What I use to curl my hair

 When I have a little extra time, I curl my hair.  I feel like a have a little bounce in my step, and by golly I feel pretty.  Watch the video and see the products that I use to curl my hair.  If you would like to try purchase them feel free to click Here.

Have a great day!

Comfort

 

Hello World,

Today was not the best day.  Today I may have ended up in tears because of how this year has been for my sweet family.  Surgeries, family members with cancer, and so many hoops that as an educator I have to jump through.  These are small things in the grand scheme, but today it didn't feel so small.  Today I had one more hoop to jump through and I broke down.  What do you do when you finally have your breaking point?  How do you handle life's hardship?  

I would like to say that I immediately went to my Bible, but unfortunately I didn't.  I ate a Chic-Fil A Cookie with milk.  It was good, but it made me realize that maybe I should have gone to Jesus with these burdens.  Maybe I should have laid my sorrow, frustration, and hurt at His feet.  

As it is, I can still do that.  I can lay my sorrow, frustration, and hurt at His feet now.  When days are tough dear friends, when it seems the world is against you, and life just keeps kicking you down you can lay it all at the Lord's feet.  He'll carry you through, he'll be your listening ear, and the comfort you need.  This life is not easy and Christ never said it was, but He'll never leave you.  I promise you that.

Hebrews 13:5b                                                                                                                                               for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

My morning :)

 

Hello World,

I wanted to post my fun and quick way of getting ready.  Ladies and Gentleman!  Fast,

 easy and you’re off :)

Enjoy!

This year, books, MONAT, and more

 So I’m making the move to deactivate my account for Facebook.  If you are bummed about that or just wonder what I’ll be up to.  Please feel free to subscribe to my blog, where I’ll post crazy videos of my MONAT reviews, write about books that I’m reading, talk about what’s on my heart on Bible passages, and of course tell you all what my adorable kids and very hot husband are doing :)

So for the first but not the last, here is my review of MONAT’s Balance.

https://youtu.be/iIEP4A3r_DQ

Enjoy!

Love,

Bre 

Canon

This is Canon,  she is the most mellow dog.  I mean it, all she does is sleep and sneak around the house to end up by you and then lay down and sleep next to you.  Because of recent events she has been getting more time with the family, and I’ve noticed that this dog is an attention seeking, snuggle, ball loving maniac!  She cracks me up with her constant need to carry a ball in her mouth at all times.

When we’re bored in the house, we’ll play who will Canon go to.  My kids have tried their hardest to have Canon come to them.  They’ll bribe her with balls, peanut butter, bones, yelling Canon lets go for a walk, but (very selfishly) if I call her, she immediately leaves them and comes to me.
My ever faithful, loving pup,  I hope you all experience the love of a dog :)

Have a great night world,
Love,
The Jesus Book Girl

Shimmer

Hello World,
This morning started off with a rough start, the kids were grumpy.  Heaven forbid, I made them read!  Oh no!  I'm a horrible mother, to make them read!!!  The angry looks, the mumbling, and then I called my parents.  And like the child that I used to be, I grumbled and mumbled to them.  My kids are being mean, and you two have to start staying home, this is called a pandemic for a reason, and both of you are over 65!

It was a rough start to the day, and then my mom and dad prayed for me.  Such a simple thing, but after that like the beautiful sun that shone today for us, it broke through my mood and it got better.  Friends, do you have someone praying for you?  Even when you don't want them to?  Even when the clouds are covering everything that could be good, I hope you have someone in your life who will pray for you.  If not, let me be that person :)

So we ended the day with the kids playing in the sprinklers and begging to give the dog a bath :)  I'm blessed that the sweet light was pleasant to my eyes and that the sun was out.

PS Canon was not harmed or mistreated during the bath and she now smells like fresh linen, not really but she does smell better ;-)

Random

Hello World,
This may be the most surreal thing I've seen in a while.  If you don't know, my full time job is an orchestra director with a middle school here in Texas.  I teach four beautiful orchestras each day and I am blessed beyond belief by their bright intelligent wit and love for music.  Each day is new, and each day is a blessing to me because I get to do something that I love.

