At first glance
A stage
Colorful curtains
Light shining
From inside the piano
Second view
A forest floor
Animated trees
Light shining
From inside the piano
Finally-imagination
A woodland revue
Enchanting melodies
Light shining
From inside the piano
Took down the tree today
Feeling a little sad
No more green or lights
House looks rather drab
Ornaments and nativity sets
Each piece carefully put away
So many sweet memories
Saved for another day
Perhaps I'll buy some flowers
To bring back some of the cheer
Which was put away in the boxes
With Christmas...until next year
I was listening to some James Taylor today and the following phrase from Before This World/Jolly Spring Time struck a chord. https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/before-this-world-jolly-springtime/980668059?i=980668068
Yes the winter was bitter and long
So the spring'll be sweet
Come along with a rhythm and a song
Watch creation repeat
I know winter is just beginning but the hope of spring is ever present. Trees will once again bud and flowers will once again bloom. We must look for it in the moments of sunshine and patches of blue. Or in store-bought flowers placed in a favorite vase.
Look back
Through laughter and tears
Remembering when both occurred
Look ahead
With anticipation and hope
Not knowing what lies ahead
Live today
Remaining firmly planted
In this moment where life is lived
My first memories of listening to music on my own involved carrying around my Bicentennial ’76 transistor radio. There were no headphones. I just walked around the yard holding this little treasure up to my ear. I’m certain I heard James Taylor’s “You’ve Got a Friend” and “How Sweet it is” many times on that tiny device.
My first memories of actually playing James Taylor songs came from a pink songbook entitled, “Contemporary Sounds of Music of Today.” “Fire and Rain” & “Country Road” graced this collection, and quickly became two of my favorites. I would play them on piano and quite often an aunt or cousin would be standing behind me singing along.
Fast forward through high school. Although I heard some of JT’s new releases, I was busy working on my bachelor and master’s degrees in music. Much of my time was spent in a practice room or rehearsing with other musicians. Very little time was left to simply listen to music for pleasure.
But there were moments…a concert in Fayetteville, AR during grad school comes to mind. Here I heard “Your Smiling Face” live for the first time. This was like a second beginning of my love for James Taylor’s music, and the first of many concerts I would attend.
Though it feels like a lifetime ago, there is one song, one small moment in time, which stands out above the rest. Grad school again, my future husband, Gart, and I had just met. My life was kind of a mess.
He introduced me to the song “Like Everyone She Knows” (by James Taylor, of course.) I listened to it on repeat one entire weekend while visiting my family. The more I listened, the more it seemed to be talking about me.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/like-everyone-she-knows/169612785?i=169613674
The more I listened, the more I realized Gart was someone special.
I often tell people Gart rescued me. He would say I’m being overly dramatic, but I would have to disagree. Somehow, he was able to see through the mess and here we are twenty-six years, three kids, and six cities later.
I’m thankful for the way he encourages me while challenging me to stretch myself. He likes to say things like, “Life is hard, life is messy, but it is also awesome and beautiful.” And if feelings of doubt or guilt creep in, he reminds me that the difficult times helped make me who I am today.
I’m thankful for the beauty of poetry and music, creating a song with the power to touch my heart. A song which somehow felt like it was written just for me. A song written by my favorite singer, James Taylor (in case you haven’t already figured that out), and introduced to me by a cute guy wearing a Calvin-n-Hobbes t-shirt who was willing to take a chance.
Merry Christmas, Gart. Thank you for continuing to rescue me. I love you!
Loving my neighbor is not optional. It is an expectation, a command. I don’t get to pick and choose based on my own preferences and opinions, even though some may be easier to love than others.
Many headlines in today’s news and on various social media platforms seem to blatantly ignore this truth. Reading them makes me feel sad, disappointed, even angry. Responding in frustration provides no solution. Remaining silent also is not the answer. So how do I put actions to this truth?
Loving the people who cross my path daily is the first step, but it cannot stop there. What about people who are not right in front of me, not in my immediate sphere of influence. Do I have a responsibility toward them? Yes! They are also my neighbors.
I must search my heart, making certain my words and actions do not place one group over another. Each person has value, no matter which group they belong to.
I’m reminded of the Good Samaritan story. A man was beaten and robbed, no different from current headlines. People in church and leadership roles had the opportunity to help, but were either too busy or chose to avoid the situation. A man who the aforementioned leaders would not even speak to was the only one who chose to do the right thing.
“But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.”
Luke 10:33-34 NIV
““Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.””
Luke 10:36-37 NIVI
I don’t know about you, but that’s the kind of neighbor I want to be. Not only that, that’s the kind of neighbor I need in my life. One who will accept me for me, flaws and weaknesses included. One who will take time to bandage me up, care for me, and help me back on my feet if necessary.
One who will always choose to love their neighbor.
Hanging on to its coattails as it flies by… faster with each passing day.
Time passes quickly
Years like months
Months like days
Days like minutes
Not logical
Yet true
Holding on tight
Wishing years would slow
Months would stretch
Days would linger
With no result
Passing more quickly
I must respond
Dream changes each year
Plan work each month
Find good each day
Hope for the future
Embrace this moment
Today was professional development. So much information. Don’t misunderstand, the issues presented, though challenging, were extremely important and relevant. There were also moments of encouragement, celebrating what we are already doing successfully. All in all, it was a productive work day and I enjoyed being with teacher friends.
So why did I have an emotional meltdown on my drive home?
Because even though it is necessary to focus on the hard things, that doesn’t mean it is easy. Topics such as kids facing trauma cast a shadow over the things we want our students to accomplish, the areas we would rather give our energy. Yes, it is our responsibility as teachers to think about these things. But unless we honestly share our thoughts, we run the risk of feeling defeated and overwhelmed.
Teacher friends-prop up your feet, take some time to relax. Tomorrow is a new day and we will be ok.
ABC’s and 123’s
Stories, songs, rhymes
Learning to read and write
Learning to add and subtract
What I enjoy
Engage and interact
Activities, games, projects
Encouraging imagination
Encouraging creativity
What I hope to convey
Teach and learn
Information, plans, revisions
Desiring to do my best
Desiring to be successful
What I want to achieve
Trauma and abuse
Conflicts, behaviors, struggles
Learning how to recognize
Learning how to help
What I cannot avoid
React and respond
Panic, tears, laughter
Realizing I am not alone
Realizing I am enough
What I must accept
What happens when a special moment is captured only in our memory? No witnesses or cameras present to record the details. Does that make it any less significant? Social pressures to perfectly capture life events may unintentionally cause us not to be fully present in the experience, worrying more about the perception of others than our own happiness.
There is a big difference between living in the moment and living to make sure the moment is flawlessly planned and documented. Personally, I love taking photos and reminiscing later while looking at said photos. That is not a bad thing, but I am working to focus more on being fully present in my life circumstances. Realizing that even if I don’t get that perfect picture, the true beauty of the memory is stored in my heart forever.
My husband and I were recently discussing this notion, and he reminded me that the memory of when he proposed belongs only to us…
Proposal
The ring was purchased
Permission asked and given
No plan in place
Waiting for the right moment
An evening drive~no big production
Castle in the park~no cameras~no witnesses
Two people
One kneeling and asking~One crying and accepting
Ready to take the next step
A forever commitment
Twenty-five years of marriage~the memory clear and sweet
Shared only by the two
Remembering that day so clearly
No more waiting
Time for the answer
Boy or girl?
Hoping for a girl
Big brother and baby sister
Time for ultrasound
Heart jumping for joy
Leaving doctor’s office
Calling my Mom
Squealing over the phone
“It’s a girl!”
Piano Girl 