Fourteen Years and Counting...

Fourteen years ago today I was young (well, I was 25 ~ now it seems so young!) and very much in love.   I knew I had met my soul mate and we married.   It was a beautiful wedding... every detail was perfect and we had the perfect start to our life together. 

I love the first picture in this collage - with the Lamb of God at the center of our marriage.  HE has been there our entire married life.  I know this protection has held us together; through children, loss of a parent, postpartum depression, job changes, major surgery, and all of the curve balls life throws at you. 
  

I had no idea when we got married what a wonderful man my husband was yet to become.   Although it sounds trite, it is very true:  I love him more and more each year.   I could give you a million reasons, but here are the "biggies":

He has never failed to be there for me when I needed him, in big or small things.

Whatever my dreams were (whether it be getting my Masters Degree, staying at home with our children, starting my own piano studio, homeschooling etc...) he has always supported me.

He is the most disciplined person (physically and mentally) I know.   If he makes a plan he sticks to it and you can count on him - his word is solid. 

He is a good steward of our resources - financially and otherwise.  He is not materialistic, but generous to others... he has taught me the benefits of good stewardship and financial self-control! 

He is truly the spiritual leader of our family.  We follow the Biblical model for marriage, and while (if you know me) you know I am not the "submissive" type, I trust my husband to make good decisions and I defer to him on important matters.   The older I get the more I am learning that Biblical submission does not equal "inequality" for a wife -- quite the opposite.  I always feel safe, loved, cherished and secure.

He is a dedicated father who has a great relationship with his children.  He maintains this in addition to a difficult work schedule.

I thank God I have a husband who has grown with and beside me.... who is truly my partner and friend.   Happy Anniversary! 

Music, Music, Everywhere!!

This week we're all participating in a Fine Arts/Music camp.     Miss B and GMan are campers, and I am teaching three sections of recorder classes each day.   It is a circus themed week.  GMan's group is just half day, and he gets lots of movement, art and music.  Miss B's camp is full day and she gets choir, art,  handbells, conducting, dance, recorders, and several guest performances.


I wanted to tell you about the recorder portion because I'm so excited to be teaching this.   We are doing Recorder Karate, which is essentially learning pieces on the recorder, and when students play a certain piece correctly they earn a specific "belt" to go around the end of their recorder.   It is the first time I have taught this program and I must say I am IMPRESSED!   

We are working on note reading, fingering, good tone quality, rhythms, etc...   There are so many decisions to be made per second.   I cannot stress enough what a valuable skill music making is for everyone!   It is also a great chance for me to teach music to groups of children again (this is what my profession used to be before I had my children).  I enjoy it so much!   I have a section of 2nd and 3rd graders, 4th and 5th graders, and 6th and 7th graders.   On Friday the week will culminate with a performance, which is always a lot of fun.   


The camp is in midtown Atlanta and we live nearly an hour outside of the city.  So, each morning at 7:30 a.m. we leave our house and go to camp.... I come home at half day with GMan and thankfully my husband (who works downtown) picks Miss B and her friend up each afternoon.  I think it's a great experience for all of us ~ I'm grateful to have the opportunity.   


This morning we heard a professional percussionist perform.... he let the children make music with him, introduced them to different types of music, and just let them have FUN. I think their favorite thing was the Limbo!  

So, this week we aren't really doing "school", but we sure are LEARNING!