employed.

It's official, I will be a full time teacher next fall! I interviewed last week and was told that I would be give the job but I've had to keep it hush hush until last night when the school board finalized it at their meeting. I could not be happier. I am at a school that I am familiar with, working with my mentor teacher, and with the best students.

I already am spending my days dreaming about what I want to do. I am slowly making a list of crafty projects that I want to complete, how I want to design my bulletin boards, and my plan for the first day of school. I will probably spend the day at school tomorrow since it's the last day and I can tell the kids i'll be teaching there next year and wishing them a happy summer.

The amount of things that had to happen just right in order for me to be able to get this job makes me thank God every day. I truly feel like he knew this is where I was meant to be and he made it happen. This school has impacted me so much in just a year and I can't wait to see what will happen in the future.

His Plan.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. - Jeremiah 29:11

How do you know that you are following the plans of the Lord? Recently I have received some news that had been the answer to my prayers. I was overjoyed and full of happiness, thanking God immensely for what he had done in my life. Shortly thereafter, I realized that there were some complications to this news and it wouldn't be as easy and full of joy as I thought.

Initially, I cried. I wondered, why is this so hard, how come I am forced to make this decision? That night happened to be the night for my small group bible study. As we were reading we came across the story of Jereboam and how the Lord told him exactly what to do, and he did the opposite. We started talking about our lives and if we are following the plan that God has laid out for us. It made me stop and think, I know that God has made this happen for a reason and now I need to trust in the rest of his plan. I can't be thankful for one part but then weeping about not knowing the rest. God is all knowing and I need to trust in that and believe that he will make the future fall into place. I am turning my heart to the Lord and really going to pray hard this week. I'm praying for clarity, patience, and an open heart to accept what he has waiting or me. 

What are you praying for this week? 

Where do I go?

I mentioned in my intro that I am currently working as a substitute teacher. While this is really easy and simple, I find that it isn't very rewarding. I really miss being in the same classroom every day and having those relationships with my students. I had the best student teaching experience and I miss it a lot. I see some of the kids when I'm subbing but obviously it's not the same.

As I begin this job hunt I have been praying a lot for God to give me direction in my search. I am torn between wanting to stay at home and find a job that is close and local or moving about four hours away to where my boyfriend lives. Obviously I want to be closer to my boyfriend but I also feel like I have some very promising opportunities over here. He recently started a new job that he loves and so I feel bad asking him to leave that. It is quite the dilemma. I know that there are jobs that won't come available for a couple more weeks so I need to be patient but that it not one of my strong suits. I keep reminding myself that having faith means also having faith in God's timing and that is what I'm holding on to at the moment.

If I had a dollar for how many times people asked, 'hows the job hunt?' I think I would be rich and I could just give up the hunt. It is the topic of conversation everywhere I go. Talk about pressure...

- J