Earthquake!

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Earthquake in Cayman!!

5.8 earthquke hit Grand Cayman around 9:20 am January 19, 2010. Georgetown felt most of it. All seems to be fine. There does not seem to be any damage. I think most are just scared.

ISC 2009

Large Instrumental Ensemble

I know it has been a long time since I have written. I know I should feel bad but life goes on. Since Christmas I think everything that could happen did happen. My work permit expired and I spent two weeks off work. The work permit policy says that you have to have a current permit to be employed. So them allowed two weeks vacation. I did try to keep the music program running during that time with the help of another teacher, Beverly. Then in April I hurt my left shoulder and have been the one-armed conductor for about two months (that means no violin playing either. Sniff sniff!!). Just doesn't seem to want to slow down. The school year is finally coming to a close in two weeks and then it is off the island for a long summer vacation.

I just returned from International Student Convention at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, MO with 14 junior high and high school students. We had a great time and even spent a day at Six Flags in St. Louis, Missouri. The kids did well in the competition. I just want to say that I have the #1 band. I say that because we earned first place in Large Instrumental Ensemble at the competition. What a surprise! I am a very proud teacher.

My first year as Music Director is just about over. I have had many challenges and new experiences but it has all been worth it. I am very thankful for God's love and guidance. I can't wait to come back and do it all again next year!!!!!

I want snow!!!!!!!!!!

One of things I miss about winter time is the snow. So while most people are cursing the stuff right now, I am wishing I could be at home enjoying it. I haven't seen snow in about 4 years now. I miss the beauty and quietness of it and lets's not foget the sledding. So please enjoy the snow for me! Here is a picture of a beautful warm Caribbean sunset for you to enjoy and hopefully will help to think warm thoughts. Spring will be there before you know it.

Proud Teacher

Every year Wesleyan Christian Academy does two Christmas programs. One is a band/choir concert and the other a musical drama. This years program was called The Christmas County Spelling Bee. I was so proud of how the kids did. Everything went so smoothly. I know these video clips will not tell you how wiell they did but you can get an idea. Enjoy!

The Christmas County Spelling Bee

Mighty God

Everlasting Father

Jesus Is the Name Above All Names

Christmas Concert at WCA

Junior High Choir

Intermediate Band

Intermediate Strings

Reading Center

Beginning Strings

These are just a few pictures from the Christmas Concert at Wesleyan Christan Academy. I though my students did well tonight. They have worked hard and the hard work paid off. I must say that I am certainly glad it is over. A little too much stress for one person but God helped. Enjoy the pictures!

What have I got to be thankful for?

One thing that bugs me about the holiday season, is that many people are starting to forget Thanksgiving. We go from Halloween straight into the Christmas season. I know Thanksgiving is only celebrated one day of the year but before we get all greedy let's not forget to thank the one who gives us life. I thought I might share my list of things I am thankful for.

1. That God allows me to enjoy this life one more day.

2. My family and friends.

3. That I have an awesome job and am able to live my dream.

4. For the privilege of living in the Cayman Islands and sharing my gifts with my students.

5. For students who remind you that what you do is important and you are making a difference.

6. That God loves me and desires a relationship with me. No questions asked!

7. Chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate

8. Music

9. That no matter what happens in this world, I know that God has it all in control.

10. Food on my table and a roof over my head.

Vacation Here I Come!!!!!!!!!!!!

Saturday is the day. The much anticipated vacation is finally here. Boy am I ready for some shopping and good old American food. You never realize how much you miss something until it is out of reach for a few months. I have learned to appreciate the little things in life. Anyway we will be making our way to Houston, TX this year for the ACE Teacher Convention. One day at the convention and then it is off the the mall, Walmart and Target to spend my hard earned cash. Oh and I got selected as the designated driver on this trip. UGH! Please pray for my fellow teachers as they will have to put up with my driving. I don't mind driving but would rather ride and enjoy the sights.

