My Show

The family of my Finch filmed some scenes from my final dress rehearsal- So, if you missed my show, you can see some of it now!

How to ...

Tonight was opening night for my musical, "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying". And it was AWESOME! The kids had such great energy and everyone loved it! I love my job.
My job is insane, stressful and so time-consuming. But I have moments- moments where I feel like the luckiest person in the entire world. A person who has the opportunity to give kids a chance to shine. And boy do they shine! There is nothing more rewarding than sitting in a darkened theatre and watching your students receive applause, laughter and accolades and knowing that in some way you contributed to that moment.
I know I've talked about this a lot, but I am so blessed to be able to do what I do. It is so rewarding. I got this message from my former student, Michael Retzlaff-

I was sitting in a rehearsal today of a play called, "Twentieth Century" up here at Utah State, taking on the role of Assistant Stage Manager. I was backstage, and looking up into the fly system and the rafters and how tall the stage was. And I was thinking-thinking about how grateful I am that Kjersti Parkes helped to inspire me and always encouraged me. I certainly would not be where I am today, doing what I love, without a great deal of her influence and guidance.

Thank you, Miss Parkes.

 

Taking time to stop and smell the roses

Anyone who knows me knows that this time of year is insanely busy for me. I am in the midst of preparations for my musical. As a high school drama teacher, you wear many different hats other than director. It is truly a miracle when a show is performed. I get so stressed during this time of year, I have so much to do and think about. But, last week, a took a few days off and went to one of my favorite places in the entire world with a very dear friend.

And I visited this charming fellow. I cannot believe how much my nephew has grown! He is so adorable and incredibly smart. It was so hard to leave knowing it might be some time before I will see him again. I LOVE being an Aunt!

I enjoyed Dole Whip with my dear sister-in-law while at the Magic Kingdom!

We met Pluto and became immediate friends!

We celebrated Halloween! (Ben, Luana and Elliott were fruit, it was so fun to be at the parks with them and hear people's reactions to their adorable family! Priceless!)

I was a fruit fly!

And so was my friend, April!

With the most adorable little boy in the world! (And no, I am not biased, I am merely stating the facts.)

All in all, it was a wonderful breath before I came back to the craziness of my life. I think in life it is important to take moments to pause and truly allow yourself to soak in the wonderment that is life. I am sometimes in awe of life. I am in awe of relationships. I am in awe of how blessed I am.
I have an amazing family, I have a fulfilling job, I have wonderful friends and I am making beautiful memories each day.
Yes, as corny as this may be, for me life truly is the roses.

Teachers are Human

I know this may come as a shock, but teachers are indeed human beings.

We do not sleep at the school, we are not insensitive robots and we DO care about you.

There are a lot of you and we have to be fair. So forgive us for being human and imperfect. Forgive us for having emotions, forgive us for not being what you expect us to be, forgive us for our gut reactions to things. Sometimes, like you, we do and say things in the moment that aren't always the best choice.
And to the parents- Your child is not the only child I teach. I try to treat everyone equal, please do not make your child "the exception". If I made everyone the exception, I would go crazy. And guess what- no one would learn anything. And don't threaten to get the administration involved when I do something that your child doesn't agree with; that will not intimidate me.
And to the students- for crying out loud... DO YOUR WORK!! Stop making excuses. Your excuses are just another way of saying that you made a choice to NOT do what is expected of you in class! Be willing to accept the consequences of your actions. Don't go crying to your parents because you failed to do what was required and make it seems like it is all my fault. Learn responsibility, stop going through life half-assed because you want to do the minimum required and expect me to make up the difference.
I do try to be fair. I do try to take your feelings and 'special needs' into consideration. I truly do. I control my temper, I try to validate your feelings, I try to engage you in learning, I make you laugh, I teach you SOMETHING, I try to make you feel loved and safe.
But for heavens sake, cut me some slack. Do you part, and if you don't- be willing to accept the consequences of your actions!
Because, I am not a robot. Do not insult me, belittle me, or make me feel like I am failing.
I am doing my best, but I am only human.

Waiting... Gracefully...

