Well, my persistence paid off. Eighteen months, 4 resume submittals, 2 phone interviews, 2 in-person interviews, 1 technology test, 1 state AEPA elementary test, and 1 clear word from the Lord to be persistent. At first, I wasn't very excited about working full-time, but the thought of touching lives and helping others has filled my heart with joy. Plus, it will be nice to more than double our income. It's been hard living paycheck to paycheck and watching our savings diminish. Now we can finally breathe and afford to fix some things around the house.
When I had my interview on Thursday with the principal, she said, "I don't know why you weren't hired last October when you interviewed. Nothing on the notes from the previous principal indicates anything bad." I told her it just wasn't the right timing (I was 8 1/2 months pregnant with Josh, and it would have been way too much stress!) So I start next Monday. I'm not sure if it will be 3rd or 5th grade, but I'm excited about either!
When I was going through real estate school in June, I saw a guy in there who looked really familiar. It took me a few minutes to place him. I went up to him and asked if he had kids. When he said, "yes", I asked if he had a little girl named Monique. It turned out that his daughter had been in my 1st grade class 5 years ago. He said that they still talk about me and that Monique has fond memories of being in my class! That really touched my heart. I really didn't think I would be back in education for a long time, but I'm really excited to touch lives like I apparently touched Monique and her family's life.
Just recently, my former student teacher (who took my position when I had Corban) asked if I would ever go back into the classroom. I said, "No." Two months later, I have a teaching job. However, it's in the virtual classroom, and I'm very excited about the challenge and change associated with it. I'm excited to get to know students and their families.
I have to admit that this is the perfect job for me. I want to be with my two little ones full-time (with a little help from a babysitter - still working out those details), and I want to be at home (my absolute favorite place to be!) How nice is it that I get to work from home, get paid, and still get to see my kiddos all day?
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Persist
In February 2009, I applied for a job with Arizona Virtual Academy (AZVA) - an online K-12 school. The principal told me I needed to take an elementary ed test before I would qualify. So I took the test and passed. I re-applied and was told they weren't hiring at that time. But I heard God telling me to "persist." I submitted my application again last October right after Danny lost his job in Phoenix. I was sure I would get offered the job, but I never heard anything. I emailed the principal, but she never followed up with a job offer. I was bummed.
I wanted to pursue a way to make money from home without having to put my kids in daycare. Some friends in Phoenix (who are real estate agents) approached me about working for them. I've been working as their transaction coordinator for 10 months, handling the paperwork involved with listings and purchases. I really enjoy being a part of their team! The next step naturally seemed to be real estate school. So I went through the 3-week class this summer, with the assumption I would become a real estate agent myself and be able to supplement the family income even more. I've interviewed brokers but haven't felt at peace about any of them. Because of that, I still haven't taken the state test to get my license.
Three days ago, I remembered what God told me a year-and-a-half ago - to persist. So I emailed AZVA again. They said they were hiring so I submitted my application online and emailed the principal directly. I have an interview tomorrow afternoon. I'm excited and nervous, but I'm not worried. I know God's hand is in this, and I am choosing not to be anxious. He knows our future and knows what's best for our family. If His best is for me to start working full-time again (from home!), then I will trust Him and follow His lead.
This is the first time in my life I have actually prepared for an interview. I have typed out potential questions with some bullet-pointed answers. I am prepared and I will give it everything I've got. I have prayed lots about this job, and if I get a job offer, I know it will be because God's hand is in it. If I don't get the job, I will know that God has another plan for me - whether it involves working elsewhere, getting my real estate license, or just being at home full-time. Update coming...
I wanted to pursue a way to make money from home without having to put my kids in daycare. Some friends in Phoenix (who are real estate agents) approached me about working for them. I've been working as their transaction coordinator for 10 months, handling the paperwork involved with listings and purchases. I really enjoy being a part of their team! The next step naturally seemed to be real estate school. So I went through the 3-week class this summer, with the assumption I would become a real estate agent myself and be able to supplement the family income even more. I've interviewed brokers but haven't felt at peace about any of them. Because of that, I still haven't taken the state test to get my license.
Three days ago, I remembered what God told me a year-and-a-half ago - to persist. So I emailed AZVA again. They said they were hiring so I submitted my application online and emailed the principal directly. I have an interview tomorrow afternoon. I'm excited and nervous, but I'm not worried. I know God's hand is in this, and I am choosing not to be anxious. He knows our future and knows what's best for our family. If His best is for me to start working full-time again (from home!), then I will trust Him and follow His lead.
This is the first time in my life I have actually prepared for an interview. I have typed out potential questions with some bullet-pointed answers. I am prepared and I will give it everything I've got. I have prayed lots about this job, and if I get a job offer, I know it will be because God's hand is in it. If I don't get the job, I will know that God has another plan for me - whether it involves working elsewhere, getting my real estate license, or just being at home full-time. Update coming...
