Three Things...Gratitude Thread

[nfrank]

Colorful Things...

1.) Rainbows (for many, many reasons)
2.) Christmas lights for the joy they bring when I see them
3.) Art supplies (i.e. paint, markers, crayons, colored paper, etc.) for the things they create

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Yay for Christmas lights and feel better dear Bluecastle.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Today's Topic (Tue, 2/11) - 3 music-related things you're grateful for

 

[WDWEPCOT]

Records
CDs
A stereo system to play them on which also includes cassette because yes I’m that old I still have a bunch and I’m not repurchasing that music again some of it I don’t even think you can
I love listening to music I listen to all kinds of music Several different Genres

 

[slo]

Good Wednesday Morning

#1 - MUSIC MINISTRY AT MY CHURCH - We have some incredibly talented people at my church. We are blessed that they share their time and talent with us.

#2 - SIRIUS XM - I love it in my car, and the app when I’m at the gym

#3 - CONCERTS - I don’t go to concerts anymore due to them being soooooo…… expensive now. I am grateful for the wonderful memories I have when we saw several of our favorites in concert in the past. I’m glad we went and saw them when we did. I tell my DH all the time how it makes me when people tell me how it must be nice to go to WDW as often as we do, and I think…. you’re concerts every year are more than our trip

 

[leebee]

Colorful things-
Fireworks. I LOVE fireworks! My favorite place to watch the MK fireworks used to be in Fantasyland, where they fireworks seemed to be exploding directly overhead. I'll probably never see these shows from in-park again as the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds are terrifying, but I do love a good fireworks show.
Christmas lights. We leave the multicolored icicle lights up on our front porch all year round. I love coming home to the warm, soft, colorful glow each night.
Pens. I still grade quizzes and exams by hand, and have a set of pens in 12 different colors that I use for this. I keep hoping that the cheerfulness of magenta ink might put a smile on a student's face!

Music things- I'm not terribly musically-attuned, but...
Being able to get in the car, open the windows (and turn up the heat in winter), blast the radio, and drive. Yup, mostly about the driving but it wouldn't be the same if I couldn't crank up those oldies tunes so I could SING while driving!
Ballet scores. As many of you might remember, my DD was a trained ballerina who danced with a couple of companies when she was in her teens and twenties. I can hear certain scores (whether scored for a ballet or just written but used in different productions) that take me back to specific times/places with some very wonderful people. It's like it's engraved on my heart. Isn't it crazy, how we associate music with emotions and experiences?
Listening to my SIL perform (sing/guitar). I am not a big fan of his preferred genres, but I truly enjoy going to watch him perform, seeing him do what he loves.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

Wireless Headphones - I need music when I walk and exercise. I always hated being tethered to a device by a cord. I'm sure my parents and everyone in my general vicinity in my college years wishes they were a thing back then because it was impossible for me to be in my room and dance around to the music with a cord in tow. So, EVERYONE got to hear my music...and it was LOUD!

Apple CarPlay - Let's just say I have pretty hefty iTunes and AmazonMusic libraries. Before ditching Sirius, I also came up with a massive Spotify playlist. While I know there are songs I missed, I have over 8 days worth of music in it. While Spotify stops working if I lose cell signal in remote regions, my other playlists are available everywhere and it can all come with me in the car thanks to CarPlay. Back in December, I went back to the rental car counter and insisted on a different vehicle because they gave me the one vehicle on the lot without it!

Recordings for preparation - In my symphony days, the director or the maestro used to recommend recordings if we wanted to get in extra practice at home. It was usually another conductor whose direction and markings were similar to what we'd be using for our performance series. In the case of my very first concert series, the #1 recommended CD also had two of the four soloists who would also be singing with us. What's funny is that I had been using a method like this to train myself on everything from notes and timing to dynamics and pitch texture since I was in kindergarten. I was absolutely in love with Annie (pre-movie) and the album of the original Broadway cast I was gifted as a 5 year old became my teaching tool. I did the same with others as well, but Annie (and later Cats) was the big standout. I had a small tape recorder that I used to use to record myself singing along with the cast and I'd troubleshoot and critique...then rinse and repeat with rerecording myself to try and correct deficiencies or preference matters. Nobody told me to do any of this, but at a young age, recordings and recording devices were my tools to strive for excellence and get an honest reflection of where I needed work.

 

[NannyBeBe]

1. Listening to my daughter's angelic voice when I stand next to her in church;
2. Remembering when my husband played guitar in church;
3. Watching the Gaither singers on YouTube, especially The Love of God -- makes me cry every time I hear it.

 

[clappyclaps]

Afternoon all,

1. Wireless/Bluetooth headphones - another vote for these, they're ideal when out walking or when travelling. It's been that long since I had corded headphones I can't imagine ever going back to them.

2. Spotify - the ability to have an almost endless amount of music at your fingertips no matter where you are and to be able to play it on whatever you want is incredible.

3. Android Auto - without this, I wouldn't be able to use Spotify in my car so when I'm driving the 2 of these are a lifesaver!

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Memories of being in choir at church
Kids singing at church on Christmas especially
Dad enjoys classical music. Not for me but it brings him joy

 

[WLWildlife]

Pandora - I love customizing my channel to just the songs I love and being able to have multiple channels of different genres to suit my mood.

Movie sound tracks- I can sing along all day.

