Organ vs Piano

This is the organ at the BYU Jerusalem center. It's amazing. I got to play it while I was there. The sound is amazing and it's truly a magnificent instrument.

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To clarify . . . I am NOT an organ player per se. Truth be told - I started piano when I was 5 and stopped when I was in college - but the organ is a whole different beast! I feel at home and comfortable on the piano. I'm actually taking piano lessons this summer with the kids. I LOVE playing. It's the kind of connection where I can pour my heart into the keys of the piano. It heals my soul to play.

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My grandma however did play the organ and showed me a couple things about the difference between the piano and the oragn when I was a teenager. That's about all the organ lessons I've had. If I had more time I'd take the free organ class through BYU. (someday!) When we moved to San Angelo they hadn't had a pianist or organist in a long time. I readily agreed to play the piano for sacrament meeting - but then they insisted I try the organ. Luckily they were so excited to sing to the organ - they didn't mind my rough spots. Although I did have that one Sunday when my foot hit the pedals during the Sacrament prayer . . . BRWAAAAAAAHHHH. I was so mortified.

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Anyway . . . I'm the back up to the back up substitute every once in a while when our wonderfully talented for-real organist is out and heaven help our poor ward . . . I just never know what's going to come out - let alone HOW. Terrifying might cover it at times. It's a trick to keep up with the crowd, keep a steady beat, watch the conductor and remember to breathe. I'm not kidding. I recently realized I forget to breathe while I'm playing. Probably not a good thing considering brains need oxygen! hahaha!

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There's this weird lag thing that happens when accompanying a large group. Even though you're playing the song they're singing - it's like you're a little bit off due to the sound. If you play with them it just gets slower and slower till you're past the point of a funeral dirge. And the volume pedal sticks - which is utterly hysterical when you just want to turn it up a little and it catches and goes to SUPER sound barrier breaking level loud!!! Oh what a mess I am! My greatest fear is that one of these days I'll pass out from fear and not breathing and I'll slide down onto the foot pedals in a crashing bass crescendo of loud tones of a dying goose. Truly a sacrament meeting that would not be forgotten. Anyhow - it's good for me. Keeps me humble! :o) hahaha! And honestly I don't mind playing if everyone can just forgive the possible jumbled mess that might happen to pop out.

K and Me - That was fun!

Oh my dear lovely washer! (an open letter)

Please work again! I'm so sorry for taking advantage of you for so long. I haven't been very thoughtful . . . running you day and night with never a thanks or a "hey - can I help you out?". I've been ever-so-grateful . . . but I haven't told you lately. Please can we make up and be friends? I'll love you forever! Kisses and Hugs! Me

PS - did you, the microwave, and the air conditioner make a secret pact? It's not funny now. Game over. Take it as a threat if you want to. I'm sending Bob in.

My Sweetheart

What’s his name? Bob
How long have you been together? 20 years
How long did you date? We knew each other 7 ½ years before we married and we started going on dates when I turned 16.
How old is he? 33
Who eats more? Hmmmm . . . depends what it is.
Who said I love you first? He did! I remember the moment clearly!!! It made my heart leap! Still does.
Who is taller? Him.
Who sings better? Definitely him. I like to sing when I’m singing with him – otherwise I’m not so good. I love to listen to him sing.
Who is smarter? He is all around! Bob has this amazing ability to see the whole picture really well. I’m great for useless facts and reference material – but in practical useful smarts he rounds out the picture.
Who does the laundry? It’s pretty even. Whoever has a slower week. We kind of balance each other and do whatever we can to keep the house running and give each other a break on the tough weeks.
Who pays the bills? He does now! I’ve done it for probably the last ten or eleven years until a few months ago. I think as this past school year got tougher it was one of the more stressful things Bob lifted off my plate. He’s wonderful!
Who sleeps on the right side? Me.
Who mows the lawn? He does – only because I’m a little intimidated by the riding mower – but honestly I really love to mow. It was my job growing up – and we had a doosie of a yard. Actually our son does most of it now with the push mower because he really likes too.
Who cooks dinner? Ummmm . . . I’d rather not talk about it! :o) Bob is an amazing cook actually. I make something that resembles dinner on and off. During the school year we frequent McDonald’s so much I could gag. But now that the first year is down and we’re reorganizing things around the house – we’ve returned to eating at home.
Who drives? Both. We drive our own cars and when we’re together I usually default to Bob. That way I can talk non-stop without having to be bothered with paying attention to where we’re going! :o) hahaha Unless he’s not feeling well . . . then I hop in.
Who is more stubborn? I am. No doubt. Bless his heart!
Who kissed who first? :o) I won’t kiss and tell!
Who proposed? Ummm . . . he did – but it was one of those moments where we looked at each other and just knew it was that moment. He said “Well?” and I said “Well are you going to ask?” and so he did and so I said yes! And then he did a romantic candle light dinner down-on-one-knee proposal later too! That was fun!
Who has more friends? Probably Bob. I like everyone – but have just a few true close friends through the years. Bob can make friends with anyone!
Who is more sensitive? Depends. I’m more ‘touchy’ sensitive. He’s more ‘thoughtful’ sensitive.
Who has more siblings? Bob – 5 siblings. Me – 2 sisters.
Who wears the pants? Neither of us. We prefer shorts! Not too terribly serious - and we wear them together. We just make a good team.

