Celebrating, Still & Again

             Thanks to Ruth Ayres at Discover, Play, Build we celebrate our week of special moments.

       Choosing the many gems of the week to celebrate is just fun. The week was good, the weather was back to t-shirt weather (although ending Sunday with snow), and Friday capped it off with decorating my tree with Ingrid. We had so much fun I forgot to take a picture!

        I don't get to spend as much time with my youngest granddaughter, Imogene, because of being so busy (them and me) and our schedules don't always coincide. But she spent last Sunday afternoon with me, went to school to help me do some work, and we played outside for a while, with shadows, walking around the grounds looking at dried flowers and seed pods, and climbing some of the big rocks. She is a little elf, and such fun, a true 3 1/2 year old!

        Ingrid's class sells cards that are created by women at a day shelter in Denver. For this primary class it is a treasure of learning; for the women artists, whom they meet and lunch with from time to time, it is a small income. The Gathering Place does so much for homeless women and their children, and we are proud to help them in small ways throughout the year. This week Ingrid's class made special visits to each 'other' class to invite them to a special Friday sale for holiday cards. Sadly, I missed Ingrid's visit to my class, and in true wonderful teaching fashion (from her teachers), she left me a note. I celebrate my long-time colleague, now my granddaughter's teacher, who dots every i and crosses every t. 

"Grandma, I miss you. I hope to see you tomorrow.

Last Saturday I had the great pleasure of attending a former neighbor's retirement ceremony from the National Guard. He was a chaplain and a colonel and according to over two hours of acclamations, commendations and words of gratitude and all that he has brought in his years in the service, I learned how much he did for those with whom and for whom he worked. I know him as a friend who stayed a friend in the hard times with my husband, helped my husband talk through tough times, too. He was one of those people you are happy to have in your life. It was a special event for him, and I was happy to be included.

        A former student stopped by to pick up his younger sister, still at our school, and came to visit. He's a senior, thinks he's on his way to Chapman, still very interested in the arts. He was so self-assured, still a happy young man, filled with enthusiasm for just about everything really. It was much fun to visit.

        Almost half my class spent the week's evenings in rehearsal for what is called our Cabaret performance, a group of students who choose to take this class in electives, about eighteen of them, all performing song after song for two and a half hours opening night on Thursday. They sing solos, duets, perform in small groups, all group. Amazing talent, some choreography and lots of poise. I'm amazed every time performances happen that these students not only memorize songs, words, and steps, but still carry on with all their other classes. I was happy for their commitment and the feeling of great things accomplished, and happy I got to see them in this new light.

        I hope you all had a great week, and will enjoy next week. 

             “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” — Albert Einstein