Whirlwind...Timeline

Ok, I digress....I was keeping this timeline so I could post it about a month or so ago and I just keep adding to it instead.  This is the ups and downs of me getting back into teaching after being out for 7 years.  I would not change anything about those years.  Staying home with my daughter was the best thing I could ever do and I will never regret it, but for now we are in a new season in life.  So, without further adieu, my whirlwind teaching timeline.  (Warning: I get emotional in parts....deal with it, or quit reading!  LOL)


Teaching Timeline:

June 28, 2013-Get idea in my head that I might just want to teach again.
July 2, 2013-Apply to renew teaching certificate (Thanks to sister)
July 5, 2013-Fingerprinting for Teaching Certificate
July 8, 2013-Fingerprinting and background check complete (while I continue to wait impatiently to see if they are going to renew my license or not)
July 9, 2013-Check status in morning and realize that I am a licensed teacher once again, attempt to homeschool Anna and throw in the towel after one subject.  Apply to two different districts by days end....
July 18th, 2013-Find out one district is only waiting on my references.  Realize that it will be at least August before they can get the reference on my former principal.  Work education sale at work.  Come home to an application for another school district around here. 
July 19th, 2013-Fill out application for other district and photocopy required parts.
July 20, 2013-Mail off third application
July 22, 2013-Get online and see plenty of jobs that would be my "ideal" job have shown up, but then realize that they are not available to apply to on the application link yet. Wonder if August will ever get here.  (I'm not a very patient person when it comes to waiting.)
August 1, 2013-Talk to previous principal (boss) and ask her to be a reference.  Had to have her, since I have taught before.  Get her e-mail address. Talk to LISD district office about my application, as two references have not come back in.  Come to find out they ONLY do e-mail references now.  YIKES!  Panic sets in.  About 4:40pm, I call back and a nice lady named Stacy in HR is able to add the two missing e-mails and resend my reference forms out to those people.
August 3, 2013-Receive a phone call from a school about positions in both kindergarten and first grade. Offer me an interview on the 4th.  I accept.  Interview coming up.  (You do realize that the 3rd is a Saturday and the 4th is a Sunday.  These types of things just don't happen in schools.  God's timing is impeccable.)  
August 4, 2013-Interview lasts about 25 minutes.  It is nerve racking.  I interviewed with 5 people; principal, asst. principal, and 3 teachers already in there teaching kindergarten.  It was for the kindergarten position.  I left not knowing how it went.  They have more interviews and then the pick the one that they think will work best for them.  They then contact their district office and then district office contacts the person they chose.  It's all in God's Hands.  Always has been, always will be.
August 11, 2013-Feeling down.  New teachers went back on Friday in the district I wanted.  I didn't go back and the jobs available are dwindling.  Maybe I wasn't cut out for this?  Maybe I was reading between the lines wrong?  Disappointed at best.
August 18, 2013-After contacting the principal, head of student services and the superintendent of the school district about enrolling Anna, we decide that we will keep trying to get a teaching job, but quit fighting tooth and nail to get Anna enrolled in school.  If God truly wants me there, he will provide a place for her as well and in his timing.  We will continue to homeschool until things open up.  If it is God's will, the doors will open. 
August 20, 2013-Looked on a local districts site that I had no intention of applying at and they have two positions open in grades I would love, kindergarten and first.  I stayed up till 10:30pm filling out the application in full and getting it turned in. 
August 21, 2013-Application is finished and all turned in.  Its done.  Not in my hands.
