In the book of Ecclesiastes God talks about a season for every activity. Man-am I in a season right now. I have lots of activity, and lots of anxiety. God must be talking to me. As I write this I have a rumbly in my tumbly because this week begins the week of big changes, and my tummy gets nervous with big change.
Two years ago we moved to our home here in Eastlake. It was so exciting for Shan and I to move into our first home. I was super pregnant so I loved moving in because basically I just bossed everyone around and waited for our furniture to be delivered. The only down side to that was I was going to be commuting about 40 minutes each way to work. In my heart I knew that some how things would have to change. Then we had Noah, and he rocked our world. I mean he is amazing, hilarious, and the perfect blend of Shannon and I. Sometimes we just trip out about how Noah came from both of us. Back on track-so I have been really praying about trying to figure out how to work down here, so that once Noah goes to school we would be on the same schedule. I LOVE my job, and I LOVE Montgomery but I knew that eventually for our families sanity I would need to work closer to home.
Thus the season of-praying, and waiting for the Lord to give me the balls to look into switching districts.
Then last school year I started looking into switching districts. I learned that I would lose all my tenure, take an initial pay cut, and that it is virtually impossible to get into the districts down here by my house. I talked with numerous teachers, neighbors, and even the human resource department and got no where. So I emailed a principal at one of the two elementary schools in my neighborhood and asked if I could be on the SSC (school site council) as a community member. It's a committee that goes over school budgets, overseas school events, and the other school committees have to report to the SSC. He graciously allowed me to join.
Thus the season of-sitting silently, listening, and learning about my neighborhood schools. God is pretty funny because if you know me-I am not quiet. This was a particularly difficult season for me to accept.
This school year I continued on the SSC. Every week I would check the job boards and there was nothing. Then the news came out about all the budget cuts and layoffs. I had been with my school for 9 years and even I was being excessed. I was told I was being excessed in February. It was upsetting but I knew that I had to just trust and be patient. Then in April my principal called me and said that I would be able to stay at Montgomery. I was so excited and happy!
Thus the season of celebrating and breathing a sigh of relief!
There are two school districts down here. One is elementary, and the other is the middle/high schools. Once spring break was over the job boards were released. I just looked at them for fun to see what was out there...There was nothing in the middle/high school district except math and science. We all know that if I taught math the students would be officially dumber, plus I am not certified to teach it. However there were 80 positions in the elementary district. I decided to see what would happen if I applied for them. I wasn't really into it because I love middle school and the thought of teaching elementary kids was not pleasant. I mean I would totally make them cry. I felt the holy spirit telling me it was time and to trust God. So I applied for 19 upper elementary positions cursing the whole time.
Thus the season of obeying.
About mid May I started getting phone calls, and going to interviews. In my heart I was doing this for my son, but I kept begging God for the plan. I went to 6 different interviews, and at every one of them I would pray for discernment before hand. Every time I could not see myself working there, or I would turn down the position. I figured that I would use the experience of interviewing to get my name out there and get a feel for the district. Then it happened. There was a post for a 7th grade English position. I was baffled as Chula Vista is a elementary district and all the schools at k-6. This position was perfect and the school was exactly one mile from my house. I immediately applied and didn't hear a thing for 1 month.
Thus the season of-listening, chill out, shut up, and stop worrying.
Then I was in my car and got a phone call. Of course I illegally answered my phone and almost screamed when they asked my to come in the next day for an interview. The next morning I went got to the interview and heard that they were interviewing about 40 others for this position. The panel had 10 women, and they told me I had 20 minutes to answer the 8 questions. My heart was pounding so loud, and I was a sweaty mess. They kept me in the interview for 56 minutes. Then the principal called me two days later and offered me the job.
Thus the season of-sweatin it out, and rejoicing.
Then the anxiety kicked in. I would have to leave my school, lose my tenure, tell my boss, take a pay cut, and most importantly tell my kids. My new principal knew what a sacrifice I was making so she called me in for a special meeting and told me that she would do whatever it took for me to feel comfortable accepting the new position. She even told me that Noah would be able to come to school here. I couldn't believe it. Last week as the news started to spread around school I started getting really sad. My students started crying, I was crying, and stressed out. Plus I started packing 10 years of teaching and storing it in my garage. I did take the time to make a cute new sign for my classroom.
Thus the season of-sadness, and a achy back from moving.
This week is my last week at Montgomery. My last day is on Thursday, and I start at my new school on Friday. No summer break for me as school starts on July 20th. This new job is too perfect for me. I am literally starting a new middle school within a school-the team of teacher's and I are going to be trailblazers. It is every teacher's dream to start a school from scratch. I am beyond excited about it, but I will definitely be leaving a piece of my heart behind. I have alot of anxiety about the new changes. Will I make new friends at my new school? Will they like me? What are my students like? What the heck am I going to teach and how am I going to teach it? When will the construction be done so I can move into my new classroom? (I will be more than happy to accept helpers for move in day)
Thus the season for-dreaming, questioning, sleepless nights, and saying goodbye.
So I got this brilliant idea that I would ride my bike to school. Shan got me a bike this weekend, and I named her Tiffany. I rode it home from the Trek store, and then today I did a trial run to work. I rode there and back in 21 minutes. It was hard. There is a big hill, and I was super sweaty when I got home. I should look great at work all sweaty. I will be known as that crazy granola teacher that sweats alot.
Thus the season of-getting my butt in shape.
I am really excited and scared and I am sure that I will be blogging about my new adventures at my new school. It is so exciting and I feel so blessed. I told someone the other day that I couldn't even have written this teaching position for myself because it is too perfect. I do know that it is going to be a great adventure.
