I have a J-O-B!!!!

Sooooo...big news!! I now have a job for the upcoming school year :0) And I couldn't be more excited! Let me tell you the neat story of how God provided this amazing opportunity....it's a good one!

So rewind to last week. I had interviewed with a school in this same district a few weeks ago. Well, they called last Thursday to offer me that job and gave me only 24 hours to decide (given that I still had several interviews and a job fair scheduled, that wasn't a lot of time to give me to weigh my options). I just didn't feel a peace about accepting it and it wasn't really the type of Special Ed job that I wanted (it was a Resource/Inclusion type job). The principal advised me that the district can be hard to get into (true) and that the job I wanted (LIFE Skills) was usually given to more experienced teachers (also true). However, I just couldn't escape the feeling that God was really calling me to teaching something like LIFE Skills. Plus, the Resource/Inclusion jobs are plentiful so if I didn't take this one, I knew there would be more because of the dire need for them. So, I turned it down, knowing full well God would provide.

Saturday morning, I went to the job fair for this same district. In one word, it was overwhelming. Thousands of people vying for a job in the district all milling around this huge (but not huge enough) arena. Since I was looking for a very specific job, there were only a few with openings so I just went to those tables. However, some did not have a job opening for a LIFE Skills teacher (I had been sent by HR there - I guess HR was misinformed) and some had already filled their opening. However, at this one table, I waited in line to talk to the people manning the table and told them what I wanted. The lady sent me right on up to interview (they do on-site interviews in the bleachers of this arena). The interview itself went fairly well and I really like the teachers I was interviewing with. But, I kinda knew, realistically speaking, they would probably hire someone else with more experience under their belt. So, after milling around for a while longer, I left the fair, feeling somewhat discouraged and wondering why I even came. I also was frustrated that I had stayed up late working on something like 30 portfolios to hand out and was returning home with about 25 of them. Anyways, I went on my merry way and drove to Austin to meet up with people from church there for our Extremely Short Term Missions Trip (another post).

We were eating dinner at Kerbey Lane (SO YUMMY!) that night. I heard my phone ring but didn't get to it in time. It wasn't a number I knew, so I just decided to let the person leave a message. Well, I listened to the message and almost fell out of my chair! He said his teachers really liked me and that he was recommending me for the position! I had also been told to expect to hear something either way in about a week or so so the fact that he called that night shocked me too. What the recommending bit means is that he tells HR that he wants to hire me and then they check all my paperwork and background check and other stuff and then they have to call and officially extend me the offer (hence the reason I waited until today to tell you this story). I did accept this morning with a full peace that this is where I need to be (despite upcoming job interviews that I will now have to turn down/cancel). I had been told by many many people that if I could get in to the district, especially in Special Ed, I needed to take it.

But I have more to tell you about the ways God has provided this perfect job for me. I had several criteria that I really wanted met, but knew realistically that I might not be able to find the perfect school to meet all my criteria. Well, God answered every single prayer about those things! The first is the actual position of LIFE Skills teacher - I wanted it and felt called to it but knew it might be out of my reach until I had more experience, especially for this district. I'm not sure what prompted them to take a chance on me, but I am glad they are! The second is the demographic makeup of the school. It is a Title 1 (which means low income - a certain percentage of the school is on free/reduced lunch) school. Now in other parts of Houston, that is not uncommon. But in this district, it is the exception rather than the rule. The rest of the district is fairly affluent. I worked at a Title 1 school last year as an aide and really liked it. Also, if I work at a Title 1 campus for 5 years, I get loan forgiveness. Yep, you read that right! That means loans I have from my last year at Baylor and all of my grad school (mostly in loans) would be paid for. So yay for that! Next, the location is perfect. I wanted to be able to live in a good part of town that would place me equally distant from church and work and neither would be a chore to drive to. This school, where it is located is perfect and I will probably be able to live in the middle of the two and only drive 10-15 minutes to each! And against the flow of traffic!!! So cool. Another neat thing about this school is that my mom's best friend (who now lives in Kuwait) was a first grade teacher there for a few years and loved the school, so I know the school has a good reputation. Lastly, many of the elementary schools in this district have 900-1000 students and are overcrowded. Yuck. This school only has 450 students! So great.

