A few years ago, I took piano lessons from Debbie Smith. She was a SUPER sweet lady that went to our church and worked with my mom. She had to quit teaching piano because she got really sick. She had a very rare form of cancer. She passed away recently, and her funeral was tonight. The past few days, I've really been thinking of all he fun times I had with Mrs. Debbie
When I took piano from Mrs. Debbie, I remember once writing down that I practiced for a/b 30 minutes longer than I really did. She signed off for it, and I got a sticker. The next wk I felt bad so I put down I didn't practice at all. She asks me why I didn't practice and I said "b/c I didn't really practice last week. I just said that I did." And she gave me a Hershey Kiss for being honest in addition to the candy I got from the lesson like we'd get every week ♥
I pulled out my old piano books today and was playing my recital piece from so many years ago. It was a piece of cake to play now, but I remember having to practice it over and over and over again to get it right. I laugh about that now because it was only like two lines. MAYBE 15 notes total. =D When I got on stage to preform, I tripped over the piano bench! Leave it to me, Ms. Graceful.
Now I can play a handful of things by ear, read music fairly well, and play mostly anything (IF I practice...which I still don't love to do hahaha) I find it funny that I always had trouble playing with my left hand and that I never learned how to play chords. I still have those same two problems to this day!
Mrs. Debbie and I would spend the first 10 minutes of every lesson just talking about school and stuff. We'd always say "okay, one last thing and then we really have to do practice" but then add two more 'stories' to the conversation. =) Sometimes, I think we'd talk more than we'd practice but I think it's safe to say we both loved it! We would laugh and talk about her grandkids (ALOT! I loved stories about her grandkids!!!), my friends at school, homework, what she was cooking for dinner, anything and everything!
Haha one time I came over for a lesson and her oldest grandaughter,Gracie, was spending the day at "Debbie's House" I think that's what her grandkids called her ♥ She taught Mother's Day Out and since all the little kids called her "Debbie" thats what Gracie ended up calling her. WAY cute! Anyway, Gracie was 2 or 3 at the time probably and while I was practicing she came in the room while Mrs. Debbie and I were practicing. She crawled under the table and started goofing off with the pedals while I was playing and scared Mrs. Debbie and I ALOT! Then all three of us started laughing and Mrs. Debbie and I started making jokes about it. =) She could make me smile and laugh ALOT!!! I could have had "the worst day ever" but after piano lessons with Mrs. Debbie I'd leave about a million times happier!
If I ever got to lessons early, or someone before me went over, I'd go to her living room and watch Spongebob! To this day, it's STILL one of my favorite shows =D Anyway, it came on about the time I had lessons most weeks.
Once, I got this really cool bracelet from her "treasure chest" It was pink and gold beads with a little Bible key chain. It broke a long time ago, but I remember how excited I was to get it! Haha I remember how excited I was every time I got to get something from her treasure chest, because it was super rare! I HATED practicing!!! I don't really remember how it was set up, but you got to get a treausre chest item based off of how many minutes you practiced per month.
Someone said that Mrs. debbie always noticed whenever it was 11:11 =D I didn't know her well enough to know that myself, but since people have been sharing all the memories I've noticed it too!!! I know it sounds crazy, haha but now every time I see it I think of sweet Mrs. Debbie =D
It seems like I didn't know her for very long, but Mrs. Debbie was an amazing person!!! She will be missed but I know that she's shining in heaven ♥
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Being Judgemental Part Two: Keep an open mind
Keep an open mind about new things
Keep an open mind about new things
Keep an open mind about new things
Keep an open mind about new things
Melissa, KEEP AN OPEN MIND ABOUT TRYING NEW THINGS!!!!!
I can honestly say that I've hated to break routine, change anything, or try anything new since I was little. I took a Type A/Type B personality test for a class last semester and it said I was definitely Type A. A few of the things "Type A" people deal with is not liking to try new things and being impatient. Haha yup! That's me! =D
Anyway, that being said I (once again) realized how close minded I am about trying new things! Unless its something that sounds like something I know I'd enjoy, do/pick out on my own, or something routine I go into the situation with a bad attitude.
