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!
Showing posts with label Thankful. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thankful. Show all posts
Friday, July 26, 2013
Sunday, November 27, 2011
A New Thanksgiving
This year, we decided to do Thanksgiving in our own home, and it was completely different than any other holiday we've ever had, but it was so very nice and I loved every minute of it. I missed seeing my family, but we were able to have a great afternoon with Mimi, Papa, Gigi, and Poppi.
In true type-A fashion, I was able to not stress at all, because I had already made a document with all my recipes I would use in the order I would use them, a to-do list with times, and a schedule of when everything had to be cooked. I know that may seem a little crazy to some people, but it makes my life so much easier! So, on Wednesday, we made pumpkin pie (which I forgot to take a picture of, but I can assure you was scrumptious nonetheless)....
and cranberry sauce....
and sweet potatoes.....
And then on Thanksgiving, while we half-heartedly watched the Macy's parade,
We made stuffing...
and green bean casserole...
and creamy corn...
and rolls, and I heated up the turkey. I didn't have to fully cook it since I decided that I didn't want to chance my first Thanskgiving as host being a disaster with a failed attempt at turkey. So, I let Honey Baked Ham do the job, and it was delicious!
Since Brennon has learned how to write so well already, he wanted to write placecards or "nametags" for everyone. Although I helped him spell, he wrote them completely on his own. He also asked me to help him figure out how to spell a message on the fridge with magnets. My sweet boy! I pray he keeps his tender heart and always wants to do special things for the people he loves.
I was so thankful for a perfect Thanksgiving and for being able to host my in-laws and grandparent in-laws. A lot has changed in the last few years for our family. We've gone through a lot, sometimes more than it seems we could handle. Maybe because of all this, it was even more special to be together on this day where we remember all the blessings that God has brought into our lives. It was a new kind of Thanksgiving, a new kind of normal, but it made me even more thankful that we are able create new traditions and enjoy them just as much as anything else we've done in the past. It gives me hope for more than just this day, but for every day in our new normal world.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
My Child As a Friend
There comes a time in the life of every mom when you see your child as a friend for the first time. I'm not talking about him being a friend to me, although I'm sure that time will come as well, but as a friend to his friends. Sure I've seen him be a great friend to his brother or play with his cousins, but it's different when he has a friend who he has chosen to be friends with.
When Brennon started pre-k, I was so excited to find out that he was in the same class as a little girl we knew named Serenity. I want Brennon to make decisions on his own, so while I gently nudged him towards her on the first day, I let him figure out on his own if she was somebody that he would want to be friends with. And he did! I would love to hear him recount his fun times at school, and he always made sure to include Serenity in his list of people he played with...sometimes she would make up the whole list. So it really shouldn't have surprised me when he came home one day and told me that he had a girlfriend. Oh my! I was so not ready for that!!! I just have to laugh it off and say that I'm glad she's a girl and she's your friend. :-) Kind of like when I was in college and Ryan and I were dating, it took my mom almost a year to not introduce him as my "friend". In fact, by the time she finally started calling him my boyfriend, we were practically engaged. Ok, so that was nothing like when I was in college, but it made me think of that. Maybe someday when he really does have a girlfriend, I will be able to accept it at that time. Hope so...as long as it doesn't happen until he's 30.
In the meantime, I love it. We went to Bartlesville on Sunday with Serenity and her mom, Jenifer (who I love and I'm so happy we've become friends!) It was so cute to see the way that they talked to each other in the car, played together, gave each other attention and cared for each other. I loved seeing how kind he was and how much he so enjoyed being with his friend all day long. He couldn't stop talking about his day with Serenity that night at bedtime, and I am so proud of the way that he has become a friend. He's off to a good start!
When Brennon started pre-k, I was so excited to find out that he was in the same class as a little girl we knew named Serenity. I want Brennon to make decisions on his own, so while I gently nudged him towards her on the first day, I let him figure out on his own if she was somebody that he would want to be friends with. And he did! I would love to hear him recount his fun times at school, and he always made sure to include Serenity in his list of people he played with...sometimes she would make up the whole list. So it really shouldn't have surprised me when he came home one day and told me that he had a girlfriend. Oh my! I was so not ready for that!!! I just have to laugh it off and say that I'm glad she's a girl and she's your friend. :-) Kind of like when I was in college and Ryan and I were dating, it took my mom almost a year to not introduce him as my "friend". In fact, by the time she finally started calling him my boyfriend, we were practically engaged. Ok, so that was nothing like when I was in college, but it made me think of that. Maybe someday when he really does have a girlfriend, I will be able to accept it at that time. Hope so...as long as it doesn't happen until he's 30.
In the meantime, I love it. We went to Bartlesville on Sunday with Serenity and her mom, Jenifer (who I love and I'm so happy we've become friends!) It was so cute to see the way that they talked to each other in the car, played together, gave each other attention and cared for each other. I loved seeing how kind he was and how much he so enjoyed being with his friend all day long. He couldn't stop talking about his day with Serenity that night at bedtime, and I am so proud of the way that he has become a friend. He's off to a good start!
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Helicopter Closing In!
I feel like I need to clarify something up front here....I am not a helicopter mom, but I am always close enough that I know if something went seriously wrong, I could swoop in if needed. I was better at hovering when I was a SAHM with Brennon, but now I am much better at stepping back, allowing my boys to try to solve most problems on their own, and jumping in to play with them for short intervals. Ok, so now that you know that, let me tell you about something that has been on my mind pretty much non-stop for the past 24 hours.
