Down on the farm

Sid and I decided to meet in Nashville this weekend at my parent's farm. It belonged to my mother's parents and when they passed away she inherited it. It is quite convenient for our situation because Nashville happens to be about half way between B'ham and Indianapolis.

We had a great time just catching each other up on all that has been going on with both of our jobs and lives in general. Of course, Sid was so happy to see his #1 girl, Pudge! Here are some pictures from the weekend:

My reminder.....

So this summer, early June to be exact, Sid and I decided to plant some sunflowers. Well, Sid can't do anything half way and soon because obsessed with nurturing and caring for his precious flowers. He was SO worried about them when it moved because I'm not the best at gardening (i.e. taking time to water things so they don't die, lol).

I told him I would think of the flowers as a symbol of our relationship and that just as the flowers needed to be watered and cared for so did our long distance relationship. Yeah corny I know. Here's what the flowers look like as of today.

The pictures really don't do them justice. They are beautiful and almost 6 ft. tall. I can't wait for Sid to come home next weekend and see them in person. He's coming home for my 10 year high school reunion. It should be fun!

Finishing out my first full week of school. Still good so far...in fact getting better, believe it or not!! So ready for football season. Last weekend was really tough. I'm NOT a homebody and all of my friends were either out of town or busy. Although my best friend Jessica stopped by Sunday evening and we had a great time just catching up. I miss the days of Sunday night dinners in Tuscaloosa....great times. Ok, I digress....don't need to stoll down memory lane tonight! 17 days.....Roll Tide!!

Whew...one week down.

The students came back to school on Wednesday and althought it's been a great first week I am absolutely exhausted. I have had a tougher time than unsual adjusting to being back at work. Hopefully, I can get back in a routine and stop feeling utterly spent when I get home in the evening. With Sid not being here, I'm taking it back to my single days when I took naps....lots of naps.

My "even" day, which is, planning (except not really because I have to oversee guard), women's choir, men's choir, and concert choir is a demanding day. I'm going to have to figure out how to find time to take a break at some point during that day. Poor 4th block is going to get the brunt end of going a whole day without a break. They are tough though...they can handle it!!

Thought I would update everyone on how Sid is doing. He is absolutely LOVING teaching at Marian so far. They had band camp this week and everyday has just been story after story about how great the kids are and how much fun he is having teaching them. It makes me so happy to hear that from him. I can't wait to meet his students and see the band perform. He said they were like a "mini drum corps." lol

This will be the first weekend we've been apart. I can already tell that's when it will be tough...for me anyway. Netflix delivered two movies: Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants 2 and Revolutionary Road. So Pudge and I are going to clean house and watch movies this weekend. I might even throw in a little pool time too!

I smell football in the air too.....14 days until the first HHS game, 22 days until the Tide rolls! :-)

Ah, validation!

So after pumping myself up about this school year I was secretly afraid that the first day was going to be a big let down. I was worried I would have horrible kids, that I would regret making the decision to stay but I'm happy to say, SO GOOD SO FAR!!!

Of course, it's the first day but after teaching for a while you can tell pretty early the classes and kids that will or won't give you trouble. Everyone seemed really excited today. The best part is that I always ask the kids why they are in that class to find out if they chose to take the class or if they were dumped in there. I always tell them to be honest and that they won't hurt my feelings if they were put in the class. Well, for the first time the majority of my choir kids actually REQUESTED to be in the class. HALLELUJAH!!!!

Now, I'm just ready to get all of the introductory stuff over with and get down to making some music! The longer I teach the more I realize how lucky I am to get to do something I love everyday. That sounds really polyanna I know but it's how I feel. Concert choir (some of them, won't have ALL of them until tomorrow) sang today and I was slightly apprehensive of what kind of sound was going to come out of their mouths, but it was pleasantly delightful!!

My difficult decision to stay in B'ham has been validated as of today.....check back with me in a couple of months! lol Hope everyone else had a great first day back whenever your first day was!!

Good things are a comin'

Well today was my first "official" day back at school. There is such a good vibe at HHS right now. I hope it carries throughout the year. We have a new principal, Mrs. Gober, and I really think she is going to do great things at HHS with the help of a supportive faculty and community.

I have spent the evening trying to program our AMEA concert. Here are some pieces I'm thinking about. Any suggestions from you choir people out there would be greatly appreciated!

Hodie! - Leavitt

Sing Unto God - Fetler

Cantate Domino - Pitoni (from this past year)

Adoramus Te, Christe - Palestrina

Jai vu Le Loup - Hatfield

Gota - Karlsson

Ritmo - Davison

Dide Te Deo - Brown

MLK - King Singers

The Seal Lullaby - Whitacre

The Epitaph - Martin

Give me Jesus - Kauffmann

Up to the Mountain - Shaw (listen to Kelly Clarkson sing it on YouTube...awesome!)

Ain' A That Good News - arr. Dawson - spiritual

Just some ideas. Of course we won't do all of them but I want to program pieces that are educational for the kids, yet enjoyable, but also plan a little something for everyone as well.

One more day of planning, cleaning, and organizing then the kids come Wednesday. Usually at this point I'm having trouble sleeping because of my crazy nightmares about school (teachers, you know what I'm talking about) but honestly this year I am really looking forward to gettng started.

