Piano Lesson Ideas

I have started keeping my laptop on my piano.  I teach about 22 students a week and have found it to be a great tool for teaching and adding variety to my lessons.  I have to be a bit choosy (especially with the naked lady paintings from the baroque era), but I have been able to use it to show students who are playing a theme from a symphony the utter majesty and power of the original work, and help them to put some of that into their simplified version.  I am doing a "unit" on baroque music and have been able to find almost every Bach, Handel, etc. piece played by a student up to tempo on Youtube (usually they are played by fabulous 5 year olds, which makes them think, if a 5-year old can play this, then certainly I can!).  They are able to experience the new and beautiful sounds made by the clavichord and harpsichord, as well as learn about the customs, culture and dress of the period.  They enjoy the change of pace and are inspired by the videos.  I saw that one teacher had even posted tutorials for her students with her playing the piece and the camera giving a birds-eye view.  If you have any other deas as to how to use the internet in teaching, please share!

I am excited for our Baroque recital.  I am going to buy some "powdered" wigs and other fancy garb for the students to wear when they perform.  I'll let you know how it all turns out.  Most of the students are pretty excited about it!

-Mom

Scripture Journal

Here's something that Matt and I have been doing kind of hit-and-miss (thanks to his work schedule) over the last six months.  Our kids have really grown to love it, actually, and ask about it almost every Sunday. 

Since our oldest two are getting to be familiar with books of scripture and reading, we decided to study a gospel topic each week.  We pick a topic and head to the "Topical Guide".  We give each child an assignment to find a scripture about our topic in one of the books of scripture. We make sure we get one from each book.  We have them read it, we write it in our "Scripture Journal" and then we discuss what we learn from that scripture.  It has created a great environment to discuss the gospel doctrines. We don't spend much time, since attention spans are short around here.  Some silly recommendations for study have been offered too. We studied the "MOON" awhile back.  (We are pretty crazy about space around here :) ).  

We highly recommend it. It has become a great teaching tool and we hope it is a resource our children can use in the future to prepare talks and lessons.
-Heather

Sugar Cookie Bars

I got this recipe from my sister-in-law. It is a super-yummy way to enjoy sugar cookies without waiting for refrigeration, or even cutting out.  I think I'm going to try to put a little almond extract in the batter too - maybe 1/4 to 1/2 tsp.

Sugar Cookie Bars

1 cup butter, room temperature

2 cups sugar

4 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

5 cups flour

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp lemon zest (optional)

Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.  Add eggs, one at a time, micxing after each egg.  Add vanilla and mix well.  In a separate bowl combine flour, salt, baking soda and stir with a whis to combine.  Add to wet mixture and mix just until combined.  Spread on a greased baking sheet/jelly roll  pan.  Bake at 375 degrees for 10-15 minutes, until light golden brown or until a toothpick comes out clean (they won't look clean)  Cool completely and frost.

Frosting

1/2 cup butter room temp

4 ounces cream cheese softened

1 tsp vanilla (can use 1/2 almond extract)

1/4 tsp salt

4 cups powdered sugar

5 TBSP milk, (or amount needed to get to desired consistency)

-Heather

Kids Crafts: Pinwheels

I am always looking for little crafts or things to do with my children. I have a 4 year old who LOVES to do anything crafty, and a 2 year old who loves to do anything the 4 year old does. 

As spring is coming upon us I found this super easy idea that my kids will love. 

I love that they are so versatile you can use them as cupcake toppers or decoration or for a fun toy for the kids to play with.
-Megan

Baby Quilts

I am going to try a new baby quilt this week.  I love the soft and silky, but am going to add a new twist.  Maybe I could call them "sweet expressions" or something.  I want to quilt a sweet phrase or poem or something inspirational or funny in the middle of the silky side.  I have found some great quotes and thoughts on the "fabulousness" of a new baby.  I will pick my favorite so far and quilt it into the blanket and see how it looks.  I have some really great fabric, too.  I have this one with really cute dinosaurs and I thought maybe I could even do something silly like:  Dinos are scary, dinos are big, you don't scare me, my daddy works a rig!  Actually, I had something more clever than that, but I can't remember what it was.  Living in "oil country", I may be able to sell something like that around here, as the oil rig workers really have the last laugh.  If you have any "expression" you think might work, PLEASE share.  I will post a picture when I get one done.  If I can remember how to do that.  Ah, technology!  I wish it came a little faster, and stuck a little longer!  

