Hello all you crazy kids.  Well I'm back from my 3 month (or so) hiatus, and have decided to try and update this bad boy.  The past few months have been an emotional rollercoaster, but I'm still here and have almost made it through my first semester as a high school teacher.  This is supposed to be the low point in a new teacher's year.  The highly researched and carefully drawn graph they showed us at New Teacher Orientation called this phase "Disillusionment".   Hmmmm.  I wonder what that means hah.  Anyways, hopefully my illusions are as dis-ed as they are supposed to be and I am actually going to be a little more than just relieved to have my kids say goodbye on Dec. 16th.  I think I'll be a little sad.  Weird huh?  Maybe there is something to this job. 

I got some good hang out time with Jill this weekend in San Antonio and turns out she got engaged on Sunday!  Exciting for sure.  Too bad I missed the festivities and was sick all night when I went to stay with sister in College Station.  But Jolly Ho was very good about taking care of me and she even let me sleep in her bed.  What a cool sis. 

I'm planning to move out into an apartment pretty soon, which will be pretty exciting I think.  I'm mainly excited about getting to decorate the way I want to.  Ikea here I come. 

All other news is old news I think.  I will update again when I have something philosophical to say...or something.   Meanwhile you can catch me at the parents for Turkey Day a.m., College Station Turkey day p.m., the Fightin' Texas Aggie football game on Friday.  (Whoop Ol' Army class of '04) and Terri Ford's going-away bash on Saturday.  Still recovering from being sick so pray I have the energy to resume all my normal activities.  Why couldn't I be sick during a week of school?!  Love you guys!

Oh and don't forget I will be at the NCAA Women's College Soccer Cup for the Semifinals and Finals on Dec 2nd and 4th.  Dang I'm excited!  

Peace.

His,

Mel <><

Hello my friends.  I figured it might be time for an update...I mean I thought about waiting until November, but that might be a pretty long entry ya know?  Maybe not.  Well I had a pretty tight weekend over Labor Day so I'm pretty stoked (yes stoked).  My beautiful pal Jill was up from San Antonio so we got to have a little A&M reunion up in the 'plex.  Our good friends Ashley and Kathryn live in Dallas so we just made it a partay.  It was really great getting to hang with my girls again....especially after feeling a little lonely up here.  Kat is 9th grade teacher in Lewisville so I picked up some tips and good advice from her.  We got to see Ashley's ultra-cool apartment in Addison Circle and I let those girls cut my hair.  Dang I know.  It's all about the trust.  Anyway, since I've been missin College Station and the whole A&M experience, it was cool to see my Aggie pals and bring that home a little bit.  

School is going well.  I think I've gotten into a pretty good groove and I'm getting to know my kids so that's pretty sweet.  The paperwork is still overwhelming, but I'm learning the tricks of the trade as I go.  Mosaic has been awesome the last couple of weeks.  I'm so grateful I have an outlet like that to play some music and worship.  I was afraid after GLC was over and out that I would be left just playing to myself in my room.  As much fun as that sounds, I mean I'm not gonna lie, I'm excited about playing at Mosaic.  Plus I get to see all my amigos like Linds and Johnny, Dave, and Mary Mason.  3 cheers for Glen Lake in the 'plex. 

My best friend from high school got married today so that was cool.  I got to see a lot of old friends from Stephenville and see the old church etc...  Flashbacks to high school and junior high--man gotta love all that. 

Alright kids, I'm going to go play some guitar and finish writing some songs.  I'm determined to record a cd...soon.  Love to all.  Deuces!

His,

Mel <><

Hey kids.  I may have lost all my faithful readers by now.   I know I know....May to September is a long time to have the same entry up ha.  But what a worthy entry it was. 

Truth is I was avoiding updating...as each day passed I wondered how I was going to type an update that even came close to what my life has been the last 4 months.  I will give it my best try. 

First things first...I am employed.  3 cheers for a paycheck (tomorrow I get my first one in fact).  I am teaching 9th and 10th grade science at FRHS in Keller.  We are at the end of our 3rd week of real school.  Fun times right?  I love my kids...even though they can be a challenge sometimes.  The paperwork is tough to handle but I'm still here...still alive and for a first year teacher I hear that's good.  I have had a lot of help from my colleagues and I'd be drowning if a couple people hadn't picked me up and carried me through the first few weeks.  Just keep swimming right?  The rest of my life?   Hmmm well my family moved to NRH so it's been interesting getting adjusted to the move.  Jon is doing amazingly well.  The new church is fun and I'm trying to get involved in as many things as possible to make myself some friends (hahah).  Starting last week I'm also helping lead worship for Mosaic..a young adult worship service at FUMC Mansfield.  The GLC praise band lives on (50% of it anyway). 

Camp was incredible but even that statement seems too goofy to put on here.  Words can't really begin to describe...but I will say that I miss all my GLC peeps.  The other day (you know that day when you realize camp is over for real---typically one to two weeks after camp ends) it actually hurt when I thought of camp being over.  Physically hurt.  I keep looking at the picture Lindsey made that's on my desk...it has a picture of the lake at night with the fountain.  You know typical GLC greatness caught on film.  I guess it is more real this year than ever...since I'm not just saying goodbye until next year.  I'm for real saying goodbye.  I had to be a lifer huh?  This stuff hurts but I guess that's life.  This year has been tough in that same regard.  College was an amazing spiritual experience for me (oh yeah and the education wasn't bad either).  So in the span of 9 months I've pretty much lost every place, person, and organization that was important to me, aside from my amazing family of course.  By "lost" I mean far removed.  A&M is there and Aggieland may always be visited but it will never be the same.  I'll never be an active member of Phi Lamb or Wesley or Crossbound Choir again.  I'll never be a student attending Breakaway every Tuesday or watch tv at Wesley between classes.  I'll never carry my guitar over to the MSC for Phi Lamb on Mondays or go over to Jill and Kathryn's apartment for Bible Study.  I'll never be on summer staff at Glen Lake again...sigh.  Sad day...sad days....but I guess I'm supposed to move on right?  We'll see where this new part of my life leads me.  Right now I have zero friends to hang out with here and a workload that's beyond stressful.  The Lord is good though.  He is. 

