it takes courage to grow up and become who you really are - e.e. cummings

ait summer is over?...


what a whirlwind it has been! i'll try not to make this post excessively long but there is a lot to update on!


well, first off - i decided to not work at camp this summer. what a hard choice that was! a place i have been at every summer since i was in 4th grade and i had to make the decision to not return. i felt that if i worked this summer at camp, i couldn't put 100% into both doing my job at camp and finding a teaching job. so this summer was dedicated to finding a teaching job...


i spent my first couple of weeks housesitting in hickory for my friend brooke :-) it was nice to not have to have any major worries... i slept, watched tv, and looked for jobs online as well as taking my resume to numerous schools.


i probably passed out 9743947 resumes...


after not much luck in even getting any interviews, i decided to volunteer at camp for a week. i worked in day camp with my best friend amy! it was the best week ever. i absolutely love that age (5-8). it showed me how much fun i can have with children outside of the classroom and really reinforced my love for children in general. 

once i came back home, i decided it was time to apply to Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools... a decision i didn't want to do but i wasn't having in luck with jobs anywhere else. i grew up in charlotte and their school system and it just was not an environment i was looking forward to working in... right away i got calls for interviews and probably went to about 5 or so in about a 2 week time span. each one i went to, i got excited, loved the principal and started becoming adjusted to working and living in charlotte. although none of the interviews produced a job, it definitely gave me experience in interviewing and gave me confidence.

i went back to camp for another week to be the photographer (the job i did my last two summers at camp) since their current photographer was taking her week off. another great week at camp, doing something i am truly passionate about. if i couldn't get a teaching job, maybe i could become a photographer full time?...

back at home, i started getting anxious about not getting a job. would i be working at old navy for the next year? (i love my job and the people at old navy, but it just wasn't what i envisioned when i got a bachelors and masters degree in elementary education)...

on my way to one interview in charlotte, i got a phone call from a principal in fayetteville... what?? i had absolutely no intention of teaching or even moving to fayetteville... how did this principal find me? i didn't apply to any jobs there...

i decided i would go to the interview for at least some more practice on interviewing... 

my entire drive down i just kept thinking about how i just wanted a job but no way would it be in fayetteville. i went into the interview hating the area, thinking it was too hot, and ready to drive back home... 

fortunately, God had different plans. (go figure!) i fell in love with the principal and she seemed to really want me. i met a few teachers and they seemed to really want me. half way through the interview the principal asked if i was ready to move down... HA - what!?!? i laughed thinking she was joking but realized that she seemed serious... uh...

...oh did i also mention it was kindergarten? my absolute dream grade to teach?! ahhh... 

not only did i feel so wanted and loved already, it was a perfect school. brand new. such the ideal and perfect situation. (ok what's the deal here God?...) i left the school and started my drive home... i thought long and hard... i cried... i got excited... i just didn't know what to do..

ready for the whirlwind?...

my interview was on a friday... 

i was offered the job on sunday... 

i accepted on monday...

i drove down to look for apartments on tuesday...

i applied for an apartment on wednesday...

i loaded up the truck on friday...

i moved in on saturday...

and here it is monday... i'm sitting in starbucks... in fayettevile... anticipating what is to come in the next couple of weeks...

i start my teacher work days tomorrow. the children start on aug. 25th.

i often have wondered how or why the principal found and called me... and then i realize the obvious answer - God did it. He knew what was in store for me. i couldn't have asked for a more perfect situation. i am so excited for what is coming!

...so now that i have spent 2 hours or so at starbucks, soaking up their internet (since i don't have any internet until thursday)... i guess i should head back to my apartment and continue unloading boxes...