Give the Gift of Music and help the children in South Rome!

In 1989 I entered the world of Kindermusik.  I went for training that summer and started teaching a small group of children at the Child Development Center on the Berry campus. Fast forward 28 years (WHAT?) and I have 2nd generation kids in classes and have seen Kindermusik grads who continue their music into adulthood. The Kindermusik tag line, "a good beginning never ends" is one I believe. Kindermusik is more than just learning music, it's learning life skills through music.

When the education department at Berry College decided to partner with an under-served community, it made sense for Kindermusik to be a part of their education. The 3 year olds at the South Rome Early Learning Center (SRELC) thrive in the music presented via Kindermusik each week.  For many of the children, English is their 2nd language and the songs and books used in Kindermusik allow them an opportunity to practice their English skills.  Home materials are an important component in the program, so the learning continues with their families.

This is our 3rd year to provide Kindermusik classes at SRELC.  Several campaigns are helping assure that this will happen, and you can be a part of bringing music to the children in South Rome.  Click here to learn how you can donate. Donations are tax deductible!

Crowdfunding for Children in South Rome Community

In 1989 I entered the world of Kindermusik.  I went for training that summer and started teaching a small group of children at the Child Development Center on the Berry campus. Fast forward 28 years (WHAT?) and I have 2nd generation kids in classes and have seen Kindermusik grads who continue their music into adulthood. The Kindermusik tag line, "a good beginning never ends" is one I believe. Kindermusik is more than just learning music, it's learning life skills through music.

When the education department at Berry College decided to partner with an under-served community, it made sense for Kindermusik to be a part of their education. The 3 year olds at the South Rome Early Learning Center (SRELC) thrive in the music presented via Kindermusik each week.  For many of the children, English is their 2nd language and the songs and books used in Kindermusik allow them an opportunity to practice their English skills.  Home materials are an important component in the program, so the learning continues with their families.

This is our 3rd year to provide Kindermusik classes at SRELC.  Several campaigns are helping assure that this will happen, and you can be a part of bringing music to the children in South Rome.  Click here to learn how you can donate. Donations are tax deductible!

Portland is weird, but friendly!

The journey ends where it began  - Portland.  Our last day would include a drive by of Hayward Field in Eugene, a snack at Voo Doo Doughnuts, a trek through Powell's bookstore and dinner at the food trucks.  My favorite part of going to Portland was visiting with former Berry students.  Michael and Kelly Smith moved to Portland in 2013.  Rachel Floyd Davis is originally from the Portland area and returned home after graduating from Berry.  The surprise was the new Berry grad turned Portland resident, Thomas Clark.  He had just arrived in Oregon a few weeks prior to our visit.  I had the pleasure (most of the time!) of teaching three of the four in piano class.  They were all music majors during their stint at Berry, trumpet, cello and vocal students.

The iconic track and field stadium

On our last night in Portland the Berry Oregonians met us at Voo Doo Doughnuts for the true tourist experience.  There are plenty of  weird people in Portland, and you can find many of them working at Voo Doo.  They may be different, and a little strange but they are nice folks and the doughnuts are AMAZING!!!

9 Berry grads and 1 current Viking

Rachel and Violet

So many choices: Tex Ass Challenge,  Bacon Maple Bar, Voo Doo Doll!

There is always line at Voo Doo

Berry music grads all living in Portland
Rachel, Michael and Thomas

Violet and Caroline

Caroline entertaining at the food trucks

Mount Hood

We always enjoy our trips to the Left Coast, and Portland never disappoints.  
Until next time!

Traveling to National Parks since 2002

Reunion!

The Berry class of 2004 has some amazing graduates, and we were fortunate to love on them during their days in Rome.  Abby Kirkland Fernandez emailed me that she running the Berry 10K and Dana Roberts Van Sant called to say they would be visiting the same weekend -  time for a reunion! Instead of them coming to the house, we decided to have a dinner at the Seven Hills Building on Broad Street.  We attend Seven Hills Fellowship and we are fortunate to have a great space for events, dinners and gatherings.

I fixed pasta of several varieties and served it with salad, bread and dessert. Everyone enjoyed eating together, visiting and watching the kids play.  In addition to the Fernandez and Van Sants, we invited the Burns (Hailey Stovall), Tracy Morgan Batchelor (Robbie was sick), Abby's friend Cythnia Detweiller and her family (Cynthia was running the 10K), and Rachel Stewart, a 2011 grad.

