Halfway There!

It's crazy that the last post I wrote was when I first arrived here in Snowflake, and now I'm almost halfway done with my student teaching! Time flies when you're busy! And I am certainly kept busy!
I guess I'll start by updating everyone on what exactly I do here. My schedule starts with me waking up around 5:45AM and going to the High School. I work with four choirs there and they are a riot! I am definitely learning a lot! The choir that I am taking over for the semester is a 90 person (you heard right- 90!) choir mostly made up of Freshmen. Sound like a disaster? Well, that's not far from the truth. Nah, they're not that bad and I just love them! They talk a little too much, but they sound great and are already pretty prepared for their concert that's still not for a couple of weeks! I teach and conduct one or two songs in all of the other choirs as well.
I also teach the Junior High Women's Choir every other day since they are on block scheduling. I LOVE this choir! They are so sweet and they work hard! It's pretty small (21 students) so classroom management is WAY easier than with my 90 student mixed choir.
The last choir I work with is the 4th-6th grade after school choir. These kids are adorable but SUCH a handful! And right at the end of my long day too! While I love them all very much and they are doing a great job, I have definitely learned that elementary music might not be my thing. I guess I'll just have to wait and see.
After the Intermediate (4th-6th grade) choir I go back to the high school to teach voice lessons for an hour. I don't charge very much so that I can give every student that wants to learn the opportunity. I have 15 students with 2 other students that want to start. It's so hard to say no, but I've got to put a limit on it somehow. 15 students is already pushing it and sometimes I get maybe a half an hour to myself to eat and sit down at night.
To add to my musical responsibilities I was called as the ward music chairperson for my singles branch, which includes- you guessed it- directing the branch choir! I'm actually really excited about it, although I may have a music overload. Church music and performing is my favorite because the Gospel is my first passion above everything else, and it is the Lord who gave us these gifts and talents. I've always believed firmly that the more we use our talents to serve Him and bless His children, the more He will help them to grow and improve. I have seen this happen again and again in my own life.
Here are some other fun times that have happened in the last 8 weeks:

• Starting my mission papers! WOOHOO!
• Singing opera to my students as a reward for them when they are good (even at the HS with my mixed choir)- They love it!
• Going to home football games and seeing all of my students attending and playing in the games. The cool thing about being in a small town is that I see my students EVERYWHERE! And they always make a point to say hi or give me a hug.
• Experiencing Bugling for the first time. For other city folk like me- this is where you go out into the middle of the woods and use hunting bugles to call elk to you and see how close you can get them to come. It's actually kind of scary but more fun than I expected.
• Becoming totally used to being called Miss Hatch- or sometimes Mrs. Hatch :) They often assume I'm married
• Having students want to set me up with guys that they know or their brothers (unfortunately they never actually follow through)
• Finding 6 spiders in my apartment! That's a lot right? And I was brave and killed them all by myself.
• Discovering the most amazing Mexican restaurant located in Chevron gas station. mmmm....
• Getting to know all of my students and letting them know that they are worth something and listening to what they have to say. Working with an assortment of Heavenly Father's children has been my favorite part of teaching.

Not every day is wonderful and I have had my share of break downs and days that make me question if this is really what I want to do with the rest of my life. However, I know that I am in the place I'm supposed to be and that is a very comforting thought. There are also good days and moments in teaching that help to make up for the bad ones- like when a student gives you a hug, or leaves you a nice note.
I am surprised that I am starting to love living in a small town and I have come to love all of the people that live here. I look forward to our upcoming concerts and the rest of my student teaching semester.
PS- I promise to post pictures as soon as I take some :)