Yesterday after school, the boys and I went swimming at my friend Leslie's house after school. It was sweltering outside again, and it wasn't worth even being outside without being in the pool, so it was a perfect day to relax in the pool (especially after Leslie and I--and the rest of the second grade teachers--were testing kids all day at school). We had spent pretty much all summer in the pool at either Leslie's house, the water park, my Aunt Nancy's house, or Mimi & Pop's house...oh, and in our little backyard pool too, of course. At the beginning of the summer, I had to spend most of an afternoon coaxing the boys into the pool. They just wanted to hang out on the stairs or "on dry land". Finally, they were both loving being in the water and becoming little fishes who were becoming quite happy to be in the water. I love that, because now they wanted to jump off the side or even the diving board and have me catch them or they'd want to swim around the pool hanging on to me or sometimes they just wanted to throw things in and have me dive after them. Anyway, we were really having fun swimming. Each time we went swimming, I became a little more comfortable with them being around the water myself and I didn't worry so much about them. They knew their limits and I trusted that they would pay attention to them.
Back to yesterday, I was taking times swimming the boys around the pool and I had just set Brennon up on the side. I took off my sunglasses and set them on the side of the pool, and then I was swimming back and forth across the shallow end while the boys played on the side of the pool. I had just come up from going under to get my hair wet and cool myself off in the 105 degree heat, when I hear a splash. I look over and Gavin is under the water. I probably was moving close to the speed of light to swim to him, but it felt like the entire world was moving in slow motion. I have never felt such sheer terror in my heart as I saw the top of his head barely peeking out of the top of the water. I know that he could not have been under the water for more than 2 full seconds, but it seemed like an eternity.
He was fine, just scared, but I know that he couldn't have been more scared than I was. It was awful. I hugged him and squeezed him and loved him a little more. I cannot imagine what could have happened so quickly if I hadn't been right there, paying better attention, hovering closely by. So, my helicopter might be a little closer at the pool next time, but more than anything I have thought about my boys nonstop since then. Before bed, I said extra thanks for them, first thing this morning, I gave thanks for them being safe, healthy boys, and throughout the day I couldn't wait to see them. I'm not going to become a crazy worrying, controlling mom. That's not me, but I may just move my helicopter's perimeter a bit closer.
Today, my friend Leslie said she was impressed with how calm I was and how well I handled it, and I thought to myself, "SERIOUSLY, I was a mess!" So, hug your kids and remember tonight how much you have to be thankful for, because I now understand how quickly something could change. Thank God it didn't. Or maybe it did, just not in any way that you could see or that would change my Gavy....instead it changed me and made me realize that no matter how tired I am at the end of the day, I have so much to be thankful for.
Yesterday after school, the boys and I went swimming at my friend Leslie's house after school. It was sweltering outside again, and it wasn't worth even being outside without being in the pool, so it was a perfect day to relax in the pool (especially after Leslie and I--and the rest of the second grade teachers--were testing kids all day at school). We had spent pretty much all summer in the pool at either Leslie's house, the water park, my Aunt Nancy's house, or Mimi & Pop's house...oh, and in our little backyard pool too, of course. At the beginning of the summer, I had to spend most of an afternoon coaxing the boys into the pool. They just wanted to hang out on the stairs or "on dry land". Finally, they were both loving being in the water and becoming little fishes who were becoming quite happy to be in the water. I love that, because now they wanted to jump off the side or even the diving board and have me catch them or they'd want to swim around the pool hanging on to me or sometimes they just wanted to throw things in and have me dive after them. Anyway, we were really having fun swimming. Each time we went swimming, I became a little more comfortable with them being around the water myself and I didn't worry so much about them. They knew their limits and I trusted that they would pay attention to them.
Back to yesterday, I was taking times swimming the boys around the pool and I had just set Brennon up on the side. I took off my sunglasses and set them on the side of the pool, and then I was swimming back and forth across the shallow end while the boys played on the side of the pool. I had just come up from going under to get my hair wet and cool myself off in the 105 degree heat, when I hear a splash. I look over and Gavin is under the water. I probably was moving close to the speed of light to swim to him, but it felt like the entire world was moving in slow motion. I have never felt such sheer terror in my heart as I saw the top of his head barely peeking out of the top of the water. I know that he could not have been under the water for more than 2 full seconds, but it seemed like an eternity.
He was fine, just scared, but I know that he couldn't have been more scared than I was. It was awful. I hugged him and squeezed him and loved him a little more. I cannot imagine what could have happened so quickly if I hadn't been right there, paying better attention, hovering closely by. So, my helicopter might be a little closer at the pool next time, but more than anything I have thought about my boys nonstop since then. Before bed, I said extra thanks for them, first thing this morning, I gave thanks for them being safe, healthy boys, and throughout the day I couldn't wait to see them. I'm not going to become a crazy worrying, controlling mom. That's not me, but I may just move my helicopter's perimeter a bit closer.
Today, my friend Leslie said she was impressed with how calm I was and how well I handled it, and I thought to myself, "SERIOUSLY, I was a mess!" So, hug your kids and remember tonight how much you have to be thankful for, because I now understand how quickly something could change. Thank God it didn't. Or maybe it did, just not in any way that you could see or that would change my Gavy....instead it changed me and made me realize that no matter how tired I am at the end of the day, I have so much to be thankful for.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)