Things are coming along for our two Christmas programs. When we come back from vacation there will be two weeks until our first concert. I think we have a wonderful program set up for that night and I am anxious for the students to perform. You pray that the night goes smoothly and the students do their best. Oh and pray that I don't crash and burn before then.

By the way remember all that rain I told you about before. Well is it still raining. It also seems that a hurricane is headed our direction. Not a big one. I know it is crazy since hurricane season ended November 1. Life on the island isn't always paradise.

Is it ever going to stop raining?

It seems as though it has rained just about everyday since October started. Most of the time it is not just a little rain but a huge flood. So every morning I have been getting into my boat and floating to school (I wish!). Anyway we are getting closer and closer to Christmas. I can hardly believe how fast the year has gone. We have about four school weeks until our band concert. Yikes! Things seem to be coming together but I don't want to count my chickens before they hatch. In about five weeks we will performing our musical program. The kids have worked incredibly hard and are getting anxious to be finished. I am a little nervous about it but we have put in the time so I am sure it will be wonderful. Before all of this happens we will be going on vacation to Houston, Tx for teacher convention and do a little shopping. It will be the first time I have been off island since arriving in August. I am ready for a little break as are the rest of the staff and students. I was hoping to get home to visit some family but that did not work out this time. So I will be looking forward to seeing them at Christmas.

I know it is way past time for me to blog. Well we are officially 4 weeks into the school year and 3 weeks into the music program. Ahhhhhhhhhh is all I have to say. As I have already learned from experience nothing goes as planned. I am learning new things everyday, including how to repair a few instruments. There is no one on the island who repairs instrument so with the help of the internet I was able to fix a french horn and a trumpet. I have 11 music classes I teach during the week. That includes 4 choirs, 3 band, and two string classes. Whew! You know there should be a manual for all the things they forgot to teach you in college. Thankfully things are starting to smooth out and I am getting used to the new schedule. I love it and am having the time of my life. God is so awesome and knows just what we need. So my prayer for this year is that God would use me and that this music program would be a reflection of who He is.

Paradise

Peace after the storm



These pictures were taken two days after
Hurricane Gustav.

One day the seas can be raging in our lives and we feel like the waves are beating us in the face. We try to stand on our own feet but then wave after wave keeps rolling in and we can't seem to grasp ahold of anything. Finally we get so tired of struggling and are about to go down for the last time. In that moment we remember there is one who has control over the wind and waves. With our last breath we cry, "Jesus, help me". Before you know it your not fighting any more. There are no waves beating you in the face. You are completely relaxed, almost floating on the waves now. There is no more resistance you are completely at the mercy of your Heavenly Father. Now your mind if totally focused on Him and no longer can you see that the waves are still tossing you to and fro. No need to worry about those waves, God has it all under control. Just relax and enjoy the ride!

Hurricane Gustav

Rough Seas

Doesn't it make you want to go surfing?




One day it can be smooth as glass and the

next a raging hurricane.




Tree limbs everywhere




Even knocked down some of our really nice

palm trees.





Since many of you are wondering..... Gustav has finally moved on up the way of which I am very thankful. The whole waiting for it to get here seems to last forever. We ended up with lots of strong winds and a little rain. I did manage to get out a little this morning since I was about to go crazy all couped up in my house. I hate the dark dungeon (hurricane shutters make it so you can't see outside). I took a few pictures and even have a little video for you. It is not always paradise here in Grand Cayman!

The Beginning of a New School Year

Well school officially begins on Monday. I am not really sure I am ready but excited to get started teaching again. This week I spent time picking out new music and getting things ready for this year. I never realized how different it would be from what I have spent the last three years doing. It looks as though my schedule is going to be full and exciting. I am planning on doing a childrens Christmas program this year instead of a high school program. I thought I would save the Easter program for the high school. It is just wonderful to finally be accomplishing what I have worked my whole life to do.

