Monday, April 11, 2011
Sorry ChiTown Girl!
No offense to ChiTown Girl, and her beloved White Soxs, but I got my dad THE perfect Father's Day gift!!! Father-Daughter tickets on June 20th to see them play in Cincinnati. I could completely do without baseball, but this gift means the world to my dad. I really like being at the point in life where I am able to give back to my parents after all they have given to me. My dad was worried about the cost of the tickets, blah, blah....and I said they were free for dads. :) I told him he was going to have to start getting used to the fact that he has reached the point in life where we should be spoiling HIM and giving back to them.
These May Be the Death of Me...and a Funny Cartoon
I've never been a Jellybean person...but these I LOVE!
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Amos Lee
We made the three hour trip down to Nashville last night, and getting to hear AMOS LEE was my reward!!!
The Ryman was an AWESOME venue! We had great balcony seats, and were only about twenty-five feet from Amos!
View from our seat....
I told HH he could play Sudoku while the concert was on, but he just played it until the concert started. He is such a sweetheart.
He had a duo called "The Secret Sisters," and they had such talented vocal qualities together....here is a sample from their music:
We got in at 3:30 this morning, so needless to say I'm dragging a bit.
The Ryman was an AWESOME venue! We had great balcony seats, and were only about twenty-five feet from Amos!
View from our seat....
I told HH he could play Sudoku while the concert was on, but he just played it until the concert started. He is such a sweetheart.
He had a duo called "The Secret Sisters," and they had such talented vocal qualities together....here is a sample from their music:
We got in at 3:30 this morning, so needless to say I'm dragging a bit.
South Dakota
Here are some pictures from South Dakota.
Members of the search committee showing us the parsonage.
This could be our house.
Need any tires?
The church.
I met a REAL COWBOY at the gas station!!!
My momma and I. :) he came to pick us up from the airport on Thursday, and took us to dinner at Oliver Garden.
Members of the search committee showing us the parsonage.
This could be our house.
This picture was taken in the cultural center. The animal was HUGE!
Need any tires?
The church.
I met a REAL COWBOY at the gas station!!!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
I've Been Here Before...
We leave in two hours to head back to Kentucky. We've both had a wonderful trip. My heart isn't sold on moving here, but I cannot tell you how much more open I am to the idea. We've been with these people more than any other time HH has been a candidate for another church. Everything seems to point in the direction that yes, they will offer HH the position. There was another church where HH and I got called back and things seemed so promising, and we were dropped. What is hard is that only one time we've gotten an explanation of why they decided to go a different direction. The investment is much deeper this time, and I'm scared of the chance that we might get turned down. I know ultimately it would mean this is not where God wants us, I just hope we don't have to wait too long before we know.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Yesterday was INTERESTING!!!
I start yesterday with VERY high hopes. I had submitted an application for a teaching position in South Dakota, and had HH drive me over to the person who could potentially hire me. I explained that I was sorry for "dropping in," but I wanted to see if she had any questions, etc. Within three minutes I was walking out the door, and had barely made it to the door before tears came cascading down my face. She told me that one position had been filled by a qualified Native American applicant. I was fine with that, and understand that she has to operate under strict federal guidelines. I understand that not following such guidelines can cost her school district in losing federal funds. I worked under a federal grant program, and know just how demanding that can be.
She said there was another position that had opened up, but I was not eligible because I didn't have my South Dakota teaching license in hand. This is where I was upset. According to the website, I needed a current teaching license, and to be employed as a teacher. I knew I would have to get the license before full time employment. If I had known that, I would have applied for that two week ago to go ahead and get the ball rolling. She could tell that I was about to cry, and said that I should check down the road with the local school system (again, the federal and local systems work seperately yet together here...strange).
So, by the time I reach the car, I am in full sobbing mode. This is IT in this town....there are no other job opportunities. After about ten minutes, I tell HH to drive me down the street to this other school. I tried to find the person who could hire there, but they were not in. When I explained to the secretary why I was there, she said she would try to get the 5-6 grade principal for me to talk with. This lady was so nice. Of course her first question was why South Dakota. I explained, and she got a chance to meet HH and talk with him for a few minutes. She said that she was certain she had a sixth grade position open, and asked if I would be willing. I told her absolutely, but my teaching certificate would not allow it. She said that in South Dakota, they give K-8 certificates. She called to check to see if my certificate would transfer to a K-8 at the state office, and they said no problem. She asked me several other questions, and seemed genuinely interested. The secretary gave me some paperwork to fill out. She said that I needed to submit a letter of interest today. I told the principal I didn't have access to a printer here, and she lets me type/print the letter on her computer!!! We shake hands and go on our way.
