Cleaning Day

Today is not very special, except it is CLEANING DAY! I love a completely clean place but lately Adam and I haven't had time to "deep clean." So Adam is working and I am a cleaning machine. My routine is usually this: bedroom, laundry room, bathroom, living room, dining room, and then the kitchen.

I am to the living room now and thought I would take a break. I know cleaning isn't the most enjoyable thing to read about in a blog, but it makes me feel so good. My parents laugh at how much of a neat freak I am now. Cleaning was not my fortay when I was younger and was the start of many child vs. parent arguments. I am very thankful for my upbringing now because I can feel proud about our place when people visit.

Before I get back to work, I would like to give a shout out to my favorite cleaning product:

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser

I Know It Has Been Awhile

I don't even remember the last time I posted.... let's just say it has been way too long. It is not because I haven't wanted to, but I just have no time or strength to take time away to think about myself.

My first year of teaching has been such a roller coaster. I wish I could say I enjoyed it despite all the craziness. Between parents, kids, school, and life drama, I have never prayed so hard. Now I am probably not being fair to the awesome field trips, hugs, "ah-ha" moments, cute cards, smiles, laughter, "silly Fridays," etc. I am so blessed to have the class that I do. One moment I think I'm going to pull my hair out and the next I'm going to cry because my 5 girls (yes, I have 15 boys and 5 girls) created a song about their "Super Awesome Teacher." The best part about my job are the kids. Parents, administrators, and discipline problems just sometimes put a damper on things.

BUT I am already getting sad about the end of the school year. After tomorrow, we have 2 1/2 more weeks left. I cannot believe it is over. It seems like we just started. My students are finally getting into a great groove and days are "good" and "fun." I ask why at the end of the year, but I also know that it means that they are ready for fifth grade.

Speaking of next year, I will not be a fourth grade teacher. Last week I found out that I am being switched to first grade. I originally wanted first or second, but now I'm scared. I am very much used to the independence of 9 and 10 year olds. This is a huge switch. I will have lots of help from the other first grade teacher and other teacher friends, but the teacher aides are being cut. I may have help a couple hours a week, but it is not for sure. It is one thing to have 25 six year olds with little help, but I may have a student or two with specials needs. Lots of prayers please!

Because of all the craziness, Adam has been talking about finding a job somewhere on SouthEast coast. I have always talked about not staying in So Cal forever, but Adam and I have said we have jobs here which we are very blessed to have right now. Of course we wouldn't just up and move, we are too paranoid about not having a job and relying on family. We are very stubborn in the fact that we want to do/pay for everything ourselves. I would absolutely love to live closer to my family! I think it would get crazy if we lived too close, but closer than thousands of miles. The hard part is this:

1. I don't have my full credential. In CA you get a preliminary credential and then while teaching you have to do more research, seminars, etc. to obtain your full credential. I start that next year. Almost every state takes CA full credential, but some don't take the partial. 
2. Grants. Because I said I would become a Lutheran School Teacher, I received grants from the Synod to teach in a Lutheran School. You have to teach at least 2 years in a Lutheran school otherwise you must pay them back. We can't guarantee that I will find another call out there right away.
3. Work for Adam. Adam does technical theater. He wants to be a set designer, but right now he builds all the sets. He loves his job and eventually it will pay very well. BUT to move, he may have to start all over with contacts and his position. His jobs relies on contacts and we don't have many out East.
4. Moving!
5. Moving away from Adam's family. They all live up near Sacramento.
6. Moving away from friends.

The pluses:

1. Being near my family.
2. Being near some college friends.
3. New jobs (possibly better position for me).
4. Housing is cheaper!
5. Away from materialistic Orange County
6. A solid place to raise a family
7. ....... Any others???

I apologize for not posting in so long and then spilling my crazy life. Unfortunately this is calm right now. You should have heard what happened earlier this year. But another time. 

I will be working a lot harding to write more as it feels really good to do this. :) 

Struggling

I know that Adam and I have not posted in months, but its due to the fact that I (Emily) have started my first teaching job. I am a 4th grade teacher in a large Lutheran school in Orange, CA. This Call was definitely a blessing to us as Adam was able to stay with his job and we did not have to move. BUT I feel very defeated right now. I know that God will never put me in a situation that I cannot handle, but I feel that I am questioning this every day. I am exhausted, worn down, brain dead, uncomfortable, and again--defeated. Everybody told me how hard this first year was going to be, but I am finding that I am losing my drive to teach, my ability to juggle work, friends, and family, and my time to unwind (I just can't). Things that I love to do, I haven't done in months--work out, cook, read, hangout with friends, etc. Its come to the point where I am scared to read my school email because I am tired and scared to see messages from school and parents.

I am so sorry that I am full of complaints, but I feel that this space is some place where I can say my mind without a ton of people seeing and judging that I am always complaining. I hate that I complain, but I am just not happy. I LOVE the school and the people there, but I do not love what I have become.

*lots of tears and sighs

Family Time

We recently got to see both sides of the family! Both of the times were wonderful!

First we got to see Em's mom, dad, and sister. They came through as they made their final trip out to Georgia. Abby was able to fly down a few days before. We went bowling and hung out with friends. Then  Mom and Dad came with Nina (their Jack Russell Terrier)! Luther (our cat) got to meet a dog for the very first time. It was funny watching Luther pick on Nina. Poor Nina! We got to relax, wonder around Orange Circle, and visit Newport Beach. It was so wonderful to see them before they moved! We can't wait to visit them (plus the rest of the Jordan family) in August!

Then a couple weeks ago, Adam had a job to drive for KC and the Sunshine Band. He had to drive over-night up to Cache Creek Casino (just north of Sacramento), so Em decided to tag along. What a trip! We arrived at the casino early in the morning, took a quick nap, then met up with the Toms' side. Mom, Dad, Cindy, Jenny, Tim, Donovan, and Jayden all came to see us! It was great to have good food and relax/play by the pool. And Adam was able to swim with Donovan in-between work times! The boys are so cute and growing up so quickly!

We miss everybody already! But YAY for Skype!  :D

God Answers Prayers

Well, as most of you know, I (Emily) accepted a teaching position for the Fall of 2010. But it took a lot of prayers and realization on my part that God is in control, not me. I was getting so frustrated that I was not getting interviews, not having many options to stay in So Cal, and not feeling comfortable in the church/school setting that I was getting interviewed for. I needed to step back, believe, and let God handle it.

Well..... he did. Last Monday I had an interview for a K-4 teaching position at St. Paul's Lutheran School in Orange, CA (http://www.stpaulsorange.org). I thought the interview went okay. I had a bad cold, ripped my hose on the way to the interview, and talked way too fast. But overall, I must have had good answers and as they said, "was very enthusiastic" about my teaching passion.

Then on that Thursday, I got a call from one of the board members, telling me that they would like to extend a designation to me (which is kind of like an engagement, I am only talking to them and I don't do any other interviews as we move forward to a Call). I had 48 hours to accept the offer. It definitely did not take that long for me to talk to Adam, my parents, pray, and decided that this was where God wanted me to be.

So, I am on my way to be one of the three 4th grade teachers at St. Paul's Lutheran School! I will have two other teachers to help me along during the first (rough) couple of years of my teaching career. And I know quite a few of the other teachers who went through the credential program with me at CUI. It is such a great opportunity! Oh! did I mention that St. Paul's was a 2009 National Blue Ribbon School? Excellent!

Anyways, I will keep everyone posted as things progress. Adam and I are so happy that we will be able to stay near family and friends, and Adam can keep his job.