An example from last week yet again: We went to see "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" on the 5.6 trip. I had a headache that day anyway because my blood sugar was kind of high. =/ So I wasn't looking forward to going at all. I also was assuming all week that it would be extremely boring and cheesy. I didn't think he kids would like it that much either considering it was a musical.
Cheesy it was, but it was hilarious! I was laughing and having SO much fun the whole time! It was AWESOME!!!!! I loved it and I think all the kids did too! We were all laughing and talking about it that evening and even at breakfast the next morning.
The point is that I REALLY shouldn't be so judgemental, about people or about new things. =) I just have to remind myself of that.... =D
A Little Piece of Me <3
Keep an open mind about new things
Keep an open mind about new things
Keep an open mind about new things
Melissa, KEEP AN OPEN MIND ABOUT TRYING NEW THINGS!!!!!
I can honestly say that I've hated to break routine, change anything, or try anything new since I was little. I took a Type A/Type B personality test for a class last semester and it said I was definitely Type A. A few of the things "Type A" people deal with is not liking to try new things and being impatient. Haha yup! That's me! =D
Anyway, that being said I (once again) realized how close minded I am about trying new things! Unless its something that sounds like something I know I'd enjoy, do/pick out on my own, or something routine I go into the situation with a bad attitude.
An example from last week yet again: We went to see "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" on the 5.6 trip. I had a headache that day anyway because my blood sugar was kind of high. =/ So I wasn't looking forward to going at all. I also was assuming all week that it would be extremely boring and cheesy. I didn't think he kids would like it that much either considering it was a musical.
Cheesy it was, but it was hilarious! I was laughing and having SO much fun the whole time! It was AWESOME!!!!! I loved it and I think all the kids did too! We were all laughing and talking about it that evening and even at breakfast the next morning.
The point is that I REALLY shouldn't be so judgemental, about people or about new things. =) I just have to remind myself of that.... =D
A Little Piece of Me <3
Being Judgemental Part One: You never know what someone else is going thorugh
Judging is bad.
Judging is bad.
Judging is bad.
They say if you repeat stuff, it'll make it permanently engraved into your brain forever. So, just to make sure I understand this...
Judging is bad.
Judging is bad.
Judging is bad.
Well, you've probably guessed by now what I'm fixing to talk about. Yup, that's absolutely right: PONIES!!!
Just kidding. =)
Seriously though, I'm awful about judging people.
I didn't really realize it until this past week, but I judge people ALOT. It's definitely something I struggle with.
An example from the past week:
I went on the 5.6 grade trip Monday through Friday. It was AWESOME!!! Oh my goodness, I could tell you a million and one stories and jokes all relating to the trip. But, that would get off subject...
Anyway, at one point my girls had 2 hair dryers, the microwave, and a straightening iron running. (That's what I get for leaving the room for 15 minutes...) Needless to say the power to our room went out. So, I walk down to the lobby and this lady was sitting at the desk.
"Hi, I'm in room 12097 and our power is out."
And in an AWFUL "oh my gosh teenagers are so dumb" tone she says "Did you hit the reset button?"
confused I replied "On the hair dryer?"
"Well yeah"
"Ummm the lights won't turn on. The power for the whole room is out"
"Did you flip the switch from off to on?"
"The light switch? Yes..."
The next part of the conversation I kind of regret because I was being a smarty pants, but I won't lie. It felt REALLY good to say in the moment. Looking back, I wasn't setting a very good example...
"I'm from Memphis, haha I definitely know what a power outage is considering all the storms we've had recently."
Yeah I know....not my finest moment. I was being kind of a butt. *cough cough she kind of was too cough cough*
So she looks at me with this "Oh my gosh I hate my job, you're an idiot look" and says "Well I guess I better send maintenance up then. I'm sure it's just a outage short."
