South County Profile: Kimberly Brumbaugh

KIMBERLY BRUMBAUGH

Kimberly Brumbaugh of Cottonwood grew up in the North State and attended local schools. She graduated from Enterprise High School and then went on to Chico State University where she earned her bachelor's degree in liberal arts and received her bilingual teaching credentials, graduating in 1986.

Brumbaugh then went on to do her student teaching in Chico and Corning. She taught English as a second language for three years and then taught one year of a combined 5th-grade, 6th-grade classroom. After moving back to the area, Brumbaugh spent six years at Simpson College as the Student Teaching Supervisor. She then left that job to raise her family.

Brumbaugh began playing the guitar at ten years old. She loves the guitar because it is a multipurpose instrument that can accompany others, sing along as you play, it is easy to take anywhere with you, and there are so many different types of music to play with it.

Brumbaugh began teaching guitar at Keys and Strings Studio in Cottonwood two and a half years ago when the studio opened.

Some of the many things Brumbaugh enjoys about teaching her guitar students include getting to know them personally and watching them play when they finally master a technique. Brumbaugh also encourages them to perform as much as they can, so that they get use to playing around people.

In the future, Brumbaugh would like to continue to teach guitar.

"I keep learning as I teach. That is part of the fun of it," said Brumbaugh.

Brumbaugh teaches at Keys and Stings in Cottonwood two days a week and spends the other days keeping up with home life.

Name: Kimberly Brumbaugh.

Born where and when: Paradise, 1959.

Occupation: Guitar Instructor.

Marital Status: Married for 23 years.

Family: Husband Paul, sons Tobin, 21, Will, 18, and daughter Krista, 15.

Pets: An Australian Shepherd/Lab named Lucy, a little mutt, four cats and four chickens.

My worst job: Taking care of (cleaning up after) 12 German Shepard show dogs who were desperately wanting out of their kennels and who every day treated me as a stranger by all jumping up and barking at me whenever I arrived and would not quit until their owner would come out and yell at them.

My first job: At 16, working as a sign painter and office helper for my father's fledgling engineering firm.

In my spare time I: Love to garden, play my guitar, ride my bike and spend time with friends and family.

My favorite book: The Marquis' Secret, by George MacDonald.

My favorite movie: Pride and Prejudice.

My favorite recording artist: That is too hard of a question. One of the many I like is Jars of Clay.

My dream car: One that never breaks down.

My friends like me because: I love them.

If stranded on a deserted island, I would want: To be stranded with my husband, and both be rescued in three days. My husband says three months.

The one thing in life I've learned is: That there is more than one thing to learn, but one important bit of guidance I've learned from scripture is from Romans 12: Do not be overcome by evil, but over come evil with good.

The best advice my parents gave me: My parents were never to careful with me. They encouraged me both in word and by example to be adventurous, have fun and to care about others.

My most embarrassing moment was: I try to forget those, but one was at our last concert. We had a bunch of us on stage doing different numbers. Suddenly it was time for one of my students' specials. He was all set to go and I was to grab the nearest mike and accompany him. All I could see available was this floor mike for our bass player, so I squatted down, looking like a dork. As my student started playing it dawns on me that I haven't memorized the music and I can no longer see it from that vantage point. I looked silly and he did great without me.

My most irrational act: Having a Samoyed Husky here in the North State.

What I like best about the North State: The beauty of the outdoors.

My hero is: Anyone who tries to follow Jesus, even when it gets hard.

My pet peeve is: Whining.

The one thing Shasta County needs most is: Rain in August.

The most enjoyable thing about life is: It's always filled with both the expected and unexpected. I love to wonder about the future, but I also love knowing there will always be a sunrise in the morning, Christmas every Winter and wild flowers every Spring.