Changes ... Decisions

When I look at how long ago my last post was, specifically the date, I'm not surprised. Less than a week after that, I started taking classes to earn the credits necessary to keep my certification active. I was able to complete what most people have 5 years to do in 13 weeks. I am very thankful that God enabled me to do this.

It was hard, but I'm in a position now where I can apply for full-time jobs or long-term sub jobs (both of which I have done), or, at the very least, sub more than 90 days per school year.

One of the things that God showed me during the craziness of January-May was the fact that the past two years were a bit of a struggle. Not so much with what I was doing, but with what I wasn't doing because I either didn't have time or I was exhausted. There was also a lot of frustration in me because of what I wasn't doing. Nothing earth-shattering, mind you .... just simple things - like taking care of my home, cooking, doing crafts. But these are the things that I love to do.

I just figured that this was the way it was going to be - I had my season as a homemaker, and now I was in a different season of life.

But a funny thing happened on the way to Lancaster a few weeks ago. You see, I had always said that if I got a full-time teaching job I would quit teaching piano because I wouldn't have time, etc. But very soon into that drive I said to Don, "What if I quit anyway?" The more we talked, the more it seemed like the right thing to do. But then we got back from the trip and I was back into it. Don't get me wrong - I was still resolved to do it, but I hadn't done it yet, so it wasn't real. I was still teaching lessons every week and preparing my students for the recital.

Well, the recital was last Friday (6/1).  And I'm done. And it's wonderful. I haven't told the students and their parents yet - I didn't want it to affect the recital, which, by the way, was very good and very satisfying. I have told the few that have asked that I'm not doing summer lessons this year. I will be contacting everyone in a week or so to let them know, so please don't mention anything on Facebook.  I know that most of them will be disappointed - I was down to five students, but I've had those five girls for anywhere from 3-8 years.

But God wasn't finished yet ....!

I'd been toying with the idea of maybe not singing with the Washington County Arts Choir anymore, but had been undecided. I even thought maybe I'd go through the Christmas concert, since I love Christmas music.

Last night we had our annual meeting. I went into it with an attitude of having the meeting/discussion (there were some difficulties, etc that needed to be addressed) be something that would help me evaluate how I really feel about it. It was VERY clear to me before that meeting was over (thank you, Lord!) that I was done. In fact, when we got into the car, the first thing I said to Don was "Elvis has left the building" (me, of course, being Elvis ..)

Wow ... another "extra" thing - done.

And would you believe there's one more? For the past three years, I've been a homeschool evaluator. I thought that it would be a lucrative side job - my evaluator that I used had LOTS of students to evaluate. Well, I've only had one or two per year - it was always more of a nuisance than anything else. So on the way home last night from the choir meeting, I decided that I'm going to do the two evaluations I have scheduled for next week, and then I will take my name off the websites I've used, and I will be finished with that.


I was downright giddy last night.

So .... as of June 14, I will be a sub (unless I'm a full-time music teacher) and that is it. I will take care of my home, cook, do crafts .... all the things I love.