I've been a bad blogger lately, I know. My heart just hasn't been in it. I was going to blog about how things just haven't been going my way, I've felt like a hampster on a wheel, blah blah blah. But everyone has their own problems, and no one wants to hear about mine. Besides, my sinuses have finally started to clear and I'm feeling better.

I've decided instead, to tell y'all the things that are going on in my life, and because I love lists...

1. "Christmas County Spelling Bee". That's the name of the musical Leslie and I are directing this semester. It's so cute, and the music is so much fun. Plus, it's going to be super simple to produce. We don't have to purchase nativity scene costumes, because we did that last year for "The Mystery of the Manger". In fact, the only costumes we have to purchase are cheerleader uniforms and tshirts for the kids to keep. Also, one of the characters has a thing for bumblebees, so I get to make a little dress for her using my sewing machine. Because of "Rock Solid" the musical we did this past spring, we shouldn't have to buy that many. Yay us!

2. "Good Vibrations" at the Carolina Opry. This deserves it's own post, but I wanted to give it a little shout-out now. Richie took me to see it this past Friday, and let me tell y'all, I did not stop smiling and singing the entire time.

3. Sewing. I made another purse. I can't wait to show it off! I have so many patterns I can't wait to try.

4. Adult choir. I was awake at 2 a.m. on Monday morning, and as thoughts were rolling around in my head, I realized how much I missed singing. Now, I can't sing in the adult choir on Sunday morning, because of us being out of town so much to see Trey play, but I can go to practice on Wednesdays and sing in the Christmas Cantata. Maybe I can get the old praise team together and we can sing "Days of Elijah" one last time...

5. Heroes, Ugly Betty, and The Office. Otherwise known as the show Richie likes to watch with me, the show Richie watches with me because he loves me, and the show Richie tried to watch me but just cannot get the humor. It's fall, folks, and the new television season has begun!

That's all for now. It's good to be back! Toodles!

First Practice

I had all ideas that last night's practice was not going to be a good one. Wednesday was not shaping up to be a very good day at all. The office was busy for starters, because it was the third of the month. Then, Leslie called, telling me that we weren't going to be able to use the gym because AWANA had the floor painted. Lastly, because we were so busy, I wasn't able to leave the office until 5:10, making me skid into church at 5:30 without any time to set up the classroom.

Once I got to church, though, my mood began to lift. The gym was partially blocked off, but there was room for the kids to eat, and Leslie would serve them through the kitchen. We kept them in the choir room upstairs, and when it's time for me to quiet them down to say grace, it normally takes me a little while because they're so rambunctious. But last night, I only had to count to 3, and they were silent and ready to pray. They didn't push and shove in line. When it was time to clean their tables and line up for class, they did so quickly. They took their seats in the choir room, listened when I spoke, and then, when I started to play the music, THEY SANG.

THEY SANG! They sang, and they asked the appropriate questions once we were done singing. Then they sang again, and because they listened to my instruction, their singing was even more improved! I told them that I was so happy and proud that I could have done a cartwheel. Well, they put the challenge out there, and I'm never one to back down from a challenge. More about that later.

After they were finished singing, it was Leslie's turn to lead the class, and she had a fun paper activity for them to work on. I had to step outside the room for a moment, but when I came back, the room was silent. SILENT. It's never been silent before. Y'all you could have heard a pin drop in that room. It was glorious. I almost cried. I was most definitely ver klempt.

Now, about that cartwheel. When class was over, Leslie and I took them out to the side lot, and I did not one, but TWO cartwheels. The kids went nuts, because who knew that a 31-year old woman, their choir teacher nonetheless could still do, not one, but TWO cartwheels? Leslie took photos AND video of the event. I promise to post them as soon as she gets them to me.

I went home tired and a little sore (should've stretched first), but overall, so so happy. Next week, they'll probably act like wild animals, but hey--at least we'll always have the memory of last night to keep us warm.

Toodles!

Nerves

Leslie and I were talking yesterday, and we both admitted that we were very nervous about the musical next week. Like, nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. And it's not like the kids haven't been working--we had all the kids sing and recite their lines from the first half of the play last Wednesday, and that went great.

Of course, I have theories.

1. "Rock Solid", the spring musical, is a much bigger production than the Christmas musical "Mystery of the Manger". At Christmas, the kids never left the stage, or their places for that matter. Rock Solid uses lots of movement, and there are seven dramatic scenes that have the characters moving on and off the stage. A moving kid is an unpredictable kid!

2. In the spring, time moves more quickly. We had four months to practice for Christmas, as well as four months to practice for Spring. It just FEELS shorter!

3. The kids have spring fever! Plus, they are stretched thinner this time of year, with field trips, tests, and extracurricular activities. It's more difficult to get them to focus.

Of course, it doesn't help that people have been telling me their own personal children's musical horror stories. It's like being pregnant--everyone wants to tell you what went wrong. Well, no offense, but I don't want to hear it!

