August 26,
2008
- Well, I pretty much knew the 06-07 school year would be overwhelming,
and it was! So was 07-08, although it was filled with special
moments and special students. Today was the first day of the
08-09 school year. After having met them, I believe it's going to
be another good year with good students. I also believe it will
go a little easier since I have one less class to teach. I long
to get my life back!
This summer was a true healing summer. I had the opportunity, once again, to teach at the WV School of Gospel Music in Kenna, WV and had a wonderful time. Otherwise, Bill and I went to Carolina Beach with my family then spent 3 nights in a WV bed and breakfast in Hillsboro where we fished, went whitewater rafting, rode bikes, etc. Very peaceful!
Regarding my music, this past year our school choir performed my song "Shadows and Light," (beautifully done!) and plan to perform a couple of new ones I worked on this summer: "Light A Candle" and "The Best Day of My Life," which was co-written with Gregory M. Lousignont. I also was able to gain a placement of the song "He Still Came Down" on Kathy Woodward's newest recording. It's due to be released this September. Finally, Gospel Music Times (an e-zine about Gospel Music) did a feature on me as a songwriter. You can view the interview on page 5 of this issue.
On the family front, my grandfather died in a farming accident November 2007. He was 85. We knew that our grandparents were likely to leave us close together in time, and so it was. Still, we mourned. My brother, Jeff, wrote a beautiful tribute in his blog on Myspace. The other side of life has been represented with my new niece, Elizabeth Marie! Jeff and Kellie had a little girl August 1, 2007. I'll post pictures of her celebrating her first birthday soon, but in the meantime, there are some posted on my MySpace.
March 27, 2007 - Friends, there is so much I'd like to take the time to write for good things have been happening worth celebrating, but today I just want to post a link to a page my sister set up where we can share some thoughts on our Grandma Ruby. We got the call Saturday morning that she was gone and we buried her today. Today we celebrated her life.
November 2006 - I haven't updated since June and I see one of my comments from last post was "It's been an overwhelming year!" Well, I'm into another one. In the meantime, we did a lot of running this summer that included a trip to visit my sister-in-law and brother-in-law in Virginia, a trip to the eastern panhandle of WV (beautiful!), and a vacation along the Oregon coast. I've picked up 2 new classes this year (Sociology 101 and 20th Century US History) to go along with my AP US History course, which was new last year. I love teaching and I love my kids, but this creating new classes at the nth level is killing me! Maybe next year I'll be able to stay put and really get good at something! (Yes, there's a hint of frustration there!)
As to my love of writing music, I managed another milestone since June. I had my first "cut" on Greg Bentley's new cd with a song co-written by myself and Tery Wilkens. You can hear a snippet here. I also managed to find time to add a new Thanksgiving and new Advent song to my Sibelius page. The West Virginia School of Gospel Music was wonderful again this year. I had the opportunity to work with the teens who are interested in pursuing music and they were so talented and enthusiastic. We even managed to finish a song together in class. Don't know if it will find a home in one of the books or not, but it was a real joy just to work together in the process.
In family news, I just spent a weekend with my family and what a joy. All are doing well. I even had the chance to bond with my niece, whom I've only seen a handful of times, so it was very special. I'm including a link to some new pictures from the past few months. They include a visit to Moundsville from my family in August, a concert my grandmothers and husband and I attended in September, and pictures from a trip to Pocahontas County, WV my husband and I took in October. Blessings to all!
June 2006 - Well, the news is SCHOOL IS OUT! It has been an overwhelming year, but a good one. Good students all along (and I mean that, if any of you are reading!) and a great staff to work with. This year was difficult because we lost 3 social studies teachers to retirement and 1 (Coach Mike Linsky) to an untimely death from cancer. We only have 11 in our department so there are major changes in the works. I did not know Mr. Linsky very well for he came onto our staff after I graduated as a student and I never taught the same courses as he once I was on staff. I do know he left behind an aweful lot of friends, family, and "kids" he coached over the years and will be missed. I was very close to the three who retired today so I waited 'til everyone was out then had to shed a few tears. I associated Bill Sandiford most with my husband because they spent most of their careers teaching the same courses and worked closely together. With his departure, it felt like the last of that era was gone. The other two, Jane McNinch and Gary Rider, while I never had them when I went through JM, were on staff at the time and they were the ones I worked most closely with my three years there. I will really miss them. It's a shame...the older I get, the more I hate change! They will be enjoying things BESIDES work and I wish them all the best!