August 27, 2013-School has been in for 2 days.  I had a moment this morning where I almost packed Anna up and took her down to the school to say test her and find a place for her NOW!  It has somewhat passed now.
August 28, 2013-I received a phone call for an interview from Hart ISD.  I never even applied there.  They received my name and number from someone else.  I would accept, if it wasn't 1 and 1/2 hours away.  It is a very tempting offer, but all my money would go to gas to get there and back.  Driving 3 hours a day is not do-able.
August 28, 2013-Applied to Post on a new Pre-K position that was just added.  Chances of getting it are slim to none.
August 29, 2013-Called for an interview from Post.  I can't believe it.  Interview was more of an I will tell you about the school, and will you accept type of thing.  Went to district office and met Superintendent.  Met other teachers, saw room that could be mine.  I accepted.  I start Tuesday, September 3, 2013.
August 30, 2013-Filled out all the paperwork, worked in my room, signed a contract and enrolled Anna for a new school year.  I can't believe that this is happening.  I also worked in my room for a brief amount of time.  Had to go to my other job, so I did not get to stay long.  Anna is scared and excited at the same time, as am I.
August 31, 2013-Begin preparing for my new school year.  It's really hard to prepare a classroom and work another job.  Especially when the classroom is 45 minutes away.  I am starting to see reality.  I have a class list, and the other teachers decorated my door and placed names down for me on desks and in lockers.
September 1, 2013-Had another bad dream about all of this last night.  Nerves are taking over.  Need to find peace in God.  That's sometimes really hard for me to do.  We have been through so much and times have been trying.  Feel like I'm doing the wrong thing and just want to go back to my comfort zone.  This job is certainly not that.  J reassures me that I can do this and it is the right thing.  I need to stop dwelling on all the bad stuff and focus on the good.  Lord, please help me.  I printed out some color sheets on the topics we are studying.  It's not ideal, but I need something to get me by until I can get settled in.  Starting the new school year a week late and relying on the help of others is very hard for me emotionally.  I have had to humble myself and accept the help. 
September 3, 2013-First day was okay.  I am all kinds of emotions right now.  Not sure I'm cracked up to be a teacher anymore.
September 4, 2013-Today was a little bit better.  Still uneasy.  This is a big change.
September 12, 2013-Getting sick.  I've been here less than 2 weeks.  I can't call in yet.
September 13, 2013-Sicker than a dog.  Called in to both jobs.  Feel really bad about calling in.  Ran fever and chills all night long.  Went to the doctor.  Bronchial and throat infection.  It's knocked me down bad.
September 14, 2013-Called in to work again.  I am still so sick. 
September 15, 2013-Starting to feel better.  Still weak and light-headed.  But getting there.  I was pretty sick.  I don't usually get knocked down so hard.  Two jobs is starting to get to me.  Only two more weeks left.  I can do this. 
September 16, 2013-Back to teaching today.  Starting to feel better.
September 23, 2013-Sick again.  I need some rest so I can get well.  Oh well, back to work.
September 24, 2013-So tired.  Only 4 days left at Mardel.  I love working there, but I can not do both.  Too hard for me.
September 26, 2013-Missed lunch with co-workers today because of breathing treatments.  I can't seem to catch a break.
September 27, 2013-Called in to both jobs again.  Spent entire morning at the ER.  I could not get my asthma under control.  Ended up with a steroid shot, new antibiotics and a steroid dose pack. I also received two breathing treatments in there.  Hopefully I can get well after all this.  I am off work till Monday.
September 28, 2013-Missed my last day at Mardel.  I stopped by to turn in my keys.  They gave me some gift cards and good-bye cards.  Bought some stuff for my classroom.  So grateful for them, but feel bad that I couldn't work my last two days there. 

