its been awhile

Ok sorry to leave you all hanging. I know its been a while. I guess I haven't felt like anything I had to say wasn't worth broadcasting to the masses the last few months. So here's a quick synopsis...
I left Elliott Hamil. Well when I got home from Russia my desk was packed for me. So sweet of my coworkers and new managers to take care of that for me. It was an embarrassing event to say the least. One of my co workers tried to give me a hint but I didn't get it until weeks later. I went to work still suffering from some serious jet lag and was confused where my pictures and other personal affects were but shrugged it off and decided that I would find them later. Little did I know that they had been boxed away in the closet and my desk had been given to another employee. It all makes since now. I couldn't figure out why they were dragging their feet to buy her a desk before I left.
Since then I have been keeping myself busy with Skin Care classes and servicing my Mary Kay customers. I am enjoying the freedom I have of being my own boss and reminding myself that it takes time and hard work to build a business and it won't happen overnight or even in a month.
I survived another birthday and enjoyed the first half of the evening with some friends at the Olive Garden. It was a nice little get together thrown together at the last minuet by my friend Josh. The rest of the evening and next morning was spent at the 7th and 8th Grade Lock In from church. There were about 3 times as many kids as we expected. It was fun and crazy!
Now at the ripe ole' age of 24 I begin to ponder life. I think this was spurred on my a recent trip to New Mexico with friends. A very long story explained in short... we went, we wrecked a 4 wheeler, we suffered, and now we pay.
My tight and creative budget has cratered under the stress of inability to work much with a back injury and having to pay for repairs and hospital visits. It wasn't a life threatening event thanks to some helmets but it did make me realize how important my friends and family are and the impact I make on the world.
I realize such is life people get hurt and crap happens... watch day time TV every other comerical and situation explained on those Court shows explains that. I feel God is guiding me back to teaching. Its one of those undeniable things. Have you ever felt that? When you laugh at yourself at even beginning to ask God "are you sure?" I taught and dreamt of teaching for years. I knew I would be sacrificing a lot but I also knew it was worth it if I made a difference in the world with even just one student. Which I guess is pretty melodramatic because I did make a difference in my kids lives. I know because they tell me when I run into them at Wal Mart or they call in a crisis because I am the only adult they trust. So I guess its a matter of balance. A tree can offer shade for only so long if it doesn't get water,sunlight and nutrients itself. That tree made a difference one year to the person who needed shade or a place to lean but was rendered useless after many years of poor treatment and harsh conditions.
I have begun substitute teaching and I pray this opens my eyes to... well whatever I am supposed to see. Weather its an age group, a subject matter, a school, or whatever. Don't worry! I am continuing with the business in Mary Kay but I did extremely well when I was forced to squeeze in Mary Kay where it could fit in the evenings after work. I have no doubt God has a since of humor and he knows me so well. My first assignment right out of the gate was at the Alternative School. You know where the kids sit in cubicles with a text book and worksheets and armed police officers pace the halls.
Most people, sane people, would go home and pray they were never assigned there again. I was whirled into a world of wondering: did those kids have an Ag program or a Ms. E in their life. What if that could have made a difference? Don't get me wrong there were a few of my kids that ended up in some sort of Alternative school. They knew that I loved them and that I'd be there when they got back calling them to a higher standard and making them to toe the line. Like I said most people would shake it off and roll on. God programed me different I guess.
Stay tuned for the adventures in subbing