Thank You Lord

..for you Lord who loves me far beyond what I deserve.

...for being together with family.  There's nothing that brings joy to my heart like family gathering.

...for my health, and I am so thankful for a healthy family as well.

...for a safe and warm place to live.  My blessings far exceed these basic necessities, but I never want to forget that no matter what problems come up, many of them are nothing compared to what many families have to live through.

...for holiday traditions.

...for a recent transformation in Ana. I love that the sweet lovely girl who I know is shining through to others. I have seen her confidence grow in the past few months, and I am thankful for her preschool teachers and high school helpers for creating such a nurturing environment where she can really flourish!

...for a clean house!

...for the sweet little voices that my girls have.  The little "cartoon character:" voices won't last forever, so I'll enjoy them while I can!

...for the ability to play music.  From the moment I heard a friend playing piano when I was in grade school, I knew that I wanted to make amazing sounds too.  There's something so other-worldly about it- to forget about myself, and to just listen and play...

...for friends new and old.  To share smiles and memories and kids and even hard times makes friends so important.

...for my sweet dog Shady.  She's the best dog ever.  Enough said.

...for my new healthy eating challenge group. My friend Nina has been an inspiration.  I physically feel so good eating clean!

...and with that being said, I'm still thanking You, Lord, for Thanksgiving dessert!  (Celebrations mean you get to eat sugar and other goodies!)

...for my Scott.  From working hard at his job to washing the dishes on Thanksgiving day, he's our family's wonderful example of a Christ-like man.  I have watched him sacrifice what he would want for our family so often, and it has not gone unnoticed.  He is my true love, and I'm so blessed to live each day with him.

I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.

Psalm 69:29-31

Reader, please let me know in the comment section- What are you thankful for on this Thanksgiving day?

Thank You Lord

...for the food we have to eat. (Even if it does get on the dog at times. Ahem.)

...for frilly swimsuits and the promise of warmer weather around the bend (I hope!)

...for the bookUnglued: Making Wise Choices in the Midst of Raw Emotions which I just finished reading.  All glory to You God for imperfect progress!

...for my hardworking husband who spoils me so.

...for toddlers who put words together.  Those first sentences are such a welcome and fun surprise when they happen!

...for my friend Joanna and her ideas.  Just the other day, Ana told me that she would like to try to make this doll bed.  That's perfect because I never know what to do with those clementine crates!

...for so many wonderful readers who visit, share, and bring joy to my heart each week.  This growing community is a wonderful place to be.

...for new ideas- now just to get DOING.

...for so many blessings to be thankful for.  I love telling you the list when I'm feeling sorry for myself.

...for my friend Hannah and her beautiful encouragement.

...for your Son who we celebrate every day.  It's fun to share the joy of the Passover, the Cross, and the Resurrection with the girls.

Oh, death, where is your sting?

Oh, hell, where is your victory?

Oh, Church, come stand in the light!

Our God is not dead

Hes alive, He's alive!

Reader, what are you thankful for today?

Creating an Environment for Musical Development

I'm the mom who gives my friend's kids drum sets.  Literally- I'm not exaggerating.  As a musician, I know that experience in music and creative movement in childhood can foster musical involvement and skills later in childhood and even into adulthood.  Read this article for more details about the many benefits of music for children.

Creating an environment for nurturing music is inexpensive and fairly easy to achieve. Try each of this ideas for making your home a place where music is part of your creative play.

• Add music and movement into your daily schedule.  If you have young children, do fifteen minutes of music time each day, and for older children (first grade and up), schedule thirty minutes for them to practice singing or an instrument.
• Create some instruments from things you have at home.  I have tutorials for shakers and drums.
• Gather all of your rhythm instruments into one basket, and bring the basket out during music time.  Get different music and movement CDs or order them from your library. and use them to guide your time.  Scarves and beanbags are great props for music too!

 

• Focus on beat with young children.  Always tap a beat rather than a rhythm with toddlers.  You can introduce an echo clap or tap at about four or five years old. 
• Make music time available to children for freeplay.  Children learn through play, and many times they will even practice some of the skills that you have taught them.   Music takes practice, so the more time you make available, the better.

• Lead by example.  If you play an instrument, practice every day.  If not, sing and listen to your favorite styles of music.  Talk with your children about the music you appreciate, and don't be afraid to sing along and let your love of music show!

