Y'all get a lot from me, so I thought you might appreciate Jamie's perspective on this period and the move. Here's her part one:
"'This piece goes right there,' I hear Jude say several times throughout his puzzle making. This little dude loves his puzzles. He also doesn’t take too kindly to people putting a piece in the wrong place. He’s not rude, he just knows where they go. I can’t help but think about life in that way. It’s one gigantic puzzle and we don’t know how it’s supposed to look. We keep trying to jam the pieces to fit together the way we want them to, to make us more comfortable, to keep us close to family, to keep us safe from physical and emotional pain but there are some pieces that will bring these in our lives.
Before every school year I would do the Daniel fast to pray for the year ahead with my students, for the upcoming journey we’d take through the shows but this time it was a little different. This time I began to pray for Mitch. His job had become unbearable and it was affecting him in a way that was detrimental to his health and well being. To anyone who doesn’t know Mitch is about as loyal as they come. He stuck with this company in the hopes that changes would be made. I began to pray he’d look for a new job, one that he was excited about, passionate about. I wanted him to feel what I feel about my students, about the shows we get to perform and the family we become. As the prayers became more frequent and furious a change did occur, just not in the way I was hoping for or would have ever counted on. I began my journey into a dark place. The joy I once had in teaching was quickly fading. I was shot into depression. I didn’t want to get up in the mornings. I didn’t want to teach. I didn’t look forward to the musical. I didn’t want to be there. We as teachers all have moments when we want to give up, when things get tough but this was different. This hit me like a bolt of lighting. There was no external factor propelling me to feel this way. I loved my students. I had a supportive administration. There wasn’t anything I could point to to say this is why I feel the way I do. I got to a place where I knew this would be my last year to teach in Wills Point and I got mad.
'What the crap? I’m praying for Mitch’s job. His is the one that sucks. I’m trying to make a difference in kids lives. God, what are you doing to me?' I wrestled with this decision for months but the moment I surrendered to the fact this would be my last year here I had peace for the first time in months. Not only did I have peace but I also had excitement for the show that was approved for competition, for coming to my classes, for the privilege of just being alive. What started as the worst school year in the 11 years of my teaching was transformed into one of my favorites. Second semester pulled a 180. I was extremely proud of our OAP. I met such amazing parents who worked their butts off for the show. We took a journey that few ever take. The year ended with bittersweet goodbyes.
I didn’t know it at the time but God was orchestrating the ability for me to stay home with my kids. To invest in them. To start our homeschooling journey. I would’ve never thought this is where my story would lead. I don’t know if my public school teaching days are over. I don’t know how long our homeschool journey will last. All I know is I’ve got to be thankful for each season as it comes. There’s a great adventure out there and it’s only just beginning.
'This piece goes right here.'"
Showing posts with label Moving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Moving. Show all posts
Sunday, February 16, 2020
Friday, February 14, 2020
Mitchuation Update - Hoosiers
Now to the celebratory part.
In the previous update and request for prayers about the job search, I relayed how we were excited about three opportunities. One in Austin as an eDiscovery Consultant Manager, one remote as an eDiscovery Project Manager, and one in Indianapolis as an in-house eDiscovery and Information Manager.
The interviews and discussions all went well, and over the last couple of weeks, our future finally started to come into shape.
If you had asked us to plot the trajectory of our lives, we were most excited about both the remote position and the one in Austin. The remote position would allow us to pick somewhere in Dallas to live, included the potential for travel, and kept us relatively close to all family. The Austin position had great benefits, would allow us to be closer to my family for a while, and would have been something squarely in my experience. The position in Indianapolis was exciting, but also a little terrifying. Beyond the distance, it is a bit outside my realm of experience.
I think you see where this is going. Man makes plans, God laughs.
Slowly, His plan for us became clearer. The position in Austin disappeared; the company decided to completely restructure and offered me a chance to start the process over for a position at a $30K pay cut. Thank you, but no.
The remote position became consistently less stable. It would be a greater leap of faith.
All the while, the position in Indianapolis kept progressing. Through it all, the company treated me very well. The people I met were incredible. And the opportunity became too good to pass up. I got an interview with the Vice President and General Counsel. Was told that I was the top candidate. Heard from the recruiter saying they desired to move forward. All the while waited, somewhat impatiently to get an offer.
We got the offer last Friday. It was better than I could have anticipated and will include some relocation assistance. I accepted immediately.
So, starting March 9, I will be the new eDiscovery and Information Management Specialist for Cummins Inc. Right now, we're going through the pre-employment paperwork and processing, and are getting the last bit of our stuff altogether in one place for the move. Thankfully it's mostly all boxed already, so that's not going to be too big of an issue.
We've begun web research for houses, for churches, for locations and are really getting excited. We're going to be Hoosiers. The first time really that either one of us have lived out of the state of Texas for a considerable period of time. A lot of new places to explore and visit. An opportunity for me to connect to a bit of family heritage and see where my dad's dad was from.
It's really funny and humbling to think how we got here. From Jamie becoming depressed and unsettled teaching the fall semester of 2018, reaching the point where she decided to take time off to homeschool Avalyn and Jude for a season. From being fired last June. Moving in with my in-laws. From taking a spur of the moment side-trip to Indianapolis and Franklin, IN on our family road trip last July. From living out of boxes for the past nine months. From the temp job that picks up right after the road trip. To the next temp job that starts immediately after that. And so on and so forth.
