A New Job Opportunity in Orcutt and all that Implies and Becoming Puzzle People

As I was somewhat preparing to do WFG last week and in the previous weeks, an opportunity fell into my lap that I cannot refuse to take, and really what I've been preparing for all along. My sister-in-law, Kirsten, texted both Sarah and me about a job opportunity in the Orcutt Union School District for a General Music elementary school position. She said that the staff have been looking for someone to apply for this job for quite some time and that the link to the job posting had actually expired because nobody had signed up for the job. In the meantime, the job had been filled by substitutes that have not had any formal music background and that the students have mostly just “been coloring in the class.”

So, when I heard about this opportunity, the wheels in my head started to turn as to all the posibilities that are now open to me because I am interested in this position. 1) That if I get this job it will be a reason for Sarah and I to move to Santa Maria and/or Orcutt and be closer to David and Kirsten and family and all the rest of Sarah's family in Los Angeles, which has been our dream for a long time and more recent one since the start of this year. 2) That I will actually be doing what I was meant to do in teaching, which is teach elementary kids about music in the public school arena and become a competent “sought after” teacher in my field. And 3) That I can increase in my knowledge about the subject of music as I teach the youngsters through Orff and Kodaly Levels training, and enjoy the wealth of knowledge and bring it to my classroom. 

That night I was ecstatic with joy for this opportunity. Since then the excitement has waned slightly, in that as I'm applying I'm reminded that I never fully achieved my credential to become a music teacher. I have graduated, but I haven't taken the NES tests that are associated with becoming fully credentialed. But that is a slight hiccup, I've come to decide. Because there are really three or so outcomes because of this: 1) They say they are in need of someone to fill the position so bad that they take me on the spot, either saying that I can get my credential on the way or getting emergency credentialed (whatever that means [Sarah brought it to my attention that this is possible]). 2) They say no and to apply at a different time. Or 3) They say no but that I could possibly sign up to become a long term sub for the classroom up until I get the credential I need and fill the position until they either take me because I have my credential or go with someone else (this option was made known to me by Jessica Yates from the temple laundry, and quite a happy medium option at that).

All this to say, that I'm going to apply and I'm in the process of applying. I asked for 4 letters of recommendation from Cami, Dusty, Dr. Mark Simmons, and Tommy Strawser. Dusty and Mark have gotten back to me already in the affirmative of writing me a letter to my joy. I am also in the process of figuring out how quickly I can take the NES tests, having prayed about what I can do to get prepared to take them. The answer that I got was to purchase the practice test either today or tomorrow for the Music NES test and take it to see if I would automatically pass it. If I do, then to just sign up almost automatically and take it. If not, purchase study.com and relearn for music, and I was going to sign up for Study.com anyways for the Secondary NES test which is the other one that I was going to take. Try to take the Music one within the next 2-3 weeks and the Secondary one in 4-5 weeks.

Honestly, this has been just what I'm looking for in answer to prayers. And Kirsten has been so nice with her support of us. She even said that she is excited for us to move there if we do get the job and would be willing to temporarily house us until we find something suitable or until their renters leave in September. She has also told me that David just loves me and my musical abilities and sings my praises at the things I've accomplished in my life. I had to record both instances becomes sometimes it's hard for me to take the compliment and believe it. I love David and Kirsten so much. And Santa Maria is the dream.

In other news, Sarah and I are puzzle people and it's like we've always been puzzle people. We finished the Lake Tahoe puzzle a few days after we started and we were hooked at the emotional high that we get from completing puzzles. We got a puzzle of a beautiful woods landscape with a church and a little cabin and a beautiful sky and brook. And after temple laundry on Wednesday last, we went to go pick up a puzzle mat. We were worried by the puzzle mat's reviews that it might be less than ideal, however, at the Goodwill (where we picked up the landscape puzzle) we also picked up an iron to iron out this felt puzzle mat. And it worked out pretty well. So now we're in the process of doing this puzzle.

ASC last week went really well again, and it is because I had prepared myself by spending several hours Wednesday and several hours on Thursday getting prepared. This week I will be at Phoenix locale because we are doing a director swap. Forrest will be at Mesa and Zoey will be at my locale, Gilbert.

I won't get a lot of practice in beforehand today because Helen, my mother-in-law is coming to visit this morning, and we are going to do several things, including: go to the Musical Instrument Museum in Glendale, spend time with Sarah Mable and also with Jessica Yates for dinner. Then Helen elected to accompany me and Sarah to Phoenix to watch me lead the choir tonight. So that should be a lot of fun. More about that in later blog posts.