Back to work???

         It was one year ago today that I walked out of Room 123 and away from my job (that I loved!) as a 1st grade Teacher at Adams Elementary.  It's hard to believe that was a year ago.

         When I left, Mark and I decided that it made most sense for me to take a 1 year leave of absence, instead of quitting right then.  This would assure me a position with the district if I chose to come back the following year. We were unsure what the future was going to hold, and wanted to keep our options open.
     
          A couple of weeks ago,  I got a letter in the mail from OPS (Omaha Public Schools)  requesting to know my intent for the 2017-2018  school year.  Even though my decision had been made months before (I would continue to stay home with the kids), it was still difficult to send that email.  It got me thinking.....why?  I knew in my heart that I am right where I am supposed to be, pouring into my own children, but a part of me still felt something.....I guess maybe a bit sad.   This is what I decided.....teaching at Adams was all I knew for as long a I have been a wife and Mom.

         Mark and I got married in June of 2008.  I interviewed for my position at Adams the second week of July and accepted the job the same day.  (Thanking God because we were going to live in a cardboard box otherwise. (ha!) Mark was just starting on his journey in PT school and my part-time job at JCPenney wasn't going to feed us and pay for a place to live.)  I have not known anything different.  So I think as I sat down to send the email that terminated my teaching contract I was feeling nostalgic.  Thinking back to the first years of our marriage.  Of me teaching and then coming home to nap. (HA!!)  Helping Mark to study for his PT exams, and eating gourmet dinners of Ramen noodles and Mac n' Cheese).   Then as our family grew and things were changing quickly, my Adams family was always right there with me.  They were the constant as our life at home took on many changes in a few short years.  (From babies added to buying and selling houses to job changes for Mark)
     
          Leaving my job at Adams  is definitely the end of a chapter in our life, but I am SO excited to keep reading and see what God has in store for us.


         So.....for now, I am not headed back to the classroom and a full time position, but I will say the teacher in me can not shy away from an opportunity to teach and I have had a couple of cool things come up in the past few months that I will share about in my next post.  Stay tuned....:)

So thankful for the chance to stay home with these 3 silly kids!