Praise

As most of you have probably heard by now, Keith accepted a job offer with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage! We are so thankful for the prayers and words of encouragement over these past 4 months (which let's be honest- seemed like an ETERNITY!) He'll be under contract, which means he's guaranteed 12 months of work and possibly could sign on for more after that. It's actually a pay increase from his last job (which he'd been at for 4 years), so we're just really thankful. In this economy, we both knew that to get "employed" again after Cerner shut their office down, it might mean that he would have to take a pay cut. Praise God, nothing like that!

In other news, I am impatiently waiting for Friday. Thursday is my spring concert AND payday(and if you know teachers you know that's a good day that only comes once a month!). I am also going BACK to WW after almot 5 weeks away tonight, so I will let you know how that goes. I had lost 13 pounds previously...my bet is i've gained between 5-6 pounds in the last month, which wouldn't be awful- but I need to get back on that train!

Happy Monday!

topsyturvy

The last few days have been kinda funny. Ups, Downs....just life I guess. Sorry I neglected you, O blog. I'll try to remedy that now...

--Keith and I have been plugging along. He's been on 3 interviews in 2 weeks, with another tomorrow. The Lord is working, it's just hard when its not OUR time. He is handling it so well, I don't know what i'd do if he were completely insane like me.

--Work is great this week, as my junior high kids have SAT testing...so I haven't seen them....yeah. I have a parent conference tomorrow that I'm a bit confused about, since the parents in question have an absolutely perfect student (well behaved, talented)- but I guess we'll see.

--Stimulus Tuesdays at Carmike theatres are great. Especially when you go to a carmike that's a dollar theatre to begin with! 2 movies, 2 drinks, 1 popcorn=$5. PEOPLE! go to the movies on Tuesdays!

--I officially fell off of the weight loss train about 3 weeks ago. Am boarding again this monday at 5:45 (my next WW meeting). Pray for me! I was doing so well- I need to find that inner drive again.

--The big spring concert for my students is next week. I'm rather non-chalant about it at this point, minus finishing the choreography for like 20 bars of "sister act medley". I think it will be fine. :) I'm really excited about the "Cleffie" awards...which are silly little trophies I give out to my HS kids the day after my concert (a la dundies from "the office). I gotta get on those categories...

Anyway- here comes 3rd period. Ciao.

Firm

There are not many things about me that are firm. Legs, theighs, arms, you name it- not firm. But aside from body parts, I need firm in my every day life. Speech, reminders, control top panty hose....I digress.

You know, I always needed a firm admonition to get going, especially early in the morning. I remember many times my sweet Dad acting as my own personal snooze button during most of elementary and middle school days. One sweet, "Hey Nat, time to get up", would morph after three more visits to "Get up. NOW." That last one always got me moving. Notice how I capitalized the NOW.

Well, I am sitting at my desk this morning, getting a list of things to do during planning period going, and I notice the notepad I'm using. I've been using it for a week or so (I found it discarded in the lounge) and I liked it because it had lines and boxes to check off...I believe a good list has pre-fashioned lines to write upon. Anyway- when I noticed what was at the top of my paper, I giggled a little bit.

Does American Business Supply in Pelham know me or what? Not tomorrow, not by the end of the week....TODAY! :) Also, please disregard my awful cursive/print combo handwriting.

In other news, tonight is opening night for the Big School Musical production, for which i've been the vocal coach. This means that it is also 2 weeks from my concert date... God Bless America...better get back to this list of things to get done! Happy Thursday :)

Classic, with snuggies at the bottom.

I meant to post these last night...Anyone else remember these from Sesame Street? I love YouTube (and 80's public television)


OH MAN! I still sing this song today. Luis and Maria.....


I remember this like I saw it last week!


SMOKEY ROBINSON!!

Simplicity

This song takes me back! I miss fun songs like this...and also when Mariah Carey was less ghetto!

Seriously though, 1993 (when this song was released) was before any of my junior high students were even born. When I look at the class roster, I see lots of 1995 and 1996 birthdates. If they only knew the simplicity and calm that is....Old School Mariah Carey! I played a Fugees song for music appreciation today and no one had ever even heard of Lauryn Hill. Sigggghhhh....Killing Me Softly just wasn't the same with blank stares.

Anyway- enjoy. What were YOU doing in 1993? I was in the 5th/6th grade, had a bad body wave (poor man's perm), and enjoyed wearing all things sunflower and flannel. Don't judge. It was a simpler time.

hodgepodge of the last 10 days...

My sweet boy :)

Oh, self portraits.

can't you tell he loves it when I make him smile for pictures in the car?

A shot of the room we painted for service day!

Not sure where we were going, but i'm wearin' a coat, so it must have been cold!

Some of my sweet 7th period girls making choir audition posters :) They love to be handed posterboard and markers!

Eastered

Happy Easter!