Island Fever

So I arrived back in Cayman yesterday very late. After sitting in Miami Airport for 6 hours I was sooo ready to be here. Only to come home to excruciating heat and a broken a/c. So I have been sweating profusely since I got here. I think I am going to die. I had planned on getting things unpacked but that kind of went out the wind. Any way the a/c is supposed to be fixed before the night is over. I am glad to be back and ready for an exciting school year. I will have more on my new adventures as a music director. I am very excited but also extremely nervous. I'll just let God do the leading and I will try my best to follow.

Summer Vacation Part 2

So I have about 2 1/2 weeks left before I am headed back to Cayman. Just an update about what has been happening in my world. Mark and Emily have been a joy to spend the summer with. I hope they have had as much fun as I have. They both have been enrolled in the summer reading program at the library. We finished reading their 20 books and got some free tickets and some free food. Yesterday we went to the zoo. They seemed to have a great time. Even though I think I got wore out before they did. I was ready to take a nap when we got home and they were ready to play some more. Go figure! My age is starting to catch up with me. Ha Ha! The Louisville Zoo has a new Glacier Water Park and so the kids were able to get wet and have a ball. They even had a couple water slides. I was even able to enjoy the water park as well. Hopefully will be able to go back again some time.

Summer Vacation Part 1

Well most of this summer has been spent with my neice and nephew, Mark and Emily. We have been having a great time. It always amazes me how time goes by so fast. Mark just celebrated his 8th birthday this month and Emily is a little princess. They are two great kids and I am happy to spend all my time with them. Our summer has been spent going on walks, the park, bubbles, coloring, the library, free movies, the slip-in-slide, and them playing by themselves. I even take them shopping with me sometimes. Mark isn't too fond of it but Emily is a normal girl who loves shopping. It has been an interesting summer so far. I hope the rest will be just as fun filled.

Truck Update

After $2700,my truck all fixed and back to normal. Thankfully I have good insurance and they paid for almost all of it. The man who did the body work is an artist. You can hardly even tell anything was wrong. It is just great to have my truck back!

Fight with a Car Wash

This is what happens when you get in a fight with a car wash!

The story of the missing door. Well my brother-in-law has been using my truck to haul things and the truck has gotten kind of dirty the last few days. He decided to take it for a wash and when he came back it had no door. Seems the machine at the car wash stopped and he decided to see what was the problem. Thought maybe he rolled off the stopping place. Well while he was checking the problem it started working again and didn't stop until the door of the truck was bent the opposite way. He had to take the entire door off just to get it out of the car wash. Will have to replace the door but just very thankful it wasn't much worse.

End of the School Year

I am a horribly bad person. I have yet to post anything worth talking about. Just trying to get the end of the school year rapped up. We have about one and a half weeks left. I am in need of some rest. I am ready to be away from the island and spend a little time with my family. I have succeeded in passing all of my class this year. They have done well and are ready to move to the next grade level. I guess I never expected them all to pass. This year has been a struggle to say the least. So it is a huge accomplishment to say they are all moving forward. I have my reservations about some but I know God has a plan for their lives and I know He will be with them in the future. I know I have learned some valuable lessons for the future as well. I have yet to say anything about nest year but I was waiting for the right time. Come next fall I will finally get to be in the position I have waited for so long. I am going to be the new music director in the fall. I know that it is a huge responsibility but I am confident that God will enable me to do the best I can. I am sooo excited for this new stage in my life. So you pray that God will give me the strength and courage to do his will in my life. That means no more classroom teaching. YEAH!!!

Mother's Day Surprise

I finally get to go home for two days. It is going to be a very short trip but well worth the effort. I had this bright idea to go home for Mother's Day and surprise my mom. I haven't been able to be with her for her special day for the last two years. It can be rather difficult for me to fly home for such short trips. I need the time away and I am sure my mother is going to be completely surprised. I can't wait! So if any of you know my mother please don't tell her!