Today I packed up all my curriculum, instruments, and snacks and went back to my house to begin a new way of teaching.  To wait patiently while our school district works through the logistics of going online, and working remotely.  They have been doing so much, going above and beyond.  I'm grateful for all they've done, but the reality of it still hasn't settled in for me yet. 

As we all leap in to this unknown, I want to encourage you to look into the Word of God, the Holy Bible, the living breath of life.  I pray that you find hope, I pray that you look into this book called the Bible that gives you so much.  There is too much random things that are happening in this world for you to not search out the truth.  If you're looking for answers, I can guarantee the Bible is the one place that will give you them.

Struggle

Hello World,
Never in my mind would I have thought how changing each day brings.  I am that girl who is a planner.  I literally have three planners (thank you Erin Condren), I make one week plans, one year plans, five year plans, and ten year plans.  My teaching curriculum and concert pieces are set up the year before.  Every binder is printed out for the students, and songs are studied and ready to go for me to teach.   Yes, my friends, I am that type of person...

So when I read this verse in James, it is a curve ball to my whole being.  The Coronavirus is something that took my plans and threw it in the trash.  Not only my schedule, but my kids schedule.  This truly could be something that is detrimental for me, if I didn't realize who is control.  It's not easy, and by golly I'm going to have to remind myself that if the Lord wills, I will live, and do this or that.  So these last couple of days I have learned to be flexible, and to trust in the one who wills.

And do you know what I've seen?  Some pretty amazing things.  Like Drew's martial arts coach giving him a private lesson over FaceTime.

I've seen friends sending information to ballet instructors who are teaching online during this time.

I've seen the Bagel Place of Amarillo, TX offer fair priced essentials like flour and eggs to their customers because the grocery stores are out.  I've seen friends check up on each other and family message one another.  These are trying times, but I hope you're able to see something good, and if you can't know that each day is new.

Instead you ought to say, "if the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that."  James 4:15

Love,
The Jesus Book Girl

Beauty in the midst

Hello World,
When I look back during this time of uncertainty, I want to remember an earnest heart wanting to know God’s ways.  At the end of this, I want to be a better person, someone who is willing to help.  Someone who is able to see the good in a person.

This verse hit me today.  have I learned the Lord’s way, have I followed Him fully.  I pray that I follow my Savior’s guidance and ways.  That I seek His truth, because God is my salvation.  May I wait all the day long for what God has for me, because He is my steadfast love. For God has been and will be forever.

Today I hope you grasp on to the path Jesus has for you and that you find the beauty in the midst of this trying time.  Love you all.

The Jesus Book Girl

Mercy Me Oh My

Hello World,
What a different perspective one day can bring.   The week for me was a bit scary, I realized that I had not changed out of my pajamas for three days.  My mind was going into the worst case scenarios and it wasn't leaving.   Today I read in Daniel about Daniel's plea to the Lord.  These verses were like a bell ringing in my head, a light that went off saying "Breezy, stop.  God didn't give you a spirit of fear, but of love and peace."

If you're struggling like I was, I pray today for you all that God bends his head down to you, and that your voice is heard.  That our eyes are open to the desolation and that He hears our pleas.  He is a merciful God who is always there. 

As a city may our Father God hear our pleas, whether it is social distancing, losing a job because of stores closing, or tightening of the budget.   Whatever has you in a desolate place, I pray in all of this may God hear each of your cries and answer.  Not because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy Father God.

Love you all, let me know please what I can pray for, or how I can help.  I would like to try to not only give prayers, but help as well.

love you all,
The Jesus Book Girl

Daniel 5:17

Hello World,
I have to admit these last few weeks have been eye opening to me.  How does everything change in a blink.  Oddly in my daily readings I have been reading in Daniel and Revelation.  In the midst of this I found comfort in the fact that Daniel went through much more.  This is not to say that others are not going through rough times, but for me it's a comfort to know that God watches over His kids. 

This verse in Daniel is in reply to the King of Medes who had a riddle to solve and Daniel solved it.  He didn't care about the momentary reward, or the comfort of the Kings favor, he cared only for bringing glory and honor to His God.  Friends during this time I want you to try and find comfort in our Lord Jesus.  He above all else is something real that you can cling to. 

