Fun things

Today was my Music Mind Games day.  Once a month, I get to attend a meeting with Michiko Yurko (the creator of Music Mind Games) and other music teachers to practice games we learned at our Unit 1 Training, learn new games, and share ideas of how we are using this system in our own studios.  This is one meeting I always look forward to!

What is Music Mind Games?  As I was preparing to embark on my piano teaching journey, I did a lot of "online research" into different piano teaching methods, pedagogy, etc.  In this process, I discovered Music Mind Games. Music Mind Games is a unique way to teach music theory through games and hands-on activities, it is used all over the world.  When I learned about this program, I was immediately thrilled with the idea, ordered a Puppy Packet, and started using the materials as best as I could.  Last summer, I attended a week-long training and had a blast learning a variety of games to teach simple and sophisticated music theory concepts.  It is a fabulous program and I only wish I could find more time to use it in my private lessons.  It is designed to be taught as a weekly theory class in addition to private lessons, but I have not been able to fit that into the schedules of my students or myself yet.  I have just been trying to fit in what I can at occasional group lessons and the few minutes I can squeeze out of private lessons.  I'm determined to find a way to tweak my schedule next year and include it more because it is fabulous!

Last Sunday, I was bemoaning not being able to do all thing things I needed to do, even when I was productive all day long and engaged in good things.  Well, sometimes, I'm not productive all day long, and I don't get things done because I choose to play instead.  I generally try to avoid watching t.v. or movies during the week because it can be such a time-hog, but last weekend, we discovered the BBC show, The Paradise, and Kayla and I wanted to watch it every night.  My intentions of no t.v. went down the drain.  We finished Season 1 yesterday and I'm going to try to pace myself better through Season 2!  My oh my, I do love BBC shows!

Valentine's Day was yesterday and I didn't manage to take any pictures.  This is the first time in my 15+ years of marriage that I haven't decorated for Valentines Day.  I went to get the box of stuff out of the basement, and there was a bunch of stuff in front of it, and so I gave up at the moment, and never got back to it.  I thought no one in the family would notice, but Hunter did let me know he was sad last night because we didn't have a nice dinner with our Valentine tablecloth like we have in years' past.  I guess these things really do mean something to the kids after all!  I did make a couple cute things with my craft supplies for teachers, along with some chocolate covered peanut butter balls, but you'll have to take my word for it that they were cute since I was rushing to deliver everything and didn't take one photo. Jason's parents invited us for dinner at their house and it was lovely.  Hunter babysat (no wonder he was sad), Kayla went to a youth dance, and Jason and I had a kid-free evening at his parents' house with delicious food, no crowds, a nice atmosphere, and nice company.  It was great, but I did feel bad later when Hunter was sad.  My intentions of making pink pancakes for breakfast had also fallen by the wayside...yes, The Paradise can be blamed for that too because I stayed up too late watching it the night before and slept in too late to make the breakfast!  My Sweetie got up with Archer so I could sleep in and beat me to breakfast making, so I had a really great day! :)

All in all, it was a happy week.  A few weeks ago, I was at my wits end with homeschooling because Hunter was struggling to stay on task and I was tired of nagging all day.  Of course, the roughest times in homeschooling usually lead to better times because I start praying and pondering about what to do and the Lord always helps me.  We created some schedules, charts, etc. and I have been dedicating some time at the beginning of each week to help Hunter plan out the week and what needs to be done daily.  It has made a huge difference.  I know what he needs to do, he knows what to do, he stays on task, and I feel happy!  Hooray!  I'm grateful for answered prayers.

One final thing, I'm attaching a video of Archer singing his "Goodnight Sweetheart" song with me. This is usually his number one song pick at bedtime and he totally sings it out with me.  I happened to have my phone with me in the room tonight so I tried to catch it.  Unfortunately, you can't see the video because we are in his dark room singing, but you'll have to trust me that he looks as adorable as he sounds when he sings it.

Things that matter most...

Every week, I have so many thoughts I want to put into words, but I know it will take me awhile and I'm usually in a hurry, so I just post about non-deep things like piano parties or Tiger Daniel.  I don't have to think hard, or be vulnerable and write about my concerns, worries, and struggles, I can just stick to the easy stuff.

Once again, I feel like I don't have time to write anything meaningful.  It's 10:40 p.m. and my daily goal is to finish all my stuff by 10:00 so I can have time with Jason before I attempt to achieve my other daily goal of being in bed by 11:00. That is a goal I am not meeting very often at all.  I'm also trying to do a bunch of things for the Feel Great in 8 Challenge--journal each night, read inspiring literature 20 minutes a day, log all my calories, exercise, get enough sleep, track other habits, etc. Quite often, I am still trying to get those things done at night too and I'm struggling to fit it all in.  I feel like I'm racing the clock from the moment I get up until the moment I hit the pillow and I just can't fit it all in, no matter how reasonable I try to make my expectations.  I also want to have meaningful time with my husband and children each day, but sometimes it feels so hard to stop what I'm working on to create that time.  Yet that is the most important thing.

