So many special moments...

Well...it has been too long...and it is time to get back at it!  


I wanted to write...yet again...about the connection between my school and the Long Term Care Facility next door. It truly is amazing and the connections that we have made are so real and important and special. 


 I thought I would share a few of our end of year stories that make my heart smile! Glee @ Heart had their final concert for the year. I have been a part of it all year and every Monday I have seen them sing and every time it touches my heart. 


 At our second last practice of the year we came together to practice a new song. The grade 6's and I came in as usual and the kids found their seats next to the seniors. Brian (the musical therapist) was trying to figure out some chords on the piano. The kids were eating lunch and chatting with each other and making conversation with the seniors. Glennis (one of the seniors with dimentia who does not usually talk or interact much) looked at the girl next to her, who was eating a yogurt, and said, "That looks good." To which the student replied "It is." Then Glennis leaned over and took the foil lid from the yogurt out of the girls lunch, which is on her lap, licks it off and then puts it back in the girls bag. The student smiled and looked at me and we shared the cute moment. I was so proud of how she handled the situation. She showed true respect and it was so sweet. 


 Right after that, Glennis gets up and goes to the piano. She gently pushes Brian out of the way and sits down and starts to play. This woman who has come and listened, who has barely spoken and who we have seen all year, played us beautiful music for the rest of our practice. Right when she started I heard the 6's start to comment on how good she was. After each song they clapped and cheered. At one point Glennis started playing "You are my Sunshine" and the 6's started singing along. What a gift. There was not one complaint about not getting to sing. Only cheering and clapping after every song Glennis played and the whole walk back to school a conversation about how good she was. What a special day.  


Then our final concert at the school. All the seniors came over as well as some of the staff and some family. The whole school was there to watch. And it was wonderful. The choir sang beautifully. Seeing the seniors come to life as the music starts is always such am amazing thing to witness. Rita, who spent the first part of the assembly crying becasue the noise was too much and she was a little confused, sang her heart out with a huge smile and with her arms swaying in the air the second the music began. When it was done she wanted to hug every student that walked by her and not one student turned her down. Oz is another senior who never talks during practice but sings every word to every song. He has a solo that shares with a grade 6 student Sarah and for the first time he didn't sing it with her, he just held the microphone in front of her and smiled as she sang it all by herself. It was the only time I have ever seen him smile. Truly amazing. 


 We also have the seniors come to read once a month. They tell us that they practice their books for a least a week before they come to share them with us. They come in and share with one or 2 classes. I love when I get to have the chance to listen. I always love to hear the stories and the commentary that goes along with it. And I am continuously amazed and proud as I watch our students...even our littlest ones...sit and patiently and respectfully listen - even when it is hard to hear, even when the seniors forget to show the pictures. What a wonderful lesson in acceptance and understanding. 


 One of the other many connections that our school has made with the seniors next door is to set up pen pals. I looked in to this knowing that there were seniors who had no family or friends that came to visit them. So we connected one of our grade 3 classes with a group of seniors and they began to write to each other. The connection was immediate. One of the grade 3's made a card for her pen pal that said "When I saw the name Dorris on the board I knew you were the one for me." They wrote back and forth and then in June they arranged a get together. Both the seniors and the students eagerly awaited their get together. Just before they would meet there was an exercise done at the Long Term Care Facility where the seniors were asked to write down a wish...something important they would like to do before they pass away. One of the gentlemen, who happened to be one of the pen pals, said that his wish was to give his pen pal pizza because in every letter his grade 3 friend wrote he mentioned that he liked pizza. That was this man;s dying wish. To give pizza to his new friend. So when the grade 3's went to visit they got pizza for this sweet man to give his buddy. I wish I could have been there...but just hearing the story had me crying. They read out his wish and the these two unlikely special friends shared a visit and a slice of pizza. 


 I can't get over all the moments. I could go on forever but I thought I would share some of my favourites. As the summer continues on, I hope to share more stories that touch my heart and make me want to continue to do all that I can to spread all the good I can and to find new ways every day to spread a little love. Who's with me?

Oh What A Night...

Music For Freedom 2012...Oh what a night!!! It was truly amazing and so full of music, hope and love. I couldn't have imagined a better evening. 200 amazing people came to share in the night and almost $5000 was raised!


What can I say about the night. It was electric. It filled my heart with hope and love. The night opened with Glee @ Heart and they were perfect. They sang their hearts out. We practice every week, we have done a few shows, I have seen them so many times and still it brought me to tears. It is such an amazing choir. An amazing union of young and old. A perfect blend of music spanning generations. A heart warming sight to behold.


I am always so very proud of the grade 6's. They are such a kind and caring group. They work hard at learning the songs and they show their commitment coming to rehearsals every week for the entire school year. But most importantly, they visit with the seniors. I am always so touched by the way they will hold hands with the senior next to them, by the way they will give a hug to say hello, by the way they start up conversation and by the way they offer help whenever they can.


