Job Hunt 101

The last month has been full of choices. I have been deciding whether or not I should take early retirement and become a teacher.

As I was taught by my parents, I made a decision, prayed about it and then did everything I could do to make that decision work. If it was the right decision, they taught me that I would feel at peace and things would work for my good. If the decision was wrong, I would feel restless and confused. Since about the 15th of August, here's a list of what I've been doing:

• First, I put in for Certification in German from the state of Florida.
• I made up a simple Resume, and asked for referrals.
• I called my friend who happens to work in the district offices, and visited her to get advice from her and her friends at the office. They told me I needed to take a test to be certified in Elementary Education.
• I studied for 1 1/2 days, took the 4 1/2 hour test and passed -with definite help from the Lord on the math part. :)
• I called LDS Employment Services and re-worked my Resume and took notes about interviewing and ideas for job searching.
• I applied for Certification from FLDOE for Elementary K-6.
• I sent Resumes and filled out applications for Orange, Osecola, Polk and Lake counties.
• I faxed or emailed Resumes to schools that were hiring.
• I hand-delivered Resumes to certain schools I was interested in.
• I pulled up Google Maps and started sending my resume to schools, including private schools that were not hiring, and within close proximity to my house.
• I prayed.
• I told all my friends that are currently teachers to put in a good word for me and asked them for advice.
• When I still hadn't found a job two days before my deadline (September 16) for Continental, I fasted.

In the meantime, I have been teaching early morning Seminary, watching a two-year old, , dealing with teenage drama, working at my job at night, and trying to maintain some order in my house.

Am I frazzled? Yes. Tired? Yes. Confused? No. I feel like this is the right decision for my family and that something is going to happen.

Last Wednesday, I got an Email from the local Montessori school about a possible opening. I met with the director, and it all seemed like I would start working there today. I thought it was the perfect answer, because I could take Nikolas with me. I put in for early retirement Thursday.

Well, today she tells me that she is still unsure.

So the job hunt begins again, and I'm not sure what to tell Continental. I have yet to tell any of my friends at work about this decision and that has been challenging as well.

Continental extended the release date for retirement until September 2012-next year. My local Supervisors have decided that I can give them my final work date. So I still have many decisions to be made, but I feel like the Lord is mindful of me, and will help me whatever the outcome may or should be.

Btw- that Book of Mormon is in German that she's reading.:)

And the winner is....and other thoughts

My sis-in-law had her baby girl yesterday. Congratulations! Three of us have been pregnant at the same time, and we wondered who would be the first to deliver. I thought several times during this pregnancy that it would be me- including last Wednesday when I went into labor- again- in the middle of the night. But I'm glad that Ash won, and really her daughter beat us by a month sneaking in on the last day of Feb.

I will get my surgery stitches out March 9, and that will also be my last day in the Accounting office. I have been extremely blessed to continue working during this trying economy and pregnancy. I am so thankful to my Heavenly Father for sending this job opportunity my way at the perfect time for us- and to keep extending it until it is no longer needed. (My doctor wants me to be off bed-rest completely after the stitch is removed so that I can start to contract and dilate naturally.)

I remember having to make the decision to continue working or not and my Bishop asking what I would do since my doctors had advised me to be on complete bed-rest. At the same time, I found out that my disability benefits would not kick in for six months, I would have to pay COBRA for insurance, and that I would have to wait for an open job to come back to since we are overstaffed. So it seemed like I had a choice between a baby and a much-needed job. I prayed about it and was confused but tried to let the spirit guide my answer. Everyone else had their own opinion and I seemed to be drowning in the voices around me, but when the Bishop asked me, it all became clear. I remember telling him, I already have my answer, and that is that I have been given this job in Accounting so that I can have a healthy pregnancy and continue working to help provide for my family- and keep my lovely travel benefits and good insurance. It really has been a great blessing and I'm very thankful.