Run, run, running

I find myself really loving to run......races.

I love passing people on the course.

I love it when people get slower on the uphill......so I can pass them.

I love getting the free stuff......or not really free cause there's always an entree fee.

I love feeling tired, then going a little faster.

I love hanging my number on our guest room wall.

I love the feeling........of accomplishment.

Who doesn't? ...... I suppose.

Finally!

It's amazing how quickly things change. Within two weeks, I have a job in a good location, we've found a dog-friendly place to live, and we know exactly when we are going to move. Amazing. Simply amazing.

So here's the info:

New job: Spanaway Elementary and Clover Creek Elementary- a .5 position at each school. Not ideal, but it's a good district and I'm confident I'll be at one school after a years time.

New living space: Puyallup, Washington. We will live in real place, with real things, and real places to go. None of this 'we live in Gig Harbor because we're rich and it's a prestigious place to live, but there's really nothing to do' stuff. Plus, we've found a cheap duplex with a garage and a fenced in backyard. Perfect for our future dog. We're like two blocks away from Safeway and Balou Junior High's track....,on which I will frequently run. The duplex is not in the most 'hoity toity' of neighborhoods, but aren't you supposed to go a little 'ghetto' your first few years of marriage? That way you can have entertaining pictures 20 years down the road, which in the end makes life much more interesting.

So that's that, in the land of Adam and Sheli. Living proof that God always knows best.  

Why elementary?

I think a lot about my job these days. Maybe it has something to do with its 'newness'. Maybe it also has a little to do with the fact that I've potentially chosen a life long career (which is scary in itself). But more than anything, I think about the fact that I teach elementary school. Elementary school of all things- why on earth would a music teacher want to do that?

Well, I never planned on it....ever. I was sure it would drive me crazy. I was sure that teaching young children would force me to stifle my personality- because I couldn't possibly communicate with these 'partial human' beings while being myself. I was also sure that I wanted to be the music teacher that "made a difference". I wanted to be the teacher that students attributed their love of music to. For almost everyone, it was the high school and middle school teachers that made them want to teach music. It was the experiences in high school that aroused their passion for music and performance. So again, why would I want to teach elementary? Why would I be the teacher that kids wouldn't really think of again? Plus, It's pretty well known that elementary music teachers will inevitably,turn into the dreaded "crazy necklace lady" who wears socks and tennis shoes with their skirts- and who is unashamed of playing Native American flute music on a regular basis. How would it be worth it to make this job a life long career?

Maybe its just that the elementary music realm needs more superstars. They have a bad wrap, and often fit right into the negative stereotypes. Maybe they really need more "normal or realistic" people who teach skills, music, ensembles and fun, instead of Native American passing games and outdated songs. And more importantly, maybe this career needs more people who treat their kids like people and don't talk to them like little puppies (which is where I fit in)- and shoot, my kindergartners are some of the most witty and funny little people in the school.

Point is, that they are students and they need a teacher. And, despite the common trends, they are extremely capable of an outstanding product, and they learn much quicker than the average middle school-er with an attitude. Not only that, but they love inherently love music. Kids were created to 'move to the groove' and sing their hearts out. Who wouldn't love to be a part of that everyday?

So I think it's time to end the stereotypes, and get this career on the musical map for respectable career choices. We don't just play games and sing songs....we teach real skills, to students who will end up loving music....and isn't that the whole point?

the 10K

So I finally did it! I ran a 10K.

I'm proud- and maybe somewhat addicted.

There will be more. oh yes, there will be more.

The crazy unknowns.

Well, it's the end of the year and like most people, I feel a little 'checked out'. I will officially be moving away from Artondale Elementary in 'somewhat beautiful' Gig Harbor, to some unknown school, in some unknown location.

I'm going a little crazy filling out applications. Five in a week is a record for me. I have most of my reference numbers and addresses memorized by now- which I suppose isn't such a negative thing. But I desperately wish the process was over with.

Everyones favorite question these days is "What are your plans for next year?" "Are you going to stay in the area?" -which is a hard question in itself because everyone here is so darned attached to Gig Harbor. 

I want to say, "Actually, we don't really like it here cause everyone is 30 or older with kids and all we really want is a dog" but instead I say, "Well, we might try and move closer to Seattle, so we're closer to family." Which is partially true. but whatever.

So five applications and one interview later, we still have no idea what's going on. Just like yesterday, just like the day before yesterday, and just like the day before that.

So what can you do besides hope? Hope that we end up with the job we'll enjoy. Hope that Tacoma is more appealing next year, than it is this year. Hope that someday soon there will be solid answers......for the many, many questions.

Oh the funnies of teaching.....

During a lesson about ‘highs’ and ‘lows’ with a first grade class, I pulled out my violin.
As a class, we were trying to decide whether we thought the “skinniest” string made the highest sound or whether the “fattest” string made the highest sound- and ‘why’.

One first grader earnestly raised their hand and said,
“Well, I think the fattest string makes the highest sound.”
And I replied, “Why do you think that?”
“Well, because when a person gets fatter….. their weight gets higher”
Wow.......pretty logical for a first grader, huh?Oh the funnies of teaching.

Reflection

I believe that reflection is the key to healthy living. Completely centered, Lord-focused reflection. It seems to be a simple idea really. You can’t move forward until you’ve thought about what you’ve done. You can’t improve until you’ve analyzed what you’re doing and why it does or doesn't work. My recent revelation however, is that I always thought I did a pretty good job of it.....until I actually did it.

The reality is, you absolutely can move forward without thinking about what you did. You absolutely can blindly fly through life. And you absolutely can try to move forward without including God in the conversation (which tends to be a popular choice with myself, along with half the world.) However, I’m forced to sit and think about how productive I haven’t been when I’ve chosen to bust through life with only my own thoughts to rely on.


What if I didn't constantly rely on my own thoughts? How would, or could it be, if every reflection of the day: about your performance at work, about your interaction with the guy at the coffee shop, or the love you’ve shown to your spouse that day, was turned into a prayerful conversation with God? A careful analysis about what you did, what God wants you to do and how you, with the guidance of a higher power, can improve the very next day. Maybe I’m way off base. Maybe most Christians are healthy enough to practice this kind of discipline on a daily basis. I would guess however that most, myself included, are not quite as refined in their relationship with our heavenly God. It’s hard work. But usually when I’m a little less self-absorbed than normal, and I’m smart enough to practice healthful reflection, it tends to be the best decision I’ve made that day. Maybe that should tell me something.