Two years ago we moved to our home here in Eastlake. It was so exciting for Shan and I to move into our first home. I was super pregnant so I loved moving in because basically I just bossed everyone around and waited for our furniture to be delivered. The only down side to that was I was going to be commuting about 40 minutes each way to work. In my heart I knew that some how things would have to change. Then we had Noah, and he rocked our world. I mean he is amazing, hilarious, and the perfect blend of Shannon and I. Sometimes we just trip out about how Noah came from both of us. Back on track-so I have been really praying about trying to figure out how to work down here, so that once Noah goes to school we would be on the same schedule. I LOVE my job, and I LOVE Montgomery but I knew that eventually for our families sanity I would need to work closer to home.
Thus the season of-praying, and waiting for the Lord to give me the balls to look into switching districts.
Then last school year I started looking into switching districts. I learned that I would lose all my tenure, take an initial pay cut, and that it is virtually impossible to get into the districts down here by my house. I talked with numerous teachers, neighbors, and even the human resource department and got no where. So I emailed a principal at one of the two elementary schools in my neighborhood and asked if I could be on the SSC (school site council) as a community member. It's a committee that goes over school budgets, overseas school events, and the other school committees have to report to the SSC. He graciously allowed me to join.
Thus the season of-sitting silently, listening, and learning about my neighborhood schools. God is pretty funny because if you know me-I am not quiet. This was a particularly difficult season for me to accept.
This school year I continued on the SSC. Every week I would check the job boards and there was nothing. Then the news came out about all the budget cuts and layoffs. I had been with my school for 9 years and even I was being excessed. I was told I was being excessed in February. It was upsetting but I knew that I had to just trust and be patient. Then in April my principal called me and said that I would be able to stay at Montgomery. I was so excited and happy!
Thus the season of celebrating and breathing a sigh of relief!
There are two school districts down here. One is elementary, and the other is the middle/high schools. Once spring break was over the job boards were released. I just looked at them for fun to see what was out there...There was nothing in the middle/high school district except math and science. We all know that if I taught math the students would be officially dumber, plus I am not certified to teach it. However there were 80 positions in the elementary district. I decided to see what would happen if I applied for them. I wasn't really into it because I love middle school and the thought of teaching elementary kids was not pleasant. I mean I would totally make them cry. I felt the holy spirit telling me it was time and to trust God. So I applied for 19 upper elementary positions cursing the whole time.
Thus the season of obeying.
About mid May I started getting phone calls, and going to interviews. In my heart I was doing this for my son, but I kept begging God for the plan. I went to 6 different interviews, and at every one of them I would pray for discernment before hand. Every time I could not see myself working there, or I would turn down the position. I figured that I would use the experience of interviewing to get my name out there and get a feel for the district. Then it happened. There was a post for a 7th grade English position. I was baffled as Chula Vista is a elementary district and all the schools at k-6. This position was perfect and the school was exactly one mile from my house. I immediately applied and didn't hear a thing for 1 month.
Thus the season of-listening, chill out, shut up, and stop worrying.
Then I was in my car and got a phone call. Of course I illegally answered my phone and almost screamed when they asked my to come in the next day for an interview. The next morning I went got to the interview and heard that they were interviewing about 40 others for this position. The panel had 10 women, and they told me I had 20 minutes to answer the 8 questions. My heart was pounding so loud, and I was a sweaty mess. They kept me in the interview for 56 minutes. Then the principal called me two days later and offered me the job.
Thus the season of-sweatin it out, and rejoicing.
Then the anxiety kicked in. I would have to leave my school, lose my tenure, tell my boss, take a pay cut, and most importantly tell my kids. My new principal knew what a sacrifice I was making so she called me in for a special meeting and told me that she would do whatever it took for me to feel comfortable accepting the new position. She even told me that Noah would be able to come to school here. I couldn't believe it. Last week as the news started to spread around school I started getting really sad. My students started crying, I was crying, and stressed out. Plus I started packing 10 years of teaching and storing it in my garage. I did take the time to make a cute new sign for my classroom.
Thus the season of-sadness, and a achy back from moving.
This week is my last week at Montgomery. My last day is on Thursday, and I start at my new school on Friday. No summer break for me as school starts on July 20th. This new job is too perfect for me. I am literally starting a new middle school within a school-the team of teacher's and I are going to be trailblazers. It is every teacher's dream to start a school from scratch. I am beyond excited about it, but I will definitely be leaving a piece of my heart behind. I have alot of anxiety about the new changes. Will I make new friends at my new school? Will they like me? What are my students like? What the heck am I going to teach and how am I going to teach it? When will the construction be done so I can move into my new classroom? (I will be more than happy to accept helpers for move in day)
Thus the season for-dreaming, questioning, sleepless nights, and saying goodbye.
So I got this brilliant idea that I would ride my bike to school. Shan got me a bike this weekend, and I named her Tiffany. I rode it home from the Trek store, and then today I did a trial run to work. I rode there and back in 21 minutes. It was hard. There is a big hill, and I was super sweaty when I got home. I should look great at work all sweaty. I will be known as that crazy granola teacher that sweats alot.
Thus the season of-getting my butt in shape.
I am really excited and scared and I am sure that I will be blogging about my new adventures at my new school. It is so exciting and I feel so blessed. I told someone the other day that I couldn't even have written this teaching position for myself because it is too perfect. I do know that it is going to be a great adventure.
Ecclesiastes 3
1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
There is also a time for eating pizza on a stick!
I love your blog. Keep it up!
ReplyDeleteGreat blog, Charissa! (And you have BIG balls!) You are meant for this new position and I am so proud of you for taking such a big leap into unknowingness and trusting in Him to take the wheel. :) In Yiddish, we have a term called B'Shert. It means "fated, blessed, and meant to be." This next step in your life is B'Shert. Enjoy it and know your "summer" will come. :)
ReplyDeleteLove you, mama,
Drea