The one where plans change.

When I went to seminary I assumed I would work in a church after I graduated. While going to seminary I worked at a church keeping preschoolers while their moms learned English. I also worked at Fort Travis as a 1st & 2nd grade teacher in the after school program. The summer K and I got married he got a job as an intern here. I applied for a job there in the children's ministry. After many interviews (including a math test? really?) I got the job. Since 6 months was the longest anyone had filled that position, I worked there about that long. It is hard to describe my experience working there. People didn't like me, in their eyes I never did the right thing. It was weird - like going to battle and i was on the wrong side.

When my time with them was up, I got to experience what K did on Sunday mornings which seemed like a piece of cake compared to what I went through. It was awesome...awesome boss, awesome people, awesome job. He was the only reason we were there. It took a while to find a job. I worked at a scrapbook store for a while. While I worked at the scrapbook store K and I went to a few meetings about the Alternative Certification Program. I have a degree in Art. I have a Master's degree and it turns out they were putting art and music teachers in EVERY elementary school in the district that year. Wahoo! I'm in.

It took me all summer - 3 job fairs and I got a call while driving back from Austin. My future school called and I had never heard of it. They were looking for an art teacher and wanted to interview me that week. I got home and found my school on the internet. I had prayed that God would put me in a school that would be in a beautiful place. There are tons of schools in my district and many of those schools were in poor neighborhoods. Well guess what my school's name means in Indian? Beautiful Place! I was shocked! Surprised! Happy!

I went to interview and got the job the same day. 99% hispanic school teaching 816 kids a week. I had to start waking up early and getting home late. I had to learn how to teach Kindergarten then teach 5th graders right after that. I'm still having to tell myself it's ok to go to bed early just to survive my week. My kids wear me out.

Sometimes I come home in a good mood. Sometimes, like Friday, I come home wondering why people have kids when they don't have time to take care of them...like read to them at home or help them with their homework...or make sure they take a bath.

So all of this to say God had a purpose for me being here. even though most days I came home crying. It was worth it because it got me where I am today to teach these kids and make an impact on their lives.