This past summer was a lesson in patience and faith for me. I was out of work and searching (desperately) for a teaching position with my new teaching certificate. In case you are new to these parts, I quit my so-called ‘dream job’ in late 2011 to pursue a career in education. I followed that with 4 months of unpaid student-teaching, followed by slap-ya-in-tha-face unemployment.
I ended up getting an interim teaching position in 1st grade, praise the Lord. I really enjoyed it and felt truly comfortable there. I had forgotten all about the instructor position I had applied for until I got the call. It was from the department chair and she was asking me if I was still interested in the position. She said they’d be hiring for the spring semester instead of the fall. I told her that I was employed at the time, but I would be interested in hearing more about it.
We went back and forth for a few days. I went up for a visit at the college and she offered me the job. Ben and I talked about it and prayed about it. I loved my job, and hated the thought of leaving the kids, but at the end of the day, I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity.
So what exactly does the opportunity entail? It is a full-time teaching position, with full benefits. I teach 4 classes currently (3 public speaking classes and 1 business communications class). I work, and here’s the clencher, THREE DAYS A WEEK! Yep. I am so excited about that. I teach two days a week, and then I have office hours on the other day. I observe the college schedule, which means I get summers off (unless I decide to teach summer classes for extra cash), a winter break, fall break, and spring break. And I work with some pretty phenomenal people. That’s always a good perk 🙂
As much as I loved teaching 1st grade, I just couldn’t pass up the chance to spend more time at home. I will NEVER look back on my life and wish I had spent more time at work. When I made my decision to leave, I told Ben this: “When PB is 18, and I’m watching him pack his bags for college, there is NO way I could look him in the eye and tell him I turned down an opportunity to spend more time with him when he was growing up”.
And that’s it.
I resigned the first week of January. My principal and coworkers were so understanding and so supportive of my decision. That made it easier. I’ve been teaching at the college now for 2 weeks. I really, really like it. I’m still getting to do what I love (teach), while being at home an extra two days!
I would have NEVER imagined an opportunity like this. But you know, that’s why God’s work is so amazing. He provides for us far beyond our comprehension. Only 6 months ago, I was praying for a teaching job. ANY TEACHING JOB. And then He blesses me with a good job. And then he blesses me with an even better job, one that allows me to play trucks and cowboys two extra days a week.
God knows the desires of our hearts, and if we come to Him, ready to be used for His glory and according to His will, His blessings are limitless, and far better than anything we can imagine.
I don’t want to fill up my new schedule too soon, but I’m imagining it will be filled with toys, hide and seek, mommy and son dates, thrift store shopping, a little more crafting, and hopefully more blogging 🙂
Have a blessed Friday 🙂