Another fun old post 7/4/07

Today we made a map/racetrack. I got an old sheet, a Sharpie, and consulted our trusty Google map and we drew our little part of Arlington. We drew all the familiar roads on it and landmarks like church, school, Granny and Pa's, McDonalds, the park etc. It was really fun. The kids are good at knowing the roads and stuff - so we drew it all out and they've been driving their matchbox cars all around it. We're a little concerned about K - she can't seem to keep her car on the roads - so we'll probably make her wait till she's 80 to get her license. We all feel pretty good about that. :o)

In other news we got a call from K's teacher this week. She told us that K has been selected to be in the Pyramid Project. It's the district's Gifted and Talented program. Basically - based on her performance and scores she will be put in advanced placement classes and stuff through high school. Anyway - it's pretty exciting! We are proud of her and all the hard work she's done. Good job KayKay! :o)

For parents and teachers

Whose Child Is This?

Author Unknown

“Whose child is this?” I asked one day

Seeing a little one out at play

“Mine,” said the parent with a tender smile

“Mine to keep a little while

To bathe his hands and comb his hair

To tell him what he is to wear

To prepare him that he may always be good

And each day do the things he should?

“Whose child is this?” I asked again

As the door opened and someone came in

“Mine”, Said the teacher with the same tender smile

“Mine, to keep just for a little while

To teach him how to be gentle and kind

To train and direct his dear little mind

To help him live by every rule

And get the best he can from school”

“Whose child is this?” I ask once more

Just as the little one entered the door

“Ours” said the parent and the teacher as they smiled

And each took the hand of the little child

“Ours to love and train together

Ours this blessed task forever.”

WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Check this out! A few months ago I was doing an object lesson for my Sunday School class and was looking for unusual alarm clocks . . . nobody sleeps through this! It wakes you up by firing four puzzle pieces up in the air, and then it is your job to get the pieces and put them back in the alarm clock - it won't turn off until then. I would go mad!

If you're really bored click here: Top Ten Most Annoying Alarm Clocks

Summer fun!

heh heh heh! So a few weeks ago - we up and decided at the last minute to go to the Ranger's game. Woohooo! I love baseball! So I checked the schedule to make sure they were playing. They were in the first inning and had already made three runs!! Off we went! Except when we got to the ballpark the parking lot was empty . . . uh oh!!!

Well - pretty much it was an away game in Washington. Kinda far to drive at the last minute . . . so we weighed our options between Shakespeare in the park or the drive in movie theatre in Grandbury.

We opted for the drive in and had so much fun! It's always a double feature - so we saw Kung Fu Panda and Prince Caspian/Narnia - which - oh my heavenly days! - was about 4 hours long!!!! We made it home around 3am! Not kidding! How do husbands stay awake and drive so well? Do they teach them that at church? hahaha

Anyway - the whole thing was just a blast. If you want to go - check it out: The Brazos DriveIn and if you're looking for a little Shakespeare (also a LOT of fun . . . ) try here: Shakespeare in the Park

Girl's Camp!!!

I can't believe it! K-bugs went to girl's camp! About a week before camp we realized she could go - so she went! I totally thought it would be next year. The whole idea was a little overwhelming initially - with only one daugther - these moments only happen once . . . but I'm ok - and she had a blast - and she's so cute and fun! I'm so glad she got to go. They took such great care of her.

School's Out!!! Yea!!!

I thought this day would never come! And to be honest . . . I think I looked forward to it more this year - than any other year when I was a kid! hahaha! I had no idea that teacher's were as excited as we were!

The first week of summer break I actually had to go to 3 days of training in Fort Worth. I was really dreading it - but day 2 and 3 of it was incredibly helpful and I really enjoyed it! It explained what I hadn't figured out this past year in regards to teaching children with autism. But I'm glad I hadn't had the training any sooner. I think it would have overwhelmed me a lot.

The next week school camp started. The kids actually got to volunteer with me and work each day. It was a lot of fun having them there with me and they worked really hard. It was fun to have such a great mix of students - and the money that we earned is going towards all the fun stuff we're doing this summer! Hooray!

After that week was another week of camp and also cub scout camp. That was crazy exhausting. It was nothing for me compared to the leaders in charge of the whole thing - but it was a weary week by the end for all of us.

This week K & B had baseball camp and I did a couple days of testing kiddos entering our programs in the district. It was much more relaxed for all of us.

I have to throw a huge shout out to my sis-in-laws and Mom for helping me with the kids! I owe them so much I'll never be able to make it up to them. They are always so sweet about it too!
Thanks guys!

So that's our summer update so far. Next week B starts golf. He is sooo excited about that! He's waited patiently for a couple of years for this one! Hooray!