In hot pursuit...

Alright, so on Monday, I did my usual scanning of the Workplace Alaska job page (state jobs), and the AlexSys job bank (regular, state and local government job listing), checked on craigslist for childcare, nanny jobs, etc...I found one that I hadn't seen before. First, let me preface that with this: last Wednesday I emailed my boss and asked if he was available later in the week anytime for a meeting. He didn't get the message until Monday a.m. I now have an appointment with him for 2:30pm tomorrow. Friday, I also sent a couple emails to people that had posted ads on craigslist for child care positions. I still haven't heard back from the one childcare provider in Wasilla, but I'm not sweatin' it. I know if I am to be there...I will be there. They will call. If I'm not, then I won't get it, that will be fine, and I will move on. I love listening to God! It's kind of like a treasure hunt. When you listen, you don't always know exactly what you're looking for or when you've hit the target. But when you listen and obey, and you have the feeling that God is saying "Well done, good and faithful servant," it just makes you light up inside. I had a moment like that on Monday. I don't know if I've hit the target or not, but I'll find out soon. Sometimes you may think you're at the target, but it's really just a stepping stone to the actual target, kind of like a check point to get your next clue.

I found a listing on craigslist today for a preschool teacher. Now...I'm no teacher, in the professional sense of the matter, but I am a teacher in my everyday life, without specific college training, degree or certificate. But I teach my children every day about various things, from why it's important to do what God says, to why the moth dies after a month in a jar. If you know me, you know I'm a detail-oriented, journalistic, type of person. I like to tell stories, setting the scene an making sure everyone understands. I usually can't sum things up quickly, especially if I'm excited...I go through all the steps and elaborate as much as possible. Spider-webbing or rabbit trails as some say. So, anywho...this job position listed "Must be 21 or over with teaching degree or CDA certification." Well, I am over 21, but I do not have a teaching degree or certification. But I pretty much fit the bill on all the other desires of the daycare/learning center owner who posted the ad.

I put together my resume, emailed it to the owner and expected to wait. Well...11 minutes later, I got a response saying that she had no "luck" filling the preschool position and that she was excited I was interested. So I emailed her back asking how many kids she has there and a couple other things, such as whether or not employees get a discount or benefit for their children. Maybe it's too upfront, but I don't want to lead her on to think that maybe she's found someone if there isn't a benefit for my kids to be with me. The wage she listed is a bit more than other places, and it would be driving a bit further from here, but hopefully that would only be a temporary thing. ;-) I think we're going to head out to Big Lake today to help relieve grandma of her load of raspberries, so I emailed the owner of the daycare and asked if she would like me to stop by. We'll see what happens from here.

I feel like I'm definitely headed in the right direction. It's just amazing how the pieces fall together. So with that, I must add what happened to me on Sunday at church. Sunday was Sarah's first day in the 2 & 3 year old group, since her birthday was the Friday before. I brought Sarah down to her new room and had a brief chat with a lady, named Kim, that has worked in there since Cassie was there. She said she's been meaning to ask me if I would consider co-chairing an existing organization with her. It's called Love, INC (Love, In the Name of Christ). It is an organization that assists Christians that need help in some way. For example, if there's a fire and a family loses their home, an email would be sent out asking for prayers and household items, or even a place to stay depending on the circumstances. So Kim said since she's down with the kids most of the time, she doesn't get to share testimonies and needs from the happenings of Love, INC, so she needs someone to help her with that. I was quite shocked that she asked me, but thrilled about it. So I will be praying about that. I'll update this as well.

After that, I headed back upstairs to go to the sanctuary for worship and a woman named Linda stopped me and said she needed to talk to me. She is in charge of the nursery, and I have been working in there with her and some other ladies, so I thought she had a new schedule or something, or was wondering why Sarah wasn't there. After the service, I went and talked to her and she asked me if I would prayerfully consider taking over the nursery! I was shocked! I did let her know I was interested, and that just before the service Kim Shaw asked me to do co-chair with her, which would cause for me making announcements in church, which would mean I would be out of the nursery for a bit during that time. I'm sure it's all possible, if that's where God wants me. I just need to pray about what He wants me to do. Love, INC would be a great service to our community, as would being the lead in the nursery. I actually wanted to jump at the chance to head the nursery because that will give me more experience and credibility as far as a possible business goes. There aren't many kids in the nursery right now, so that would be a good time to get my feet wet in managing it. I felt like Linda's offer in itself indicates that I'm going in the right direction.

So, I have a lot to pray about. Please, if it's on your heart, pray for me too. I'm so excited to be on this adventure with God! I'm going to call the owner of the daycare and see if she'd like me to stop by on my way to Big Lake, since I'm not sure how often she checks her email.

Follow God's heart and you will be blessed!
-Stephanie