Interviews starts the New Year off right

Monday is New Year's Day! I'm starting off the new year with two interviews. One is in OH and the other one is in TX. Inbetween the two interviews, I am traveling back down to Dallas.
Side bar....did not have a whtie christmas, basically no snow at all while I am home. I wanted my snow.
Tuesday, at 9 am, I have an interview at a charter school here in the Akron area. I do not have my OH teaching certificate, it expired back in 2003. I have to get two different transcripts (one is for the school I am applying to), fill out an application, and pay $60 to get my OH teaching certificate. Back in October, when I was on the website for this school, I did read that they teach ADAHD students, and others who have a harder time in the regular environment. I know it is teaching math and science, but not sure what grade. I do prefer my intermediate grades.
Thursday, in the afternoon, I am interviewing for a recruiter position at a college in the area. This position recruits high school students to go to this school. Actually, in the past, I thought it would be fun to travel to the different job fairs and talk about the school district or school and recruit prospective teachers to that district or school.
This morning in my devotions, I read from John where Jesus talks (about himself) how a seed will only grow and produce new seed once it has died and is buried. That got me to thinking and praying about my dreams/desires. One of my heart's desires was given to me. I did have my classroom and taught at one school for a few years. I am not sure what my dream is now. But it has died and has been buried. I wrote about this in my diary this morning.

The Teachers' Days Before Christmas

'Twas the days before Christmas

And all through the school,

The teachers were trying

To just keep their cool.

The hallways were hung

With Christmas art

(Some made in November

to get a head start!)

The children were bouncing

Off ceilings and walls,

And seemed to forget

How to walk in the halls.

When out of the teacher's lounge

With "holiday shirts"

And "jingle bell jewels,"

The teachers looked festive

Enforcing the rules.

Suddenly, from down the hallway

There came such a chatter,

The principal went in

To see what was the matter.

The teachers were hiding

And trying to refuel,

On coffee and cookies

And treats from the Yule,

When what do their wondering

Ears do they hear,

But the ringing of school bells

-It's the children they fear!

More rapid than reindeer

The little ones came,

And the teachers all shouted

And called them by name;

Walk, Vincent! Walk, Tanner!

Walk, Tyler and Sammy!

Sit, Jamie! Sit, Laura!

Sit, Tara and Tammy!

To your desks in the room!

To your spots in the line!

Now walk to them! Walk to them!

No running this time!

So straight to their places

The children all went.

With fear of detention

Where they could be sent.

With manuals of lessons

Cradled in arms,

The techers began

To use all their charms.

But the lessons presented

All fell on deaf ears.

The children were thinking

Of Santa's reindeer!

With a toss of their hands

They put manuals aside,

Went straight to the cupboards

Where videos hide.

And laying their finger

Ont he TV remote

They sat back to write

Their last Christmas note.

But you could hear them exclaim

At the enf of the day-

Have a wonderful, happy and

L-O-O-O-O-O-O-NG HOLIDAY!!!

Twas the Night Before Jesus Came

I found this poem when I was in college. This is one of my favorite poems.

Informal Interviews

Where am I in my job search? Actually, I do not know. I am subbing! Which is good. Teacher job fairs start back up in March. I will get to go through that again. I think this time I will be better prepared. I have been doing some research, finding different people to mail them a contact letter to let them know that I will be calling them. Will either have an interview over the phone or in person, or find out that is not a place for me to be checking out at all. I will ask questions about how a person with my experiences and skills could fit into a place of business similar to where this peson works. I am trying to expand my boundaries of where I can work.
I love teaching, but I want to be teaching somewhere, where the behavior is basically undercontrol, and that it is possible for learning to take place. I wouldn't mind teaching adults, especially about elementary science.
These informal interviews can lead to other interviews. Something will happen, and I hope soon.

Daniel Rhyme

Daniel's Book: Just a Quick Look
Daniel One: Carried off to Babylon
Daniel Two: Neb's Dream Statue
Daniel Three: From a Fiery Furnace Free
Daniel Four: I'll Humble Neb Some More
Daniel Five: Says the Handwriting, "You die!"
Daniel Six: The Lions' Jaws Fixed
Daniel Seven: There's a Judge in Heaven
Daniel Eight: Antiochus Spreads Hate
Daniel Nine: Seveny "Sevens" in Time
Daniel Ten: Where's the Angel Been?
Daniel Eleven: A Vile King's Succession
Daniel Twelve: Shine Bright Till All is Well
Daniel's Done: Now, Didn't We Have Fun?

Blessings

MY BLESSINGS
1. My relationship with Jesus Christ
2. Being able to read my Bible
3. My church
4. Family
5. Friends
6. My former co-workers
7. My former students
8. I am subbing!!!!!!!!
9. My health
10. The biblestudies I am involved in.
11. My skills
12. What the Lord is doing in my life.

To name a few of my many blessings. I got this feeling at BSF last week, asking myself how often do I think about the many blessings God has given me. Since then, I have been wanting to write an entry here on my blog, listing some of my blessings.

Subbing

I am working!!!!! I went in on Halloween for my subbing interview at RISD. I recieved my badge that morning, and was inputed into the system that same time. I received a call little before 6 am the next day, November 1, to sub. I worked the rest of the week. I chose an area that has 10 elementary schools in the feeder plan for the high school. Ten schools should be enough to keep me busy. I am only going to sub grades 2-6. I've been to two different schools. Those schools are different from each other. The first school is a complete 180 degree turn from where I used to teach at. That is the school, I hope to be at a lot. We'll see.

The last time I subbed was the 1997-1998 school year back home in OH. Sub pay then was between $50-$70 a day. Eight years later, sub pay isn't much higher than it was eight years ago. Today it is between $60-$80. Teacher pay has increased in the past eight years. Cost of living as increased in the past eight years. In my opinion, the following salaries need to decrease, actors, sports players, politicans, and supertendients of school districts. Teachers, police officers, and fire fighters need to make more.

