Still A Leapin...

Winter break is here! Next to having summers off it's the best thing about being a teacher! My first grade class has come a LONG way in the past 16 weeks. Our class has learned a lot, grown a lot, AND, most importantly laughed a lot (I sure hope their NWEA scores improve a lot too)! I've had quite the revolving door classrom this year. We have said goodbye to several of our classmates due to relocation, but, luckily we have welcomed some new friends too! As of Friday, we had 22 students in our class. Who knows what the new year will bring!

Since my current first grade teaching position is a semester long maternity leave, I only have two more weeks with this class once we return from break. WOW! It will be sad to leave the class and the children that have grown dear to me. The good news is I will not be going far!

Last week I accepted another temporary teaching position at the same school I am currently teaching at (Lafayette Meadows Elementary). I will be teaching second grade.

I will have about two weeks off between my transition in classes. I decided this would be a perfect time to make a trip to Colorado to visit my sister and brother-in-law. Last weekend I spent the weekend in Michigan with some friends doing a little skiing and learning how to snowboard in preparation for my trip to Colorado! I'm excited to hit the slopes in Colorado!

I've been blessed with these job opportunties! Please continue to pray for me as I make some decisions about what I plan to do in the year ahead once I complete my temporary teaching positions. God is constantly opening new doors and continually providing for me, but it requires a lot of waiting on the Lord. For those of you who know me well, I HATE WAITING! One of my good friends always tells me, "God is never late, he's always on time". As the bible says, "Strength will rise as we WAIT upon the Lord"!

Lord, please give me peace and patience as I wait upon you and your plan for the future.

An Update from America!

Wow, it's almost been a year since I have blogged. Whoops! From time to time people ask me where I am and what I am doing with my life. So here's a brief update from the last year.

I moved back to the states right before Christmas last year and I had a few days to enjoy Indiana with the family then I traveled to Florida for a few weeks of relaxing vacation. When I returned back to the cold Indiana winter I substitute taught in the Fort Wayne area for about a month, at which point I accepted an early retirement position in North Manchester (50 minute commute) as a 5th grade teacher. It was an exciting position, but I was not thrilled with the drive.


After the school year ended, I accepted a summer job as the Fort Wayne Country Club pool manager. This was the pool I worked at as a lifeguard in the summers through high school and college. I loved this job, it was great being able to mentor the high school students I hired as lifeguards and be with the little children all day. This summer I also had the opportunity to lead a group of middle school students for a week at church camp (Camp Adventure).
Near the end of the summer, my sister and her husband decided to relocate to Denver, Colorado. I was to join my family by helping them drive one of their cars out and do a little unpacking during my short trip.

Currently I am living in Fort Wayne, Indiana and teaching first grade at Lafayette Meadows Elementary (http://www.sacs.k12.in.us/se3bin/clientgenie.cgi) in Southwest Allen County School District. I love the school and the staff I work with. Teaching first grade has been quite an adjustment for me since most of my experience has been in the upper elementary and middle school grades. While it is challenging, I am learning to love the students and the joy that they bring to my life.


Please continue to pray for me as I seek God's guidance and direction. My current teaching position is a temporary position for the semester. I have been filling in for a maternity leave. My position will be done at the beginning of February when the other teacher returns. At that time I will be seeking the next Leap of Faith that God directs me in. Right now I have no idea where or what that will be. Pray that God will give me direction and a peace about where I am called to be!