Things have been very busy for me lately; but I am EXCITED to share the resolution with you…

As of December 15, 2007, I will once again be a resident of Dallas, TX. And hopefully in January, I will be a student again…on my way to being certified to teach 4^th – 8^th grade Math!! Isn’t that crazy?!! I have been pretty discontent with how my job has changed here at the church...it was what they needed to do right now, but not at all what I feel gifted to do, and certainly not what motivates or energizes me personally. I had intended on being here 2 years, but with all of the changes, I started exploring options. And all of the jobs I seemed drawn to, whether overseas or here in the states, were all teaching jobs. Tutoring English in China, teaching Math in Germany, teaching in Samoa…all very real job options that I considered. But with each one, I felt really unsettled about moving to a new culture, trying to teach in a different language, when I’ve NEVER been in a classroom as a teacher! It seemed out of order in my mind. So I started thinking: why not just become a teacher?? I mean seriously, I always wanted to teach when I was younger…I went to college originally as a Music Education major…why not head in that direction? Now is as good a time as any to totally change my life!

That was the first half…the second was deciding where that would take place. I will spare you the long story, but the end result is that I decided I want to live near my family again. It has been good to be away, for LOTS of different reasons, but the flip-side is that it has been 8 YEARS since I lived near them…even in the same state…and I’m ready to live the "day-to-day" with them again. With each answer to a question, each decision made, there was such peace that I can’t even describe. Of course I’m nervous and a little scared, and of course sad to leave…but I am so SURE that this is the right move. So, there you go…the update on my life! My (very loose) plan is to move home in December, begin an alternative certification program in January, teach for 2 or 3 years in Texas, and then re-evaluate what comes next. I would still LOVE to live overseas…but the timing isn’t right; not yet. Who knows what will happen in the next 4 or 5 years though. No matter what – even if I just teach in Texas and go on short-term trips in the summer – I am WAY pumped about this move.

So there it is…I’m joining the Educators! The subject and age range may change before all is said and done…I love Math, but I might suck at trying to explain it, I don’t know…but honestly, I really hope I’m good at it. Really. Public school is all I experienced growing up, and while I loved it, there were so few teachers that truly cared…about us, about their work, about the school, etc. But the few who did care truly made a mark, you know? I remember their faces, I remember their classrooms, and I even remember some of what they taught me. Those teachers that were there intentionally to change lives…I really looked up to them, and I listened to what they said. And I can only hope that I am capable of being that as well.

So…I hope your weekend is beautiful, I hope you get some deep and peaceful sleep, and I hope you laugh until your side hurts at some point in the very near future.