Update

I saw two specialists this week. The orthopedic on Wednesday and the podiatrist yesterday. Turns out, I didnt' break my right foot, it is just a bad sprain. Where the doctor thought was an old fracture in the bad is bone spurs. My right foot was still getting bruises over last weekend, which scared me, and I found out was normal. The orginal bruises are fading. Thr bruising has gone from the bottom of my leg all the way down to my toes. I was given a new brace to wear on my right foot, but I think it increases the swelling and either is cutting off the circulation or is adding new bruising. My right foot is still swollen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I did a real number to myself.

I had an interview on Tuesday. Will find out 3-4 weeks if I get a second interview or not. This coming Tuesday (Halloween) I am interviewing with RISD to be able to be a substitute teacher with them.

We did something on the YP retreat last weekend that I have done with my students, but differently. It is harder to get students to give compliments outloud, than it is adults to do. We drew names from a hat, and had to say something nice about that person. For some people it was hard, because about half of the group has been there for six months or less.

The Lord has something special planned for my life. I am not sure how spraining my foot feeds into it. I have no idea if it is God's will for me to stay here in Dallas or to move back home to OH. I keep praying, "Your will be done here on Earth as it is in Heaven." I do mean that prayer. That goes with the job hunt as well with the guy that I like and wish I could see more often. Have a I truely given this over to the Lord, or am I still being selfish in some way? It is hard being patient and waiting upon the Lord to work in his ways. God's timing is better than my timing. I need to wait upon the Lord, and not try to push him to act. I praise the Lord for all he has been doing in my life. I love you, Lord.

Update on my bad day

I iced my right foot Monday evening, Tuesday evening, and again Wednesday afternoon and evening. I didn't go to BSF Tuesday evening, because I was out too long on Tuesday. I did go to church Wednesday night for Biblestudy, was able to stay in one place for basically two hours with my foot up. I've only iced my left knee a couple of times.

I was debating or not to go to the doctor. I decided to go yesterday. Turns out, I did a real number to myself. I had X-rays done on my left knee, right foot and right ankle. The doctor said I have a bone chip fracture on my right foot, and an old fracture at the back of my foot. (That explains why my heel has bothered me in the past.) I was given a walking boot to wear, and an ACE bandage for my left knee. I also have to go see a Podiatrist and an Orthopedic doctor.

Lord, you have a reason for everything. I do not understand why I get to go through this. I want you to be glorified through this all. I know you are using this to stregnthen my trust in you.

My bad day

Today was an awful day for me. I went to a career fair, a national one, too boot. Had maybe 20 companies there, and mostly sales. I was able to sign up with my temp agency. Going to take the tests tomorrow afternoon. I only stayed about 30 minutes. Sales is not what I want. Left there to get some lunch, since I hadn't eated yet today. On the way home, my cell phone rang, a company in downtown Dallas called to want to set up an interview. He didn't give a name of the comapny. I was given directions, and set it up for in an hour. I found the area, and had a hard time finding a place to park. Once a I did, I fell. I stepped in a pothole with some water. I hurt my right ankle. It swelled up fast. My ankle hurts. I hurt my left knew, it is slightly swollen, and bruised. My right hand is also a little sore. I had a hard time getting up. Went to the wrong building, called and went to the right building. The job is totally not what I want. Came home and found out the temp job, I was waiting to hear about, didn't materialized. The company decided to fill from within, since it was only for a few days instead of going the temp route. Sitting here at the computer, my ankle hurts and it is uncomfortable. It hurts to get up, can go up the stairs easier than go down them. I have put ice on my ankle, but it hurts!

Holy Vessel

We are all holy vessels! Says in I Corinthians 6:19-20 that our bodies are a holy temple of God. Did you know that Satan loves to use our holy vessels to toast unholy causes? That makes you think? How are encroached are you in the Babylonia thinking, living? That made me think last night? What aspect of my life is being used in an unholy way? Do the clothes I wear treat my vessell as holy?

October 12, 539 B.C., King Belshazzar (it is amazing they know exactly the day this happened), Daniel 5, declared to have the holy vessels of God brought forth to the banquet hall so that they may drink from the gold goblets. This was misusing the holy vessels of God. God did not take to this very lightly. He wrote a message to the king in front of the king on the wall. Daniel was called in say what was written and what it meant. God told King Belshazzar that He wasn't happy with him, basically found him guilty, said his days were numbered. That very night, his life was ended, and King Darius of the Medes and Persians became the king.

From Daniel 2, the Medes and Persians were the second kingdom, the silver kingdom of the statue in the King Nebuchadnezzar's dream. Whatever God says to happen, will happen.

It can be so hard to trust God, because we do not think what he has in store for us is the best thing for us. Keeping my vessel holy is something God wants me to do. Trusting in his plan for my life is something else I have to do. As it says in the Lord's Prayer, "your will be done on earth as it is in heaven".

The Pumpkin Prayer

Resumes

Did you know there are two different types of resumes? I sure didn't. And they are different. There is the Functionial and the Chronological Resumes. I have always used the latter one, and the style has been the same since I got out of college about 12 years ago. It did get changed a bit back in the spring and again this fall. The Functional onSe is hard. On that one, you do not list your work experiences at all. It includes your profile, highlights of qualifications, selected achievements, technical applications (aka...hard skills), and a quick listing of your education.

What are selected achievements you ask? You take a few key action words and describe some of the things you completed/did at your previous jobs, and giving the result of what happened. You do not even name where you worked. You can talk about a few of the projects you worked on, and other highlights, how you were successful for your company. You give both resumes to prospective employers. I had to write a functional resume this week, and it was hard.