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
My son
So my 9-month-old wore a shirt today that says, "I'm definitely up to something." I don't know where the shirt came from, but I found it in a box of his clothes recently. It's the perfect shirt for him. He's such a funny little guy who's added so much energy and joy to my life. He is always up to something. He has the greatest sense of humor, and I can already visualize him as the class clown someday. He refuses 95% of all solid food and will squint his face and give me a cheesy grin when I try to coerce him to eat. Tonight, I kept trying to make him laugh so I could sneak a spoonful of food into his mouth. He would laugh and then shut his lips tight as soon as the spoon got close, or he would laugh with his mouth closed. Such a sneaky little boy.
He couldn't care less about food, really. You can eat in front of him, and the only reason he'll even look at your food is to see if he can make a mess with it. I watched a friend's baby recently who was born the same day as Josh. I ate a bowl of food in front of her, and she was climbing all over me to see what I was eating. Josh, on the other hand, didn't care that I was eating. He's never cared - which is quite the opposite of my daughter's early affection for food. He also won't take a bottle. So, needless, to say, he is my sidekick wherever I go.
Josh is quite a fun little "buddy" (his nickname). I am so blessed to be his mommy. He and Corban (the 2 1/2 year old) make the perfect pair (even though she still secretly wishes he would go back to where he came from). Today, Corban was crawling around the floor, and Josh was chasing her; he was laughing and laughing at her. I joined in on the fun, and we all had a blast together. Yesterday, we were jumping on the bed - all having lots of laughs together!
If Josh is getting into something that I don't want him to play with, I'll say, "Joshy, what are you doing?" And he'll look at me with a big smile and big eyes. He loves noises, really loud noises, really really loud noises, and being scared - he will jump if you scare him, then laugh and laugh (quite the opposite of the ladies in the house who hate being scared!!)... he loves vacuums and chasing the vacuum as I clean, anything with wheels, bouncing the ball (a skill his sister is still working on). If I lose Josh in the house, chances are that I can find him in the bathroom, standing at the bathtub, wondering how to get the bath water on. He loves baths, and I predict he will be quite the swimmer someday. He loves watching boys; I think he is jealous that he can't walk or run like they can! I don't think it'll be much longer before he can walk - he's taking steps while holding my hands and starting to cruise along the couch.
When Josh gets excited, he makes this noise that sounds like a wolf howling. If he sees a fan, he does it. If he's somewhere new, he does it. Speaking of which, Josh LOVES to be out and about. We are such homebodies (the other 3 of us), but he loves to go and see and do. If he's fussy, I take him with me to run errands, and he's usually happy the whole time! Josh also flaps his arms, squeals, and dances when he's excited. It's very cute! I love to see his emerging personality become more defined everyday!!
At 9 months, he still isn't sleeping through the night. I've come to the realization that it's probably not going to happen until he's eating solids. I just don't think he's getting enough calories to sustain himself all night long. I keep telling myself that it's a phase in life that will eventually pass (and that I will never again have another newborn!!)
Well, that's everything you have ever wanted to know about Josh... and more, I'm sure!
He couldn't care less about food, really. You can eat in front of him, and the only reason he'll even look at your food is to see if he can make a mess with it. I watched a friend's baby recently who was born the same day as Josh. I ate a bowl of food in front of her, and she was climbing all over me to see what I was eating. Josh, on the other hand, didn't care that I was eating. He's never cared - which is quite the opposite of my daughter's early affection for food. He also won't take a bottle. So, needless, to say, he is my sidekick wherever I go.
Josh is quite a fun little "buddy" (his nickname). I am so blessed to be his mommy. He and Corban (the 2 1/2 year old) make the perfect pair (even though she still secretly wishes he would go back to where he came from). Today, Corban was crawling around the floor, and Josh was chasing her; he was laughing and laughing at her. I joined in on the fun, and we all had a blast together. Yesterday, we were jumping on the bed - all having lots of laughs together!
If Josh is getting into something that I don't want him to play with, I'll say, "Joshy, what are you doing?" And he'll look at me with a big smile and big eyes. He loves noises, really loud noises, really really loud noises, and being scared - he will jump if you scare him, then laugh and laugh (quite the opposite of the ladies in the house who hate being scared!!)... he loves vacuums and chasing the vacuum as I clean, anything with wheels, bouncing the ball (a skill his sister is still working on). If I lose Josh in the house, chances are that I can find him in the bathroom, standing at the bathtub, wondering how to get the bath water on. He loves baths, and I predict he will be quite the swimmer someday. He loves watching boys; I think he is jealous that he can't walk or run like they can! I don't think it'll be much longer before he can walk - he's taking steps while holding my hands and starting to cruise along the couch.
When Josh gets excited, he makes this noise that sounds like a wolf howling. If he sees a fan, he does it. If he's somewhere new, he does it. Speaking of which, Josh LOVES to be out and about. We are such homebodies (the other 3 of us), but he loves to go and see and do. If he's fussy, I take him with me to run errands, and he's usually happy the whole time! Josh also flaps his arms, squeals, and dances when he's excited. It's very cute! I love to see his emerging personality become more defined everyday!!
At 9 months, he still isn't sleeping through the night. I've come to the realization that it's probably not going to happen until he's eating solids. I just don't think he's getting enough calories to sustain himself all night long. I keep telling myself that it's a phase in life that will eventually pass (and that I will never again have another newborn!!)
Well, that's everything you have ever wanted to know about Josh... and more, I'm sure!
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