CLAP YOUR HANDS

#janphotoaday6

2012-01-25T22:21:00.001-08:00

DAY 22: top left - your shoes. This is a picture of a few of the shoes lining my side of the closet. I love shoes...you can probably tell by the picture.

DAY 23: top right - something old. We inherited these amazing chairs from Derek's great aunt. They are part of a beautiful dining set built in the 1940's!

DAY 24: bottom left - guilty pleasure. I'm not sure if hummus counts as a "guilty" pleasure, but it should count based on how much I eat it! I love Sabra's roasted red pepper! I usually eat it with Nuthins (a favorite gluten free cracker).

DAY 25: bottom right - something you made. Why, chocolate chip cookies, of course! I made them at 10:30 p.m. - which is ridiculous. I just love to bake, no matter the time of day. Also, my grandma's recipe is the best I have ever found - hands down...if you want it, e-mail me at katiedhenbest@gmail.com!

#janphotoaday5

2012-01-22T11:00:00.001-08:00

DAY 18: top left - something you bought. I bought this vintage dotted blouse from tea and tulips. A favorite blogger of mine owns the shop. I have gotten such cute things from there!

DAY 19: top right - sweet. That adorable little girl is my niece. She is my 7-year-old bff. I didn't know I could love a child, that wasn't my own, as much as I love her. She is playing basketball this year. She encompasses the word 'sweet.'

DAY 20: bottom left - someone you love. THIS GUY. DUH. He is the cheese to my macaroni.

DAY 21: bottom right - reflection. I took this literally. If you look closely, you can see the reflection of my striped shirt in the fireplace. Sometimes I sit in front of this electric fireplace to warm up before I get in bed. I hate having cold feet, literally. :)

#janphotoaday4

2012-01-17T22:12:00.001-08:00

DAY 14: top left - something I'm reading. The Painted Veil by W Somerset Maugham. I just started this book. My friend, Sarah Macintosh, lent it to me this summer and I am finally getting around to reading it. I always have at least 5 books on my waiting list sitting next to the other 3 I am currently reading. I love books.

DAY 15: top right - happiness. DISNEYLAND, DUH. Ok, for me at least, Disneyland = happiness. Derek and I have successfully made a trip to D-land every year for the past four years...we love it. Two summers ago we went to DisneyWORLD, which was also happiness. A whole world of Disney?! C'MON.

DAY 16: bottom left - morning. So, I have this really wonderful friend named Amy. We try and meet once a week for coffee at Flying M, or happy hour at a favorite local restaurant. On this particular morning, we met at the Flying M Coffee Garage (one of my favorite places). These are the crazy weird shadows of my legs and feet as I was standing in line to get my delicious gluten free banana muffin.

DAY 17: bottom right - water. I drink water out of canning jars. My mom has been doing it for as long as I can remember. She's always giving me her extra canning jars. Maybe it's a nostalgic thing, but it's my favorite way to drink water.

#janphotoaday3

2012-01-14T11:26:00.001-08:00

DAY 10: top left - childhood. This is a picture of my cousin Trista and I. Apparently we loved to wear matching dresses. We are still great friends!

DAY 11: top right - where I sleep. I suppose it's also where my dashing husband sleeps :). I love our colorful quilt, c/o Urban. The pillow was handmade by grams...I miss her but I love having reminders of her around my house.

DAY 12: bottom left - close up. I got these earrings from a dear friend a few years back. They are still one of my favorites to wear!

DAY 13: bottom right - in your bag. The past year, I've been carrying small over the shoulder purses, or clutches. I don't know about you, but when I get a new purse, I wear it for a few months straight. My newest one is from Urban. I swear these are the only things in it. Checkbook. Wallet (yes, that is a cigarette case, but I have been using it as a wallet for probably 6 years now). NNU pen. BAGGU bag to carry my lipsticks - c/o Urban. I promise I don't buy everything from Urban.

#janphotoaday2

2012-01-09T22:51:00.000-08:00

DAY 6 - top left: something that makes you smile. my husband's best friend and drummer sent me this picture while they were on tour in Texas a few months back. those are m'man's boots...but where is m'man? for some reason, i think this picture is so funny.

DAY 7 - top right: favorite. well, i have a lot of "favorites" in life - but i chose one of my favorite gals on this planet. she is a dear friend and cousin of mine. i can't imagine life without her beautiful face in it.

DAY 8 - bottom (not a picture of mine - HAHAHAHAHAHA): your sky. how beautiful is the Treasure Valley sky?! gorgeous.

DAY 9 - all that is pictured below: a daily routine. i have many daily routines...i'm sure we all do...but one is my job. my wonderful job. have i mentioned i love my job? don't answer that. pictured are a few things i get to do every day: teach music concepts, teach songs, play piano, listen to records. the life of a music teacher.

#janphotoaday

2012-01-05T23:49:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!!! Since it is a new year, I have decided to start using capital letters (sometimes). I also decided to do a photo challenge on Instagram - WOW, right?! But seriously, I love Instagram and this photo challenge has been so fun thus far! I love seeing pictures other people are posting. If you don't have this app...............well, get an iPhone and then GET IT. It's the best.

Here are 4 pictures from the first 5 days of #janphotoaday:

DAY 1 - Top left: a picture of you. (that's me).

DAY 2 - Not pictured: breakfast. It was a LUNA bar and really, that isn't exciting...not even a little bit.

DAY 3 - Top right: something you adore. my '73 Fender Rhodes that was GIVEN to me by a wonderful couple! I still cannot believe she is mine.

DAY 4 - Bottom left: "our" letterbox. I put "our" in quotes because we are renting...so it really isn't ours...you know?

DAY 5 - Bottom right: something you wore. I wore this amazing 1920's inspired wedding dress on my big day. I think we all know it was an easy decision between a picture of real life us or the clay cake topper version.

top ten albums of 2011.

2011-12-31T13:45:00.000-08:00

i was just looking at my "top ten albums" posts of the last 3 years. each year i say this is one of my favorite posts to share, so i suppose i'll say it again: "this is one of my favorite posts to share." truth. i love critiquing music. i love analyzing music. the chord structure, the lyrics, the movement of the bass, the harmonies, and so on. i do not claim to be an expert. however, i do claim to know a few things about music...i would sure hope so (insert $$$$ for music degree here).

typically, it is difficult for me to narrow a plethora of adored albums into a "top ten." this year was no different. so, without further rambling of sorts, here are my top ten albums of 2011, in no particular order:

1. Wilco - The Whole Love
2. My Morning Jacket - Ciruital
3. Bon Iver - Bon Iver
4. Feist - Metals
5. Radiohead - King of Limbs
6. Ivan and Aloysha - Fathers Be Kind
7. The Civil Wars
8. Wye Oak - Civilian
9. Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto
10. Explosions in the Sky - Take Care, Take Care, Take Care

honorable mentions to:

--The Waiting Kind (ok, it's my husband's band so i can't put them in my top ten, right? they really are in my top ten...i just didn't want to be that wife)
--Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues
--David Bazan - Strange Negotiations (his albums are usually on my top ten - and i love this one)
--St. Vincent - Strange Mercy (that Annie is ridiculously talented)
--James Vincent McMorrow - Early in the Morning (this record was released in 2010, but i didn't start listening until this year - otherwise it would have been in my top ten)
--Adele - 21 (i realize this album should be in my top ten. the truth is, i have only listened to it a few times. it's good. real good. i just didn't have time to fall in love with it, yet)

white and serene.

2011-12-04T16:34:00.000-08:00

I would like to live here...

...and frolic here...

...and make a snow angel here.

via: depositphotos.com, brightnepenthe.blogspot.com, and blog.thomaslaupstad.com

from classy to zombie.

2011-11-25T16:56:00.000-08:00

well, the last two years of Halloween costumes couldn't be more different. i really do enjoy dressing up for Halloween...the mister, not so much - BUT, i have successfully gotten him to dress up for two years now! good job me!

Halloween 2010, we decided on Mad Men. we absolutely love the show so it just made sense. we were going to go as Don and Betty Draper but it ended up being more like Betty Draper and her beatnik boyfriend. plus, we didn't really have to dress up that much - we wear these clothes anyway....cheating, i know.

...cut to Halloween 2011. what costume can you come up with in a matter of a few hours? why, hipster zombies of course.

here we are in our hipster zombie glory.

some wonderful friends and myself Halloween partyin' on Harrison Boulevard.

got home and realized i should have been Beetle Juice...maybe next year...

what a busy, lovely life.

2011-09-27T22:31:00.000-07:00

hellllooooooo. the Henbests have had such a fun month. gosh it's been busy, but i wouldn't change a thing. i thought i would share some of the things we have been up to...pictures via Instagram.

a few weeks back we headed to my family's cabin. love that place more than words, srsly.

we inherited this incredible dining set from our great aunt Rae. it is gorgeous. she has had it since the 1940's. WINNING.

well, you see, m'man and i have this little folk side project we have been working on for the past few months. we were supposed to play a show as A Humble Tumble (our folk side project's name) for the first time - and then something came up for the man. soooooooo, i played by myself. me and guitar. by myself. with a guitar. ok, i've played guitar for about 7 years now - but playing in my classroom and every once in a while in a worship set or a show doesn't really count as being a good "guitarist" - so naturally, i was scared to death. i practiced until my calluses had calluses. thankfully, it went really well! phew. also, it was fun to play a few Humble Tumble songs. can't wait to play out more - WITH MY HUZ (that yelling is for him to read).

keeping my family close as i headed to Flying M to play. grandma's shoes. skirt made by my little sis.

i had my first program! i am SO proud of my 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders - they performed so well. i know i've said it a million times but honestly, i love my job.

my husband's band, The Waiting Kind, played at Fall to Worship. they did an amazing job!

our friend Nathan had a birthday! these pretty gals could dance every day all day.

our friend Jeremy Coverdale had a birthday!

Anniversary celebration day! Big City Coffee/Urban/Anthro/Bookstores/Chapala. m'huz bought me some lovely things at Anthropologie. it was a wonderful day.

3 years! i didn't know it was possible to love someone as much as i love him.

neon socks. that's fun.

teaching my 1st graders about this genius.

listening. love these records. Radiohead/Lotus Flower and My Morning Jacket/Circuital.

got my new 70's inspired geometry dress from Red Velvet Shop! can't wait to wear it.

Uncle D and Rhett and some serious Lego time.

new.

2011-08-17T21:02:00.000-07:00

Well, as always, I am thee worst blogger. but, I'm blogging tonight and that is all the matters, right? right.

I meant to write a blog a few months back about leaving my last school (Rolling Hills Public Charter School) of 3 years, but never got around to it. It was a really tough decision but I did what was in my (and m'man's) best interest. That is not to say I won't miss the administration, teachers, and kids - I will and already do! The last day of school in May was full of hugs and tears. Rolling Hills will always be a place of fond memories. It really was a great 3 years.

My new adventure is at Legacy Charter School. I started teaching last week! I know, school already?! This school is on a modified year round schedule so the dates are a bit different than other schools. I am loving it, to say the least. I couldn't feel more blessed to be a part of this team. I can already tell I am going to love working here!

