Tomorrow is "M" Day....

So I dropped the ball on the alphabet countdown with my blog, cause you know, life gets in the way... but I figured that as I sit here waiting to go run my 5K this morning, I'm inspired. So, for "M" day tomorrow, I bring you my Many Blessings.

1. My Job/My Kids-
I doubt there are many 25 year olds out there that can sit in their living room and tell you that they love their job. I am the drummer marching to a different beat with that sentiment, because I do. There are days and moments where I look at the face of a kid who doesn't seem to care anymore, or deal with a student who just told me what I planned for them was stupid, or deal with the hormones that start flying in 4th and 5th graders, where I want to give up. Throw in the towel, send me home with some wine, and draw me a hot bath.
And then I think about my kids whose parents come up to me at the end of 5th grade and tell me that their kid worships like everything that I do, or I read my hundreds of construction paper stars that the kids made me for teacher appreciation week. Did you know that you can spell teacher: teecher, tetcher, tesher, teacher, techar? And did you know that to 674 kids, I am the best music teacher in the world, I rock, and have the most beautiful voice? Did you know that I am cool, or that I am the prettiest person on earth, or that I make music the most fun of all the subjects? I am also supposed to be on American Idol, I will let you go to the bathroom if you have to, and I am every first grader's favorite music teacher that they ever had (even though they've only had me)....Yes, I am a celebrity....
That is why I love my job. My kids test my patience sometimes, and I will admit that I have had to count back from 10 a few times in my room, but I love each and every one of them, and each day I get to work there is a blessing to me.

2. Music
I have been blessed to discover the power of music... No matter how crappy your day is, you can turn a certain song on to make you laugh. There are songs that are reminders of people that you know and love, and songs that are reminders of those who have passed on. Music really can make a lot of things better. On a beautiful day, I think that my favorite thing to do is crank up my iPod, open all my windows and my sunroof and belt out all the words to my favorite songs at the top of my lungs. The people at the stoplights don't know that I'm supposed to be the next Elphaba in Wicked on Broadway.... laugh on stoplight friends! So... music... love it... fall in love with it... let it change you a little bit.

3. My friends
I love my peeps. There have been some who have come and gone that had a lasting impact on me, and I still hold a place for them. There are some in my life right now who help me survive it all. My friends are my family, and it is as simple as that. I lean on them all the time, and they are always there for me, loving me, protecting me, and talking sense into that crazed brain of mine. You don't need a hundred people around you to be happy, but a core group that you know is there for you and you are there for them is damn near the most perfect thing in the entire world.

4. My best friend
I'm going to use the Peyton quote to partially describe her, because as she said it, and my thoughts instantly went to Anne....

"My best friend is... funny, intelligent, creative, beautiful... and successful, and very kind. She is also... impulsive, frustrating, complicated, childish... but I would not have her any other way..."

She is all that and so much more that I could ramble on and on about to everyone. She saves me every day, and she brought me into her family more than I have ever seen anyone do. I'd walk through fire for her, her husband, and her child any day of the week, and I know that they would be there for me in less than a heartbeat if I ever asked.

5. My family
I have a messed up family situation when I really think about it.... I do. I think everybody has their interesting family stories, but at the end of the day, no matter how rough a go my mom and I had it, she is almost always the first person I call at the end of the day. My dad will always be in the front row of every musical my students put on, just like he was at every musical, band, choir concert that I ever did. I know that my family is messed up sometimes, but I love them all no matter what....

So there is my small list of Many Blessings.... hope you enjoyed!!! Think about your many blessings today... it will make you smile a little bit, and that is always wonderful.