Life

Summer is coming, though not really for us.  We fell further behind in what I consider a normal school routine and we will be schooling all summer long again.  We will take one week off for horse camp, the first week in June, and another week off for my vacation and Family Day, the third week in June.  There are no other scheduled times off.  We are trying very hard to keep on grade level, but it doesn't always happen.  I will be talking with A's developmental specialist on her next appointment to see what they recommend as far as math.  We are still struggling with that, despite my best efforts to make it easier.

We are on the search for a new church home.  That is an undertaking.  We have a million and one churches in this area and finding the right fit for our family is hard.  It has to meet the needs of all three of us and not just any one person.  We are looking for a spirit-filled, Bible believing church with a good youth program and a good ladies ministry would be great as well.  Should be easy right?  Well, its not.  We have been to a few, but nothing has just pulled us in and said that this is home...at least not yet.  We will get there.

Jeremy's new job has been great.  He actually can have family emergencies and can tend to them without the fear of losing his job.  He has a great boss and he truly has a great job.

I have recently become assistant manager over the store I work at.  I am having a hard time with the transition.  I feel the need to try and fix things and make them right all the time, and I still want to do floor sets and help out in education.  I'm hoping that as time goes on I will learn how to rotate between departments better.  I have no doubt that this is where I'm supposed to be, but it is hard for me to adjust. 

As far as my health, I try to deal with things on a day-to-day basis.  I can't always do what I need to and that was part of my decision in switching roles at work.  My RA has started going downhill and I think that is partly because it is getting worse, and partly because I can't take NSAIDS any longer due to internal bleeding.  I didn't notice a difference right away, but it just gradually is getting worse.  I feel like I have no control over my days and feeling, because I really don't.  Random things will cause the most extreme pain now.  That's all I want to say about that though. 

I guess that's all for now.  I'm not much of an updater on here, but there also is never much to update.  Take care for those who still read.  Prayers always welcome.  Thanks.

How can you tell....

How can you tell if it is just pre-teen hormones, laziness or seriously a child with autism just doesn't get it?  How can you tell if it is time to throw in the towel or seek outside professional help?  How can you tell what kind of help your child needs if you can't figure it out for yourself?  How can you tell someone that you feel like a horrible mother when you can't figure out how to help your own child succeed in learning?  How can you tell if the whole world is falling apart?  How can you tell everyone who thinks you are strong and a super woman that you are hurting inside?  How can you tell them that you are lost in this fight to desperately help your child?  How can you tell someone who truly doesn't understand what its like to constantly have to re-train them over and over and over again with the same thing and still it doesn't sink in?  How can you tell them that your heart is hurting?  How can you tell.....

Christmas

How is it that Christmas has become so commercialized?  I love my job, but when we hit a major holiday like this, sometimes I wished I didn't work retail.  UGH!  Even at a Christian book store, the customers are all about the gift.  We will be having a much smaller Christmas at our house this year and in a way I am very glad.  I am tired of the commercialism of the whole world.  Its not about bigger and better items.  Christmas is about family and Jesus and spending time together.  I hope others realize this and spend the season celebrating with family and friends.  On the plus side, we have our Christmas lights up and I absolutely love the glow of the tree lights.  I'll try and post pictures on here soon.

Re-Hashing Old Experiences

My dear hubby applied for a job at the Police Department.  Everything would be fine and dandy, but they want to know everything about you from the time you were 17 on.  Houses, family members, groups you belong to, convictions (from traffic violations to anything else,) cars, insurance, bank accounts, debts, facebook, etc.  Also there is places for things like we have been through in the hellish times of our life that he will have to include.  I am not so sure this is the job for him anymore.  Having to list all that out and re-hash all those experiences will not be pleasant.  Sigh.  I'm not sure how this is going to go.  I never thought that all that would come up again, and here it is.  All for a job that I thought I wanted him to have.  :-(  I'm not sure I'm all cut out for this. 

One Year

We have now officially been in our house for one year.  So glad to have a house, but sometimes wonder if we did the right thing by buying a house.  It has been a struggle.  Getting the house was not the struggle, but repairing things that break down in and around a house is challenging.  We have repaired a fallen fence (like a month after we moved in), had the electric box outside replaced and now we are having plumbing issues.  It seems as if we might keep Drano in business!   Neither one of us in very handy, but we sure try, but this bathtub we have might cost us a fortune. The drain gets clogged after one week.  One week.  REALLY!!  I can't buy Drano once a week just to keep the drain clear.  That is ridiculous.  But, short of paying an arm and a leg for a plumber, which is next to impossible right now, we will continue to use Drano once a week. (But not till I get paid, so for this week, we just have to deal with water to our ankles.) 

In other news, Anna is working on schooling with me.  After going all summer long, we took one week off and then started right in on 5th grade work.  (4th grade math)  She is loving it and we are making good progress.  We are still behind in math, but she is mostly remembering what we have been studying.  We have our days, like one day this last week she forgot how to tell time to the hour, which we have been working on since Kindergarten.  She has known that for a long time, but it was just one of those things that we had to re-learn.  She does love horse club.  I wished I could pay for her to do it more than twice a month, but it just isn't possible.  Too expensive.  I also need to find her an orthodontist.  That girl is going to need braces.

