The past 13 days have been a flurry of busyness. Moving into a new classroom building at school, learning a new computer program, setting up my classroom, choosing music for the academic year, planning a choir trip to England, moving the music library twice, and still trying to get the laundry done, keep the house in order, and spend time with the family. The latter part of the list has been tough to achieve, as the pressure to get the school related work done before Tuesday has been great.

Today I must run to the store after church and get Marla’s school supplies (procrastinator that I am) and still go back to the school and choose the MS literature for the year and then do the same for 6th grade. I’m going to get it all done!

I am very excited about this coming school year—I’ve taught at the school for 15 years, and have never had a classroom to call my own. The past 3 years I’ve had to teach in a multipurpose area with no access to a desk, files, manipulatives, or technology. This year, I’m in a brand new chorus room! I have a desk, stereo, easy access to the choral library, the internet, and technological tools for teaching. Woo-hoo!

Earlier in the week I was sitting on the floor of the room, putting together the visual aids for the classroom and was reflecting on this as students dropped by and expressed their enthusiasm for our new room. I popped out for a few minutes to take care of something or other, and when I returned there were messages of love and encouragement on the board from the kids. This has to be one of the greatest blessings of teaching-- the relationships with the students that often last long after they graduate.

Last summer I wrote about beginning to find my stride as a teacher. This summer I’m excited that I now have a true place to teach and the tools to do an even better job. The ability to work and plan in the same area, easy access to materials, and being able to create a learning environment for greater musical expression are terrific motivators for success. The best part, is that over the past 4 years, our class size in the HS choir has doubled every year. We’re up to 40 and growing—viva la musica!

Tropical Depression- definition: the state of mind I fall into after a week of Fay


I really don’t care for rainy weather. It makes me feel gloomy and I tend to eat more to combat the feeling of confinement that sets in after just a few days.

This afternoon after work I ventured out into the carport to get some fresh air and I saw a glimmer of hope! A patch of blue sky was peeking through the rain clouds as they moved across the sky. It was back to grey after a few minutes, but the glimpse of clear sky lifted my spirits and I felt some of the dreariness fall away from my shoulders.

The weather has even affected our little maltese mix, Amos. He has been sending me the “I need to go out” message for the past little bit. So, it’s time for me to don the big poncho and walk the dog. I’ve switched to the poncho because an umbrella is useless in this gusty rain. Walking him in this storm has been kind of funny…

Although he really needs to go, he balks when we start out into the rain, locking his legs up and refusing to move. I have to pick him up and carry him far enough away from the house for him to understand the futility of resistance. Once in the rain, he looks and acts miserable, gingerly sniffing at dripping leaves and picking up his feet like a cat. He looks at me reproachfully several times during the outing while the deluge pours around us, as if to say, “Really, no one should have to do this.”

Before walk





After walk

I'm hoping for sunshine soon.

A Little Recap

I put together a little slideshow from our vacation. We had a great time-- check out our beach art!

Sun, Surf, and Sandsculptures




On Monday we spent the entire day on the beach, swimming, looking for shells, and doing a little beach art. (I'll post photos this weekend.) Even though we applied 50 suncreen a bazillion times we managed to get a little cooked, sooo.... yesterday we had a no sun day and found the local mall-- a nice diversion, but we'd rather be on the beach.

Today we're going to the pool this morning and the beach late in the afternoon-- we learn quickly. We plan to try our hand at a second beach art project this afternoon. Our inspiration came from finding cool sandscuptures covered in shells while on a moonlight stroll. There were mermaids, seahorses, turtles, and a relief of the island. Very fun! We're going to start small and try a starfish.

This has truly been a restful trip. Don even did a little moonlight fishing in the surf last night-- the only thing biting was the catfish, but he still had a great time.

Sanibel Serenity



How can it be Monday already? We're into our third day of vacation, although it's really just the second full day. I left the usb cable at home for the camera, so I'll have to post pictures when we return.

So far, this has been a great vacation! The weather's been great, although there has been a little rain. The bright spot is that it has blown over so quickly that we've pretty much been able to ignore it. The Gulf on Sunday was very choppy, but that didn't stop Don from fishing and Marla from sticking to him like glue. I watched her bobbing next to him in her orange "floatie" and could hear her laughter and squeals of delight from the shore. The water was rough enough that Don needed to hold on to her out in the surf, but when he'd need to reel in his line he'd let go and she'd grab his waistband, which was pretty funny to watch.

Last night Don and I went for a nighttime stroll on the beach, and found a great spot to sit and watch the stars. Someone had set two adirondak chairs amid the sea oats near the shore. The view was almost surreal, and we both declared it a moment worth remembering.

Tonight we're taking the girls down to the beach after dark for a "moon party". The moon is waxing and at two-thirds full is incredibly bright. The silvery path to the moon on the gulf, the gentle surf, and the breeze blowing the tall grasses should be more than enough to fire the imagination and create a fun evening.

I love the beach...

A New Blog


I'm exited to say that we've launched a Worship Blog at Orangewood! Check it out and visit frequently. In the weeks and months to come we'll be posting on worship, our ministry team, and the thoughts that go into planning a worship service. Let us know how we're doing!

Peace

A Little Vacation Time


On Saturday, we will take our yearly vacation to the beach. Earlier in the summer I whined and complained that there would be no vacation this year, as things were just too tight financially. However, the Lord provided enough money through my teaching privately in June and July to be able to swing a condo for a week in Sanibel! (I also managed to find a kind-hearted renter who would discount the rate for a week to something we could afford.) So, we're beginning to pull our things together and get excited about a trip. This year it will be just Don, Marla, Hannah (family friend), and me. Sam's job at Valencia does not include vacation time, and Dan's just started a new job, so we'll miss having them along.


The condo's right on the beach-- a first for us, so we're looking forward to sunsets just outside our door and shelling in the early mornings. We'll take lots of pictures and post them along the way if the internet service is good.

School starts on the 18th for me, so this last minute trip is a gift in many ways. I hope to rest, recharge, and find myself ready to tackle the year's challenges when we return.