Here’s some of what you’ll see … Village, Our Time, Family Time, ABC Music & Me, Pre-Keyboarding, Shiny Dinah, Valentine’s Day, St Patrick’s Day, special snacks, new babies, twins, granddaughters, FREE Play Day, Dancing with the “Stars”, Zumba Fundraiser to honor baby Vi, Play & Learn Classes, Kindermusik with Seniors PlayDate, Dr Seuss Breakfast, Easter Egg Hunts, Jonestown, Palmyra, friends, teachers, helpers, and most of all the wonderful community of families that is “Kindermusik with Carol Anne Friesen”!

Did you see yourself or your child? Post a note on our facebook page to let us know and be entered in a drawing to win one of 5 classroom instruments for your child!

http://vimeo.com/40697423

That’s what’s happening to me this year. It’s been a tough few months since my dad died, and further back since we moved here and experienced all the trauma, change and upheaval that comes with a new address. There are many things in my life that are still unfamiliar, uncomfortable and well … just plain unacceptable, but today there is also HOPE.

Hmmm, after re-reading what I just wrote, I’m thinking that there is Someone Else who can identify with those feelings. Someone who left all that was familiar for a new address and all the trauma, change, upheaval that would bring. A life that was unfamiliar, uncomfortable and in many ways unacceptable. And to top it all off, His best friend died and those He trusted the most betrayed Him.

It has occurred to me during this Lenton season that there is nothing that has happened to me that Jesus hasn’t also experienced. That’s a comfort to know in itself.

But He didn’t stop there. He went on to experience our greatest enemy, our greatest fear and all that goes along with loss, grief, death and dying. He carried on, determined to fulfill his heavenly Father’s plan for Him, no matter the cost. And it did cost him everything, including his precious life.

All so that on this Easter Day, as the beneficiaries of all His goodness and sacrifice, we can say, … oh death where is your sting? oh grave, where is your victory? And isn’t that what we all want to do … cheat death? the death and loss we face everyday … loss of dreams, loss of relationships, loss of life itself.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God, For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. … We do not want you to be uninformed … about the hardships we suffered … We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.” (2 Corinthians 1:3 – 9)

That’s it!!! That’s why … “we do not want you to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. … And so we will be with the Lord forever … Therefore encourage each other with these words.” (I Thessalonians 4:1 – 18)

What a hope! … or as one facebook friend posted … “If Jesus Christ is still in the grave, nothing matters. But if He came out of the grave, nothing but that really matters.”

Happy Easter!

The testimonials that you’ve posted on our blog and on facebook have been so heartwarming and touching. As teachers we are blessed by your kind words and so happy to hear how Kindermusik is making a difference for you everyday.

Here’s a sample of what we’ve been enjoying …

“Kindermusik has been a constant in our lives for over a year, and is so much more than a music class. It is heartwarming to see my son excited for class and also to sing the songs and do the activities from class at home. Often times Kindermusik songs provide the soundtrack to our lives – from CDs in the car, to class songs at the changing table, to the ever important “clean-up” song – which my husband even sings! The environment has also provided a unique and much needed opportunity to connect with other moms to learn from and share with each other. My son and I have both enjoyed and benefited immensely from this class!” from Kate (mom of Ben)

Fact is … we’ve been having such a great celebration that we’re extending the week into “We LOVE Kindermusik” month!!! and we’re planning a special bring a friend “Kindermusik LOVES You” event as a conclusion …

Tuesday, February 28, 9:30 to 11:30 join in the fun of a “Kindermusik FREE Play Day” at our Palmyra location at Trinity United Church of Christ Fellowship Hall, 40 W Pine St. Totally FREE, totally fun and totally open to anyone!

Babies, toddlers and preschoolers will enjoy a morning out to run, jump and have unstructured play in a big wide open room with beach balls, hula hoops, tents and tunnels, while moms chat and connect. We are celebrating We LOVE Kindermusik Month and how much the community of families has grown. You’ll be able to see all we have to offer and what’s *NEW* for Spring.

