i'm home, ya'll! florida was absolutely beautiful, a ton of fun, and humid! but it's so nice to be back home. texas is definitely the best state =)
i'll probably blog a little more about the trip, but now i have to pack for san antonio. i got me some more shopping to do!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
later gators!
i'm going to florida! i'll be there this week learning how to become a better teacher. oh what fun! seriously, it's supposed to be fun. we'll see.
because my last name is hernandez, i am still packing. one of these days i'll get the hang of not procrastinating. maybe tomorrow.
ya'll have a great week!
because my last name is hernandez, i am still packing. one of these days i'll get the hang of not procrastinating. maybe tomorrow.
ya'll have a great week!
Friday, July 25, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
"what'd you do to your hair?"
there's nothing like the support of your brother when he sees your new haircut.
last week i got the sudden itch to get my hair cut. i already had an appointment for a trim, but decided that i wanted a bob. so today i went from hair to just beneath my shoulders to hair just beneath my chin. kinda drastic, huh?
i'd post pictures, but i'm on the super slow computer today. i really need my laptop.
last week i got the sudden itch to get my hair cut. i already had an appointment for a trim, but decided that i wanted a bob. so today i went from hair to just beneath my shoulders to hair just beneath my chin. kinda drastic, huh?
i'd post pictures, but i'm on the super slow computer today. i really need my laptop.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
s-c-a-r-y
i remember having a certain conversation a few years ago with my dad. i'm pretty sure it was after i had changed my major or shortly before. anyway, we were in the drive-through line at starbucks, and we were discussing how many children follow in their parents' footsteps and end up in the same career or something similar.
i thought about what i wanted to be when i was younger. i really wanted to be a singer! but before that, i wanted to be...a pastor's wife. yep, one of those people. you know, the ones that always have their own lives together, the ones that have an encouraging word for everyone and are never mad. in my defense, i was around the age of 6. then i grew up. i realized that pastor's wives have it tough. it's not a glamorous job. it hurts. it requires much more of you that you're willing to part with. so in jr. high, i stupidly declared that i would never be a pastor's wife. man, that's like praying for patience! but during that time of deciding that i wouldn't never voluntarily put myself through something like that (ok, i'm a little dramatic), people would tell me that they could see me as a pastor's wife. my jr. high basketball teacher even told me that. we were asking him what he thought we would be when we were older, and when he got to me, he looked directly at me and smiled as he said, "bethany? i see her as a pastor's wife." what does a basketball coach know, anyway?!
but one thing that never entered my mind was to be a teacher. if i wasn't going to be a singer, then i would be a music teacher, but not a classroom teacher. and especially not a first grade teacher. have i mentioned that i'm teaching first grade this year? funny how God changes things, huh?
all this to say that the other day, my aunt was cleaning out drawers and found some papers that we had filled out in children's church loooooong time ago. on it we filled out our name, where we were born, what we wanted God to do, and what we wanted to be when we grew up. i laughed until i saw my paper:
when i grow up, i want to be a pastor's wife and a teacher.
that's what i wrote. THAT'S WHAT I WROTE!!!
i'm so scared.
i thought about what i wanted to be when i was younger. i really wanted to be a singer! but before that, i wanted to be...a pastor's wife. yep, one of those people. you know, the ones that always have their own lives together, the ones that have an encouraging word for everyone and are never mad. in my defense, i was around the age of 6. then i grew up. i realized that pastor's wives have it tough. it's not a glamorous job. it hurts. it requires much more of you that you're willing to part with. so in jr. high, i stupidly declared that i would never be a pastor's wife. man, that's like praying for patience! but during that time of deciding that i wouldn't never voluntarily put myself through something like that (ok, i'm a little dramatic), people would tell me that they could see me as a pastor's wife. my jr. high basketball teacher even told me that. we were asking him what he thought we would be when we were older, and when he got to me, he looked directly at me and smiled as he said, "bethany? i see her as a pastor's wife." what does a basketball coach know, anyway?!
but one thing that never entered my mind was to be a teacher. if i wasn't going to be a singer, then i would be a music teacher, but not a classroom teacher. and especially not a first grade teacher. have i mentioned that i'm teaching first grade this year? funny how God changes things, huh?
all this to say that the other day, my aunt was cleaning out drawers and found some papers that we had filled out in children's church loooooong time ago. on it we filled out our name, where we were born, what we wanted God to do, and what we wanted to be when we grew up. i laughed until i saw my paper:
when i grow up, i want to be a pastor's wife and a teacher.
