Praise Report!

I first wrote a post involving a bit of a rant about SOLs and how the scores affect my job security. However, I trusted in the Lord and prayed for His goodness in return for the work I've put into teaching the children I had this spring semester. Well if you noticed the title of this post is called "Praise Report" so it is with joy that I say that out of 16 students 13 of them passed, bringing my pass rate to an 81% and of those thirteen, three scored an advanced giving me a 23% pass advantage rate! Praise the Lord He is good! I was so nervous that some of my students wouldn't do well due to test anxiety but throughout the last week and a half before testing my students proved me wrong and continued to do well with practice questions and the like. I so proud of my students and what they accomplished but all the praise must be given to the Lord who's hand orchestrated all of this!

I'm Back and with Good News!

I'm so sorry I haven't posted in nearly two months! You have every right to be upset with me, however I bring good news! I am absolutely head-over-heels in love with my new school, ahem, my alma mater! I LOVE teaching there! That's not to say that I haven't had any hiccups along the way, but I am thrilled beyond all measure at how things are going! BHS is such a breath of fresh air, I no longer dread going to work like I did at that "other school" (which shall remain nameless)! The camaraderie among the teachers is amazing and I love my department! And throughout this whole process, Adam has remained relentless is staying by my side, supporting, loving, and helping me along the way! (Let's be honest, half of everything that's been graded so far wouldn't have made it if it weren't for him)! I am blessed beyond words to have him!

Aannnndd, Adam and I have some wonderful news....(no not that kind).....we bought our first house! We are beyond thrilled with it! It's 2100 sq. ft for under $90,000! What a steal! We're waiting for the loan to get out of underwriting so we can hurry up and "close" on it. Our hope is to be in it withing a *week* if all goes accordingly! I promise to have pictures and will post all our renovation DIY shenanigans! In the meantime may all thanks and praise go to the One who makes all things possible!

We're Moving!!!

For the few of you that read this blog, I am sorry I haven't been an avid blogger lately. Two weekends ago I went on a girls' mini-vacay to Cape Charles with the Leverett girls (which I plan to blog about soon). Then last weekend Adam and I were busy helping our pastor and his family move. And the weeks/days in between have been spent packing here as well as visiting friends and going back to Bassett to take care of necessary paper work, getting into my new classroom, and checking out houses to buy!

YES, YES, YES you read that correctly! We're going to be buying our very first home! I am elated! We have been looking at several houses on the Internet, and I went with my parents and Hazel to view some when I was in town on Wednesday. Needless to say of the four I saw, three were a BIG disappointment--they were absolutely horrendous--and would need lots of renovations before you could even move in! There was however one that I absolutely loved! We're planning on going back in the next week so both Adam and myself can look and hopefully find one where we can place an offer. God has been so good to us and I am overjoyed with the work He is doing! In the meantime, most of my time is spent packing--the house is a wreck! We'll be keeping our stuff in storage until we find a house, and we'll be living with my parents for roughly a month or two until then, which will help us save some money! I'll be back to blog with an update soon, in the meantime pray the Lord has a house set aside for us!

Praise the Lord!

I have some WoNdErFuL news! I got the job in Bassett! I had my second interview, this time with the principal, one of the assistant principals, and my former teacher, Mr. Martin--whom also was one of my references). The interview went great! I was extra jittery, but managed to calm my nerves after being able to talk to Mr. Martin a bit before actually going into the interview. I nailed each question asked and answered with confidence! I was very proud of how I appeared and presented myself. I daresay that I had not gotten this job, I would have specifically wanted details as to why not!

