You may be asking....WHAT in the world? Here is the real story. Brad's friend Smith called. At some point during the conversation, he made the comment that he and Jay would pay money to see Brad in his music class. Well, one thing lead to another and with the help of Addison, this video was produced. We have laughed and laughed at "off the wall-ness" of this. I hope this gave you a great laugh as well.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Thanks be to God for our parents....
Parents.....what would we do with out them? Well our family would be completely lost. Our parents have been unbelievable! Not only have they supported Brad and our family since the very beginning of this whole process, but they have also been there every step of the way.....eager to take the next step with us.
Both of our parents have filled so many holes emotionally and physically that it is hard to come up with the words of appreciation for everything they have done. Just the other day, Kitty and Bruce were looking in a basement for items that we have misplaced and cannot find. It was a phone conversation about what the box might be marked like and where it might be located in the basement. That same conversation turned into something like this......."and can you go by Smith and Julie's house to get my winter coat I left? If you can bring that up at Thanksgiving that would be wonderful". My mom and dad have renewed a car tag for us that we did not even think about. They have also gone and gotten a replacement birth certificate for me and sent it up (that is one of the items that has been misplaced). Mom has sent up Tony's Creole seasoning and Old El Paso taco seasoning that I have yet to find in the city. These examples do not mention the Barbies that were mailed for Addison and the army men for Parker. But what about the Halloween decorations we received when they learned that we had none? Did I mention the phone calls and the Skype calls that have happened? And to top everything off, both of us have brothers along with their families and aunts and uncles and chosen family and friends who are encouraging us along the way also.
Our family and friends are our cheer leading squad. You all are there for us to lean on when we are down and out. You worry about us. You root for for us. You pray for us. But most of all, you love us even when we may not be the most lovable person. The unconditional love you extend to us is truly awesome! Thanks be to God not only for our parents but also for our family and friends. We miss you all!!
Change in Momentum
What a change in momentum!!! Since the last post, I substituted for a math teacher at a great school called The Brooklyn Friends School for three days. Then, I was called today to see if I could go in. Unfortunately, I had a prior commitment and was unable to go.
After lunch, I received a call from another school on the Upper East Side where I am going for an interview tomorrow!!!! A middle school math teacher is not going to return from maternity leave and the position opens November 2. Things are definitely changing!!! Time does tell all..... we will see what the future holds.
After lunch, I received a call from another school on the Upper East Side where I am going for an interview tomorrow!!!! A middle school math teacher is not going to return from maternity leave and the position opens November 2. Things are definitely changing!!! Time does tell all..... we will see what the future holds.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Living by Faith
Today has been a rough day for me……..but let me go back and lay some ground work of one of the reasons why. As many of you know, I am looking for a job. This is something that I was well aware of before we moved up here. AND I have always seemed to find a job somewhere doing something. That is just how it happened. Someone we knew, knew someone, who needed someone……and bam……I had a job.
Well, it is not so simple here in the Big Apple. Seeing that we don’t quite have the connections that we used to AND that the “good ole boy” system of checking into who you are and what is your work ethic…..well….doesn’t exist, finding a job is done through a lot of electronic communication. I send out resumes responding to job post on Craig’s List and Idealist.org or any other job post and wait. I submit resumes to staffing agencies and wait. Job hunting becomes the waiting game. And I have to admit, I have never been that great at the waiting game.
The first lead comes from a math tutor post off of Craig’s List and reads something like this:
My next lead was an interview that if it worked would have been teaching young actors and actresses while they were either rehearsing for a production or filming a show or movie. I thought that this would definitely be something out of the ordinary so why not try? When I arrived at the man’s apartment (yes, you just did read apartment) for the interview, I was instructed to “take of my shoes and fill out the paperwork.” I thought to myself, “I am not taking off my shoes!!!” As I began to head for the couch, he said, “Did Jasmine not tell you about the shoes? Take them off by the door.” And on went the interview. This job would be perfect if you were single with absolutely no obligations. Well….seeing that I am not single and I do have some obligations in my life (like two children and a husband who is in school), I am not expecting to hear from this lead any time soon!!
And last but not least, there was the offer from the man at church to be painted. Yes after the service, he approach David (a friend of ours) asking for some contact information….that he was interested in painting me. While talking with my friend Katie about this offer, she did mention that the nude models in her art classes at UGA made good money. I forgot to ask her if that was good money for a college student or good money for a mother of two!!
So, my options so far are money laundering, dealing with the crazy acting world, or posing nude for painters. Welcome to New York City!!!!!
So today, I have to admit, I had a cleansing of the soul. You see, I was at a similar place just two years ago when Brad and I realized that I should go back to work. I can remember fretting over what to do and how to get to what I wanted to do. I thought that I wanted to teach. To get there meant taking test and convincing people that I could teach. It also meant convincing myself that I could in fact teach. I can remember many a tears during this time because of my own lack of confidence and assurance in what I was doing. Thank goodness that there were several people in my life that continuously supported me and encouraged me.