The Fam was in town for The Easter/Birthday festivities this weekend! My Mom and Sister have birthdays about 24 hours (and 30 odd years) apart, and since my sister and I both live in the BHM, my parents booked some tickets for Wicked and came on up for the weekend. I was glad to see them! Here are a few random shots from the last few days:

This is Lorilyn and I (doesn't she look 19) in front of Hunter Street. I am still wearing my nametag. Oops.

Mom and I ...now I see it's time for a haircut. Can we say Unruly?

Edu-ma-cated.

Today I did something big.

I registered for Graduate School.

One thing I loved about undergrad at Auburn is that it was so big. Alternatively, another thing I grew to dislike about Auburn was its size. Sure, it was wonderful not to have to bump into people you unless you wanted to, but it wasn't nice to be thrown to the wolves if you needed information, an advisor time or a computer in the Haley LRC lab. It was nice to be on a tiger transit and not know a soul, sometimes, but not nice to have to wait in line for student ticket entrance to home games. Don't get me wrong, I love Auburn and I am glad that's where I went for undergrad. Lessons learned there that i'll never forget and have helped make me who I am. And then there's Niffers.

That being said, today I was totally taken aback at the helpfulness at Montevallo. When I recieved my acceptance letter, I learned that a woman named Dr. Glee would be my advisor. Glee, I thought? Glee? Anyway, I envisioned a late 50's ish professor in a stuffy office who would not even be prepared for me to come. At Auburn, it was not mandatory that you even meet with your advisor before registration, let alone your advisor even care if you were passing or failing. To my surprise, Dr. Glee was no older than 35, ready with my information in hand and willing to help. Not only did she help, but instead of me pouring over the bulletin myself, she clicked away on her desk computer, finding me options and letting me choose. After the class thing was said and done, she personally walked me down to the computer lab where she knew the Dean of the Graduate school was, and introduced me to him. For the record, he was super nice as well. Even the aides in the computer lab were helpful-- not just sitting there glancing at the clock, but actually being of assistance to the 20 or so 18 year olds registering for Fall semester (It was some sort of HS visiting day, today).

After I got back from registration (and a trip to the financial aid office, WHERE PEOPLE WHERE NOTHING BUT HELPFUL and HAPPY...ARE YOU SEEING A TREND?) I went to visit Keith. For the longest time, I just sat there, looking at my binder with my schedule for Summer and Fall printed out, in disbelief that I'm actually jumping back in. Keith probably thought I was from Mars, if he didn't already. I had to just kind of soak it all in. I was so glad to be done with school when I graduated 3 years ago, but I can honestly say that I have been itching to head back since about a year ago. It doesn't seem real yet. If I needed any proof that it was real, though, UM has already updated my accounts page with the amount due for summer classes. Ah, the first similarity between UM and AU....$$! I only have to take a couple of undergrad pre-req's and will start grad level work simultaneously. Up on deck: Intro to Mass Communications and Oral Communications (Dang it Auburn, for not requiring a speech class!), Grad level Literature for Adolescents, and 20th Century British Short Stories. And I wish I could buy the books already!

Sad note: I had to postpone the mission trip I was planning to take this summer so I could take these classes. I am sad about that, but in order to get this thing taken care of in less than 2 years, it was the only way. Maybe fall break? Good news is - i thought the plane tickets had been ordered, but they hadn't, so no one loses any money. Just disappointed. :(

So yes, starting June 9th i'll be a for real student....- MWTRF from 1-3 pm, TWR from 6-9 pm (I always thought the R for Thursday was so weird. AU similarity #2.) December 2010 will be graduation...I can't believe it.

Something tells me this is gonna be good :)

He's Worthy

Sometimes if I let myself stay up too late, fretting about the day that's passed and the days to come, Satan grabs a hold of me. No, nothing that needs an exorcist to be called in or anything, but he sure can get inside my head and tell me things. Do any of these sound familiar to you?

• "You are not good enough."
• "You might be making a mistake by doing _____(fill in with any recent decision)"
• "Why isn't this laundry folded yet? Have you learned nothing from having to repeteadly re-dry loads of laundry to get the wrinkles out? ALso, you should really wear lipstick more often and isn't it time for a pedicure?" (Okay, this sounds more like a mom voice than Lucifer...)
• "What if, What if, What if,"
• "Why don't you have everything that ______(fill in with any person recently engaged, married, with child, other life changing family celebration/event) seems to have so easily?"
• "Where is GOD in all of this? What does He care?"

Well, I am here to tell you that I am standing for this no longer. My God is the God on the mountaintop and in the valleys, too. No silly devil could ever take away the gift that we'll be celebrating this weekend- the gift of our Lord and the work He did on the cross....for me. For my peace, for my life, for my everything.

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows. Luke 12:6-7

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9

and from one of my favorite worship songs:

Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom

Or the strong man boast in his strength

Let not the rich man boast in his riches

But let the humble come and give thanks

To the One who made us, the One who saved us

I will boast in the Lord my God

I will boast in the One Who's worthy

During these nights when Satan has apparently had my number, I have been so thankful to have God's word. No matter what our situations, we can always find hope knowing that we are His by accepting the best free gift ever imagined.

