It seems like this is all I am writing about these days, new seasons/changes and the like for our family. One thing is for sure, Michael and I have learned and experienced a lot of transitions in our time as a couple. I know this is true for most people and if life and science teaches one anything it is that in order to live, you must constantly be changing, adapting, growing. So hear I am, preparing for change yet again.
I have been feeling for awhile that I might be called back into the work force soon. Although we have made changes (i.e. selling house, living with mom) that would ease our budget constraints the fact remains that Michael’s schooling will last for two more years and he is only about to experience the reality of clinicals and all that entails. This will more than likely mean no more steady tile work, which will be a great reprieve for his achey body, but a shock to the bank account. We have applied for some “assistance” in the form of grants and also programs through the Workforce Commission that help married students with children. Please pray with us for favor that we will recieve some help from these organizations. Our goal is to get through the next two years debt free. So in order to do that, Mama had to get a job.
I went back in forth about it. I knew I could work at Starbucks or the Gap and set a pretty flexible schedule, but the reality is the pay would probably suck in comparison to the hours put on. Also, we need some benefits. Right now, we are self-insured to the tune of about $350 bucks a month and that only covers E and me and it is basically fire insurance. Yes, we have a co-pay and yes it covers well-child visits, but that is about it. I HATE INSURANCE COMPANIES! (I really, really do, but that is for another blog) Anyway, the school district in Amarillo hires certified teachers to tutor kids during the school day. Pay is really good ($20/hr) and you work part-time. That is what I had my eye on, but there are no benefits.
A few weeks ago my sister, Samantha, called me about some Reading Recovery positions available in AISD that were part-time with full benefits. HELLO! So I emailed that ladies at RR and boo, the job posting had closed and they were obligated to interview those candidates first. They said they would keep me in mind though if they didn’t fill all the positions. I figured that ship had sailed…but I was wrong!
They emailed me about 10 days ago and said they wanted to interview mw, but I needed to re-apply with the district first. I updated my info and emailed them back to let them know. I didn’t hear anything so I guessed they looked at my resume and didn’t think it was a good fit. I got a call (last) Monday morning that they wanted to interview me that day and it had to be that day. I freaked because Samantha was supposed to prep me for the interview and she was in Idaho. So basically I called everyone I knew who knew anything about RR and got ahold of Lisa (a friend of Lex’s) who prepped me. I interviewed at 2:00 and kneew the next step, if I was accepted into the program, would be to get a call from a principal to interview me for the position on his/her campus. I went to get Ephraim from my mother in laws house. left my phone in the car, and missed a call. From AISD. A principal offered me a job site unseen based on my interview. CRAZY!
It all happened in such a whirlwind that it took me a bit to process it all. I had been so torn going into the interview. I had always felt I would never go back into education. Should I even be pursuing this? Could I really be away from E, even if it is just a few hours a day? I basically laid it before the Lord and said you work this out. Boy did he. What favor. Even when I wasn’t even looking for it He is shepharding my way. Please pray that I will find someone WONDERFUL and HEAVEN SENT to keep Ephraim.
Did I mention this job is part-time, full benefits and I work with one kid at a time? Amazing!
Rachael Neagle: The Lubbock Loudmouth 