Good News

I got some very good news last week. Earlier this winter I spent 30-40 hours studying for the social studies Praxis II content knowledge test, which is a requirement for a teaching liscense in Indiana. I also needed to pass the test to be admitted into Goshen College's Transition to Teaching program this fall. I took the test at Notre Dame on March 15 and had to wait 5 agonizing weeks to get the results. I was so nervous about the test because several friends have told me about friends of theirs from college who had to take the test multiple times (one person 6 times!) before they passed. It was a tough test and there were lots of questions I didn't know the answer too, but amazingly I passed! It was a huge relief.

I am taking my last Praxis test Saturday morning. This second one will be much easier than the first one. It will feel good to have everything done.

I keep moving forward with my classes. I only have my final exam left to take for my second class and I am already registered for a third class. My goal is to finish two more classes by the end of this summer.

Tennis season is in full swing now. We only have 2 1/2 weeks until sectionals. This season has been wonderful. I've really enjoyed this group of players.

Seth and I are heading over to his parents house tonight for dinner. Dave and Sue are in town this week and we are really excited about seeing them. We have missed them since they moved to Colorado at the beginning of the school year. Sophie will be so excited to see them too. She has missed doggy day care this winter and spring.

Try something new.

Well, I am getting closer and closer in my attempt to be able to appreciate all kinds of music.

Yeah, it is easy to tell people that this type of music is dumb or that type of music is crappy...but when someone tells me that they like Country, I want to be able to say "Yeah, Me and My Gang is pretty fun and Garth Brooks can craft quite the tune." Or perhaps someone says that they appreciate the lyrical quality of Metallica, and I can honestly say "Not only do I enjoy the depth of Unforgiven II, but I can headbang while singing along to Fuel."

Now, I don't generally like Country or Metallica type rock, but ther ARE good country songs and good hard rock songs...the trick is separating the quality from the crap.

Seriously, the only thing I am having trouble with is rap. Haven't even been close to finding a rap song I like. If someone would point me in the direction of a rap song I could appreciate for the poetic or musical value I would be in your debt!

So here is my latest find from genre that I don't usually love, but has produced a song that I do.



I always appreciate it when people point out new music to me (Thanks Kyle!), so if you have something for me to check out please don't hesitate to let me know!

Seth

Videos

Since I have trouble expressing myself on the blog and can't seem to get myself motivated to update people on what is going on in my life I thought maybe I could make a goal to share some of my favorite You Tube videos and put a little blurb with each video.

We'll start off with a simple little Calvin and Hobbes video. This is mostly for my Mom, as we have always shared an appreciation for Calvin and Hobbes.



Seth

Go Lady Bruins!

As my sister likes to remind me, it has been a long time since we updated our blog. This always seems to be the case during one of my tennis seasons. I am four weeks into my high school season and this week am enjoying some time off for spring break. We have already had 5 matches this year, which is a record before spring break, and I feel like I have spent the last four weeks being outside in the wind and the cold. It was an amazing change of pace this past weekend to visit Rebekah in Knoxville and experience mid 70s and sunshine. I hardly knew what to do with myself!

This tennis season has been amazing. Probably my favorite of all of the seasons I have coached since college. The group of girls on the team are hard working and fun to be with. I do not feel any sense of entitlement from them and I love how they are working hard every day to improve. Jeron Baker has been my JV coach this season and his help has been so amazing. I have valued his tennis insight and sense of humor. I already know that I will miss him desperately next spring when he moves to Hesston College to coach the men's and women's teams there!

As mentioned above, I made a quick trip to visit Rebekah this past weekend. Mom and I drove part way to Knoxville on Friday evening after my tennis match and the rest of the way Saturday morning. We spent a couple days with Rebekah enjoying the city of Knoxville, cheering on the lady Vols to their 8th national championship, watching The Office (Rebekah is a new fan!) and helping her catch up her scrapbook. I got to jog on Cherokee Blvd, shop at Reruns, eat out at amazing restaurants, and enjoy some beautiful weather. I figure my trips to Knoxville will soon come to a close. Rebekah is searching for jobs in the St. Joe area and is talking about putting her home on the market. It will be great to have her move closer to home but I will miss the trips south.

My plan for the rest of this week is to sleep in, jog with Sophie, finish up my government class (I only have 3 lessons left!) and reenergize for the second half of my tennis season! Go Bruins!