What Defines Success?

As I have returned from yet another Florida Music Educators Conference, I am in the throws of defining who I am from the perspective of being vs. accomplishments.

I have frequently set aside personal goals and dreams to aide my family's best interests over the past 25 years. I don't regret these sacrifices. I look at the successes of people I went to high school with....songwriter, conductor, television writer, psychologist, agent, and the list goes on, and wonder if I made the right choices for me.

I live in a humble home. I have down-to-earth friends. I enjoy simple things in life. This morning as Laura and I rode to school together, she affirmed me as a person and my accomplishments from her perspective. It meant a lot to know my 15 year old daughter is proud of me.

Today I think success is in how you are viewed by your almost-grown children and the people in your daily life. My 25th high school reunion is this summer. I hope I can remember these thoughts at this moment in time when I meet up again with friends from my youth.

How I spent my time this past weekend (evidences of success!):

Anna, Laura, Lisa...great friends at All-State together

RHS All-State Concert Mixed Choir members taking a break

Dr. Anton Armstrong from St. Olaf's College rehearsing Concert Mixed (Laura is there...see her?)

RHS All-State participants and chaperons at Bern's Steakhouse for dessert

2009 Florida All-State Concert Mixed Choir at Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center

Faith Vs. Feeling As I Look Ahead

Well, it is the last day of 2008. This year has been a struggle for me in accepting change and loss.

When I began this blog, on my first post I ended with this goal: "A new journey to a place of vulnerability with those who might be interested..." I think I haven't been vulnerable enough.

This is supposed to be about removing my masks, isn't it?

It's easy to talk about the life of my father in the spring, but not about the ache in my heart that finally came crashing through on Christmas Eve...
...or of the pride of Emma's high school graduation and new venture in her life as she's off to college. Expressing my sense of solitude with her absence (and the myriad of friends in our home on a constant basis, bringing with them all the sounds of laughter)...the quietness isn't something I've talked about. Then there is the change in how I spend my days. It is exciting to work with children I've grown to love from The Gap School, and yet I haven't mentioned how much I miss my RHS kids and the hole they've left.

This has been a year of profound change for me. I confess I feel unexcited about this upcoming year, and even fearful at times about what could happen. The Man About The House and I have spent this past week talking about faith in God to take care of the future and entrusting to Him 2009. At what point do I let go of feelings and rely on my faith in God that has seen me through each moment of my life?

I think that is my goal as this year ends: to focus more on the finisher of my faith, and leave what is behind.

God's best to you in 2009

In The Bleak Midwinter

In the bleak midwinter
Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, Snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter
Long, long ago.

Our God, heav'n cannot hold Him
Nor earth sustain:
Heav'n and earth shall flee away
When He comes to reign:
In the bleak midwinter
A stable-place sufficed
The Lord, God Almighty
Jesus Christ.


Angels and arch-angels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air:
But only His mother in her maiden bliss
Worshiped the Beloved with a kiss.

What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb;
If I were a wise man I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him

Give Him my heart.

Merry Christmas, with love,

Garland and Shari

Katy, Emma, Laura

Nine Years Pass By Too Quickly

Happy Anniversary to my sweet husband, Garland!

Hats off to the Man for helping me rear three daughters through open houses at school, birthdays, new boyfriends, old boyfriends, proms, graduations, student drivers, dresses and dances, loft-building projects....


....for still surviving hot flashes, erratic thyroid, job changes, empty nesting about to begin, The Next Food Network Star, good-byes needing to be said, chick flicks, sleeping from the day's stresses a little too early, too-long-road trips....


Here's to my best friend now and forever. I'd love another 90 years with you if it were possible!