Ready for February

January is almost over! January, I must admit, is not my favorite month of the year (other than in 1995 when Braden was born--that was a pretty great January). I'm sure my funk is a direct result of all this cold, gray weather and yucky winter inversion, but I am more than ready to turn the calendar over. I'm hoping February will bring some sunshine, a few family outings, a date night or two, some exciting high school basketball, and plenty of Valentine fun. Here are a few things I'm looking forward to in the coming month...

1) Family ski outing. For Christmas we gave each of the kids a day ski pass at Solitude, we will use it sometime during the month.

2) Overnight Valentine date for me and my hubby. I have planned the entire event, and it is a surprise for him. Can't wait!

3) Getting Braden's Eagle Scout project rolling. He will meet with the Roundtable committee on Thursday to explain his plan, and hopefully get it approved. More on this in a future post...

4) A 3-day music education conference this week in St. George. I'm going with three other music teachers from my district, we leave Thursday after school and will return late Saturday night.

5) A month of exciting regional high school basketball, and wrapping up the regular season before the State tournament in March. Right now Kent's record is 10-6, they are currently riding on a 3-game winning streak. Happy husband!

6) A Super Bowl party at a neighbor's home next Sunday, complete with tons of food and friends. Go Saints! (Kent spent two years in New Orleans on his mission, he's been a Saints fan for as long as I've known him.)

In other news, I must mention how proud I am of Rachel. Kent and I had an awesome experience watching her perform last night. We attended an event called "Masterworks Festival" at the beautiful Provo Tabernacle.

It was a concert featuring choral and orchestral students from eight high schools in the Alpine School District. All the performers were hand selected and invited to participate, what an honor for Rachel! It was guest-conducted by Mack Wilburg, director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and was absolutely incredible. They performed one hour-long selection...Requiem by Mozart, sung entirely in Latin. Rachel has been practicing with sheet music and a CD for weeks. Then, for two full days the students rehearsed with Dr. Wilburg, and performed it for a standing-room-only audience last night. It was similar to the All-State choir performance last October, but on a much smaller scale. I'm so grateful that Rachel--and Kent & I--had this amazing experience.

Rambling...

Here are a few rambling thoughts on a snowy Saturday afternoon...

*I woke up to a winter wonderland this morning, just had to get out there in the back yard and take a picture... *But all this snowy loveliness came at a price, we had a serious blizzard last night. Coming home from Kent's basketball game I had to drive right through through the middle of a complete whiteout, it was terrifying. It took twice as long to get home--over an hour, and I was white-knuckled the entire way. It wasn't snowing like that when I left home, or I definitely would not have gone out.

*But I'm very glad I didn't stay home because Kent's team got a nice win, it was fun to see the celebration. After a couple of tough losses last week this win was a relief, and desperately needed to keep their fighting spirits up. Their record now stands at 8-6.

*Braden's team is doing OK, they play every Tuesday and Thursday, Kent's team plays every Tuesday and Friday. Three days a week you will likely find me sitting in the stands of a school gymnasium somewhere in the valley.

*Speaking of Braden, when he's not at basketball practice or playing in a game, you can usually find him doing this...and he's getting very good at it.

*As for Rachel, she is a very busy girl. Between school, work, and a social life we see very little of her. Some days she is gone before I get out of bed, home from school just long enough to change clothes, and gone again until I'm in bed at night. I guess that is the life of a teenager.

*Now a note about Stefanie...she has become quite the little dancer. We enrolled her in a jazz dance class at the beginning of the school year, she loves it. She told me it is her favorite hour of the whole week.

*Watching and reading the news the last week and a half has been heart wrenching with nonstop coverage of the the devastating earthquake in Haiti. It is estimated that 200,000 people perished in the quake, yet twelve days later there are still reports of survivors being pulled out from under the rubble. My prayers go out to those poor people, and the relief workers who are doing everything they can to help.

*Last ramble for today...I can hardly believe the school year is half over! A new semester began this week. This is my fourth year of teaching elementary music, and my favorite one so far. It's good to finally have a bit more confidence, resources and experience in my job.

29 Gifts

I just finished reading the most amazing book, "29 Gifts". It was written by Cami Walker, a woman in her early thirties who was diagnosed with an incurable, debilitating illness. Disheartened and barely able to walk, she became bitter and isolated. Two years later an African medicine woman advised her to give away 29 gifts in 29 days. She took the advice, and as she started giving her gifts--often as simple as a smile or a kind word--she began to notice good things happening. Her health improved, her bitterness disappeared and she found new purpose. What a simple concept, but it changed her life. She learned that the keys to happiness and a rewarding life are generosity and gratitude--two qualities I'm always trying to work on. She now has this bestselling book, and a website where she advises others to take on the 29-day challenge. I was so inspired by her story that I decided to try it as well, I am now on day #11. I firmly believe in the law of the harvest and this book is a great example of that. I highly recommend it.

Gal. 6:7--"Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."

D&C 6:33--"Fear not to do good, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward."

Happy Birthday Braden

Today my boy is fifteen years old.

He is such an awesome kid. I am extremely proud of him in every way, and feel incredibly blessed to be his mom. Here is a little birthday survey...

What did you like best about your 15th birthday? Getting my own cell phone and winning my basketball game.

What are you most excited about being 15? Getting my drivers' permit and getting rid of my braces.

What's your favorite class in school? P.E. (no surprise there)

What's your least favorite class? Spanish. (Won't this be funny to read in about five years when he's on a mission in some South American country. ha/ha)

What do you want to be when you grow up? Professional Soccer Player

Why do you always pick #4 to wear on every jersey of every sport you've ever played? 'Cause that's my number.

How would you spend a thousand dollars? Buy a nice new pair of cleats and an expensive guitar.

Favorite Fast Food Combo Meal: Baconator combo at Wendys.

Favorite Sports Figure: Daron Williams (point guard for the Jazz)

Favorite Sports experience: Winning the St. George soccer tournament two years in a row.

Favorite Book: Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites series

Favorite Movie: All three Pirates of the Carribean.

Favorite Quote or Motto: "To give less than your best is to sacrifice the gift." Steve Prefontaine