So that is my wonderful story of how God provided a job for me - not just the minimum - but did immeasurably more than I could ask for (He said He would, so I don't know why I had any question about it). Anyways, I couldn't pass on sharing this info with you and the marvelous way God has provided for me in this. AMEN!

God bless!

10 Things

So, lately a lot of people have been making lists of things that people may not know about them. So I'm going to jump on that bandwagon and do the same. So here goes...

1. I hate tomatoes, fish and bell peppers. Those are probably the three things in this world that I refuse to eat (I have tried them though...). There are other foods I don't particularly care for but will eat if I don't have a choice. Those three though, I refuse! Like if they bring me a sandwich with tomato on it and I asked for no tomato, I will return it and ask for a new one because simply removing the offending tomato leaves tomato juice on the sandwich and I can still taste it. Normally I'm not that ridiculous of a customer... Funny thing though, I think all three of these foods are beautiful and look tasty and wish I liked them. Weird, I know.
2. I can read for hours on end. Literally, hours. And I've done this since I was really little.
3. I will jump at any chance to travel. Like even if it is just a weekend trip to San Antonio. I just love going out and doing and seeing things. Something about traveling just makes me feel excited and alive.
4. Along with the travel, I absolutely love to fly! Just going to the airport excites me. Some people are airplane phobics, but not me!
5. The two things I am most passionate about in life are children with special needs and ministry to women and girls. There is just something that tugs at my heart about both of those things.
6. There are three things in life that I feel like I can never have enough of and will always find a way to justify the purchase of a new one: bags (purses, travel bags, totes, etc.), blankets/quilts and jackets. I've gotten a lot better but whenever I walk by these things, I get excited and have to talk myself out of it.
7. I love to start crafty projects but have difficulty finishing them. If only you knew how many half completed craft projects I have sitting around.
8. I love to sing at the top of my lungs but pity the person who is around when I do so. I wish I could belt things out and people would enjoy it, but that is not my gift in life, so far now, my life as a diva will be limited to my car and my shower.
9. I am a list maker. Post it notes are my best friend. If I have several things to be done or several things I need to purchase, a list will be made. When I was in college, everday I would make a list in my first class of the day of what needed to be done that day. Lists calm me down and help me to prioritize. If I don't make them, I get very overwhelmed.
10. Wherever I go, I must have a sweater/sweatshirt/jacket with me. I get cold often and am miserable when I am cold. So even if it is the middle of summer in Houston and 100 degrees, I will carry one of those things with me in case I am somewhere cold.

Is Something Wrong? Maybe...

I'm just gonna be brutally honest for a sec here. Pardon my dust...

So, since there is a significant amount of mental illness (bipolar, depression and the like) in my family, I always feel like I'm living under this threat that I may too have something wrong. I mostly just take that with a grain of salt but then sometimes I start thinking about and really wondering if something truly is wrong. Since I'm fairly familiar with some of the manifestations of these illnesses, I know what to look for. But I need a second opinion (I know some of you out there know a bit about this topic...). I'm thinking it may or may not be a mild form of depression, but am not sure if it is permanent or temporary and if it is a true mental illness or a misaligned spiritual attitude. Here's what I am seeing...

1. Excessive sleeping and not feeling like I can ever get enough - I've never been like this up until this point.
2. Apathy in some areas of my life - like working especially - I will find any excuse not to substitute and don't even care that I am losing what little money I earn (but need!) over the deal.
3. Some degree of anxiety.
4. Bouts of extreme frustration over small things - example: tonight I was making dinner and could not find the right seasoning that I had just purchased last week - I nearly had a melt down but talked myself out of it before I started crying.
5. Sensitivity - like emotional sensitivity - this is to some degree part of how I am wired but than there are times when I know I am being hypersensitive and all around ridiculous.

Now here's the thing too. These aren't constants. They kind of ebb and flow and I never know when they are coming.