I am learning about different types of interviews. Not all interviews are job interviews, but are researching interviews, referral interviews. You go in with questions that progress along Bloom's Taxonomy type of questions. None are to be yes/no type questions, all need to be open-ended (essay type) questions. The first ones can be knowledge, but you want to progess to application, anyalsis, and evaluation type questions. The last question one asks, especially if it is a referral/research interview, is who else do you recommend I speak with?

All of this is quite though provoking, really makes you think. It is harder for me, because I have to think outside of education/teaching, and more into the business world. My experiences outside of teaching, are inventory, retail for my dad-working our booth in the middle of the mall...craft shows, and 3 semesters at the cafeteria in college. Right now my questions I am thinking of are on the topics I know of, but I need to start expanding out onto other topics.

These are all skills I can use later on in my career after I get a new job. I can use them when going for a promotion, a different job later on. These are type of skills that are not taught to you in college or in high school, and should be. Interviewing skills need to be taught in high school and college.

Johari Window

This is actually quite interesting. I received an email today from a friend about this. When you click on the link below, a new window pops up and you will need to choose five adjectives that you think describes me. It links the adjectives and it compares them to what others say. You can even start one for yourself. Check it out.

http://Kevan.org/johari?name=ohtxpanda

Daniel 4

Tonight, was my Biblestudy, for the series on Daniel by Beth Moore. I am really enjoying this study. Tonight's session and this week's homework is on chapter 4. This chapter is about King Nebuchadnezzar's second dream, and basically it is written in first person by King Nebuchadnezzar. He looses his kingdom for some years, until he recognizes who God is, and that he is the ruler of the world. But what is so good, is what Beth Moore shares about this chapter, it speaks to me.

The following are my notes that I wrote in the margarins of the two pages covering the video teaching session. Some are things Beth Moore says, and others are questions or comments I write about myself.

Nebuchadnezzar stopped ruling Babylon, he allowed Babylon to rule him. I have asked myself before, what part of Babylon do I allow to rule me? You are probably asking, what do you mean what part of Babylon is ruling you? Today's Babylon is basically the trappings of the world. How beauty and self-image is important. Body size. How much money am I making? Things like that. How self-absorbed am I? I can get self-absorbed. We all can at times. Am I content with what I have, or do I need more to be happy? How often do I show mercy to the poor? Here is the Babylon mentality" "I am, and there is none besides me." That is found in Isaiah 47.

To help us change this thinking, we are chastised by God. Discipline by God. We are pruned by God. We will suffer, go through trials to learn a lesson, for God to be glorified. Here are some things I wrote about this. My areas of chatisement will only go so far, because God cares. That is why he prunes me. The idea of cutting back, is so that Iwill grow back and produce fruit. God allows satan to sift us, because we need something, in our life, to be sifted. This sifting brings us back to God. I am not better than anybody I have taught or worked with. Is there anything in my life that God needs to work on in my life? The following quote is from Charles Swindoll from a book he wrote about Daniel: "God's patience is geared toward our repentance."

Both of God's patience and discipline sets limits. I am so thankful to what God has been doing in my heart this year, and for the things he is showing me about him. More reasons for me to praise and glorify God.

God Answers Prayers

No job, yet! The title might make one think I have a job, but sorry, no. We all have things we have been praying about to God. We can get any of the three answers he gives, "Yes", "No", or "Wait". Some answers come immediately as a "Yes" or "No". Otherwise, they are all "Wait", or acutally it seems like he isn't answering at all. Like, God is having me to wait for the job that I need.

I have requests that I have been praying about off and on for years, and I mean years. Just in the past week, I received an answer of "Yes" and "Wait". My cousin is open and willing to have the Lord work in her heart, and she has started attending church again. Those are both yes. The wait, is that God is still working in her heart on other issues. I am very happy to get this news. This is something I have been praying about off and on for over twenty years.

The Lord has been working in my heart this past year. I know, because I have become more open to certain things, and willing to look at things in a different way. That is an aswer to some people's prayers.

We are told to pray, which builds our faith and trust in God. but waiting for his answers can be very hart, but so is being opened to the answer that is not what we are expecting to receive. I was not expecting to still be not be working come the end of September. I was expecting to be teaching somewhere in the DFW area, but I am not. It has been hard to accept the Lord's plan and answer to my request. Truthfully, I do not miss all of the aspect of teaching as I thought I would. I do not miss the bad behavior, but I do miss the ineraction with my students, the actual teaching part, and seeing the growth in my students' lives.

Father,
I thank you and praise you for what you are doing in my life and in the lives of all of my family and friends. You are awesome! You know so much better than we do. We do not know as much as we think we do. In your time, I know you will reveal the plans for my life and for the lives of all I know, plans to prosper us, not to harm us, plans to glorify you. Thank you for walking beside me during this rough time in my life. Thank you for the people who are praying for me. Please bless them in what they are doing for you. I love you father.
AMEN

Firey Furnance

My Wednesday night Biblestudy is the Beth Moore study on the book of Daniel. Last night's session and this week's homework is on the third chapter. Beth Moore states three scenarios for when we go through our own firey furnance. Choice A: God delivers us from it. Our faith is built, because we pray and ask people to pray with us, and God answers yes. Choice B: God delievers us through it. We walks along side of us. We pray and God basically answers wait. Our faith is refined. We pray and pray, and it is hard to understand why we are going through this. At the end there is a miracle, and when we look back, we see small miracles that happened along the way. Choice C: We can be delivered by the fire straight into his arms. Our faith is perfected. (Dying and going up to Heaven).

We will never escape trials entirely. We will always be given some type of trail at different times during our life. The question is, what is our heart attitude and where is our faith being placed. God's plans are not to harm us, but the exact opposite of that. God allows us to go through the firey furnance, os that our bonds will be burned off/away, to be freed from that bondage of sin. What is it that God is working on in my heart? I do not know. All I do know is that through this firey furnance I am walking through, He will be glorified!