Everything that was necessary to get us to the point where we were able and ready to just pickup, and go. To go where He tells us to go.
We have seen His hand of provision in incredible ways through this period. We have struggled with patience, with frustration, and with depression. We have also been closer to family. Enjoyed time together and a lot of flexibility to just pickup and go.
It's been an incredible journey so far and I can't wait to see what this new chapter brings.
To everyone that has prayed for us, laughed with us, cried with us through this season, thank you. You are family and we will carry you with us no matter where we go. We're looking to get a large place up there, so if you ever have the itch to travel north, come up and see us. We'd love to have you.
We're going to try and cram as much as we can in these coming weeks, so we hope we get to catch up with as many of you as possible. If we don't, please know that we love you, we'll miss you, and we look forward to seeing you again.
I will be continuing to write this blog, and hopefully on a more consistent basis as I continue to improve. And will definitely keep updating you on the move, the new place, and on the life up there.
Stan Lee always closed his musings with the word "Excelsior!" He claimed he saw it in old English material and liked it, so he started using it as a sign off. He probably also saw it on some of the tunnels in New York as it is the official motto of the state of New York. It translates to "ever upward" and I think sums up a good bit about this journey. Let us run with endurance the race set before us, ever upward.
Excelsior!
In the previous update and request for prayers about the job search, I relayed how we were excited about three opportunities. One in Austin as an eDiscovery Consultant Manager, one remote as an eDiscovery Project Manager, and one in Indianapolis as an in-house eDiscovery and Information Manager.
The interviews and discussions all went well, and over the last couple of weeks, our future finally started to come into shape.
If you had asked us to plot the trajectory of our lives, we were most excited about both the remote position and the one in Austin. The remote position would allow us to pick somewhere in Dallas to live, included the potential for travel, and kept us relatively close to all family. The Austin position had great benefits, would allow us to be closer to my family for a while, and would have been something squarely in my experience. The position in Indianapolis was exciting, but also a little terrifying. Beyond the distance, it is a bit outside my realm of experience.
I think you see where this is going. Man makes plans, God laughs.
Slowly, His plan for us became clearer. The position in Austin disappeared; the company decided to completely restructure and offered me a chance to start the process over for a position at a $30K pay cut. Thank you, but no.
The remote position became consistently less stable. It would be a greater leap of faith.
All the while, the position in Indianapolis kept progressing. Through it all, the company treated me very well. The people I met were incredible. And the opportunity became too good to pass up. I got an interview with the Vice President and General Counsel. Was told that I was the top candidate. Heard from the recruiter saying they desired to move forward. All the while waited, somewhat impatiently to get an offer.
We got the offer last Friday. It was better than I could have anticipated and will include some relocation assistance. I accepted immediately.
So, starting March 9, I will be the new eDiscovery and Information Management Specialist for Cummins Inc. Right now, we're going through the pre-employment paperwork and processing, and are getting the last bit of our stuff altogether in one place for the move. Thankfully it's mostly all boxed already, so that's not going to be too big of an issue.
We've begun web research for houses, for churches, for locations and are really getting excited. We're going to be Hoosiers. The first time really that either one of us have lived out of the state of Texas for a considerable period of time. A lot of new places to explore and visit. An opportunity for me to connect to a bit of family heritage and see where my dad's dad was from.
It's really funny and humbling to think how we got here. From Jamie becoming depressed and unsettled teaching the fall semester of 2018, reaching the point where she decided to take time off to homeschool Avalyn and Jude for a season. From being fired last June. Moving in with my in-laws. From taking a spur of the moment side-trip to Indianapolis and Franklin, IN on our family road trip last July. From living out of boxes for the past nine months. From the temp job that picks up right after the road trip. To the next temp job that starts immediately after that. And so on and so forth.
Everything that was necessary to get us to the point where we were able and ready to just pickup, and go. To go where He tells us to go.
We have seen His hand of provision in incredible ways through this period. We have struggled with patience, with frustration, and with depression. We have also been closer to family. Enjoyed time together and a lot of flexibility to just pickup and go.
It's been an incredible journey so far and I can't wait to see what this new chapter brings.
To everyone that has prayed for us, laughed with us, cried with us through this season, thank you. You are family and we will carry you with us no matter where we go. We're looking to get a large place up there, so if you ever have the itch to travel north, come up and see us. We'd love to have you.
We're going to try and cram as much as we can in these coming weeks, so we hope we get to catch up with as many of you as possible. If we don't, please know that we love you, we'll miss you, and we look forward to seeing you again.
I will be continuing to write this blog, and hopefully on a more consistent basis as I continue to improve. And will definitely keep updating you on the move, the new place, and on the life up there.
Stan Lee always closed his musings with the word "Excelsior!" He claimed he saw it in old English material and liked it, so he started using it as a sign off. He probably also saw it on some of the tunnels in New York as it is the official motto of the state of New York. It translates to "ever upward" and I think sums up a good bit about this journey. Let us run with endurance the race set before us, ever upward.
Excelsior!
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