Obviously, teaching at a new school means I have a new classroom! This was very exciting to me. I tried to take a few pictures of the process of putting my room together -- from the first time I walked in the doors of my room, to hauling all of my stuff in (mass chaos, anyone?), to putting up my vinyls. Disclaimer: I think it is hard to decorate a music room without being super cheesy! I tried to keep some of my style in it - I didn't really have a say in the essentials that were put in the room but I'm grateful to have the essentials (that is for darn sure). I'm sure the room will be constantly changing throughout the year. Cheers to another great year of teaching music - I love my job!

Greater stronger (acoustic) - The Waiting Kind

2011-06-29T11:06:00.000-07:00

after one of my husband's shows the other night, the bass player and i took this video of one of the songs that is going to be on The Waiting Kind's new record - coming out this fall! it's an acoustic version so obviously the one on the album will be different - but it's pretty great nonetheless. you should watch, ok? ok!

#katiesshoez. from Instagram.

2011-06-20T12:01:00.000-07:00

teal socks. grandma's shoes.

K for Katie.

shoes c/o Modcloth.

military boots. the coolest classroom carpet.

polka dot tights. my mister and I in UO boots.

yellow tights. UO boots.

white legs. white shoes.

theme park feet. California Adventure.

Hollow-Wood.

2011-06-17T14:47:00.000-07:00

So, there are these great kids: Adam Jones, Hayden Jensen, and Lyndsay Wright. I guess they aren't really kids, but I call everyone a kid. Adam just graduated from high school. Hayden has one more year in high school. Lyndsay is starting her first year of college this fall. These kids are talented. I mean, really talented. I'm not positive when they first started playing together but I believe it was in the last year and a half. They have all played music for quite some time now but they formed a band together in recent years. They were playing under the name Adam Stip Music but just recently switched to Hollow-Wood. They recorded a new song, Love Has Found Me, in the gym at their church. I love the raw acoustics. The song is simple, yet beautiful. Lovely harmonies and blending. And of course I love the words...which is really just one phrase. I think it is the best thing they have written yet. The first time I heard it, m'huz turned up the volume and said, "who does this remind you of?" Within 20 seconds I gave my two answers - "The Fleet Foxes and The Head and the Heart" - both bands that I love. What is super cool (do people even say that anymore?) is this: Priscilla Ahn posted this video on her facebook page a few days ago! WHAT?! I have been a big fan of Priscilla for some time now and she doesn't post many videos on her page. What a promotion! All this to say, I am so proud of these Boise kids - just you wait, they are going places. Enjoy!!!

a best friend. an incredible opportunity.

2011-06-06T12:11:00.000-07:00

maybe i'm losing interest in blogging. i'm not sure at this very moment. i mostly want to direct you to the blogs of others who are far more clever than i. and that is exactly what this post is about. one of my very best friends on this planet, Jolleen Quimba, is going to change the world. she has been passionately learning about human trafficking for the past 5 years and has had the opportunity to teach at some pretty incredible conferences because of her wealth of knowledge on this topic! i have known Jo Jo for the past 10 years and am not exaggerating one bit when i say that she is one of thee most passionate people i know. passionate about the Lord. passionate about education. passionate about fighting this nightmare called human trafficking. this passion has led Jolleen to be brought on board with International Justice Mission this fall! it is truly an incredible opportunity and i could not be more proud of her! i won't share all of the details - i want you to hear them from her.

i would love it if you would go to her blog - http://abirdnamedbea.blogspot.com/ - and read about how you can help her in this journey! she is worth it. the cause she is working for is worth it. just remember that i said it first - Jolleen Quimba is going to change the world.

i love you Jo Jo. i am so proud of you!

read this blog.

2011-03-22T13:15:00.000-07:00

so, my dashing husband writes blogs from time to time on his band's website. he's been writing about the fear of failure as of late and i think his thoughts are pretty great. not only because he is m'man...i truly can relate to what he has been writing about. take a moment to read if you get a chance...

new post: "if only they would listen"
www.thewaitingkind.com

i hope it encourages you!

i miss them.

2011-03-12T19:13:00.000-08:00

i am talking about my grandparents. i said i would write about them one day and i am finally prepared to do just that. they deserve a novel really. what extraordinary people!

my grandmother, Shirley Joyce Durr, passed away on November 1, 2010. my grams had been battling a rare type of oral cancer for about 3 years. a few months before she passed, the doctor told us nothing could be done. though we all knew this, it was still a bit of a shock when she passed away. we thought we at least had a year, or so we were told. the night before she passed, i was supposed to be somewhere else but had a "funny" feeling i needed to go and see grams. so i dropped everything and spent the night with my mom and my aunt by my grandma's bedside. we cried and laughed and teased grandma. she was asleep the entire time i was there, but i am sure i saw her smirk when i told her she was going to be "one sexy angel." grams went to be with her Savior the next afternoon.

my grandfather, Lewis Arthur Durr, passed away on November 13, 2010. my grandpa had dementia for a few years and was in a memory care unit for a few months before he passed away. the interesting thing is that he was incredibly healthy! he had zero problems with his heart and body...his mind was the problem. dementia is such a scary disease. he really started going downhill fast when my grams started going down. it was like there was a string attached between the two of them. when grandpa would have a rough day in the unit, grams would have a rough day at home and vice versa. he was a tough old guy. i am serious about that! he even took out a couple of male nurses one day at the memory care unit but that is a different story (you can laugh...it is hilarious to think of an 80 year old man taking out a couple of male nurses). a few days before grandpa passed, my family and i went to say our goodbyes. i can honestly say it was one of the hardest things i have ever had to do. i will forever remember watching my sister say her goodbye...she kissed my grandpa's forehead, held his hand, layed on his chest, and wept. what a sweet moment filled with sorrow.

my grandpa died almost exactly two weeks after my grandma. i am telling you, there was a string connected between their souls. their 60th wedding anniversary was the first one they had ever spent apart from each other. and now they are in Heaven, with the Maker of the universe. that is truly an amazing thought!

i will miss my grandma's hugs and "i love you Kates." her tuna sandwiches and chocolate chip cookies (which is the recipe i make and people love...good job grams). her sweet spirit and steadfastness. her encouragement and support - always, always, always. her little tiny fist she would shake at you if you teased her. her fiesty-ness (i don't think that is a word...still, it describes her perfectly)...she was 5'1 and weighed about 105 pounds. tiny, but feisty! her sweet smelling candles. her cards. her love. gosh i miss her.

i will miss my grandpa's hugs!...the best hugs in the world. his constant teasing. his love for everyone. his love for his family. his protective nature. his full head of beautiful white Elvis shaped hair. his beautiful smile that charmed the ladies. his bickering with grams - hilarious i tell you. him sneaking more dessert when grams wasn't watching. his tattoo that said "Shirley." his hard working hands. his love. gosh i miss him.

i had the privilege of having these two incredible people in my life for 28 years...10 of which were spent as my parents next door neighbors. many people don't get this chance - i am very grateful to have had it. they have impacted my life beyond words. i miss them every single day. thank you, grams and gramps, for the memories but most of all, for the love.

A Poem

"I asked the Lord if I must wait
For greater things to do
"My child" he said, "you're doing now
The work I want you to."

"But Lord," I cried, "'tis not enough.
I'd like to do much more."
"But child," He said, "you're doing now
The task I want you for."

Some day my child you'll understand
Why you must wait so long
For the things you want to do
For me, will never be what's wrong.

There's a job in waiting for you child
I'm sorry it must be
But the task that I have in store for thee
Calls for faith and waiting patiently.

--Joyce Durr

you completed your task grandma! you ran the race. you too gramps! and what a race the two of you ran. i will see you both in that great and glorious place one day. know that i love you both. until then...

boring.

2011-03-02T16:10:00.000-08:00

the thing is, i have a lot to say but no time to right what i want to say. so, here is my boring, i-got-this-new-dress-in-the-mail-and-cannot-wait-to-wear-it post. i hope your week has been absolutely lovely so far!

*the dress is from www.modcloth.com - one of my favorites*

weekending and love.

2011-02-15T10:54:00.000-08:00

perks of being a teacher: sometimes you get 3 or 4 day weekends (and the whole summer, but that is not that point :)). well, this last weekend i had a 3-day weekend but only because i took a personal day. my husband's band, The Waiting Kind, had a show in American Falls on Sunday night and i wanted to go. this gal doesn't get to go on tour with them so i was excited to be able to travel with them to this show. they played at a high school auditorium which was super hip. about 500 peeps showed up. the set of Annie was on stage so Luke Caldwell arranged it to make for a pretty sweet concert set. both Esterlyn and The Waiting Kind did a fantastic job. the crowd was very responsive. i love listening to people sing the songs my husband has written. God has truly gifted that man. it was a fantastic show. oh! AND, the green room they had us in had a huge wardrobe full of costumes for their theatre productions. so what did we do? of course we tried stuff on! which was very fun, until i came out of said giant closet in this incredible fur coat (pictured below) with a sweet sword dating back to Medieval times... aaaaand a guy who worked there was standing in the room. that was a bit awkward. both m'huz and me wanted to take home half of the clothes in the wardrobe. what does that say about us? not really sure yet. but i am sure that i am now on the hunt for a huge faux fur coat similar to the one i tried on...i may have already found it.

we got back in to town around 3:00 a.m. on Monday morning and i slept in...until 9:00. hey, that's good for me. i surprised my adorable niece and took her and my sis to lunch for V-day. after that i went home to my dashing man and we had a dance party, ate artichoke dip and chocolate, and watched Breaking Bad (so now we have Mad Men and Breaking Bad to love). what an amazing Valentines Day.

i love music and love and weekends and chocolate.

The Civil Wars. Barton Hollow.

2011-02-10T14:45:00.000-08:00

if you haven't already purchased this record, you should. Joy William's achingly beautiful vocals. John Paul White's great folk voice and fantastic musicality. Charlie Peacock as producer -- this man is always collaborating on a genius record or five. being a fan of the three people mentioned, i assumed this record would be fantastic. and it is, folks.

Pomplamoose.

2011-01-29T11:14:00.000-08:00

"all the single ladies, all the single ladies" - no one will ever forget this song. it was released in October of 2008 and how many bands have covered it now? i lost count. truthfully, the first time i heard this song, i wanted to cover it as well (ask my husband). who can deny that chord progression? not this gal. i guess Pomplamoose felt the same way - almost word for word - "we cannot deny this chord progression." they must have heard me say that when this song released...copycats (ya right). back to my point - this is my all time favorite cover of "single ladies." i discovered it, oh, about a year or so ago (?) and have not shared it on here yet (not sure why really). but i am sure of my love for this cover. from "uno, dos, pizza" to "don't make me sing this part of the song, the lyrics are so bad" to the doo-wop harmonies to her Batman shirt. i will not bore you with the other 29 reasons. i am simply going to leave you with this video. i hope you watch it. cheers!

oh! also, they have plenty of music on itunes for your listening pleasure. their originals are great as well...which is always a plus.

lyrics and faith.