Be positive, people! Positive!

ETA: Last night's practice went reasonable well--behavior was not much of a problem, though they were a rambunctious group. We keep telling them that they will "play how they practice"--maybe one day we'll actually explain that phrase to them. Leslie and I also got a lot accomplished, scheduling- and decorating-wise. All we can do now is pray and decorate the sanctuary.

Actually, I already know that prayer is sufficient. I keep leaning on my own strength instead of giving it to God. I need to be careful--God gave me this ministry, and He can just as easily take it away.

Toodles!

Setting Summer Goals

Much to my surprise, I found out there are only like 45 days until school is out (that's counting weekends). With that in mind, I began to think of some things I'd like to accomplish this summer.

1. Spending quality time with my family. Since we usually spend the summer weekends at Pirateland, I feel like this can be accomplished quite easily. I'm really looking forward to shopping for a new swimsuit, reading by the pool, taking golf cart rides with Richie, and maybe actually getting to challenge Cathryn to that game of mini-golf I'd been promising.

2. Being a successful VBS music leader. Much like being the children's choir director, this is my first time taking a leadership role where I've usually been the assistant. The theme this year is "Son Harvest", and is county fair themed, so I'm thinking overalls, a t-shirt, and maybe a hat. VBS is always so much fun, and though it will take some preparation on my part, I'm looking forward to creating a relaxing environment where the kids can have fun while learning their songs.

3. Begin looking at Christmas musicals. Actually, I may have already found one, but I need to talk to the pastor about ordering a sample that Leslie and I can listen to before we actually make a decision. Once we make that decision, we'll spend some time this summer putting lesson plans together and also planning an M&Ms kickoff for the end of August. This first year has really opened our eyes, so I think we'll be much more prepared for our second year.

4. Learn to read music. If I expect to teach these kids what the sheet music says, if I really don't have a knowledge of it myself? That's really the blind leading the blind, isn't it? I've got lots of material to study from MusicTheory.net, as well as a course I purchased from Barnes & Noble (my favorite store). Hopefully, by the time we reconvene for choir on September 3, I'll at least have a working knowledge of music.

5. Learn to sew. I know! It seems like an odd goal for someone like me, who is not at all gifted in the domestic arts. But it's something that has fascinated me since I was a child watching my grandmother sew. She had one of those really nice, old sewing machines that flipped out of a hardwood desk, and I used to love to sit and watch her make things. My mother tried to learn, but she was short, SHORT on patience. Like, shorter than me. (Leslie--I'm sure your mind is boggling. Yes, there is someone out there with a shorter fuse. Her name is Bonnie, and she is my mother.) I want to start small, with a simple sewing machine, and with simple projects. I like to think of this as more of a long-term goal so that I can take on more complex patterns with a really nice sewing machine.

What are y'all working toward this summer?

Toodles!

A different kind of "Obsession Tuesday"

Today, I've got one thing on my mind, and that's children's choir. Sure, I'm super excited that the Top 11 are singing from the Lennon/McCartney songbook again this week, but I've got more pressing issues at hand.

I've got Christmas on the brain. Yeah, I know that it's March, but I like being prepared, and I don't want August to come and the kids not have something to sing. I thought that I had selected a Christmas musical, "Cooking Up Christmas", because I fell in love with the idea. The concept is completely cute--a church choir (made up of Paula Queen, Emerald Lasagna, Martha Steward, Betty Rocker, Alfred Brown, Rachael Day, and Bobby Grey) decide to bake treats for the community instead of having their traditional choir Christmas party. You can see why I chose it--it's pop culture related, a good inside joke. But I popped the CD in the car yesterday morning, and my heart dropped. The script is terrible, there are only a few speaking parts, and two solos. I knew that this wasn't going to work for our choir made of kids who are, at times, unenthusiastic and the others who get stagefright. I made it my mission yesterday to find a Christmas musical that would siut our kids.

It's a lot harder than it sounds, folks. I started the project yesterday afternoon around three, and didn't end until midnight. Sure, I took a two-hour break in between to eat dinner (turkey meatloaf..one of my favorites!) and do laundry, but the rest of the evening was devoted to children's choir. I perused three different publishing company websites, listening to the songs and looking at scripts if they were available, then Googling "Children's Christmas Musicals". My eyes were so bleary by the stroke of midnight, but at least I've narrowed it down to six musicals. I'm thinking about asking the pastor if the church can order the preview packs so that I can listen to them in their entirety.

I know this seems excessive, but I just want to put on the best musical I can each year. I want the kids to know how many different styles of music there are, and the many ways we can worship God and witness to others. I want the kids to be proud of the work they put into putting on the musical, and I want the parents to be proud of their kids, and know that they are leaving them in capable hands on Wednesday nights. I don't want people thinking that all we do on Wednesday nights is goof off. Most of all, I want to do the most I can with the talents and mission that God has given me. Is that really too much to ask?

Toodles!