For the next two hours, I have a fury of phone calls to make and take! I get one of my good friends and work supervisors to hammer out a recommendation letter. (The application needed three letters, which I would have had completed had I known before hand.) She not only completes the letter but says, "What is the principal's phone number, I'll just call her." This lady is a university professor/student teacher supervisor, and has a lot of influence over what happens in our building. I was elated! So she talks with her, and calls me back to say how positively it went.
I send out emails and facebook messages to get my other two letters started. I start my online application for teaching certification. It comes down to the PRAXIS. The Praxis is the test you take at the end of college to get your state certification. I call to order scores, and find out they don't keep them past nine years. I call other places, but I end up finding out I took test 0011 and I need to take test 0014. I checked every option trying not to take that test again, but to no avail. I have gone ahead and bought the test prep books, and will be making my appointment to take the PRAXIS tonight online. My application for license cannot move forward without those scores.
We got to see the parsonage yesterday, and took a bunch of pictures. It was very nice. It is by far one of the nicest homes in this area. We asked if we could come back and take measurements of the place just in case we were selected, so we could plan as we moved. They were fine with that. I will post pictures when I get back home, but the internet is painfully (dial-upish) slow here.
Just a few minutes ago, I got a call for an OFFICIAL INTERVIEW!!! :) Tomorrow at 9:00, I will be interviewing for a position!
She said there was another position that had opened up, but I was not eligible because I didn't have my South Dakota teaching license in hand. This is where I was upset. According to the website, I needed a current teaching license, and to be employed as a teacher. I knew I would have to get the license before full time employment. If I had known that, I would have applied for that two week ago to go ahead and get the ball rolling. She could tell that I was about to cry, and said that I should check down the road with the local school system (again, the federal and local systems work seperately yet together here...strange).
So, by the time I reach the car, I am in full sobbing mode. This is IT in this town....there are no other job opportunities. After about ten minutes, I tell HH to drive me down the street to this other school. I tried to find the person who could hire there, but they were not in. When I explained to the secretary why I was there, she said she would try to get the 5-6 grade principal for me to talk with. This lady was so nice. Of course her first question was why South Dakota. I explained, and she got a chance to meet HH and talk with him for a few minutes. She said that she was certain she had a sixth grade position open, and asked if I would be willing. I told her absolutely, but my teaching certificate would not allow it. She said that in South Dakota, they give K-8 certificates. She called to check to see if my certificate would transfer to a K-8 at the state office, and they said no problem. She asked me several other questions, and seemed genuinely interested. The secretary gave me some paperwork to fill out. She said that I needed to submit a letter of interest today. I told the principal I didn't have access to a printer here, and she lets me type/print the letter on her computer!!! We shake hands and go on our way.
For the next two hours, I have a fury of phone calls to make and take! I get one of my good friends and work supervisors to hammer out a recommendation letter. (The application needed three letters, which I would have had completed had I known before hand.) She not only completes the letter but says, "What is the principal's phone number, I'll just call her." This lady is a university professor/student teacher supervisor, and has a lot of influence over what happens in our building. I was elated! So she talks with her, and calls me back to say how positively it went.
I send out emails and facebook messages to get my other two letters started. I start my online application for teaching certification. It comes down to the PRAXIS. The Praxis is the test you take at the end of college to get your state certification. I call to order scores, and find out they don't keep them past nine years. I call other places, but I end up finding out I took test 0011 and I need to take test 0014. I checked every option trying not to take that test again, but to no avail. I have gone ahead and bought the test prep books, and will be making my appointment to take the PRAXIS tonight online. My application for license cannot move forward without those scores.
We got to see the parsonage yesterday, and took a bunch of pictures. It was very nice. It is by far one of the nicest homes in this area. We asked if we could come back and take measurements of the place just in case we were selected, so we could plan as we moved. They were fine with that. I will post pictures when I get back home, but the internet is painfully (dial-upish) slow here.
Just a few minutes ago, I got a call for an OFFICIAL INTERVIEW!!! :) Tomorrow at 9:00, I will be interviewing for a position!
Monday, April 4, 2011
Easy
It is so easy to think of this song where I am right now!
A purple sky to close the day
I wade the surf where dolphins play
The taste of salt, the dance of waves
And my soul wells up with hallelujahs
A lightning flash, my pounding heart
A breaching whale, a shooting star
Give testimony that you are
And my soul wells up with hallelujahs
Oh praise Him all His mighty works
There is no language where you can't be heard
Your song goes out to all the Earth
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!
