Job Update

Well, unfortunately I don't have good news... or at least it doesn't seem like good news right now. I got a call from the Principal this evening and they gave the Aide position to someone else. She was very nice, and said she enjoyed meeting me and let me know they would have several long term substitute positions at the school this coming year. Which, unless I get a job in the next two weeks is what I will be doing. I do have a teacher at the school I was at last year that is taking her maternity leave at the beginning of the school year. It is a 5th grade class, so it will be tough, but it will be guaranteed at the roughest time of the year to sub. So, if there is a silver lining to this cloud, that would be it.

I continue to hope and pray that this will be the year I get my own classroom, even if it isn't in the beginning of the school year, maybe something will open up during the school year.

Thank you for all your prayers!

OOPS :(

My mom told me today that Dede asked how my new job was going... I guess since I posted on FB, that I just figured the word got around.
The job that I was so excited about in my last post ended up not being what was described to me in the interview.
The short version is that they told me in my interview that I would not be responsible for sales until my 4 month probation was up. Well, the branch manager started pressuring me the first day asking if I had friends or family to give to the Insurance agency that we use to do cold calls. I let her know that I didn't have anyone that would be interested, nor was I willing to give out friends or family information without their permission. 2 days later she actually forced me to call my best friend b/c they hadn't had anyone sign up for accounts that day. (Even though I had told her for 3 days that they would not be interested) Luckily Steph didn't answer that call. She proceeded to tell me that when you are new you have to "pimp out your friends and family for accounts" and that "it's only $10" they should want to help you out.
Needless to say, I was NOT comfortable with this and decided that since I would only be making $100 more than unemployment that I was better off on unemployment with my morals and standards in tact.
So, back to the drawing board. I never stopped applying for education jobs, teaching and Aide positions. I had an interview this past Monday for an Aide position and should hear tomorrow if I got the position or not.
If not, then I will probably be subbing another year. As much as I want my own classroom, and REALLY DIDN'T WANT to be subbing again, the bank showed me that I am not cut out for the 8-5 job world. I need the excitement and hustle and bustle of the classroom to keep me focused! :)
I apologize to Dede (who I didn't realize read my blog) and anyone else who didn't hear the results.

In other news... I turned 36 last Thursday, and the sermon on Sunday at church felt like it was personally designed for me. I promise to blog about both those events in the next couple days, as well as the results of my interview when I find out!
Miss you all! Thank you for your prayers and love! :)

Two posts in a month! Wow! :)

Well, God certainly works in mysterious ways doesn't HE?!?!?!?!

Yesterday I called my Uncle John to wish him a Happy Birthday. He proceeded to tell me how proud he was of me and how he couldn't do what I was doing... being so far from all my loved ones (well, most of them) ... and that he knew everything was going to work out because I am well looked after (his words). My Uncle was at one time a Christian, but hasn't "practiced" in quite some time. So for him to use those words were pretty amazing.

Anyway, I hang up the phone and immediately start crying. I miss home so much. It saddens me that I have already missed 2 weddings and a very important High school Graduation, and will most likely be missing another wedding next month. I've been unemployed for over a month. I'm finally getting my appeal hearing for Unemployment because my employer lied to the Unemployment Office so I had to appeal the decision, and they were super behind (I filed my appeal on June 22, my hearing is July 19th... please PRAY).... anyway, to say the least I was starting to get depressed and feel totally helpless.

It hasn't been the easiest (almost) 2 years out here and I definitely thought it wouldn't take me this long to get a full time teaching job after FINALLY completing my teaching credential. Most first year teachers aren't in their mid 30's (36 on the 29th... cards are accepted lol)... but most first year teachers didn't spend 13 years working their way through their Bachelor Degree, and then have another 15 months for the credential. I was blessed with a 4 year break to work at Lindamood-Bell and gain a wealth of knowledge and skills with Learning Disabilities (people pay $1,000's to learn what I was paid to learn!) I have started doubting that dream and desire that God put in my heart when I was 6 years old and in First Grade and decided I wanted to be a teacher just like Miss Lindsay at Jenks East Elementary in Tulsa, OK!

Anyway, I digress :) Yesterday... continued to be hard as I read friends' and family's encouragement on my facebook page, and last night I spent like an hour praying before I went to bed... more like pleading and questioning what God wanted from me and what HE has planned for me. I KNOW that HIS plan is WAY better than any plan that I could ever imagine, I was just at my breaking point waiting for it. (Hey, He already knows our thoughts, gotta let it out!) I told Him that if He didn't want me teaching, then I would give that to HIM, but I just wanted SOMETHING to go "right" for now. I didn't understand how or where to go from here.