Know that my thoughts and prayer are with you at this time, know that I'm praying for you all.

Love,
The Jesus Book Girl

Again

Hello World,
I feel like I go through stages in my life where I step back and say I need to write about this.  I have no clue why but it feels good to write out what my mind is going through.  As I was talking to my mom the other day she brought up the option of me getting my masters.  "Someday Breeze you're going to want to put your curriculum down and really process how you teach."

So here I am again writing :) For a while this blog will be on how I teach my kiddos and what it takes to make solid string musicians.  Let me preface this, I guarantee there are far better accomplished teachers then me.  I am not the greatest, but I have failed a lot and through failure I have accumulated a modge pod of curriculum that not only takes the beginning  orchestra student to advanced but also helps them become a sound musician.

I'm first going to tell you what I use for curriculum for each group after that I'll go through each group and give you an idea of what it looks like in a year.  Hopefully, this will help my process and give me an easier time when I do eventually get a thesis.

So here goes...

First this is my outline for what I do everyday.  I have noticed that if I cover these basics I don't need to spend time on performance pieces.  Actually I may spend about 15 minutes on performance pieces out of a 50 minute class period.

Snark Tuners Click Here to purchase. Side note: Orchestra teachers, stop wasting your precious time tuning students.  Get tuners there ain't no time to tune each child individually and the kids can't hear the notes accurately enough to get a good tone quality.
-Each stand has one, every student learns how to tune this way.  My beginners first pluck the strings and then slowly but surely as the years go along they learn to bow it and then in my advanced orchestra they learn how to tune in 5ths with just the A being tuned.
Bow Hold Check and vibrato practice
-I check each child's bow hold every day.  What!?!  that's ridiculous you say?  No, if you want them to be able to play proper articulations you're going to check their bow holds every day.  Trust me.
While I'm checking bow holds they're practicing vibrato. 
Rhythm Sheets
-I stole this from my band director friend Britni.  Ever wondered why the band is so consistent rhythmically?  It's because they work hard core on rhythm.
Long Tones
-So important for any type of tone development, nice and slow for each string.  Side note:  what I mean by nice and slow I mean like tempo 40.  This teaches the kids bow placement as well as bow weight and allowing them to learn bow speed.  Also it allows them to check how they're bowing and make sure it's correct.

Now here's where it kind of gets a little tricky, because after I do the basics each group has curriculum that they need to do to be able to progress on to the next level.

Beginners
-Here's a quick look at what I use
All For Strings Theory
Essential Elements Book 1
Suzuki songs transposed to be able to play for the whole group

Intermediate
-Here's a quick look at what I use for Intermediate
Scales, Octaves, and Arpeggios
Sight Reading material
Essential Elements Book 2
performance music

Advanced
-Here's a quick look at what I use
Essential Elements Book 3
Advanced Technique
Etudes
-If you want to most bang for your buck String Gym by Stephen Chin is great here is a link to it. Click Here
performance music

Tomorrow I'll talk about my school dynamic and what it looks like to teach in a Texan school.

real

Ok let's get real.

I never post videos of myself playing.  Why do you ask, because it never is perfect.  Things need to be worked out.  Chords need to be put in tune and by golly more vibrato, more dynamics, more everything!

So as I'm being hypercritical of myself and you all are thinking "She's too hard on herself".  Friends who aren't musicians, I'm being to nice on myself and I need to be upping my game!

Music is all about tedious meticulous practice.  It is sitting in a chair and listening to one note stay in tune for 1 minute or more!  It is making sure that every single one of those notes are in tune and it doesn't matter if there seems to be a thousand on the page, by golly I am going to sit through each one to make sure it is in tune.

After the notes are in tune you better make sure the rhythm is solid, and you don't miss a beat or rush a part or take a measure to slow.  So you get your metronome out and practice the song at sloth speed until it's right and then you practice it at turtle speed, and then you're like ok a little faster than a turtle until slowly but surely you have the rhythm, but while you were working on the rhythm you forgot about the dynamics.

So you go back and listen to the song from one of the many people that play it better than you to see if you can get the dynamics and the feeling of the piece.  More likely than not you'll hear educators describe a couple of notes sighing, or joyful, or forceful and it is your duty as a musician to make those notes have emotion!