How is my faith in all of this? I know God has a job out there for me. In his time, he will reveal it to me, and open that door. I do hope it is here in Dallas, TX. I have asked him to work on my heart attitude to be accepting of his answer when he gives it to me. Is there something I need to learn from this whole experience? I do not know. I do not know why God is allowing me to endure months without a job. It is fustrating at times, and discouraging at times. I just need to keep my eyes on him, the perfecter and author of my faith. (Hebrews 12:1-2) According to Hebrews 11:1, faith is the substance of things not seen. I have faith in the Lord, that he will lead me to the new job that is right for me. One where I will be the salt and light for him in the workplace. Until it happens, I just need to wait upon him, and have faith, that what he is doing is for my own good. God will answer my prayer in his time, not in my time, but in his time. Praise God for that!

A Deadline has been set

Monday, was my first meeting with my campaign manager at Chandler Hill Partners. I have another one Thursday afternoon. I do know we are going to work on interviewing skills, since I have a phone interview next with Clark County School District, one of the largest school districts in the country. This interview is to see if I make it into the selection process, for further interviews for possible jobs. The homework I have to do for CHP is easy and doesn't take me long to do. Plus I do it on the hard copy I have been given, before I do it online.

A deadline has been set. If I have not found something to support me, either an actual job, or a part time job, by the end of October, my dad will come down to move me back home to OH. Moving back home is not what I want to do. I love home, and look forward to my visit, I just do not want to live there. I want to be living in Dallas, TX. Maybe, the Lord wants me back home. I have no idea why the Lord is allowing me to go through this. Am I supposed to be learning a lesson, is it for his glory, is it for a consequence, what is God's will for me in this. I have lots and lots of people praying for me. God's will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. I mean that.

I am hurting inside, and cried a lot last night. I do not have a thankful heart for this. I told God that. Someday, I will have a thankful heart for what I am going through, right now, I do not. The Lord has plans to prosper me, not to harm me. I wish I knew what his plans were. Someday, I will look back and see his hand in all of this, and say how stupid I could be during this whole period.

Job hunting help

I have been looking for a job for six months, and unemployed for a little over 3 months. I've been doing some thinking, over the past ten years of different times looking for a job, I've had a hard time doing so. I'm finally going to get some help! I've become a client of Chandler Hill Partners. Check out their website at www.chandlerhill.com.

They will be working with me on my interviewing skills, helping me to market myself better, showing me areas that I should think about applying to, etc. Plus, they have contacts that I do not have. I will be given homework assignments that I will have to do. The more I put into it, the more I will get from this. I need help, plus I am not afraid to work. I am so ready to go back to work! I have been bored!!!!!!!!!

The best thing, is that after I get hired, they will still stay in touch, and help me to maybe get a raise come review time, see what I can do for getting a promotion, etc. Plus, it gives them another contact. If I hear of openings, I could let them know, and they can always send people my way to that company.

My first homework assignment is finished. I have my first meeting with my campaign manager Monday afternoon. I hope there is only a couple of more months being unemployed.

If I do not teach again for awhile, I am okay about that. I love teaching! I want to be able to use my teaching skills somehow.

I have a phone interview with Clark County School District on the 22nd. That interview will determine if I get put into the selection process for a job. By the way, Clark County is the county of the residence of Las Vegas. One of the top five school districts in the U.S.

The World Trade Center

Five years from next Monday, September 11, is the five year anniversary of what happened that day in NYC, PA, and D.C. The United States was attacked, and we went to war. There are a lot of people out there who do not agree with President Bush, but he is the President that our good Lord has given to run our country.
Sometime last month, a new movie premiered that is directed by Oliver Stone and stars Nicholas Cage. The movie is titled The World Trade Center. The movie is about what happened that day, but mostly about two NYC Port Authority Police Officers who got trapped in the rubble of the towers after they collapsed. Only 20 people were pulled out alive from the rubble. These two police officers were numbers 18 and 19. Seeing the line of world's finest lined up, passing the baskets of each of these two officers was unblievable and moving.
I saw the movie this afternoon. It does bring tears to your eyes. Whenever you see it, make sure you have kleenex to wipe away the tears.
I believe our country is ready for this movie. I hope a huge number of people go see it and remember why we went to war. Especially those who are against President Bush. They need a reminder as to why we are at war. Go see this movie, and remember why we are fighting over there in the Middle East. We are fighting for Freedom!!!!!!!!!!!

Spiritual Gifts

Been talking about spiritual gifts and love languages since the spring. I do not know what my love language is, but will learn what it is in the next couple of months. Sunday school class, both girls and guys are doing The Five Love Languages for Singles, by Gary Smally. I even recieved that book for my birthday. I asked my best friend for the Five Love Languages book, and she gave me one.
I always said my spiritual gift is Encouragement. (From doing the Song of Solomon study in the spring, was told you need to know your spiritual gift and your love language, besides also your boyfriend/future mate's as well. Will help you in communicating and with your relationship.
Rob wasn't sure what his was. He found a test on Saturday, took it and emailed me the link. His spiritual gift is Service. I took the test Monday evening. The results said, my spiritual gift is Intercession. That was very interesting. Encouragement was tied for third with a few others. I have been working on praying for other people all summer, not just at devotions, but also when they come to mind during the day. Here is the link to that spiritual gifts test: http://www.kodachrome.org/spiritgift/

Fianlly a pic of me

I tried to up load a pic of me way back in June, and it wouldn't work. Thought I would try it. It worked.

