Amusement from Mistakes (my mistakes)

Okay, today I was a little stressed. It wasn't because I had to stay late at work, nor was it because of the extensive report that had my mind in overdrive for over 2 hours. For some reason I wasn't stressed because I had to go to a baby shower even though I haven't been home very much lately, and I wasn't stressing out over not eating supper with my family. . . something I hate to miss. I was fine with all those things.

I just wasn't lining up.

Lining up with what? With others standard of a good person? With my mom's standard of a good young lady? With my own standard of a good Christian? I think it was a combination of all three! ☺ (Not that my mom puts me under pressure, but you know how it is. Everyone wants to be like their mom!)

So as I frantically looked through my nightstand for my daily Bible reading record (you know, the whole guilt thing making me think I wasn't reading enough) I stumbled across a sheet of paper with some words jotted down. For some reason I thought it was a good idea to write down some of the mistakes I made when I was giving piano lessons. That is, when I was giving piano lessons at age 15 to four children, two of which were very energetic. Boy did I think I knew it all! Now I don't think I would be so brave to tackle such an undertaking! But back to the notes. I wrote down some of the things I told my students. Things like, "Play your thumb with your 1st finger." Hugh? I told one student to "count to 4" not just one time, but four times in a row! Lastly, I (the teacher) counted to 4 when I was only suppose to count to 2. My, my. What a good teacher I was!

Now I don't feel quite so bad. I found some mistakes that I can laugh about, because everyone makes mistakes!

Today's Happenings

Today when I got home from work Bethany and Amy surprised me with an invitation to Tea! We love having tea parties but usually I am the one who heads them up with mama and the girls, so I was pleasantly surprised when I got the invitation! What a pleasant thing to come home to!

Later I made some Delicious oatmeal chocolate chip cookies for work tomorrow since we are wishing our boss farewell. Ryan begged so much for some cookies and accused me of cooking for my co-workers more than I do them . . . so I let him have a few with a promise that I would make him some more another day. Not that he is lacking in snacks! ; ) Mama always makes sure that if we are in need of a "chocolate fix" or something to satisfy our sweet tooth there is always something for us!

Lastly, I gave Phillip a much needed piano lesson. I get behind sometimes. He did very well and I figured out one of his "learning gifts". (Everyone learns in different ways and I am always being challenged to learn new methods of teaching my 3 younger siblings because none of them learn the same way . . . naturally!) Today I saw that Phillip is very good at taking what I taught him and applying it to every song, not just the ones I taught him on. I was very happy to see this!

It has been a good day. But now . . . it's time to go to bed!

The Desire of an Eight Year Old

Since I have been in the piano playing mood lately I thought I would share my story with y'all of how I got started. Just for the record: I like to play the piano more than I like to sing! If it came down to it, I would much rather play the piano in front of a large crowd then sing a solo in front of a small one.

It all started when I was eight years old. I distinctly remember hearing my pastor's wife sing, "Sweet Holy Spirit" while she played the piano. I also remember that she was the only one in the church who could play the piano for herself to sing. Everyone else used a tape. (That was before CD's came out!) Mama said that I went to her and daddy and told them that I wanted to learn how to play the piano so that I could sing in church. My parents realized that this could be a passing whim, so they didn't act upon it right away, but told me to pray about it. I obviously didn't give up because soon my parents were looking for a piano!

They came across a lady who wanted to sell her daughter's piano since she had moved out and never came back for it. The lady wouldn't give my parents a price but told them to "take it home, get it tuned, and see what you think." Meanwhile I was spending the night at a friend's house I had no idea that a piano was being moved in to our living room! Then next morning at church mama told me there was a surprise waiting for me at home . . . even some of our church family knew about it because I still remember Bro. Kelly telling me that "You're really going to like your surprise!" The suspense was eating me up! On the way home I told them that I was going to go to my room and close my eyes so that they could just put it in my lap. I was clueless!

When I walked in the front door of our house and saw the piano sitting against the wall I was happy to the point of tears! I couldn't believe I had my own piano!

Soon I started taking lessons from a preacher's wife, I was 9 years old by this time. I loved learning and some people said I learned fast, especially when it came to hymns!

When I was 11 years old the piano player in our small church left to go to another church leaving me to be the only piano player. I only knew 4 hymns, but that was a lot better than singing without music, so we sang those songs until I learned new ones . . . which was pretty fast. Within a year I had learned over 100 songs and was even playing for the youth chior! It was starting to become very evident that God had a speacial plan for me. A plan that involved the piano and singing.

