Job Search

This summer I did what I do every summer.  I looked for teaching jobs pretty much everyday.  I applied for countless jobs and prayed for the Lord to give the perfect job or at least some interviews.

I know the Lord heard me, but His answer was not right now.  I really struggle with this because I want a job now.  Actually I want a job last year.  I don't know why I am not getting a job.  I am most definitely qualified to teach a lot of different things.  It makes me question my ability as a teacher. But then I think about the fact that I can teach students to read and I know that I am a good teacher.

This last job I applied for (1/2 time Young 5's in Grand Haven) was a job I really really wanted.  I prayed and asked the Lord to please let me have an interview.  The very next day they called and wanted to interview me.  I felt like it really well.  Possibly the best interview I have ever had.  Then I had to write a letter that I would send to the parents if I got the job.  I really liked my letter.
This was Friday so I had to wait all weekend to hear about the job.  I was praying that they would choose me. My super great friend Sarah even sent the principal this letter about me that was so kind and thoughtful it brought me to tears.  Well on Tuesday the secretary called and said they chose another candidate.  I cried.  The next day I had a voice mail from the principal.
She said :  We really enjoyed meeting with you.  You brought A LOT (she emphasized it) to the table.  I especially enjoyed your letter.  However we are going to go with someone else. She even e-mailed Sarah back saying she enjoyed meeting with me.  

I am not sure what else I could have done.  Maybe nothing. The Lord knows that isn't the job for me.  Although I could totally see myself working at a school with a name as cute as Peach Plains Elementary.

Anyway, I have about 75% come to the realization that the Lord has a perfect job for me in His perfect time.  I know it should be 100%, but honestly I am not there.  I think I might be if I knew why I was staying in the job I have.  I will continue to pray about this and if you feel led to you may pray for me too.  It's rough being rejected over and over.

So I got the 75% by thinking about reasons why I am not getting my own classroom.
1.  My migrant students need me.  I love them and after four years they love me too.  The other two people who worked with me are doing different jobs and maybe it would be too hard on the kids not to have anybody they recognize or know them.  I need to explain to the new person that Alex can't sit for the life of him and its good to let him walk around because he actually listens better.  I need to let them know that David is naughty, but he just needs somebody to teach him how to behave and to care about him.  I need to be there for Angel as he starts 1st grade totally unprepared.  I need to make sure to give him all the extra help possible.

2.  I have awesome hours.  I work 9:00-2:30.  My girls do go to day care now :( but it will actually be good for them to be with other kids and work on their social skills.

3.  I don't have to take any work home.  So when I come home I am mommy and wife and that is it!

4.  We want to have another baby.  With my history I will probably be sick and the people at Lakeshore know this and know me and are supportive.  A new school might not understand the severity of my sickness sometimes.


5.  The Lord is teaching me to trust Him and his perfect timing.  This is the hardest one, but I am able to see the bright sides of the job I currently have.  

One of the main reasons I want a job is so that I can make more money and get a nicer car and a bigger house and more clothes and more stuff.  However, if I were to make more money it would mean that I would have to work longer and harder.  I need to enjoy what I have and not want so much. Time with my girls and James is so important that I am happy to have the job I have.


Wow,  I think I might be at 90% now after writing down everything that I have been thinking about.  I think the next 10% will be a little harder because there is that feeling of rejection and not being good enough.


I would love to put pictures of some of my wonderful migrant children, but I think that wouldn't be the best choice.  Look for a blog in the future about these children!

 P.S.  I had originally called this blog Bummed, but after typing and thinking how I feel I felt that maybe I'm not as bummed as I thought I was.

$10 - Week 10

I completely forgot to report in on my spending last week.

I almost made it.  Only 1 more week to go.  Well actually I guess I better continue until I get my first paycheck - so 3 weeks to go.

I went to Marshall's in Grandville and spent all $10 at once.  The plus is that I only spent $10.  

I took the girls to play on the toys at the mall and decided to just do a quick browse through Marshall's.  I found these super cute black Steve Madden flats for only $3, but they were a little small when I tried them on.  I figured they would fit Erica so I bought them for her.  Even if they didn't fit her, how could I pass on a pair of shoes for $3.  (I"m guessing the low price was due to the fact that the flower was just hanging on by a string.)  Plus Steve Madden is one of her favorites.  Then I looked and saw a bigger size brown for me!  These were $7.  I guess these were more because the flower was fully attached.

I knew I would be able to glue the flower back onto Erica's shoes so $3 seemed like a great price.  When I went to pay I asked the girl (ever so nicely since I used to work in retail and it is so annoying when people think you are so dumb that you don't know anything about pricing) if I could get the brown shoes for $3.  She said they had different numbers so she couldn't change it.  I was fine with that and felt that $5 per pair of shoes was great.

So here they are
I struggle to stay up with the trends so I"m not sure if the clearance price was telling me that these are totally out or what.  I think they are cute and they seem pretty classic so I'm going to be wearing these this fall. 

"It's sounds like music"

As many of you know (unless you don't know me and found me blog which would make me feel happy that you are reading it) Annabelle is a loud eater.  Usually the kids she is with don't mind and sometimes begin making the mmmmmm sounds.

Well awhile ago we were with some friends and one of their kids said to Annabelle, "Can you stop that, it is kind of annoying."  Annabelle replied, "I like it, it sounds like music."