One of my favourite moments this year was a few weeks ago. One of the ladies had a board book about snowmen with her at practice. We arrived and the 6's took their seats and before we got started the lady started showing her book to the grade 6 student beside her. She started pointing to all the snowmen and saying "Well this is my Dad, and this is my Mom, this one here is my sister and this is me" and with complete acceptance and respect the student beside her listened and asked how old she was in the picture. It was such a simple moment but it spoke volumes to what that choir does. It transcends age and dimensia and depression and allows the young and old to just come together and connect from the heart.


That is what I saw on Saturday night...a sea of faces singing because they love to sing, a group of people who have connected in such a special way and a choir who can change the world. It makes me wonder...why aren't all schools and Long Term Care facilities built side by side?


So that was just the start! Then Chuck and Dave took the stage and totally entertained us. They are two of my favourite musicians...but more importantly they are two of my favourite people. Their energy filled the room and they had us singing along, clapping, laughing, crying and even some of us dancing! They moved us with their music. I was lucky enough to get a chance to be on stage and sing some songs with them. That is one of my favourite things in the world to do.


On top of all the great music...there were amazing people. People who came out to support 2 wonderful organizations and people who know us and love us. It was truly special to feel the love in the room...and I really feel as if I could have reached out and touched it.


I want to thank everyone who came out and those who supported even if they couldn't be there. You are what made the night such a success. We can make a difference and you all proved it that night. You are all wonderful and I feel so very lucky to know you all!


We are already looking to next year and know that it will be another amazing night. We will keep you all posted when we a pick a date and a venue!


Yours In Kindness...

Earth Hour

Well...Earth Hour is tomorrow night! I thought I would share this video about this amazing Global Movement that unites the whole world for one hour.


Let's all take part tomorrow night and join millions of people around the world as we unite and show what we can do when we all stand together.


Always remember the 3 C's in life...


Choice, Chance, Change


You must make the CHOICE, 
To take the CHANCE,
If you want anything in life to CHANGE.


http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=3025

All Kids Should Be This Lucky...

I was lucky enough to be in a Kindergarten room a few weeks ago and be a part of one little boy's star of the week poster presentation. This neat little guy has autism and has some challenges that will be with him throughout his life. I thought I was going to have to help out with some of the reading (as his Mom had written it) but he had every word memorized and read it loud and clear and proud with a huge smile...this is what he read...

"My family believe I am a special boy (a gift) for them. My Mom tells me I am smart and handsome."

Two simple sentences....read from the heart of a little boy...it brought tears to my eyes.

All kids should be so lucky...I just thought I would share.

Yours In Kindness

Happy Family Day

A little poem for Family Day...enjoy every second with those that you love!!!!

Some have a daughter.

Some have a son.

Some have many cousins.

Some have none.

Some are very big.

Some are very small.

But it really doesn’t matter at all.

A family is a family

By blood, choice or heart.

A family is a family 

Whether near or apart.

A family is a family,

Whether a dozen or a pair.

Because a family is a family

When there’s love in the air.

A Day of Heart

I have recently read a quote that has rapidly become one of my favourites and I thought I would share...


"Don't change so people will like you.
Be yourself and the right people will love you."


Thanks to all of you who let me be exactly who I am. The journey to be comfortable in my own skin, to accept myself (flaws and all!) and love myself no matter what has seemed long at times, but I feel like I have arrived! It is all of you who help me to remember every day that who I am is exactly who I should be. I am forever grateful to each and every one of you. Thank you for your love and support and friendship...I am so blessed and I love you!


On this Valentines Day...this is my wish...


I wish for you all to see the light that is within you.
I wish for you all to look in the mirror and love what you see.
I wish for you all to look at others and accept them for who they are.
I wish for you all the gift of loving yourself unconditionally.
In short I wish for you...love...pass it on.


Happy Heart Day!

Music For Freedom 2012

It is coming!!! Music For Freedom 2012 with Chuck and Dave (and a few songs from me!). As a fun addition...the Glee @ Heart Choir (intergeneration choir) will open for Chuck and Dave this year!

Saturday April 14th at 7:00 PM

It will be at Lutherwood Children's Mental Health Centre

This year we are supporting both a local organization and a global one! They are Free the Children and Lutherwood Children's Mental Health Centre. They are both amazing organizations that we are so happy to be a part of!

I am so excited about the concert. It will be an amazing night of music and inspiration, a night of people coming together in song to help others. That sounds like the perfect night to me.

If you came last year...we hope you can come again! If you weren't able to come or didn't know about it then we hope you can come for the first time!

So...stay tuned for information about tickets and more details!!!

"Great music is that which penetrates the ear with facility and leaves the memory with difficulty. Magical music never leaves the memory."

Sir Thomas Beecham

Come and join us for music that you will always remember.