Otherwise, most obvious is the new front page with an updated picture of me. I know, I couldn't hide behind that other one forever! Yes, I AGE. I have posted a new link to a Blog I started on my songwriting journey. You might also find a couple of new demos on my "songs" page that were completed by Crossroads this past year. I'm very excited...well, I always have been...excited about songwriting (nothing new). I hope to spend some time this summer on music. I will be teaching again this year at the West Virginia School of Gospel Music during the last week of July/first week of August. I'll post more on that one later, but it's always a good time just north of Charleston, WV and the school is set up in the manner of the great singing schools of the south, i.e., Stamps-Baxter. For more information, contact Sue Boggess.
November 2005 - Well, it's been awhile! And much has been happening to praise the Lord for! First and foremost, my sister and her husband made it safely to China and back for the adoption of their new daughter, Kyria. She did a wonderful job documenting their experience as it unfolded on her site and keeping us back home very much a part of the day to day dealings. Kyria joins her two older brothers, Kevin and Greg to fill in the Greg and Brenda Jones household with Mamaw and Papaw living right next door.
I also began a new year of teaching at John Marshall high school (my alma mater.) I'm teaching World History to sophomores and AP US history to juniors and "my kids" are a real joy this year. Unfortunately, the latter class I've mentioned is new to me this year and taking A TREMENDOUS amount of time to stay on top of. Thus, no entry since school started!
In late September I did take a little time to join Woodhill United Methodist in Moundsville for an afternoon program (wonderful time, thanks Rev. Dayton and friends) and in mid-October I had the privelege of preparing a message for the morning worship service at Washington Lands UMC as "Women in the Pulpit Sunday" was celebrated.
Lastly, if you are looking for a simple two-part Christmas choral piece, I just posted one we've had some success with titled "Winds Through The Olive Trees" at Sibelius.
August 21, 2005 - I just received word that a song I wrote titled "A Mother's Love" was performed by the children's choir of the Roman Catholic church of St. Joseph in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. That is very humbling and very special.
August 7, 2005 - Just returned from the West Virginia School of Gospel Music and wanted to share some photos. Be watching for a clip or two of the choir in the near future. They were outstanding, as always, under the direction of Charles Towler of Cleveland, TN and accompanied by Jason Vaughn of Pell City, AL.
August 2005 - I'm really looking forward to the first week of August when I'll be at the West Virginia School of Gospel Music, just north of Charleston, WV. I'll be working with the children's performance and with a group of potential songwriters.
July 7, 2005 - Just wanted to update my friends on what's happening around here. Much of June was taken up with wrapping up things at school then taking a two-week vacation. While we were gone, my sister Brenda received her long-awaited call from the adoption agency telling her the details of their new daughter and delivering her picture to them. I'm so happy for them and proud! The rest of July will be spent staying close to home and, hopefully, catching up on some writing. So hard to do that when school is in session!
May 8, 2005 - Mother's Day! I will be presenting the message in the morning worship service at Jarrett United Methodist Church in Elkview, WV then singing with my family, The Warrens, in the evening service at New Beginnings Church of the Nazarene in Pinch, WV. We welcome you to come and join us if you are near. Here's a clip of our performance of Set Free.
May 1, 2005 - Church, St. Clairsville, OH. I'm looking forward to rejoining my friend, Linda Scaggs, for their evening revival service. Linda and I spent time together at the annual Upper Ohio Valley School of Gospel Music from '98-01 and I've been asked to bring the special music and be the guest pianist. If you're in the area, come and join us and may God bless us all as we celebrate Him!
April 30, 2005 - Brenda Jones and the New Beginnings Church of the Nazarene in Pinch, WV will sponsor a Celebration of Adoption that will help with finances in bringing Baby Kyria home. Your prayers and support are very important to us. Thank you!
March 2005 -The new Southern Gospel Convention-style books are out. Look for Set Free in Joy Forever published by Cumberland Valley Music Company
and Catching A Glimpse of Heaven, and Lord, I Stand Here In Your Presence in Freedom published by Gospel Heritage Music. They are my newest writing efforts.
March 2005 - If you are in the process of locating a choir song for Mother's Day, check out Tribute To A Mother's Love at Sibelius.
March 2005 - Visit my sister's new webpage at www.wvjonesfamily.com She's the one who inspired me to redesign my own and she and her family are into some exciting things. Keep them in your prayers as they prepare to adopt a little girl from China due this summer.
