rainy day.

Listen: Tchaikovsky Symphony 6 "Pathetique"

It's true for us all, there are just some days when you feel like pulling out your hair dealing with other people.  By the same token, there are also days when it's very simple to notice the impact that you can have on other people's lives and well-being.  I'm fortunate enough to teach piano lessons out of my home as my full-time job.  Every week, I see such a vast variety of people walking in and out of my home.  People of different backgrounds, ethnicities and races.  Students of all ages.  Three-olds.  Teenagers.  40-year olds.  People that I, otherwise, would have never met.  Somedays, I come out feeling incredibly rewarded, like there's no better job on earth, while other days I come out feeling frustrated.  Frustrated, either with the students or--more commonly--with myself.  Today was different however.

Caleb (pronounced Ca-leeb) is in 2nd grade this year and just started coming to piano lessons about 2 months ago.  At his first lesson, his mom informed me that he has a touch of aspergers syndrome, but besides a little distraction and not making eye contact, we've done remarkably well together.  

Today, when he walked through the door, I could see a certain sadness written on his face.  He looked bothered, like something was weighing very heavily on his eight-year old mind.

What's wrong, bud?

Oh nothing.

Well, are you sure?  You're looking a little sad today.

No, I'm okay...

Well, if there is anything, I really want to hear about it.

And, without any hesitation, out it came.  The thought, today, that had given this little boy such a forlorn look in his eyes...

I don't have any friends at school.

Suddenly all the selfishness of my own mind, all the thoughts I had accrued over the course of the day, all those things that seemed so important to me this morning... it all evaporated as this little boy confided in me, his piano teacher.

Well you have a friend here.  I'm your friend.

No sooner had I uttered those simple little words did he reach over to wrap his arms around me and bury his head in my stomach.

I'm not sure that I've ever experienced anything more sobering.  Telling a little boy that he does, indeed, have a friend--I'm his friend--doesn't make me feel victorious at all.  These little words made him feel better for the moment, but I didn't do anything spectacular.  All I could do was respond as any human being would--with love. 

Nothing in the world can make you respond with more love than hearing an eight-year old boy utter such lonely words as:   "I don't have any friends at school."  

As a teacher, today was neither defeatist or victorious--just sobering.

Grain-Free Granola Bars

With the changing of the seasons fast approaching, I think we're all starting to crave those light and healthy snacks that just wouldn't "do it" for us during the winter.  With bulbs bursting from every garden bed and warmer days ahead of us, how about we start making some granola?  It's seriously the perfect snack for carrying around in your backpack on day trips, bike rides or long car trips.  This recipe for Grain-Free Granola Bars from Joyful Abode is so great and helpful that I just wanted to share the link and lead you straight to the source.

It's super easy and she has very helpful step-by-step photos.  We've made them twice now and the only modification I made the second time was to use less honey than she called for.  I used approximately a 1/4 cup of honey this time and it was perfect.  I would actually prefer even less "sweetness", but I wanted to make sure that the granola still stuck together.

Try it!  You'll love it.

Opposites.

One:  

Curled-up kitty paws.

Two:
Curled-up kitty schnoz.

Until the day that Christopher and I decide to "start a family," our cat Random is going to be adored, spoiled, and basically treated like the child of the house.  He's the one that gets all the attention.  All the time.  He's the one that has, and will continue to have, his life documented in photographs because "Mommy" just can't help herself.

We'll be able to look back on his "childhood years" and gawk at how small he used to be.  But, actually, we can already do that.... since we took him in two summers ago, he's doubled in size.  Literally doubled in size.  What can I say, he's one of those "food motivated" cats.  He's chubby, no doubt, but we love him just the same.

I'm having a lot of fun experimenting with camera settings and trying to find the "art" of it.  Random just happened to be laying around in the sun the other morning, looking all adorable (as usual) and it was the perfect lighting situation to experiment with both under- and over-exposing.  It's amazing, the wonders that light can do for a photograph.

Whether it's relaxing or hectic, I'm hoping you and your family have a wonderful weekend.  We're going to be doing some early Spring cleaning over the next few days.  We're invading our closets and drawers and hopefully sending most of it off to Goodwill.  Sometimes it's crazy, the things we get super excited about.   Cheers.