that's what i wrote. THAT'S WHAT I WROTE!!!
i'm so scared.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
stupid computer!
i'm currently annoyed with computers. the desktop at home is incredibly slow. the wireless at my parents won't show up on my laptop or on my mom's laptop. we can't get the wireless to work at our house, and it all goes back to the computer breaking down last september. SEPTEMBER! like a whole year ago...almost. that means that my laptop won't be connected to the internet at home.
but my mom has a great desktop, and i love it. that's what i'm blogging on now. do you think she'll notice if i take it home?
but my mom has a great desktop, and i love it. that's what i'm blogging on now. do you think she'll notice if i take it home?
romans 8:28
if you don't know this already, you do now. i went to a small, private school all my school life. well, not kindergarten but i was there from 1st-12th grade. a looong time.
one of the things that i loved about going there was the devotion of the teachers. they were not only wonderful teachers; they were men and women of God. i cannot even begin to describe the impact that they had on my spiritual life. because it was such a small school, everyone knew everyone else's business. so fun. but we, as students, had an open door into our teachers' lives, and that gave us the opportunity to see that they practiced what they preached.
it wasn't until i was a freshman in college that i truly appreciated my school background. college was a slap in the face for me. gone were the teachers who prayed for me on a daily basis. gone were the encouragements and the all-around comforting feeling of being surrounded by christians.
but now one of my old teachers, one who has been a school favorite of parents and teachers for many years, is going through a horrible tragedy. her world has been completely shattered. this teacher whom i have looked up to for years is having to cope with something that no one should have to cope with, and it hurts my heart. i can't bear to see her in this much pain. i've always known that God keeps His promises. i cling to romans 8:28. but this one has me asking "how?" how on earth could something good happen from this?
so i ask for your prayers. please pray for God's comfort, His strength, and His wisdom. pray that His will would be revealed in all of this. and pray that we all get through this.
one of the things that i loved about going there was the devotion of the teachers. they were not only wonderful teachers; they were men and women of God. i cannot even begin to describe the impact that they had on my spiritual life. because it was such a small school, everyone knew everyone else's business. so fun. but we, as students, had an open door into our teachers' lives, and that gave us the opportunity to see that they practiced what they preached.
it wasn't until i was a freshman in college that i truly appreciated my school background. college was a slap in the face for me. gone were the teachers who prayed for me on a daily basis. gone were the encouragements and the all-around comforting feeling of being surrounded by christians.
but now one of my old teachers, one who has been a school favorite of parents and teachers for many years, is going through a horrible tragedy. her world has been completely shattered. this teacher whom i have looked up to for years is having to cope with something that no one should have to cope with, and it hurts my heart. i can't bear to see her in this much pain. i've always known that God keeps His promises. i cling to romans 8:28. but this one has me asking "how?" how on earth could something good happen from this?
so i ask for your prayers. please pray for God's comfort, His strength, and His wisdom. pray that His will would be revealed in all of this. and pray that we all get through this.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
as promised
miracle of miracles, i actually found the notes that i wrote for the speech on dr. black. it was written in november of 2005.
"the older i get, the better i was!" this is a sign that still hangs in the office of a man who was known as the senior professor at angelo state university - dr. eldon u. black. just three short weeks ago dr. black died, leaving behind a rich legacy and a huge void. the loss is great not because dr. black invested so much time here at asu (51 years), although that in itself is amazing. the loss is great not because dr. black was the funniest man ever, although he could find the humor in any situation and often did. the loss is great because of one thing - dr. black's character. what was so great about dr. black was that he was always so approachable. he understood something that unfortunately some people never understand: the concept and practice of loving others. this was evident in the way that he treated others. he was never too busy to spend time with his colleagues and students, and he loved to treat people to a meal.
as a voice teacher, dr. black delighted in teaching his students how to sing. he was a constant encourager who brought out the best in his students. dr. black had many sayings, and there was one that he said every monday afternoon in master class. if someone sang a song in english, he would say in his deep voice, "you know, english is the hardest language to sing." it got to the point where everyone would just mouth along with him whenever he said it. but his students loved him as much as he loved them, and this was obvious by the number of former students who traveled to attend his funeral and pay their respects to this wonderful man.
dr. black was a man who loved God, loved others-including his pets-and loved to laugh. it is hard to imagine that we will never hear another joke, never hear another song, and never hear another laugh from him, but we know that he is in a better place. we will miss you, dr. black.