O cratered moon and sparrow's wings
O thunder's boom and Saturn's rings
Unveil our Father as you sing
And my soul wells up with hallelujahs
Oh praise Him all His mighty works
There is no language where you can't be heard
Your song goes out to all the Earth
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!
The pulse of life within my wrist
A fallen snow, a rising mist
There is no higher praise than this
And my soul wells up
O my soul wells up
Yes my soul wells up with hallelujahs
Oh praise Him all His mighty works
There is no language where you can't be heard
Your song goes out to all the Earth
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!
O hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!
A purple sky to close the day
I wade the surf where dolphins play
The taste of salt, the dance of waves
And my soul wells up with hallelujahs
A lightning flash, my pounding heart
A breaching whale, a shooting star
Give testimony that you are
And my soul wells up with hallelujahs
Oh praise Him all His mighty works
There is no language where you can't be heard
Your song goes out to all the Earth
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!
O cratered moon and sparrow's wings
O thunder's boom and Saturn's rings
Unveil our Father as you sing
And my soul wells up with hallelujahs
Oh praise Him all His mighty works
There is no language where you can't be heard
Your song goes out to all the Earth
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!
The pulse of life within my wrist
A fallen snow, a rising mist
There is no higher praise than this
And my soul wells up
O my soul wells up
Yes my soul wells up with hallelujahs
Oh praise Him all His mighty works
There is no language where you can't be heard
Your song goes out to all the Earth
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!
O hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!
Funhouse Scale
The place we are staying at has a scale. I weighe myself this morning. Before I get on the scale, a sea of thoughts come over me...I wonder if I weigh a lot more than I do on my home scale. What if my home scale is an illusion? (Yes, these are really some of the things I am thinking!)
I breathe a sigh of relief when I see...
140
Back to regularly scheduled programming.
I breathe a sigh of relief when I see...
140
Back to regularly scheduled programming.
South Dakota
We missed our flight into South Dakota by about ten minutes. We ended up getting to hang around the airport for five hours to get on the next flight. Fortunately, there was another flight to Rapid City on the same day. (I was strongly thinking that there would not be!)
We stayed in Rapid City for the night instead of making the three hour drive to where HH would be preaching. We had a very warm reception from the church. HH's sermon was awesome. A girl in her mid-late twenties took four pages of notes from it. Afterwards, we had a fellowship potluck lunch.
The area is very poor. The homes remind me of where I work, except they are spread out, and not in an urban setting. There is nothing here. A grocery store, one cafe, a Dairy Queen, and a Taco Johns. We tried to go to the grocery store at 6:30 last night, and it was closed. On our drive in from Rapid City, there was no where to stop to go to the bathroom.
What I Like So Far:
* The people are very nice.
* There are three women here who are my age, two of which are teachers. This was a huge plus for me. I need some friendship with people who are close to my age, and can relate to the stage of life I am currently in.
* I told HH that if we moved out here, I would HAVE to get my city fix. Meaning that at least twice a month I would go into Pierre, Rapid City, or Bismark, ND. They range from 1.5-3 hours away. He was fine with that.
* Funding sources have increased through a partnership with a national mission organization.
* I heard good things about the public schools from the three teachers that work at them. They have all the technology I am used to. Get this....the fourth grade teacher has FOURTEEN students in his class!
Today I am going to meet with the person who might be able to give me a job. I sent out my resume, job evaluations, college transcripts, etc to her two weeks ago. In my cover letter, I stated that I would be available today and Wednesday if she wanted to talk. I have not heard from her. :( I asked the three teachers what they thought about me going to seek her out today since I am here. They all said it was a good idea. I am hoping that today's meeting goes very well. That would put me in a much better position about considering the move to SD, because we could afford little luxuries like bread. (HAHA....the budget is so tight without me working we seriously would have to tell people we don't have money to go out to dinner, etc. There is no room for frills right now.) If I get this job, I will be making close (perhaps more) than what I currently make.
Tuesday is a big day for HH and I. We have our interview/dinner with the pastor search committtee. We have already met each of the members. HH has historically done very well at these Q&A sessions, yet the slightest off comment that someone doesn't like, and they move on to another candidate. I mainly just sit, smile, and eat.
The wind is crazy here....with nothing to break the wind up, it howls. Last night and today are supposed to be two of the bigger wind days, but it has been howling non-stop. That has taken some getting used to. There were many great photo ops on the drive in, but my camera doesn't take good pictures at 70 mph.