So naturally, I go back to the room complaining to almost all the adults that went on the trip about how rude this lady was saying things like "She's such a little snooty snot face!" (I was annoyed...)
Later that week one of my girls ran off (I promise we really didn't have that many problems! LOL these are just the examples) and I told her "Ok, you can hold my hand all the way back to the hotel room"
We're halfway back and she says "Ms. Melissa, this isn't embarressing. I kind of like holding your hand."
So I see a family of four (2 kids and their parents) and because they looked like people in a good mood I say "Excuse me, this little girl ran away from our group so she gets to hold my hand all the way back to our room" and the dad laughs and says something like "That's awesome! Kids, if you run off I'm going to do the same thing."
So we're walking and I continue to do this. Loudly talking obnoxiously saying things like "You just thought this wasn't embaressing. Now you're holding my hand because you ran off AND all these people are looking at us because I'm being loud. Is this embaressing now?!?" It was HILARIOUS all these people were looking at our group and laughing.
So we go down a hallway that just has one older lady walking down the hallway. You know how sometimes people just look grumpy? They're frowning and look like they smelled something sour? Giving you disaproving looks even though you aren't really doing anything wrong? Well, this lady fits that description perfectly. I was planning on laying low and not saying anything to her, just walk by and fly under her radar.
What does my little hand-holding friend do? Talks unesacarily loud like I've been doing to embaress her and says "Hi! I got in trouble and now Ms. Melissa gets to hold my hand! Isn't that great! She thinks it's embaressing, but now I'm embaressing her!"
It was quite funny, so my five other girls and I start busting out laughing. Until the lady gives us an icy cold glare and says to me "Control your children." In a grumpy, mean, wicked witch of the west voice.
Talk about your mood being ruined. We were just goofing off, and my "little friend" was being cute and funny, when the grumpy lady says something grumpy like that.
Now, of course I had a few things to say about her attitude as well... when we were safely back to her room where only a few people could hear me.
My point is, in both cases I got mad about a few grumpy women. I was insulting them behind their backs, and setting a really bad example if any of the kids had heard me...thankfully I don't THINK any of them did.
Both women could have just been having really bad days, or had something else going on in their lives. I won't ever know of course, but it makes me feel bad that I would jump at the chance of being able to talk about them and complain about how they were treating me or my group.
I guess my point is that you never know what someone is going through. I've said that before, but I'm going to keep saying it until I get it through my stubborn head and stop assuming the worst about people.
A Little Piece of Me!
Judging is bad.
Judging is bad.
They say if you repeat stuff, it'll make it permanently engraved into your brain forever. So, just to make sure I understand this...
Judging is bad.
Judging is bad.
Judging is bad.
Well, you've probably guessed by now what I'm fixing to talk about. Yup, that's absolutely right: PONIES!!!
Just kidding. =)
Seriously though, I'm awful about judging people.
I didn't really realize it until this past week, but I judge people ALOT. It's definitely something I struggle with.
An example from the past week:
I went on the 5.6 grade trip Monday through Friday. It was AWESOME!!! Oh my goodness, I could tell you a million and one stories and jokes all relating to the trip. But, that would get off subject...
Anyway, at one point my girls had 2 hair dryers, the microwave, and a straightening iron running. (That's what I get for leaving the room for 15 minutes...) Needless to say the power to our room went out. So, I walk down to the lobby and this lady was sitting at the desk.
"Hi, I'm in room 12097 and our power is out."
And in an AWFUL "oh my gosh teenagers are so dumb" tone she says "Did you hit the reset button?"
confused I replied "On the hair dryer?"
"Well yeah"
"Ummm the lights won't turn on. The power for the whole room is out"
"Did you flip the switch from off to on?"
"The light switch? Yes..."