New direction in my life

I have been debating or not to write this post. Basically, I started to write about my job search and my feelings about it. Then I wrote about grandpa dying and doing home to OH for three weeks.
I have been looking and not trying to look at the same time. Praying for the Lord's will. Going back and forth about wether or not looking for a boyfriend/future mate is a sin or not a sin. I have been looking online (I have had no luck from meeting people from other ways). Last year, I went back to www.eharmony.com for a second time. I did have one date with one guy, nothing happened from that. October 2005, I was matched with a guy, and we started emailing each other on eharmony. January of this year, we exchanged personal email addresses. March, we started talking on the phone. In April and May, there were nights, I was up till midnight or 1 am talking on the phone. Phone conversations could last 2-3 hours easy. Before you know, an hour as passed, and still can today.
Last weekend, we met for the first time, and it was a great weekend. I liked him before we met, still do, and have been missing him all week. I have been praying about this a lot. I want the Lord's will in this. All of this is in my diary,pages and pages of my thoughts, things we have talked about, etc. I am glad we have taken our time to get to know one another, we are friends. I just haven't been sure if I wanted to write about this here in my blog or not.
Father your will be done here on earth, as it is in heaven.

Next step

After I got back from OH, I uploaded my resume with Monster.com. I have also signed up with teachers-teachers.com. No bites from there. I check out the want ads in Sunday and Wednedsay's papers. I have sent out a few faxes, and have applied to about 3 jobs from there. I will find out tomorrow, if I have made it to the next step of interviews.
Last week, I started talking with somebody from Chandler Hill Partners. They are a company (a service) that costs money to become a client, who will work with you to find a job. I need help! They coach you, open your eyes to new ideas on where to look, how to market yourself, negotitate the right salary, etc. I am impress, and a decision will be made within the next few days if I am going to sign up with them. I have had problems over the last 11 years in looking for a jobs. I am doing something wrong, but not sure what I am doing wrong.
I have been praying, and know that God is in control. I have told the Lord, I am getting fustrated and discouraged about finding a job. I thought I would have one by now. The Lord knows what is best for me. As of now, I am looking outside of teaching. Someday I plan on going back to teaching, Lord willing, and if it is part of his plan for my life.

Still no job!

I started looking for a job five months ago, way back in March! I never thought or expected to still be without one five months later. School started last week for most school districts here in the Dallas area. Wierd not being there. My friends tell me how things are going. I listen and help in anyway I can, wishing I was teaching.
I have been looking for jobs outside of the teaching profession. I skills for other jobs, just not the experience that they are looking for. If they are willing to train, and can over look the area of experience for the specific position they are hirig for, they could probably find exactly who they need.
I am looking online, and in the want ads in the newspaper. I applied in person, online, and faxed my resume to people last week.
Can't understand why I do not have a job, or what I have been doing wrong all of this time. The Lord has something, I believe it. I am starting to get a little impatient, anxious, and worried. It is like when are you going to answer me in this painful are of my life. I want to keep Christ in charge of my life.

How I see myself

I am a child of the King. But, that is not what this post is about. Ever since I was a little girl, I said I wanted to a teacher, later for awhile, I said Iwanted to become the first woman President of the United States. My dream came true in 1998, when I moved to TX. For the past 5 1/2 years I taught in Dallas. I love teaching. I call myself a teacher. That is how I see myself, as a teacher. I can't imagine doing anything else. My dad always told I have a college degree, then I would turn around and say, but I am a teacher. I have been looking for a job since March, and have not found one. I have been without a job since the end of May. I am looking for other types of jobs besides teaching. It is a slow process, to see myself as anything other than a teacher, but I am doing it. Sometimes I think, what can I do, but teach. I do have clerical skills, I know there are other skills, but what are they. What can I do. I want to enjoy what I do, grow as a person, learn new skills, advance in the skills I do have. The Lord knows what I will be doing. He knows what I can do. I wish he would show me what it is He has for me. I am basically desparate, I need a job! I need one now, like last week. I am looking. I know I do not to do retail or inventory. Other than that, I have no idea. I am willing to learn, if they are willing to train me. Please Lord, bring a job my way very, very, very soon.

My time in OH

The earlier posts from this month, was about Grandpa Morton, and the only interview I had for this month
I saw my brother a few times. He gives outt the best hugs! I spent a weekend with my sister. We went to Geagua Lake and got soaked because of the rain. The temps were cooler in OH than in TX, but at times not much cooler. Everytime it rained, I asked the Lord to send the rain down to TX.
My 35th birthday was the 25th. We did a bit of shopping that day. My birthday always falls during the week of VBS at my parent's church. On my birthday, an army helicopter landed at the church. I took a bunch of pictures. My sister took a pic of my standing by the helicopter. We got ice cream after VBS for my birthday. My sis and I got the same thing, twist dipped cone. Mine was messy!!!!!!! I had ice cream dripping onto the wood, and my niece said it looked like bird poop. I just cracked up laughing. It was so funny!
My parent's best friends, also had a death in their family, 8 days after Grandpa died. So two weekends in a row, had funerals.
Grandma and I played rummikub two different nights. First time without Grandpa. She has had more crying moments than I have had. Everybody grieves in their own way. I am going to do two dedication layouts in my scrapbook next month-Grandpa and Aunt Nancy.
The day after my b-day, we had lunch at Spaghetti Warehouse. I like having lunch with my sister at least once during the summer. Mom, Dad, Jo, Grandma, and myself. Took pics afterwards for the scrapbook.
Mom kept finding old pics, and I made two trips to Walmart to make reprints of them for the scrapbook.
I refuse to say too much about the Indians, other than the idiots enjoy loosing, and have made some surprising trades in the past week.