When I look back on my day, it was filled with important things, mostly related to my calling as stake primary president--ward Council, ward conference, meeting and training with a ward primary presidency, my own ward Relief Society meeting, answering and writing e-mails related to my calling.  All of these things needed to happen and I felt happy to do them, they just took up the day. When I tried to write e-mails, Jason was home-teaching and the boys were fighting, whining, tattling and interrupting me constantly.  I ended up banishing them all to their rooms until I finished, and that wasn't at all how I wanted the evening to go.  So many days seem to go that way.  I go to meetings or read my scriptures and feel inspired to do wonderful things with my family, then I struggle to fit those wonderful things into my days.  Even worse, I struggle not to be irritated by my children (the people I love the most) when they are interrupting me and keeping me from accomplishing the things I need to get done.  Ah...it is challenging at times to balance it all.

We did have some family time today.  I made a nice dinner and we ate together as a family.  I finally pulled myself away from the computer long enough to tuck Archer in bed.  I love that time with Archer, but it's crazy how hard it is to stop what I'm doing long enough to have that time.  I loved seeing the wonder and joy on his face as we read stories.  He gets so delighted with the simplest things, he laughs and makes me laugh, and we snuggle, and I love it.  He also loves his bedtime songs and it's so delightful to have him sing with me.  I love one-on-one time with my Archer and all of my kids.  I love it with Jason too.  I just wish I could figure out how to have more of it and still get the things done that really need to get done (many of the things I did on the computer tonight were stock-piling, things I should have done before tonight).  Don't get me wrong, I wasn't completely on task every minute, I did get side-tracked (ha, ha, that never happens when I'm on the computer) looking at ideas for Tanner's 8th birthday coming up.  But, I feel like I was mostly on task all day and that I was doing things that needed to get done, and somehow, it's late and there is still so much to do.  I feel that way so often.

So, I guess this isn't a fluffy post after all and I am sharing some of my concerns and struggles.  How do I do the things that matter most without everything else falling apart because it's not getting done? I mean, bills do have to get paid, dishes washed, laundry cleaned, and calling responsibilities filled.  I guess I just keep trying, keep praying, keep looking at what I can cut out, and keep relying on the Lord to magnify my efforts so that they will be enough.  This is a quote from Elder Uchtdorf that I share at every ward conference presidency meeting, and I think I share it because I need to hear it over and over:

"If your circumstances are less than ideal, please take comfort in knowing that the Lord will support and enhance your efforts, sanctify your decisions and actions, perfect them through the tender mercies of Christ, and “consecrate [your] performance … , that [it] may be for the welfare of [your] soul” (2 Nephi 32:9) and the souls of those you serve."

I love that and I'm counting on it!  I also LOVE this quote by President Hinckley:

“Many of you think you are failures.  You feel you cannot do well, that with all of your effort it is not sufficient.

We all worry about our performance.  We all wish we could do better.  But unfortunately we do not realize, we do not often see the results that come of what we do. 

You never know how much good that you do.

Now, my dear sisters, that is the way with you.  You are doing the best you can, and that best results in good to yourself and to others.  Do not nag yourself with a sense of failure.  Get on your knees and ask for the blessings of the Lord; then stand on your feet and do what you are asked to do.  Then leave the matter in the hands of the Lord.  You will discover that you have accomplished something beyond price.”

I really believe that is true, I just have to remember it when I'm feeling discouraged.  I'm so thankful for the gospel, and the opportunity to serve in the church.  It is a huge blessing in my life, even though this particular post may not have made that clear.  Most of my days are busy with things not church-related, so this is a situation people deal with whether or not they are members of the church with callings.  I'm grateful to know I can rely on the Lord.  I have felt Him lift, strengthen, and bless me repeatedly.  I will keep trying to do my best and rely on the Lord to make it enough.

The last thing I want to share, because it fits in so well with the direction this post has gone, is a "Mormon Message" video  about a Mom whose day goes the way my days often go.  This message touches me so much every time I watch it.  It is definitely worth the 9 minutes of viewing.  I think every woman will relate to this!

Why I love Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood

Okay, I will admit, my 3-year-old watches way too much T.V. and I feel bad about it, but I also depend on the T.V. at times to enable me to accomplish other things and to buy myself a moment (or several moments) of peace.  Of all the shows Archer watches, Daniel Tiger is my favorite.  First of all, it reminds me of Mr. Roger's Neighborhood which I grew up loving.  Mostly though, I love it because it teaches Archer all of these cute little songs that he actually applies to real life and starts singing at the appropriate moment.

The first song that was super valuable to us was this one:

"If you need to go potty, stop and go right away.  Flush and wash and your on your way."

That little song saved us from many an accident when we were potty-training.  We would be at the grocery store and he would start singing it and off we would go to the potty.

Not long ago, I told Archer I had to leave for a meeting.  He started to whine and said, "I don't want you to go!" but then he stopped in the middle of his whining and started singing, "Grown-ups come back."  He kissed me goodbye and was perfectly fine.

All of my kids are picky eaters.  I'm sure it's my fault, but nevertheless, it is hard to get them to try anything new.  Well, one night last week at dinner, I asked Archer to try my sweet potatoes and some stuffing.  He said, "Ewww, yuck!"  Then he changed his tone and started singing, "You've got to try new foods cause it might taste good."  I was so surprised.  Then he actually tried the new foods and decided he liked them.  I love Tiger Daniel!

The last song that we sing often in our family is this one:

"When you feel so mad that you want to roar, just take a deep breath, and count to four."

Okay, Mommy still needs to work on that one. :)

So, if you find yourself tempted to put a show on for your preschooler, choose Tiger Daniel.