It always seems like we are waiting for something to happen. Waiting for the cookies to be done in the oven, waiting for a boring class to end, waiting for Christmas morning, waiting for Prince Charming, waiting for life to makes sense, waiting to "arrive"... All while we live. Sometimes it seems like we are spending more time waiting rather than just living.
I've learned some things about being a single LDS girl. Growing up in the LDS culture, it seemed as if all of the lessons in Young Womens centered around Temple Marriage. I even remember a lesson in Laurels where the teacher brought a wedding cake, her old wedding memorabilia and we had a 'mock reception' of sorts.
When an LDS gal grows up, she knows her #1 priority is to get married to a returned missionary and start having babies. Now if this doesn't happen right away, she can go to college, but be willing to drop-out at any time to achieve the highest of all degrees... the coveted MRS. And if she has not married by the time she is 21, a mission can be a possibility, but she must be willing to not go if Mr. Right comes along... Since I was 12 years old marriage has been drilled into my conscious and my sub-conscious.
So, my story. At the age of 20 I decided I would serve a mission (unless Mr. Right came along of course). I left at the age of 21 and came home a few months before my 23rd birthday. I remember as I approached the end of my mission that my focus shifted to the idea of marriage. It was the next logical step and I knew it would be happening shortly after my arrival home.
I went to college... I turned the dreaded age of 25... I left BYU-Idaho without the MRS degree (I should've demanded my money back)... I started my career... I turned 30 years old... I was "kicked" out of the Singles Ward... all while waiting for the elusive MRS...
And I am still waiting. But today the word waiting took on a new significance for me. In General Conference Elder Hales gave an especially poignant talk about 'waiting upon the Lord'. I always viewed waiting as a negative word, more like a stagnant lack of progression. Instead, as Elder Hales explained, "In the scriptures the word wait means to hope, to anticipate and to trust. To hope and trust in Lord requires faith, patience, humility, meekness, long-suffering, keeping the commandments. And enduring to the end."
Waiting upon the Lord. My advice to the single LDS girl is to be happy and to find joy in the journey. I have learned that Heavenly Father knows me perfectly and as I "wait upon the Lord" there are many experiences to be had, many lives to be touched and things for me to do.

I've learned to never give up hope! I know that as I try to do my best, that the Lord will bless me with what I need. The right time, the right place, the right man...

The Fragility of Life

This has been an interesting week for me. I've been pondering a lot about choices we make and what we choose to make of our time here on Earth.

On Monday morning my Mom called me at 6:00 am- I knew it couldn't be good news because she would never call me at that time. She had called to inform me that Sherri Winder had passed away. Let me back up a little.

I have a dear friend named Nate and Sherri is his Mom. I met Nate through my brothers when they were all in High School together and  became friends with Nate (probably because of our mutual love of Andrew Llyod Webber and classical music). As I spent more time with Nate, I also got to know Sherri. I remember going into her home and  feeling welcome and comfortable. She was one of those Moms who took a genuine interest in the friends of her children. I also immediately loved her and appreciated her warmth and smiles.
As both Nate & I grew up, I still continued to have a relationship with Sherri. We would exchange Christmas greetings and when I started teaching at Valley Jr. High (where many Winder cousins were my students) she and Kent (her husband) would come and support me.
I also loved the conversations we would sometimes share. Two years ago, I visited Nate in Germany. When I came home, I visited with Sherri and shared with her stories of my trip and talked about Nate and his adventures. I stayed until 2 am and the time flew by. The last time I saw Sherri was at my production of "Bye Bye Birdie" at Hunter High School. It meant so much to me that she would support me, after all I was just one of Nate's friends.
Needless to say when I heard the news about Sherri, I was devastated. She was such a beautiful and lovely person who went home way too soon. I also immediately thought of my friend Nate and the Winder family and I felt helpless because I wanted to know how I could help, so I prayed.
As the week went on, I thought about the many times I visited with her. I thought about the many qualities I admired about her. And I thought about how I want to be like her.
She was the type of person who made EVERYONE feel important and validated. It didn't matter your socio-economic status, your beliefs, your idiosyncrasies. Everyone was valued and important. She also remembered the little things, asking about something from a previous conversation, going out of her way to say 'Thank You' or talking with a friend until 2 am. She was fiercely loyal and passionate about her family; she wanted the best for them. She valued the gospel and her membership in the church. She left the world a little bit brighter. I want to be like her.
Last night was the viewing. I waited in line for 2 hours to see the family (I have never seen that many people at a viewing) It was good to see Nate and the rest of the Winder family. I was struck by home many people came and waited to pay their respects.
Today was the funeral. I didn't really cry at the viewing, but from almost the moment I stepped into the church I started crying. I was just overwhelmed by the whole experience. Again, so many people were there, it was incredible! The service was so beautiful, personal and yet applicable to all in attendance. I know Sherri loved it. Nate composed a song for his Mom entitled, "Dances". It was so perfect. It was almost like you could hear her in the song.
I am so grateful I was able to attend. And more than that, I am so grateful that Sherri is my friend. She has touched my life.
I also have thought a lot this week about life in general. It is so precious. Loving each other is the most important thing we can do. Dedication to family, faith, commitments and community are so important. I also took some time this week to do some self-assessment. I need to be a better person. I need to be more open to the needs of others. I need to try to not be so selfish.
I want others to feel important, loved and validated.