So what are your thoughts? Is there something truly wrong that I need to seek professional help for? Or am I afflicted with a sinful attitude and need to break the cycle of sin I am in? I really am baffled so any advice/experience you might have would be helpful.

So enough about that junk. In exciting news, I have an interview this week with a really neat charter school! I am going to Austin this weekend on an Extremely Short Term Mission Trip that I helped to plan (one of my favorite pastimes - planning things!) so I am pumped about that. I have a job fair on Saturday with a really good district. My dog is really cute.

That is all for now! God bless!

Konichiwa!

So big news! In an unexecpected turn of events, I will be going to Japan for 5 days in May! How very exciting is that!??! My dad is going there on a business trip and I am accompanying him there. Every time he goes on a business trip, we jokingly talk about how I should come with him because he knows I love to fly and to travel and always jump at the chance to do so. Well this time, instead of remaining a joke, it became serious and now I am going. I will digitizing (is that even a word??) all of the photos from our whole life (like we are talking before I was born up until the time my dad discovered a digital camera) and organizing them all into albums and such, so Japan is my payment for doing this. They were going to pay me for doing the photos but I suggested that Japan be my payment instead (maybe not the wisest financial decision, but I figure travel now while I can and worry about earning money later). So yay! That is my super exciting news for the day!
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In other news, I have a great book for all you dog lovers out there (and even those who aren't so fond of man's best friend). The name of the book is Marley and Me. It is by John Grogan. So I've never cried at reading a book before. I bawled in this book. It was soooo good and really captures the spirit of why we love our furry friends so very much. Just read it. Trust me, you won't regret it.

Learning to Like Wine

So up to this point, I really haven't been much of a drinker. Not because I'm opposed to it (in moderation of course) but mainly because aside from really expensive fruity drinks, I don't really like the taste of alcohol.

However, I have recently stumbled upon not 1, but 2 different wines that I actually like. The first, Chelsea shared with me. It's called a Spatlese (sp?)...it's a sweet German wine that is very tasty.

The second, which I didn't think I would like but my brother convinced me to give it a try, is White Zinfandel (another sweet wine of course...). I had it at my cousin's wedding this past weekend and it was very good!

So now I can order more than just diet coke and water when out with friends! I feel kinda like I'm getting older and less like I'm 8 years old. Not completely, but this is a step up! Haha... anyways just wanted to share, especially for those of you who share in my former disdain for wine. Give it a try friends!

Beantown!

I think it is hilarious that they call Boston "Beantown". I'm not sure why. Maybe it is because I think the word "bean" is a funny word. Just say it. It just kinda makes you chuckle. And then to call this huge, cultural, socially aware city by it. Anyways...on to my fabulous week there! Sorry this post has been so delayed. I love to blog. I really do. But for whatever reason, even though I have a million ideas to write about currently, I can't seem to make myself do it. Go figure. Anyways.

I left very early Tuesday morning with my new pink traveling backpack (I am going on several trips in the somewhat near future so decided it was necessary - and it was pink) and my majorly overpacked suitcase (never doing that again...I thought I was getting over my overpacking disease!) I'm not kidding you...for a four day visit, I think I packed enough for 2 weeks! Chelsea found me at baggage claim and off we were on our grand adventure! It started off with a bang trying to get all my excuse my french, crap, loaded off and on the three buses/subways that it takes to get to their apartment, walk with it all the way to the apartment (which was a lengthy walking distance from the T stop - especially w/a heavy suitcase) and then up 4 flights of very narrow stairs. Chels was a great pal and never complained and helped me lug that baby up. Oy. After a light lunch, she took me over to see some of the shops at Coolidge Corner and to Trader Joe's - a really cool supermarket that is like Whole Foods but way more affordable. Then we came home and rested a little and waited for Jeremy to come home. We made hot dogs for dinner. After that, we went to their pastor's house for a baby dedication and party. They have some really sweet people at their church. I really enjoyed putting some faces with names I had been hearing since they moved here.