After the interview I went back home feeling great and upbeat! I was hoping to hear a phone call from HR that day. Didn't the principal state that they would make a recommendation to HR and then get back to for taking care of paperwork and fingerprinting, etc.? Surely a principal wouldn't say this to every candidate?! After working myself up into a good frenzy, my stomach was all in knots by about 6pm that same night. I of course talked to my husband who told me I was worrying over something I shouldn't, but of course I couldn't "let it go." By Friday, I long forgot about the interview (ok well as much as I could) and was eagerly looking forward to the trip the Leverett girls (Adam's mother's family) were taking--we went to Cape Charles for the weekend (pictures and post to come soon)! So needless to say by the time I had "let it go" I got the call, and surprisingly enough, HR isn't open on Fridays, but this one particular lady went in and decided to gimme the call. I'm glad she did or else I'm sure my heart would still be pounding away with anxiety. But all this is to say that the Lord is good, and all the praise and glory belong to him! So now we're off on to a new adventure....moving!

EXTRA! EXTRA! Read all about it!

Soooooo good news! Remember how in March I told you that Adam and were praying about a possible job opportunity in Mathews and Bassett? Well unfortunately, Mathew's budget did not get approved for another History teacher and at the time, the teacher that had put in his resignation at Bassett just up and left so they needed somebody to fill the job, quick?! Well praise the Lord, there is another position available now! I received a wonderful tip at the beginning of last week from a source who will remain unidentified and from this person emailed a person they knew in HR (whom I also emailed to confirm my interest) and WAM BAM within 24 hours I received an email stating that a representative of HR would call me to confirm and set up a pre-screening interview! YIPEE!

So in less than a day's time after the email, I received a call and had my pre-screening interview set up for today at 10:00am (I did this because I knew I wouldn't have any "kids" at school with the exception of first block because on odd days I only teach blocks 1 & 5 and my seniors make up block five and they weren't to report to school this week except for graduation practice on Wednesday and Thursday). Sooo thankfully Adam was able to take today off, as was I, and we came out to Bassett over the weekend to stay with my parents. So not only did I have a pre-screening interview, but I got to see the 'rents as well!

Ok so enough blabbering you wanna hear the good stuff! Alright here it is, I walked into HR looking professional with my portfolio in hand ready for whatever they threw at me, and I nailed it! Every question I answered clearly and concisely (probably too fast at first since I was a bit jittery, but more slowly after I settled down)! I feel really good about this interview and I've prayed and prayed that if this is what the Lord wants, then I want it, and if it's not then I don't. So immediately following the interview (and the HR rep didn't leave either) she looked me square in the face and said, "Wow! Well I will most definitely be getting in touch with such-and-such principal because you just passed your pre-screening interview!" I was elated! So I am now waiting to hear back from said principal and hope to have some more wonderful news to share, in the meantime enjoy this beautiful day!

Mr. Opportunity, Welcome Back!

 Remember when I blogged about Mr. Opportunity here and here? Well if you remember, Adam and I have been praying for God to show His will to us. We know that change is in the air, we both feel it's coming and are trusting God. We have also shared these opportunities and bits of information with others, especially our parents, siblings, and close friends who have all said that they are praying for us as well! Well I now have an update.

The position for the upcoming history teacher at Mathews High School (Adam's hometown) was not approved in the budget and this evening I received an email from my old high school history teacher basically stating that another Bassett High School (from my hometown) alum has a master's degree in administration and will more than likely be offered a contract. As far as I know this is only contingent upon the remainder of this school year, not the next, but you know how these things usually turn out...I'm still hopeful that perhaps this is not the case and that it's only for the time being because goodness knows I would love to be near my family again!

And even though we'd both like the chance to be near my family, we're still interested in the possibility of the Air Force, we've simply hit some bumps in trying to get in touch with the Air Force recruiters. I'm not taking that as a sign we're not to talk to them, but to remain persistent and persevere. Please note however, that for someone who enjoys having a "plan" this is driving me nuts, I would love nothing more than to know where we're headed but as a friend of mine recently said, "Where's the fun in that?! "Somehow I feel that the subliminal message God is trying to send my way is to be patient. Oh if that were easier done than said! Anywho, as always please continue to pray for us and God's will as we know that above all else He is #1 and is to be glorified always!

Teaching is the....

The door to my classroom!

