Quick Update

Other than our Christmas show, here's what's been going on in our life:

1. I'ms till struggling with underemployment. God is good, though. See # 3 to find out why.

2. I retook the PRAXIS (this time in Early Childhood Education) in November and got my score report this week. not only did I pass, but I blew that sucker out of the water. Highest score is 200 and I scored 188. Not too shabby, considering I didn't take any ECE classes at Lindenwood. This means I just have to send in paperwork to DESE to tack on certification for birth-grade 3. Woo hoo!

3. My church family is amazing. After we ran through the program yesterday morning, I returned to my purse to find a red envelope. A very thick red envelope. I opened it and inside I found four gift cards: one for Target, one for Wal Mart, one for QT, and one for Dierbergs -- each for $100. ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS. I have NO idea who it's from -- they signed the card "Santa." We have our suspicions but I don't want to ask around. Jesus teaches us not to give if you're giving so others will see you and I want to do the same as a recipient. I had jsut gotten make up put on for the show and I had to try soooo hard not to cry and ruin it. Our church family is AMAZING and I really don't think we could have made it through the last year without the blessing they have been to us. God has used them immensely this year as a source of support and prayer.

4. I'm sooo excited about Christmas. That gift from the people at church made it possible for us to be able to purchase gifts for everyone whose name we pille as well as our niece and nephew. I got Kailey and DJ bible storybooks -- The Jesus Bible Storybook and My First Study Bible -- and something for my brother that I'm not revealing here since my blogs move to Facebook and he might be reading. I got Jerome a CD he's been wanting (see this entry) and a devotional he had pointed out a couple of times that he was interested in having.

5. Our friend Laura is moving out of her apartment and in with her almost-fiance who is incredibly allergic to cats. She needs a place for Sebastian, we want a playmate for Paulie, so we're adopting Sebs. She brought him over today and he wasn't very happy, LOL. Paulie was real curious and looking and everything but when Sebastian started hissing, so did Paulie. We're giving them a few days to duke it out through the door of the guest bedroom before we let them roam the house together. Our hope is that they are both so mellow that they'll get along great once they get used to each other.

I took the PRAXIS Again...

Why? 2 reasons: 1. I'm insane! and 2. If I pass, it tacks on a second certification, which makes me more marketable.

I took it in Early Childhood education. I didn't take a single class in ECE, but it seemed the easiest out of the two I was considering (ECE or Middle School Math). It was a lot of learning theory questions and stuff that is similar to the elementary education test. I walked out, though, feeling like I really, truly, could have, SHOULD have done better. But then I started rehashing it with my husband and I realized that I really don't think I did that bad. Like, I think I did well enough to pass. I hope hope hope hope I did!

If I pass, I'll be certified to teach early childhood ed., which includes Head Start and Parents as Teachers (either of which I would LOVE to teach for!), which will hopefully make me more marketable. Pray hard that I did!!!

It's been waaaaay too long

OK, against my better judgement (I really should be getting to bed), I need to post because I've been SUCH a bad blogger.

1. The job in Pattonville I interviewed for ended up being put on hold. I was bummed, but I just keep telling myself that that's just not where I was meant to be. I asked to be put on the sub list and I will go to training next Friday. They also have a permanent sub position open, which I've applied for. It's not a long term sub job -- it's actually having my own classroom -- albeit temporarily -- for the whole year. I wouldn't be guaranteed a position the following year because my contract would only be through the end of the year, but it would get me in the door and if I did well enough, it could secure me a position the following year. Of course, these are all hypotheticals and hopefullys...

2. I've also decided to take the Praxis again in ECE to add on another certification on top of my Elementary 1-6 IPC. This will make me more marketable and hopefully help me find a job until I can start working on my Master's degree in Reading (or Gifted... I haven't decided).

3. Fall TV is awesome. I'm loving new shows like Glee and FlashForward and old ones like Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, and SVU. I've given up on One Tree Hill. It's been going downhill for a while, but with Peyton and Lucas, it STINKS. Anyway,I'm LOVING Glee. I was a little disappointed with the first episode of the fall, but it's gotten a lot better. I mean, seriously... Who wouldn't love a show that makes the Backstreet Boys cool again??



Yes, I'm a Gleek and I'm proud of it!!


I promise to be more diligent in posting from now on. Just in case you wonder about what's going on in my life. =)

Good News!! (Cue "Wicked" Chords)

I took my PRAXIS last month. It's a big scary test I have to pass in order to student teach (according to LU standards). When I signed up for the March date, I also signed up for the APril date (saves me the $50 registration fee), knowing that if I passed in March I would get my $80 back for the April date. I walked out very confident that I did well but over the last few weeks I've been worried that maybe I didn't do as well as I thought.

But I got this in the mail today:


Woo hoo!!!

So, to celebrate, I bought this:


And some of these to celebrate with my roommate and suite mate:


What a good day.