Life Down On The Farm: February 2011

Nail biting moments

Saturday Kayla and I went to USD for her to audition for admission into the music program and for scholarship money. Technically that is what the audition was for...she has already been admitted into the program so we are just waiting for how much money they are willing to give her.

I found it amusing that she is already so well known at the college by so many professors. Of course the clarinet professor knows her well, but so does the low brass/marching band professor and the Director of Bands. She did her audition (with Bb clarinet, bass clarinet and trombone) and then talked to the three on the committee. They all seemed surprised that she played a woodwind and a brass instrument and was accomplished at both. Kayla just laughed.

There are more scholarship auditions this coming weekend so no decisions will be made until March. But Dr. Haddad, the clarinet professor, told both Kayla and me that we could get ahold of her if we didn't want to wait until the official letters go out in early April. I guarantee I will be emailing her before then!

I think Kayla did great, but I may be a little biased. She is glad it is over with and now she just has to coast through the next few months and she will be at USD.

February 21, 2011

44 Things I Have Learned in My 44 Years

Life isn't fair, but it's still good.  
When in doubt, just take the next small step.
Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.  
Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.  
You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.  
Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.  
When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.  
It's OK to let your children see you cry.  
Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.  
Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.  
Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
You can get through anything if you stay put in today.  
When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.  
Overprepare, then go with the flow.  
Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.  
The most important sex organ is the brain.
Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"  
Forgive everyone everything.  
What other people think of you is none of your business.  
Time heals almost everything. Give time time.  
However good or bad a situation is, it will change. 
Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
Believe in miracles.
God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.  
Growing old beats the alternative - dying young. 
Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable. 
Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.  
If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.  
Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.  
Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.  
All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.  
Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.  
The best is yet to come.
No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.  
Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.  
If you don't ask, you don't get.
Yield.  
No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift...

February 18, 2011

I really should...

I really should keep this thing more updated, but there is not much going on!

Brian got a job, this is one I, and he, thinks he will really like. It is only temporary since it is working for a nursery but he is excited about it anyway. He starts tomorrow and it is supposed to go through November. I told him it has both the things he loves...being outside and playing in the dirt =) He is filling out his application for an apartment in Marathon so now we need to start going to auctions and finding furniture and dishes.

Kayla has an Honor Band coming up soon, just one of many. She also has scholarship auditions at USD on Saturday. She is auditioning with her bass clarinet, Bb clarinet and trombone...although not all at the same time! I figure since she is so flexible they should just go ahead and give her the highest amount offered right?

Not much new with Becker-Loo...she just keep plugging away at college and working...she is planning to come home for a few days in early March so that makes me very happy.

So that is all the update you are going to get...will have more after Kayla's audition and if Brian gets moved and of course when Becky visits. I guess a boring life is a good thing to have =)

February 15, 2011

15 Lessons to Keep in Mind

1. The only person that can ever truly make you happy is yourself. Stop depending on everyone else.

2. People lie, stuff happens. Don’t take it too personally.

3. Want people to think you’re amazing? Start believing you are, and then they will too.

4. Smiling is the ultimate anti-depressant. Smile and laugh out loud, it doesn’t look stupid, I promise.

5. The world is never just black and white, right or wrong, one way or another. Try and see things from as many points of view as possible.

6. "Let everything happen to you
Beauty and terror
Just keep going
No feeling is final"
— Rainer Maria Rilke

7. Have empathy.

8. Gossip, problems of the past, events you cannot control, negative thoughts and negative people; time spent on these is time poorly wasted.

9. When you're jealous or find yourself filled with hate for someone/something, stop. The only person its hurting is you.

10. Although the newest, most expensive material things may make you feel as if you’re a better person, they won’t hold you at night or listen to you when you need it. Make sure your priorities make sense.

11. Step outside your comfort zone- it’s when you’ll really feel alive.

12. Don’t be afraid to be yourself, the people who really matter, don’t mind

13. Let your emotions out sometimes, humans have them for a reason.

14. Celebrate the things you have. Think only positively of the things you don’t (but would like to have) and they too will come.

15. Love unconditionally ♥

February 8, 2011