How Great Thou Art

Six weeks ago, we found out I was pregnant. We were thrilled, you see, because we had been planning on a baby for some time now.  As a matter of fact, last August, I had decided to make some changes in my life and really prepare myself for this baby.  I have had trouble with bad hips in past pregnancies and so I decided to make a real effort to exercise regularly to try and strengthen myself. I wanted to be ready to have another little one.  I exercised faithfully, six days a week from that time on, rarely missing.  This pregnancy was going to be different. I was feeling so good, and had made so much progress, that I decided to run a 5k- pregnant or not. I signed up for one that same week we found out we were expecting.  I was ready.

For some reason, though, during the next couple weeks, I began to doubt. I didn’t understand it, but I was unable to pray for our baby and its safe arrival in our family.  I began to bleed a little here and a little there, and resigned myself to the probability that we would miscarry and lose the baby.  And so in anticipation of the miscarriage, I decided to lie low for a couple weeks. I had one miserable day of cramping and headed to the doctor.  It was soon confirmed by an ultrasound- there was no baby in the uterus.  It was only a matter of time before I would lose the baby and bleed everything else out. 

I mourned.  I was upset to say the least, but understood that it was all part of the plan for us. I had experienced this before.  My prayers were now that my body would be able to take care of what it needed to take care of, so that we could try again.  And so I waited.

February 26^th I began to cramp again. Only this time the pain was so intense that I could not get rid of it.  I talked with Matt and we just didn’t know what to do. Finally, I called Mom.  She thought things sounded suspicious and recommended that if I had any question, just to go in to the ER.  And so within the hour Matt and I made the decision, and we were on our way.   We went through a series of tests and another ultrasound.  Within a short time I had another IV placed and monitors placed on my heart and lungs. By this time, I knew something was seriously wrong.  We were told that I was being prepared for surgery for a ruptured ectopic pregnancy.  At that time I had no idea what that exactly meant. My greatest fear was that it meant I was never going to have another child.  I was terrified and could only ask Matt to call our families and ask them to pray for me.  I was too shocked, and it hurt too much to cry.  Matt gave me a quick blessing and I was whisked away.

Upon waking from surgery, I learned that I had lost 1 ½ liters of blood into my abdomen from a ruptured pregnancy in my left fallopian tube.   In order to save me, they had to remove my fallopian tube.  But my life was spared. 

It is hard to describe what has happened in my mind and heart the last three weeks.  The mourning process has been much more difficult than I thought it would be.  For weeks, I could not even really cry because of the pain.  In the moments when I was alone, or when just Matt was there, my thoughts would turn to everything I had lost, and my heart broke. But I just kept telling myself to be tough, just hang in there, and I’d be ok.  Mom and Sam, and the Rachel and Dorian were so helpful the first week of recovery.  I felt so much strength from the prayers of the family, even though some of you are so far away.  Recovery was slow, but it was coming.  When I was finally able to have a good cry, I felt so much an increase of the love of my Father in Heaven.   Little by little I began to see with new eyes. I am healing a little at a time, and the spirit is strengthening my heart.  I still feel like I lost so much that day.  I lost my health and strength that I had worked so very hard to gain over the last six months, I lost a baby, and I lost part of myself.  I still have moments when I think about it and weep. My heart still breaks.  But I was given LIFE that day.  I was spared.  I now cry in gratitude.