Ariel loves her sister and copies most things Annabelle does.  Check out this little video clip.

One of My Favorites

I have been hungry for Chicken Pot Pie for awhile, but it just didn't seem like a middle of the summer meal.  The other day it started out cloudy so I decided it would be a great day to make it.  It ended up getting sunny, but the temperature wasn't as hot as it has been.

It had been quite awhile since I had made it and I really wanted Annabelle to like it so I made the top crust super cute.  I used cookie cutters to cut out flowers.  She already has plans to do butterflies on the next one.  I thought it would be cute to make a Jack-O-Lantern face at Halloween.  Anyway, she loved it and ate her whole piece. She even ate an onion ball (it comes in the can, I would never touch one) without flinching.  Ariel even enjoyed it. She at the crust, potatoes, and carrots.

I know that there are tons of Chicken Pot Pie recipes, but this one is super easy and super delicious.  Plus it tastes really good on day 2, which is when James prefers to eat it.

Here is the recipe
    
1 pound cooked chicken cut up
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/4 milk
1 large can Veg-All (top shelf at Meijers) (you can use 2 small cans but I don't think you will get the potatoes)
     I gave this recipe to someone and they used fresh veggies and said it 
     didn't turn out.  I guess they don't cook 
     long enough.  I would rather just use the prepared veggies - much 
     easier. 
1 box pie crust

Mix the soups, chicken, Veg-All (drained), and milk together in a large bowl.
Spray your pie pan and put down the bottom crust.
Pour the filling into the crust.
*Put the top crust on and make some slices in it so the steam can escape
*Roll out the crust and make shapes with the cookie cutters
Put the crust on and rub it with a little milk or egg wash (just for a pretty browness)
Bake at 350 degrees for 45-55 minutes.

What is nice about this recipe is that you can buy the ingredients and keep them in the cupboard because nothing goes bad.  The crust can go in the freezer and we all have chicken on hand most of the time.

I promise you will love this recipe.  Put it on your menu for the fall.
Let me know if you try it. 

Every Time I Turn Around...

Ariel is into something.

In the book drawer

In a shelf in the closet


Bugging Annabelle at the desk


Climbing a table


Climbing to the top of the desk


Crawling across the kitchen set


climbing into the stroller


Getting a close-up look at her make-up


Climbing the bench like a ladder.

We use this to block the steps, I guess

it isn't very effective if she can climb it. 

We now keep it open so she can't climb it.


Hanging out on the top of the desk.

 My child pretty much takes the cake when it comes to climbing ability.  She was walking at 9 1/2 months and climbing soon after that.  We have to keep our chairs on the table or she will be up there.  I have to close the doors to all the rooms or she will find herself in some situation where she needs rescuing.  One time I didn't close the bathroom door and I heard her fussing and I went to find her and she had climbed into the toilet.  Fortunately it was feet first, 

but I make sure to keep the door closed at all times.  

She keeps us on our toes.  I love (well, not all the time) how curious she is and how quickly she catches on to things.  

We sure do love our Ari-Berry. 

Kids in a Candy Store

Annabelle loves to go to the Peanut Store downtown and pick out a couple pieces of candy (and so do I).  Now Ariel is old enough to realize that candy is really yummy.  She was picking out things like she was actually going to get them.
We did give her a Junior Mint.

She looks like she can't believe there is so much candy
Now if only she could get what she wanted.

$10 - Week 9

Well since I didn't have any money to spend I didn't spend any.

I went to the sidewalk sales and did find some things that would have been fun to have. 

Annabelle found this cute musical Christmas tree.  It was originally $40 and on sale for $8.  It would have been fun to have at Christmas time.  I decided not to get it with the money I don't have because I would bring it home and hope that I would put it away.  I wouldn't actually get it into the Christmas boxes and it would make my back storage room messy.  Plus did I really want to buy a Christmas item in the middle of the summer?

I also found some scarves that I would have like to have had.  I talked myself out of these half off bargains by telling myself that the scarves were bright fun colors which would be perfect for spring or summer.  Well spring is a long way off and as for summer, did I really want to wrap something around my neck when I could barely stand to have my hair not in a pony tail.

Maybe this week when i actually have my $10 I will be able to talk myself out of stuff I don't need and save it for new fall clothes! 

SURPRISE!!!

We had a surprise party for my mom's 50th birthday.  We weren't sure if she had figured out something was going on or if she was actually going to be surprised.  Turns out she had no idea and was completely surprised.

Birthday Girls

 

The Fab 5

We wanted to have a party to celebrate our mom who loves and cares about us so much.

Love you Mom!

$10 - Week 8

So since I spent all my saved money, money from this week, and money for next week (on the camera) I didn't really have any money to spend and I  didn't spend any!!


I currently don't have any money saved to buy my make up but listen to this:
My dad asked me to pick up my mom's birthday present from Smooch (we LOVE Bare Minerals).  So I bought it and the points went under my name.  As I was paying the girl told me that I had reached the point level I needed and had earned $20 to spend in the store!  Now I don't have to save money and can get the make up I need. I am going to go tomorrow and pick up some Mineral Veil.

McRae Family Picnic

We got together with James' family for a fun summertime picnic.
Everyone had a lot of fun visiting, eating, and playing.