"the older i get, the better i was!" this is a sign that still hangs in the office of a man who was known as the senior professor at angelo state university - dr. eldon u. black. just three short weeks ago dr. black died, leaving behind a rich legacy and a huge void. the loss is great not because dr. black invested so much time here at asu (51 years), although that in itself is amazing. the loss is great not because dr. black was the funniest man ever, although he could find the humor in any situation and often did. the loss is great because of one thing - dr. black's character. what was so great about dr. black was that he was always so approachable. he understood something that unfortunately some people never understand: the concept and practice of loving others. this was evident in the way that he treated others. he was never too busy to spend time with his colleagues and students, and he loved to treat people to a meal.
as a voice teacher, dr. black delighted in teaching his students how to sing. he was a constant encourager who brought out the best in his students. dr. black had many sayings, and there was one that he said every monday afternoon in master class. if someone sang a song in english, he would say in his deep voice, "you know, english is the hardest language to sing." it got to the point where everyone would just mouth along with him whenever he said it. but his students loved him as much as he loved them, and this was obvious by the number of former students who traveled to attend his funeral and pay their respects to this wonderful man.
dr. black was a man who loved God, loved others-including his pets-and loved to laugh. it is hard to imagine that we will never hear another joke, never hear another song, and never hear another laugh from him, but we know that he is in a better place. we will miss you, dr. black.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
i'm almost there
for some incredibly strange reason, band camp wiped me out.
no joke.
friday afternoon i came home and slept until a little after 7. then on saturday i slept in until 9:15 (which is nothing because i can sleep past that even when i'm not that tired). then kelli and i went to lunch with the girls, went to the car show, and when someone suggested the mall, i knew i had to wave the white flag. i went home and slept for two more hours. i woke up and just kinda lounged around the house, doing nothing in particular.
i was ready for bed by 10. how pathetic is that? i really don't think that one 40-hour week should have that type of effect on me, but apparently i'm a little weakling. sheesh. at least i'm starting to feel a little more like myself now.
now i have two more weeks of bliss before i have start going back to work. i really, really, really, really want to go to corpus to see my godparents. i've been wanting to go for a long visit for a while now, but kelli and joey are working, so it may not be a family trip. gosh darn it.
oh! i found the speech notes that i made on dr. black, so i'll be posting them soon. um...when i can find them. yeah, i already lost them. more about our living situation later. boo.
no joke.
friday afternoon i came home and slept until a little after 7. then on saturday i slept in until 9:15 (which is nothing because i can sleep past that even when i'm not that tired). then kelli and i went to lunch with the girls, went to the car show, and when someone suggested the mall, i knew i had to wave the white flag. i went home and slept for two more hours. i woke up and just kinda lounged around the house, doing nothing in particular.
i was ready for bed by 10. how pathetic is that? i really don't think that one 40-hour week should have that type of effect on me, but apparently i'm a little weakling. sheesh. at least i'm starting to feel a little more like myself now.
now i have two more weeks of bliss before i have start going back to work. i really, really, really, really want to go to corpus to see my godparents. i've been wanting to go for a long visit for a while now, but kelli and joey are working, so it may not be a family trip. gosh darn it.
oh! i found the speech notes that i made on dr. black, so i'll be posting them soon. um...when i can find them. yeah, i already lost them. more about our living situation later. boo.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
i was just thinking....
when we went to dallas about three weeks ago, i bought a book for the ride home. it was just a fiction book, something light and funny to pass the time. but it had something in there that has stuck with me since then.
as one character in the book was giving advice, she told someone that "choosing not to forgive is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die."
um...wow. i know we're supposed to forgive. i know that there are spiritual, phsyical, and emotional consquences for choosing not to forgive. i've been there, done that. who hasn't? but what i didn't expect was the barrage of emotions that hit me when i read that. i thought, "Lord, i'm not mad at anybody. nobody has hurt me. i'm okay." but that was a lie. i had convinced myself that whatever had hurt me was just a minor thing and that i didn't need to get all bent out of shape about it. while that may be true, i didn't take time to acknowledge that i was hurt and that i needed to deal with it. i just shoved it down and hoped the feeling would go away.
you'd think that at 24 i would know better.
so there it was, in all its ugliness. but isn't it great how God can make something beautiful out of something so ugly? okay, so i don't really know what that beautiful something is, but i'm trusting that God will reveal it in His own time.
ah, the joys of being challenged by God.
as one character in the book was giving advice, she told someone that "choosing not to forgive is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die."
