Out of my element..and some good news!

Well can I just say this last few weeks have been very different for me. I am so used to having a schedule and running all of the time, that its literally driving me nuts not having one! The positive thing is that for once in my life, I am caught up with everything. The laundry is done, the house is clean and I am loving that part...the problem is that I have too much time so EVERYTHING is clean and then theres nothing left to do. I never thought I would see the day where I would say that I miss school, but I do. I loved learning new things. I need to find something to keep my occupied when I am done with all of the housework, so if anyone has any good ideas, let me know! I want to make a levi quilt, but I have no idea how to do it or where to start, so maybe Ill find a way to do that.

NOW for the good news! I have learned a lot from this latest piece of good news. The biggest thing being that Heavenly Father doesnt always answer our prayers the way they should be answered, but he definately answers them the way that they should be answered for a reason. To start out...it has literally been my dream since I was a little girl to work as a teacher in Saint Anthony. As I had the experience of working with the life skills children for a year and then being able to come back and student teach I thought that the only place for me to be was in Saint Anthony. I absolutely LOVE the staff and I LOVE the children more than I could ever express. To make things even better, a part time kindergarten posistion opened up in Parker. I wanted this job so that I could be a mom at the same time. As the school year started coming to an end, the principal told me he really wanted me to stay and teach there. When he said this, I really was happier than you can imagine. I decided just to be safe that I had better apply to a few different districts just in case. I applied and a few weeks later, one of my friends, Stephanie, that works at Henry's Fork as well, told me that I needed to get back on and resubmitt my application for madison because 8 teaching jobs just opened that day. I went on and resubmitted my application and emailed one of the teachers. I was called 2 days later for an interview with the Archer/Lyman school. When I went in, I had a really good feeling, and the interview went well...until they got to the last question. The last question that I was asked was this: "There are 52 other people that have applied for this job. Why should we hire you instead of the rest of them." When they asked this question, I answered it, and left being sure that this would just be a practice interview that everyone tells you about. I walked out almost positive that there was absolutely no way I got the job. After I got off work on Friday, I got a phone call from the principal, Marche Young. She told me that they had enjoyed my interview and would love it if I could come and be a 1st grade teacher. I had a really good feeling about it, so I said yes. In the meantime, I was asked to come in and interview for the job in Saint Anthony. I decided it wouldnt hurt to see what they could offer. The principal called me in and told me that they wanted me to stay, but he didnt feel good about having to lay me off next year. Apparently the posistions there were only for a year. I was so grateful that I had decided to take the job at South Fork. After recieving the news from Saint Anthony, I got a call from the principal at the Parker School. He wanted me to come in and interview for the Kindergarten job. I found out that my Aunt had not recieved a job offer yet and she would be interviewing for the job as well. As hard as it was for me to say no, I knew I was doing the right thing. What kind of person would I be if I decided to go and interview against my Aunt when she hadnt been offered anything yet. She ended up getting the job, and I am very happy for her. I wanted to work at Parker, but I know things happen for a reason, and who knows, maybe someday I will, but I am grateful that Heavenly Father was looking out for me on this one.

After all of the interviewing mess was over, I got the opportunity to go in and meet the staff and see the school. The school and staff are WONDERFUL! They all are so nice and easy to get a long with. I went in and observed a few times before school was out. The last day that I was there, the director of the Special Ed. program poked his head in the classroom I was in and said he needed to talk to me. I was a little suprised and wondered what he needed. He told me that he had a student he would like me to meet. He would be in my classroom next year. He continued to explain to me that the student they were putting in my room had cerebral palsy and severe seizures. It would be my job to come up with a safety plan and find a way to evacuate the students if he was having a seizure. He explained what the procedure was for when he had a seizure and what could possibly happen. It would be my job to call 911 and make sure everything was okay. As he is telling me this, my mind is going 90 miles a minute! Yikes! I'm a first year teacher! Give me a break!

I followed him down to one of the kindergarten rooms where my student was. The minute I met Mateo, my heart melted! What a sweet little boy. The first thing he did was grab my hand and kiss it. He was such a sweetheart. He doesnt really have any verbal skills and he is in a wheelchair, but I really think that this next year with him is going to be a good experience. I was a little nervous at first, but I know that he is going to be in my class for a reason and everything will work out.

Since then, I have had the opportunity to go into the school and set up my classroom a little bit. I am so excited for next year and the many challenges and experiences it will bring. I am grateful that Heavenly Father puts us where we are supposed to be, and even more grateful that he would even allow me the opportunity to find a job in times like these and that he trusts me to have such a special spirit in my room.