I've Seen Them All...

I am on Day 2 of no school because of snow, woohoo! Looking out of our bay window right now, it looks like someone just shook up a snow globe - seriously! Snow is flying in all sorts of crazy directions. It is just beautiful! We've had a few snow days before, but there is something extra special about having a snow day when you are really supposed to be working =)

Derek has been out of town a couple of days this week at a leadership conference, so I spent yesterday's snow day all by myself...I say "Boo to that!" So I occupied my time by cleaning up my poor, neglected home and catching up on some movies I had recorded on our dvr, like "Breakfast at Tiffany's." Can you believe I've never seen it?

We've also been enjoying the instant streaming of Netflix. I think it's just amazing how many tv shows are available to watch either on dvd or through Netflix instantly. You can watch an entire series! I'm thinking that will be nice to have around this summer when all of the good tv shows go into tv purgatory. We're trying to work our way up to canceling our cable altogether - we'll see if we can actually do it =)

So I started thinking about shows that I have seen in their entirety - shows that are no longer current that I have seen every single episode of. And I came up with these...

1. I Love Lucy

I'm honestly not sure how, when, or why I started watching this show, but I can't really remember not watching it. I've loved it forever, and I never, ever get tired of Lucy's crazy antics. Sometimes, I feel like I'm living in her shoes. It's hard to pick a favorite episode, but I do love when she's working in the chocolate factory =)

2. The Cosby Show

If I could pick any other family to grow up in besides my own, it would be this one. I can quote nearly every line of this show! This was one of few shows that my family and I watched religiously on a weekly basis. Derek didn't grow up watching it, so I've been able to introduce him to the Huxtables and I really enjoy getting to see him watch it for the first time. My favorite episode is the one when the family decides to give Theo a taste of the "real world" and they transform their entire house into a restaurant, apartment building, furniture store, and bank. Love it!

3. Who's the Boss?

I'm pretty sure I wanted to be Samantha Micelli when I was little - either her or Punky Brewster. And I just loved that the actress' real name was Alyssa because she was the only other Alissa I had even heard of. Now all of the Alissa's I know are under the age of 10 or so - I even have an Alyssa in my new class =)

4. 24

I'm so thankful this country has Jack Bauer - he's the reason we can all lay our heads down and sleep well at night, ha! This was the first tv series we watched together after we were married, thanks to a friend who dumped seasons 1-6 in our lap. We were addicted from the very beginning!

5. Lost

Wow - what to say about this one? I'm glad we didn't start this show until it was available on dvd because I could never remember all of the things that happened from week to week. We both think this show is pretty amazing and wish we had just one more season. Definitely the most unpredictable show ever!

I'm not sure what our next series to catch up on will be - we're happy to take suggestions =) For now hot chocolate and the end of Breakfast at Tiffany's are calling my name!

Back to Work!

I have to say, I am not a fan of rejection. I don't like it one bit. In all honesty, if I ever thought I might be rejected from something, I probably wouldn't even go for it. It's definitely one of my biggest fears. And boy, did I get my fill of it this summer. And this was the lesson I learned...


It goes right along with this verse:

"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." Romans 8:28

And although I know it, sometimes I forget =)

It has truly been the desire of my heart to get back in the classroom in a full-time position, but it's like trying to find a needle in a haystack! Education cuts mean fewer jobs, which leads to very highly qualified, but unemployed, teachers. And for every job opening, there are literally at least 100 applicants, many of whom are those highly qualified teachers. Of those applicants, maybe 6 or 7 actually get interviews. It's a tough place to be in, especially for someone like me, who is still considered a "newbie" in the education world.

But last summer, I was called to interview for a 4th grade position at a local elementary school in Steilacoom. I really thought I nailed it, only to receive that dreaded news of "You were a very strong candidate, but we decided to go with someone else." BAM! Rejection. I cried...and cried...and cried some more, but then I picked myself up and accepted the fact that it was not the job God had in mind for me.

Same summer, different school, different interview. Same story. Twice-rejected. And the cycle would be repeated once more in the fall. Oh well - each opportunity seemed like the perfect one, but obviously, they were not. And I just kept thinking that something better must be waiting.

Then I started substitute teaching and I landed at this school...

Chloe Clark Elementary in DuPont

You probably recognize this place because it looks like this on Sunday nights...


From my very first day subbing at Chloe Clark, I fell in love with the school. It's seriously amazing! I told Derek on that first day that I would rather scrub toilets at Chloe Clark than teach at any other school. I loved it that much!

Then, just a few weeks ago, I saw an open position for a Para Educator (like an assistant) in the special needs class. I applied right away and prayed that I would be called for an interview. Well, I got that call and went in for my interview. And then I waited...I interviewed on Monday and by Thursday I had resolved it in my mind that I would probably open the mailbox on Friday and see that dreaded letter. But Friday came and no letter - hope was still alive. Later Friday afternoon, I received a phone call and honestly thought that this was going to be it, they were letting me know they were going with someone else. But it was a different kind of phone call this time - this phone call came with a job offer!! Woohoo!! I couldn't be more thrilled to accept. I started the very next week (February 15) and was instantly crazy about my job, my students, and my co-workers. And though I am exhausted, both physically and mentally, I am as happy as a clam!


Can't you tell? Well, maybe you see more tired than happy in this picture, but I promise the happy outweighs the tired by alot, ha!

And now I can honestly say that I am thankful for all of the previous rejections. If I were locked into one of the other jobs, I wouldn't be able to be where I am now. I am thankful that what seemed like a "good" thing fell apart so that something better could fall together. And I know it wasn't by accident - it was His plan all along =)

"For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

Look What I Found...

Derek and I were in Tacoma the other day and went into World Market where something caught my eye...

Yum! Zapp's Spicy Cajun Crawtators are my FAVORITE!!

I came home with two, yes two, bags of my very own. I sure hope this is not just a display for Mardi Gras season and that I now have a spot to find my favorite chips. Then, just around the corner, I spotted this...



Can you see that there is a make-your-own king cake batter on that shelf? I really thought about it, I mean REALLY thought about it, but wasn't sure if I was feeling up to the challenge, so I decided not to make the purchase, which turned out to be a really great idea because the very next day, this arrived...


A Strawberry Cream Cheese filled King Cake all the way from Paul's Pastry in Mississippi, hooray!!

And it came with a very special note from two very special people

Thank you so much Mr. Darron and Mrs. Joanna!! You made my day!!

And yep, you read that note right...I have a new job!

But I'll save those details for my next post =)