DAAAAANG!

East Bernard-42, KC-0. High School football season is finally over! Kinda sad to see them close out the season that way, but I don't feel too terribly bad, because.......

My mother-in-law not only won us tickets to the concert, but also won the grand prize of twenty additional tickets, dinner at the venue and a "special guest" scheduled to appear (we're guessing that's meeting the band). Next Friday is sounding more and more fun than the one before it! We have two days of school before our much-needed break and I'm also doing music at church this Sunday. Keep me in your prayers that I'll make it through to see this concert!

Hey, Somebody's Gotta Win

I bet you thought this post was going to be on another subject, didn't you?

My mother-in-law is a fantastic lady. She was trying to do something fun, silly, and nice for Kayla and I while we were in Houston this next week for the holiday other than making us Thanksgiving dinner. She knows that I've been working really hard these past few weeks and Kayla and I have not had a lot of time together due to that, so she heard on the Christian radio station in Houston that they were having a contest to give away tickets to a Casting Crowns concert that was going to happen while we were there, and had us call as well as call herself to try and win us tickets. Anyway, she called us tonight and told us to listen to the radio via the internet and try for the tickets, at the same time she was going to try for them as well. Well, Kayla gets on and is sitting on hold for five or so minutes before the line goes dead and she assumes that it wasn't our time to win. Two minutes later, Kayla's mom calls and tells us she's won the tickets for us. So, as long as the football team can manage to lose tomorrow (everyone is still praying, right?), Kayla and I will be on our way to a concert at the end of next week!

Quick update on the game, we're playing that great Texas powerhouse: East Bernard? We're playing in Victoria, TX. which is again a little over an hour away. I have to drive the trailer because my counterpart has to drive the bus. And, it's an early release day because apparently everyone is either involved in or is going to the game. I'll keep you all posted!

Dang...

Badgers-38, Randolph-28. 31 points scored in the first half, first touchdown on the second play of the game (after we deferred!)

And to add insult to injury, there were sustained winds around 30 mph. Our tuba player actually popped himself in the mouth with his mouthpiece because the wind blew his instrument backwards.

So now, everyone is clear what I need you to do, right? Pray that the Badgers DON'T win this next Friday. I'm in need of a full Thanksgiving break in the worst way, and won't get it if these guys can't get their act together and not play like a team! More updates as they happen!

Two Topics, A Long Time Coming

I know it's been a while since I updated this thing, but hopefully after I finish this blog it will be a little clearer as to why it's taken so long. So, let's back up to the last post for a moment: I'm happy to report there were no injuries or major issues with the entire band program performing Friday night two weeks ago. Everyone seemed to have a good time and the best part of all is I didn't have to worry about a marimba. The following Sunday kicked off a whirlwind week for the Jones clan. I led music on Sunday morning at the church here, and we actually did a closing chorus that not only wasn't in the hymnal, but also had guitar accompaniment! I'm telling you I thought that I was shaking things up a little, but it would still be manageable. Little did I realize that the choir and accompanist also didn't know the first hymn I chose, which is a favorite of mine. It was an interesting morning, but it didn't really compare to the evening when Kayla and I along with a few other people helped to relaunch the youth group at our little church. We did four praise choruses, used powerpoints, and did a NOOMA video (can you tell I have just recently learned how to use the link button?). We had a great night and had ten kids show up. The following Monday continued our whirlwind week and I was out of town all day from 7:15 AM until 11:15 PM at the state marching competition with about 25 high school and middle school students. An exhausting day if ever there was one. Tuesday was a bit of a break because all the classes finished the movie we started on Monday due to the absence of band directors, but Kayla and Brenna went to San Antonio because of errands that needed to be run, so we didn't get to see one another even though we have finally reached the end of marching practices on Tuesdays. Wednesday was a normal day, except Kayla and Brenna came back into town around 5 o'clock in the evening and had to be at church at 5:30 in time for Kayla to work, so we had a hurried meal as a family (the first in almost a week) and they rushed out the door. Once the program Kayla was working in concluded, I met with the guy who's helping me with the youth music from 7:30-9 to work on music for the following Sunday night. Thursday, I had a junior high game, which meant that not only was I in charge of over 50 middle school students to play at the game, but we as a school were also on pep rally schedule which means my lunch period is eliminated to make time for it. I was able to get home to eat, but it was during Brenna (and Kayla's) nap time. Friday was of course the high school game, which was over an hour away, so I didn't get home until after midnight. Which concluded our whirlwind week, and leads into the second topic.


I was able to spend a wonderfully restful weekend at home with my girls this past weekend. We didn't do anything but bum around the house. Kayla and I rented a movie for Sunday night and I really just enjoyed spending time with Kayla and playing with Brenna. I really miss my girls and I hate sometimes that I have chosen a job that keeps me from them for such long stretches of time. I'm telling you, Thanksgiving holidays can't come soon enough. The only possible fly in that ointment is if the football team keeps winning and we have to play the Friday after Thanksgiving. So, everyone pray that the KC football team loses just one more time! Not to sound against the school or anything, but I haven't had a break since Labor Day! Next up: Three weeks until the Christmas Concert. It's also a double whammy because we have two concerts in two days, one is a concert in the city park for the community and the next day is a concert for the band program. Last year these concerts were a week apart, but this year they fall on consecutive days. I'll try and do better about keeping this thing updated, because I know how much you guys miss it when I am unable to!