Headstones

Yesterday, Grandpa was buried. The funeral was Saturday, but it was $200 cheaper to open the grave during the week, than on the weekend. We went out to the cemetry today. Grandpa's grave is just a big pile of dirt heaped ontop of his casket, with flowers lying on top. Next to him are two of his kids, and next to them are is in-laws. Behind and to the right a bit are his parents, and his two baby brothers. My grandparents bought their plots back in 1948 for $40 a piece. They haven't even thought about headstones yet. My other grandfather, who died in 1993, still doesn't have a headstone. He is buried somewhere else.
I took pictures of the headstones that are in the family, and will put them into my scrapbook. We did take some of the flowers that were there and brought them home to put into vases. There are about 4 different bouquets at the house. We even got one from my sunday school class. Sympathy cards have been coming in the mail for grandma and for my parents.
Grandma has moved into my parents house. In the next few weeks, they will start cleaning out my grandparent's house to get it ready to sell. That is going to be hard for them to do. I will miss him for the rest of my life.

Funerals

Funerals are not for the dead. They are for the living. It helps them to celebrate the life of who passed away. I think it is also a way of saying goodbye, having closure. Last night was the calling hours for my grandfather. Today was his funeral. I was able to see all of my first cousins, except for one, and almost all of my second cousins. This is the second one in about 2 1/2 months for my family.
The funeral was very nice. Two ministers officated the funeral. Both family friends, who have known my grandparents for over 30, almost 40 years. Heard a few stories about how he used to be a pranskter, a joke he played on friends, while in Israel. His favorite joke he like to tell, how he graduated 8th in his class. There were only 8 in his class, when he graduated from high school. A few people stood up to share things about Grandpa.
I will miss grandpa. No more, will grandma say that, "We are praying for you." It will only be, "I am praying for you." Grandma is my only surviving grandparent. Both of my grandpas are up in Heaven.
Funerals are hard, but a necessity in life. I am very thankful for the people who came to the calling hours and/or to the funeral to pay their respects. Some came because of my mom or because of my dad. Some came because they knew grandma and grandpa.
Everybody grieves in their own way. Lord, I ask you to be with my family as they are grieving for grandpa. Please let us all feel your arms of comfort and support during this hard time of our lives. AMEN.

Interview #10

The Lord is good! I had my home line forwarded to my cellphone, because of coming home to OH for a family crisis. I had a prinicpal called me yesterday, and she was willing to interview me over the phone. That is why, I said, "God is good!".
This was interview number 10. The interview was scheduled for 11 am EST. The principal called me around 11:20 am, and the interview lasted for 20 minutes. This was the second interview for Mesquite ISD. I interviewed for a sixth grade English position. The teacher would teach writing and grammar. That would be a challange and a good growing experience for me. This teacher would have to work closely with teammates, to incorporate the other subject areas into writing. In my opinion, that would be fun and interesting. They could have a report for another teacher and work on it in their English class.
I thought it went okay. The principal had other interviews still to have. She hopes to make her decision by the end of the month, and will get back in touch with me either way, with a yes or a no.

My Grandfather

Last Thursday, I recieved a call from my sister that my grandfather was taken to the hospital. Turns out my 87 year grandfather had a stroke. He had major bleeding on the brain. He was put on a ventilater on Friday, thinking the extra oxygen would help his brain. A second cat scan on his brain was done on Saturday, and saw that the bleeding was worse. The doctor talked about taking the breathing tube out on Saturday, but wasn't sure if he would last the night, and with me making the drive up from TX to OH, they kept it in. I got home to my parents, Sunday afternoon. We went to the hospital for visiting hours, About six pm that evening, the breathing tube was taken out. We stayed longer, talking and visiting, til about 7:30 pm.
Sunday night, he was moved to another room. Yesterday afternoon, he was moved to a hospice. The hospice wasn't far from my parent's house. His breathing was shallow, and making noise while breathing. The hospice was a very nice place. We were there this afternoon.
My mom and I went back after supper. My mom felt this feeling to go back to the hospice. I talked through my family scrapbook to grandpa. We were watching tv, and talking. I kept looking over at Grandpa. I noticed that he got quiet, and told mom. She went out to get the nurses. One nurse listened to his breathing, and twice said, there is still a slight pulse. I think about five minutes after noticing that he got quiet, he had his final breath here on this Earth, and went home to be with his Lord.
I am so thankful, mom and I were there when he took his final breath, and that he wasn't alone. It is hard. He just didn't look like my grandpa. He took his final breath about 7:30 pm tonight, July 11.
The calling hours are this Friday evening, his 88th birthday. The funeral will be on Saturday. I alreay know that I will do a layout of dedication in my scrapbook about Grandpa. I am so glad that I was able to make it home for my grandfather's last days here on this Earth.

stories about grandpa

I had to make an emergency trip to OH. I made good time. Really only one construction area that caused problems. It is a two day drive for me, 21 hours, 1,150 miles. Went to the hospital for the evening visiting hours to see my grandfather. Was very weird to see my grandfather in a coma and connected to a ventilater. I've heard stories of what happened the two other times he was in the hospital. Very soon, I will only have my grandma left. The stroke he had caused major bleeding on his brain. The bleeding has gotten worse since he arrived at the hospital. My grandmother's sister, my great-aunt, also had a stroke on Thursday. My great-aunt, doesn't know that her brother-in-law had a stroke.
Grandpa planted a garden this spring, basically first good one in five years. The previous ones were much smaller and not very good. This year, he went with a neighbor. The neighbor told us this evening, that he had to do the planting just the way my grandpa told me too. We laughed about that. Both Grandpa Morton and my late Grandpa Sanyo, were into growing things and having gardens.
Grandpa Morton would give the whole plan of salvation when he would pray. He wants his funeral to include the message of salvation, for any nonchristians who might show up. We have already started planning his funeral. Grandpa's 88th birthday is this Friday.
My next post I will talk about more about Grandpa and his funeral. As of this writing, he is still alive.

