!

Yesterday, it was another spectacular Sunday school session (hooray for alliterations!) and worship service.  Then, I got to help host a Nebraska Brass concert and had the pleasure of working with a lovely older woman who came (volunteered) to help.  That evening, I had the opportunity to play for an ordination service at church.  I was moved to tears (yes, more tearfulness...) when each of the supporting pastors (there were 11) individually laid their hands on the young man being ordained and gave him their own words of encouragement - from scripture and otherwise.  Such a powerful display of Christ-like love and support.  I wondered if they were all remembering their own ordination during this time.  This was followed by a violin/piano/organ arrangement of "Here I Am, Lord" - one of my very favorite hymns...it always gets me.  Luckily, I was able to compose myself before playing for the last hymn.  Even though the service lasted much longer than I anticipated, I was glad to be a part of it.

Charlie says, "Hey."

That's all, for now!  Have a wonderful week!

Centennially,

Kensy

P.S. If I had made the decision to go to France with the NWU band, I would've been gone for the past 10 days.  Though I know they all had an amazing time, I do not regret my decision to stay in the least!  Not only would I have missed out on a week's worth of work and had to find subs/make-up times for so many students, I would've missed that beautiful wedding last weekend and all the great experiences this weekend!  Maybe (hopefully) next time, Europe...  ☺

P.P.S. Those of you who work downtown and/or have a lengthy lunch hour should come check out the Lincoln Community Foundation Garden Performance Series concerts at noon on Wednesdays!  Yours truly will be hosting a lot of them from here on out, and I'd love to see you there!  Look the series up on Facebook, or click here for the schedule of performers.

Favorites of the day:

cool old houses

sunshine

iTunes

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