A little cliche, but still sweet.

It is so fun to get in the car and have the perfect song come on your playlist or the radio!! Today mine was "Teach Your Children" by Crosby Stills and Nash. Oh do I love that song. Hee. 

Grown ups stink

My professor humiliated me in front of my class this morning. Then I got in an argument with the parking guy who gave me a ticket for a minute and 38 seconds over my time. Then I didn't play well enough for this trombone player and his professor got on my case. All before 10 am. Sheesh.

Then I walked into my class of preschoolers trying not to feel sorry for myself, and I was bombarded with hugs and shouts from little voices saying, "we missed you Miss Lee!"

I love what I do. 

Nnnnah

It's been a long day. Simply for the fact that I've been under the weather, so to speak. So as I was driving home in rush hour traffic, I kept thinking to myself how nice it would be to have a really good cup of coffee. I finally decided that I would stop by my favorite coffee shop on the way home (though it's only two blocks from my house). 

Twenty minutes before closing, I walked into Kaladi and was greeted by name. After pouring me my coffee, Jeff took my card from me (because who has cash on them anymore?), looked at if for a second, then said, "nnnnah" and turned away. Hee. It's sweet little things like a free cup of amazing coffee at the end of a day that serve as little perks in life :-). 

Thank God for the little things!

Every Girl's Dream

As I stood up from the piano this afternoon, my daddy walked over, gave me a big hug and said, "good job, Mei Mei." 

Those words will resound in my ears forever. 

They call it Polar Bear for a reason (28:11)

I ran DU's Polar Bear 5k today with some girlfriends. Though many registered, the only people to show up to the race were the serious runners and the crazy people. We fit into the crazy category. It was 18 degrees at the start of the race and 17 at the finish. Brrr. I was just glad to finish with a slightly improved time.

The best part, by far, however, was that there was an announcer/DJ who warmed us up before the race with the "Chicken Dance." Bring your knees up high on those dosey does, and your legs will warm right up!

Encourage your child's creativity. It will pay off.

This morning we had our weekly Friday breakfast. Every Friday the next door neighbors and the girls in my house come together, bring whatever breakfast foods they have that week, and make breakfast. It is so much fun, and we so enjoy each others' company.

Well, this morning, Jess brought Jenae a gift for her birthday (which was two months ago). It was a pair of earrings that she had made. Naturally, Jenae put them on. 

Once breakfast was finished and it was time for Jenae to meet Carol for lunch, she went to grab her coat and dropped one of the earrings in the vent. Of course our house is ancient, and the vent is glued closed. So we went to work. I grabbed chopsticks, and after an unsuccessful search for a flashlight, Jenae grabbed a lighter. 

I fished for a while with the chopsticks, but after realizing that there wasn't enough friction to pick the earring up, we began thinking of other options. Jenae had it. I went to my desk, grabbed a piece of gum, chewed it up a bit, then stuck it on the end of the chopstick. 20 minutes later, we had the earring covered in decades worth of dust and a piece of gum. Hahaha.

This is why we've been best friends since age three. We're great together!

It's not that big of a deal

Yesterday was emotional. The world seemed to be crashing down on me, though that was no where near the case. I was just upset because my middle schoolers were rude (shocker) and I had to take the dog's stool sample to the vet during the one break I had that day. 

So what did I do? I called my mommy in tears. What do I do? How am I supposed to deal with forty middle schoolers with attitude? I'm not a teacher! I have not gotten my degree yet! I'm 21, five feet tall, and 100 pounds. How am I supposed to stand up against these kids? Am I too sensitive? Am I too nice? Am I a bad teacher? Am I boring? Am I a bad example? AHH!! Help Mom! The composed nature of her voice was soothing in and of itself. As she reassured me that I didn't have to be treated the way I have been, and that it's not anything that I've done wrong, I found so much comfort in her wisdom and experience. She reminded me that the prinicpal is there for the very purpose of rectifying these kinds of situations and that I'm not alone in this little battle. Thanks mom. I'll cherish your words always.

Then my professor beeped in, and my conversation was over. Noticing that I was upset, he reminded me that I'm "too nice" and that I can show people love and compassion while still maintaining reasonable boundaries in my own life. I'll think about that one.

Then Tim beeped in. I was so excited to see his name come up on my phone. He was able to decipher my concerns through my sobs and reassured me that nothing was as big of a deal as it felt, but never did he make me feel foolish for being upset. He told me to go take two minutes to myself, regroup, then go to my favorite class to learn and enjoy. I did just that. It was wonderful. I was surrounded by teachers who deal with disrespectful students daily that were able to share more wisdom. As we discussed curriculum, my fire was rekindled as I was reminded of the purpose of where I'm at. 

God continues to show me how He is working in every area of my life. I continue to be humbled and taught. 

Brrrrr

Our energy bill was almost double this month. WHAT???!!! 

Yup. It was the gas that did us in. We have now turned down the heat to where it just keeps the pipes from freezing, and are walking around in hats and coats. Oh, and we have turned down the hot water heater so we are taking flash showers. 

I just hope we don't start leaving the house with frozen suds on us.

Oh to be young, poor, and living in a house five times our age. :-D

I have to say, though, that this makes me all the more grateful for the weather we've been blessed with recently. And for hot coffee. Hee.

Now

I am learning to educate. Through experience, through study, and through example, I am learning what it takes to penetrate an individual's mind, gain their trust and respect, and to use this to instill upon them knowledge they may use throughout their journeys.

Wow.

I am currently priviledged to be teaching in an environment wherein I am able to encourage growth musically, academically, personally, and most importantly spiritually. 

