Back to School

Here are some pictures of the first day of school for Ryan.




Yes, his teacher is really that cute. He says Second Grade is the best ever. It's going well and Josh starts on Tuesday. I can't wait to see pictures from that one.

Why Back to School is so hard on Teachers

Back to school is the worst time of the year for teachers. Those poor souls who live with us have to hear the "I'm SO tired" and "There's not enough time" and "Can't you just get dinner tonight?" refrains until their ears start to bleed. So why don't we all just suck it up, accept that we chose this profession and do our jobs??

There is a reason, of course. There are many reasons actually.

Some of us didn't choose THIS profession in it's current form. We chose it in a kinder, gentler time before No Child Left Behind and the rise of mindless research based best teaching practices. We remember the "good old days" before guided reading and documentation and no administrative support and centers and ADD....

Most of us don't know what our job will entail this year. See, every year school districts add several new steps to certain processes in an effort to improve performance. They are poorly defined and not well thought out knee jerk reactions to the previous year's performance by district. This looks a lot like all those little pop up ads that most web browsers block out, but we can't block them. We must respond to and execute each one before we can get back to the job of teaching kids.

Back to school time is unltimately a fluid dance of teaching preparations, inservice, district hobnobbing, parental encounters, new teacher helping, team building with new teammates, administrative decisions, and decorating. These things all flow together in an unpredictable wave like motion that toss us to and fro and sometimes slams us into the rocks from 7 am to 10 pm for the week before school starts. Some of us like to start earlier with the hope that it'll make the transition easier. We hope in vain, every year.. I think teachers must be the most optimistic people on the planet (present company excluded).

It's a change in routine. We've just spent 9 weeks trying to regain some sense of normalcy with family vacation, changed home routines cuz we're actually THERE, summer projects around the house, and some well deserved sleeping in. Then, it's back to the grindstone just when we have the new routine down. It is kind of cruel now that I think about it. HMmmm.

And finally, we all know that the morning of the first day we will have to start training a new crop of kids who seem a lot less mature than last year's crew. We know we'll have to add students and undo much of the work we spent the last week doing. Some of us even have to face that our teaching assignment will change after the first few days due to an unexpected enrollment number. This means moving rooms, grade levels, team mates, and sometimes even our campus. All at the whim of the district. Because we signed a contract that includes the phrase "all other duties as assigned". Without know how much we'll be making.

That's why we whine. That's why we moan. And that's why you should tell your child's teacher that you really appreciate all they do for your child.

The Resume Blitz

So we have taken a new approach to the job search. Ok, it's not new, but it's happening again. We are blitzing churches with Chris's resume. Using the "find a pastor" type websites, we find churches that seem to fit with what we believe and send in a resume, no matter their location. So, from PA to San Diego, Florida to Oregon, we've got those lists of Chris's abilities out there.

We also are concurrently looking at local school opportunities. Since everyone is fully stocked for teachers these days, Chris is putting in for tech jobs in the district.

He also recently shared a lot of our story with the youth adult leaders. Seems we've been a little "close to the vest" with our info. So, they were rightfully surprised by some of it, but so very kind and supportive.

I guess it's a way of just laying it all out there and seeing what happens. But having people know so much about where our family is, is a little embarrassing. I know it shouldn't feel like that, but I really feel like I'm heading into church tomorrow without enough clothes on. (Don't worry, Mom, I am fully and appropriately dressed.)

I just hope that God sees fit to get Chris a job sooner rather than later. But of course, that's been my mantra for over a year now. So i'm not holding my breath. Speaking of which, it's time to go pay bills.

The family visit

We had a wonderful trip to New Braunfels with my family. Where else on earth can you chase chickens, make gourmet food, feed goats,play at the lake,take shooting lessons from an expert and visit historical landmarks?? Here are some of the best pictures.

Josh shows no fear of chickens. He was very eager to help in any way he could!

Ryan got the real tour of the Alamo. Chris made sure to point out all the coolest features.














Here's the compulsary "I went to the Alamo" picture.


The cousins had a sleepover. They are such good friends and great kids when they are together.














Here are the kids at Canyon Lake. What a great few hours!