2011-01-21T06:34:00.000-08:00

well, it's Friday. i was greeted this morning at 5:00 a.m. with the stomach flu. what a way to start a weekend right? i am hoping it is only a 10-hour bug cause i have ridiculous plans tonight that may or may not consist of going to a Snoop Dogg concert...which is another blog in and of itself. so, i am sitting in my bed trying to get over this flu nast and thinking of one thing (well, maybe two...m'husband too): lyrics lyrics lyrics.

i am currently writing a new song and i can honestly say i am so excited about it...contrary to what you might be thinking, i do not have these thoughts often. i have written plenty of bad songs - some ok songs which creep their way into my set at shows - and a few good ones. a few that i can say, "i am proud i wrote that." every singer/songwriter should know their strengths and weaknesses as a writer. my strengths are melodies and chord structure/instrumentation. my weakness: lyrics lyrics lyrics. i have learned from talking to many singer/songwriters that i am not alone in this boat. good lyrics are hard to write. i think too much when i write - instead of just writing what comes out. this is one of the best pieces of advice anyone has ever given me: "stop trying to stuff yourself into a genre or lyrical box of expectations...write what comes out."

i tend to write "safe." often i write about people...friends, my husband, family, etc. i guess this should be your warning: if we are friends, i might write you a diddy - well, a song about you, that is. this morning it occurred to me: i rarely write about faith. there is good reason behind this. faith scares me. it is a topic i do not like to open my heart up to and write about. that might be confusing to you. let me clarify. the idea of faith is astounding...but i also have so many questions. questions i thought, by the old age of 28, would be answered. shouldn't i know where i stand on every single topic in regards to faith?

a few years ago, i sat down at a Steinway grand piano and wrote about faith. the title was going to be "Faith" but ended up being "Untitled." how oddly appropriate. i wanted to write a song that would bring hope to those who were struggling but that is not what came out - i got about 3 verses in and could not write anymore. here are the lyrics:

Oh what little faith I have to try and try, staying here
And the distant trumpet sounds within me cry
Please be near, so near

Courage is of willing heart and humble state, wanting more
And the distant pathway winds toward the gate
What's in store, in store

Running down into the sea to wash away, all the fear
Arms held open toward the sky, round they sway
Falling tears

this song lasts about 2 minutes and 30 seconds. i am proud of this song. my heart is bleeding out of it. i have decided to start opening my shows with this song. i hope i have it in me to write more of these. i am hoping the song i am currently working on will be a good song. we will see. i have started to co-write with this guy - he plays guitar (amazing) for me and is a dear friend. he has a better grasp on lyrics than i and i am hoping we can write some great tunes.

i need to stop writing. i will leave you with this song: Peace of Mind. lyrically, one of my favorites (as well as this guy i'm writing with)...an acoustic, a haunting melody, and Mindy Smith vocals. if this song does not move you to tears, i am not sure if you have a heart :). i hope one day to write songs that are lyrically this sound. i posted a link at the bottom, listen to it.

Peace Of Mind
Mindy Smith

I need peace of mind and a hopeful heart
to lose this rage and move out of the dark
I ain't looking for rainbows or shooting stars
just some peace of mind and a hopeful heart

I need a peace of mind and a lullaby
cause there's an angry voice in my head tonight
tellin' me to do things that can't be right
I need peace of mind and a lullaby

and a miracle for this broken soul
a little miracle for this broken soul

I need peace of mind and gentle hand
as I try to change the way I am
I hope God forgives me when I can't
I need peace of mind and a gentle hand

or a miracle for this broken soul
a little miracle for this broken soul

I need peace of mind and a hopeful heart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTYmctd08n8

forgotten records.

2011-01-18T06:55:00.000-08:00

i can't believe i forgot these two records...which means i have a top 12 - whoops.

11. Jakob Dylan - Women and Country ---- T Bone Burnett and Jakob Dylan...enough said. "nothing but the whole wide world to gain, nothing, nothing." i have bought more people this record than any of the aforementioned.

12. Brandon Flowers - Flamingo ---- i am a huge Killers fan (my husband and i really). we had the chance to see them live last year and it was one of the best shows i've been to (and i have been to a lot). Brandon Flowers is a great performer. i have to admit i was a bit skeptical when i heard he was recording a solo record. my husband bought it immediately and loved it. i waited a few weeks to listen but as soon as i heard "Only the Young," i was sold. a friend of my husband's who is also an artist said it so well, "it's songs like Only the Young that make you want to stop writing music all together - what's the point when there are songs this good?" i couldn't agree more.

top ten albums of 2010...

2011-01-13T07:32:00.000-08:00

well, i'm finally getting around to my annual 'top ten albums of the year' post. i thoroughly enjoy writing this post each year, though it does pose somewhat of a challenge. you see, music is a very passionate subject for me to discuss. at times i become so passionate that i seem to lose myself and become this elitist jerk (who i don't enjoy, and neither do others). thank the dear Lord for my sweet husband who has helped me to change and i can now say i am WAY better than i used to be at controlling my words and opinions on the subject of music. just to put it in perspective, here is Katie 4 years ago:

dude asking me a question after one of my shows: "so ya, my favorite bands are Linkin Park, Lifehouse, and Kutless...you probably like them too yes?"
me (in pompous elitist tone): "um, no. and here are the 28 reasons you shouldn't like any of those bands"... (starts listening reasons) - and let me just clarify that i pretty much ripped all of said bands apart and left him speechless. i know, i'm sure he's a huge fan of mine and my music. hopefully he's gotten over it. i think so, since i still see him from time to time.

m'huz now was m'boyfriend then and he was pretty upset with me. he has reminded me many times since that i should let people like what they want to like and leave my opinions out of it (he reminds me in a nice way, of course). as silly as this sounds, i am grateful for him reminding me of this. now, this isn't to say i don't have strong opinions about what is good, bad, amazing, and terrible music. oh i have them and those of you who know me are laughing right now - strong opinions indeed. one of my favorite things to do is argue with my husband about music - haha. but seriously. it always ends in laughing, so that is good. i am grateful to be married to a musician (who is incredible by the way...they are currently touring Arizona and Texas). love that man.

ok, i really didn't mean to write this long. i was going to list my top ten albums and be done. but as i said, i am a very, very passionate person and this is what happens when a passionate person starts writing about one of the things they are most passionate about - wowwwwwww. i'm done. maybe one more thing...i chose these albums for specific reasons. i don't want to take the time to write a page on each album so if you would like to know why i chose one or more of them - just ask! on that note, here are my top ten albums of 2010 in no particular order:

1. Carney - Mr. Green ---- incredible musicians. Reeve Carney is currently playing the role of Spiderman on Broadway - Bono and The Edge wrote the music for this production.

2. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs ---- knowing all of humanity would buy this record, i was a bit skeptical. it took me about two listens but ya, i'm feelin it. i plan to see these talented folk live this year.

3. The National - High Violet ---- great band. great lyrics. great record.

4. Sandra McCracken - In Feast or Fallow ---- in general, i love this lady...as an artist and as a person. these new/old hymns are powerful. well done, Derek Webb and Sandra McCracken.

5. Kings of Leon - Come Around Sundown ---- i can understand why one would be sick of Kings of Leon at this point in time. that being said, i'll let Chris DeLine's review say the rest for me...i couldn't say it better: "Come Around Sundown reveals itself to be the first step in a shift toward what made the Followill brothers so alluring in the first place. Sure, there are songs like the oddly placed malt-shop rock of “Mary,” but there are also songs like the vaguely twangy “Birthday,” which is far sexier—lyrically—than anything having to do with someone’s sex being on fire, “We’re gonna come together, we’re gonna celebrate/We’re gonna gather around like it’s your birthday/I don’t want to know just what I’m gonna do/I don’t care where you’re goin’, I’m coming home with you.” If you keep an open mind you’re likely to find a solid mainstream rock album that sounds much more like a product of a band that enjoys “goofing off” more than it does “going to the office.” Time will tell which of the two directions the group takes—whether they chase success or continue the search for soul—but if Come Around Sundown is any indication, the future of Kings of Leon will be just as enjoyable as the band’s past has been."

6. Jonsi - Go ---- anyone who has been completely entranced by Sigur Ros was excited for this record. a side project by Jón “Jónsi” Þór Birgisson and Alex Somers. just buy it.

7. Sufjan Stevens - The Age of ADZ ---- this man is genius. that is really all i can say without writing 8 pages of why.

8. The Morning Benders - Big Echo ---- i was in love (whoa) with this record from the first time i laid ears on it. this doesn't happen often. i'm a sucker for 1950's pop balladry and since that is exactly what the opening track is - i was bound to be in love. my friend Ellen once described a record as "giving her a tan from the inside out" - that is exactly how i feel about Big Echo.

9. Local Natives - Gorilla Manor ---- led by harmonies. great songwriting. a bit of Broadway, a touch of Motown, and a tang of choir nerd. rare and wonderful.

10. Dr. Dog - Shame Shame ---- i echo the words i spoke of Big Echo: i loved this record from the start. oh the harmonies. of course i love harmonies - i was a vocal performance major - AND i am a music teacher - c'mon. "Jackie Wants a Black Eye" makes me want to gather all of the important people in my life into one giant circle, link arms, and sing at the top of our lungs - about each other, to each other. "we're all in this together now, cause we all fall apart...we're just swapping little pieces, of our broken little hearts."

**with special mention to:
Beach House - Teen Dream
Midlake - The Courage of Others

**also, i need more music this year from Bon Iver, Leslie Feist, Thad Cockrell, and Mindy Smith

Snow.

2011-01-05T14:33:00.000-08:00

i have many things to post but lack of time...so for now - here is a really great tune that will cause you to sit and contemplate. the lyrics are astounding. enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSxMqyiVfsM&feature=related

oh! and while you're at it, buy some Sleeping at Last. my dear friend Jeremy Hugus introduced them to me about 6 years ago. what a great band.

marvelous things.

2010-12-07T21:15:00.000-08:00

well, there are so many things i could write about this month. the deaths of my grandparents. the ever changing lives of the Henbests. the holidays. music. love. school. emotion. grief. turmoil. but the truth is, i don't want to write about any of them right now. ok? ok. instead, i would like to focus on a few marvelous things i have inherited as of late.

--my grandpa Lewis willed me his collection of records...a few hundred strong. after all, there really is no other way to listen to Bing at Christmas time.

--my grandma's shoes. i received a lovely collection of shoes, jewelry, and dishes...hence the milk glass picture at the top. i inherited all of her milk glass collection (about 30 pieces) - and real milk glass at that. if you know me, you know this excites me so!

--from m'man's great aunt Rae (whose nephew is Johnny Horton, by the way...which also makes him my cousin, somehow) we inherited this incredible couch. it was an antique when she bought it and she is 86. also, it is in mint condition. unheard of! there is also a chair that goes with it. we also received an adorable table and chairs with every kind of fabric you could imagine on them. quirky. just my style.

i titled this post "marvelous things" for obvious reasons, but also, Eisley was just in town. this must have been my 6th or 7th time to see them. i adore those gals, and their song "marvelous things" gets me every time.

cheers to you!

my sweet grandparents.