March 2005 - Welcome to my new webpage! I hope you find it a little more cozy and personal. Thanks for stopping by.
This summer was a true healing summer. I had the opportunity, once again, to teach at the WV School of Gospel Music in Kenna, WV and had a wonderful time. Otherwise, Bill and I went to Carolina Beach with my family then spent 3 nights in a WV bed and breakfast in Hillsboro where we fished, went whitewater rafting, rode bikes, etc. Very peaceful!
Regarding my music, this past year our school choir performed my song "Shadows and Light," (beautifully done!) and plan to perform a couple of new ones I worked on this summer: "Light A Candle" and "The Best Day of My Life," which was co-written with Gregory M. Lousignont. I also was able to gain a placement of the song "He Still Came Down" on Kathy Woodward's newest recording. It's due to be released this September. Finally, Gospel Music Times (an e-zine about Gospel Music) did a feature on me as a songwriter. You can view the interview on page 5 of this issue.
On the family front, my grandfather died in a farming accident November 2007. He was 85. We knew that our grandparents were likely to leave us close together in time, and so it was. Still, we mourned. My brother, Jeff, wrote a beautiful tribute in his blog on Myspace. The other side of life has been represented with my new niece, Elizabeth Marie! Jeff and Kellie had a little girl August 1, 2007. I'll post pictures of her celebrating her first birthday soon, but in the meantime, there are some posted on my MySpace.
March 27, 2007 - Friends, there is so much I'd like to take the time to write for good things have been happening worth celebrating, but today I just want to post a link to a page my sister set up where we can share some thoughts on our Grandma Ruby. We got the call Saturday morning that she was gone and we buried her today. Today we celebrated her life.
November 2006 - I haven't updated since June and I see one of my comments from last post was "It's been an overwhelming year!" Well, I'm into another one. In the meantime, we did a lot of running this summer that included a trip to visit my sister-in-law and brother-in-law in Virginia, a trip to the eastern panhandle of WV (beautiful!), and a vacation along the Oregon coast. I've picked up 2 new classes this year (Sociology 101 and 20th Century US History) to go along with my AP US History course, which was new last year. I love teaching and I love my kids, but this creating new classes at the nth level is killing me! Maybe next year I'll be able to stay put and really get good at something! (Yes, there's a hint of frustration there!)
As to my love of writing music, I managed another milestone since June. I had my first "cut" on Greg Bentley's new cd with a song co-written by myself and Tery Wilkens. You can hear a snippet here. I also managed to find time to add a new Thanksgiving and new Advent song to my Sibelius page. The West Virginia School of Gospel Music was wonderful again this year. I had the opportunity to work with the teens who are interested in pursuing music and they were so talented and enthusiastic. We even managed to finish a song together in class. Don't know if it will find a home in one of the books or not, but it was a real joy just to work together in the process.
In family news, I just spent a weekend with my family and what a joy. All are doing well. I even had the chance to bond with my niece, whom I've only seen a handful of times, so it was very special. I'm including a link to some new pictures from the past few months. They include a visit to Moundsville from my family in August, a concert my grandmothers and husband and I attended in September, and pictures from a trip to Pocahontas County, WV my husband and I took in October. Blessings to all!
June 2006 - Well, the news is SCHOOL IS OUT! It has been an overwhelming year, but a good one. Good students all along (and I mean that, if any of you are reading!) and a great staff to work with. This year was difficult because we lost 3 social studies teachers to retirement and 1 (Coach Mike Linsky) to an untimely death from cancer. We only have 11 in our department so there are major changes in the works. I did not know Mr. Linsky very well for he came onto our staff after I graduated as a student and I never taught the same courses as he once I was on staff. I do know he left behind an aweful lot of friends, family, and "kids" he coached over the years and will be missed. I was very close to the three who retired today so I waited 'til everyone was out then had to shed a few tears. I associated Bill Sandiford most with my husband because they spent most of their careers teaching the same courses and worked closely together. With his departure, it felt like the last of that era was gone. The other two, Jane McNinch and Gary Rider, while I never had them when I went through JM, were on staff at the time and they were the ones I worked most closely with my three years there. I will really miss them. It's a shame...the older I get, the more I hate change! They will be enjoying things BESIDES work and I wish them all the best!