Student's desks and my ActivBoard

best job ever! Now grant it, those of you who know me well, know that my experience at Charles City has been tough, and I haven't thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. Of course each school district will have its problems, that comes with the territory, so I'm not so much as naive to believe that any other district will be perfect. I do however, love my job! I enjoy preparing lesson plans, looking for new material, but most of all I enjoy the impact that I can have on students, as a Christian! Day after day students come up to me telling me their problems, asking for guidance and time and time again I always point them back to the cross, to Jesus Christ. Because without that relationship everything else is minuscule and futile -- exactly how teaching WOULD be if it weren't for the fact that the Lord has called me to do this.

My desk and bulletin board

Bookshelves/Closet

Chalkboard/TV

I don't blog much about my career. I guess I'd always been afraid of the idea that someone from the district or school would see it. But after stumbling upon some of my friend's blogs and realizing that I could blog without invading privacy I think I'll be more open to the idea. Of course if I ever do blog I will not use the real names of my students (if I use any names at all) and I will not post pictures of them. However, I do want to share with you what my classroom looks like. These pictures were taken at the start of the school year so ignore the bulletin board, it has since been updated and is a beautiful spring picture with a rainbow and a leprechaun chillin' with a pot of gold at the end. You'd think that by that description I teach at the elementary level, but in actuality I teach high school history.

About a week ago I posted about opportunity and the fact that Adam and I are looking for direction. Well not too soon after that, I actually had received notice that there's an anticipated high school history position in Mathews County and yesterday (I'll tell you about this later) I discovered that there's an opening at my old high school for a history position as well. I can hardly believe that both schools have anticipated positions open. Adam and I had already been praying about Mathews and now we're praying about Bassett, too. We would just ask for you to be prayerful with us, that God would blatantly open or close the door where we should or should not go because above all else we want to remain faithful to Him. Let me leave you with my favorite verse:

Psalm 25:4-5 (New International Version, ©2011)

 ⁴ Show me your ways, LORD,
   teach me your paths.
⁵ Guide me in your truth and teach me,
   for you are God my Savior,
   and my hope is in you all day long.

Knock Knock

Knock knock! "Hi, it's me, Mr. Opportunity knocking at your door. Aren't you gonna open the door and let me in?"

Lately Adam and I have been discussing where God's leading us. We're not exactly sure. Due to our financial situation, it would be such a relief if I could get in a job in what the Southside Tobacco Forgivenss Loan considers to be "southside" Virginia. If we moved to one of the 24 localities it considers, then the money I borrowed against for three and a half years, to help pay for school, would be forgiven for the same amount of time put back into the system. It's really a great opportunity: borrow money from people who are willing to give it to you and then go back to help encourage and build up that region/area. However, due to the economy and budget cuts, schools aren't exactly hiring because teachers are staying put so they have an income, and I can't say I blame 'em! However.....

My experience at Charles City High School has been a bumpy ride. I've grown a lot and have learned ten times what I thought I knew. However, I'm ready for a change. I feel that my time here is coming to a close. I feel that God is leading Adam and I somewhere else. The only problem is, where? You see, Adam graduated from high school, but never enrolled in a college/university. He did enroll in an electrician apprenticeship but discovered that that was not for him. When I met him he had just left the apprenticeship and was offered a job at a local hardware store that paid him decently and offered benefits - no complaints there. When we married though, he moved to be with me and had to leave that job behind, which brings me to the present. After job hunting for 9 months, he finally got a job working for a small business...can you guess what in......yep! electricity! I thought, huh it's funny that this is the opportunity God brought to you.

I call electricity an opportunity because literally you are turning on the lights for people. Remember what Matthew 5:16 says, "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." What an opportunity it is that we get to serve the Lord, that He so loved us to go die on a cross and we can live out His precious will for our lives today?! Never ever take that opportunity for granted!

So to sum it all up, we're not sure where we're headed....maybe I'll be teaching in another district, maybe I won't. Maybe Adam will stay in electricity, or maybe he'll enroll in a college or serve his country in the AirForce....those are just some of the possibilities we're entertaining. Whatever we end up doing, we know it's because that's where God wants us to be, and He'll keep and place you right where you're meant to be, until knock knock, Mr. Opportunity is at your door!