Just Breathe

I heard this song on one of my CD's and appreciated the reminder to Breathe! It's been a good first week of school thus far. Some of the kids have definitely made a first impression - both good and bad! My classes are much smaller this year. My largest class consists of 22 students. The other three have about 20 each. I gave homework tonight so I'm going to have to figure out what to do with my silent lunch kids tomorrow. I'm doing okay with these kids but I'm realizing how spoiled I was with the kids I've had the past two years.

I'm still undefeated in volleyball. We played Draughn High School last week. This is the new high school in Valdese. Their Varsity team consisted of 70% of the girls that I coached at Heritage. At one point, every girl on the floor had been coached by me. The JV team consisted of my previous two ABC teams. All of my girls were SO excited to see me and totally unaware that I was at LHS. My JV team beat them pretty good but my varsity team lost to them. I was so torn because my opponents were MY girls - my first set of girls. They played darn good! I was so proud! I saw some of my favorite parents during this game too. I was nervous about it all day but it was a great time for me. I'm looking forward to going there in a few weeks just because I know of a few kids that will be there whom I miss terribly.

Random volleyball thought of the moment...as an odd tradition, I always sit on the second chair on the bench. During Varsity games, I'm sitting next to Coach Richardson (whom I might add has an interesting odor to him that usually makes me cough). During the JV games, Coach no longer sits with me. I leave the first seat open for the most part. I told one of the girls today that that seat belongs to Jesus to keep me out of trouble. It was a good moment with most of the team as we discussed it. I'm hoping that it will open the door for some good conversations. I definitely know how to pray for a couple of them based on the comments that were made.

I'm heading to bed now. Hopefully the dinner that I just finished eating will digest properly and not wake me up in the middle of the night. Two more games this week and three very full days at school...then a LONG weekend! Thank you JESUS!

Starting Off Right!

After having meetings today from 8:00 am until 3:30 pm, I headed to Lincolnton High School for our first volleyball game of the season. I got there in a rough mood because I was tired and brain-dead. One of the girls made the mistake of harassing me about them all being there before me. Let's just say she got THE LOOK! I got my stuff together with a few minutes to spare. I wandered and tried to regain some of my brain functions. I ended up starting three freshmen today. By the end of the match I had almost all freshmen on the floor. It was a rough around the edges game, but much improvement from our scrimmage a few weeks ago. It was a "scrappy" game, as Coach Richardson put it. Either way it was a win! I'm realizing each and every day how much these girls love, respect, and will do anything for me.

This is the team I want to become a Varsity coach with!

End of Summer

So I'm in the last hours of summer vacation. I start back at LMS tomorrow for an optional teacher workday. I'm ready to get back into my classroom. I know that tomorrow is really the only full day I'll be allowed to work there all day without the interruptions of meetings. I can't really describe what I'm thinking and feeling in regards to my job. Most of me is ready to dive into a new year but parts of me just can't give up hope on some other things.

I am praying and pursuing God's will for my life right now. As far as I know, God wants me teaching 8th grade math at LMS this year. I'm still struggling with my role in the now pastor-less youth group - even the role in my church for that matter. There are some possibilities on the horizon that may come to fruition, but right now is the waiting for the answer time. There's a verse that I've been reminded of frequently in the past few weeks that has encouraged me in my wait:

"I will stand at my watch and station myself on the tower; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint." Habakkuk 2:1

Habakkuk was in the middle of a discussion with God. He had asked a question and God had answered. Being human, he made a complaint to God about His answer. Instead of demanding an answer immediately, he climbed up on the watchtower and waited to see what God's answer was going to be. That's the point I'm at. I've asked my question and received a seemingly partial answer to my original question. So I rephrased my question and am standing on the watch tower awaiting His answer. I'm going to continue the path I'm on until He sees fit to move me.

So now I've rambled sufficiently to confuse some and bring others up to date. I have to head to bed early tonight so I'm not grouchy at school tomorrow. Thank goodness we get a week with just teachers before we have to be awake and alert for students that early in the morning. I'll try to update when possible but volleyball games start on Tuesday so my schedule just got a little busier! Enjoy your last days of summer or your beginnings of school!

Jaw Dropping

Did any of you watch the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics in Beijing? Moment after moment my mouth has dropped open at the coolness of the ceremony thus far. I'm very impressed by the Chinese people. Many things appear to be computer controlled only to find out that they are people controlled. The architecture of the buildings created for these games are amazing. I love the Bird's Nest and the Aquatic Center. Beijing has made it on my list of Olympic cities I want to visit in my lifetime.

I am very excited about the Olympics. My satellite provider has a channel that shows six different Olympic events at once. If I want to watch one of them, then I just have to push a button. I LOVE THE OLYMPICS!!!!

A few more Canada Pics

I've recently acquired my good friend Laura's pictures from Canada. She was my roommate last year and was there for both weeks this summer. We are kindred spirits in many ways and she is always willing to share her pictures with me.

This is our team picture at the end of week one. All of the "older" ladies in this picture were my roomies for the week. Dr. Phil is on the end on the right - a new friend that was quite entertaining! This is one of my t-ball pictures. We took pictures of all the kids and then delivered them the second week. Of course, us coaches decided that we wanted our own pictures too!
This is a picture from Kids Club during the first week. I was in charge of recreation time. We tried three-legged races with these adorable preschoolers. Then again us "big" kids decided to play too. During one race, I had Laura tied to one leg and Little Alex (the girl in the red shirt and white hat) tied to the other leg. It was fun but I'm not sure who got that picture!
This is everyone from Kid's Club the first week. Obviously the red shirts are our team and the local church planters. These kids came every day and spent their mornings with us. Two of these families attended Southwinds church that following Sunday. It was great to see them there!
This is a picture of most of the team from week one in front of the beautiful Lake Louise. The snow looked painted on the first week and the water was a different color when we returned the second weekend. It has very quickly become one of my favorite places in the world!