2010-11-10T12:47:00.000-08:00

when i get up the courage and emotion i will write a blog about my grandma and grandpa. my grandma passed away about a week ago and my grandpa isn't expected to make it through today. until i write on these dear ones who have meant the world to me, i will direct you to my sister's blog. she writes about grandma and her experience with the grieving process. i couldn't have said it better, sis.

sidenote: you might shed a tear or two.

http://karafranklin.blogspot.com/

Halloween.

2010-11-01T13:23:00.000-07:00

as indicated in my last post, we love Mad Men. because of this new found love, we decided to try and be Don and Betty Draper (emphasis on try). the suit we had picked out for Derek to wear ending up looking way too modern so he threw together another Mad Men-ish outfit which looks like a cross between a Mad Men character and a beatnik. it's cool. we went to a party at Ric and Joanna Shewell's and it was oh so fun. here are a few pics.

lately.

2010-10-24T08:37:00.000-07:00

The Morning Benders new record is fantastic. they were in Boise last night. with Twin Sisters...who are also great.

Sleepy Time tea. my favorite. this picture looks like spring but i love it regardless.

songwriting. m'huz and i have started a side project. our first show is Nov. 5th. we are called A Humble Tumble. it has been a joy to write together. also, it's fitting that i post Charlie writing music to signify songwriting - being that LOST is our favorite show of all time.

Settlers of Catan.

Mad Men. Derek and I started watching a few weeks ago...just finished Season 1. I'm surprised it's as good as it's hyped up to be. Donald Draper, you are a mystery.

Flying M Coffee Garage.

brilliant.

2010-10-04T12:10:00.000-07:00

so i have this friend, Rebecca Canlis, and she is a brilliant writer. if i could write half as well as she, i would post more. her last post is one of my personal favorites she has written and is definitely worth sharing. Rebecca's post on her experience with Lady Gaga is also intriguing. read away...you won't regret it.

http://otherwisedelightful.blogspot.com

cheers!

fall.

2010-09-23T10:41:00.000-07:00

just a few of my fall favorites. all of these pieces via www.modcloth.com

David Bazan.

2010-09-15T13:43:00.000-07:00

sorry for the mini photos...courtesy of my iphone. this is David Bazan. for those of you who don't listen to this incredible songwriter, he is the genius behind Pedro the Lion and Headphones. he is now touring as David Bazan.

the first time i saw Bazan perform was with Pedro the Lion about 8 years ago i think? i do remember that up until that point in my life his show was one of the most wonderful things my ears had ever heard and eyes had ever seen live. to say that i became a fan instantly is an understatement. i own almost every record he has ever made between his 3 projects. i have studied his lyrics for hours...trying to piece together a story or trying to understand what in the world he could possibly mean by this or that. one thing is for certain, Bazan is quite the lyricist. i had the privilege of seeing him live this last Friday night (for the 8th time). what an interesting man. you can sure tell he's been through some crazy stuff and although i don't agree with some of what he has to say, i am intrigued by his conclusions on life and love and religion. the performance last Friday was wonderful, as usual. i belted along to "Indian Summer," swayed to "Options," and danced to "Bless This Mess."

thank you, David Bazan, for writing great music. for being vulnerable and real but not compromising creativity and true art. music needs much, much more of that.

new indeed.

2010-08-31T07:14:00.000-07:00

Last week I started my 6th year teaching music - 6th?! I'm old...which reminds me that one of my favorite parts of the first day of school is having the kids guess how old I am. The answers this year were anywhere from 10 to 42. Close. I am so excited for this year. I feel incredibly privileged to teach at my school. That being said, some changes are accompanying this year for the Henbests...

Derek and I moved to Nampa a few weeks ago. I know, what?! We already miss Boise but we could not pass up the amazing deal we were given. A wonderful family who live in Alaska for 9 months of the year and Namps for the other 3 asked Derek and I to rent their huge, wonderful house for almost nothing...so we said yes of course! The biggest issue in the move is this: I went from a 10 minute commute to work to a 45-50 minute commute. The school I teach at couldn't be farther away from the house we are in. It's comical really. However, other than waking up at 5:45, I'm fine with it. I have actually been enjoying the drive...listening to some great tunes (lots of Carney, The Waiting Kind, Madi Diaz, and Broken Social Scene lately) and talking with God.

Derek quit his job on worship staff at Capital Christian Center to pursue his dream (and my dream for him). Derek's band, The Waiting Kind, signed a 3 year contract with a booking/management agency (Faith Artist Agency) a few months ago. Whoa. Faith Artist Agency is truly an incredible agency and we are in very good hands. TWK takes to the road for their first tour tomorrow! You can imagine how excited we are! God has opened door after door after door - it has been laughable. Now, obviously I'm not going - 6th year teaching remember? That will be the hard part - not seeing my man for weeks at a time...but I cannot describe to you how much peace I have. I believe Derek and I will grow in our relationship, even when we are apart. I also believe both Derek and myself will grow in our relationship with our Lord and Savior. Also! How wonderful is it that I am a teacher?! On my breaks I will be able to tour with them which will be wonderful. Oh man, I can't wait.

As my dashing man said it so perfectly the other day - "I've never had to have this much faith. I've never felt so blessed."

Sidenote for our friends and family: thank you to all of you who have been SO very supportive! We feel your love and prayers daily and appreciate them so much. The Waiting Kind would LOVE to see you out on the road...go to www.thewaitingkind.com for tour dates and more information! Again, thank you, thank you, thank you! We love you.

The Waiting Kind takes to the road full time.

2010-07-13T15:48:00.000-07:00

exciting news for TWK - so proud of these guys! read here:

www.thewaitingkind.com

The Waiting Kind. new ep. yes.

2010-06-08T19:15:00.000-07:00

The Waiting Kind is back in the studio. i have heard Derek playing these songs over and over and over at home and i'm telling you, this ep is going to be great. they are currently recording Love Rises. oh man i can't wait for you to hear it.

summer and a Good Time banjo.

2010-05-27T10:51:00.000-07:00

tomorrow is my last day teaching before summer break. cheers to that! it has been a fantastic year. i adore my job and love teaching what i'm passionate about. that said, summer is ahead of me. i have decided to work this summer, kind of. i will be working with a 10 year old girl for a few hours each morning of the week. other than that, here are the things i will be doing: reading, writing new tunes, recording new tunes, playing tunes for peeps, spending time with my adorable niece and nephew, family, vaca to Disneyland/Universal Studios/Six Flags with my huz, iced tea by the gallon, friends, aaaaaaaaaand, learning to play the banjo. i cannot tell you how excited i am about that last one. i have this amazing teacher named Gary that sounds pleasantly grandpa-like on the phone. he has 60 guitar/banjo students and has been teaching for 30 years. i start next week. in the meantime, i need to find a banjo. looking into getting a Deering Good Time Banjo. sounds like i might need to start a folk band. Marc?

watch out Bono.

2010-05-21T13:54:00.000-07:00

I start songwriting workshops with my kids when they are in the 2nd grade. Once a month we focus on songwriting, talk through the process, and I let them create. I adore this process. Last week we focused on writing a song based on a color. I wish you could hear them sing their songs. Here are a few of my favorites:

Green and Blue

Green grass, green trees.
Blue river, blue sky.
Green and blue are part of nature.
Green paint, blue eyes.
Green shoes, blue dress.
Green and blue are part of us.
Green and blue are part of nature.
Green and blue are part of us.

Lavender and Blue

Lavender and blue,
Oh how I love you.
Deep beneath the sea,
Happiness and glee.
Lavender and blue,
Oh how I love you.

Lavender

Lavender sweet, lavender sad.
Lavender you make me glad.
Lavender you are with me.
You comfort my sorrow.
Lavender, oh yeah.
Lavender sweet, lavender sad.
Lavender you make me glad.

Yellow Jello

My yellow fellow does not like Jello.
What shall I do with my yellow fellow?
I saw Lingo with my fellow,
And he got stuck in Jello. HA!
Yellow Jello, yellow Jello,
We all love yellow Jello.

I hope these made you glad. Happy weekending dear ones!

read.

2010-04-13T10:12:00.000-07:00

if you have a heart for adoption, read this.

http://aaronhalemusic.blogspot.com

also, check out his music. he writes some great tunes.

lately.

2010-04-12T13:11:00.001-07:00

this list could be very long but here are just a few artists that have been inspiring me lately. some new records, some old.

We Could Be Happy.

2010-04-05T10:21:00.000-07:00

new song...played for the first time last Wednesday at my NNU show. and, before i go on, cheers to Two Girls who opened for me. i thoroughly enjoyed your set!

writing music is truly one of the greatest pleasures. i adore it. those who know me well and have been to my shows the past year know that my writing continues to change and i believe it has developed. i have finally found my sound. my songwriting journey is a long one so if you'd like to know the story in it's entirety, just ask! lately, i've been writing about people. mostly people i know well, some i do not. people inspire me. here is my new song/story...i hope you can picture it like a movie.

We Could Be Happy

verse 1:
All the answers floating in the air
All the heartache waving to despair
In the morning you will pass me by
But I will wait, I'll wait for you to try
Oh, when will you see that I am the girl for you

verse 2:
In the warm sun skies begin to grey
And the flowers all begin to fade
On the doorstep you will stop and sigh
But I will stay, I'll stay another night
Oh, when will you see that I am the girl for you

chorus:
You are all I have, you're all I have
You are all I see, you're all I see
Oh, don't you see, don't you see
We could be so happy

verse 3:
Past the meadow out into the light
We will wander in eachother's eyes
To the old house set upon a hill
And we will write, we'll write about the thrill
Oh, when will you see that I am the girl for you

bridge:
Backward and forward the time races on
Moving and pacing, stumbling upon
Another world where my heart isn't worn
Take me and place me in love evermore

--it is so much fun to play! added excitement: me and some hip video dudes will be making this song or Sweet as the Morning Sky into a music video - we are going to start shooting in a few weeks!

"Hide and Seek"

2010-03-05T10:04:00.000-08:00

I should start by saying that Jr. High isn't my favorite age to teach...Kindergarten-6th grade? Bring it on...love it...but Jr. Highers are just hard. They are in such a different season than the young ones. Everything is such a big deal to them, and some of them are just too cool for music class, which is lame really. However, I have learned to love and appreciate them throughout the year more than I expected to. This week has been the best week yet with my Jr. High...

...I am currently going through one of my favorite lessons of the year with my 7th and 8th graders: musical analysis. I love hearing their opinions on music - what they like/dislike - what they notice first in a song or listen for - what emotion it evokes in them...and so on. And what's crazy is that it has brought each class closer together. I could write pages and pages of stories I have heard this week...and all of them have come out of discussions about music. Amazing. Here is an example:

Being that this is the intro. week to the lesson, musical analysis, we have been listening and discussing. I comprised a playlist of 17 of the most "popular" songs in the last 5 years. We have been going through the list and analyzing each one - genre, instrumentation, lyrics, guitar tones, and so on. #13 on the playlist is "Hide and Seek" - Imogen Heap. Yesterday morning the 7th graders and myself were listening to this song. After we were done listening and were discussing the emotions in the song, one of my favorite 7th graders raised her hand. She had tears in her eyes. This is what she said.