If guard camp and band camp were any indicator of what this year will bring it is going to be a FANTASTIC year!! I get another student teacher in November too! Woo hoo!! Best of luck to all of my teachers friends and students heading back to school

SURPRISE!!

On Monday, July 27th, I felt the need to take a pregnancy test. We have not been "preventing" anything from happening so I typically keep the tests on hand, just in case. So I took it and didn't really think anything about it and continued to complete my morning routine. Well, when I went to brush my teeth I looked down at it and it said had a "+" sign. Uh oh. So I thought maybe that was just a mistake, it was just a cheap Target brand test. I stopped on my way to school (we were starting guard camp) and bought a more expensive test. I took it when I got to school....positive. BIG UH OH!

After a mild panic attack I called my friend Lisa. I couldn't call Sid or my mom because I didn't want to make them stroke out. Anyway, she told me two positives pretty much meant that I was pregnant. Well, that wasn't good enough so I texted (yes, I text my doctor) Dr. Wideman, my OB/GYN and said, I'm slightly freaking out can I come in this afternoon. So sure enough.....went to see him Monday afternoon and it's official. I'm pregnant.

Pregnant.....PREGNANT. Wow! I have really been wanting to get pregnant lately but with everything going on with Sid and the move knew it wasn't the best time. Well, I guess God had a different plan.

I went back to the doctor on 8/6 and he did an ultra sound. It's VERY early which is why I'm saving this post for a later date. I'm only about 5 1/2 weeks but there is definitely a baby growing inside of me.

Crazy huh?? I still can't believe it. I'm VERY worried that something will go wrong but I'm hopeful that it won't. Both of our parents know and our brothers and sisters. We are weary of telling too many people too early. We are excited and scared!! We are trying to figure out ways for Sid to be as involved as possible even though he's not here. Yay for technology!!

I will go back to the doctor in 4 weeks and should be able to hear a heartbeat. So many exciting things happening for us right now!! I just continue to be amazed! Wow....that's really all I can say right now.

Let the blogging begin

I thought I would go back to the beginning of this journey as I have decided to blog my thoughts, frustrations, and general comments regarding this exciting, yet challenging time in our life.

So the saying "When it rains, it pours" could not have been more true during the month of July. In May, Sid graduated from Auburn University (boo) with a Ph.D. in Music Education. After MONTHS and MONTHS of job applications, interviews, and overall frustration things really started to happen for Sid and his job hunt. He had all but given up on the chance of getting a college teacher job and had interviewed at a local private high school. In a matter of days, 2 to be exact, he was offered that high school job and had been contacted by multiple colleges to come interview. After a lot of thought, we decided it was best that he take a gamble by turning down the high school job and going after the two college jobs.

Sid had a phone interview with Marian University in Indianapolis, IN during our beach trip the last week in June. I could tell something was different about this job. He went on and on about the things they had going on there and that he really felt like he was a perfect fit for the job. He went and interviewed at Marian July 6th and 7th. We really didn't get to talk much because he had another interview in New York on the 8th and 9th. Well, on the 9th, he sent me a message saying Marian had called........to make a long story short he thought it would be cute to play a little trick on me and act like he didn't get the job. BUT HE DID!!!! Words cannot express our excitement at that moment. He had worked SO hard to finish his degree and apply for numerous jobs during a time when SO many people were looking for jobs. But the excitement quickly wore off when we realized we had some tough decisions to make.

After a lot of prayer and tough conversations we decided that for a myriad of reasons it was best if I stay in Birmingham and he go to Indianapolis. My choir was accepted to perform at AMEA, the state music eduators conference. This invitation was a great honor for myself and the students and I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to perform at that conference. Also, I have a great job (most days anyway :-) and we just couldn't rationalize leaving that late to have to settle for an OK job or possibly no job at all in Indiana.

So, we loaded Sid's truck down (yeah, we looked like the Beverly Hillbillies) on Friday, July 17th and headed up I-65 to Indianapolis. He started work that Monday...they weren't playing around! We were able to find him a nice apartment in a great part of town. I stayed most of the week then came home. Indianapolis is a great city. I can't wait to get to explore more.

Leaving was tough....extrememly tough. I have lots of great friends and my family to take care of me but Sid is alone. Not to mention Pudge is here with me which is killing Sid...she's his baby. I try not to think about this too often because it makes me really sad.

It's been 3 weeks but it's felt like 3 years and we've seen each other every weekend. I went this weekend for DCI Finals which was AMAZING. I can't wait to go back for a Colts game in that stadium!! I'm hoping we can become Colts fan and be done with this Auburn/Alabama sillyness (ok, yeah right, but here's for hoping!).

School starts for both of us this week. In a way, I think that's a good thing but I also worry that we will both be so busy we will neglect to make time for us. That has already become a challenge...especially since Sid isn't a big phone talker. I guess I'm just going to have to buy a Macbook so we can Skype (yes, I know I can do that with a PC, just looking for an excuse to buy a macbook!).

Continue to keep us in your prayers as we are just taking this journey one day at a time. Wow, I feel better already! LOL! Blogging = therapy....who knew!!