Enter my giveaway at Lewis Music Studio for your chance to win some shakers and get your collection started!

Tags: music, early childhood, movement, creative, play

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Inspired by soulemama.

 

Thank You Lord

...for the kindness of a stranger.  It's not everyday that you meet someone so kind and generous who you never even met before.  It inspires me to be that person to others.

...for a clean and organized house.  I love sitting down when things are fresh and cleaned up!

..for your Word.  I am encouraged to show kindness and love.  I heard on the radio yesterday afternoon Focus on the Family was talking about approaching differences with kindness and love.  I felt that this was a timely message.  He spoke about 2 Timothy 3-  

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. ² People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³ without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, ⁴ treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— ⁵ having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

He said have you thought that maybe they aren't talking about "Those people," but maybe it's religious people, "Us people."  I love this, and although my beliefs include convictions that others may not follow, it's God's kindness that leads us to repentance.   

...for baby kisses.

...for a hardworking and successful husband. 

...for my first bridal show experience this past weekend!  I made some new friends, and that alone made it worth it!  

...for health.  I can never forget to give thanks for such a vital blessing.  

“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, 

LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 NIV

Reader, What are you thankful for today?

Tags: thank you, thanks, thanksgiving, christian, scripture, mom, mom, baby, babies, kids, Lord, Jesus, 

Recycled Instrument Dance Party

When I asked Ana what kind of Birthday Party she wanted to have, her response was immediate- A DANCE PARTY!  And a dance party it was!  I  wanted a simple part with a craft that could be used as a favor as well, and so a home made instrument/dance toy was created.  I will let you know how to make the toys, but I don't have photos of each step since my hands were busy helping 9 kids to make the instruments! 

Materials and Equipment:

• Washed water or pop bottles (I'm from Pittsburgh- It would go against my very being to write "soda")!
• An old newspaper
• Tape or staples 
• Ribbon in the colors of your choosing
• Glue gun
• Rubber Bands
• Scissors
• Beads or rice or beans
• Sharpie

1. Cut two arm lengths of the ribbon.  Fold the ribbon in half.  Put the loop of the ribbon through the rubber bands, and loop the ends back through the spot where the ribbon is folded.  Pull tight.  Add as many ribbons as you would like.  
2. Cut pieces of newspaper in to a small square (about 12"x12").  Cut the square of newspaper in half diagonally.  Roll the newspaper triangle into a funnel.  Make sure the opening is large enough to fit your beads through but small enough to fit in the pop bottle.  Tape and trim the corners so that your top is straight across as pictured above.
3. On party day, plug in the glue guns.  Give each child a funnel and beads.  The kids can fill the bottle themselves using the funnel, but some kids may need their parents' help.  Each bottle needs about a half inch of beads inside.  An adult should write each child's name on their bottle with a sharpie, and glue the caps on using the glue gun. 
4. The children can place their rubber band with ribbons anywhere they like on the bottle.
5. These instruments are ready!  Shake and dance!

"Steve and Susan saved several soda cans

And empty plastic bottles too

They dropped in little beads, dry beans or rice

And made some shakers good as new"

 

~from Homemade Band by Hap Palmer

Tags: recycled, recycle, reuse, upcycle, Ribbon Dancer, streamer, dance, party, birthday, three year old, preschool

Song Sunday

The Surest Sign

One of my favorite songs by the David Crowder Band says,

The surest sign of grace is this

From the broken earth flowers come up

Pushing through the dirt

I thought of that song when I took these pictures.  Isn't it truly a miracle that these precious living things can grow right there in the dirty ground?  Even though the earth is polluted and imperfect, here they are.  Somehow they know it's spring-  time to push their leaves up and bloom.

I like that particular song for it's depth of meaning as well.  Aren't all of our lives broken and dirty in some way?  Yet God's grace is offered to all anyway...

Check back on Sunday.  I'm posting a video of this song.

Tags: wholly yours, david crowder, spring, spring, spring flowers, spring bulbs, God's grace

"Lewis Music Studio"

You might notice that my email address is lewismusicstudio@yahoo.com, and you may wonder, "Hmmmm...."    I did used to teach piano and violin lessons, and I may someday begin my teaching adventure again.  So the email address remains.  But for now, I do enjoy teaching the little ones in my home...