VA, here I come!

I am looking forward to going to VA this weekend. It is coming up really fast, though. I have to teach a lesson for part of my interview. It will be in front of at least 2 staff members, no kids. Yikes! I think that is a bit strange and will be difficult to do, I have been preparing. I was told that I can choose whatever subject I want to teach, but it has to be for the grade I student taught, so 4th grade. Believe it or not, I am going to do a math lesson. Not because I love math (I know I don't!), but because it is easier to teach the concept. Usually, it was 40-45 minutes per class period, but my interview lesson can be 20-30 minutes. I think I will be practicing on my roomie and perhaps my advisory teacher. That should help, I think.

I did call my advisory teacher yesterday. I asked her if I could borrow the math curriculum to look at the lesson plans. She told me that I couldn't borrow the current edition, but she had an older one that I am more than welcome to use. I took the first 80 lesson and will be looking through those today. I'd rather teach something I've done before! I did make my numbers for the board to use in the review drill. I took some post-it notes and glued on some computer printed numbers (size 350 font) and them laminated them. I only did 0-12.

I am going to take some other things with me, if I can. I want to take a visual I made and then some pictures of the bulletin boards I've made just to show them some of my work.

Last night was a long night. Someone went AWOL and we were up til 2:30-3:00 in the morning. She did return safe and sound, but her actions were quite selfish and caused a lot of worry. What a night!

Pics to share!

My family and I at my graduation








Me and preacher








Me cutting the cake at my open house










Me








Me and my little brother

I heading to VA next Saturday! They want me to have a lesson prepared to teach :s This is both exciting and scary at the same time!

GRADUATION!!!!!!!!

I graduate from college today!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hmm..
Today has been an emotional roller coaster for me. I feel...dejected. After I served the kids lunch, the director wanted to talk to me about my schedule. No problem there, I thought. Well, I guess my wanting to go home to celebrate my graduation was a problem with them. So was the possibility of flying out to an interview of a possible place to teach at. They didn't like it at all. So, they fired me, on the grounds of "playing the schedule". Huh? They knew I was graduating and I put in for time off a while ago. They approved it. It just wasn't convenient for them. So, I was told to think about it. I didn't know they already made up their mind, though. So, I was wrongly lied to and fired. BUT..God is in control. I've been talking to my pastor back home (I called him on my lunch break and then when I got off work since they let me finish today's shift). I cried, I was mad, I was sad...Hey, I'm a girl! Pastor said this is God's way of closing that door and getting me out of there. No holds. It hurts. Please don't think this as a sob story. It's not. It's a story of how God is working in my life at this moment. The Bible never said we would be "happy" all the time and that everything would go my way. It will go God's way. I have to be open to it. My pastor told me to quit blubbering and whining about it. We had some laughs, too. He asked me why I was so upset about and I told him that I had never been fired before. He laughed, I laughed. I didn't want to break that record, but it happened anyway. Well, enough for now. I've got a paper to finish and now I have more time to do so.
Oh yeah. During my lunch break, I locked my keys in my car. I saw a state trooper car outside and asked the librarian. He just called the local station and they sent out a police officer. He couldn't unlock (did not have his slim jim with him). So his boss came out. He opened it on the fourth try. What a day!

This past weekend

Nicole, Bekah, Bekah's mom, Hannah
Nicole, Bekah, Bekah's mom, Hannah
Nicole, Bekah, Bekah's mom, Hannah
Nicole and Bekah
Nicole and Bekah


Alright. Now for the long awaited update.

All last week was an amazing Preaching Conference. It was a very busy week as well. Then, Friday was a day off of classes for the academy and college, so I worked a full shift (I traded Tuesday and Friday hours). I worked at the day care from 9am-6pm and then I worked my cleaning job from 6:20pm-11:30 pm. I got up at 4:40 am on Saturday to get ready to leave. We left about 5:20 am. The trip itself was not very long at all, only about an hour and a half since there was little traffic out at that time. When we got to Bekah's house, her mom and brother (Ben) had breakfast almost ready (delicious pancakes), then Bekah and here mom did some errands while I took a little nap. Then, we got ready for the Ladies Banquet. Her mom and sister (Hannah) were table hosts and furnished some very beautiful tables, as well as the other ladies in the church. Her dad and brothers (the other is Seth) helped serve with some of the other men.

The banquet was very nice. Hope you enjoy the pics! We did!

Her mom kicked the boys out of the house and into the camper and we stayed in the boys' room. Seth (11) likes to talk and nearly talked my ear off! Ben (15) is a very talented artist in many ways, from drawing, carving, and building. Hannah (14) likes to write and had some very nice poems. I enjoyed her parents' stories at meal times. We all laughed very hard! The meals were very good too. I did try something sort of unusual, though: homemade pineapple, mushroom, pepperoni, and sweet potato pizza, mine minus the pineapple and mushrooms. It wasn't bad at all!

The Sunday services were nice too. I was warmly accepted and greeted by the folks of the church. I even made some new little friends (some of the kids in the church). One of the little girls, so I'm told, talked about me all weekend! She was such a sweety and even wanted me to sit by her during the evening service. Please pray for a lady named Geneva (78). She fell in between Sunday School and the morning service and broke 3 ribs and punctured a lung. We all felt so bad for her. Praise the Lord a paramedic attends the church and was able to help her.

All in all, It was very relaxing (I took no school work with me!) and I did not have to work at all. My schedule was very open and it felt nice. I needed that refresher!

Oh, Saturday night , we started to watch the The Printing and Sunday afternoon we watched Time Changers. We (Bekah, Ben, and I) played out own version of "In a Pickle", a game that was in the boys' closet. Oh, did we have a blast!

I hope you had a great weekend as well!

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

My pastor spoiled me yesterday! I was able to re-work my work schedule to have yesterday afternoon off instead of Friday and I went out with my pastor, his wife, my youth pastor, and his daughter. We went to a local mall. When we got there, Pastor and Mrs. were talking about which store to go to: JC Penney's or Sears. She chose Penney's and then Pastor told me that they were going to buy me a new graduation dress as a gift. My jaw dropped to the floor! I am certainly not used to that! They also got me a new pair of shoes to go with it.

This has been a busy, but great week. I have enjoyed having folks I know here. The two girls that came from my church are staying in my room. I see them the most in the morning when we are all getting ready for breakfast.

My interviews went pretty well, as far as I know. Two of the three are needing teachers this next school year. One needs a kindergarten teacher! I would love to do that! BUT, I want God's will more than anything when I get a teaching position.

I went to the Alumni Breakfast this morning and it was good. We all had to introduce ourselves after we ate. When that was done, I left for work. I'm on lunch break (well, heading back in a few minutes) and was also to catch a few of my people before they went on an activity. Later folks!
Please keep me in prayer concerning this teaching position! Thank you much!