"One of my good friends did a dance routine to this song last year. Her mom had died the day before, but she danced anyway. She wanted to dance and she knew her mom would want her to. No one said a word while she danced. It was a very sad, beautiful moment. All that to say, this song makes me think of my friend's strength."

I have a feeling analyzing music with the Jr. High is going to be more meaningful than I thought. It has already moved me.

sweet as the morning sky.

2010-02-17T13:47:00.000-08:00

ok, so a few people have requested i post the words to one of my newer tunes..."sweet as the morning sky." i start by saying that these words aren't deep, nor are they meant to be. i was simply writing a song about my dashing man and the words just came. it's one of my favorites to play live.

verse 1:
there was a time when i was sure
doubt and love were one
that starry night, that old, old town
memories undone
then you came and filled my heart dear
words can pray to tell
of love so wonderful, so sweet of
how i fell for you

chorus:
love of my life
sweet as the morning sky, are you, are you
love of my life
all i do is sigh, for you, for you

verse 2:
flowers growing in the yard
birdies sing our tune
a brick cottage, an old, old town
a bright red balloon
oh the love that fills my heart dear
words cannot express
your vest, your smile, your gentle voice
our love will stand the test

"all you need is love"

2010-02-15T13:14:00.000-08:00

the past week has literally felt like a month in length. so many important decisions...so many different emotions. i will share one of them with you.

Derek and i were so excited to get into our first home. we had been praying and praying for the right home, and knew it was an important decision. after making 3 offers that did not go through we made a 4th - and our offer was accepted! we began to make arrangements to get out of our apartment lease and prepare to have a home of our own. the inspection was supposed to happen today and then we would have closed on it in a week's time. we have been a bit confused through this process because there have been so many open doors and closed doors - we would have enjoyed one or the other really. but sometimes things don't work that way. what seems perfect might be the wrong decision. Derek and i pulled our offer on the house on Friday for many reasons that i won't get in to. it was an emotional decision for us for a few reasons:
1. we had grown to love this house and were excited to have our own place
2. the 8,000 tax credit - options are endless
3. investing money into something
4. many i can't think of right now

yesterday was Valentine's day. i spent it with the love of my life. we stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn, had romantic pizza (but the best romantic pizza ever), slept in, went to coffee, talked about love, hope, and life. it was truly incredible. i was reminded of God's love. his endless love...the love that wants the best for us. He has a perfect plan for Derek and i.

as i right this i am listening to my sweet man write a new worship song. a few of the lines are resonating in my soul - "Savior of the world you hold my gaze. You've taken all my words to sing Your praise." He loves us. i love Him. i love Derek. i love my life.

"all you need is love."

!

2010-02-09T12:47:00.000-08:00

this is in the mail on it's way to me! isn't it lovely???

i found it here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/lovenostalgicwhimsy

shopping for new things for my lovely new home!

2010-01-22T10:21:00.000-08:00

so, Derek and i will be moving into our very own house in 2 weeks! wow that's crazy to say. we got an amazing deal on a house and our offer was accepted soooo here we go! new house of course means new furniture and decor - which thrills me to no end. here are a few of the pieces i have been adoring today. all these images are from etsy, Anthropologie, and craigslist.

adore.

2010-01-15T09:48:00.000-08:00

i don't think i can put into words what my family means to me. how much i love them and how much they have taught me to love. how they influence my every day decisions...how they influence my faith. when i think of how blessed i am, all i can do is cry and thank my amazing God!

I'm with CoCo!

2010-01-13T10:13:00.000-08:00

Conan's statements regarding this whole predicament with NBC, Leno, and Conan have been well said and thought out...while still maintaining his reputation as that funny guy. And I quote...

"In the last few days I've been getting a lot of sympathy calls, and I want to start by making it clear that no one should waste a second feeling sorry for me. For 17 years, I've been paid to do what I love most and, in a world with real problems, I've been absurdly lucky."

He ended this particular statement with this: "Have a great day and, for the record, I am truly sorry about my hair; it's always been that way."

new to me, old in years.

2010-01-08T09:11:00.000-08:00

in the mail on it's way to the Henbest place...love, love, love. purchased here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/jherrmann

happy weekending!

gorgeous.

2010-01-03T06:47:00.001-08:00

Thad Cockrell. how is it possible that i just started listening to Thad?...it's beyond me. i can describe this album in one word: gorgeous. Thad's vintage country songwriting melts me....however, this album is interesting in that it crosses over genres a bit...lending itself to pop (and a gospel cover?). now i am very selective when it comes to country...there are few artists i truly love and could listen to every day...a few being Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Mindy Smith, Patty Griffin, etc. but Thad, dear Thad, just made the list...not that he should be proud - i'm just excited to now take part in the beauty, warmth, and grace of this album. here are the lyrics to one of my favorites off the record:

"Pride (Won't Get Us Where We're Going)

See me by the river
Praying over stones
It's hard to let go of the things I think I need
When I lost my vision
May I use your eyes
To see just where it is I need to be

Oh pride won't get us where we're going
It's made a life while standing in the way
Of all the beauty this world has worth knowing
Oh pride won't get us where we're going
Oh pride won't get us where we're going

Truth will keep on shining
Like a morning sun
Brighter than troubled winds can blow
If you lose your vision
You can use my eyes
To see just where it is you need to go

Oh pride won't get us where we're going
It's made a life while standing in the way
Of all the beauty this world has worth knowing
Oh pride won't get us where we're going
Oh pride won't get us where we're going

And oh, we're finally free
To know, the gravity
We can overcome
We can overcome
We can overcome
We can overcome

Pride won't get us where we're going
It's made a life while standing in the way
Of all the beauty this world has worth knowing
Oh pride won't get us where we're going
Oh pride won't get us where we're going

oh, and here are my new tunes.

2010-01-01T12:38:00.000-08:00

http://www.myspace.com/katiewilsonmusic

Sweet as the Morning Sky and Curls will be on my new ep that will come out in a few months...i know, about time. sheesh. phew. i hope you enjoy them. they are me.

love.

friends, a concert, and New Years.

2010-01-01T12:04:00.000-08:00

this New Years was interesting, unexpected, and wonderful. six weeks ago Derek and i were thrilled that this New Years Eve we would get to decide what to do?! you see, the past 3 years on New Years Eve either Derek or myself have had a gig....and yes, we love gigs, but yes, we were excited to have this year without one. well, what happened was this....this great church in Nampa called Christian Faith Center called The Waiting Kind a few weeks ago and asked if they would do a New Years Eve show - and the boys agreed. at first i was a little bummed because of above explanation, however, i quickly changed my attitude and decided this would be thee best New Years Eve yet! and it was truly fantastic. this is what the night consisted of:

--set up
--sound check
--Olive Garden - with the rest of the Treasure Valley
--another sound check
--drinking tea and waiting for the show
--show from 10:50-11:35 - amazing time of worship
--ringing in the New Year with a bunch of teens and some of my favorite people in this entire world
--clean up, tear down (a.k.a. for me: running the merch table) ha.

all in all, it was an incredible night. thank you SO much for all of our dear friends who came! what a great support you all are. and a huge cheers to the Lubiens for coming - we love you so very much. i cannot wait to see what 2010 holds!!!! HAPPY NEW YEARS DEAR ONES!

decorating the Henbest place with Christmas cheer.

2009-12-28T08:55:00.000-08:00

H is a good letter. from Anthropologie...given by dear Jo Jo.

Christmas merriment in mug form. frame from Urban Outfitters.
feather ornament made by dear Jo Jo...oh how you contribute to our house Jo! i love teapots.
canvas with vintage fabric squares and buttons also made by Jolleen...sheesh! love my Christmas plates...
just added a simple snowflake to add a little festive.ness (is that a word?). ha.
Rudolph and Clarice for life!
topped the tree with a pretty little bluebird from my wedding decor.
white tree. teal, blue, and silver ornaments, blue mirror.
we have decided to keep our decor up for a few more weeks...we just can't take Christmas down yet ok! hope you all had a lovely Christmas!

top ten albums of 2009...

2009-12-23T12:07:00.000-08:00

firstly, Happy almost Christmas! i wrote a blog at the end of last year about what my top ten albums of the year were...so i thought i would continue the tradition. this year was a good year for good tunes. honestly, i could probably make a top 25 list, but i'll leave it at ten...

1. David Bazan - Curse Your Branches
2. The Civil Wars - Poison & Wine ep
3. Wilco - Wilco
4. Norah Jones - The Fall
5. A Fine Frenzy - Bomb in a Birdcage
6. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
7. Fanfarlo - Reservoir
8. Yeah Yeah Yeahs! - It's Blitz!
9. Wolfmother - Cosmic Egg
10. Brandi Carlile - Give Up the Ghost

--with special mentions to NeedtoBreathe, The Foo Fighters, Anna Gilbert, Andrew Bird, and M. Ward. phew.

my week in pictures.

2009-12-11T07:37:00.000-08:00

trying to stay warm in this crazy 2 degree weather.

drinking lots and lots and lots of hot tea.

teaching piano to my wonderful students.

getting ready for my kids Christmas program - "The World Says Merry Christmas."

listening to one of my favorite Christmas albums of all time.

wrapping presents in my Rudolph and Clarice wrapping paper.

darling weekends.

2009-12-04T14:27:00.000-08:00

a dear friend said this to me today: rest your soul this weekend, i mean it. and now i pass on that wish to you.

Brighten.

2009-12-01T22:32:00.000-08:00

some of the lyrics to one of my new songs, Brighten.

i could write a song and have to think about
a love that passed me by and on the way
i could write for miles and miles and miles on air
and the message would remain the same

(but) you have stolen the pages, my dear
you've stolen the pages

you brighten my day
everything fades when you're around me
we, have all our lives
to spend the time and then
we'll start all over again

an incredible reunion.

2009-11-21T16:31:00.001-08:00

i have this cousin, Grant Weatherford, who i am extremely proud of. i mean, i'm proud of all of my cousins but i'm proud of Grant in a different way. Grant graduated from Virginia Military Institute in 2007. he is a genius really. he is married to an incredible woman named Jillian. she amazes me. Grant enlisted in the army after graduation and has been in Baghdad for the past 11 months. he had the priviledge of coming home for a few weeks when his precious baby girl was born, Maebry Elaine. all this to say, i am just so proud of these two incredible people. they are pure examples of love in it's finest form.

Grant came home from Baghdad last week. here is the sweetest reunion picture i have ever seen. I LOVE YOU GRANT, JILLIAN, AND MAEBRY!!!!!

Red Marionette.

2009-11-20T09:24:00.000-08:00

just wanted to give credit where credit is due. the adorable yellow felt owl on my page is a product of the etsy shop Red Marionette. her wreaths and ornaments are soooo cute. here are a few pictures of her work...and a tree full of her ornaments! check it out!

www.etsy.com/shop/RedMarionette

some Christmas toones.

2009-11-20T07:35:00.000-08:00

so of course Christmas is coming fast, as usual. and of course i've already been listening to Christmas music. so i've decided to make a list of my top 10 favorite Christmas albums...and i would love to hear a few of yours!!!

