This has the potential to be a long post, but I wanted to make sure I documented this somewhere because it's been such a journey. When we decided to make the move to NE a few years ago, it was one of the most difficult decisions we had ever made. After a year and a half of searching for jobs, we made the true leap of faith and decided to just trust God and make the move. Once committing, within the month I had a job offer in Omaha, and we were making more definitive plans. It was a long process to get there, but once things started happening, the reason for the timing was made clear.
We moved here in July of 2010, and I started teaching at my school that August. I was so anxious and eager to get started and accept the challenge of teaching in a public school system. During that first year here, we figured out where we wanted to live, where we wanted our child(ren) to go to school, and what church we wanted to call home. Of course, all of these things just happened to not be anywhere near my school. :) I knew I was coming in to a great district, but deep down I also knew I didn't always want to be in this district. About two years in, I knew I wanted to make the jump to a district closer to our house but I was dragging my feet for no good reason. Then last year happened, and it was hands down the most difficult school year of my career. It was time for a change.
I began the tidious process of filling out applications for three local districts, all of which are closer to our house...our lives. At the same time, my teaching partner and good friend was doing the same thing. This was horrible because we couldn't really even talk with each other about it without the obvious awkwardness that would accompany those conversations. Long story short, she had an interview and was hired in February of last year. I was devastated. I had not heard anything, I was desperate to get out, and I was trying to put my game face on and be excited for my friend and the exciting opportunity and blessing for her. A few weeks after, I had an interview with the same district that hired her. I rocked my interview, but apparently that was not enough. I was not hired in that district. I applied for 15 jobs in the same district that we live in...not one single interview. I couldn't figure out for the life of me what was wrong and why these people wouldn't want me! During this whole heartbreaking process I was also told that I would be changing grade levels the next year. I was NOT thrilled with this, but graciously agreed to this favor for my principal while throwing a complete fit in my head (and at home :) ). During these months I cried, and I cried, and I cried, and I cried some more after that! I knew deep down God had a plan, but I was REALLY wanting Him to align it with mine, and that just wasn't happening, ha! And then this school year started...
I will admit--I started this year with a really bad attitude. I spent my summer still trying to get a job elsewhere, and I really wasn't thrilled about learning a whole new curriculum. Well I am pleased to say that I have had what is quite possibly the best year of my career. My children this year are absolutely amazing! I genuinely look forward to spending my days with them, and for the first time in a LONG time I don't know how many days there are until summer break! Even though my kids are fabulous this year, I knew I still wanted to be in a district closer to home, so in November I broke the news to my new principal that I would be applying elsewhere, and in January I started the tidious process again. I was trying to not put any feeling into it, but I found I was only kidding myself. Every email was scrutinized, every morning and night were spent checking the websites for posted jobs.
We were praying and praying for God's will to happen in all of this and playing the waiting game. I was hearing from my friend who got the job in the other district last year that they had done all their hiring for the year. I was hearing from people in Lainey's school district that hiring would be very slim this year as they were just doing a lot of internal shuffling. The outlook was looking very bleak for me, and I was spending a lot of time throwing myself pity parties.
Right after Spring Break I got the text that a teacher at our school was hired in another district. I was just leaving the gym, and it took everything in me not to burst out in tears in front of the whole YMCA! :) I got in my car and Jeremy Camp's "Right Here" was playing on the radio. I was imediately flooded with emotions because this song is very special to me. This song was playing when I got in my car after being offered a job with SCS after I had just accepted a job with CDS. I was torn with my decision, but I knew while I was listening to that song that God was telling me that He was going to take care of me and this is the path He wanted. I knew when I heard that song a few weeks ago that He was trying to talk to me again and assure me He had it all under control. After three more people at my school announced they were leaving for other positions, I was begnning to lose it a little! And then it all got crazy...
Within a week I had two interviews with two different districts--one close to home, and one even closer to home-the district we live in. I was offered a 5th grade position in the district that we do not live in, but it is 2.7 miles from my front door to my classroom. I cannot express how wonderful that is! That takes 20 minutes off my drive and saves me a grand total of 40 minutes a day! After a year of praying and praying and wondering why things weren't working out, it was all made clear. I needed my class this year. I needed to learn some things about people in my life. I needed a job 5 minutes from home. God knew all of this and worked everything out in His perfect timing. I just needed to be patient and watch it all unfold, no matter how difficult that was, ha!
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I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little nervous about a new school, new curriculum, and new co-workers, but I can't wait to start this new chapter of life!
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