I'm still working at the same ol' place.  I'm not exactly happy there right now.  There is a lack of authority there and we certainly need a take charge kind of person.  Oh and to top it all off, the person I wanted to be in our dept I was told couldn't and now the girl they put in will be leaving.  I so just want to say that I was right, but it won't serve any purpose.  I am currently waiting on the results of an MRI I had last week as well.  I sure wish I knew why they ran it.  I will be carrying my phone with me tomorrow at work.  I need to hear from them tomorrow.  Until then, I just worry about what it could be.  I try not to worry too much, but there's not a lot one can do.  At least I worked yesterday and that took my mind off it for a while.  I have been having several health issues lately, and I am trying to get some answers.

J's job is questionable, as always.  His bosses seem to make up rules to suit themselves and then write you up.  They have a common goal to make life miserable for everyone but themselves.  I am hoping that J won't have to be there too much longer, but its hard to look for a job when the one you have emotionally exhausts you, which is sometimes worse than physical exhaustion.

I guess that's all.  Still hard to believe that we have lived in our house for one year.  Still have lots that I want to do with the house too.  As J says we have 29 more years to get it done.  LOL!!  It may take me that long to get it the way I want it.  Now, its off to search for Christmas and birthday ideas for Anna.  She doesn't NEED anything else and we are in an in-between stage for toys and such.  I'll be glad to accept ideas from anyone who may have them.  LOL!!  Take care all.

School Front and then some...

Well, Anna and I will begin school on Monday, if all goes as planned.  We will still be finishing up a bit of last years math, but then will move on.  She is doing mostly 5th grade work.  We will continue to use Building Spelling skills for spelling, Bob Jones Reading 5 will start our year for reading, but I am going to try and change us over to mostly book studies.  We are currently in the planning phases for the first book.  Saxon Math will continue to be our math for now, provided she learns how to copy over the problems correctly and keeps everything lined up.  I'm testing this out, and may switch.  We are still really struggling with math.  She has made great strides though and is progressing, but it is still a daily struggle.  For history and science, I am at a loss.  My time is limited and so are my resources.  We are slowly buying some history books to read, but soon enough we will have to incorporate more.  She will definitely know about the people in history, but as far as geography, well, that is not getting done like I want.  She does read a map, when needed.  We have two large wall maps in our den, but I still think she needs more. Science, well, if you count horse club as science, then she will be getting science twice a month, LOL!!  Those are two big barriers.  We only have so much time with my full time work and homeschool group activities.  I will have to keep searching for something.  It will all work out, just writing it all down. 

As for other stuff, work is okay.  Things are changing and not everything is nice.  I work and that's all fine and dandy, but working with people who lack work ethic and morals is hard.  We have mostly a good crew, but not all.  It is a very demanding job and sometimes it just drains me completely.  The other day was good though.  We have a lady who homeschools and she came in and she is always uplifting to other homeschool moms.  It is always so encouraging to hear her talk to other moms about homeschooling and it shows that she has a true passion for it.  The other day I told her that and she just was over-joyed and happy that I work there and that I know what product we have and where to find it.  She made my day and she told me I made hers and that it was such a blessing to have me there.  I wished there were more days like that.  I really needed that this week.  She was such an encouragement to me.  I certainly need to hear encouraging words everyday.  It helps me cope with the stresses of life.  It helps me to also realize that other homeschooling moms have struggles too, even if it isn't the same as mine. 

Health wise, I am doing better in some respects.  The hysterectomy was a life saver.  I am glad that I had it done.  My RA has its ups and downs.  I have new things with it that have been bothering me lately, but I am trying to deal with it the best I can.  I am hoping to see a new RA doctor in Odessa as I am not crazy about the one that I have been seeing.  He is not good at all.  (We have nick named him Dr. Quack as he did not treat me right until I had insurance.  He actually refused.  Sad, huh?!)  Anyhow, as much as I hate to drive to another city almost two hours away, I need someone who takes a personal interest in me as a person.  I have a life to lead and would like to lead it in the best way possible.

I guess that's all for now.  I have three girls running the house and it is almost shower time.  (Anna is having a sleep over.)  I will update again in a few weeks, after we start school and things return to an almost normal again.