This week we decided on a change of scenery and took a trip to Southern California to stay with Matt’s brother.  I sang my babies to sleep one night, and as I was going through a whole bunch of our favorite primary songs and hymns my very favorite came to mind- “How Great Thou Art”.  I have sung this to my children and my sisters more times than I can count.  (My sisters lovingly call it the “fall off the mountain song”)  It always reminds me of my loving Great-grandma Evans.  But as I sung this to my little ones this week, I felt like everything came into focus.  As I looked at my precious children, I had an overwhelming love and understanding wash over me.  I was reminded once again that HE, our Heavenly Father is in charge.  He knows exactly what we need to pass through.  He loves us more than we can understand.  His greatest “Art” is us- who we are becoming.  He gave me a second chance at life.  Life, that is so full of so much joy.   Life that is full of sticky fingers, slobbery kisses, noisy dinner tables, and sweet bedtime prayers. Life that is full of families that love each other enough to pray, fast, and spend time together.  Life is his greatest art and so I hope that I can proclaim “How Great Thou Art” for the rest of my days and bring honor to HIM who has given me everything.

Thank you dear family for everything!

-Heather

Family Home Evening: Love One Another in the home

One of my most memorable Family Home Evenings as a child was the time my mother made a crown...

She started by reading about King Benjamin - how he treated people right and desired the best for everyone. King Benjamin spoke to parents about taking care of their children, not letting them quarrel or fight. We talked about why it's not good to quarrel and fight as a family, and what we can do in our lives to be peacemakers at home.  We then discussed how sometimes we treat our friends better than our family, but how important our family members are to us.  Mom asked us "how we would treat a king, like King Benjamin?"  She then asked, "how should we treat each other?"

We then took turns wearing the crown. When it was our turn to wear the crown, all the other family members would go around saying something they loved about that person. It could be something about their outward appearance or personality trait, a thank you for doing something for them, or whatever you could think of. I can still remember the feelings I had that night, the spirit was so strong. Most of us ended up in tears. It was a great learning and growing experience with our family. It really brought family unity and really helped some people open up and share their feelings that otherwise might not have been expressed. 

As I grew up those thoughts would come back to me many times when I would have a disagreement with one of my siblings, and I would remember that night. It is a really simple lesson, but had a lasting impression on me.

Now, I'm waiting for the right time now to use this idea with my own family. I want it to have a lasting impression, but feel my children are too young right now. What do you think is the best age so it will really sink in?

-Megan

St. Patrick's Day meals

Dad and I were talking this morning about the green stuff Mom used to make for us on St. Patrick's Day.  I vividly remember green pancakes and scrambled eggs for breakfast, and green milk that (naturally) I was not too excited to drink.

Now my husband LOVES corned beef and cabbage, so we have that for dinner every year.  I like it too, in small quantities.  One year I tried to make some Irish soda bread that ended up hardening and getting thrown away....

Does anyone have favorite St. Patty's Day meals?  That kids actually like to eat?
I'll tell you what, just thinking about that green milk still makes me feel a little funny.

-Rachel

It's a Small World

I cancelled Dish and went to Netflix because football season was over and we hardly ever watch TV anymore.  Besides, daily news is quite depressing.  I read the paper, but a photo or two doesn't tell much of a story. Last night I pulled up a few videos on youtube of the tsunami.  I watched with horror and awe the power of Mother Nature sweeping the earth, and it reminded me very keenly of my own nothingness.  I watched as a vehicle sped down a street, the wave behind, only to see it stop in the middle of the road, as the wave came crashing in front of them with nowhere to go. Haunting visions.  
And those that are left?  No homes, no food, no family, no job, possibly radiation damage, and the formidable task of putting it all back together. Where would you even begin?  How do you not lose hope and wish that you were taken as well?  I find myself wondering about my preparations.  I have some food stored, a safe place to go, a basement in case there's a tornado, stuff like that.  
But none of these will matter at all if I am the one "swept away".  Am I ready to meet my Maker?  What have I become?  Do I possess that charity I should?  Sadly, no.  My hope is that I will have many more years to work to soften my heart, put off my 'natural man" and be prepared to meet my Savior.  Today's a good day to start anew.  I have wanted to send a few notes and make a few phone calls. Maybe even before I finish the dishes, because once I start on that,  the rest of the day is TOAST!  Have a great day.  I love you all!  Thanks, little Kate for calling me yesterday.  I love you, too!
- Mom