Here's a short video that I put together to promote my DRAMA WINTERIM class that I teach at the school in January. We spend most of the time with the cast of Seussical preparing our music and drama for the show. In the video you will get a quick sneek peak into our rehearsals and some of the choreography. You can also get your first look at my HUGE cast.
Enjoy!
Our New Little One!
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Friday, November 10, 2006
Facebook . . . a WONDER!
So, maybe I am just totally slow and out of touch with technology on the web these days, but I keep discovering amazing communication tools and ways of staying in touch with people that I love. So, here comes the latest.
Facebook.com! I am so excited about this new tool for communication, and it is really quite simple to use. I am pretty sure that most of my readers here do not have a facebook account (since I have not come across any yet), so this may be new to most of you.
If you are like me, you get frustrated with trying upload pictures to a Slide.com or Rockyou.com in order to post pictures on your blog. Plus, you have a limited amount of pictures and sizes that you can upload. Well, probably my favorite thing about facebook, is the fact that you can upload and UNLIMITED amount of photos and in my experience, it is a LOT FASTER! That alone is a great reason to get a facebook.
Also, in the last three days or so that I have had one, I have gotten back in touch with people I haven't seen for years! All the way back to Life Action days! That has been amazing!
Other features:
* You can set the facebook to automatically upload your blogger posts into the facebook for a whole new group of readers and friends to see.
* When you upload photos, you can tag the names of the people in the photos and if they have a facebook (and are in your friend list) they will automatically get those photos as well. So it's a great tool for sharing photos with others.
*You get requests from people you know to be your friend and YOU CHOOSE if they are listed in your friends list or not. ONLY YOUR FRIENDS CAN SEE YOUR PROFILE, PICS, AND POSTS. Plus you can choose for certain friends to only see limited amounts of your profile and so on.
* You can post major events and the INVITE people to those events.
* Your friends can leave comments and such on your "Wall".
* You will be surprised at the friends you may find there that you haven't talked to in years.
Why am I telling you this? Because there are some great friends of mine out there that I would love to see join facebook, so that we can keep in touch even BETTER than a typical blog.
Let me stress that this is not a MYSPACE idea where anyone can see your information and stuff. Nor is there annoying pop-ups and questionable advertizements. The look of your facebook is neat and clean. This is very secure and let's you decide who can see what. I have only been at it for a few days and I have already found 52 friends from every different relm of my life! Life Action, Northland, Crusades, HOST FAMILIES!, and even people I work with around here. I also uploaded, captioned, and tagged over 100 photos in about twenty minutes! That's amazing.
So I can post a lot more pictures of my family and friends there and chances are, there are a lot of pictures you all haven't seen yet. Sign up, add me as your friend, and then enjoy all of the pictures and updates.
So click here to get your own facebook. Oh, did I mention that it is FREE?!!!
Facebook.com! I am so excited about this new tool for communication, and it is really quite simple to use. I am pretty sure that most of my readers here do not have a facebook account (since I have not come across any yet), so this may be new to most of you.
If you are like me, you get frustrated with trying upload pictures to a Slide.com or Rockyou.com in order to post pictures on your blog. Plus, you have a limited amount of pictures and sizes that you can upload. Well, probably my favorite thing about facebook, is the fact that you can upload and UNLIMITED amount of photos and in my experience, it is a LOT FASTER! That alone is a great reason to get a facebook.
Also, in the last three days or so that I have had one, I have gotten back in touch with people I haven't seen for years! All the way back to Life Action days! That has been amazing!
Other features:
* You can set the facebook to automatically upload your blogger posts into the facebook for a whole new group of readers and friends to see.
* When you upload photos, you can tag the names of the people in the photos and if they have a facebook (and are in your friend list) they will automatically get those photos as well. So it's a great tool for sharing photos with others.
*You get requests from people you know to be your friend and YOU CHOOSE if they are listed in your friends list or not. ONLY YOUR FRIENDS CAN SEE YOUR PROFILE, PICS, AND POSTS. Plus you can choose for certain friends to only see limited amounts of your profile and so on.