Singing songs with my kids when they were little.

Listening to my dad sing or whistle when he is puttering around.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Sirius Radio in my car

Playing around on the piano

Listening to my Dad and brother play the guitar

 

[bluecastle]

Thanks flyingdumbo! Today I am very grateful for modern medicine. Not better yet, but feel like I may have turned a corner.

I am grateful that I grew up in a house filled with music.

I am grateful that my dad met a member of the NY Philharmonic when they were in the National Guard band together and became lifelong friends. Because of that, live music was a big part of my life.

I am grateful that the school district I attended growing up had an excellent and extensive music program. This was a source of affirmation for me, a chance to shine, and I flourished because of it.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Today's Topic (Thu, 2/12) - 3 charitable efforts you're grateful to participate in (or to have participated in at some point.)

 

[WDWEPCOT]

I work for a charity services wounded veterans and helps them to become more mobile again

I worked for a kennel when I was younger it helped save and rescue dogs

And I always give and donate in times of disaster like hurricanes earthquakes things like that to help people who’ve lost everything

When my kids were in school you could sponsor a family at Christmas and then you could donate like everything they would need for a Christmas meal so it would be the food I would always throw in like you know a tablecloth some dishes silverware some toys for the kids something for the adults these are people that don’t have anything and I thought it was a good thing because it teaches your kids that you have everything and you need to give the people who don’t have anything

 

[slo]

Good Thursday Morning

#1 - CHURCH FOOD PANTRY - Every Saturday, when we go to Mass, we bring food for our food pantry. Part of my weekly grocery shopping includes items for the food pantry

#2 - CHURCH CHRISTMAS CHARITY - We participate with this every year. Our church has 3 different places that parishioners buy for and then the church takes all these items to the different places

#3 - DIOCESE FUNDRAISER - We participate with this every year to help raise funds that are used for many many things throughout the diocese. What I really like is that it helps support retired priests and nuns.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Praise extra to God dear Bluecastle.

Grandma and I volunteered at a hospital many years ago when I was a teen.

My own years volunteering at a thrift shop for fighting cancer.

Church in general.

 

[Summer2018]

Colorful things-
Fireworks. I LOVE fireworks! My favorite place to watch the MK fireworks used to be in Fantasyland, where they fireworks seemed to be exploding directly overhead. I'll probably never see these shows from in-park again as the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds are terrifying, but I do love a good fireworks show.
Christmas lights. We leave the multicolored icicle lights up on our front porch all year round. I love coming home to the warm, soft, colorful glow each night.
Pens. I still grade quizzes and exams by hand, and have a set of pens in 12 different colors that I use for this. I keep hoping that the cheerfulness of magenta ink might put a smile on a student's face!

Music things- I'm not terribly musically-attuned, but...
Being able to get in the car, open the windows (and turn up the heat in winter), blast the radio, and drive. Yup, mostly about the driving but it wouldn't be the same if I couldn't crank up those oldies tunes so I could SING while driving!
Ballet scores. As many of you might remember, my DD was a trained ballerina who danced with a couple of companies when she was in her teens and twenties. I can hear certain scores (whether scored for a ballet or just written but used in different productions) that take me back to specific times/places with some very wonderful people. It's like it's engraved on my heart. Isn't it crazy, how we associate music with emotions and experiences?
Listening to my SIL perform (sing/guitar). I am not a big fan of his preferred genres, but I truly enjoy going to watch him perform, seeing him do what he loves.

So much of your post resonates with me.

P.S. My favorite spot to view the WDW fireworks is on a fireworks cruise on Bay Lake without the crowds. It feels like a private show.

 

[Summer2018]

1. I am thankful for my Grandmother who graduated from Yale University School of Music back when most women didn’t attend college. She was our church organist in her later years and introduced me to the world of music. She got me interested in Music History and exposed me to chamber music. I sang Soprano in her choir which she directed when I was a child and became her assistant at church doing the “behind the scenes” things for her choirs. After she passed, I continued taking professional voice lessons and earned a Concentration in Music for my Early Childhood Education degree.

2. I am deeply moved by most genres of music from Classical to Alternative. I love to sing at the top of my lungs and feel the emotions stirred up by many different kinds of music.

3. I love to sing with my students and teach them new songs. Preparing for graduation is a huge but rewarding undertaking. I direct 100+ kindergartners in performing 3-4 songs. Many of these students are dual language learners. It’s challenging, but on graduation day, they always entertain and touch the hearts of the audience members.

 

[Summer2018]

1. As a teen, I participated with my MYF (Methodist Youth Fellowship) in the Appalachian Service Project. We volunteered repairing homes for people who lived in Appalachia. My first time was in Pippa Passes, Kentucky. It was a very life-changing experience for me giving me perspective on others’ lives and helped me to feel grateful for everything I had.

2. As an adult, I volunteered as a Leader of our church’s MYF. I did this for many years in my 20’s up until I became a Mother. Then I became the Nursery Director and a Sunday School Teacher as my daughter grew. As a church volunteer, I led others in various charitable activities benefiting people in our area (CROP Walk for hunger) and around the world.

3. When my daughter was old enough to volunteer in Appalachia, I led a group of teens who fixed homes in West Virginia. The following year, she went without me. I wanted her to have the experience without the safety net of having her Mom with her on the trip.