Well I've been here a few weeks and it's nice to be in the swing of things. I picked up a part-time nanny job, something I hadn't necessarily anticipated, but it's going ok. I'm actually working in the EXACT SAME house that I nannied in when I lived here before. Crazy right? It was a rough first few days, but the little boy (age 3.5) is finally starting to trust me and let his guard down a little bit. Still lots of tears when I ask him to do something he doesn't want to do.
The anxiety of my future job has been weighing heavy on my heart. I'm not going to be able to teach at a public or charter school this fall; at least not one that's strict about certification. Turns out that PA teacher certification is VERY difficult to get. They have been dissecting my transcripts and found that there are 3 specific classes that I never took in either of my programs. They are requiring me to take these classes in order to get a teaching license here. It's a pain.
Thankfully I can take the classes at the local community college for about $450 per class... I just have to wait until I've been a Philly resident for a year before I can get those cheap resident rates. Clearly my patience is being challenged but in the healthiest way possible. I'm always trying to make the hard times fly by, rather than enjoy the journey and embrace the process.
The Christian school I interviewed at wants to do a second interview, but at a low salary, I'd have to take on a second job, something I don't want to do while I'm working on this church plant. It would just take too much time and energy.
I need to pray and fast about it so that I can stop trying to control the situation and trust that God is going to provide for me with HIS perfect plan. #growingPains.
Sunday, June 29, 2014
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Deja Vu
Well seems as though I have a reoccurring case of déjà vu. It feels as though I never left Philly. I'm actually nannying part time in the VERY SAME house I nannied in 2 years ago. The family that lives there needed care in the afternoons for their 3.5 year old son.
I'm loving falling back into the routine of life here. I didn't realize how much I missed it.
Friday, June 13, 2014
My Sebring
Well I made it to Philly safe and sound. Unfortunately, my car is still having issues. Before leaving A2 my mechanic removed my brake shoes (part of the emergency break) because they were rubbing. Turns out the whole "backing plate" is rusted out and needs to be replaced. I find this frustrating as I am trying to sell my car, and I need it to be ready to pass PA inspection when I sell it.
Why do I want to sell my car? Well I've come to the conclusion/decision/revelation that I need to. You see, I bought that car 6 years ago right about the time I decided that I was going to do life on my own how I best saw fit. It was at that point that I started to live in moral decay and corroded my life with endless bad choices. That car transported me all over the east coast. Some trips innocent, others intentional. I don't doubt that God provided that car for me, but I believe that selling it is, in a way, me letting go of my previous life.
See when I was driving out here, I was pondering ALL of the things that have gone wrong in my car, and in some way they all seem to correlate to my journey and the story of Jonah that keeps being reaffirmed in my life. First, the timing-belt tensioner and water pump went. For those of you who don't speak car, that's $1500 of parts and labor for the engine parts that control the timing of movement and the amount of water that is used to cool the engine (or something like that). Jonah was asked to give a message in God's TIMING and he ended up in the WATER on his journey to Tarsus. Additionally, my emergency brake broke. The final saving grace to keep a vehicle from moving when you want it to stay still, broke. To me this is symbolic of my desire to grit my teeth and fight changes in movement that God might ask of me. If my emergency brake doesn't keep me in place, I am free to go where He leads me.
Anyways, as I was driving here, I realized something profound: I drive a SEBRING. Sea-bring. The sea brought Jonah to Ninevah. And my car has brought me on endless journeys. Now that I embark on this journey, I find it important to sell my "boat" so that I no longer have a way to run away from God and the challenges that He will call me to as I work here and plant this church. Just as Paul did in Acts 16, I think I need to walk a little. Grow some calluses as I sink my anchor into this city and love it the way God loved Ninevah: with fierce ambition and unfailing love.
Why do I want to sell my car? Well I've come to the conclusion/decision/revelation that I need to. You see, I bought that car 6 years ago right about the time I decided that I was going to do life on my own how I best saw fit. It was at that point that I started to live in moral decay and corroded my life with endless bad choices. That car transported me all over the east coast. Some trips innocent, others intentional. I don't doubt that God provided that car for me, but I believe that selling it is, in a way, me letting go of my previous life.
See when I was driving out here, I was pondering ALL of the things that have gone wrong in my car, and in some way they all seem to correlate to my journey and the story of Jonah that keeps being reaffirmed in my life. First, the timing-belt tensioner and water pump went. For those of you who don't speak car, that's $1500 of parts and labor for the engine parts that control the timing of movement and the amount of water that is used to cool the engine (or something like that). Jonah was asked to give a message in God's TIMING and he ended up in the WATER on his journey to Tarsus. Additionally, my emergency brake broke. The final saving grace to keep a vehicle from moving when you want it to stay still, broke. To me this is symbolic of my desire to grit my teeth and fight changes in movement that God might ask of me. If my emergency brake doesn't keep me in place, I am free to go where He leads me.
Anyways, as I was driving here, I realized something profound: I drive a SEBRING. Sea-bring. The sea brought Jonah to Ninevah. And my car has brought me on endless journeys. Now that I embark on this journey, I find it important to sell my "boat" so that I no longer have a way to run away from God and the challenges that He will call me to as I work here and plant this church. Just as Paul did in Acts 16, I think I need to walk a little. Grow some calluses as I sink my anchor into this city and love it the way God loved Ninevah: with fierce ambition and unfailing love.
Monday, June 2, 2014
Good Bye Gifts
Today I was blessed with a party after school that was put on by my fellow elementary colleagues. I'm truly blessed to have worked with some amazing and supportive teachers this year! My first year of teaching stretched me in countless ways and I'm so thankful to have grown with these women.
This is what the front looks like.
They gave me a few gifts but this one was my favorite. 
It is signed by all of my students. I will cherish it forever.
It is signed by all of my students. I will cherish it forever. Only 5 more days til I move. Say a prayer for my car as it has something wrong with it... Again.
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