A NEW JOB!

Well, it's kind of old news by now, but I'll tell it again! I got a job!

About two weeks ago, I received a call from a school up in Northern California (so sue me, I consider Monterey to be NorCal) asking if I'd be interested in interviewing for a 2nd grade position that they had open. "Sure!" I replied. Unfortunately, though, they were holding the interviews on Monday in front of a panel of people from the school district. Why is that unfortunate? Because, folks, as you'll notice in the blog post below this, I was in Branson, Missouri!

I was so excited, though, even to be considered. Honestly, it's discouraging trying to find a job. I know that the Lord's in control, and that whatever He has planned for my life is what's going to happen. I know that even if I don't have a job, there are so many ministry opportunities out there! In fact, I was just talking with a friend this morning about the privilege it is to be unemployed. Think of all the people you are able to help and serve. Think of the last-minute needs that you are able to meet since you are available and willing. Think of the people's lives that you can impact by showing them a patience and sole reliance on the Lord for a job, in whatever timing He determines!

Anyway, to be called for an interview got my spirits up, even if it didn't work out. About 15 minutes later, though, I received another phone call from the principal asking if I might be interested in a combination 7th/8th grade class that they also had an opening for. Again, I said, "Sure!"

Just a brief interlude... I have to say, I am a woman of an extensive vocabulary, prolific writing ability, and pretty darn good grammar. And yet, whenever I am in an awkward or exciting situation, I say the most ridiculous things like "sure!" over and over again! :)

The principal mentioned that she could hold an extra interview session for me, but it wouldn't be in front of the committee. We made all the arrangements, and last Friday, I drove up to Soledad, CA and interviewed! I did jump the gun a little bit (I was really nervous about being there on time) so I spent the night at Uncle Tom and Aunt Jacque's house in La Conchita, and then left at 6:00 am and drove up the 101... but I ended up getting there at 10:00 for my 11:00 interview - oops!

Mrs. Bozzo didn't seem to mind, though, and we started the interview right away. I definitely thought it had gone well and after an hour and a half of talking, we were done! She showed me the classroom I 'may' be working in, along with the Smart Board! It's a nice room, with high ceilings and great, natural lighting.

And with that, I left! She said that they would be making a decision by early this week, and lo and behold, she called me yesterday (Monday) at noon to let me know that I got it!!!



I wanted to share it with everybody! I don't know when or where I'm moving to, but I'm looking into Salinas, the Monterey peninsula, King City, Paso Robles, and a couple other cities that are nearby! Please be praying for this transition and this new season of my life, that I'll be seeking God's will every step of the way.

And... here are some snaps from around Soledad, right near the school! (Sorry, none of the school, I didn't want to be a creeper!)

Dixie Stampede!

Oh. my. gosh.

Let me apologize before I begin to anyone who happens to be from Missouri. This is in no way meant to be insulting. It might just be the culture shock talking.

I am in Branson, Missouri. 'Nuff said.

I went to Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede tonight. Want to know what I did?


First, I had to get a ticket to the theatre. Nope, not theatre. Theee-ay-durr. The inflection goes up on the 'ay' in case you're sitting there, saying it aloud :) Then, once I got to the theatre, the gal with the big 'ole "Gone With the Wind" dress showed me where to go. I took a seat and sat down to see the "pre-show," which the lady at our hotel told me that I just HAD to see! It was a man juggling. It made me smile as I sat there, drinking a Shirley Temple from my "Dixie Stampede" boot-shaped plastic cup (TOTALLY bringing it home with me, don't worry. You can use it too.) thinking that I had come an hour and a half early to see this guy.


On into the horse arena, we were corraled by the folks in their 'Confederate' and 'Union' attire. I happened to be sitting on the Southern side... so apparently I had to be pro-slavery... still not sure that I'm okay with that. Anyway, went to my seat, met the nice guy and his family sitting to my left who were from Indiana and the sweet old couple on my right who were from Arkansas. Yep, you guessed it. Both were here on their family vacations. To Branson, Missouri.


Then, the show started. I cannot put into words what I saw. I hope you watch the YouTube clip from the link below, because it does some justice to it. Or perhaps you've been? Then you can relate. First, there was the host guy who came out and told us we had taken sides and were going back in time. I, as I mentioned, was rooting for the South to win. Then, they presented us with a quick skit of how America came to be.

Everyone should know this. First, there were the random horses that walked around the land. Then came the Cherokee who wore the glow-in-the-dark clothing who chanted and shot off a firework. Oh, and I shouldn't forget the glow-in-the-dark lady dressed as a butterfly that flew around too. Very PC. Next, the settlers came and built their forts. Then, the Gold Rush. Let me just say, they didn't even mention California. All they said was everyone went "West." C'mon! Give us some credit! This is where we got to take a break for a square dance "Dixie style" aka on horseback. It was cute. And finally, we came to America's history when the Civil War happened. Note: they never actually said "Civil War," just "North vs. South" Hmmm... they probably don't want people like me being all like, "I don't like this, I don't like slavery!" but again, that's besides the point.