Well, this morning I got up at 7:30 (super early for me this Summer... unemployed = sleeping in!) and got ready to go to a job fair (mostly just to keep putting myself out there... )

(side note: for unemployment you have to apply to 3 jobs a week in order to keep your unemployment, I've had no problem doing that until ALL the school districts in the area were closed last week... so I had to branch out to non-teaching jobs, and this is when I decided that I was just going to start applying for everything, at this point I just need A job!)

okay, so back to this morning, I go to a Job Fair for a bank and it said to come dressed professional and ready to interview. So, I go, and before I leave my car I tell God "if this is where you want me I just pray that you will open the door and help me with what to say"... I haven't been a cashier in years, and the only banking experience I have was at Sesloc in 92-94... that's a long time ago!

So, I went in, filled out the application and took the math test (got 100% of course) and waited my turn to be interviewed.

Well... the interview went so well... that SHE OFFERED ME THE JOB ON THE SPOT!!!

I can't even begin to describe the instant happiness, gratification, relief that I instantly felt. I let her know that she made my day, and my mom's, for offering me this job.

It doesn't pay what I need to make all my bills, but it is a start. AND they know that I am still looking for a full time teaching job and are okay with that! I told them that I would work evenings and weekends if I got a Teaching job (I'll need the extra income for awhile) and if I don't get a teaching job, she told me that they only promote from within, and that if you want to move up quickly you totally can. She went from teller to Area Sales Manager in 4 years. And the best part: they pay my HEALTH INSURANCE!!!! I've never had health insurance, this is so huge for me.

I don't know where God is going with this but I know that it was all HIM and I am so grateful that HE has HIS hands guiding my life. And He's okay when we doubt HIM or forget that HE is in control... HE'S still RIGHT THERE guiding it along with HIS plan.

Okay, I don't even know if you're still reading... but if you're in CA, I miss you. If you are one of my many prayer warriors I THANK YOU with MY WHOLE HEART... here's a PRAISE that we can CELEBRATE!

Love you!

Apparantly I'm horrible at this blogging thing!

Well I can't believe that I haven't blogged since Thanksgiving... I've meant to so many times, and then I just think, oh I'll do it tomorrow. ... you can see how that went!


I don't really want to write 9 months worth of stuff, so I'll just give you the short version:


December... I got to go home for Christmas for 2 weeks and it was so amazing to be able to be home and see friends and family. As always I didn't get to see everyone I wanted to :)


January... subbing and waitressing


February.... I started a Long Term Subbing position with Kindergarten. It was rough and exhausting, but I survived 6 1/2 weeks of it.


March... finished Kindergarten assignment, more subbing and waitressing


April... Bre came out during her Spring Break to visit me. So fun to have her here and show her a little bit of Austin. Still Subbing and waitressing.


May... Did a Long Term Subbing position with Third Grade, my mom came to visit for two weeks, and I lost my waitressing job. Having my mom here was fun. She got to spend a day in the classroom with me and watch me teach and see why I'm exhausted every day :) Last time she was here we did a lot of traveling, this time we mostly hung out, with just two day trips to close by towns, Georgetown and Saledo.


While I was long term subbing I had a mandatory staff meeting, and since I am trying to get hired as a teacher, and I was supposed to be acting as a full time teacher, I decided that I needed to be there. I tried to find someone to cover my shift, but the only person I found, they didn't approve. So I called out of my waitressing job, my manager said he understood and that he would let the GM know the next day and that if there was a problem he would call me. I never heard anything so I assumed everything was okay. Well, the next week when I went to look at the schedule I found out that I had been fired. They didn't even bother to call me. I had worked for this restaurant for a year and a half and I had never been written up for anything, and I call out for a mandatory meeting at my other job and they fire me. Nice. I already didn't want to be there anymore, so I didn't fight it. I just continued the school year and enjoyed not having to drive downtown.


June... the last day of school was June 3rd. I couldn't believe all of the stuff that had to be done at the end of the school year. It was great training.

I had my first interview for a full time teaching job and unfortunately didn't get it.
I have applied for every first, second and third grade position that has been posted and I just wait and see if it's in God's plan for me to have a Full Time teaching position this coming year. After subbing and waitressing for 2 years I am really hoping and praying that His plan is for me to have my own classroom. I have had this dream for 30 years and it would be nice for it to finally come true.

