Thanksgiving 2014

Thanksgiving is a great holiday. It's all the food and family and warm fuzzies without the expectations and marketing. This holiday I'm particularly thankful for the little things that add up to a big, extraordinarily wonderful life.

Homemade place cards with 4 year old handwriting.

Puppies who find just the perfect spot to sun bathe.

5 year olds who wear makeup and let you know they want "turquoise on the right eye and pink on the left."

Husbands who know how and like to cook.

Little helpers in the kitchen and passing on the tradition of holiday roll making.

Pre-dinner music.

Delicious food. And I'm just going to say it. I'm grateful for carbs.

This group of goobers. My people who make life colorful, interesting, and full of purpose.

As we went around the table, I jotted down what my family is thankful for:

Aleks: Family, an amazing wife, a job that he enjoys, friends, and health

Maia: God, Jesus, family, Isabelle, and "I hope the bird who died is... I hope they have a new one, the family that lost it"

Ruby: The bird who is dead, my microphone

(The girls found a dead baby bird outside yesterday. It made a pretty big impression.)

David: All of his granddaughters, children, people who helped make his granddaughters, sisters, and a mother and father whole cared for him.

From all of us here in Kansas to you, Happy Thanksgiving!

It's that time of year again

Family photos.

There's nothing like the turning of the leaves, frosty mornings, and pumpkin spice everything to remind you that Christmas card season is right around the corner. Which means, you've got to get your rear in gear and get the annual family picture taken.

I really dread the whole process. Scouting out a location, styling your family, trying to convince the kids to wear the clothes you've picked, getting hair brushed, finding a time that everyone is happy.

And what is it about the camera that turns kids into complete lunatics? They can't just smile nicely?

Does anyone have fun taking family photos? Maybe it'll be less painful when the kids are a bit older.

However, sometimes silliness captures personality pretty perfectly.

And while it's a huge pain in the ass and insecurity rears its ugly head, I know I'll be grateful for these snapshots that documents this time in our lives. Especially since I'm usually behind the camera.

5 years old. Going on 10.

My sassy, sensitive, sweetest little girl.

My people.

I spent a good chunk this afternoon designing our Christmas card. These two didn't make the cut.

Aren't you excited to see the one we picked?!

Also, peace and serenity to you if family photos are still on your to-do list.

Gratitude in the midst of chaos

On Tuesday night I'm presenting a recital of contemporary American music. There has been a long and leisurely road leading to this program, which is something I don't get to experience very often now that I'm a professional. In the midst of work and family and keeping a house running, it's often difficult to carve out time to practice, especially with an accompanist. But, this time was different and it's been a nice change.

Meanwhile my family has been sick. It started over a week ago when Ruby came home with a fever. Soon Maia was sick and two days after that Aleks came home from work shivering and hot to the touch. The girls bounced back after just a few days, but Aleks has been hit hard. I won't go into details regarding their symptoms, it's not pretty.

Needless to say, I've quarantined Aleks to the basement and have been disinfecting all surfaces. I declare, out loud, every day "I will not get sick," have started a religious routine of vitamin C supplements, am drinking fluids non-stop (my poor students have to deal with me running to the restroom every half hour), and am going to bed super early to get as much rest as possible.

Today is Sunday. I am healthy.

This past week has been hard. It's never easy when your partner is incapacitated and you're used to having help. All the triggers are in place. How easy it could be to feel overwhelmed and stressed to the point of breaking.

And yet, I feel oddly calm. At peace and full of gratitude.

I'm not sick.

My program is ready. I know the music intimately. I'm not scrambling to get things into my brain.

There are people who are investing in this concert, which humbles and settles me.

One is my accompanist who is doing a wonderful job. She has a busy life and to her, this could just be one more thing, but I never feel like it's only another job she has to complete.

The second half of my program features a song cycle by Ricky Ian Gordon called Too Few the Mornings Be. It has long been a dream of mine to collaborate with dancers and so I reached out to a member of the dance faculty and she agreed to choreograph for me. This recital comes at a time when the dance department is extremely busy with a guest choreographer in preparation for their dance festival and yet, she has added incredible beauty to my recital.

And the dancers. They are such an inspiration to me. Most are students from my studio and are musical theater majors. Their lives are so full. And yet they are giving up Saturday mornings (!!!) to rehearse and are so professional and enthusiastic and generous. I'm so so grateful to be sharing the stage with people who are excited about making art and enjoy the process of creating.

It's going to be a really unique, special night. And even if I end up sick (which, hell no I'm not), it's been a fulfilling journey to this point. If you're in my neck of the woods, I'd love to see you on Tuesday! (Check out my website for details: www.emilysternfelddunn.com)

Also, I wrote this while sitting in front of some beautiful flowers my mom sent me and a cup of hot coffee. So much happiness can be found in the little things.