Long Time!

Now, I realize it really has been a long time since my last post! I've been keeping busy though, between subbing and church work. We've topped out at 22 youth on Wednesday and 7 on Sunday so far, still growing though. Our first parent meeting went fairly well, although not as well attended as we had hoped. We've got a very loaded calendar coming up, not only church stuff but personal as well. This weekend is the Marshmallow melt where Nathan and I will be staying at Hotel O'dell on Saturday night. Sunday is the Super Bowl *Go Giants!!*  Not really sure where we'll be watching it, but you can bet we'll be somewhere watching it!! The following Wednesday, I will be headed to San Antonio for TMEA Convention. I am so excited and ready to learn what I can about Elementary music and maybe even make connections that will land me a job very soon. The weekend after that will be Mid-winter Retreat at Bridgeport Camp. Not really sure of all the logistics of this so far considering work and time off, but anyways, I will not be missing Sunday worship either of those weekends. On a totally different note, our whole family will be taking another Wevers vacation together. The family is so much larger now that in 2003 when we went to Cancun. This time we are going to a lodge in Tennessee. As soon as we get back, we will be heading to Sulphur Springs for VBS! Granted, that's more than 6 months away. But our 1st anniversary is less distant than that and we have not made plans yet! Anyhow, there is much happening right now...I promise, it will not be 2 weeks before posting again. Until then...Oh, by the way, I worked out today. I did lots of weighted jumping jacks and a 3.5 mile walk/jog. I am going to be sore, but I am determined to eat healthy and work out and lose weight!

Busy Week

I realize it's been several days since I posted...it's been a busy week! I've subbed every day since last Thursday, and I've got atleast 2 more to go (in a row). 6th grade was easy. 1st became my favorite for a couple days. Here's why: 2nd graders have already figured out how to push your buttons, and Kindergarteners just haven't quite figured school out yet. 1st graders, I've found, are the perfect in between. However, my past two days in Kindergarten have gotten easier and might even be my new favorite! :-)

Random thought: I need to cook tonight so that we have leftovers for tomorrow. I also need to do laundry so I have clean business clothes to wear.

Events of the Weekend

What a long weekend! Emotionally and physically draining...Nathan and I dealt with our first major issue with the youth group. Several of our youth were on a school trip on which a student from a different school committed suicide. Details aside, we were able to minister to our students and help them cope with something so difficult, especially when one of our students saw it happen.

On a lighter note, we had our first Sunday game night to which 11 youth showed up, 3 of which had never been to our church before. 2 of them even came in off the streets because they saw our guys in the parking lot having fun. So cool to see the impact like that! Beyond that, 4 of our girls invited us to go out to eat with them afterwards, and it was cool to have that bonding time!

As far as my subbing experiences, I was in a 1st grade classroom today as will I be tomorrow. I was already assigned to teach on Friday of this week and Monday of next week for 3rd grade. But today, I picked up another two days this week, which officially puts me in the classrooms all 5 days this school week (a total of 8 school days in a row)! It's great! I love it!

God is good, all the time!

Birthday!

To the few (or none) of you that ever read this, thanks for wishing me a Happy Birthday! Prior to Facebook, I've never gotten so many birthday messages---they began about noon yesterday and are still coming in by the minute! Between Facebook and texts, I'm up to almost 100, I believe.

As far as subbing goes, I did it yet again. But in 6th grade this time--my first time at middle school. It was much easier than the elementary simply because there wasn't much "teaching" involved. The students were given busy work for the day. So, there will be 4 days of subbing on this paycheck, and I'm looking forward to it!

When I got home from school today, Patrick and Patricia came over to play games since Nathan was still at work. They'd been here for a couple hours when there was this obnoxious knock at my door. Well, it was my family that drove up to Sherman to surprise me for dinner! So, despite the fact that I'd already eaten, we went to Cheddar's, which was delicious as always!

Nathan's finally home now, and it's time for some more gaming, and then some "us" time!

