A House is More Than a House

I found this wonderful poem by

 Mark Twain and had to share it. 

It has always seemed to me that houses

 have, souls? of a sort.

They somehow reflect back the personalities 

of the people who have lived within their walls,

whether they loved, grew, fought, were 

honorable, clean, or otherwise.

I have been in houses that felt so happy 

and those that have felt super creepy, 

and those that fall somewhere in between.

(And some that smell weird)

Have you?

We have always been told that our house feels good.

Warm

Welcoming

cozy

Happy

All good adjectives!

(Is this kind of like when kids or dogs like you?)

Anyway, I really liked and enjoyed this poem

and thought you might as well. 

I am thankful for our happy home.

I hope you are all having a lovely day

(and feeling good wherever you are.)

Love you!

Mom

To us, our house was not insentient matter

it had a heart, and a soul, and eyes to see us with;

and approvals, and solicitudes, and deep sympathies;

it was of us, and we were in the peace of its benediction.

We never came home from an absence that its face did not light up and speak out its eloquent welcome

and we could not enter it unmoved. 

Mark Twain

Spring in Rexburg?

Hello family! So, it's 50 degrees in Rexburg today!!! AH! So, I went to class this morning and then a friend and I went on a walk. It is so beautiful outside! There were cute little birds chirping in the trees and people in the park and it was so happy! So this week has been really great! It started out horrible but I really figured things out. On Monday I was really sad because I didn't get to hear from Zach and I was stressed about this summer Nauvoo mission. But on Monday night I thought like Anne of Green gables and I decided tomorrow is a still a perfect day! A day with a completely fresh canvas! So the rest of the week I ate more vegetable and fruits, I prayed every day, I read my scriptures every day and the rest of the week was awesome! It's amazing that those small things are really the most important thing. I also noticed that the better I was feeling the more I was able to help other people. I saw Heavenly Father work through me to help so many people this week! It was awesome! And now here are some random pictures of things I liked this week! :)

 Here is a gorgeous sunset that used to be all the pinks and oranges you can imagine.

This is my adorable neighbor. He lives in the tree outside my apartment and I saw him in the tree and I thought he was just darling!!!

Here is the garden I planted!

And here is a cute skirt I bought for my mission! Isn't adorable?!

And of course a quote!

 and... one more I found.. :D In regards to last Friday especially!

Destiny

I know I sort of blogged about this last time...but I spend a lot of time thinking about it.

You know in the Great Gatsby, Gatsby grew up as a poor farmer from the middle of nowhere South Dakota, but he knew he had a greater destiny and left to go find it?  He knew he was meant for more than a content life as a farmer.  I feel like that, and have felt that way my entire life..  I mean, we had a fabulous growing up and I'm not trying to leave my roots at all.  I just envision this life for myself,  I know that I can do great things.  I just haven't figured out what they are. It is what drives me and where I find all of my motivation.  I am constantly thinking that there is something better out there for me, and I have to find it!  Struggles and setbacks are horrible for me because I feel like they get in the way of this destiny.

So this week was one of the worst EVER!!!!!! My car died, as I'm sure you all know.  And now I'm riding public transportation and walking everywhere! Oh boy! At least it's an option right?  I still have to deal with selling it to a junkyard, but I don't want to deal with it anymore.  Why is being an adult so hard?

I'm also continuing to struggle with student teaching.  My teacher is a bad teacher.  She doesn't teach her kids note names, key signatures, rhythm, as far as I can tell she doesn't even really have a curriculum.  I feel like everything is super random.  The classes usually go: Play a scale as a "warm-up"(this scale has nothing to do with what is being played), play some random songs out of the method book for "technique", "learn" songs for concert.  When I say "learn" I mean, they learn all their music by rote! I didn't even know it was possible in band and orchestra, but she sings and claps everything for them until they just memorize it.  Her kids ask me if the fingerings are 1 or 2 (brass language for fingerings...) I usually respond with you tell me. What is the note? What is in the key signature?  Ask me note names, not fingerings.

On Tuesday I worked with her orchestra and I think they almost quit afterwords. (not really, they were getting frustrated though) We worked on 3 measures for a long time because they couldn't get the rhythm.  But these are 9th graders, who can't count dotted quarter notes, or eighth notes.

My teacher said something to me the other day, she said, "They are getting it!"  And I said back in a very unconvinced voice (not on purpose, I just can't hide my true feelings very well...) "yeah..."  She said, "these aren't college kids remember, they're beginners."  Which is true, I seriously would never hold them to the same level as a college kid.  That being said, why should I lower my standards?  She keeps telling me that I have to spoon feed the kids everything, but doesn't that just teach them to be helpless?  I mean you have to give them easter eggs, but spoon feeding them teachers them to be dependent on other people.

She is right, they aren't college kids, but kids are very capable people and I want them to be successful in what they do and teach them music.  These kids LOVE music, they tell me all the time, they show me things they figured out on their instruments.  A kid who is seriously bullied (I'm not kidding, he missed a week of school because kids bully him so much and he didn't want to come) confided in me that he loved music so much and he secretly wanted to switch to bassoon because it is clearly the best instrument.  It breaks my heart to see these kids put so much into what they are doing, but not being taught to be a musician and being prepared to play music in the real world.  A musician who can't count or read rhythm will always struggle to play with others.

