Week 1

I made it!

Actually, my first week has been wonderful! The teachers have been supportive and welcoming which makes the biggest impact in me settling in and getting to know the kids. This week I spent most of my time trying to figure out what time I am supposed to be places and how to teach the curriculum that is in place. I lost 2.5 lbs this week if that is any indicator of how much running around I am doing ( I also woke up early 3x this week to run).

The kids were generous enough to share their germs with me so I have spent the weekend trying to rest and recover. I am worthless when I have a head cold. Does anyone else feel like that? It's pitiful really. Yesterday I slept until 12:30 (which I don't think has happened since high school), almost ran three red lights, and only shaved one leg while showering. I'm starting to rethink not getting the flu vaccination. If this is how I am with a cold, I would be out for months with the flu. Please pray that my kids will still get all the instruction and support they need despite me being sick and pray that I feel better soon.

"Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him" -Psalm 126:5-6

I'm employed!

God has truly answered my prayers concerning where I need to be working. Last Thursday I was contacted by a charter school organization asking if I was interested in a special education teaching position at one of their charter schools here in NOLA. I had sent my resume to the organization in the summer but they did not have any positions open for the Fall semester and they now have an opening because their special education coordinator is on maternity leave for the rest of the semester. Anyways, I had two short phone interviews with them and went in Friday to meet the kids I would work with. After being there for about 30 minutes, the principal told me that she would like for me to start Monday. Yikes!

I am so thrilled about working with the kids in this school. The school is located in a low-income neighborhood about a 15 minute drive from my house. The majority of students are African American and there are only two white kids in the whole school. I think this is awesome but I am a little nervous about the cultural barriers that I will have to overcome. Coming from a white middle-class family, I will have a lot to learn about how to relate to the children who may have experienced much more hardship in their few years on Earth than I had by their age. I'm also a little anxious coming into a school in the middle of the year. Everyone there is firmly settled into routines and relationships and I will be an outsider. Also, I do not know the children or their strengths so I am worried about being able to continue the progress they have made since the beginning of the year.

Please continue to pray for me 1)that I would easily build relationships with the existing teachers, 2) that God would give me peace and the ability to recall all relative knowledge that I have learned over the years, and 3) that God would use me for His glory in ALL things. Also, I would love to be praying for those of you who read my blog. Please let me know if there is anything I can pray for you about.

Job opportunity: Prayer needed

I have wonderful friends who are encouraging and have been talking me up to other educators in order to help me find a job. One of their friends at the parent play group works at an upscale preschool in the Garden District and she called me to see if I was interested in taking a job with them. I am extremely flattered to be considered (not that I have decided to take the job) because it is an amazing school with an outstanding reputation.

My dilemma in deciding whether or not to take this job is that I feel called to work with and advocate for low income families who are less likely to know the resources available to them. I don't know if working with low income families is what I need to be seeking after right now or if the job offer at the preschool is an opportunity to make an income for a semester while figuring out exactly where God wants me. I'm afraid that I will take the preschool job and get too comfortable working in a familiar environment instead of seeking an opportunity to work with low income families. Please pray that God will guide me in my decision making and make it clear where he wants me for this season of my life.

I don't want to be a grown up!

I should probably start applying for jobs but I feel like I need (and deserve) to take a break since finishing school and making it through the holiday hustle and bustle. I know of a job opening with The ARC of greater New Orleans for the exact position that I want and I love what the organization does in general. I don't think I will have a problem getting hired (other than needing a LA license and insurance-ugh) but I'm not ready. However, I do need to make some income. I can always take babysitting jobs but there are also several opportunities to be an extra in upcoming films being shot here in New Orleans so I decided to do some research. Here is what is being filmed now:

1. Looper- A sci-fi thriller starring Bruce Willis, Joseph Gordon-Levett, Paul Dano, and Emily Blunt.

2. So Undercover- Miley Cyrus plays a private eye at a university sorority house.

3. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter- Eric Bana stars

4. Contraband- thriller starring Mark Wahlberg, Ben Foster and Kate Beckinsale--they need hispanic extras so I might have a good chance :))

Just some musings

1. The Celtic Christmas concert at the St Louis cathedral last night was fun and festive. Is it bad that I was hoping the musician would break out singing some Irish drinking songs?

2. Kay jewelers commercials make me want to throw up.

3. Teaching myself how to knit sounded like a good idea but now has just frustrated me beyond belief. I could find a simpler pattern to knit but I am so opposed to failing that I am determined to conquer this pattern no matter what. Why am I so difficult?

4. Two more full days of babysitting left before I go home. I will miss the tax free income but I am so ready to have no responsibilities over the break.

5. Training for my first half marathon is a daunting task. I can't imagine actually running more than six miles. I would love some company on my runs if anyone in the Moody area is up for it.

Give the gift of dignity

Looking for a way to help others this Christmas season? Head on over to the St Roch Community Church website and purchase some of the gifts on their Amazon wishlist. St Roch is a church here in New Orleans which is located in a low income neighborhood. Their goal is to provide families with gifts that their children want at an extremely low cost to families. This enables families to retain some dignity by not outing their inability to provide such gifts for their family. I encourage you to check it out! It requires nothing but a generous heart, a few keystrokes, and a click of the mouse.

I am so Thankful!

Once again, I am so thankful for the life God has given me! I have been blessed in more ways than I can count but I forget to actually give thanks to God for all he has done for me and given to me.

During Thanksgiving week I celebrated my newfound ability to run by doing a 5k in Orange Beach, AL. There are not words to express how thankful I am for the body that God has given me. The past year has been a rough journey to get healthy. Now I weigh 38 lbs less and am active on a regular basis. At the beginning of this summer, I could not run one single minute so the fact that I ran a 5k is incredible. I was almost brought to tears during the run just thinking about how God has blessed me in my attempt to get healthy. I still have a ways to go but I feel like it is an easier journey from here on out because I have a healthier attitude towards exercise, food, and life in general. If anyone is attempting to start running and needs some encouragement, feel free to contact me. It has been a struggle for me and I can't say that I love running but it is kind of addicting.