Thoughts about life

As I sit here, trying to figure out why I am so blessed, I think about all the people around me who would not feel the same.

Here is a list of things that really made me think this week.

• First day of school on Monday, how lucky I am to be a teacher, of music, in my amazing district
• How tired I can be at 11pm, seeing as how I would go to bed at 1am this summer
• The wonderful parents I have to support my program at school from my booster meeting
• The focus on money and jobs, that the RNC portrayed instead of the American values that make our country great such as a strong faith in God and a strong home and education for our youth
• My aunt passing away last night
• My relationship with the people around me

Here I am, a young, healthy, wife, fur-mamma, daughter, sister, teacher, friend, blogger, but above all of all those things, here in this world.

Last night, my rather young (in her late 40's) aunt died of cancer. She left behind an 9 year old son and she will be dearly missed.

For a year now, she had been battling cancer, and had the brightest spirit even at her death bed. I was not the closest niece she had, but I knew she loved me. She was a strong Christian woman and a wonderful mother. 

This was my first week back at school, and though it was busy and tiring, it was also the first time I felt appreciated and excited to teach in a long time. All teachers say the third year you are at the same school is your best, are all right! I finally feel established enough that I don't have to worry as much. 

This week has been physically and mentally draining, but nonetheless a great reminder that life is a wonderful gift form God, and that things are not always perfect, we are not perfect. Sometimes we loose friends, things, and even people for reasons we cannot explain. All we can do is have faith that God had a reason to take them away.

I received this book in the mail today which will hopefully help me cope with the death of my aunt, and give me the connection I need with my Lord that I have been missing for a few months now. 

All of our lives are busy, and events happen to us that we do not expect, but we can be sure of one thing, God is always with us. He is always guiding us in our everyday choices, and in our patience, understanding, and relationships with others. We must not be so concentrated in the bad, the material, the uncontrollable, we must focus on the love Jesus has for us, even when things go wrong. 

I hope that you all had a wonderful week full of love, grace, and, hope. 

Love,

~Mrs. S

Fall Jackets

After visiting J Crew and getting an urge to buy a red blazer like Duchess Kate's I was disappointed when the $180.00 price tag prevented me from fulfilling the urge, until....

I found a great alternative at H&M

This number was purchased at $35.00, take that J Crew!

This jacket I found at TarGet and I am so excited about it! It fits really good, and it has the pointy sleeves that I've been wanting to sport. Not bad for $39.99 :)

What do y'all think?

~Mrs. S

Back to School

First off, if you are a FB friend reading this, thanks for stopping by!

I have posted some of my previous "Music and Life" posts on FB and had a good response, but I neglected to post any from this blog, because I was waiting for the right time. I have come to love this blog, and the community of bloggers who follow along and I wasn't sure how the FB world would respond. This is my internet home away from FB, and I'd like to keep it that way, but I want my FB family and friends to know the "The Simmonds in the Suburbs" exists as a way to keep up with my life in a much different light than would normally be portrayed on FB. Please feel free to navigate around the site and don't be afraid to leave comments :)

Ok now, back to my post, SCHOOL STARTS TOMORROW!

This will be my 5th year teaching in the public schools and I am so excited. For the first time, I feel I am ready to tackle on those kiddos and I am actually prepared. I have all my instruments organized, I have my handbooks copied and ready to go, and I have finally gotten to the point that I can go to bed early and wake up early!

The thing I am most excited about however is that I can finally see a result of all the work I do. I watch my students come to me with little to no knowledge of their instrument and I see them transform into musicians as the years go by. I love watching that happen. I see commitment from these middle school kids that lacks in adults my age. I watch kids working together to make music, better than I see congress and the senate working together to keep our country together. I am appalled by the righteousness of people who criticize me for being a teacher because of how little money I make, when in reality I make a great living. Teaching teaches me more than I teach others. I never knew how much my character would improve, how much more willing I would be to "hear your side of the story" before I made any conclusions or the capacity I have to care about others. All you teachers out there have my vote when it comes to character, you all know exactly what I'm talking about.

There are so many good things about this school year that I am looking forward to, but I am most excited that I only teach orchestra (violin, viola, cello, bass) and guitar! No more choir for this lady.
I am also looking forward to driving 13 minutes to work, as opposed to 45. I got to make the shorter drive starting in January, but it's still something I look forward to today (I made the 45 minute commute each way for a year and a half!).

I know there are a lot of fellow educators out there who need some motivation from time to time, so if anything, take this post as a reminder that...