This is the family putting the chickens away. Again, farm life is second nature to Josh.








More lake pictures.



Ryan got to shoot a gun for the first time. He really liked it.


He was so proud of hitting the target.


Opa is great at giving lessons.


What a great time!

RIP

So, the red car is gone. I never really figured out a name for it. Some called it Big Red.. But it usually was just "Mom's car" or "the red one". I really will miss it, so sporty and fun. We had it for almost 9 years. RIP good friend



And now we have a special gift. It's already got a couple of names cuz this is a car with personality. Some call it The Hulk.. I keep coming back to the Green Machine. We figured out that it's a year older than Chris's grandmother's car. Same model. But the best news of all is that it gets better gas mileage than the old one. Woo-hoo!
Now this car truly is special. Even though it has radically "grandmotherly" tendencies, it was a gift in a time of need. And we are so grateful for Air Conditioning. Notice the capitals?? It's that big of a deal in Houston in the summer. While we may joke about the "largese" of God's bounty, shown in perfect metaphorical style, we are happy to welcome this machine into the family.


Oh yeah, and the boys love the HUGE backseat. Due to the leather seats, they slip and slide around like they are on ice. Big fun for the brothers! AND the trunk is large enough to fit both of them with extra room should the need ever arise. Yep, thanks isn't the right word for our generous friend. I don't think English has a word that could express the depth of gratitude that we have, so it'll have to do.

Where's the Job?

I'm bummed. Just frustrated and sad at the lack of job opportunities to meet our family's needs. Teaching positions are filling up fast. No call for an interview on any of the resumes we sent in there. Church positions are starting to open up... in other parts of the country. I know we couldn't make a move without some serious divine intervention.

And I know that God's got a plan in all of this. I am still awestruck by the way He provided some reliable transportation for us in a 24 hour turn around time. I should be content to know that we are in His hands and that the job will come when it is supposed to. But I'm not really content with that thought. Mostly because I want some movement on this sooner, rather than later.

God is faithful to protect and provide for us. Period. Whether I like how He does it or not. But I feel like I've stopped learning from this process. I've learned a lot too. How we can live frugally and financially soundly. Patience when things aren't going right. I've learned how to be more sensitive to others when hard times hit. I've even had a lot of pride erased through needing others in areas of physical and emotional support. I've loved having time with the whole family together this summer. Time to just "be" without outrageous demands of ministry.

And in all of that, I want this season of life over. I want to be able to use some of these lessons to help others. I want to stop the stress of knowing that my husband is on the brink (or way over some days) of depression. I want my children to have the ability to tell kids what their daddy does for a living. I want to stop having to explain the situation to everyone who asks "What's Chris up to these days?" I'm ready to focus on the here and now, wherever that's going to be.

Answered Prayer

Hi again. What a day for posting. Some of you might be reading this 2 or 3 times. Too bad! I'm that excited about sharing this.

Thank you for flooding the throne room of heaven on our behalf. We went to clean out the old Grand Prix today. And got the estimate for fixing Chris's car's AC. About $900 to get a new compressor. It was another sad day in the house.

But, we should not have worried. Our God is mighty and good and has even chosen to solve our car situation. Tonight we had a very good friend show up at our house. He does this occasionally and we love to see him when he can make it. I'd brag on him more about how many times he has blessed our lives with encouragement or wisdom or gifts of service, but I know he'd be embarrassed. Tonight, he came bearing a wonderful gift. Apparently the Lord had provided him a car to give to us. So we are now the proud owners of a 1996 Mercury Grand Marquis. In very good condition. With a very cold AC. Praise God!

Chris and I are humbled and awed and so full of gratitude. God has again shown that He is the giver of all good things. And He will use us as we are willing to be used. Thosw who pray for us are being used for God's glory in that act of service. We would be sunk without your support these days. And we know it's only through God that we have anything good.

Now, we just need that job for Chris. I say "we need". I guess I should say "we'd really like to have". If you're reading this, keep praying, it's working.

Oh yeah, and....

... the car is toasted, roasted and no longer able to be driven. Silly machine doesn't like metal shavings in the engine and seems to need ALL of the motor to work. Go figure. I am very sad.