the wait is over

I wait for you, O LORD;
you will answer,
O Lord my God.
Psalm 38:15

Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.
Psalm 27:14

The wait is over. On Monday, March 10, I was sworn into the United States Army. My job title (MOS) Army Bandsperson 42R. We are so excited!!! And really anxious to see where the Lord will send us and what He going to do with us.

But I have to admit it is bittersweet.
It did not think it would be hard to resign from my job, but it was. So far everyone has been very supportive and think it is pretty cool. I think the hardest thing so far was to tell my high school band kids the news. I was barely able to hold back the tears. They really annoy the mess out of me sometimes, but I have grown attached to them. I have never allowed myself to get too close to my students, but this was a different situation. They actually applauded me when I told them I made it into the Army Band as if they were proud of me. And they asked if I would stay in touch and come back to visit. I love these kids as if they were our own...thank God I don't have to take them home though.

My ship date is June 24th. I will be going to BCT (Basic Combat Training) at Fort Jackson, South Carolina for nine weeks. After BCT I will go to AIT (Advanced Individual Training) at the Army School of Music in Norfolk, Virginia for six months. After AIT I will go to my permanent station. At this time I do not know my permanent station, but we should find out the choices pretty soon. As soon I know I will post more news about our station.

Thanks again for all your prayers and please continue to pray for us as we begin this next adventure in our lives.

a little closer to an answer?

Here is a quick update.
After the audition, the local recruiter sent my medical records to MEPS for approval. I just found out that the surgery may be waived (which means approved). Now they want me to get another hearing test and note from the doc that I am fit for service. It sounds as if this is it!!

However, this is what I have been concerned about the most. For about a month I have been having trouble with sinus and allergies which is causing stuffy ears. I am concerned that my hearing will suffer from this and that my hearing test results will be below the minimum standards.

Please pray that God will take care of all the little details and show us His will for this situation and our future.

it's finally over

Finally after three months or so of practicing the audition is over!!

I passed the audition, but was disappointed with my performance.

There are three sections to the audition a prepared piece of my choosing (40%), 12 major scales and 12 minor scales in all three forms by memory (10%), and sight-reading (50%). I did pretty good on the prepared piece, but not as good as I should have. I did great on the sight-reading, not perfect yet. However, I bombed on the scales. I literally could not play some of them. They only select a few of the 24 total scales. I did ok on the major scales, but could not play any of the minor scales he asked for. I was so angry and frustrated it was as if someone deleted them from my memory. Oh well it is over now and I will probably stop beating myself up by tomorrow sometime. The best news of all is that I can take a break from practicing for a little while, but if I get in I am determined to get to the Army School of Music in a few months and know those stinking scales.

Thanks to everyone who has been praying for me. I know God was with us on this adventure and now some more waiting to see what MEPS says about my ear and nose jobs. By the way MEPS stands for Military Entrance Processing Station. MEPS is the final step in the process. The doctors at MEPS will determine whether or not I am fit for military service. I am little nervous, because most of them are Navy docs - just kidding I think.

Please continue to pray for us. I am not sure where the Lord will lead us next, but I am convinced that I need a break from teaching. I will keep you posted on the progress.

By the way Mr. Strawberry and Mrs. Orange were unable to go on our San Antonio trip with us. They are house sitting while we are away.

it's taco time!!

I am not sure what that means, but it sounds cool!! Each February Misty and I go to San Antonio for the annual TMEA convention. (TMEA stands for Texas Music Educators Association)
At the end of each day when it is time to close the HUGE exhibit hall, they announce the closing and say "it's taco time". Not sure why they say this, but it does make everyone hungry and we go eat, sometimes we even eat tacos! When I say this convention is huge that is an understatement. Last year over 15,000 music teachers attended the convention. The attendees of this convention include band, choir, orchestra, teachers from ranging from elementary to college level and thousands of elementary music teachers walking around with their little canvas bags. Although this is probably really interesting for all of you, this is not the point of this post.

While in San Antonio, I will be talking with the US Army Band again. On Friday I will audition for the second time. After the audition I will have 45 days to process and be sworn in. So we will just have to wait and see if the Lord is leading me in this direction. I would like to ask for your prayers during this time. Of course this what I really want, but my prayer is that I simply follow God's plan not mine.

I'll keep you posted on what happens next!

A little side note, I think that Mr. Strawberry and Mrs. Orange will be attending TMEA this year. Stay posted for their adventures in San Antone!!