WE ARE DEFINITELY MAKING AN IMPACT

WE ARE MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE

WE MATTER

Sometimes, it is difficult to stay motivated every day as we walk into class, so lets stick together and support each other through this blogging medium, FB, a phone call, a tweet, or an email every once in a while. I would love to hear from you throughout the school year to hear your success stories, to listen to you vent, whatever, don't be shy!

Hope you all have a great first day of school.

~Mrs. S

Saturday

This was my Saturday...

The culture of football

Growing up in the football capital of the world, you would think I grew up watching the Cowboys and learning about football all my life. Well, I remember when we won the super bowl in 92 and 93 (I think) but after that I could care less about the sport until I got to TCU my freshman year in college. 

You see, I was a music major in a school that had just graduated Ladanian Tomlinson and I had no clue who the guy even was. My high school didn't have sports, so I didn't understand the whole football thing or the significance it would later have in my life. 

Somehow, my two best friends convinced me to become a "Purple Heart" for a football player on the TCU team. We would basically be a personal cheerleader to the players and make them personalized posters  to make them feel special yada yada yada... 

I didn't mind the spirit of it, until I got to know the football players and decided they were scum-bag, ghetto, thugs in gear. I had a very negative view of them after my friends and I were consistently being harassed by them throughout campus and we had enough! 

After that, I didn't care much for football until I met Zac two years later when I got to SMU. We went to the first game of the season together (which happened to be against TCU, and we beat them!!!) and I had a blast! I met Zac the summer after he graduated, so I never got to watch him play. I always tease him that I will never know if he was any good :)

The best part was that after a whole year of being at SMU, I finally got to experience "The Boulevard". At SMU, we don't tailgate, we boulevard which really just a nickname for our tailgates on the beautiful tree lined center street of our campus. I learned that the games are not just about kicking, throwing, touchdown, but also about sharing pride in ones school and coming together as a community to support the same goal, SMU wins!

The funny thing is that Zac's last year they were 1-11!!!

When I started supporting the next season, they went 6-6, even beating TCU!

This is Zac's jersey from his senior year

After several years with no football, the mister decided he could not let it go and became a coach

We even had our wedding pictures after our ceremony taken at the SMU football stadium

It makes sense that football is in Zac's blood considering his grandpa was a coach, and his uncle and cousins are all coaches

This article was written about his Tulsa University head coach uncle who has 3 sons that also coach in the Tulsa paper the other day. His mom sent us a copy in the mail :) 

I know now that football is not just a sport. It's a lifestyle that I am happy to live and one that I see makes so many people happy, including my husband. I can't wait to go to the first game at Baylor on the 2nd and watch SMU win. So many football times to look forward to this fall.

Watch out you U of H Cougars cause we are playing y'all too!

~Mrs. S

Top 5 Tuesday

1. Paisley being cute and crawling into my student's case during a cello lesson

2. Being excited about going back to school!

3. The weather in Texas today

4. Cooking dinner at home and eating this stuff for desert

5. Finding out that McKinney is ranked #2 in both Realtor Magazine, and Money Magazine for best places to live in the country!

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/best-places/2012/snapshots/PL4845744.html

What are your top 5's this Tuesday?

~Mrs. S

Tax Free Shopping

Hello Lovelies!

I am so excited to see so many new followers, I can't wait to write a "New Followers" post about all of you! Thanks for all of your support, and I look forward to making this blog a place where we can exchange ideas, support each other, and hopefully find some happiness :)

Ok back to business.
If you don't have a Tax Free weekend in your state, you need to move... J/K

Most states participate in tax free weekend where you don't have to pay taxes on most clothing items, or back to school necessities. One of the perks of being a teacher is that I get to go back to school shopping (My husband actually lets me)!

Y'all have read about my love for the Allen Outlets considering they have my new favorite retailer J CREW, so I was definitely there the minute they opened on Friday. I got 3 items I really liked...

This super cute sweater fits great, and it will be a great go-to in the fall since my classroom gets so cold!

This is just a basic long sleeve for lounging around the house, or school with a cute necklace or scarf

My favorite of all, even though I won't be wearing this to school... Excuse the wrinkles, haven't steamed yet

So these three items, with no taxes and my %15 teacher discount came up to a total of 

$59!!! Now that's a bargain!

We headed to Nike afterwards where I found this fun throwback, 

Obviously the olympics are over, but it looks really cute on, and I love the blue collar, 

And of course there's nothing wrong with a little patriotism any time, go USA!

I would have done more shopping this weekend, but it just got a little busy.

I am surprisingly satisfied with these few items :)

Plus, I'm saving for a bbbbbbiiiigggg purchase soon that I can't wait to tell y'all about!

Did you do any tax free shopping this weekend?

~Mrs. S