Family

This is hard for me to write about. My aunt died of cancer at the end of April, just a couple of weeks after turning 60. Both my grandfather and a great-aunt had a stroke yesterday. My grandfather will be 88 years old on the 14th of this month. My great-aunt is just a year or two past 80. I do not know how my great-aunt is doing. But my grandfather, is on death's door. I am going home to be with my family, and it will take me two days to drive. I am praying that I will be able to tell hime goodbye. I even told my mom, that I will go see my brother to tell him about Grandpa. My grandfather is on a breathing tube and a feeding tube.
I asked God this morning, if my other grandfather could be there to welcome this grandpa to Heaven when God takes him home. My other grandfather died 13 1/2 years ago. I have fond memories of my grandparents. When it comes time to scrapbook the last pictures of grandpa later this summer, it will be hard for me to do.
No matter how old you are, and how old your family members are, it is always rought to loose them. God knows what he is doing, but it is hard to see his goodness in what is going on in your life and theirs during the rough times.

Fourth of July

The Fourth of July is an important holiday for the United States of America. I wonder how many people really know why this day is important to us? I wonder how many people really know what were the events that led up to this special day in our history? The sad thing is, people in other countries know our history better than Americans know our history.
The second permament colony founded, Plymouth, was started for religious freedom. The Thirteen Orginial Colonies, all in their constitutions, (back in the 1600-1700's) said that colony either had regilous freedom, or you had worship a certain way. There were other freedoms stated, that they did not have over in Europe, not at that time. All the people who argue and fight over the Constitution today, in my opinion, need to go back and actually study our history, nad if they did, then they would stop these ridiculous lawsuits, saying, "blah, blah, blah" was unconstitutinal.
July 4, is the day we celebrate, The Declaration of Indpendence was signed in Philadelphi, PA in 1776. We spend time with our families, enjoy watching really cool fireworks at night.
I thank all of the soldiers out there who are fighting for freedom over in the Middle East, "A Great Big Giant Thank You" for putting your life on the line, so we can continue to celebrate our freedom, and the right to forget about our history.

Interview #9

My I had an interview in Mesquite this afternoon. This interview came from me emailing principals. I emailed some prinicpals in Mesquite last week. I got a response back last Friday, asking for my references. I replied back with a list of 5 references. She called me on Monday to set talk with me, and we set up an interview for today. I interviewed for a fourth or fifth grade self-contained position.
My friends have told me, recently, to go in positive and sell myself. I am doing that. I take in my scrapbook and show it. My scrapbooks show some of the things I have done with my students.
Being departmentalized for the last 5 1/2 years, is that hurting my chances, espically for a self-contained position?
God's timing is better than my timing. It is getting harder and harder to wait for his best.

Lights Flashing

I like having a number of devotionals books to use every day with my devotions. One book I am using is called, Devotions for Women on the Go. The authors are Stephen Arterburn and Pam Farrel. Today's devotion is titled, "Lights Flashing". The passage to read was 1 Corinthians 4:2-5 and today's verse was verse 5, "When the Lord comes, he will bring our deepest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. And then God will give to everyone whatever praise is due."
Lights Flashing
One Saturday morning I read a newspaper story about a man I'll call John Smith. He was driving erratically, so the highway patrol pulled him over. They gave him a battery of sobriety tests: walk a straight line, touch your nose, etc. When they were about ready to administer a breath test, an accident happened on the other side of the freeway. So they said to John Smith, "Stay right here!" But Smith got in the car and drove home, parking the car in the garage.
He told his wife to tell anyone that he was home sick all day. A few hours later there was a knock at the door. Mrs. Smith answered to find two highway patrol officers.
"Does John Smith live here? She nodded the affirmative, and they asked to see John Smith. John cam out of the bedroom, faking a cough.
"What can I do your fine officers?"
"Were you pulled over for a highway citation today?"
"Oh no, I've been sick all day," John said, coughing.
"Well, someone using your identity and your address was pulled over today. May we see your car and clear this up?"
"Sure officers." John cofidently walked out ot the garage. He was thinking, its been hours. That engine is nice and cool, and I am totally going to get away with this!
John threw open the garage door, and there in the garage was the patrol car with the lights still flashing!
What are you thinking you'll get away with? Wher are you cutting corners? What lights are flashing in your garage?

Interview #8

Today, I had an interview in Corsicana. I interviewed for a fifth grade math position. In this interview was the principal, assistant principal, and one of the fifth grade teachers. I was the first of 4-5 interviews they were having today. The prinicpal said he would know by the end of the week. I haven't taught math in 6 years, and I think that will hurt me.
I am just in a wait and see time in my life. I pray about the job hunting thing just about every day. I am trying not to worry, and just leave it in God's hands. I have applied to too mandy school districts to drive around and drop off my resume at the different schools. With the price of gas, I'd really do not want to have to buy gas more than once a week.
Some districts, you can't email the principals. Some you can. The Lord knows what is best for me, better than I know what is best for me.

Interview #7

Today, I had an interview in with an intermediate school in Mansfield ISD. That is the second time I have interviewed with that district. An intermediate school usually only houses fifth and sixth grades. I do not know exactly which grade and which subject I interviewed for . I am assuming for science, since we talked about science. This principal I interviewed with is new to the school, moving down from middle school. I thought it went fine.
About 20 minutes after getting onto the internet, and just before leaving my email, there was an email from a prinicpal from the middle school in Corsicana. He wanted to schedule an interview for 7th grade science. After talking, he remembered that we spoke back in May. (I also reminded him). We talked for a few minutes. He said I might get a call to set up an interview with a group of people. He is putting my name down for the 7th grade science position.
Only had one interview for this week. None for next week, yet. It is difficult trying to email principals. Some districts, you can't email them at all, and some, you can, with still a few, there are some and some you can't email. I have applied to too many school districts, and in a big circle to drive around and drop off my resume at the differernt schools. I have driven just a little over 50 miles one to schools and over 100 miles round trip for interviews. The Lord knows what he is doing, and in his time, he will lead me to the school he wants me at in the fall. I would love to know soon, but God's timing is better than my timing.