Kindergarten Update

So, I subbed for another Kindergarten class today and they were much better than the last one! I actually really had fun with them! This subbing thing is getting easier...

On another note, teaching Wednesday night youth is getting easier too!

That's it....short and sweet!

AAHHHHH!!

Oh Good Heavens! I subbed in Kindergarten today for what I later learned was a "terrible class." And boy, did they live up to that title...they couldn't stay in their seats, they wouldn't stop talking (even for a minute). It was interesting, to say the least! I am glad that I don't have to go back to that particular class! But anyways, not a lot else has been going on. I've now subbed 2 days, and have another 4 to go unless I pick more up along the way. At this point, I like have several days to recup before my next job. It's 3 days till my birthday, not that birthdays really matter...I got on the scale this morning and I'm down a couple. Biggest Loser is on tonight, and that's a good thing for me. I sit on the couch while the show is on, but I exercise during commercials (and we all know there are plenty of those)! So, I realize this is all pretty random, but nobody reads it anyways, so I figure it doesn't really matter. Till next time, I guess...

Discovery!

So, Nathan and I planned a double date with Kraig and Kelli tonight, and when our plans to eat at Cheesecake Factory fell through, we found ourselves at Buca, an amazing Italian restaurant. It's a family style restaurant so they serve huge dishes that serve several people. And when we were done, we ordered dessert...yes, that dish is 10" in diameter! It was delicious! All 4 of us ate on it...and still couldn't finish it.

I guess my New Year's diet starts over yet again...tomorrow!

First Day on the Job

Well, I completed my first day of substituting today...I enjoyed it, but it made me glad that once I find my music teacher position, I will only have the same kids once a week for about 45 minutes. That class was a handful for 7 hours! But I've also got another 3 1/2 days on the calendar already, so I'll manage...

Welcome!

Well, this is my first experience with my own blog, so here goes...

As a recent college graduate, I have been thinking a lot about the future, particularly my potential career. I now have a degree in Music Education. As I approached my student teaching, I was 98% positive that I wanted to teach elementary music. However, as I got into my student teaching, I came to realize that I could be just as happy at the middle school band level as well (not something I ever thought I'd say). I was blessed to have the best mentor teachers to learn from at all levels. Simply amazing teachers, and now colleagues.

Having graduated in December, I knew that it would be tough to find a job mid-year. However, I was blessed this afternoon with a great opportunity. I drove from my home in Sherman to Pottsboro where I was going to pick up a substitute teacher application. First of all, I was baffled by the amount of paperwork I had to fill out, but I sat down and got to work on it. As I went to turn it in, I was informed that my certification was not validated yet due to the high volume of December graduates waiting on their certification as well. I took that to mean that I would not be able to substitute until that process was complete. Less than 15 minutes later, the secretary came back to me and offered me not one, but two days of subbing, very soon. I certainly didn't expect that, but it was a welcome blessing!

As far as church goes, I am still working at Wesley UMC. Nathan and I are volunteering with the youth group until a new youth director is officially in place. We taught our first Sunday school lesson on New Year's Day. Only two students showed up, but understandably because of the holiday. I'm hoping for a better turn out tomorrow night. We've got a great lesson planned, and I get to teach it by myself because Nathan will be working.

On a totally different note, I have been working out a bit lately, and also trying to eat healthier. I made an attempt to start before January 1 so that it didn't feel like a "resolution" which usually falls through the cracks way too quickly. The Biggest Loser started tonight and I truly intend to workout while watching it, rather than eat while watching it as I have in the past. I feel great right now, after a long day and a good ab workout. Tomorrow is a cardio day for me. We'll see where this leads...Oh yea, I almost forgot to mention that a complete stranger complimented me via my cousin's Facebook today. In response to my post about working out during the BL, she called me her "hero". Wow, I'm flattered!

I originally named this blog "Noteworthy Thoughts" because music is a big part of my life! So here is my musical quote for this entry:

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise Him. ~Psalm 28:7