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I am still amazed at how God used a small desire that he placed in my heart while I was eight years old to do such a work in my life. I am a very shy person and at first glance many would be surpized to hear how often I have to get in front of people to play the piano and sing. Being active in music has helped my self confidence that otherwise may not even exsist had it not been for the piano. When I feel like giving in to my embarassment and quit playing the piano in church God always reminds me that this talent belongs to God and I have no right to quit.

Over the years God has opened up many doors for me and my brothers and sisters to sing and play the piano in church and nusing homes. Sometime I love it, other times I come just short of vowing to never set hands on the piano again! But overall I have a passion for music that will always stay with me. Some day I hope to give piano lessons (besides me brother and sisters who I already teach) so that I can share my love to play the piano for God with others. Who knows, maybe someday I will be an inspiration to a little child which may be the beginning of a life lived for the glory of God through the piano. That would be the most wonderful accomplishment of all!

Random Picture

Hands with a purpose

God Knows The Desires of Our Heart

Isn't it so neat how God knows the desire of our heart even when we don't tell him? Recently I've been thinking back to the time that I spent with a great piano player who has been blind since birth, yet still plays the piano wonderfully! He really understands music. He is the one who encouraged and inspired me to play by ear. He showed me how to listen to a CD and copy what I heard.

Lately when I thought about him I found myself really wishing that I could meet someone that could help me like that again, but I never prayed about it. Recently missionaries Rodger and Cherie Mullins with Hope For The World and other ministries in Albania, came to our church to share what God has been doing through them. Mrs. Cherie is a great piano player! I had the opportunity to stand by the piano while she played and watch her fingers flow over the keys and bring forth a beautiful melody like some have never heard before. I played for her as well . . . an experience that made me feel like I was a beginner! She gave me some very good advice as well as her own piano CD called Stylings In Ivory.

After being inspired by this Christian lady I announced to my family that I was going to be a great piano player like Mrs. Cherie one day. The next day I listened to her CD over and over and tried to improve my own playing. Then I told my family that it will be a few years before I become a great piano player . . . it is not going to happen over night! : ) I think the greatest challenge will be in patience. It seems like it will take so long to accomplish what I have in my mind.

But I am not giving up! I took Mrs. Cherie's advice and looked for a CD by Anthony Burger. I watched a few samples from CD's on his web site and was really impressed. Now you know someone is a great piano player when you feel like clapping after you watch a sample video of his performance! I was unable to upload the video but you can see it here.

I ordered the CD called The Best of Anthony Burger Homecoming from Amazon. I can't wait to get it! Until then, I will listen to the Mrs. Cherie's CD and practice my scales and chords over and over and over and over . . .

God is so good to give me my desire even though I never asked him to!!! Thank you Lord!

Piano Lessons and an Apron

Tuesday I gave Amy a piano lesson. They are not as frequent as they should be, so I tried to pack in as much as I could. She does very well. I'm very glad that she has learned to play faster then she use to. I use to be so board with her lessons because she played sooo slow! She has definitely improved in that area.

Later I gave Bethany a piano lesson, but it was interrupted by a game of cards so we had to finish it Wednesday. Bethany is getting to the stage where she is very fun to teach. She can understand pretty much anything I teach her, yet there is still so much for her to learn. Right now she just needs repetition. At times I find myself thinking, "Why can't she get it?" or "Why hasn't she started playing like this?" I think sometimes I feel like she should be where I am, but I have to remember that she isn't quite that far along. While I was teaching her "Heaven's Jubilee" we got into the discussion about flats and sharps. It can be very mind boggling when you start thinking about B major being C flat if you were to reverse it, or D flat as C sharp. It was a fun piano lesson!

I also teach Phillip, but since he was sick I didn't make him take his lesson. He is the exact opposite of Amy. He plays fast and fearless! He's not timid at all!

This week I have been working on an apron. I am using a McCall pattern this time instead of the usual Simplicity. I really like the material mama and I picked out and the pattern is nice too, but I don't know if I like the apron. Perhaps it is because I didn't take the time to redo the ruffle (something I think I will do) or maybe it's because it wasn't as easy as I was hoping. I like Simplicity patterns better because their instructions are easier to follow. But I know I shouldn't complain . . . if I were to sew more often I wouldn't have a problem, right? Oh, well. I think I will like the apron once I make a few adjustments.

God: The Giver of all Talents

"If I forget thee, O Jurusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I perfer not Jerusalem above my chief joy." Psalms 137:5-6

"God gives me the gift of music. My gift to Him is to share it with all my heart." ~Author Unknown