Rumor has it that a Kindermusik Flash Mob may break out and in Pied Piper fashion engage everyone in singing, dancing and interactive play. So beat the winter blahs and join in this fun event.

Admission is FREE but a donation of a canned good, diapers or wipes for the Caring Cupboard in Palmyra would be appreciated. For more information call Carol Anne Friesen at 717-756-8160 or check our facebook page at “Kindermusik with Carol Anne Friesen”.

So keep your comments on our blog and on facebook coming. We’ll do our drawing for a FREE Summer session of Kindermusik on Saturday March 3.

Mark your calendar for Tuesday, Feb 28 and be sure to let your friends know that they are welcome to attend also.

There’s no denying it … We Love Kindermusik and we know you do, too!
Join in the fun of celebrating with other families, children and educators around the world … here’s how …

#1. Show your love for Kindermusik and “tell” us about it here on our blog. Post a comment about why you love Kindermusik and you’ll be entered in a drawing for a FREE 5-week summer session of Kindermusik (an $85 value).

#2. Then go to our “Kindermusik with Carol Anne Friesen” facebook page http://tinyurl.com/8ye7hgd and click “like”. That will give you 2 more entries in our drawing. Already liked us? then you’ve already got 2 entries!

#3. Be sure to have your child wear their red Kindermusik t-shirt to class the week of February 13 – 18. Don’t have a Kindermusik t-shirt? Purchase one in class this week. Cost is just $7 and all the proceeds will go to our classroom painting project.

Spread the love!

Andrea Wolfinger has been enjoying music all of her life! She grew up singing in chorus and playing the saxophone in many different bands. Andrea’s love of teaching children led her to Millersville University, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. She has always known that music enriches the lives of children but when she enrolled her own daughters in Kindermusik, she had no idea how it would change all of their lives. Andrea has seen firsthand how Kindermusik has benefited her children and is thrilled to share the Kindermusik experience with others as she joins the very talented team of “Kindermusik with Carol Anne Friesen.”

You probably know that my 95 yr old dad passed away on Dec 22 in Canada. I was able to be with him before he died, came home to celebrate Christmas and then went back for his funeral. The journey of loss and grieving is a rough road only made easier by the thought that he is with my mother in his heavenly home. However my new reality here is that I am now an “orphan”. That’s why what happened today was all the more precious to me.

This was my first public outing for Kindermusik since my dad died and it was to Twin Oaks Nursing Home so I could check in to be sure everything was ready for us for tomorrow, when we’ll be doing our first “Kindermusik with Seniors PlayDate”. A friend of mine had set up the initial contact for me there since her father-in-law recently became a resident. I was pretty sure this was going to be a tough time and would make me think of my dad, since he was in an assisted living residence for the last 4 years and that’s where I would go to visit him.

I had a little cry in the parking lot and then I went in. And who do you think was sitting in the first chair by the front door … the father-in-law of my Palmyra friend, who had initially suggested I consider doing something at the nursing home! How special!

So I said hello to him and we chatted for a bit. There was another lady in a wheelchair sitting there also. The sun was streaming in the window on both of them and as they sat there I told them about the song that my dad would sing to me when I would call and it would be sunny in his room that day. Then right there in the lobby I started to sing it (There Is Sunshine In My Soul Today … see all the words below) and it was just such a fitting celebration to be there with Seniors, honoring my dad, and making music, singing the song he had sung to me … quite the experience!!!

So tomorrow Miss Janice and I will go back again to hold our first Seniors PlayDate. Thankfully she was there with me today to walk through yet another first and also knows what it is like to be an orphan as both her parents have also passed away.

They say it’s the little things in life that make the difference. And sometimes for me it’s the “little things” that are truly the most important things.

Here is the song my dad would sing to me …
There is sunshine in my soul today,
More glorious and bright
Than glows in any earthly sky,
For Jesus is my light.

O there’s sunshine, blessed sunshine,
While the peaceful, happy moments roll;
When Jesus shows His smiling face
There is sunshine in my soul.