I am now preparing to begin a career in the field of education. A career in which I influence young people and offer them experience, opportunity for study, and provide them an example that they may learn as much as possible in whatever short time I am given with them. I am doing this now, during a historical time in our country, and with hope that with new leadership will come new opportunity for schools, children, and educators. 

Thank you God for what you have me doing now. Thank you for what you are teaching me that I may teach. Thank you for the example that my mother has been, and for the gifts that you have bestowed upon me that provide evidence to reaffirm my confidence in the fact that this is where you would have me in life. I am so excited at the prospect of what is to come, and the glory I can bring you as a result. 

Pomp and circumstance

Holden graduated from Master Drive today :-D. He drove us through their course, and though our knuckles grew whiter we ultimately were able to release a sigh of relief. It was quite the accomplishment. (Ironically enough, we had to stay an extra fifteen minutes looking for my car keys that had been lost in all the excitement.)

Because I love her.

She's always been there for me. Always. We are polar opposites, yet exactly the same. She's my best friend and my hero. She found love and gave me a big brother.

She is a strong Army wife. She is a gentle and compassionate friend. She is beautiful and independent, yet she loves to share life with others. She is loyal and forgiving, and always has others' best interest at heart.

I would do anything for her; not because of what she does, but because of who she is, and I love her.

She's my big sissy.

Say ahhhh!

Tattooed.

Squeeeeeeeze!

Teehee. So cute!

Unfair

It's not fair of me to take my difficult days out on those I love most.

Yesterday, I did that exact thing to Tim. Yet, instead of turning away from or growing angry with me, he drove the 34.3 miles that are between us to hold my hand and comfort me for the short hour that we had together.

Thank you, yet again.

Everlasting

Michael and I had a wonderful afternoon together filled with Mexican food, Friends, and pumpkin cheesecake ice cream. How lucky I am to be this guy's friend!

(This picture is unrelated, just hysterical.)

The universal language

I have my own particular sorrows, loves, delights; and you have yours. But sorrow, gladness, yearning, hope, love, belong to all of us, in all times and in all places. Music is the only means whereby we feel these emotions in their universality.
~H.A. Overstreet


I spent seven hours playing my instrument today, but it was "Fix You" by Coldplay on the drive home that caused tears to stream down my face. That God for the power of music.

One of those days

Today has been one of those days. Heck, this week has been made up of them. You know how one thing after another happens, and you start just seeing the bad and forget to focus on the good? Yeah. That's how it's been. Constantly holding back tears--sometimes not successfully.

Anyway, I had a little extra time this afternoon and decided that a nice run was in order. So I ran down to Wash Park on and around all of the melting snow. On my way back a semi drove by me, and drove right through a puddle on the side of the road splashing me with a muddy wave of ice and water that rose half again as high as I am tall. Standing there covered with mud and ice, I couldn't help but laugh. 

Sweet

I put cream and sugar in my coffee this morning. This is an oddity for me, because as Alli tells me, I usually drink my coffee "like a man."

It's going to be a sweet day.

Thank you.

For your hard work, for your help, for your patience, for your performance. Thank you for all you did that day. 

I love you.

What a beautiful day it was!

The boys were great, how fun are they?

The Lucia family is so wonderful!

Mommy walked Kasia down the aisle :-).

So in love!

Beautiful venue.

I couldn't be happier for them!

32:27

My first 5k of the year. It was relaxed and fun, and my time reflects that. 

I didn't start too gracefully... I fell on a giant bowl of oatmeal.

Finished happy, though, with my sweet friends.

Oh, and made friends with an oatmeal guy.

Where did the time go?

I flew to Chicago and visited my family for Thanksgiving.

I went to Breckinridge, re-learned to ski, and had my second Thanksgiving.

I prepared for and presented a Christmas program with my middle schoolers.

I prepared a tutored a young girl for her finals.

My dad had surgery.

I helped with his recovery.

I threw a bridal shower for my sister.

I helped Kasia clean and prepare her house for her husband.

Mom's family came into town.

I attended the wedding rehearsal and dinner for her wedding.

My sister got married.

Tim and I performed at her reception.

I got food poisoning.

Christmas came and went.

I helped Casey and Laura move.

I helped Tony move and clean.

I taught Holden piano.

I bought a new car.

I went to Cripple Creek with my parents. 

New years came and went.

I spent quality time with my family.

I saw Marley and me.

Oh yeah. That's where it went. 

It was absolutely worth every minute and every ounce of energy exuded.

Pay me true odds

I learned how to gamble. For as long as I have known how to count, I've played blackjack at family gatherings. It was one of the many ways that my dad taught us math. Since I recently turned 21, he decided that I was ready for the casinos. 

This past week, my parents took me to Cripple Creek to gamble for the first time in my life. Once we finally made it through the half dozen people asking to see my ID, we made it to the live tables. I picked up the pace quickly and it didn't take long to double my money. Then again, it didn't take much longer to lose it. 

Last night, my dad took me to the bar because it was craps night. We got there early and he bought me a drink and we shot pool. His left arm is in a sling thus forcing him to play one handed--he still beat me. I won the second game but only under his guidance. He knows his way around the pool table. There were two texas hold'em games going on simultaneously, then the craps guy came. There was no buy in, obviously, and after spending the first fifteen minutes learning to play, we joined a tournament. It was so fun. The game was really exciting, and there were quite a few people playing. When the dice got to my dad he rolled every combination he wanted until the last roll of the game, where he sevened out. It was such a fun experience.