1. Mindy Smith - My Holiday -- this album will melt your heart like the snow.

2. Sufjan Stevens - Songs for Christmas -- quirky, yes. some great arrangements, yes. some songs where people are just banging on things and singing kind of, yes. wonderful, oh yes.

3. Ella Fitzgerald - Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas -- one of my heroes. oh how i love Ella...one of my biggest inspirations.

4. Bing Crosby - Merry Christmas -- grew up listening to this crooner, who didn't really? wish he was still alive...i think we'd be great friends.

5. Vince Guaraldi - A Charlie Brown Christmas -- this cd always brings back fond memories. it also reminds me of my dear friend Lance Nelson and his amazing impression of Charlie Brown singing "Christmas Time is Here." and also, vinyl wins on this one.

6. Sixpence None the Richer - The Dawn of Grace -- Leigh Nash's sweet melodies always pull me in. this lady knows how to pull on the strings of my heart.

7. Sarah McLachlan - Wintersong -- Sarah at her best. this album is not exactly the jolly, joyous, upbeat Christmas cd you would expect. some say it's a downer, i say it's a beautiful work of art. i love the ambient sound effects and distant echoes. sigh, give it a try.

8. Christmas with Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra -- this cd is wonderful! i don't need to tell you about these 2 amazing men. what i love about this cd is there is a lot of back and forth banter between Bing and Frank in between songs. it reminds me of a living room show, and i sure do love those.

9. Compilation - Maybe This Christmas Tree -- funky is one word that comes to mind! a very eclectic mix of artists and tunes. a few of my favorite artists on this: Pedro the Lion, Death Cab for Cutie, Tom McCrae, Lisa Loeb, and others contribute to this wonderful mix of songs.

10. Bob Dylan - Christmas in the Heart -- ok, so i actually haven't bought this album yet but will very soon and i am pretty darn sure it will be an instant favorite. i just love him.

there you have it! i missed some favorites i am sure but these albums are what came instantly to mind. happy holidays my dear friends!!!

(and i just now remembered i forgot Burl Ives! how dare me.)

man-eating couch.

2009-11-11T18:20:00.000-08:00

it's true. ask any of our lovely friends who have tried to conquer the man-eating couch. at first when you sit on it, it's legit and comfy....fast forward 20 minutes...and it starts to dominate, literally. most just end up on the floor really. as my dear friend Keila once said, "you win couch! you win!" all this to say, we bought a new couch yesterday! phew. no, it is not a top o' the line wonder-couch from some prestigious furniture place but, i am very happy with it. here are the pics...Target only had dark blue left so, dark blue it is.

come on over friends...sit and be merry!

The Cotswald Escape

2009-11-05T11:17:00.000-08:00

i'm dreaming of traveling today. i can't even come close to thinking of a place to stay that is more lovely than this....Temple Guiting Manor: The Luxurious Cotswald Escape. isn't it heartbreakingly beautiful?? sigh. here is the website...come daydream with me.

www.templeguitingmanor.co.uk

my favorite little people.

2009-10-20T11:52:00.000-07:00

these two have completely and utterly stolen my heart. i didn't know it was possible to love two children that aren't yours so incredibly much? i mean, they are my sister's kids and my sister and i have always been very close...so go figure. but i honestly can't describe how much i love them...and all you aunts understand completely. and a big shout out to their incredible mom - my sister and best friend! you amaze me sissy.

a few things i probably need for the fall. you know?

2009-10-09T11:31:00.000-07:00

i found these via anthropologie.com, etsy.com, and modcloth.com. and what i want more than anything is a clawfoot tub. someday!

oh fall, you are so fun.

2009-10-05T09:03:00.000-07:00

this week will be a good one no doubt. i am on fall break and thrilled to be! Derek and i are going fall/winter clothes shopping today so of course i'm excited about that. who doesn't love fall?! iced tea to hot tea. sandals to boots. cardigans to jackets and coats. i found these lovely pictures of fall in Canada and wanted to share a few. happy Monday to you my friends!

my sweet friend Jo.

2009-10-02T10:18:00.000-07:00

so, i have this friend named Jo. she is wonderful, smart, crafty, laughy (new word?), beautiful, kind, loving....this is where i go on for days. i love having Jo in my life and often times wish she would be roomies with me and D.

today, i was sitting at my desk after my 7th graders had left, thinking about how wonderful it would be to have a hot cup of something that is not tea (being that i have had my fill of tea in the last 2 weeks). at that exact minute, in walks Jo! she brought me a drink from Rembrandts along with the most adorable eraser i've seen in my years....here is a picture of it....it says "hoot hoot."

thank you, dear Jo. you made my whole day.

Henbest happiness.

2009-09-28T21:11:00.000-07:00

so i'm a little late on the Anniversary post. Derek and i celebrated our 1st anniversary on Sept. 19th!!!! people say it all the time but it's true, it has gone by so fast. we have had a wonderful first year! he is my best friend. we compliment each other. he is my ultimate happiness, and i am his. here are a few pictures to reflect on our wedding that happened one year ago....cheers to Josh Milne for taking these lovely photos!

my coats and me.

2009-09-23T09:52:00.000-07:00

you know when winter lasts 6 months?? oh ya, me too. and you hate every coat and cardigan you own (no matter how many you have) simply because you have worn them for 6 months?? oh ya, me too. this year i decided to sell a few of my old coats to consignment shops and buy new ones. hurray schmurray! this lovely coat is on it's way to me...i adore it.

write a song about fall.

2009-09-21T09:43:00.000-07:00

once every few months in my music classes i have a day that is dedicated to songwriting. we discuss songwriting often but on this particular day, the students have a chance to partner up and write a song to perform for the class. today is that day. i told them to write a song about fall that had to be at least 8 lines...of course some get it and some don't....here are a few of the 4th grade songs written and performed today:

"leaves turn red, yellow, and orange.
it's not all sunny and warm.
put on a jacket then you'll be fine.
then we'll go pumpkin picking and take them off the vine.
then we carve it and put it outside.
then comes winter, then comes spring,
now fall's over so now we sing!" - this one was a rap...super cute.

"my dad's stuffing the turkey.
i'm doing the Jello.
my mom's watching t.v.
my sister's being mellow.
my brother's a big fat pig.
he cut off my barbie's wig.
i didn't know what to do so i called it a man.
then i threw it in the garbage can." - the melody to this one was actually great, the lyrics...pretty funny but we did have to have a little talk after....hate having talks with my kids about being appropriate when i really just want to laugh my head off.

we'll see how the rest of the day goes.... :) cheers to songwriting youngsters!

a wall.

2009-09-04T06:46:00.001-07:00

about a month ago i finally finished this wall in our apartment...i got all of these frames and mirrors from antique stores and etsy. the bottom right is an art mat i made out of 5 cd covers that we enjoy - the music and covers. one of these days i'll get around to posting pictures of our apartment...not just a wall. happy weekend my dears!

sometimes there are favorites.

2009-09-02T14:32:00.000-07:00

who wouldn't have this little girl as one of their favorites? she comes to see me as much as allowed, she makes me things all the time, and she has my name! she is in 3rd grade and i adore her. she made me this acrostic poem and i wanted to share...it's framed and everything!

M - arvelous Mrs. Henbest knows music.
R - adically expressive while doing drama.
S - oothing even the toughest students.
H - appy to teach us all.
E - nergetic and always moving.
N - umber one!!!!!
B - est music teacher in the west.
E - xcellent all of the time.
S - miles like the sun.
T - he clothes she wears are the turning point.

the last one is pretty danged funny. what a doll. this is why i teach!

Star Waiters on youtube!!!!

2009-09-01T14:05:00.000-07:00

remember my last Star Waiter post? about that amazing 6th grader (now 7th grader) who's dream was granted through Make a Wish? and he was Luke Piewalker in Star Waiters? and producers, screenwriters, and directors donated their time to make this movie? and George Lucas let them use the original music from Star Wars?! well, the movie is officially on youtube folks...honestly, go watch it. i am so proud of Mitch...what a jedi! ha. but seriously. oh, and there is a close up of me raising the roof to "We Are Family" at the end...i was raising it with all i had. please watch, and enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdWC7JjeBTA

my sister and her kindergarteners!

2009-08-29T15:24:00.000-07:00

go here and read about my sister and her experience as a Kindergarten teacher...after teaching 4th grade for the past 7 or 8 years (i can't remember which one??). i can certainly promise you her stories are hilarious. SO proud of you sissy!

http://mykindergartenadventure.blogspot.com/

just dreaming instead of working.

2009-08-27T12:04:00.000-07:00

birthdays and gifts.

2009-07-29T10:44:00.000-07:00

i am 27! i've been telling people i'm 27 for a while now so it seems like i've been 27 for ages. my birthday was wonderful. Derek took the day off to spend with me. he took me shopping and to sushi for lunch. then we headed to my bro and sis's for a bit...and of course a party. here are a few of the lovely things i received.

just proud really...

2009-07-14T13:54:00.001-07:00

of my dashing husband, that is. God has truly anointed him with the gift of songwriting. exciting things are happening with The Waiting Kind...I can't wait to see what God's plan is for them. they have been in the studio the past few days working on a radio edit - it sounds amazing!!!! the radio dudes are anxious to have this single so we'll see what happens. keep praying for them as they seek God in all of this! i'm just so proud of him!

Disneyworld and us.

2009-07-11T11:15:00.001-07:00

i can't believe i've been out of school for a month now! but enough about that. :)

as many of you know, my family went to Disneyworld a few weeks ago and if you have been reading my sis's blog, you probably know what i'm going to say and have probably even seen some of the pictures i'm putting up...but oh well...it's your choice to read this. ha.

Disneyworld was lovely, truly. it was precious to see the look on Addie's face as we entered the different parks. of course seeing her expressions was one of my favorite parts of the whole trip. i just love that girl! we all had so much fun! here are some highlights:

--Magic Kingdom is so much bigger in Disneyworld...i think?...at least it seems that way.
--Addie braved Splash Mountain and Thunder Mountain Railroad - what a champ!
--Rhett threw up all over Derek at the end of the first, long, hot, day - HA HA HA.
--Beauty and the Beast musical. wonderful. except my dear friend Jamie Lubiens could out sing any of the musical stars we saw (thought of you Jame).
--not even brushing my hair for 5 days.
--Tower of Terror - rode it 3 times - loved it every time!
--Addie was chose out of tons of kids to play Boo in a Monsters Inc. show - they choice the cutest, of course. :)
--Mom and Dad going on Tower of Terror = hilarious.
--Islands of Adventure...my favorite day.
--Dueling Dragons - so fast, so awesome.
--Coming in 2010: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter!!!!!!! can't explain how excited i am for this.
--frozen lemonade.
--soaking wet on the water rides...especially my mom who got the brunt of everything. love you MOM!
--nephew Rhett was an absolute trooper...shoot, he was happier than all of us hot, sticky people most of the time.
--Medieval Times! hadn't been there since high school...forgot how cool it is. Derek's new dream is to be a knight...not even a new dream really, he's always wanted to be one.
--swimming in the indoor pool at our condo.
--joy, laughter, and love.

i would like to go back soon...or now. until next time D-world - cheers!!!