"Let me be joy, be hope

Let my life sing!"

I will miss my friend Sherri.

In Remembrance

10 Years ago, life as we knew it changed.

It was a beautiful September morning and I was walking from choir rehearsal (I was in Sounding Joy, the Institute show choir) to my 2nd class at Salt Lake Community College (I had recently returned from my mission to Dallas, TX two months previously and was taking a few classes before I headed up to BYU-I in January.)
I remember there was an eerie stillness in the air.
When I walked into the building, everyone was quiet and staring at the TV screens, the first plane had hit moments before. My feet were rooted to the ground as I saw the 2nd plane hit, then the tower fell, and finally the other tower fell. I felt horror shake my body as I struggled to cope with what I was witnessing. I felt shock, disbelief and intense sadness.
I don't remember much else from that day except seeing all the flags at half mast and bursting into tears.
I had been to NYC in 1998 and had been on top of the World Trade Building. And now, in an instant, that massive building was gone and along with it thousands of voices were silenced.

September 11th is my brother Ben's birthday. He turned 21 that day, and was waiting to come home from his mission in Independence, Missouri. A few years after 9/11, BYU-I performed the play, "Hole in the Sky" which was based on the attacks on 9/11. I ran the lights and did tech for the show and my brother Ben played a beautiful character named Sal, who was a window washer on the side of the building. I have never seen my brother do a finer acting job. Every night he brought me to tears with his closing monologue, every night he filled me with hope and every night I remembered. 
"So that is all for Sal. Over the side with him. Yet I am not sad... because Sal, eh? Sal is everywhere..."

In 1996, Ben and I were in a car accident that changed our lives forever. It was a week after his 16th birthday and we were on out way to a Granite Youth Symphony Rehearsal when a woman from out of nowhere turned left right in front of my car. I tried to swerve to miss her, but she hit the car directly behind the driver's seat and then we hit a pole head on.
Miraculously, we all lived. Even more miraculously, Ben who had been in the middle of the back seat and had suffered the worst injuries lived. I sometimes think back to that day when I was 'this close' to losing my brother.
I am so blessed to have the siblings that I do. And I am especially blessed to have Ben as my brother. We served our missions at the same time, so we wrote weekly. We went to BYU-I and spent Playmill together where we were in numerous productions and became the best of friends.
And as I spend today grateful for my family, grateful for my friends and grateful for my amazing brother. My heart goes out to the countless families who are missing someone they love today. May we all take a moment and be grateful for the love in our lives.
So, Happy Birthday Ben and may we always remember.

Just Love

There is a website, www.wordle.net where you can put in words to form a collage. Well, I put my blog into wordle and this was the result.

FINALLY!

I teach this class at the high school called media productions. It is a class where we film, edit and produce the school news, X-Works and then upload them daily to youtube for the school to view.
Last year when I started, the class would fight me when I wanted them to make it more creative and entertaining. Sometimes it was ok, but by the end of the year, I had given up.
This year they listen! Here is my favorite episode thus far! (If you don't want to watch the entire thing, my favorite part starts at around 4:40)
FINALLY!

Job Hazards

So, I just cast the musical, "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying". The main character, Finch has to kiss two girls in the play. (Well, actually one kisses him and he kisses the other one.) The guy who is playing Finch has never kissed anyone in his life and is sweet and innocent. Anyway, my question is this- their first rehearsal is the two of them and just me. Should I have them kiss on that first rehearsal and just get it over with? Or should I have them kiss when we block the scene but in front of many others? What do you think?
Oh the hazards of being a drama teacher! I bet accountants don't have to worry about this sort of thing...
Also, today in my advanced class- we did this- ENJOY!