The next part of the conversation I kind of regret because I was being a smarty pants, but I won't lie. It felt REALLY good to say in the moment. Looking back, I wasn't setting a very good example...
"I'm from Memphis, haha I definitely know what a power outage is considering all the storms we've had recently."
Yeah I know....not my finest moment. I was being kind of a butt. *cough cough she kind of was too cough cough*
So she looks at me with this "Oh my gosh I hate my job, you're an idiot look" and says "Well I guess I better send maintenance up then. I'm sure it's just a outage short."
So naturally, I go back to the room complaining to almost all the adults that went on the trip about how rude this lady was saying things like "She's such a little snooty snot face!" (I was annoyed...)
Later that week one of my girls ran off (I promise we really didn't have that many problems! LOL these are just the examples) and I told her "Ok, you can hold my hand all the way back to the hotel room"
We're halfway back and she says "Ms. Melissa, this isn't embarressing. I kind of like holding your hand."
So I see a family of four (2 kids and their parents) and because they looked like people in a good mood I say "Excuse me, this little girl ran away from our group so she gets to hold my hand all the way back to our room" and the dad laughs and says something like "That's awesome! Kids, if you run off I'm going to do the same thing."
So we're walking and I continue to do this. Loudly talking obnoxiously saying things like "You just thought this wasn't embaressing. Now you're holding my hand because you ran off AND all these people are looking at us because I'm being loud. Is this embaressing now?!?" It was HILARIOUS all these people were looking at our group and laughing.
So we go down a hallway that just has one older lady walking down the hallway. You know how sometimes people just look grumpy? They're frowning and look like they smelled something sour? Giving you disaproving looks even though you aren't really doing anything wrong? Well, this lady fits that description perfectly. I was planning on laying low and not saying anything to her, just walk by and fly under her radar.
What does my little hand-holding friend do? Talks unesacarily loud like I've been doing to embaress her and says "Hi! I got in trouble and now Ms. Melissa gets to hold my hand! Isn't that great! She thinks it's embaressing, but now I'm embaressing her!"
It was quite funny, so my five other girls and I start busting out laughing. Until the lady gives us an icy cold glare and says to me "Control your children." In a grumpy, mean, wicked witch of the west voice.
Talk about your mood being ruined. We were just goofing off, and my "little friend" was being cute and funny, when the grumpy lady says something grumpy like that.
Now, of course I had a few things to say about her attitude as well... when we were safely back to her room where only a few people could hear me.
My point is, in both cases I got mad about a few grumpy women. I was insulting them behind their backs, and setting a really bad example if any of the kids had heard me...thankfully I don't THINK any of them did.
Both women could have just been having really bad days, or had something else going on in their lives. I won't ever know of course, but it makes me feel bad that I would jump at the chance of being able to talk about them and complain about how they were treating me or my group.
I guess my point is that you never know what someone is going through. I've said that before, but I'm going to keep saying it until I get it through my stubborn head and stop assuming the worst about people.
A Little Piece of Me!
Monday, July 4, 2011
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Sometimes life doesn't always go as we planned. Sometimes things turn out to be better than expected, and sometimes things are much worse then we thought they'd be. However the turn out, there's always a plan.
I recently had to do something that was extremely difficult. I was terrified of what the outcome was. What got me through it was knowing that God was with me through it all, and that He always would be.
Thankfully, the situation worked out for the best. =) I'm very happy with what the outcome was, even though it wasn't what I expected.
We serve one amazing God... <3
-A Little Piece of Me!
I recently had to do something that was extremely difficult. I was terrified of what the outcome was. What got me through it was knowing that God was with me through it all, and that He always would be.
Thankfully, the situation worked out for the best. =) I'm very happy with what the outcome was, even though it wasn't what I expected.
We serve one amazing God... <3
-A Little Piece of Me!
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
I'm a treasure in the arms of Christ...