Scrapbooking

Today, I went to the Great American Scapbook Convention for the first time. I heard about it too late, so I couldn't crop at one of their cropping times. I love my expensive hobby of scrapbooking. I bought some page layouts that I want to use. How come all the layouts that are sold are only in 12 x12 layouts? There are people who use the 8 1/2 x 11 books as well. I have forgotten how many different books I am working on. They are all ongoing, except for one that I finish every year, the one I do of the school year. I take pics of my students doing the hands-on activities that I plan for them to do, and other things they do at school. I do a book for every school. There books for the past five years. I look forward to working on my books.
I am not into some of the different embellishments that are out there. I don't use the eyelets and brads. I use a few of the stickers/embellishments that make the pages thicker. I don't use the stamps, and a lot of the die cut makers. There are now computer programs for making page layouts and printing them up.
My biggest complaint, is that the different companies have forgotten about the teachers. The school stuff is geared towards parents doing their school years, or kids doing their own school years. Don't they realize that teachers take pictures of different activities in their classrooms and scrapbook what they do. It is hard finding stickers and papers to go with what the pictures that I take. These companies could make a killing of money off the teachers, if they would just cater to them. Some day they will wake up and realize what they have been missing, and scramble to make up for it.
I love to scrapbook. I love to take pictures. I sometimes think of page layouts when I am printing up pics from my camera. I enjoy showing my books and hearing what people say about what I have done. I feel good inside from hearing those compliments.

Interview #6

Today, I had my sixth interview since the middle of April. I interviewed for a third or fourth grade position in Mansfield. At this school, all the grades are self-contained. I haven't taught self-contained for 10 years. I have been departmentalized basically, since I moved to TX. I answer questions and I show one of my scrapbooks. I am carrying both books for this school year with me, now. I usually just show the second book-second semester.
I answer questions about my classroom management, how would I teach a certain subject, what do I know about certain things. I do not think about questions to ask in advance. All I really do is just pray about it and leave it in God's hands.
I do ask about parent involvement (have had basically zilcho on that), class sizes, different resources I have used to see about using them again. I would be interested in teaching self-contained, or even being departmentalized. I prefer teaching between third and sixth grades.

2 Phillips, Craig & Dean songs

There are two Phillips, Craig & Dean songs that I like a lot. Sing them both at church during the worship time. The first song is "Here I am to Worship"

"Light of the world You stepped out into darkness
Opened my eyes, let me see Beauty that made this heard adore You
Hope of a life spent with You

Here I am to worship Here I am to bow down Here I am to say that You're my God
You're altogether lovely Altogether worthy Altogether wonderful to me

King of all days Oh so hghly exatlted Glorious in heaven above
Humbly You came to the earth You created All for lvoe's sake became poor

I'll never know how much it cost To see my sin upon that cross
I'll never know how much it cost To see my sin upon that cross"

The last four lines can at times tear me up.

The next song, there are a couple of lines that the Lord gave me during the last month of the school year. My aunt died of cancer, and my students were just being absolutely terrible. I was having bad days and bad weeks. I would think about these two lines through out the day, and it would greatly help.

Here is the second song: "You are God Alone"

"You are not a god crated by human hands
You are not a god Dependent on any mortal man
You are not a god In need of anything we can give
By your plan, that's just the way it is

chorus: You are God along From before time began
You were on Your throne You are God alone
and right now In the Godo times and bad
You are on Your throne You are God alone

You're the only God Whose power none can control
You're the only God Whose name and parise will never end
You are the only God Who's worthy of everything we can give

You are God and that's just the way it is

Bridge: Unchangeable Unshakeable Unstoppable
That's what you are

Here are the two lines that God put on my mind that just meant a lot to me, "In the good times and bad, You are on Your throne."

How will you answer God?

One of the books I use for my daily devotions is called Experiencing God: The Daily devotional and Journal. I have been using this book since October 2000. Something stood out to me from today's reading. There was a verse mentioned that Paul wrote about answering to God about everything he said and did on Judgement Day. That got me thinking about what would I say to God about the words I haved said, my actions, my thoughts, and how I have been as a teacher. For some things, I have no idea what I would say. I will have to answer God about how I have lived up to my Mission Statement for my life or not.
Do you have a mission statement for your life? Mine is the following: "When others see me, they do not see me, but they will see Jesus instead." It is hard to live up to that at school. So many times, God is pushed to the back burner of my life during the school day. Can my students see Jesus when they see me? Do my friends and family see Jesus when they see me? I do have my struggles that I am working on totally giving to God, but it is hard. God never did say life would be a piece of cake.
Here is a verse I read today and memorized. Proverbs 2:6 (Living version) "For God gives wisdom! His every word is a treasure of knowledge and understanding.

Why the background

I chose the background of the Dots, because it reminded me of scrapbooking. I am an avid scrapbooker.

The beginning

I taught 5 1/2 years for Dallas ISD, and resigned after this school year. I know you don't resign from your old job until you get a new one, but...I did. This was a bad year for me. I needed a change.
I started looking for a new job at the beginning of March. I have been to five job fairs and five interviews so far. I have applied to between 15-20 school districts all in the North TX area. I do not want to teach younger than third grade or older than sixth grade. (I did interview for an 8th grade science position.) I could be self-contained, but wouldn't want to for fourth-writing test-not my cup of tea. I have taught science and social studies for the past 5 1/2 years, 3 1/2 in fifth and 2 in fourth.
I am going to use this to talk about looking for a job and then when I do get a job, about settling into a new district.
I will also talk about my wonderful seven year old niece. Who just completed the first grade today. I so want to see my family. But probably won't because they are up in OH, and I am down here in TX looking for a job.