Perry Panther

I haven't blogged about this, but my life has been emotionally, physically, and mentally draining for about a month and a half. A lot of prayers have been said by a lot of people. Thank you for that. God definitely listened and took care of my family and me.

A little history first:

I do not have a continuing contract. A continuing contract, in the state of Ohio, requires that a teacher be employed in a school district for three years and have 30 post-bachelor credits and/or a masters degree. I have been at Hoover for two years and I will graduate with my masters on August 15, 2009. Obviously, I do not qualify. As a teacher, those are scary years because your job security is very vulnerable.

About a month and a half ago, the rumors started to fly within North Canton. RIF's (Reduction in Force), cuts, shuffling teachers around, new subject areas, etc. The district, who I believe is at fault, is currently still dragging this whole roller coaster out. There are so many details that I could share, but it is exhausting just thinking about them all. The worst part? It's already June 23! Talk about incompetence...

Anyways, after school ended, I decided to send out a few resumes just to be safe. I wanted to make sure that I wasn't left high and dry. On Monday, while still employed by North Canton, I interviewed for a position at Perry. On Tuesday, I received a phone call at 9:52am from North Canton informing me that I would be included in a RIF (Reduction in Force) and that I would not be rehired for the 2009-2010 school year. At 2:39 pm, a little over 4 1/2 hours later, I received a call from Perry offering me the position. For 4 1/2 hours, I was unemployed and worrying about my family's well-being.

I can proudly say,...I am now a Perry Panther!

God takes care of his children. I am a testament to that.

Let Them Be Little

Israel/Palestine/Foreign Policy

It's hard to have a positive view of Barack Obama's foreign policy. It is blatantly obvious that "dialogue," or hopes of "dialogue," with rogue dictators and tyrants DO NOT and WILL NOT result in successful outcomes. Iran has walked all over Obama's words. North Korea is threatening a nuclear war. Jimmy Carter is in bed with Hamas and lifting up the covers for Obama to slip in. Israel and Palestine are drowning in a struggle over land; while Obama keeps pushing Israel's head underwater.

This isn't "Hope and Change," this is a mismanagement of policy and a failure to see what this fallen world is all about. Barack Obama has given up a lot of ground in six months, I can only hope for a progressive 3 1/2 years.

"Surely something must be terribly wrong with a man who seems to be far more concerned with a Jew building a house in Israel`s Gaza Strip than with Muslims building a nuclear bomb in Iran." - columnist Burt Prelutsky


1920


1922


Proposed Palestinian State

You In Me

Presently, I have a lot of things on my mind and a lot of things on my plate. Most of them I could easily do without. I'm at a very challenging time in my life right now, and for the first time, I don't feel in control of the circumstances.

A little over two years ago, I was applying for jobs at area public schools. For two years prior, I had worked at a private school. It was a nice foot in the door, but not somewhere that I wanted to be for my entire teaching career. My drive to work each morning was about 30-35 minutes and I had a lot of time to think and pray about what was going on in my life. Unfortunately, I have gotten away from doing that. Each morning, for about a month, I would listen to the same song over and over again. The words had such an impact on the way that I felt and I really feel as though God was talking to my heart as I listened to that song each morning. It was in those early morning trips to work that I realized God had a plan for me.

He would take care of my family and me.

He doesn't break promises.

As I go through some similar situations, I read those lyrics again and I am reminded about the power of faith and the great gift that we all have to trust the power of God. He knows each of us better than we know ourselves and I need to give him a better chance to work in my life and the others around me.

I found a verse that spoke to what I'm trying to write in this entry:

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6


The following lyrics are to that song I listened to and continue to read through. Maybe they will give you that feeling of trust in whatever situations you are currently going through as well...

Up tight, down right
Wound up like a spring
Funny how I worry 'bout what just don't mean a thing
But then that's when
You speak Your truth to me
You say things aren't what they seem
This life's not what it seems
And it changes

I'm in less of a hurry
I'm less likely to worry
When in my heart I receive
Thoughts of my eternal destiny
I've given up frustration
Trust You with out hesitation
But my mind just can't conceive
That it must be the You in me Lord

I tried till I cried
To bring about some change
But in spite of all the work
My efforts were in vain
I guess for this mess
I'm the one to blame
Cause when I'm trusting You
My life's just not the same
I'm different now

No matter what my present situation
I need to give it all to You

Akron Zoo

Today was Kayley's first trip to the zoo! We ended up buying a season pass so that we can go anytime that we want over the next year. It allows us to go to hundreds of zoos all around the country! Kayley loved to look at all the animals and she waived hello and goodbye to every single one of them. However, those darn jellyfish kept Kayley from being up close and personal with the animals in the exhibits. For some reason those things scared her. Needless to say, we will be skipping that exhibit next visit! Anyways, here are some pictures from the first of many trips to the zoo :)



Starring Contest.
"Hey, haven't I seen you in my backyard?"


This is about as close as I get Mr. Barking Deer.


Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my!


Nice "Kitty Kitty"


This basically ruined my trip to the zoo...


But, I did really enjoy pushing MY stroller around everywhere!



I saw this funny looking bird...


and I even got to eat lunch at the zoo!


Thanks Mommy and Daddy!

Kayley and Summer Landscaping

Summer has officially begun (well for me anyways!) and it's ridiculous that I get over 70 more "vacation" days! On my first day off, we set up Kayley's pool and landscaped the yard. After about 10 hours, here are some pictures to share:

No News Is Good News

Unfortunately, there is news.



Obama's Cairo Speech

"To speak to the Muslim world is to speak not to a fact, but rather to an aspiration, and that is the aspiration that Islam shall be a global state religion as its founders intended. To address this aspiration is to breathe life into it. For an American president to validate such an aspiration is madness." (Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu, 2009)

Wrong direction. Wrong message. Scary Times.