Happy accidents and goofs that help you grow.

It is November, and life is hilarious.

someday pants..

and
It goes so fetching fast!

SO let me fill you in on the last 6.5 months.

Last post I wrote about my recent gal trips,
And how growing old is fun, with all its lose skin and tired bones...but still fun.
On the way home from my vegas trip, I stopped at some fun thrift stores. I bought some cute pants that were a little tight but I planned on them being goal pants, I blamed the Cheesecake factory from the night before, and got myself a protein style In-n-Out burger as punishment. Ha!
The next week I got a job as a part time piano teacher at a darling Charter school in Hurricane, and the next day I found out,  OH WHAT THE WHAT- IM PREGNANT!?! (So goal pants will hang in my closet for a lot longer now) ((and also the reason I was feeling so old and tired was maybe because I was PREGNANT! so crazy.)) the ultimate happy accident.

Playing at the OC Tanner this Summer.

So, I took it easy on the music side of life this summer, and it was wonderful. I had one big Show in June with Steve, Ryan and Chris. and then the rest of the summer was pretty much devoted to family time and baby growing. I've played little shows here and there and played George Fest with Chris and Kevin, but I haven't really devoted a whole lot of time and energy to this part of my life...and I'm feeling it.
I feel a big void and its strange.

Yesterday was Veterans Day. My School had an assembly for the vets in the area and two of my piano students played a little number they had been working on. They didn't do as well as they should have. They played it perfectly the day before, but struggled once nerves set in. I was so proud of them and their first big performance, but my heart ached for them as I saw them struggle, then sit with their families after with their heads hanging low. One of them couldn't hold back the tears. I told her she had done fine, and that she KNOWS she can play it so perfect, so try not to think about it too much and lets rock our next performance.

After school, I sat at my computer trying to hunt down a fun photo of my mom because I wanted to post something for her birthday. While I was searching back through my stuff, I came across so many videos of myself performing, but not feeling like I did well enough to share. and now it feels like those things never happened, because I kept them to myself. Some of these events, I cried about, knowing that I could have done so much better, and being embarrassed. But making those mistakes and doing the thing that I love even though Im not perfect is how I want to live my life. and I want my students to live this way too. They are trying and being brave and I am proud of them... and me... So... let me share with you a few things that I never really have talked about, but have helped me grow.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN FOLKS FEST:

I loved this event so much, but I hated my guitar playing. I am a pianist and I rely heavily on my band. but in this competition it could only be me. I thought I was prepared, When I first sat down, the sound guys had to switch around some stuff making me wait... I got flustered...and played my wrong song first. The second song was the one they judged and I had played my competition song first, GAH! I was so disappointed in myself. but yesterday, I listened to this recording, and Loved that I had this experience. even though I made a lot of goofs that whole weekend at a really big event, I learned so much!


In February I had a secret Invite only audition for The Voice. I was nervous. and my smile was way too out of control. and they hated me? I only got to sing one song and was asked to go, it was so strange because I had had previous auditions with them and they had asked me sing more than one song and at least pretended to consider me, not this time. I stopped singing and they said, no thanks. pack your things. It was bananas. and I felt like the biggest dummy ever. While I was leaving I bumped into Dustin Christensen who was so confident and awesome, they asked him what track he would be singing to and he said, "none, I don't sing to tracks" and they said well you were supposed to have one prepared, and he said, well I don't. and then he rocked and was on the show and was my hero. I learned a lot from this experience. And Im glad it happened. and I don't think I will do this TV show audition thing again. Its not my bag. and I don't have to try and be what they want. and just be me.
That is so refreshing.



After my Audition, we went for tacos at the Red Iguana, This quote was on the wall. Made my day!

Also being with my people, really made my day! Thanks Kate and Gray, we love you and
tacos.
I want to record my songs that I prepared for that audition, because I loved them. So hopefully in the next few days I will make sometime and share them...

Thanks for reading my blog, I'm glad to think about the things that have happened this year and in years passed as I've tried to share a little bit of my heart. I'm going to try not to be embarrassed and be more confident in the amazing and fun things Ive been a part of. Life is hilarious...and goes so fast. I have a few more weeks till we meet new little Butler. So very excited for all that she will add to this adventure!