Come On! Miss Stephens...THINK!!!

So today at lunch I'm in the cafeteria doing the most dreaded teacher task ever...lunch duty. Well I am going to tell this story a little unconventionally...backwards. There is this 8th grader running around chasing this other kid with a ball of foil in his hand in the gym. I've already told him to stop so now he's in trouble. So I tell him he has to come sit on the floor next to me for the remainder of lunch. I promptly take the foil ball and hand it to a high school girl to throw away(I'm not going to get up to do it!) I notice the ball is wet...REWIND
The first part of the story goes something like this..."Joey stop chasing Johnny!" But he threw my ball of foil in the toilet!" STOP
That's right folks...I touched a ball of foil that had previously been in the boys' bathroom toilet...GROSS ME OUT!!! And not only that but I handed it to a poor unsuspecting high school girl!!! UUUGGGHHH!!!! This one just about takes the cake! I think I need to wash my hands again just thinking about it!

I've Finally Reached A Child Through Music...

First of all, you have to know that teaching is most rewarding when you see a student finally get something or get excited about something they are learning. This feeling was no different in pre-k music today...
I teach the 2 year old class and they are good for so much entertainment. I have the sweetest little boy, Jonny, who seriously looks like a Gerber baby. And he always wears these baseball caps that are bigger than his head...it's precious cute! Well everytime he comes to music, he just stands there and looks at everyone like we're crazy. I'm absolutely convinced that he thinks I'm the weirdest lady ever because I'm always dancing when he sees me. Anyways, I digress. Today, I decide to play a song we've never done before...and wouldn't you know it, little Jonny connected with this song. It's like a veil was lifted and he found music, he found movement, his face lit up and he moved and danced...that's right, I finally reached little Jonny, and all it took was "The Chicken Dance!" That song has so many more levels than I could ever have thought!

20 Things

So Tamra has tagged me to write 20 random things about myself. Normally I wouldn't have time for such a daunting task, but it's Friday and let's just face it, there's no way I'm going to be any more productive than necessary! So here we go:

1. I love wearing socks

2. I don't drink out of used plastic cups, and if I'm given a drink in a plastic cup, I will accept but I will never finish it, there will always be some left at the bottom (I can't really explain why).

3. I have a new thing about calling all of my students ding dongs when they do something stupid. I just do not know where this dorkiness came from.

4. I tripped and fell a couple nights ago and now I have a huge bruise on my knee...I'm too old to trip!

5. I wake up every morning by drinking a can of Mt. Dew. I'm addicted!

6. I hate putting away clean dishes...HATE IT!

7. I'm moving into a brand new house at the end of November with my good friend Karessa!

8. I'm the youngest teacher at my school

9. I will be a faithful watcher of Freddie Prinze Jr.'s new sitcom no matter how cheesy it is because I love him.

10. I can't flush public toilets with my hand, I have to use my foot.

11. I'm the biggest control freak when it comes to putting on a music program at my school. I can't let anyone do anything, which explains why I'm so stressed and grumpy the week of my programs!

12. I have an unwanted roommate in my chimney, we think he's a squirrel. He moved in a couple months ago and they just can't catch that little guy!

13. I've been a maid of honor in two weddings and a brides maid in three. Always a bridesmaid never a...

14. I haven't eaten McDonald's in months. I've eaten there twice this week...I think it's because I like Monopoly.

15. I'm one of the most easily distractable teachers around.

16. I love to sing more than anything.

17. I do the Hokey Pokey at least once a day

18. I have a weakness for French Onion dip

19. The only real reason I play Bunco is for the prizes...fellowship, I mean fellowship!

20. I recently took a nap in the middle of the day just so I could try out my new eye mask that keeps the dark out. I was very excited...I woke up with them set aside right next to my pillow...so much for that!

Alright, I apologize if that was excrutiating for anyone else. Now it's my turn to tag 10 people who have to do the same thing...Jessica, Amanda, Karessa, Adam F., Adam C., April E., Kevin P., Curt, Angie, and Monica B. Hope you all have a great day!

And God Said...

So the pre-k do their weekly chapel in my room every Friday. Last week, they were learning about Noah's Ark. Miss Sue was reading the story when one her helpers wouldn't be quiet. Her reading went something like this: "And God said, 'Holden be quiet' go and build an ark..." HA! I didn't know God told Holden to be quiet in the Bible!