Reflection on my summer in a entry soon to come.  In the meantime, I miss you all.  Deuces!

His Alone,

Mel <><

47302473207430 reasons I love Glen Lake Camp

in no particular order: 

midnight dining hall snacks, camp keys, nalgene, the MAC, bombsticks, free snack item and water each day, the waterpark, SWAT, Jim Talley, hemp, cabins, campers, meds and more meds, changing to plan B in .5 seconds, not knowing plan B but making it up on the spot, dances, guitars, the band, evening activites, Eagle's Wings, DJ booth,  working the utter chaos/intense bonding time that is canteen, thinking I couldn't come back and starting summer number 5, getting to work with my sister all summer, the blob, paintball, caffeine, sunshine, remembering being a camper since 3rd grade, staying up late and getting up early and somehow making it to rest time, rest time, traditions, answered prayers, knowing it's real, songs that have been around since I was a camper, the getaway, ice cream snickers, sunday nights, nametags, pictures, camo shorts, bonds that aren't broken, basketball shorts, lifeguarding, pool parties with 80s music, seeing how things have changed and knowing that nothing's really changed,  making friends for life (such as the ones pictured), curriculum, Robyn and her lists, friends, memories, rain, turner steps, volunteers, staff bridge, friday cleaning and friday hammonds, changed hearts, weekend excursions, Rawkfist, capture the flag, stories that will never die, serenading, getting out of my comfort zone, 4th of July festivities, having my birthday in the summer, staff devo, Terri Ford and her sense of humor, living in the moment, snowcones, Grits, coming out of my shell, hand-made jewelry all year round, seeing kids go from discovery camp to senior high, living for someone else everyday, Goatman, Joel calling me Missy, everyone else calling me Mel, golf carts, knock-out, LINKs, karen and her special staff meals, my bosses, the thought of bringing my kids back someday, seeing the stars at night, knowing God does, knowing God loves and not knowing what's next...and.......

GLC 2005--may His name become famous

if you read all those (did you?) you probably either really love me or you really love GLC (or for a select few maybe both)...i love you all!  Peace.

His,

Mel <><

Thirteen Random Things You Like:
1. Glen Lake
2. my guitar
3. cookie dough
4. chuck taylors
5. aggieland
6. rocks
7. camo shorts
8. you
9. phi lamb t-shirts
10. music
11. law and order
12. laser tag
13. roadtrips

Twelve Movies You Like:
1. hotel rwanda
2. the goonies
3. the shawshank redemption
4. the color purple
5. one fine day
6. mystery science theatre (shorts)
7. radio
8. the war
9. i am sam
10. silence of the lambs
11. back to the future
12. how to lose a guy in 10 days


Eleven Good Bands/Artists:
1. switchfoot
2. thousand foot krutch
3. howie day
4. shane and shane
5. bonnie mckee
6. grits
7. joss stone
8. the david crowder band
9. gavin degraw
10. stellar kart
11. norah jones


Ten Random Things About You:
1. i write music
2. i love soccer
3. i could have lived at sweet eugene's
4. i have no job (until mid-may that is!!!  glc up in here)
5. glen lake is my favorite place in the world
6. coca-cola and java shakes are my weakness
7. i went to two different high schools
8. i can high jump
9. my brother and i are 9 years apart
10. my sister and i are 3 years apart


Nine Friends:

.5  holly my bestest friend and sister :)
1. Jill
2. robyn e.
3. matt
4. tiffany
5. leslie
6. nick
7. clint
8. sam
9. kathryn


Eight Favorite Foods/Drinks:
1. mashed potatoes
2. Caramel Java Shake at Sweet E's
3. coca cola
4. steak
5. mexican food
6. peanut butter
7. soup
8. sugar cookies


Seven Things You Wear Daily:
1. shirt
2. contacts/glasses
3. jeans or shorts (seasonal)
4. my heart on my sleeve
5. my face
6. aggie ring

7. shoes


Six Things That Annoy You:
1. mean people
2. crowded places
3. fake-ness
4. ridiculous situations
5. bad drivers
6. tests


Five Things You Touch Everyday:
1. my dog
2. Bible
3. couch
4. food
5. car keys


Four Shows You Watch:
1. Law and Order
2. Sportscenter
3. the amazing race
4. survivor (no hatin)


Three Celebrities You Had A Crush On:
1. howie day
2. nick lachey
3. orlando bloom


Two Places You Want To Go That You Haven't Been To:
1. australia
2. new york


One Person You Could Spend The Rest Of Your Life With:
1. wouldn't you like to know

 Listening to:  "collide" howie day (EDIT)  ok I just about can't stand any of these sub-par recordings but I really couldn't bear putting lifehouse on here in that fashion...just didn't do it justice.    So i give to you...howie day.