Leap Day = Snow Day

It’s Wednesday morning….6:30am…I’ve already hit my snooze alarm twice…knowing I soon need to get up and hit the shower…and then, the phone rings.  My heart jumps as I realize it could be that glorious phone call that only comes a few times a year…but then I think to myself “Um…there wasn’t even a flake of snow in the sky last night!”  Yet it’s true – I hear the principal’s voice on the other end say “Kim, school is cancelled due to impending weather,” and I (trying not to sound too cheerful) say “Well, okay!”  Then, I do what any good teacher would do on a snow (or in this case, impending bad weather) day: change my Facebook status and head back to bed!

In Your Music

I actually just love music so much.

This is not brand new information.

But sometimes I see something and I am reminded of just how incredible the power of music can be.  I’m reminded of the work it takes to become strong at your craft.  You can watch someone making music and think “They have GOT it.”  And you can see them actually IN their music.

I can’t believe I am just discovering The Piano Guys; however, now that I have, I’m hooked.  And I sat at home this evening, just watching video after video, because, while listening to it is wonderful, watching them is even better – you can watch their faces.

This one made me jump to my piano and play my favourite pieces (and also see how fast I could download this sheet music).  This piece made me say “THIS is why I am a musician”:

 

And this one is just stunning in every way:

 

And I’ll be showing my students this one tomorrow:

 

And every single thing about this makes me happy:

 

PLEASE watch them, be inspired, and go make some music!  I’ll be at my piano if you need me.

Our Motivation

“For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”

2 Corinthians 5:14-15

More…

Fear

And another weekend is here – LOVE it!  I seem to always write that I love weekends, and I DO…but please don’t ever take that to mean that I don’t love my job – because I sure do.  This was a busy week – rehearsals everyday, extra committee meetings, a Redeemer choir concert at my school, BFMC women’s event on Thursday, instrument clinic, co-op interviews…lots of great things going on.

I know I’ve mentioned before how much I love my church, and it’s worth saying again.  I just love it so much.  We had an event on this week, where our youth pastor, Jenn, shared about overcoming fear in her life.  She talked about finding roots of our fears, and then asking Jesus to show us how he was with us during those times, and finding Jesus in our memories.  She said we need to acknowledge the lies that are having no place in our lives; those lies are preventing us from living a fear-less life.  She laid out these steps for us to conquer the fears that are having too much hold in our lives:

We need to confess that we have believed a lie.

We need to ask the Lord to break the power that the lie has had in our life.

We need to step out from underneath it.

We need to replace it with God’s truth.

We need to pray against the enemy; he is no longer allowed to use the lie against us.

Allow the emotions to come.

Make Jesus Lord of that area.

Step One for me in conquering a fear was allowing my good friend, Lori, to take me to the doctor for a recurring pain that I’ve had.  I have big time fears of going to the doctor, and I make a million excuses not to do it.  Lori said “No more excuses, we’re going on Friday, and I’ll be with you the whole time.”  And she did.  What a great friend.  AND…it was a super great visit while we waited for 2 hours until I could see the doctor (we laughed a LOT – I think it’s safe to say we were the most cheerful people in the walk-in clinic)…AND…I got great news from the doctor.  I am so thankful in so many ways.

I woke up this morning feeling SO relieved.  God is just so much bigger than any fears we have, despite how big we think they are.  And He sent me someone to help me tackle it – thanks so much, friend….love you heaps.

 

 

 

 

Can’t wait…

It tastes like feet.

“I like it!”

Family Day Weekend

I had a super fun Family Day long weekend (as you may have guessed from my previous post).  It was so great to see my whole family, make apple butter with my mom (let’s be honest, she did most of the work), play endless games of Go Fish! with my oldest nephew, finish another assignment for my course, have naps, fetch things for my chair-bound dad (he had surgery on both feet), visit with Meg and Steph, get my hair cut, buy amazing jeans, and make a few more travel plans for my impending trip to Germany!  I wish I could press rewind and do it all again!

This is my Mom (sometimes you may hear me refer to her as Bon):

My Mom is a super thoughful person; she always sends me home with leftovers (and this time sent me home with enough meals to last me all week – she knows I am crazy busy with rehearsals), she never forgets to send a thank you card, she checks in on her family members and friends regularly, she makes my chair-bound dad picnic lunches before she heads to work in the morning, she thinks of unique games and activities for her grandsons, she makes meals for friends who need a hand, and she emails me good deals and things on sale at the grocery store.  She is a gem, and I love her lots.

I also spent lots of time playing with these two precious boys this weekend:

I just love them to bits and wish I could see them more often!!

Happy Family Day, ya’ll!!

Saturday Loves

Things I love on this snowy Saturday:

1.  Having a Friday night laugh-fest with four fantastic friends – yummy treats, sweet beverages (try the cranberry-7up-wine combo – sangria-ish!), story-telling, tons of laughing and a movie.

2.  Thankfulness for a safe drive to Fonthill – it was very snowy in Barrie and for a good part of the drive – so glad I did not end up in the ditch (or worse).

3.  Getting my hair cut by Sam (he’s kinda strange, but sure does know how to give a curly-haired girl a good haircut!).  I LOVE having my hair washed (the little scalp massage is SO nice!)

4.  Lunch and more laughs with Meg and Steph (and Owen and Dallas) – one of my most very favourite parts of coming home to Niagara is getting to have a meal and visit with two of my favourite people – LOVE them!

5.  Mom making me a roast beef dinner.

6. Hanging out with the folks in their cozy living room.

7.  Knowing that tomorrow I get to see my best little buddies and read them stories.

8.  Chatting (even though briefly) with Cait and Phil.  Have I mentioned that I am super proud of their current endeavors?

9.  Getting a sweet pair of jeans on the SECOND try.  Dear The Gap: Thank you for making jeans that not only fit great, but that are recommended to fit you a size smaller.  You must know how much that helps a girl’s self-esteem, and I appreciate that.  The price was worth it.  Sincerely, Happy Shopper.

10.  IT’S A LONG WEEKEND!

Horses

There are few things I love more than a great song, sung by a great singer, with only an acoustic piano.

This song actually brought me to tears.