The past 3 1/2 years...

This past Friday was a day that I have looked forward to for the past 2 1/2 years. (I will get to that day in my next post!) It all started when we moved to Roanoke in 2008. Dustin had landed a great job and I just knew that I would be able to find a job no problem-after all, I was certified k-6, and schools always need elementary teachers. (This was probably the beginning of the job crisis, which I did not realize at the time.) So after putting my application out to every school system within an hour of here, I was sure that it was just a matter of time until my phone started ringing off the hook. Well, that never happened. I ended up getting a job at Honey Tree Early Learning Center just a few miles away from our house. I was offered the preschool teacher position, which I though would be a dream. It ended up not being that at all. I knew that I wanted to be in the school system so I began making the school systems phones ring off the hook. Every day during my lunch hour I would call a handful of systems and every day it was the same conversation.

"No, no openings at this time, we'll keep you in mind. Your certification is---"

"k-6"

"No special ed?"

"No"

"Hmm, OK"

So after about a month of that, I decided to get a certification in Special Education. I took the intro class through University of Phoenix. I took a leap of faith and put my 2 weeks notice in at Honey Tree. Within those 2 weeks, I got a call from Roanoke County asking me to do a long term sub job for a special ed teacher who was out on maternity leave. "Yes!" (This happened at Thanksgiving) For the rest of that school year I worked nearly every day as a substitute, most of which was long-term. It just so happened that a supervisor of mine also happened to be in charge of the preschool program for the county. I talked with her one day in the hall and happened to mention that I had preschool experience. She just happened to have 2 preschool openings for the following school year! The only problem was that within 3 years I would have to have certification in Early Childhood Special Education. No Problem!

That Fall, I began my job as well as my curriculum at Radford. I was excited to find the program at Radford since they offered classes at a distance so I would not have to travel for every class. My advisor told me that I could either take classes to get my certification, or take 4 extra classes and receive my Masters degree. I decided to just go for it! So I took 2 classes each semester, including 2 classes over the summer the past 2 summers. (I did take a semester off after having Rachel and only 1 class this past semester)

It is amazing to me that 3 1/2 years ago we moved here and I had no clue what was in store. A year of not having a job, then 2 1/2 years of having a job and taking classes, and having a baby has shown me just how amazing God is. We never know what He has in store for us, and I tell people that He laughs when I tell Him my plans! Through all the trials, I would not change this time at all.

Thank you to all the support and prayers that have been sent my way. I could not have done it without you all. Especially Dustin! I know it was not easy on him when I was gone multiple nights a week, and when I was at home, I was often consumed by schoolwork. We have eaten our share of frozen pizzas and other frozen meals, that's for sure! So thank you, Dustin for being my rock!