um...wow. i know we're supposed to forgive. i know that there are spiritual, phsyical, and emotional consquences for choosing not to forgive. i've been there, done that. who hasn't? but what i didn't expect was the barrage of emotions that hit me when i read that. i thought, "Lord, i'm not mad at anybody. nobody has hurt me. i'm okay." but that was a lie. i had convinced myself that whatever had hurt me was just a minor thing and that i didn't need to get all bent out of shape about it. while that may be true, i didn't take time to acknowledge that i was hurt and that i needed to deal with it. i just shoved it down and hoped the feeling would go away.
you'd think that at 24 i would know better.
so there it was, in all its ugliness. but isn't it great how God can make something beautiful out of something so ugly? okay, so i don't really know what that beautiful something is, but i'm trusting that God will reveal it in His own time.
ah, the joys of being challenged by God.
oh what fun
it's band camp time again. apparently i can't get away from it. sunday was pure mayhem. let's just say that there some things that were unexpected. but we got through it!
i don't mind because working band camp means more thoughts about my uncle osiel. this morning some band directors were in the office talking about band stuff (which is all greek to me), and i could just imagine my uncle sitting there. i miss him so much.
other than the sounds of 250+ middle school and high school students who act like they've never seen an instrument in their life, things are quiet around here. i've had nothing to do since yesterday afternoon. that's what i get for being so productive monday and yesterday morning. well, for jaxine making me be so productive the past two days. darn....
i could so use a nap right now. i haven't had to work an 8-hour day in over a month. what am i going to do when i have to go back to school? um...let's not think about that right now.
i don't mind because working band camp means more thoughts about my uncle osiel. this morning some band directors were in the office talking about band stuff (which is all greek to me), and i could just imagine my uncle sitting there. i miss him so much.
other than the sounds of 250+ middle school and high school students who act like they've never seen an instrument in their life, things are quiet around here. i've had nothing to do since yesterday afternoon. that's what i get for being so productive monday and yesterday morning. well, for jaxine making me be so productive the past two days. darn....
i could so use a nap right now. i haven't had to work an 8-hour day in over a month. what am i going to do when i have to go back to school? um...let's not think about that right now.
Monday, July 7, 2008
i think i might be married to someone named jess
i opened my e-mail this morning to this message:
Hey Beth,
Just wanted to let you know that I was thinking about you. I am so glad we are married and even after seven years I would choose you all over again. Thanks for making my life so complete. Thanks for your leadership in my spiritual growth. You challenge me to keep God 1st and that is the best thing a spouse can do so thank you!!! I love you and can't wait for the next 7 years and what wonderful things it will bring.
Can't wait to see you!!
Love Jess
holy cow.
Hey Beth,
Just wanted to let you know that I was thinking about you. I am so glad we are married and even after seven years I would choose you all over again. Thanks for making my life so complete. Thanks for your leadership in my spiritual growth. You challenge me to keep God 1st and that is the best thing a spouse can do so thank you!!! I love you and can't wait for the next 7 years and what wonderful things it will bring.
Can't wait to see you!!
Love Jess
holy cow.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
it's up!
dad put up that funny video that i was telling you about! go watch it...and try not to laugh too hard!
dear pauline (or should i say pauleen?!)
in response to your hilarious comment:
1) you're right-i shouldn't put my dad's age on here. i'll just say that he's in his late forties and he won't be in his forties anymore when his birthday comes around again. =)
2) we all have our little quirks; when i play i "hit" the ball so hard that my right arm is extremely sore; ryan throws himself on the ground when he doesn't golf well; kelli, well...kelli just makes us laugh in general
3) we should totally play with four controllers! i think everyone would get a big kick out of that. let's plan another wii night!
4) yeah right
5) your comment made me laugh out loud. thanks, pauline!
1) you're right-i shouldn't put my dad's age on here. i'll just say that he's in his late forties and he won't be in his forties anymore when his birthday comes around again. =)
2) we all have our little quirks; when i play i "hit" the ball so hard that my right arm is extremely sore; ryan throws himself on the ground when he doesn't golf well; kelli, well...kelli just makes us laugh in general
3) we should totally play with four controllers! i think everyone would get a big kick out of that. let's plan another wii night!
