Retiring

Since 1982 I've been teaching in the public schools of Texas. I've been an orchestra director, full-time substitute, and for last 23 years in Temple, I've been an elementary music teacher.   This decision isn't coming with a big smile but with a huge sense of sadness since my decision is based upon my health issues.  I know that everyone says that God closes one and door and then opens another - or is it a window?   I am so grateful for all the wonderful moments I've had sharing my love of music with children.  I tried to count how many productions I've done but I honestly don't know.  I usually had around 4-5 shows each school year. So since being here in Temple that means over a 100!  As I reflect over these 100 shows and 29 years of teaching there are some memories that stand out above the rest:


*****One of the first programs that I did at Jefferson Elementary was about being on the farm.  I had told the kids to dress like they were working on the farm.  Well that night one of the kids showed up with mud on his clothes and dirt on his face.  He said, "Mrs. Thweatt, you told me to dress like I had worked on the farm!"  A few years ago I ran into that same boy, now a 6'5'' young man and we had a good laugh.  


*****In my second year of teaching at Jefferson I recall the day I asked a first grade class if any of them would like to share a song.  One beautiful little blonde-haired child raised her hand.  I anxiously awaited. 
The next thing I knew a heavenly angelic voice began singing "You Are My Sunshine".  It was the sweetest, most clear and pure voice I had ever heard.  It was Sarah Brindley, who has become a professional opera singer and performer.

*****The Disney Review at the CAC in the early 90's.  We had a huge storm just prior to the show and the electricity went out.  The curtain was electrically operated.  Try having 100 kids on stage...no lights, then lights, but the curtain won't work!  Some dads came down and saved the day by figuring out to get the curtains open despite the broken mechanism.


*****Hooray for Hollywood.... All of the staff at Jefferson dressed up like different characters to help raise money for a new playground.   Mrs. Johnston, the principal, won the "Oscar" for her portrayal of CruellaDeVille.  The children never quite looked at her the same.  Of course my personal favorite was when my Audrey sang "Till There Was You" from "The Music Man".  


*****In 1999-2000 I taught K-2 at Reagan Magnet. That spring the school property was sold to St. Mary's  Church and the school was to be closed after a 100 years!  I was in charge of singing us out in style.  We did a musical review that started with the year that Reagan opened in the 1895 or so.  We did a musical number for every decade.  Vanny Bolsins, the principal, did the Jitterbug swinging when we came to the 1940's era.  The children loved it.  This show was definitely one my favorites and best productions.  Reagan had been such a part of Temple's history that many people wanted to get involved.  We had a Dixieland Jazz group, a country band, the Sweet Adelines, and lots of wonderful acts by children and staff members.  


*****Not all of the shows were wonderful. One group of children doing a Christmas show were just out of control.  I had tried every trick in the book but there are just some combinations of kids that don't need to be together on risers!  One very unruly boy....in the middle of the show...decided to clean out his nose and wiped it on the girl's head in front of him.  I nearly threw up as I was directing! As soon as the song was over I got a teacher to remove him from the stage for the remainder of the program.  Earlier this year I saw him at a local pizza buffet.  He came up and hugged me......but I have to admit, I was so glad that Tim and I were just leaving because I honestly could not have gone back to the buffet!


*****The first year I taught at Thornton Elementary I recall a young kindergarten student's curiosity. He sat on the front row of the benches and was very attentive.  I had mentioned to the children about not screaming so loud when they sang, that it made my ear drums hurt.   Before I knew what had happened this young boy hopped up on the bench and put his hands to my shoulder and tried pulling my head down toward him.  I asked him what he was doing.  He sweetly replied, "I want to see the drums in your ear!"


I could write more but for now...I just thank God that I have been so blessed to have a profession that has been so fun.....okay - stressful, too!  This next Tuesday, May 24th will be my last production.  I'll make sure that I take some tissues with me.  

"Out of the Mouth of Babes"

I love to sing seasonal songs with my kids at school.  Of course with it being Easter in the Southern "Bible Belt" bunnies and eggs aren't the only thing that people celebrate.  Today I read a little book geared toward the primary grades called Celebrating Easter as an introduction to our singing time. The book started out with saying that people celebrate Easter for many reasons.  Then it showed a page of Easter symbols and asked if the reader knew what the symbols meant.   As you can guess....there was a bunny, an egg, an Easter Lilly, an Easter Bonnet with flowers, and a cross. 
As my class of 2nd grade children looked at the pictures....all at once there seemed to be a vocal eruption of children commenting on the symbol of the cross.  I got the kids quiet - not because of what they were saying but because they were all talking at once.  So one at a time the ones that wanted to comment were allowed to talk.   Below is a pretty accurate transcript of the children's comments.  I will just use student 1,2, 3 etc since I cannot legally tell their names... 

Student 1:   "Mrs. Lightfoot, I know what Jesus' last words were on the cross....'Father forgive them cause they have hurt me'...(as the little boy said this...he stood up and stretched out his arms and looked up to the ceiling)

Student 2:  "Jesus had somebody die beside him on each side.  One man was going to be taken to Paradise.....I think that means heaven"

Student 3:   "They put nails in his hands and feet." 
(lots of kids took their hands down and said...THAT's what I was going to say!!!"

Student 3 again:  "Mrs. Lightfoot did you know that some soldier stabbed him in his side?"

Me:  "Yes, honey, I knew that" 

Student 4:  "They beat him with a whip that had glass or metal in it,  He bled a lot."