I want to hold the kids to a high standard.  I don't want them to be content with where they are.  I don't want to tell them they are doing a good job when they are clearly not.  Every person needs positive feedback.  But think back to your best teachers?  Were they the ones who told you good job? Or were they the ones who pushed you until you thought you couldn't anymore and recognized and celebrated with you when you truly had a real success?  But it's not my classroom, I can do the best I can, but when it comes down to it, I have to live by my teacher's rules and teach within her confines.  I hate it!

Maybe teaching is for me, maybe I will teach in a different way than in the public education system.I know that this sounds cheesy, but I know that there is something out there for me, I have something fabulous in my future.

Here is the Spotify playlist I have been listening to lately. It's pretty feel good music.  Also, I'm sure you guys know, I don't like covers.  But there is a fabulous Beyonce cover of Halo that you should seriously listen to.  I didn't think anyone could cover Beyonce successfully, but this girl did.  It's a beautiful song.

The Good Stuff

P.S. sorry this post is a little random, it's how my brain works.  Which is why nobody pays me to write things :)

Also here is a picture of the girl who gets to spend the weekend at a music conference with her friends :)

Mandy out-

Mad ukulele skills;-)

Sorry the sound quality is so bad.  I'm having some sound issues on my phone.  You might have to turn it up.

Oh Wow!

Mom got me fantasizing about gardening.  I've been doing research on how to make self-watering containers, and I'm excited.  I'm going to have a tiny garden on my balcony, and it is going to be awesome.  I don't think it is too far away either.   We played outside for most of the afternoon today. The other part,  Henry was napping and Gabe and I were making muffins.  It got to 58°.  It has been beautiful all week.  Here are some other noteworthy things in our lives:

1. Henry can say three things, and is communicating more and more every day.  He says mama, dada, and "oh wow!"  He is so close to walking as well.  He has the strength and the balance.  He just chickens out.
2. We went to shriners on monday, and Henry will not need surgery in the near future.  Dr Wang was really happy with his progress.  We will also have an evaluation from Primary Children's outpatient to see if they can do anything for us.  I'm hoping for a more frequent OT visit than the once a month visit with Early Intervention.
3. Gabe is going to preschool every monday and is loving it.  We are doing Joyschool, which just means the parents take turns teaching.  Next monday is my turn, and I'm excited about it.  The theme is friends and valentines day, and other than that i can teach about anything i want, so if you have any good ideas, let me know.:-)  
4. We are expecting our tax return soon.  Evan said he got a message saying that it had been accepted,  and we should expect it by Friday!  If we can find a ride from someone, we're going to try to go car shopping after baptisms on Saturday.  Hopefully it all works out.
5. Im excited to start making inventory for mine and mom's business.  I just needed a little money for start up costs.  Once we get our tax return, i can get going. Yay!

Anyway, that's what is going on in my life right now. Love you all,

Emma

The Winter Blues

Hi Family!

Go to the link below and play while you read.

 It will set the mood. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8N33TIUGpxY&list=PL-aVCoKV6XpXPP26nzUvd4RqO6qBvG5kB&index=5
(I can't figure out how to make this open in a new tab automatically.
If you right click you have the option. You probably all already know that.)

I thought a little blues music would not be amiss

 on this greeeeey February day.

It is winter, people.

It is cold.

And gloomy.

It gets me at this time every year.

Blah!

This is a pretty uneventful week.

My only new thing is that I started playing handbells

at St. John's Lutheran church.

It is super fun, although I never suspected just how

uncoordinated I truly am. Haha!

I hope things go a little smoother tonight since

 it will be my second time.

I am excited to learn a new thing, especially a music thing.

Sam had an awesome band concert last night.

Really inspiring music!

Ooh, I made these delicious noodles yesterday.

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/08/simple-sesame-noodles/

Sooo good!

The sauce is kinda like the stuff they serve with potstickers.

I added a tiny bit of broccoli, carrots, 

and sliced, sweet, tiny peppers.

I also substituted sesame seeds for the oil, since

 I didn't have any,and crushed red peppers

 for the hot pepper oil.

I am seriously considering making it for lunch again.

We are excited to go see Sam's play on Thursday.

It is the public performance of the one act.

They are doing really well with it. 

Sam is happy to be a part of it.

Here is a gratuitous garden picture because I need to see green things.

That's about it.

Hope you are all well and safe and happy.

Love you tons! 

Mom

Music Lessons Galore

I'm doing taxes! Hurray! And my bank/internet decided now was a good time to be slow. Oh well. I guess I'm a glutton for punishment having a private studio along with my regular job. Or I guess the regular job goes with the studio... Speaking of, I really need ideas or thoughts about my student going from Simply Music to traditional. I had THREE new students today and I have another on Wednesday. I also lost one. That's a confusing story. Ask me if you're interested. It's not really internet for-everyone-to-see material. I talked to Kris about it and she totally backed me up. So between Mom and Kris I feel a lot better. I have 13 students! Crammed into 2 days!

One of the mom's complimented me on my retro house. (I should try to put pictures on here sometime so it's easier to show people.) She thought it was awesome. Which made me feel great because I think all of us have this problem where we have to constantly change our houses to continue liking it...? And changing my house right now- "Ain't nobody got time for dat." So I've started to waiver slightly in my love.

I've decided since I have a couple more students, I'm going to be taking lessons from Kris weekly and I'm getting closer to having my own little women's choir of people who have experience and can sight read. Work has been boring since it's winter and I've realized my brain is really bored. When taxes are fun, you know you need to find something else to learn. Uh... That's All Folks!

-Kayla