4) yeah right
5) your comment made me laugh out loud. thanks, pauline!
good memories
working at asu has brought back a lot of memories. i've really enjoyed working there and talking to dr. scott and jaxine. i wish i could say that we just sit around and talk, but...yeah right.
many of my memories include the late dr. eldon black. he was probably the most loved and most revered faculty member on campus. he had been at asu for over 50 years (i think 52 or 53 but i'm not entirely sure) and was an amazing voice teacher. he taught my dad when my dad was getting his master's degree in music back in the 80s. anyway, today in the office someone mentioned him, and i was reminded of what a great man he was. he loved music, but he loved people more. i don't think that i will ever find anyone else who was such a people person. like someone said, he's irreplaceable.
i remember how sick he got and how hard it was for so many people. when the asu community heard that he was in the hospital in houston, many people sent cards and books to the office for us to send to him. the semester he died, i was taking speech and had to give a speech honoring someone. i chose dr. black. if i can find the speech, i'll post it on here. it was such an emotional time, but now i look back on my time as a music major with fondness because of him. i worked in his office as a freshman, then of course i saw him every day when i started working in the music office. he ALWAYS had an encouraging word for me, especially when i sang, and he constantly challenged me. even now, just thinking about him challenge me to be a better person, to see the best in others and always be encouraging.
many of my memories include the late dr. eldon black. he was probably the most loved and most revered faculty member on campus. he had been at asu for over 50 years (i think 52 or 53 but i'm not entirely sure) and was an amazing voice teacher. he taught my dad when my dad was getting his master's degree in music back in the 80s. anyway, today in the office someone mentioned him, and i was reminded of what a great man he was. he loved music, but he loved people more. i don't think that i will ever find anyone else who was such a people person. like someone said, he's irreplaceable.
i remember how sick he got and how hard it was for so many people. when the asu community heard that he was in the hospital in houston, many people sent cards and books to the office for us to send to him. the semester he died, i was taking speech and had to give a speech honoring someone. i chose dr. black. if i can find the speech, i'll post it on here. it was such an emotional time, but now i look back on my time as a music major with fondness because of him. i worked in his office as a freshman, then of course i saw him every day when i started working in the music office. he ALWAYS had an encouraging word for me, especially when i sang, and he constantly challenged me. even now, just thinking about him challenge me to be a better person, to see the best in others and always be encouraging.
dr. black sitting at the piano in his studio
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
new members
sunday was a big day at solid rock church. we had five young people who were baptized, and we accepted them and another lady as members into the church.
it was such a wonderful, emotion-filled day. ryan was one of the ones baptized, so i was extremely proud. and tearful. the pictures of the baptism service are on my dad's blog (click here to see them) but i included some of sunday night as well.
new SRC members
it was such a wonderful, emotion-filled day. ryan was one of the ones baptized, so i was extremely proud. and tearful. the pictures of the baptism service are on my dad's blog (click here to see them) but i included some of sunday night as well.
yummy cake
new SRC members
oooh
i took a break from blogging to wii. my arm hurts. but i beat kelli in tennis. dad and ryan have played tennis and golf. dad boxed earlier-it was hilarious! i got a video of it, but it may not appear on the world wide web. if i had my vote, it would! trust me, you would laugh your head off if you saw this video.
i love it!
i love it!
as i sit here blogging...
ryan got a wii.
yes, you read that right: ryan got a wii (please, uncle benjy, no jokes).
actually, he saved up his money and paid for half of it. pretty impressive, no? anyway, dad took him to get it this evening, so while i update my blog, my dad and brothers are having a blast with it. they've played tennis with plans to move on to baseball soon. i'm totally getting a kick out of watching them play with it. my parents were joking that after the boys go to bed they'll practice to get better! here's a video of joey and dad (sorry it's sideways):
yes, you read that right: ryan got a wii (please, uncle benjy, no jokes).
actually, he saved up his money and paid for half of it. pretty impressive, no? anyway, dad took him to get it this evening, so while i update my blog, my dad and brothers are having a blast with it. they've played tennis with plans to move on to baseball soon. i'm totally getting a kick out of watching them play with it. my parents were joking that after the boys go to bed they'll practice to get better! here's a video of joey and dad (sorry it's sideways):
playing with adyson
kelli and ady
dad and ady-she was smiling at kelli
me and ady-she doesn't look too happy, does she?
and my all-time favorite ady picture...
smart ady! (and ryan)
pictures are coming!
starting with this super cute one. seth and lexie love to play "chef" and cook for us. sunday night i asked them to make me fettuccine alfredo in a light basil sauce. seth immediately responded, "a light basil sauce...got it!" then he turned back to me and added, "but it might be hot!" so cute.
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