Job Interview Day (duhn, duhn, duhn)

I have put off this post because I have been trying to figure out what to say, but it still probably won't come out right, even after all the mulling I have done over the words. In all honesty, it is hard to explain and put into words the thoughts and feelings that have been going on through all this, so here goes nothing. I know it's long, but bear with me. You can read or skip as much as you want.

On Tuesday I had two job interviews, one at 10:30 and one at 12:30. Mom came with me (and stayed in the car) because we were going to go shopping in between the interviews. I arrived at my first interview right on time. It was in an awesome location, near the mall and the airport. That school would be a nice place to work, due to the commute I knew I would have no matter where in this district I worked, because it was near everything. The interview was comprised of four women including the principal, the assistant principal, the reading coach and a fourth grade teacher/association rep. Not too surprising, because I know a lot of districts interview and hire in these types of panels. I didn't let that intimidate me. They went through basic teaching questions, like classroom management and working with struggling students, and honestly, I aced the interview. They all shook my hand and sent me on my way, letting me know they would call me that day with an answer. I made it out to the front door when, not even ten seconds later the custodian stopped me because the principal was chasing me around the corner. She stopped and and said (in her cute Southern accent), "We don't want you to get to far because we want to offer you a job. We can't let anyone else get you because I am sure you have other interviews." (As a matter of fact, only one other one because nobody else called me, but who's counting?) So, I had a job! Still teaching 2nd grade! I was definitely in shock because in our district everything had to be approved on a district level before you could offer anyone a position. It was a fantasy of mine to be offered a job on the spot, but something I never expected would happen. So while still in shock, I accepted the job, filled out paperwork, chatted with the extremely nice women, and got the calendar for when I was due to report.

I walked out to my mom, who had been waiting in the car for around an hour, and announced that I had a job. I think she was in shock as much as I was. I had to cancel my next interview and call Mike to tell him the good news. And that's when it all fell apart. We drove to the store in the pouring rain as my mind was racing with everything I had to do in the next month. Packing, renting our house, finding a rental here in Florida, getting my old classroom packed and a new classroom put together, etc. I was definitely freaking out and practically hyperventilating. I attributed it just to the realization of it all happening so quickly. I couldn't even focus on anything in the store, but walked around in a daze. So we just went home and I sat and stewed. I figured I should look at salary and everything else that would need to be taken care of before we could actually start our new life, and start making a plan.

But it all just felt so wrong.

I wasn't really sure what was going on. We had been talking and praying about this decision for over 9 months now and felt that it was the right thing to do, but now that I was here, with a job, and in the middle of everything, it didn't seem like the right thing to do. Mike and I chatted for awhile, just about everything, but it didn't take long to make on our final decision.

We need to stay in Utah a little longer.

I am sure it doesn't make sense to you. It doesn't make sense to me either. After all that work and money, this entire plan fell through. I just chalk it up to this: the Lord works in mysterious ways. We don't know what is in store for us in the future, but I know without a doubt that we can't ignore these feelings and need to stay in Utah. And we definitely learned a lot about life, our marriage, each other, and listening to the Spirit. So...

here's to the future! We welcome the changes with open arms, and we will see where life takes us. I am excited to continue working with my team and my school. I am excited for Mike to go to school full time and actually graduate. I am excited to continue to hang out with the friends we have and watch their kids grow up a little longer. (I am not excited about the snow however.) But in the end, I am excited to be where we know we are supposed to be.