There is music in my soul today,
A carol to my King;
And Jesus, listening, can hear
The song I cannot sing.

There is springtime in my soul today,
For when the Lord is near
The dove of peace sings in my heart,
The flowers of grace appear.

There is gladness in my soul today,
And hope, and praise, and love,
For blessings which He gives me now,
For joys laid up above.

As our Kindermusik semester came to a close I received a phone call saying that my 95 year old father in Canada had suffered a fall. I was able to visit him last weekend, spend time at his bedside and as I said my good byes, I sang a favorite family hymn. On December 22 he went to be with Jesus and was reunited with my mother who passed away 8 years ago.

And while I would normally use this email to thank all of you for your wonderful support of my Kindermusik program for which I am so grateful, I must also include a special tribute to my father.

My dad would say that he was not musically gifted (although he was self taught on the violin and the recorder) but he certainly upheld the value of music in our home. And while my mother was the primary piano teacher for my 3 brothers and myself, on a meager, one wage-earner income my father also provided the opportunity for private music lessons. This included voice and piano lessons for me so that I could complete the Royal Conservatory of Music Program to a Grade Eight level.

This is how I developed my love of music and I must say thank you once again for the investment my father made in my life by providing these opportunities for me and for encouraging me in my endeavors. I am living proof that the gift that lasts a lifetime is … the gift of music.

Tomorrow we will all sit around our Christmas trees and open the many gifts we have selected to show our love. But always remember that the best gift we can give is time spent with our loved ones. That’s why I so enjoy offering Kindermusik classes that bring parents and children together for a few precious moments each week where all the cares of the day can be left at our classroom door and you can just focus completely on your “little one”. Now that is a precious gift and an incredible investment!

And I’m remembering too that the best gift this world ever received was the tiny baby in the Bethlehem manger. Tonight, around the globe, people pause to celebrate His birth, born on that “Silent Night” so many years ago.

May you and your family have a beautiful, musical Christmas, filled with the hope, joy and love that Jesus came to give us.

Thanks for the opportunity to share my heart with you tonight,
Carol Anne

We’re so excited to be offering Kindermusik T-Shirts for the first time as a registration incentive!
Enroll by Dec 16 for the upcoming Spring Semester that starts on January 23 and you’ll receive one for your child! Just send in the Registration form with your payment and the t-shirt is yours!

As everyone has been posting notes of Thankfulness on facebook recently, my heart is overflowing with all the blessings I have received just in this week alone through my little program.

Those of you who know me well, know that it’s not about the Kindermusik brand, but rather the platform Kindermusik gives me to care for families with “little ones” during a very vulnerable time in their lives.

That’s why I feel so blessed this week that we were able to be able to …
-support a family with an infant loss
-hold a class where during rocking time a little girl looked up at her mommy and said, “I love you mommy” for the first time
-offer our first “enrichment” class, to bring the Kindermusik home materials to life for the ABC 3 – 5 year old class, taught by another talented Kindermusik mommy/former teacher
-collect and pack over 50 boxes for Operation Christmas Child – with many thanks to those who contributed and helped

In addition …
-I had another wonderfully talented former teacher/now Kindermusik mommy offer to join my team this week – that makes 4 and counting – I’m starting to feel like the Duggar family!
-I recently became a Barefoot Books Ambassador with tomorrow (Sat) being my debut event and I already have an early childhood educator/Kindermusik mommy who has asked to join my team
-several wonderfully talented former teachers/mothers in my program have been talking to me about the ideas they have for how we could continue to meet needs of families in our community which also just happen to line up with the dreams I’ve carried in my heart for many years
-this Sunday (Nov 13) will be Kindermusik Shoebox Sunday in cooperation with Trinity United Church of Christ, who have welcomed us into their facility, and reached out to partner with us in bringing love and hope to hurting children around the world

So many amazing things are happening right now that while I sometimes sign my emails “with a song in my heart”, honestly today it feels like the whole orchestra is playing!