All these former college kids attended and served with the youth at Calvary, therefore we included some "old" youth! Kendyl and Josh Clark, Josh and Mallory Trammell,  plus all four of my kids.  It was such a sweet evening and I hope we can do it again!

Kids table

Bert with mom (Tracy)

Josie and Dana. Michael in the background!

Hailey

Hailey & Joe attended high school and college together

Good conversations

Kate, Rachel  and Josie in the nursery

Josh, Sadie and Lizzie - new friends!

Jackson having fun

The crew!

Abby and Carrie.  Abby used to call her "mini me".  Love them!

Snow Storm 2014

On Tuesday January 28 there was snow in the forecast, but the weatherman said it would most likely be a dusting for our area.  He was incorrect, proving that God is in control!

View from my office at 11:30 a.m.

Classes were cancelled at 1:00 p.m.
Here is the Ford Complex when  I left campus

Traffic was bumper to bumper going to West Rome.
The usual commute is 10 minutes turned to almost an hour.
Nothing compared to the Atlanta nightmare.

I didn't have an ice scraper handy,
so my Swift and Finch coffee sleeve did the job!

Ready for some fun on a local hill!

Aaron decided to try snow kayaking.  Click for a video!

Randy's vintage 60's sled was the favorite mode of transportation!
Even I went down a few times!

Give me a push!

School was out the remainder of the week due to ice covering the roads.  We enjoyed several neighborhood walks to try sledding on other hills, and a couple of WalMart excursions helped us walk off all the eating we did.  I like to cook on snow days! Randy, Kate and our travelling neighbors, the Williams hiked to the Berry Reservoir to enjoy the beauty of the mountain campus. Carrie and her Winshape friends hiked to the House of Dreams where they skated on a frozen pond. Instagram blew up with pictures from the Berry campus!

Alyssa had snow and ice in Mississippi too which meant no school for several days.  Though we have all enjoyed the snow and days off, we are ready for the routine to resume!

Wedding in Hawkinsville

Weddings.  Ask my kids, they have heard 'elope' most frequently when asked about the subject of nuptials.  As a musician I have been a part of many weddings and seen the tension, trauma and tears of numerous brides.  I don't have anything against getting married, or weddings in general.  But, the storybook bride is a far cry from the reality of the event.  

As a musician I play for weddings.  Because I work with college students, I am also invited to a myriad of ceremonies.  The latest invitation came from a favorite Berry grad, Golden Goss. What a great name, and it is his given name!  Golden is from the class of 2004. The group of students that attended Berry from 1999-2004 was an awesome crew.  A large contingent poured into the lives of my children. They set Godly examples as they studied, played, loved and ministered. 

Golden graduated and I lost touch with him.  For awhile he was in North Carolina, then I heard he moved overseas to work with  Samaritan's Purse.  Years passed, and I discovered he was back in Rome!  Golden, who was an environmental science major, became a Rome firefighter.  Long story short, we reconnected at Sunday lunch and the rest is history.  In a few months we met Mary Katherine, and liked her immediately. She and Golden seemed perfect for each other.  

There are other Golden stories I could share, but what you need to know about GG is his love for God, his devotion to MK, and his Godly perspective of marriage.  GG & MK were married on Saturday October 12 at the Goss family farm in Hawkinsville Georgia.  It was a wonderful celebration of how God brought these two sweet people together.  I was excited to share a part of their day. The wedding was simple and sweet, just like the new Mr. & Mrs. Goss.

The ceremony would overlook the lake.

MK is an artist.  The guest registry was signed with your fingerprint using a variety of ink colors, thus making a lovely tree.

Josh Clegg, another 2004 graduate and one of Golden's roommates.

Trees and flowers lined the aisle!

Golden waiting for his bride!

Sweet nieces

The beautiful barefoot bride and her father.

Mitch Jolly from Three Rivers Community Church in Rome
led the couple in their marriage vows

Current Berry students who attend TRCC with GG and MK.
They are all vocalist that I have the pleasure to work with on a regular basis.

Tabatha is Golden's sister.  
She attends church with Joe and Abby Fernandez,
another sweet couple from Berry's 2004 class.

Boiled peanuts and apple cider.  Perfect.

Golden and Wes. Berry past and present!
They are in a D group together. 

So excited for Golden and MK.

The only question I have now, is about texting. When I reconnected with Golden he gave me his phone number, but told me he didn't text, because he was saving it for marriage!