Student 5:  "But He didn't stay dead!  What you said happened on Friday but by Sunday morning he was alive!"

Student 6:   Yes, that's called the Resurrection.   That's why Easter is happy,"

Student 7:  "I think some angels came and got him out of the grave"

Student 8:    "Now he's in heaven back with God"

Student 9:    "So's my grandma."

At this point I pushed back the tears and continued to read the book. 

I hope this Easter brings new life to the corners of your heart that have aged or grown calloused to the story of the Cross. 

Hearts and More Hearts

I've always loved Valentine's Day -  (probably because this chubby girl always liked chocolate!)   I can remember the first time I learned to fold a piece a paper and cut out a beautiful heart. I was so amazed that it turned out!   I also have a very special memory of getting to go to a Girl Scout Father/Daughter Valentine Dinner.  Karla and her dad accompanied me and my dad.  I gave my dad a Valentine that I had chosen for him..."A PIZZA of my heart belongs to you!"   He loved it.    Well some Valentine memories aren't quite as special but my love of hearts and the sentiment of the day has remained.   

Well earlier this month I decided that I would let my older music classes make Valentines to give to the Veterans over at the VA hospital that we have here in Temple.   I gave the children some guidelines and wrote some sample words on the board.  Then I turned them loose with paper, scissors, glue, markers and colors.  The results were amazing.  Of course there were the funky spellings of words that came from the heart and then the most beautiful designs of hearts and flowers and flags.  I was so proud of the children for taking this job so seriously.  Of course since it was music class we listened to Beethoven and Bach while we worked.

I wasn't really sure where to even take them but on Saturday afternoon I walked into the Olin Teague Hospital with a huge box of  cards ready to be given away.  Once I saw a security guard he directed me where I needed to go and I was on my way.   As I made my way up the various floors I gave most of the cards to the different nurses' stations that were located throughout the hospital.  However if my path crossed with someone in the elevator or a waiting room I gave them a Valentine personally.  I saw one man wearing a Dallas Cowboy sweatsuit and walking very slowly with a cane.  I took a moment and told him about the cards and then handed him one.  He read it and then tears came to his eyes.  He told me that he would keep this card forever. 

So Happy Valentine's Day to all especially to our Veterans and active military.  We owe them our thanks.....after all they've given their hearts to us.  

New Furchild

Well after many years of saying that Sasha needed someone to play with....we finally did it.

Meet Blossom. We adopted her from APAC who was at PETSMART this past Friday.

Blossom was one hour away from being put down in the Dallas city shelter. She is obviously a mutt with some Lab color, German Shepherd protectiveness and who knows what else.

She and Sasha bonded right away and we knew that this was the right thing. So Merry Christmas, Sasha. She is probably about a year old and isn't housebroken just yet. Joy, Joy! Oh Well! We are grateful that we were able to rescue her.

All God's Critters

One of my favorite songs that I have used in my school music programs is "All God's Critters Gotta Place in the Choir". Well my new version is "All God's Critter Gotta Meal on the Porch".

It started with just a little hungry cat. I saw a small black and white kitten crouched under the rocking chair on my side porch. Well of course I had to feed it. It came and went for a few days

Then one evening I was sitting in bed solving my nightly round of puzzles and I heard a very loud "Meow" that sounded stressed. It continued for quite a while. Finally I decided that something was wrong so I go outside in my pj's with a flashlight and follow the sound of cat's cry. Finally up in the tree was a beautiful orange tabby that obviously was stuck up in the tree. I tried to coax it down but after trying to maneuver a few angles, it continued to tell me no. So with a husband who is several inches taller than myself, I convinced him to come and help. Tim tried to just reach the cat and could actually touch him but couldn't get the critter down. Well I am married to such a smart man! Tim went and got a board that was nearby and held it up to the tree and the orange tabby just walked the plank and came right on down. Of course there was a bowl of food on the porch waiting on him ....well I guess I should say her.

Now there were 2 critters to feed...the black and white kitten and the orange tabby. So I went to the store and brought home a good size bag of cat food that I left out on the porch closed up. The next night I go to put out some food for the cats and the bag has a hole in it. Then one morning when I was home from work I heard something on the porch and a squirrel was inside the bag eating the food. Okay....bad idea to leave the bag outside....

Over the next couple of days a half-mixed calico cat appears; another light colored tabby and of course the black and white kitten and the orange tabby are all taking turns at the bowl. This keeps Sasha keeps really busy going back and forth from our bedroom door to the other bedroom door to watch them.

Well one night she started barking really loudly so I went to look through the glass doors and a possom was now enjoying the food. I sat and watched it for awhile and tried to take pictures. None of them turned out very good. After the possom finished dining the mixed calico came for a few moments, then the orange tabby took her turn.

So for now....a possom, several cats and probably some squirrels are enjoying the cheapest cat food I can afford. Tim has assured me that when I go in the hospital that he is not feeding anybody but Sasha!

Pictures!

We have a beautiful new addition to the Spurlock family! Charlotte Ann Lamsens born to Caroline and Frank on September 28th. She is beautiful and has all ready wrapped Pappi Vern around her little finger. Somehow I didn't get Frank in any of my pictures.

Below is a short video of Mom and Vern with Charlotte.

Turning 50

Well turning 50 is definitely a turning point in my life. I am not uncomfortable with the number but I have to admit that's it's feeling rather surreal. The party was great and I am so blessed to have had my family and friends be with me to share in the sunset over the lake.