Which brings us to the Civil War. We had to 'compete' against the North in order to see who 'wins'. I don't remember what order they were in, but here's a list of the games we played/watched:
- three riders and horses from each team racing around barrels
- three riders and horses from each team weaving in and out of the barrels
- three riders and horses putting flags into a barrel
- four little kids chasing after chickens
- four couples riding around on those horse-head pole things
- mini horses racing one another (one was 'North' and one was 'South')
- jumbo-horseshoe tossing
- six little pigs racing around the arena

Just even reliving it makes me laugh really hard :) It was awesome! So funny, and such (oh, it better be!) a once-in-a-lifetime thing!

The only bad thing about the whole evening? We won. Yep, slavery is alive and well in Branson, MO.

YouTube - Dixie Stampede Dinner Attraction

home again, home again

Can you believe it? 10 months, come and gone!

This year seems like a whirlwind; was it really almost a year since I was home? Since I drove my truck? Since I played with my puppy?

I've heard that life seems to just speed up from here, that all the years start blurring together... but I really want to focus on what I've learned and where I've been. I was able to spend some time thinking in London, when I was able to go walking or wandering around the city, and I feel like God taught me so much about who I am, what true needs I have, and who I want to be, being so far away this year.

He showed me how to be flexible most of all. Other than at school, time was considered to be ... let's call it 'interpretive' :) Sometimes it was frustrating, especially in the beginning, but more towards the middle and end of my time in Kampala, I realized that it's okay to be flexible with meeting times, especially because the focus should be on the people rather than the time. I know many African countries (and many Central American countries too, according to American friends who are there) place the importance not on a meeting or dinner or what not, but on the people who are going to be there - which is why it doesn't matter WHEN you arrive, just that you DO! At first, it was hard to adapt to that mentality, but I feel that I have changed... there doesn't always need to be a set time to stick with, or even a set schedule for that matter!

I also think that the Lord really worked on my heart in being more patient with others. Especially when it came to my co-workers. It was incredibly hard for me to adjust in the beginning. Not that people would 'lie' about doing something, but several of the other teachers would say one thing and do another. Or I'd ask them to do something for such-and-such a class, but it wouldn't ever happen... which was really hard to deal with. I didn't understand why commitments weren't followed through with, or why no one would volunteer to help when there was a chance to assist. Everything seemed to fall upon me to do, and was hard as a first-year teacher in a brand new setting without any familiar resources or help, to get things done. But through a few of the teachers, the Lord showed me how to have a heart for my co-workers, even when they didn't get the lesson done, I could still care about them and have patience. I can still choose to love on them, to try and adapt to meet their needs as well, and to pray for them as well. I met some of the neatest ladies who had some amazing life stories working in Kampala, and I am so thankful for their grace on me, as well as their hospitality and friendship.

The Lord also totally refined me in my teaching style. (Not that I'm perfect yet, but I've definitely figured out my 'hard' areas that I need to work on... I think I may just be a constant work-in-progess for a while...) He showed me how my faith can take on a role in my teaching. When I had been student teaching in California, I hadn't really thought to pray for each of my kids. Maybe it was that I had 33 kids, or that it was SLO, and no one has problems in SLO, right? (I'm totally kidding.) I think it was mostly that what I saw as my 'mission field' while I was student teaching was more to the other teachers, rather than to my students.

At Heritage, teaching at a Christian school, it became common for me to ask my kiddos for prayer requests and praises. I know that I am legally not allowed to do THAT in California, but what's the harm in praying for them regardless? My constant prayer for the upcoming school year is that I wouldn't forget or become lazy in my prayer life to be bringing my (potential) students before the Throne. He is the only One who can change their hearts, minds, and souls, but I can still set an example with how I act and how I show them grace.

Oh, but I loved teaching. I am so thankful that God has blessed me with the gift of teaching. Almost every day, after I'd get over the initial "But I don't want to go to school!" tantrum within myself, I went to school thankful and joyful to be with my students. Yes, they drove me nuts. Yes, they didn't do their homework. Yes, they got in trouble sometimes. But I loved teaching them. And I think (well, they might tell you otherwise) that they enjoyed it too. We had a lot of laughs, and a whole bunch of silly memories that we rehashed at the end of the year. We had some tears, read through some sad stories, and went through struggles in life together. I couldn't have asked for a better first year of teaching.

Uganda had its ups and downs, its laughter and its tears. I am so thankful to be home safely, and yet I'll always remember those kids and the impact that that country had on me. It was interesting leaving, knowing that I may never see those sixth graders or those teachers again. I know we'll always have facebook (haha) but it was definitely a melancholy departure from a place I had come to know and love and care for very much.

Who knows? Maybe one of these days I'll go back :)