Creepy Substitute Stalker Guy

So there is a new substitute on campus. He's this young guy and I am finding out that he is not only creepy but somewhat "stalkerish" as well. Let me give you some background. A few weeks ago he came into my class and wanted to play my piano during my planning period, I was like "that's fine," well he couldn't really play but it "relaxes him to play" so whatever. Then a couple days ago, he comes up and asks if he can "borrow my room sometimes," I assume to play his piano music. I said no because at this point he's just creepy. Yesterday I took the day off to relax a little since I had just finished the 4th grade program. He was my substitute. I came back for after school care and one of my students runs up to me and says, "Miss Stephens, Mr. Smith (I changed his name for his own protection) is a really good drawer." And I'm like, "Oh yeah?" then she says, "yeah he drew a picture of you." WHAT????? What kind of creepy stalker guy draws pictures of a girl he doesn't know for her class?!?! Well today I've been poking around and have found out that this guy is just weird. My high school choir begged me to never let him substitute for me again because he was so creepy. He always talks about techno music and they were working on choreography and he was dancing all crazy...he was supposed to sit there and let them work on their own. Also, he tried to read one of the girls' journals in study hall (I KNOW!) and he wrote a note to a high schooler and signed it "Jesus." Who is this guy and more importantly why is he here creeping everyone out?? I'm going to have to have sit down with the principal in the very near future. I'll keep you posted.

Our Trip To Nashville

This picture belongs on a post card don't you think?

Karessa and I came to the Opry Mills Mall to listen to live Bluegrass music...yeah they cancelled the show...we're stuck at the mall for the rest of the evening! Good start to our trip! 

Since the live music was cancelled, we made our own fun for the $60 we paid the cab to get us there and back...that's right, I said $60!!!! This is so Karessa's boyfriend!

It wasn't me! 

What kind of mall has this many statues to make fun of?

Taking a break from all the fun we are having walking around the mall...stupid cancelled live music! 

The line for the infamous "Pancake Pantry" was out the door! But I think Adam and Karessa will agree that it was worth the wait! 

Friday morning we ate in the Vanderbilt District at the Pancake Pantry...I ate blueberry pancakes...mmm! Karessa had gritts...ugh!! 

Brrrr! It was in the 50s the whole weekend! It was awesome! A great break from the 100s in San Antonio! 

Karessa and I take a break while Adam buys shoes (note: Just for the record I hate the shoes he bought...sorry buddy!) 

Friday we spent the day in downtown Nashville. We didn't spend any money, just walked around and made our own fun! 

On Saturday, we had dinner at White Castle. That was a fun experience eating miniture food! 

This is like the smallest hamburger ever! I can honestly say now that I've eaten four cheeseburgers in one sitting! 

Overall, it was a great weekend! I got to spend time with two of my favorite people and I got to worhsip the Lord in a setting not soon to be forgot! 

Invisible...Almost

So yesterday morning, I'm standing on the sidewalk talking to our elementary Spanish teacher when the kindergarteners pass by. They all greet Ms. St. Clair but no one says anything to me. So I say to my fellow teacher, "It's like I'm invisible!" and right when I said that this kid passes by, looks at me and says, "Hi Mrs. Eggins!" Timing is everything! I was ignored by most of them and the one kid who noticed me called me by the wrong name! HA!

A Look At the 23rd Psalm

My Nashville trip entry is very soon to come (wait for it....wait...for it!) My Mom sent this to me and I think it is very fitting at this time, so I will share her intelligence via my blog...thanks Mom!

23rd Psalm

The Lord is my Shepherd … that’s relationship!
I shall not want…that’s supply!
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures … that’s rest!
He leadeth me beside the still waters … that’s refreshment!
He restoreth my soul … that’s healing!
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness … that’s guidance!
For His name sake … that’s purpose!
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death … that’s testing!
I will fear no evil … that’s protection!
For Thou art with me … that’s faithfulness!
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me … that’s discipline!
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies … that’s hope!
Thou annointest my head with oil … that’s consecration!
My cup runneth over … that’s abundance!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…that’s blessing!
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord … that’s security!

FOREVER … THAT’S ETERNITY!

Finally...A Time For Renewal

After a couple weeks of pure torture: meetings, after school care, badly behaved kids, two bloody noses (not mine of course which makes it even more disgusting!), almost being hit in the head with a flying binder (don't ask), accused of not knowing how to run my own band, made to feel bad for overlooking a minor detail in planning chapel by someone who is not at all in charge, accused of not knowing what time to take my students to gym (don't ask), more meetings, having a major candid discussion with my principal about the overwhelming amount of tasks I have to accomplish on a daily basis, and attempting to start writing my own music curriculum for all grades, the time has finally come for me to get out of here for an amazing weekend of Spiritual renewal. I am attending the Zoe Conference in Nashville, TN with two of my dearest friends Karessa and Adam. This is going to be a time to refocus my mind and heart on the Lord, which is where it should be. I've questioned a lot of my past decisions these last two weeks thinking maybe this just isn't the life I want. But I take comfort in knowing God has a plan. Amanda sent me a note over a year ago when I was looking for a job and it had this scripture in it:

"For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
Jeremiah 29:11-13

Well that just about says it all. The Lord always knows just what to say if you are willing to listen.