Trials and Long Talks

I am really struggling with this job in Bartow for Danny.  It would be an hour commute for him every day from where we would like to live in Tampa.  Of course, we can't afford to live where we would REALLY like to live just yet (south tampa), but even a starter home would be great.  It would be great in a sense for him to get this job because we could own our first home, start our family, and be comfortable.  But, this job means less money which means a change in budget.  Danny and I are big promoters of Dave Ramsey and his "Total Money Makeoever."  Dave has done much for our marriage and we have been able to save my entire salary and then some this year for a down payment on a home.  Unfortunately, at this point, we are moving in with his parents until we are more settled and someone will give us a loan...which we don't know how long that may take.  

It is just so frustrating..to have so many obstacles in the way of our future.  I am a planner, as many of you probably know, and to have my plan interrupted is highly discouraging!  I have learned a lot in the process and have truly "gone with the flow" more than I would have liked, but I am ready for some stability.  We will find out early next week whether or not Danny got the job.  I think he deserves it and they would be silly not to give it to him, but who knows??  I know he is ready for work and does not want to spend any more time on the couch! 

As for me, I am enjoying summer vacation :) I have three days of teacher work week next week and then we are off to Tampa for good.  We will certainly miss the friends we made here, but we know that, in the long run, Tampa is the best place for us to raise a family.  Moving has been a HUGE pain in my bootie, but I keep telling myself that the next time we move, we will be in our first home!  I can't wait to document that milestone.  

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New Job :)

I have a job!! Hurray :) I will be working at St. Mary's Episcopal next year as a second grade teacher.  I went and toured and did a lesson on Friday, May 15th and was offered the job Monday, May 18th.  I am absolutely thrilled!  It is the perfect job, perfect grade, and I will be working with fabulous teachers.  I am looking forward to joining their team in August.  

We are still working on getting Danny a job.  He went to an interview last Friday at the DOT, but it is in Bartow which is about an hour away from where we will be living and would be making substantially less than he did at his last job.  He has not been offered the job and we are not sure when they will be calling to let him know yes or no, but I don't think we are ready to settle for that job.  It would be a four year position and these are the years in which we want to buy a house and start a family.  It would be a hard decision, so we will see if we have to think hard on it or not.  

School is winding down.  I have a week left.  We have a full week this week and then 2 and a half days next week.  I am looking forward to a relaxing summer!  We are packing up our condo and taking it to Tampa in shifts.  the movers will be coming next week for the furniture.  We just keep telling ourselves that next time we unpack, we will be owning our own home.  

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Opportunity

I visited yet another school this past week, Academy at the Lakes, in Tampa. It is in North Tampa near Land-O-Lakes. After being upset at not being offered the job at St. John's, I worked my butt off preparing for my lesson and interview at Academy. I think I did the best I could have possibly done and the administrators seemed impressed. I know if I do not get this job, it is of nothing I can control, so I feel much more comfortable knowing that. Danny is still struggling to find something in his field. We have so many friends and family helping us and doing all they can to get us back on our feet. We feel very lucky.

We will be moving to Tampa at the end of the month and moving in with Danny's parents. We are glad to know there is room for us there and they are very hospitable to be allowing us to stay with them. It will be hard for all of us, but I am sure that Danny and I will be back to normal in the coming months. This is not long term. It is sad to say good-bye to Sarasota. We had a fabulous year here and it was the perfect place for us to start our marriage. We had to depend on each other more than we could have ever known having not known anyone when we moved here. We learned much about each other both through our struggles and the opportunities we were blessed with.

We are excited to see what is in store for us in the coming months!

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Well, it has been a while since I've updated you all--things have been very hard for Danny and I.  When he was moved to the Tampa office of his business, things didn't pick up work wise and unfortunately only got worse over the next month.  He was laid off last Monday, and now we are both in a sticky situation, especially since I declined to return to the school I am working at for the next school year when I found out we would be in Tampa (before the lay off).  I am still waiting to hear from one particular school in Tampa--hopefully that will come in the next week or so.  

So now we are at a turning point, as I am sure many Americans are...what do we do...where do we go?  Right now we will be in Sarasota until the end of May (our lease runs out on the condo).  We will most likely move in with Danny's parents for the summer if he still does not have a job.  So much has happened in the past year--and I am truly starting to believe the saying, "when one plans, God laughs."  I don't think he is laughing, but I do think that things were going just a little too nicely for us...we are just glad that we do not own a home, nor do we have children--this is happening to so many people who are in much worse positions than we are.  

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School

I visited St. John's Episcopal in Tampa last Thursday for a formal interview and loved it!  I spent the morning in a first grade classroom (that is the position that is available) and spent the afternoon with the lower school head and Headmaster.  The school is quaint and small and seems to be a close community of kids and adults.  It is in the heart of Hyde Park (a historic district near Bayshore).  It is affiliated with the church and has a Christian influence.  From my interview, I got a very good feeling about the job and was asked back to teach a "sample lesson" next Friday.  I am nervous, but excited all at the same time!  

That's all for now...wish me luck next week!

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Job Interview

Well, I got a call today from a Lower School Head at St. John's Episcopal in Tampa.  I talked with her for about 45 minutes about her school and my experience.  She was one of those people who talk and talk and talk and when they give you space to talk they are completely quiet for minutes at a time and you wonder if they are still there...needless to say I can't wait to meet her in person.  St. John's is a religious based school, that is also very academic.  It is a first grade position and it seems it is a wonderful team.  There are two other teachers; one that is my age and another that has been there for many years.  I would be much happier in an older grade, so this is a good move.  I am visiting the school on Thursday or Friday this week.  It does seem promising and although I do not want to get my hopes up, I know I will have good recommendations from ODA.  I can only do my best and be who I am and hopefully they will like it!  

Danny started his first day in Tampa today.  It took him almost an hour there and a little over on the way home.  He was home about an hour later than usual.  He said that he studied manuals all day (snore), and now has a cubicle instead of an office (welcome to the real world!). He does like his new boss and they seem to get along really well so that is off to a good start.  I hope this can be a stable job and we can set up our lives feeling comfortable with what we have.  

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Overwhelmed!

Danny and I spent the day in Tampa looking at houses and possible places to live come June.  I wish we knew more about the coming year, aka. if I will have a job or not, so that we could move forward.  There are lots of great buys right now, and obviously we would rather buy a house than rent another year.  I guess we will have to wait and see what unfolds in these next couple of months.  

This is Danny's last week in Sarasota and the fact that we are moving is really becoming so much more "real" to us.  We love the life that we have built in Sarasota, and moving is such a headache/stress.  Everything happens for a reason...

My winter break is right around the corner (Feb 16-20).  I plan to make calls to schools in the Tampa area and possibly hand out resumes.  I have a call in to a private school this week and I will hopefully get a lead from the headmaster there.  Any lead is good at this point, so I am keeping my fingers crossed!

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