And let's not forget about bow placement, phrasing, articulation, breathing, and the numerous other things that make a song come alive.  This will be my life until August 25th, until the day of Amarillo Symphony audition.  46 more days but until that day, I need to practice and definitely make sure it's quality practice...

Punishment

Ok
I know I've said it before but I get rather sick when I talk about the parts of the Bible that are hardcore.  That are convicting to me.  These parts aren't fun, but truthfully when I think about it; if I didn't cover the parts that are hard it would be like saying to my kids "Hey, you have no consequence at all for telling me that I'm stupid and please continue to hit me while you're saying it."
Ah, that ain't going to cut it in my family because one I'm not someone to allow a child to hit me just randomly and two that's insane to not to correct your child and make sure they have a consequence like cleaning the bathroom with a toothbrush ;-)

So here we have Hebrews 10 this chapter is full of in your face real t.v. or real Bible.  The chapter talks about Christ's sacrifice, His beautiful decision to give us the ability to be forgiven for our sins.  The first part of the chapter is incredible uplifting and reassuring.  The next chapter is the punch in the gut it's the "now that I've talked about all this incredible stuff let's talk about how you need to act as a Christian".  In verse 24 it gives us the encouragement of stirring up love in one another and doing good works for each other, to not neglect in meeting with each other and to continue to draw near to each other as the Day draws near.  Then the hammer is brought down in verse 26 "For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins".  The consequence to this is in verse 29.

Friends, this isn't someone who is walking life with Jesus and trying their hardest to live a life that glorifies God.  This is someone continually rejecting the ways of Jesus.  Someone who has trampled underfoot the Son of God.  For some reason they have been sanctified and have decided they need Jesus and then they choose to walk a path that rejects Jesus in their actions and words.

My question to you is, are you doing that?  How are your words to people, are you continually showing them Christ, or are you talking about them behind their backs using the "concerned Christian" as an excuse to gossip, are you lying to your kids and excusing your actions as just a little white lie, are you drinking and getting drunk justifying your actions because your at home with friends and they'll never talk about it with people at church, are you sleeping with someone outside of marriage?  If you call yourself a Christian and are purposefully not walking the life that Christ has asked us to do, you have profaned the blood of the covenant, you have outraged the Spirit of grace.  And truthfully I'm afraid for you, because never in a million years would I want you to fall into the hands of the living God.

Please Christian brothers and sisters think about what you signed up for when you first believed in Christ.

Working Out

Here are Todd and I.

It came to my mind that we’re not the young athletic and in shape couple that we used to be.  We’ve gotten lazy and quite honestly I like chocolate and Lays potatoes chips oh and my goodness I love Pepsi too!  This last weekend we have decided to start making healthier choices and to work out.

Ugh, I hate working out.  I hate the way my body feels afterwards and I hate the feeling of wanting to eat chocolate and chips but I can’t because of my decision to eat healthy.  Why does feeling sore after a workout feel like your about to get the flu!  That’s totally not fair, and it should be made illegal ;-)

What makes me motivated  though is toned and defined muscles.  I can do this!  For goodness sake I do not want my flabby arms swinging to and fro when I play cello!

So friends, if you see Todd and I or even think of us, say a prayer while we try to make healthier decisions.

iniquities

Sin

What in the world is it?  For my Christian friends we can go into great discussions and debates about what sin is.  For my friends who believe in something else this word is null and void.  There is no point to it.

Todd and I were talking yesterday during our walk about how I can explain what sin is to a culture that believes that good works will get them to heaven.  That's an incredibly hard thing to explain to someone who generally thinks they're a good person who doesn't do bad stuff.  A person like this doesn't need someone to save them because they don't think they'll have a consequence for how they have behaved.

So here's the deal about sin.  Have you told a white lie?  Have you ever been angry at someone and said something mean to them?  Have you ever thought something that wasn't kind?  Have you ever wanted to hurt someone?  All of these small inconsequential things seperate us from God just as much as the big time things like murder, stealing, and grand theft auto.  What I've read in the Bible is all of these things seperate us from God, the more we sin the farther we are from God.  