Today, I felt the pouring of tears for a different reason. I now sit in frustration knowing that I can teach. Last year was an amazing learning curve for me that proved to me that among other things, I could teach. I know that teaching is what I enjoy and where I want to be. Once again, I don’t hold the correct papers to be in the classroom. There are more test to take and the possibility of two more years of school before I can get a certification. It is back to square one for me when I know that just last year I had the go ahead and was on my way toward certification.
Today I wrestled with an internal struggle. It seems that my faith struggles with my humanity. My human side is frustrated and a bit mad about having to leave home and start from the beginning again. This side of me is the two year old stomping saying “But I don’t want to do this!!” Then, my faith steps in like a reassuring parent saying, “You knew this was going to part of it. This is just part of the process. This too is going to prepare you for the road ahead. You can do this.”
I do believe that this is part of the journey. Deep within me I believe that it will work out fine. It has in the past and it will again. Embracing the reality that in fact we will make it through this is another chapter in our “Living by Faith” novel. To say the words “living by faith” is different than whole heartedly believing these words and embracing them in our life. Faith did get me through today and will continue to get us through this part of our journey. GJ
Well, it is not so simple here in the Big Apple. Seeing that we don’t quite have the connections that we used to AND that the “good ole boy” system of checking into who you are and what is your work ethic…..well….doesn’t exist, finding a job is done through a lot of electronic communication. I send out resumes responding to job post on Craig’s List and Idealist.org or any other job post and wait. I submit resumes to staffing agencies and wait. Job hunting becomes the waiting game. And I have to admit, I have never been that great at the waiting game.
The first lead comes from a math tutor post off of Craig’s List and reads something like this:
“You would be receiving payments drawn on a US Bank. The payment would be made out for the cost of the services you are rendering, for the living expense of myNeedless to say, my response was that I was unable to help this POOR child at this time. For some odd reason, I did not think that it would wise for me to get involved in a money laundering scheme while Brad is in seminary.
daughter and the guardian and for the remuneration of the guardian. As regards
this, I hope I can trust you with this payment. All you have to do is deposit
the check at your bank upon receipt. Once it's cleared, deduct your fees which
should be $40 per hour X 8 times a month ($320) and additional $80 for any costs
you might incur for running around and any textbooks/materials you might need.
This amounts to $400, which is what you should deduct from the payment sent.
Whatever the remaining balance is after deducting $400 should be sent via money
gram/western union to the guardian who would be contacting you with further
arrangements and instructions regarding the pickup/drop off of my daughter
to any library/location where you would be teaching her. I hope I can trust
you with my daughters' education. If you are ok with this arrangements, get back
to me with your full contact information (name and mailing address) and mobile
number for correspondence purposes.”
My next lead was an interview that if it worked would have been teaching young actors and actresses while they were either rehearsing for a production or filming a show or movie. I thought that this would definitely be something out of the ordinary so why not try? When I arrived at the man’s apartment (yes, you just did read apartment) for the interview, I was instructed to “take of my shoes and fill out the paperwork.” I thought to myself, “I am not taking off my shoes!!!” As I began to head for the couch, he said, “Did Jasmine not tell you about the shoes? Take them off by the door.” And on went the interview. This job would be perfect if you were single with absolutely no obligations. Well….seeing that I am not single and I do have some obligations in my life (like two children and a husband who is in school), I am not expecting to hear from this lead any time soon!!
And last but not least, there was the offer from the man at church to be painted. Yes after the service, he approach David (a friend of ours) asking for some contact information….that he was interested in painting me. While talking with my friend Katie about this offer, she did mention that the nude models in her art classes at UGA made good money. I forgot to ask her if that was good money for a college student or good money for a mother of two!!
So, my options so far are money laundering, dealing with the crazy acting world, or posing nude for painters. Welcome to New York City!!!!!
So today, I have to admit, I had a cleansing of the soul. You see, I was at a similar place just two years ago when Brad and I realized that I should go back to work. I can remember fretting over what to do and how to get to what I wanted to do. I thought that I wanted to teach. To get there meant taking test and convincing people that I could teach. It also meant convincing myself that I could in fact teach. I can remember many a tears during this time because of my own lack of confidence and assurance in what I was doing. Thank goodness that there were several people in my life that continuously supported me and encouraged me.
Today, I felt the pouring of tears for a different reason. I now sit in frustration knowing that I can teach. Last year was an amazing learning curve for me that proved to me that among other things, I could teach. I know that teaching is what I enjoy and where I want to be. Once again, I don’t hold the correct papers to be in the classroom. There are more test to take and the possibility of two more years of school before I can get a certification. It is back to square one for me when I know that just last year I had the go ahead and was on my way toward certification.
Today I wrestled with an internal struggle. It seems that my faith struggles with my humanity. My human side is frustrated and a bit mad about having to leave home and start from the beginning again. This side of me is the two year old stomping saying “But I don’t want to do this!!” Then, my faith steps in like a reassuring parent saying, “You knew this was going to part of it. This is just part of the process. This too is going to prepare you for the road ahead. You can do this.”
I do believe that this is part of the journey. Deep within me I believe that it will work out fine. It has in the past and it will again. Embracing the reality that in fact we will make it through this is another chapter in our “Living by Faith” novel. To say the words “living by faith” is different than whole heartedly believing these words and embracing them in our life. Faith did get me through today and will continue to get us through this part of our journey. GJ
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