Completely His.

Even if we fall behind on the laundry and show up to church wrinkled sometimes... :)

The Heart of Life

I hate to see you cry
Lying there in that position
There's things you need to hear
So turn off your tears and listen

Pain throws you heart to the ground
Love turns the whole thing around
No, it won't all go the way, it should
But I know the heart of life is good

You know it's nothing new
Bad news never had good timing
Then the circle of your friends
Will defend the silver lining

Pain throws your heart to the ground
Love turns the whole thing around
No, it won't all go the way, it should
But I know the heart of life is good

Pain throws your heart to the ground
Love turns the whole thing around
Fear is a friend who's misunderstood
But I know the heart of life is good

I know it's good

Natalie vs. The Bird- Day 2

When I arrived to work this morning....here's what I saw. This bird is back. And now, even an hour later, it's still just hanging out on the ledge...looking at me. This standoff is so weird. Maybe I really am Snow White, and he just wants to come inside and sing. I do teach choir, after all! I think this bird needs a name...

Mixed bag...

Dad came into town Sunday and took Keith, LT and I to lunch @ J. Alexanders. That could be a whole other post though, which would be titled, "How can such expensive food be so mediocre?". Still, I had no trouble making a dent in whatever was put in front of me! Last night I saw Wicked with the Owens family at the BJCC and buddy it was great. I was a little spoiled in being the only one to have seen it in NYC, but the traveling cast was just wonderful. Glinda gets me every time! (Ga-linda?).

Earlier, while eating my salad at my desk, a robin came and perched on my window. Feeling a little bit like Snow White ("all these animals, they love me!), I didn't mind. However, when I glanced back 3 minutes later to find the bird still staring at me, it was a little weird. I arose from my desk, approached the window, and this bird did not flinch. Perhaps it has mad bird syndrome?Bird flu? Either way, it has been perched to my window for 20 minutes and is just looking at me. For the record, I AM wearing eye makeup today, so perhaps that is it. Either that, or we all need to recall our Alfred Hitchcock information and head for the hills!

I am meeting with my grad school advisor @ Montevallo on Friday. I always thought grad school was some sort of lofty idea that only other people endeavored to achieve. When I saw how much more money i'd make with a master's degree, however, I knew I could be one of those people. It's true. Thus begins my foree into the world of government debt! Thank goodness for student loans.

Study hall almost over. Time to crank out another choir rehearsal--and keep my eye out on that bird.....WHO IS STILL THERE!?!?!? (btw, i totally pulled a 15 yr old move and just googled "Why is this bird looking at me"....according to yahoo answers, I am not the only one with this question....!http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090322142503AAOHIh8.)

WAHHH!

04/02/2009 Other AUTOMATED DEBIT IRS USATAXPYMT $574.00

I made a mistake on my W4 and had to pay federal taxes this year. I pretty much hate it.

Have you ever been woken up by Jerry Springer? I left the TV on last night (this morning?) and woke up to a screaming match between 2 rednecks. Very unsettling!

Chug-a-chug-a

The subject here is pretty representative of life as of late...chugging along. If it's not one thing, its another, but I'm glad to be on board, at least. I had a hard time picking that train picture up there; I couldn't figure whether I was a speedy new train or a locamotive. I chose somewhere in-between. I think both the new and old trains make chugging sounds. I digress...

Here are 10 things about my life at this moment (accompanied by pictures).

1.
I have a cold. Thankfully, post nasal surgery, these are few and far between. However, I now know the warning signs...always a sore throat the day before it hits.

2.
Little stressed out here at work....about 4 weeks til concert, and we keep having half days, assemblies, and workdays. I need more time with my choirs!

3.
yesterday, I accompanied about 40 8th graders for Jr High Service day to a church in Eastlake. We cleaned and painted, and hopefully didnt make things worse. FUNNY QUOTE OF THE DAY: Eighth grade girl enters room with yellow mop/soap combo as shown above and says, "Miss Thompson....what do we put in this to make it mop?"....

4.
My roommate got another dog, Jack. That brings our animal list up to 4. However, Jack is super fun, and in spite of humping anything you put in front of him, he is sweet and loves to play. I can't wait to see him grow up! (he's 4 months old).

5.
At service day yesterday, a mother came up to me at lunch and sat down. I smiled (pizza in mouth), and then she scooted her chair closer, gave me a smile that says "aw, poor thing", and asked "Are you in 8th grade, sweetie?"...I paused my chewing and became very confused. I told her I was actually her daughters Music Appreciation teacher. She became very embarrased and said, "Aside from your mature face, I thought you were 14!". Here's what I felt like when I heard the words "mature face":


6-10.

Wicked this weekend at the BJCC! We'll see how the traveling cast stacks up to the NYC!

More later.
Love, Mature Faced McGee