* You can post major events and the INVITE people to those events.
* Your friends can leave comments and such on your "Wall".
* You will be surprised at the friends you may find there that you haven't talked to in years.
Why am I telling you this? Because there are some great friends of mine out there that I would love to see join facebook, so that we can keep in touch even BETTER than a typical blog.
Let me stress that this is not a MYSPACE idea where anyone can see your information and stuff. Nor is there annoying pop-ups and questionable advertizements. The look of your facebook is neat and clean. This is very secure and let's you decide who can see what. I have only been at it for a few days and I have already found 52 friends from every different relm of my life! Life Action, Northland, Crusades, HOST FAMILIES!, and even people I work with around here. I also uploaded, captioned, and tagged over 100 photos in about twenty minutes! That's amazing.
So I can post a lot more pictures of my family and friends there and chances are, there are a lot of pictures you all haven't seen yet. Sign up, add me as your friend, and then enjoy all of the pictures and updates.
So click here to get your own facebook. Oh, did I mention that it is FREE?!!!
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Retreats Over!
Well, our final retreat for the year is over and I'M NOT SICK! It's amazing, but God has spared me from my usual state of much sickness and sorrow. Two retreats done and I didn't lose my voice OR get sick! God's grace is amazing!
Now, I gear up for our all school Christmas Concert on December 7. Along with a full month of muscial rehearsals for "Seussical". We are in a crucial time of rehearsals, trying to nail down choreography and music for some of our bigger/full cast songs. Also, we are working on getting costumes made, set design done, and very soon will be starting our orchestra rehearsals with the instrumentalists. Plus, I am driving a huge promotional push with T-shirts, banners, posters, and bumper stickers and decals. So it is a fun stage of production.
In more personal life, Sarah has a doctor's appointment today. We are just seeking advice now from her doctor to make sure that everything is all right healthwise. We really desire to have another child and the waiting time is hard; and we want to do our part to make sure we are both healthy and that there is nothing hindering this process except for the Almighty. Please be praying for us.
Rennah is AMAZING! Whenever I get some time at home, I will post some more pictures of her here so you can see how much she is growing.
We love and pray for you our friends! Keep us updated on your lives as well.
Now, I gear up for our all school Christmas Concert on December 7. Along with a full month of muscial rehearsals for "Seussical". We are in a crucial time of rehearsals, trying to nail down choreography and music for some of our bigger/full cast songs. Also, we are working on getting costumes made, set design done, and very soon will be starting our orchestra rehearsals with the instrumentalists. Plus, I am driving a huge promotional push with T-shirts, banners, posters, and bumper stickers and decals. So it is a fun stage of production.
In more personal life, Sarah has a doctor's appointment today. We are just seeking advice now from her doctor to make sure that everything is all right healthwise. We really desire to have another child and the waiting time is hard; and we want to do our part to make sure we are both healthy and that there is nothing hindering this process except for the Almighty. Please be praying for us.
Rennah is AMAZING! Whenever I get some time at home, I will post some more pictures of her here so you can see how much she is growing.
We love and pray for you our friends! Keep us updated on your lives as well.
Monday, October 23, 2006
One Down . . . One to Go!
Well, we got back from choir retreat #1. All in all, everything went well. This weekend, we took our entire high school (about 80 students) down to Life Action Retreat and Conference Center (my home stomping grounds) for a couple of days to learn our music for the year. The weather was cold and breezy, but we got a lot accomplished. Our worship time together on Thursday night was awesome and God worked in the hearts of the students through it.
Now, I am gearing up for one more choir retreat this coming weekend. This time out, we are taking our auditioned elementary choir (the Singing Crusaders) to a place called Camp Beechpoint. We will be there Friday and Saturday. You can pray that it goes well.
Good news! I didn't get really sick and lose my voice on our High School Retreat. That usually happens, but this year, God kept me healthy. So that is nice. Especially since we have another big weekend ahead.
Thursday, we teachers are headed to Grand Rapids for our annual teacher convention. No school once again for the kids. They like that a lot.
