Back to Work...in a New Way

I've spent the last six months applying for teaching jobs in Missouri.  I've taught for a total of six years in Missouri and Kansas, and never in my wildest imagination would I have thought that it would be so unbelievably hard to get hired.  I love, love, love being a stay-at-home-mom, but my husband and I knew that this would only be a one year thing, and now it's time to go back to work.  I have wanted to move home to Springfield for 4 years now, and finally, Ryan was ready to go too.  (I guess having three kids makes it easier when you think that you might have family close who want to help out some.)  So, I got to work applying and e-mailing and even visiting schools and principals with resumes.  I probably applied for at least 60 positions in the Springfield/Branson area.  It was ridiculous.  I would completely obsess over looking for new openings that had posted.  I had two, count them TWO interviews before this week.  So, things have changed....

Up to this point, I had refused to put in any applications in Kansas, because I felt like that would be giving up on moving.  Since nothing had been happening at all (and to appease my father-in-law), I decided to apply for a position in Independence for a kindergarten Title teacher.  I went to that interview on Monday, and the whole way there (in the pouring rain and hail), I had a conversation with myself and God about how I didn't want this job, I was just going because it would be good interview practice. 

On Tuesday, I went to an interview in Hollister, Missouri (by Branson).  Now, this isn't where I would have chosen to be, but I figured even 45 minutes from my parents was better than two hours.  It was for a fifth grade position, and I felt it went well.  After this interview I was very torn.  I talked with my friends and family, I cried, I prayed, I stressed over the waiting for answers.  The answer came quickly....

On Tuesday evening, I got a job offer from Hollister.  I asked if I could please have the evening to talk with my husband.  As soon as I hung up the phone, I told my mom, "I really want that job in Independence."  It was as clear to me as if it was written in the sky.  So, I talked with my friends and family, I cried, I prayed, and I stressed over the waiting for answers, and then I slept.  A good, restful, peaceful night's sleep like I haven't had in months. 

On Wednesday morning, I was on the phone praying with my friend, Christy, when I got the call from Independence.  I was asked, "Well, would you still like to be a part of our school?" and I said, "YES!"  I could not stop smiling.  God had changed my heart.  I never in a million years would have thought that I could want to stay in Coffeyville for another year, but I am so happy!  Even more than that, before I felt like we were forcing the move home, and now I have an absolute peace that we will be there, just not now.  When we do go, it will be on our terms, and not in two weeks before school starts as I frantically search for preschool and childcare (which I already have set up here). 

I'm so thankful that I was offered both jobs, so that staying here was my choice and not just because I wasn't offered a job in Missouri.  I am so excited for the opportunity that I am going to have in this new teaching position.  I am looking forward to having a drive with my Brennon every day as he will be going to school with me.  I'm thankful that God saw us through the entire process even when things seemed horrible.  It was in that darkness that I could hear him speak to me the loudest.  This time he said, "Erin, I know that your heart's desire is to be back home, but for right now, I have something even better planned for you." 

I know it seems crazy and unexpected.  It's totally different than what I thought would make me so happy, but please be happy with us.  Don't get me wrong, there's a part of me that's sad that my trips home will be on weekends still, and I want to be closer to my parents and family and friends here, but while we're here, we are not going to spend the next year wishing our time away.  We've been so blessed with great jobs, good friends, a wonderful church, and so many other things.  That remains true no matter where we are.  And for now, Go Bulldogs!

Lessons I Learned in Pre-K

Tomorrow is my son, Brennon's, last day in pre-K.  Or maybe not.  I don't know for sure.  See, my boy is a summer baby, and I know that by now we should have decided what's going to be in his future, but we haven't.  Even so, whether or not we decide to put Brennon in kindergarten or another year of pre-K in the fall, he's still ending his first year of school tomorrow.  That's a milestone no matter how you look at it.  During this year, Brennon has learned so much more than I could have imagined, but I've learned quite a bit as well. 

First of all, I've learned or rather, had confirmed that time flies by.  This sounds so ridiculous, because there isn't a parent out there that doesn't say this at some time, but really, it's unbelievable to me that the boy for whom we waited and waited to join our family, is almost five years old.  He speaks like a little man and he is a little man.  I love this little man with all my heart, and I just hope that he knows that I treasure the time that I have with him.  I'm so thankful that he's been trusted to me.

I've learned sometimes God sends people into your life through your children.  My friend, Jenifer and I knew each other before the beginning of the school year.  We were happy that our kids were in the same class, and we even made small talk on the first day of class while they played puzzles at the same table. We hoped they would become good friends, but we had no idea that the two of us would become the best of friends. As Brennon & Serenity became "boyfriend and girlfriend", we found that we loved spending time together as friends with our kiddos more than we could've known.

I learned that he's not going to learn everything from me or from the classroom. Sometimes I'll ask Brennon where he learned something, and he'll tell me from Peppa Pig or from hearing you. The other day, he told me he learned the right way to hug from watching daddy and I hug in the kitchen. This obviously wasn't something we set about to teach him, it was just something he learned from our day to day life. The opportunity for him to learn something is always there, even if I am not always ready to take it. From teaching, I've always heard children are like sponges and may soak everything up, and it is so so true

I learned that relationships formed at an early age, even those outside of the family, are so very important. Tonight, I tried to hold back tears as Brennon told me at bedtime that he did not want to leave his friends and his class. He wanted to go to pre-K with them forever. He didn't want to think about having a new teacher next year, because Miss Kelly and Miss Connie are supposed to be his teachers...forever. He had an amazing first experience in school, and for that I will always be thankful.