So here's the question, how close to God do you want to be?  Because if you want an actual relationship with Him, if you want to be able to talk to Him you're going to realize that you need someone to take the consequence of all those small little things you've done in the past and maybe the big things too.  That is why friend, Jesus had to come; to take the blame and consequence for your actions.  He is the whipping boy, the innocent victim who very willingly said I'll take their punishments so they have the option of having a relationship with God.

This long discourse is to finally talk about Hebrews 8:12

How beautiful is God saying I will be merciful to them, and I will remember their sins no more.  Oh to be loved so much that Jesus took my consequence.  That for me is why I believe in this faith because never before have I gone through a day without making a mistake.  I can try my hardest but but I always end up doing something that I regret.  If you're like me, you might just need Jesus to say "I'll take your punishment, so that you can get the blessings."

Love you and praying for you friend  

Romans 10:9-10 English Standard Version (ESV)

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

The Theory of Happily Ever After

Maggie Maguire is too smart for her britches and swears she'll never find love because of that.  Already jilted by her ex-fiance her two best friends rescue her and surprise with a singles cruise to promote her happiness book and to bounce back from a terrible relationship.  Will Dr. Maggie Maguire find true love or will it sink into the deep blue sea.

This was a fun book to start my summer vacation.  It had light hearted moments along with very in depth moments.  If you're looking for a fun read over the summer this my dear friends is for you.  So set sail with Maggie and her two besties Kathleen and Haley and read The Theory of Happily Ever After :)

*Yo peeps this book was given to me by Revell for my honest opinion.

Follow

I love this verse.

Generally speaking Paul is in your face; calling it like it is and not ashamed to make sure that the person who is wrong is told "Hey Buddy, stop having sex with your Dad's wife!"  (And yes he did write that). 

Here he is talking to Timothy telling him to be wise and listen to what they have been talking about.  To follow the faith and love that are in Christ.  Such simple beautiful words meant to encourage a believer in their daily walk.  To remember why we do what we do. 

Have a great day friend :)

Lularoe

Hello Sweet Friend!
It is summer :)  I can't tell you how incredibly nice it is to enjoy my family, and the ability to travel at any given moment.  One of the things that I'm always on the look out for is the perfect dress that can be dressed up or dressed down.  The dress needs to be comfy, but not show any of my butt cheeks ;-)  It's an added bonus if it has pockets!

To my lady readers, guess what?  I found the perfect dress.  The picture above is me in the Amelia by Lularoe, my friend Kelly Becktold took an incredible leap to open up her own small business and has done incredibly well by clothing women in comfortable, fashionable clothing.  If you haven't ever tried Lularoe I suggest you check out her website, you can click Here.

Here's another pattern of the dress and a full look of it :)

So friends :)  go check out Kelly's site and see if there's anything that might fit you.

Mom Guilt

Let's talk about Mom Guilt...

This is my Kylar Marie, she is beautiful and stunning.  She has a passion for all forms of dancing.  Every year around this time is Lone Star Ballet's Unleashed Performance.  It happens every year, around the same time.  Did I mention it happens every year around the same time?

So when you schedule a concert the night of a dress rehearsal, as well as a field trip that will be in Dallas on the night of her performance you can somewhat see why I have mom guilt.

It hard this year friends.  Why, because I very unknowingly scheduled my orchestra's concert and field trip on nights my daughter has her biggest performance!!!  What do I even do with that?  I have two options in handling this situation.  One feel immense guilt and wallow in self pity because my daughter will forever be traumatized and will need therapy for the rest of her life because mom made a mistake ;)  or I can fall on the grace of my Lord and Savior and admit I made a mistake and allow God to work through everything. 

Paul talks about this in Romans 3:23-25

23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.25God presented Him as an atoning sacrifice through faith in His blood, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand.

I cling to the knowledge that God knew this was going to happen, and that even though my mistake was huge I am justified freely by His grace through redemption that is in Christ Jesus.  We have all fallen short friends, don't let the mom guilt or guilt in general eat you up, but cling to the knowledge that Jesus has redeemed you.

P.S. If you would like to see my beautiful daughter dance tickets are on sale through their website and you can click HERE.  The performance are this Friday May 18th and this Saturday May 19th :)