*****************
I do need to clear up what might be some confusion from my last post. I mentioned that I was "in a state of depression and frustration" without really explaining what was going on. I understand that could have communicated the wrong thing to some of you who are faithful to read this blog. That was simply how I was feeling that particular day and I was really just spilling my feelings. I was only discouraged because a good friend on mine (my accountability partner, in fact) had been going through a rough time and really had no desire or passion for God. And nothing that I could say to him would change his heart. I was at a loss with really no one to talk to about it. Things seem to be getting a little better with him, but that is still a definite prayer need.
Just for clarification, that depression and frustration was not in relationship to my marriage or family. Sarah and I are doing well and loving life and what God is teaching us. Just keep praying for strength in the midst of business.
Thanks for reading. Love you all!
Now, I am gearing up for one more choir retreat this coming weekend. This time out, we are taking our auditioned elementary choir (the Singing Crusaders) to a place called Camp Beechpoint. We will be there Friday and Saturday. You can pray that it goes well.
Good news! I didn't get really sick and lose my voice on our High School Retreat. That usually happens, but this year, God kept me healthy. So that is nice. Especially since we have another big weekend ahead.
Thursday, we teachers are headed to Grand Rapids for our annual teacher convention. No school once again for the kids. They like that a lot.
*****************
I do need to clear up what might be some confusion from my last post. I mentioned that I was "in a state of depression and frustration" without really explaining what was going on. I understand that could have communicated the wrong thing to some of you who are faithful to read this blog. That was simply how I was feeling that particular day and I was really just spilling my feelings. I was only discouraged because a good friend on mine (my accountability partner, in fact) had been going through a rough time and really had no desire or passion for God. And nothing that I could say to him would change his heart. I was at a loss with really no one to talk to about it. Things seem to be getting a little better with him, but that is still a definite prayer need.
Just for clarification, that depression and frustration was not in relationship to my marriage or family. Sarah and I are doing well and loving life and what God is teaching us. Just keep praying for strength in the midst of business.
Thanks for reading. Love you all!
Thursday, October 12, 2006
First Snow!
Well, it's official. Cold weather is here! I woke up today to see the first touches of winter on the ground . . . and my first morning of scraping the car windshield. I like the snow today . . . but by tomorrow, I will be tired of it . . .
Maybe not that soon, but I really don't like cold weather. So, why am I living in Michigan? Well, I am still trying to figure that out for myself. Maybe because I love our church and school . . . the people here . . . my friends. Just a few reasons. Although life is not without its ups and downs.
Recently, I have been in a state of depression and frustration. Just because of some things going on around here. Today, I am doing all right . . . though I am still worried about a couple of things. But I know that my God is bigger than any problem, worry, or frustration.
BIG weekend ahead. Actually, 3 big weekends ahead. Tomorrow is Grandparents day at our school, so that means all of my choirs are singing. Then we have two Big Play practices on Friday and Saturday. Next weekend is our High School Choir Retreat, and the following weekend is the Singing Crusader Choir Retreat (Elementary choir). So I will be busy.
If you read these posts, please be in prayer that God will keep me healthy and give me strength for what is ahead. I hope everyone has a great week.
Maybe not that soon, but I really don't like cold weather. So, why am I living in Michigan? Well, I am still trying to figure that out for myself. Maybe because I love our church and school . . . the people here . . . my friends. Just a few reasons. Although life is not without its ups and downs.
Recently, I have been in a state of depression and frustration. Just because of some things going on around here. Today, I am doing all right . . . though I am still worried about a couple of things. But I know that my God is bigger than any problem, worry, or frustration.
BIG weekend ahead. Actually, 3 big weekends ahead. Tomorrow is Grandparents day at our school, so that means all of my choirs are singing. Then we have two Big Play practices on Friday and Saturday. Next weekend is our High School Choir Retreat, and the following weekend is the Singing Crusader Choir Retreat (Elementary choir). So I will be busy.
If you read these posts, please be in prayer that God will keep me healthy and give me strength for what is ahead. I hope everyone has a great week.
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