Otherwise, most obvious is the new front page with an updated picture of me. I know, I couldn't hide behind that other one forever! Yes, I AGE. I have posted a new link to a Blog I started on my songwriting journey. You might also find a couple of new demos on my "songs" page that were completed by Crossroads this past year. I'm very excited...well, I always have been...excited about songwriting (nothing new). I hope to spend some time this summer on music. I will be teaching again this year at the West Virginia School of Gospel Music during the last week of July/first week of August. I'll post more on that one later, but it's always a good time just north of Charleston, WV and the school is set up in the manner of the great singing schools of the south, i.e., Stamps-Baxter. For more information, contact Sue Boggess.
November 2005 - Well, it's been awhile! And much has been happening to praise the Lord for! First and foremost, my sister and her husband made it safely to China and back for the adoption of their new daughter, Kyria. She did a wonderful job documenting their experience as it unfolded on her site and keeping us back home very much a part of the day to day dealings. Kyria joins her two older brothers, Kevin and Greg to fill in the Greg and Brenda Jones household with Mamaw and Papaw living right next door.
I also began a new year of teaching at John Marshall high school (my alma mater.) I'm teaching World History to sophomores and AP US history to juniors and "my kids" are a real joy this year. Unfortunately, the latter class I've mentioned is new to me this year and taking A TREMENDOUS amount of time to stay on top of. Thus, no entry since school started!
In late September I did take a little time to join Woodhill United Methodist in Moundsville for an afternoon program (wonderful time, thanks Rev. Dayton and friends) and in mid-October I had the privelege of preparing a message for the morning worship service at Washington Lands UMC as "Women in the Pulpit Sunday" was celebrated.
Lastly, if you are looking for a simple two-part Christmas choral piece, I just posted one we've had some success with titled "Winds Through The Olive Trees" at Sibelius.
August 21, 2005 - I just received word that a song I wrote titled "A Mother's Love" was performed by the children's choir of the Roman Catholic church of St. Joseph in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. That is very humbling and very special.
August 7, 2005 - Just returned from the West Virginia School of Gospel Music and wanted to share some photos. Be watching for a clip or two of the choir in the near future. They were outstanding, as always, under the direction of Charles Towler of Cleveland, TN and accompanied by Jason Vaughn of Pell City, AL.
August 2005 - I'm really looking forward to the first week of August when I'll be at the West Virginia School of Gospel Music, just north of Charleston, WV. I'll be working with the children's performance and with a group of potential songwriters.
July 7, 2005 - Just wanted to update my friends on what's happening around here. Much of June was taken up with wrapping up things at school then taking a two-week vacation. While we were gone, my sister Brenda received her long-awaited call from the adoption agency telling her the details of their new daughter and delivering her picture to them. I'm so happy for them and proud! The rest of July will be spent staying close to home and, hopefully, catching up on some writing. So hard to do that when school is in session!
May 8, 2005 - Mother's Day! I will be presenting the message in the morning worship service at Jarrett United Methodist Church in Elkview, WV then singing with my family, The Warrens, in the evening service at New Beginnings Church of the Nazarene in Pinch, WV. We welcome you to come and join us if you are near. Here's a clip of our performance of Set Free.
May 1, 2005 - Church, St. Clairsville, OH. I'm looking forward to rejoining my friend, Linda Scaggs, for their evening revival service. Linda and I spent time together at the annual Upper Ohio Valley School of Gospel Music from '98-01 and I've been asked to bring the special music and be the guest pianist. If you're in the area, come and join us and may God bless us all as we celebrate Him!
April 30, 2005 - Brenda Jones and the New Beginnings Church of the Nazarene in Pinch, WV will sponsor a Celebration of Adoption that will help with finances in bringing Baby Kyria home. Your prayers and support are very important to us. Thank you!
March 2005 -The new Southern Gospel Convention-style books are out. Look for Set Free in Joy Forever published by Cumberland Valley Music Company
and Catching A Glimpse of Heaven, and Lord, I Stand Here In Your Presence in Freedom published by Gospel Heritage Music. They are my newest writing efforts.
March 2005 - If you are in the process of locating a choir song for Mother's Day, check out Tribute To A Mother's Love at Sibelius.
March 2005 - Visit my sister's new webpage at www.wvjonesfamily.com She's the one who inspired me to redesign my own and she and her family are into some exciting things. Keep them in your prayers as they prepare to adopt a little girl from China due this summer.
March 2005 - Welcome to my new webpage! I hope you find it a little more cozy and personal. Thanks for stopping by.