"all you need is pixie dust"

2009-07-10T17:09:00.000-07:00

i plan to write a longer blog on Disneyworld in the next few days but until then...adore this picture of my beautiful niece Addie and one of her besties from Disneyworld: Tinkerbell. oh Tink.

"out one day. walking one day. out one day with you hallelujah."

2009-06-13T09:27:00.001-07:00

oh Rolling Hills.

2009-06-03T09:33:00.000-07:00

well, i've had a great first year at Rolling Hills Public Charter School. despite a few rather larger bumps in the road, this year has been an amazing experience! i am planning to stay next year...and indefinitely (unless of course God has a different plan). i truly love it here.

i could write a book and bore you with all of the stories i have from this year but instead i will list some highlights:

--my curriculum! gosh i love it. Bette Moore is a genius...i wouldn't have near as much fun without her music and keyboard curriculum.
--teaching drama - my first year doing this and i love it.
--programs: always a highlight. as i grow and learn as a teacher the programs become better, which makes me happy of course.
--teaching keyboards to all grades...yes, all. crazy i know...i'm so proud of them all.
--gifts. ha! there are perks to teaching in downtown Eagle/Boise area....you get cds and purses instead of homemade popcorn balls (not that i don't like those!). however, i love these gifts not because they are better than the average gift, i love them because they speak love to me.
--there are a few families at this school who are really into bands and concerts and such....so obviously we have a lot to talk about. the mom or dad will come visit me to ask about the latest band i've found or tell me about the show they went to the other night. but the best part is that their kids come in to my room to sit and chat about Radiohead, Johnny Cash, Deah Cab, Coldplay, Tom Petty, etc. this blesses me so much.
--Star Waiter - read my post. this was such an amazing experience.
--the relationships i made with parents.
--the relationships i made with students.
--hugs and homemade cards (my favorite!)
--Individual performances: once or twice a month i had a day called Individual Performance day. the kids would bring in a song to play or sing that they had been working on. i love watching their talents grow and grow! i have officially heard the best 3rd grade guitar player ever.

being a teacher is such a joy. i love my job and am excited for next year!....but for now, i'll just take the summer off ok? (i meant that last statement with love people working this summer). :)

new bedroom.

2009-05-29T11:09:00.001-07:00

if only....sigh.

alfredo sauce?

2009-05-18T11:08:00.000-07:00

i was thrilled (to say the least) when i found a mix for alfredo sauce from Fred Meyer that i could have...gluten free, dairy free, soy free. i haven't had alfredo in geez, i can't even remember how long. i've always been a little scared to try gluten free, dairy free alfredo sauce...doesn't it scare you? well this new brand looked pretty legit so i decided to try it and called Derek on the way home cause i was so excited!

the first thing i noticed when i added the extra ingredients to the dry mix was that the sauce was green? ok. i've seen some weird colors in my day but this color resembled a diaper, not food. i also assumed that the sauce would be the consistency of sauce...weird i know...but as i stirred the sauce didn't become saucy, ever? needless to say...we did not use this sauce - and when i tried to clean the pan, it wouldn't come out...i even turned the pan upside down and shook it and, nothing. what are they trying to do, kill me? sooo, you tell me...green refried beans or alfredo sauce?

Star Waiter.

2009-05-12T13:28:00.000-07:00

Mitch. a 6th grader at Rolling Hills Charter. one of the most animated students in my music and drama classes. Mitch has a rare disease...he struggles to walk and gets tired easily. i have seen him grown more and more weak this year. he falls down often...and graciously denies help to stand back up. he still participates in P.E. - and works his tail off! he always wants to be in front of the class in drama and honestly, he is incredibly witty - one of the funniest kids i know.

about a year ago Mitch's family started working with Make A Wish Foundation to make Mitch's dream come true. his dream is this: to direct and star in a movie. the process began about 4 months ago when a team of directors, screenwriters, and producers began working with Mitch and the 6th grade class. a screenwriter named Doug (his last name is absent from my memory) wrote the script...taking into account the ideas of the 6th grade and the theme Mitch wanted: a spoof off of Star Wars. the result: Star Waiter.

Star Waiter uses food to explain the difference between the dark side and the power of the force (or fork, in this show). the good guys eat healthy food: Luke Piewalker, Pretzel Leia, Clam Solo, CH2O, and others. the dark side indulges in dark chocolate and fatty sweets: Darth Waiter. sounds cheesy, i know...but i promise you this movie is hilarious.

i had the priviledge of being on the movie set while they were filming. oh, did i mention we had try outs for the characters in this movie and all of the actors and actresses are my 6th grade drama students?!!...(with the exception of a few adults). it was fun and enlightening to see how a movie is filmed. granted, it isn't a Feature Film, but it is a real movie...with real directors, producers, equipment, and such. the first day was shot at Camel's Back Park, the second day at Riverstone High School, and the third and final day was at Donnie Mac's! the kids had the time of their life, of course. i have to admit i was feeling the pressure when the production team came to me 1 week before shooting and said "here is the script...make sure the kids are ready." eeeek! but, i was so very proud of them!

my favorite scene they shot was the very last one. it is a dance scene. 200 plus people showed up to support Mitch and dance in this final sequence. an amazing choreographer successfully taught all of us a dance in one hour - i was impressed! Boise shut down the streets surrounding Donnie Mac's and we danced down the streets to "We Are Family." oh, and this is cool: Joni Sledge called Make a Wish and gave us the rights to the official Sister Sledge version!

it has been such a joy to see Mitch's dream come true. i love this kid. i can't wait to see him star as Luke Piewalker in Star Waiter. speaking of, you should come! this Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. is the premiere of this movie - at the Egyptian Theatre in downtown Boise! it is open to the public...we are hoping to pack it out. Mitch will be arriving in a limo as the star and there will be a red carpet. why not come you know?!

a big sidenote: Lucas Films also called Make a Wish and the directors of Star Waiter and gave them the rights to all of the original Star Wars music and all of the sound effects!!! rumor has it George Lucas might be there Saturday night...no, i'm not making this up. come!

Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrhett the pirate.

2009-05-06T08:17:00.000-07:00

i saw this picture on my beautiful sister's blog today and had to steal it. my nephew is thee cutest pirate!

i love to hear...

2009-04-28T13:22:00.000-07:00

my top ten most listened to albums of 2009 so far:
(no, this does not mean they came out in 2009).

This is Us - a collection of wonderful artists such as Aimee Mann, The Byrds, The Constantines, Mark Geary, etc. this album makes me think of family, friends, and home...which is it's exact purpose, well done.

Juno Soundtrack - so playful, so fun, hours of joy with this cd.

Kings of Leon: Only by the Night - enough said.

Feist: Open Season - i have a feeling one of her cds will always be in my most listened to list. this is a cd of remixes and collaborations. wonderful.

The Waiting Kind: In the Land of Hope - first full length! it will change your life, truly.

Cat Power: You Are Free - her breathy vocals melt my heart.

The Honey Trees: Wake the Earth - i've said it before, Becky Filip and i are meant to be best friends. her melodies are some of thee most lovely i have ever heard.

Pedro the Lion: Control - i miss them often, but am forever glad Dave Bazan is still making great music. this album tells a story...it has always intrigued me. i could study Dave's lyrics for probably years and never truly figure out what he means in some of his lyrics.

Brandi Carlile: The Story - one of the greatest lady performers i have ever seen. she writes brilliant music. and what a voice!

Kings of Convenience: Quiet is the New Loud - indie folk pop duo, delicate tunes, warm guitar melodies.

i could probably give a top 25 list, but we'll stick with 10 for now. cheers to good music!

imagination is the funniest.

2009-04-23T13:00:00.000-07:00

my 6th grade drama class is preparing for a program. they will be performing an array of skits and improv. i am so excited! part of the night will be similar to "Who's Line is it Anyway?" today, we were working on improvisation - the lesson was titled, "Imagination is the Funniest." the objective was to imagine and create a vivid scene, with the emphasis on believability, that supposedly happened in the past. everyone did a pretty good job. Aaron was up last...his prompt was: i witnessed a murder. here is how he told us his imaginative story:

"oh hey guys. let me take you back to one of my most vivid memories.... a few years ago, i was walking home from school all by myself and i came across a light alley. you know how alleys are usually dark?...well this one was light, very light. and there were two guys in the alley...one had a lollipop, and the other had a...(long pause)...lollipop. and they were staring at each other and looked so mad.
then the first guy said, "don't you know tutti frutti is better than peach?"
the second guy answered, "no way! peach is the bessssssst."
then the first guy said, "oh dang!"
and the second guy said, "oh snap!"
and the first guy said, "don't DO IT!"
and the second guy said, "oh i will DO IT!"
and then, the second guy pulled out a knife and stabbed the first guy....(long pause)...right in the lollipop. and the knife went through the lollipop and hit the first guy's epidermis. and the first guy was like, "dude, not my epidermis."
and that was the day i learned that murder... can be funny."

newest addition to our very colorful home.

2009-04-21T13:18:00.000-07:00

this will be waiting for me when i get home! i adore this mirror...courtesy of etsy.com, of course.

cheers to this beautiful dayyyy!

the story of a Walmart parking lot on a Wednesday night.

2009-04-02T13:23:00.000-07:00

i wasn't going to blog about this, but i keep thinking about it and getting mad and then laughing (repeat).

i ran to Walmart last night to look for some kazoos...yes, kazoos. as i was walking to my car, about four feet away from me were three teenagers (two boys and a girl) walking to their car as well. the boys started to make comments at me and "hit" on me or whatever. of course i kept walking and didn't look at them but believe me, i hated every word they said. as we both got to our cars, which were right across from each other of course, the girl said, "nah, that's just some skinny a#& anorexic white girl." of course she said it in a booming loud voice, just in case i couldn't hear her from a few feet away. i still didn't look at her or the guys - why give her the pleasure of knowing i was so angry? the thing that bothered me the most about this is that these teenagers were black - and what she said to me was racist - especially the way it was said. now, i have replayed this story in my head ten or twenty times today and really, it makes me chuckle - but she was still way out of line. one time i was replaying the story in my head and i punched her in the face...we all know there is no way that would have happened - but it's a fun thought. ok, not a fun thought, but that is what i felt like doing! what i do know for sure is that it was God's grace that Derek was not walking with me - i feel like things would've turned out a bit different.

there's my story. i don't know why i told it. but i do know that i am thankful God gave me the grace to keep walking and quietly get in my car.

(oh, and thanks Jeff for helping me laugh it off :))

someday! sigh.

2009-03-20T11:34:00.000-07:00

marionette class.

2009-02-24T14:18:00.000-08:00

most days we have at least a few families who take a tour of Rolling Hills (the cool school i teach at). often times i have the priviledge to meet them. today was one of those days. and, wow. i mean, i have met some very interesting people in my days but i'd say this mother and her children are in the top. i don't mean that to be rude, they were very nice, blunt people...just interesting.

one of the perks (or not so) of being a teacher is having parents give you suggestions - what you should be teaching, how you should be teaching, if you should be teaching at all, etc. prior to this afternoon, i would have said i had heard them all...

persistent parent obsessed with woodwinds because he played the clarinet in high school: "Mrs. Henbest, have you thought about starting a woodwinds ensemble?"
me: "i'll see what I can do, sir."
me thinking: "i asked my Jr. High classes last week, again, how many would be interested in a ensemble of woodwind sorts, and i had one interested - just one. your daughter. hmmmm... i guess i could give her private clarinet lessons but that would require me learning to play the clarinet. not on your life, mister."