When I don’t measure up to much in this life
Oh, I’m a treasure in the arms of Christ ‘cause
Oh, I’m a treasure in the arms of Christ ‘cause
I'm forgiven
-Sanctus Real
You are treasured, You are sacred, You are His
You're beautiful
You're beautiful
-MercyMe
I think one thing that scares me the most (Well, it's on up there anyway) is the fear of failure. The fear of feeling like I have to handle things myself or else by asking for help I fail the other person. The fear of trying things that are new, because if I don't do it right then I may fail myself or just plain and simple embarrass myself. I don't like the idea of letting others down. I don't like the idea of not doing something correctly. I don't like the feeling of failing. Period.
I think one thing that scares me the most (Well, it's on up there anyway) is the fear of failure. The fear of feeling like I have to handle things myself or else by asking for help I fail the other person. The fear of trying things that are new, because if I don't do it right then I may fail myself or just plain and simple embarrass myself. I don't like the idea of letting others down. I don't like the idea of not doing something correctly. I don't like the feeling of failing. Period.
There's something I have to remember. That even though I may feel like a complete and total failure, and I feel like I've failed everyone around me, I'm still a treasure in the arms of Christ.
I just have to remind myself of that from time to time....
-A Little Piece of Me!
Friday, June 24, 2011
In a few short words..
In Destin Florida, 2009, I made a commitment to Christ.
In Destin Florida, 2011, my little brother and my "big brother" were baptized in the ocean.
When I'm with my friends, no matter when or where, youth trips are memories I will treasure in my heart forever. <3
Molly, Kim, and I ran into each other in Walmart while we were in FL.
Molly:Melissa, where do we peanut butter and jelly?
Me: You get the Peanut Butter, I'll get the Jelly
We get back to condo and Molly starts to make a sandwich
Molly pulls out peanut butter and the *apricot jelly*
Molly: Melissa! What the heck is this?!?
Me: Jelly...?
Apricot jelly is apparently a foreign concept.
That's probably isn't nearly as funny to you as it is to me but it cracks me up!!!!
My "two" brothers got baptized!!! (My blood relative brother, and my best friend) That was one of the most amazing things EVER!!!! I have never been that excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! =D
Now it's late but I'll hopefully be able to post more later. <3
A Little Piece of Me!
In Destin Florida, 2011, my little brother and my "big brother" were baptized in the ocean.
When I'm with my friends, no matter when or where, youth trips are memories I will treasure in my heart forever. <3
Like the rising sun that shinesI am sitting in my pajamas in my condo with the Brady family and my family. The youth trip officially ended yesterday, but Michael, Landon and I stayed here with the families. I'm thinking and remembering all the goofy memories and all the amazing ones we've had on this trip. There are far too many inside jokes and WAY to many "had to be there" moments to even count, but we had alot of fun! One thing that I find particularly funny was the PB&J comment...lol
From the darkness comes a light
I hear your voice and this is my
Awakening
Molly, Kim, and I ran into each other in Walmart while we were in FL.
Molly:Melissa, where do we peanut butter and jelly?
Me: You get the Peanut Butter, I'll get the Jelly
We get back to condo and Molly starts to make a sandwich
Molly pulls out peanut butter and the *apricot jelly*
Molly: Melissa! What the heck is this?!?
Me: Jelly...?
Apricot jelly is apparently a foreign concept.
That's probably isn't nearly as funny to you as it is to me but it cracks me up!!!!
My "two" brothers got baptized!!! (My blood relative brother, and my best friend) That was one of the most amazing things EVER!!!! I have never been that excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! =D
Now it's late but I'll hopefully be able to post more later. <3
A Little Piece of Me!
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
A piece of this and that (super short)
VBS is this week!!!! Super excited about it! Last night was our first night there, and it went great! =D Pictures to come soon!
Leaving for Destin on Saturday!!!
Working on KidzKamp stuff tomorrow with Kamryn!
Leaving for Destin on Saturday!!!
Working on KidzKamp stuff tomorrow with Kamryn!
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