On Wednesday, we woke up and even though it was cold and rainy, we wanted to make the best of our time and headed out. We went down to Government Center and saw some of the sights on the Freedom Trail. Chelsea, having been on it several times, knew all the cool facts, even the little ones that not a lot of people know, was a great tour guide despite the yucky weather. After walking around some and seeing the inside of Quincy Market (this really cool famous hall that has been turned into a food court, but a really nice one with some neat restaurants), we decided to trek over to Little Italy (the Italian neighborhood in Boston) for some lunch and some real Italian food - not Olive Garden. We went to this restaurant that Chelsea had been to before. SO YUMMY! I had this yummy saffron risotto with shrimp in it. Boston has this thing called restaurant week and we so happened to be there during it. Basically what that means is that the fancy restaurants around town pick their best meals and put it on a set menu for like $20-$30. You get like four courses too. So Chelsea, for $20 got four courses. She got a salad (I think it was bruschetta maybe?), an appetizer (don't remember), a pasta (some really good pasta in a tomato based sauce) and some very yummy stuffed chicken breast (I know it was all yummy b/c she let me try it - don't worry, I let her try mine too!). After that, we walked around a bit more and then decided that the weather was too much for us (well me, mainly) and headed back to the apartment where we rested and watched Rachael Ray. I don't remember what we did for dinner that night but after dinner, Chelsea had a special treat for me. There is the fabulous dessert place called Finale near her apartment. For my Christmas present (better late than never...and I'm always in the mood for Christmas!) she took me there. I got this rich and gooey molten chocolate cake (think Chili's but better!) and she had Creme Brulee. Soooo yummy.

The next day, the weather was a little more pleasant. So we headed out to see Fenway! So cool. I'm not the biggest baseball fan, but I do like the sport and have a pretty good appreciation for it's history. We actually had the opportunity to walk right on the field through a construction entrance but figured that if we got in trouble for it, Jeremy wouldn't be too pleased about bailing his wife and her friend out of jail. After that, we walked to Government Center and went to this shopping center. We browsed through Barnes and Noble (I could spend hours in that store!) and then ate at the food court where I got some deeeee-licious clam chowder complete with a bread bowl and everything. After that, we walked around some more seeing the Boston Marathon finish line and took a picture pretending to run across it (like anyone would ever believe that I could run that sucker...haha), saw the library (which is more like a museum) and then she took me to this fantastic gem of a store called H&M. Too bad the funds are low b/c I could have gone wild in a store like that! We then headed over to meet some of her friends to go to Bible study. They are doing a Beth Moore study (isn't she fantastic??). It was really neat to get to meet these women and know more about the people Chels is always telling me about. Really neat ladies with some amazing, authentic faith. After that, we went home and ordered Thai food for dinner. You can't go wrong with Thai food! If I had to eat one type of food for the rest of my life, I think it would be Thai food.

On Friday, we went back down to Government Center and saw some of the sights we had missed on our previous bad weather day (such as the Boston Massacre sight, where the Declaration of Independence was first read and the like...) We ate lunch at Quincy Market (sooo good...even Rachael Ray at there for one of her shows!) We also went to the fruit and vegetable market which is so neat. I would love to live in a place that had that. Chelsea got some stuff for her and Jeremy and I got two things called pluots (a cross between a plum and an apricot). They were so sweet and delicious! I have tried to find them here in Houston, but have yet to discover where they are hiding. We also went over and walked through the Holocaust Memorial. It was very neat, moving and sobering. I'm a big history nut and especially am intrigued with WWII and Holocaust history. Sometime during this day we also went and saw Harvard, which was pretty cool. We also found a really neat bookstore there and browsed through there for a good long time. After our fun day out, we headed back to her apartment so I could pack up and sadly leave me sweet friends and fly back to Texas.

So all in all, it was a fabulous trip not just because I was getting to travel but because I got to see two of my very favorite people! Below is just some of the pictures of my trip...enjoy! And so sorry for the month delay in the post! I'm horrible! And that's also the reason some of the details/days are mixed up because I have now forgotten what order they happened in.