Our host keeps on asking if I have Prairie Madness/Fever yet.
We stayed in Rapid City for the night instead of making the three hour drive to where HH would be preaching. We had a very warm reception from the church. HH's sermon was awesome. A girl in her mid-late twenties took four pages of notes from it. Afterwards, we had a fellowship potluck lunch.
The area is very poor. The homes remind me of where I work, except they are spread out, and not in an urban setting. There is nothing here. A grocery store, one cafe, a Dairy Queen, and a Taco Johns. We tried to go to the grocery store at 6:30 last night, and it was closed. On our drive in from Rapid City, there was no where to stop to go to the bathroom.
What I Like So Far:
* The people are very nice.
* There are three women here who are my age, two of which are teachers. This was a huge plus for me. I need some friendship with people who are close to my age, and can relate to the stage of life I am currently in.
* I told HH that if we moved out here, I would HAVE to get my city fix. Meaning that at least twice a month I would go into Pierre, Rapid City, or Bismark, ND. They range from 1.5-3 hours away. He was fine with that.
* Funding sources have increased through a partnership with a national mission organization.
* I heard good things about the public schools from the three teachers that work at them. They have all the technology I am used to. Get this....the fourth grade teacher has FOURTEEN students in his class!
Today I am going to meet with the person who might be able to give me a job. I sent out my resume, job evaluations, college transcripts, etc to her two weeks ago. In my cover letter, I stated that I would be available today and Wednesday if she wanted to talk. I have not heard from her. :( I asked the three teachers what they thought about me going to seek her out today since I am here. They all said it was a good idea. I am hoping that today's meeting goes very well. That would put me in a much better position about considering the move to SD, because we could afford little luxuries like bread. (HAHA....the budget is so tight without me working we seriously would have to tell people we don't have money to go out to dinner, etc. There is no room for frills right now.) If I get this job, I will be making close (perhaps more) than what I currently make.
Tuesday is a big day for HH and I. We have our interview/dinner with the pastor search committtee. We have already met each of the members. HH has historically done very well at these Q&A sessions, yet the slightest off comment that someone doesn't like, and they move on to another candidate. I mainly just sit, smile, and eat.
The wind is crazy here....with nothing to break the wind up, it howls. Last night and today are supposed to be two of the bigger wind days, but it has been howling non-stop. That has taken some getting used to. There were many great photo ops on the drive in, but my camera doesn't take good pictures at 70 mph.
Our host keeps on asking if I have Prairie Madness/Fever yet.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Spring Break is HERE!
Here is one of our fab security people who is shining like a good deed in a naughty world...
Thanks for all the smiles Mr. Chris!!!
A ransom note has been delivered. My dad's UK shirt got "stolen" on Wednesday. Our security guard was supposed to wear it for losing a bet. The kids had fun as the notes kept coming trying to decide who it was. I wrote two notes back and delivered them to suspects. It made the day more upbeat.
The plan was for HH and I to go to dinner and a movie. Since I was about to fall asleep at the table, we only did the movie. We went to The Blind Pig. It was a great atmosphere, and the place is tucked away...I never would have found it without intentionally looking for it. I had fresh pork sausages, which are made in house. They were some of the best pork I'd ever had. For dessert, I had to try the Butter Pecan Bacon Brittle ice cream. I very much enjoyed that!
Thanks for all the smiles Mr. Chris!!!
A ransom note has been delivered. My dad's UK shirt got "stolen" on Wednesday. Our security guard was supposed to wear it for losing a bet. The kids had fun as the notes kept coming trying to decide who it was. I wrote two notes back and delivered them to suspects. It made the day more upbeat.
The plan was for HH and I to go to dinner and a movie. Since I was about to fall asleep at the table, we only did the movie. We went to The Blind Pig. It was a great atmosphere, and the place is tucked away...I never would have found it without intentionally looking for it. I had fresh pork sausages, which are made in house. They were some of the best pork I'd ever had. For dessert, I had to try the Butter Pecan Bacon Brittle ice cream. I very much enjoyed that!
The last ransom note of the day.
In trying to cut expenses, my mom is taking us to the airport. HH and I also packed everything in one bag. This should save us $100.
I also decided to be pro-active about food. I have to eat frequently, and I often complain that our local airport is a "food desert" for me. I am bringing pumpkin seeds, biscoff cookies with biscoff butter (this stuff is AMAZING), and a mini-pizza that I'm cooking before I leave. I won't eat it all, but I'll have a nice variety to choose from, and HH won't have to listen to me saying I'm going to waste away if I don't get something good to eat.
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