It's now July, can't believe it, and my birthday is at the end of the month. I will be 36... which means I will officially be closer to 40 than 30... yikes! :)
I will try again to be better at this blogging thing... when I have time I don't have anything to post, and when I'm busy I don't have time to post... it's a catch 22!
Well, I'm dog and house sitting right now for Steph and my laptop has lost the internet twice already during typing this, so I'm going to post before it goes out again.
So far, I don't have any tickets to come home for the Summer (I'm still hoping that I will be able to find an affordable ticket to come home for Jen Peet's wedding in August) ... which thoroughly bums me out! If I don't get home this summer, I won't be home until Christmas. I miss everyone so much! I appreciate all of your prayers and comments on Facebook.

Thanksgiving

Today I am Thankful for:

My Mom... without her $upport right now, I literally would not be $urviving. I love and miss you mom!

My jobs... even though it isn't what I would choose to be doing right now, it is what God has chosen for me to be doing right now, and I am thankful to have 2 jobs when many people don't even have one right now.
My family... even though they are 1600 miles away from me, I love them very much and I'm very excited to get to see them next month!

My friends, old and new... I miss my CA friends so much, but I am thankful that I can keep in touch with them (mostly through FB) and I am thankful for my new friends in Austin.

My best friend and her family. I am so thankful that I am able to be here to be a part of my niece and nephew growing up, and to be able to be here for Steph when she needs me, (and her for me when I need her)
God's Grace and forgiveness that I do not deserve.
God's plan for my life. Even though it is hard being so far away from most of the people that I love, I know that He has me here for a reason and those reasons and plans are better than any that I could come up with.

I hope you all had a FABULOUS Thanksgiving with your friends and family.

Miss and love you all!

See you in 22 days!!!!

Update....

Well, I haven't updated in FOREVER...So....
*Teaching.... still subbing. I am getting called by a couple secretaries which is nice. My favorite school in Pflugerville I am subbing at a lot which is really nice! :) I'm still hoping to get hired permanently before the end of the school year, so please continue to pray that God will open that door.
*Waitressing.... still waitressing downtown at Iron Cactus, but I am honestly trying to not do that anymore. It is just getting really hard physically and emotionally to be doing that and subbing together. I am hoping to get another job or start doing some tutoring. However, my waitressing income is most of my income so I don't know if that is possible. Please pray for that as well.
*Everything else.... I still don't have a lot of friends here. Especially single friends. This has been hard on me, I'm not used to that. And since I'm in a big city, it's not like I'm going to go out by myself, it isn't safe. Sometimes it gets really lonely here. But I know that God has a plan and I am trying to be patient as I wait for HIS timing in everything.

The good news... make that GREAT news......

I'M COMING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

I'm so EXCITED!!!!! I miss everyone so much. It is my Christmas gift from my mom. I get to be there for 2 Sundays so I can see people at Grace. I get to be home for Erica Oliver's wedding, which is also a blessing to get to see such a great friend on her special day. I get to spend Christmas with my family. I get to see friends that I MISS SO MUCH! I am very excited. I will be flying in on the 18th and staying until the 28th.... so expect big hugs, and let me know if you'll be around! I hope to see as many people as I can!

Bye for now! LOVE AND MISS YOU ALL!!!!!

One year in Texas!

Yesterday was my 1 year anniversary in Austin, TX. I can't believe it's already been a year! In some ways it has gone by so fast and in others it's gone by so slow. I definitely am not where I thought I would be at this time. I definitely thought I would be teaching by now, which I'm not... still praying that may happen this year. God has a plan and I am trying to be patient while I wait for HIS timing.... not my strongest trait :)
I have been blessed with a few friends the past year and that has definitely helped.
I found a church that although it is ginormous has a fabulous pastor who is a man of God and who knows my pastor back home... just a small bonus and a little reminder of just how small this world is.
I have been blessed with jobs to fill my time (literally fill! worked 6 days a week during the school year) even though they may not be what I really want.
I have been blessed with being able to be in the same area as my best friend!
I have been blessed by being able to be a part of Daniella and Brady's life this year. Being able to go on a few Auntie Dates with them, enjoying time at the movies by allowing Greg and Steph to have some alone time :)
I've been blessed by being able to be there for Steph during what has been the hardest time of her life so far (for those of you who don't know, she lost her sister earlier this month at the age of 37)
I've been blessed by being in a growing area, that puts money into Education. God definitely moved me out of CA at the right time for my profession.
I've been blessed by being able to be in my own place, a cute apartment with an office and a garage!
I can't wait to see what God will have in store for me this coming year!
I will try and be better at posting on here.... even if it's just to update you that my life is still the same :)
Love and miss you all!!!!