Mom who loves to give me suggestions but isn't musical even one little bit:
"Mrs. Henbest, when are you going to start an orchestra for Jr. High kids?"
me: "well, i will see what the interest level is and get back to you."
me thinking: "an orchestra?! sure, let me learn those lovely string instruments as poorly as i can, and then try to teach like i know what i'm doing. i have some incredible violin/cello players in the Jr. High - do you want me to make them worse?!

Ex-Cheerleader Mom:
"Mrs. Henbest, is there any way you would consider doing a dance class?"
me: "No."

those are only a few. and don't get me wrong, i do love suggestions...just not ridiculous ones like - start a Rolling Hills Philharmonic or dance squad.

ok, back to my story of thee best/worst (best only because i will laugh about it for ages) suggestion ever. so the blunt but kind family waltz into my class today and mom immediately asks, "so, what are you doing with the 7th and 8th grade for music?" a bit taken back, i gathered myself and explained to her all that is going on until the end of the school year. i finished and she just watched me for a bit with a "hmmmm" look on her face. i'm not quite sure what that look meant...hmmmm...

she then stood up from her chair and boldy asked: "are you going to start a marionette class?" i tried not to choke on the water i had just drank but it was too late. surely this mom was joking, right? nope, no smile there. so we talked it out...
me: "marionette class? i've never thought of that before. well, those dolls are pretty expensive and i don't think the school could..."
interrupting mom: "they have this big sale on marionettes right after Christmas time...but darn, we already missed it. my family bought a whole bunch this last Christmas for $12.00 a piece. we could shoot for next year. and my son is really good at building things and he could make some marionette stages and wouldn't that be fun?"
me thinking: "little marionettes in my music room sounds more like a horror film!...wait, am i having a nightmare?"
me: "well, that is a good idea. i just don't think we have the budget or time to start a marionette class."
mom: "i'm sure you could find a way."
me: "um, ok, well it was nice to meet you guys and i hope you choose Rolling Hills."
me thinking: "if i am greeted by scary little marionettes in my classroom tomorrow..."

phew. i know, i'm a bit of an over.reacter (and the people laugh)...and i do know that there isn't anything wrong with puppets or marionettes...in fact, i think they are quite fun....but, marionette class?! hmmmm...

Raising Sand.

2009-02-18T09:03:00.000-08:00

i have been enjoying this album for quite some time now so this is by no means a belated cd review. i think you all know i would only have good things to say about it anyway. rock god and folk goddess join forces to form smoky harmonies and relaxed midtempo rockabilly. what could be more grand? oh ya, add T Bone Burnett. but, as i said, this isn't a cd review (just a little plug)...

The Grammys a few weeks back...enjoyment for the most part. those of you who watched saw Robert Plant and Alison Krauss win Album of the Year. i believe i let out a yell or two of pure joy when this happened...and i also believe i was thee only one in the house to do so - it's cool. yes, i do understand who they were up against - Radiohead and Coldplay to name two. yes, i love both of those bands, quite intimately actually - but you know, i was really happy Raising Sand won. some would say they just won because of who they are and not the quality of their album. nah. i say to them, give the album a good listen and you might fall in love, as i did. and i refuse to comment on the reaction of the crowd - i was ashamed that people could be that rude.

phew. i got that out.

cheers to Robert Plant and Alison Krauss!

there they are!

2009-01-30T10:33:00.000-08:00

as many of you know, The Waiting Kind started in the studio this week! it is going so well! i cannot wait to hear the completed record! i'm writing this post to tell you to watch them live in the studio...it's quite fun to watch...

http://www.mogulus.com/thewaitingkind

happy, happy Friday!

goodness!

2009-01-28T08:53:00.000-08:00

you have to watch this! i promise it will make your day...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBQBOIIjQPQ

ode to Derek.

2009-01-26T10:33:00.000-08:00

warning: this will be a cheezzzy post.

my husband turned 23 last Friday, the 23rd. his golden birthday! for the next few months, i will enjoy only being 3 and a half years older than him. i could write a very, very long blog about Derek...but to save myself from too many eye rolls and yawns, i am only going to list ten of my favorite things about this amazing, dashing man of mine.

1. he speaks truth in love.
2. he is full of kindness and faithfulness.
3. he encourages me, and others, daily.
4. his humility (pay no attention to that statement D :)).
5. he is determined, disciplined, and motivated in his dreams.
6. his songwriting.
7. he treats his mother, and mine, like precious gold.
8. his laugh makes me laugh which makes him laugh and then we laugh and laugh.
9. his hair and handsome face. awwww.
10. the way he loves me.

sometimes i write songs about people, and when i perform them, i don't think about why i wrote it or what the meaning is...and then there are other times i write songs and perform them, and while i'm performing i cannot stop thinking about the meaning behind the words. this is one of the meaningful ones i wrote for Derek a few months back - i couldn't describe what he is to me in a deeper way than this simple chorus:

"love of my life
sweet as the morning sky,
are you, are you,
love of my life
all i do is sigh
for you, for you."

happy birthday, darling. i love you incredibly.

we make things.

2009-01-20T10:56:00.000-08:00

so, Derek and i set out yesterday to buy some decor for our little abode. we found a few things at Urban that we are enjoying. we then contemplated going to some antique shops or attempting a do-it-yourself project we've been wanting to do for a month or so. after discussing for 1.2 minutes, the project it was.

i purchased these great decals in December and realllly wanted to put them up...so we started with an idea. we went to Lowe's - bought a piece of wood and some teal paint - but apparently Lowe's didn't have the right saw to cut the wood??? c'mon Lowe's! sooo, Derek had an idea - keep the piece as is, paint it, add decals, and some random little pieces of wood and paint them grey. i can't say i was all for it at first...ok, i thought it was an awful idea. however, he began to explain in more detail and i started to understand it just might be brilliant..."what the heck, lets!" i said.

we had fun making our first do-it-yourself project! for lack of a better name it is a: hanging/painting/decal/wall thing. this hangs by our front door and above our new dining table we just bought yesterday as well! hurray for not eating standing up or on the couch anymore! oh, and mostly hurray for my husband's great ideas! the finished work is above.

(well, we think it is finished...you never know, we could add things...)

our Top.

2008-12-20T08:35:00.000-08:00

this morning, Derek and i were discussing our top albums and top shows of 2008....thought we'd share...some are more of his favorites, some are more mine - but we compromised...

albums:
Viva La Vida - Coldplay
Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
In Rainbows - Radiohead
Some People Have Real Problems - Sia
She & Him: Volume 1 - She & Him
Conor Oberst - Conor Oberst

shows:
Brandi Carlile/A Fine Frenzy
Eisley/Vedera/The Myriad
Mute Math
Wilco/The Fleet Foxes
Built to Spill
Jeremy Enigk/Kris Doty

i am sure there are plenty of albums and shows we are forgetting but no going back now. here are our Top.

Molly Brown Wilson

2008-12-17T10:30:00.000-08:00

my parents brown lab....but really mine too. i lived with my folks the first 3 years of Molly's life. she loves me. and i love her. it is amazing how much a dog can comfort you...i remember a few times when i didn't want to speak with anyone - i would go cry on Molly...i'm being completely serious here. and she always knew something was wrong, always. i miss seeing her every day...i even miss waking up to a wet nose in the face in the mornings. one of my favorite things is when she gets realllly excited, she spins around in a circle really fast - anywhere from 4 to 15 times. it is quite hilarious. she has grown up with my neice Addison, they were born a few weeks apart - and they are best buds. Molly has always been so kind to Addie and plays with her often. Molly loves Derek...he always plays with her when we are at my folks.

i guess i am writing this because i spent some quality time at my parents house last night...and got to hang with Molls...and realized how much i love that sweet, cuddly, needy, excited puppy dog.

the Happy Henbests on their Happiest Day!

2008-12-14T17:14:00.000-08:00

!

we had the priviledge of having our great friend, Josh, take our engagement and wedding pictures. we are thrilled at how they turned out! he truly is incredible to work with...we would (and will) recommend him to anyone! anyway...Josh put some of our pics up on his blog so i thought for those of you who haven't gotten the secret log.in and password to view all 500 (don't cry...ha), you might want to go check a few of them out.

http://www.jmmilnephotography.com/blog/

cheers to Josh!

Home.

2008-12-08T10:58:00.000-08:00

the past few weeks have been interesting for me. i've finally been realizing how much my life has changed....new job, new husband (whom i adore), new church, new home. no, my 'change' does not even compare to those who have moved far away from family and friends, or those who have lost someone recently, but still, it's my change (if that makes sense?).

this change has made me really contemplate the meaning of 'home.' often people ask, "where is home for you?" hmmmmm. a few months ago i would have said it was my parents home - the house i have cherished for the past 10 years. this week, i am beginning to realize that home can be anywhere with anyone. some of you are seriously wondering how i just figured this out...but i'm on my own figuring-things-out time line ok? :) my parents house is still and always will be 'home' to me...but these are a few other times/places/happenings that have felt like 'home' recently:

--my best friend from high school flew up from Georgia to surprise me at my wedding - we just hugged and cried. that felt like home.
--my folks prayed with Derek and i at my dad's church, Bethel Naz, a few weeks back. this was an amazing 'home' experience for me. Bethel will always be a home to me.
--first Sundays are like home - every first Sunday of the month my dad's side of the fam gets together for dinner. love these loud, loud gatherings of beloved people.
--spending time with my best friends.
--knocking at my bro and sis's door...crouching down cause i know my lovely neice Addie will run into my arms when the door is opened (or i will have to chase her down...ha).
--grandma's house. other grandma and grandpa's house. always home. always.
--our new hip little apartment is starting to feel a lot like home (and Christmas right now - yippeeee).
--my loving, patient, amazing husband is home (and playing music with him makes it more sweet).

i could go on but you get the idea. i know this is such a simple concept but it has seemed so big to me lately. i'm glad i am finally realizing what home is to me...it makes those wonderful things just that much more wonderful.

The Honey Trees.

2008-11-18T11:12:00.000-08:00

it is safe to say i have listened to the songs on their myspace more than one person should...and am currently listening. their first ep will be out in early 2009...i couldn't be more thrilled. Becky Filip is not only absolutely lovely, her voice is sweet and smooth. give them a listen...www.myspace.com/thehoneytrees. you will be glad you did.

Disneyland could tell we were crafty people, so they asked us to carve this pumpkin on the spot, and we said yes.

2008-10-31T10:02:00.000-07:00

truth is my husband and i aren't exactly the best pumpkin carvers in the world - we did get ONE vote in a carving contest this year - we think the person may have been drugged? nonetheless, i wish we were back here for this Halloween day. here's to the happiest place on earth!