New Direction

Sooo, we've had some change going on lately! On Monday, I was informed by my school corporation that I (along with about 30 other teachers) was being laid off. I expected this, since my name was second from the bottom of the very long seniority list, so I had prepared in advance. I have put in an application with other corporations...but let's face it...Indiana's outlook for educators is not a bright one right now, so I'm not expecting much to come from that. I'm extremely blessed that the fact that I am losing my job will not affect my family financially or our stability very much. Since my husband's work has amazing insurance, I have always been on their insurance plan...so I'm not losing any insurance. Since my dad owns a business, I will be able to return and work a few days here and there for the extra income my paycheck brought it. Also, I have decided to go to graduate school and obtain my masters degree. IUSB (not my favorite school, but my only option around here!) has a really great graduate program in Counseling and Human Services that I'm extremely excited about. This field is something that is still in the School of Education - meaning I can use the credits to renew my teaching license in case I ever get it use it again (ha, I joke! hopefully some day!), keeps me studying in the field of education but also expands what I can do with my degree. After completing the program, I will be able to either do school counseling inside of the schools or mental health counseling in either a hospital or private setting. The program is only part time and will take three years to complete - which doesn't sound TOO terrible, right?! I have already applied and am now waiting to hear if I was accepted into the program....they only accept about 25 students each year into the program, but I'm hoping my previous GPA, degree and work experience in this type of setting will help me be seen as an awesome candidate :) I also had rocking letters of recommendation from three amazing colleagues! So, we will see. ALSO...with me only going to school part time and working only a few days here and there, I'll kind of get to be a "part-time stay-at-home mommy" for a little bit. So, I'm good with the whole thing! Maybe I'll get to have another baby in the mix here as well?!? Guess we'll have to wait and see.... :) I DO feel terrible, though, for the other teachers that lost their jobs in my corporation and corporations all around the state due to this whole funding issue. In my school alone, 5 teachers (including myself) were let go....and these girls were completely devastated. Some of them don't have spouses who bring in additional incomes or who have insurance they can use. Some of them had been there for THREE YEARS and had established their classrooms and themselves as teachers. The morale around school has been pretty depressing for everyone, and it's a shame that Indiana has allowed this to happen in our schools and to our kid's futures. Of course, there is a chance that a lot of the teachers could be recalled back to teaching positions within the corporation....we've all be placed on a recall list (or a holding bin) for two years....meaning any position that becomes available must be offered to us first. So, who knows! I just hope for the best for my fellow teachers at my school who were let go and hope that everything works out for them like I'm hoping it may for me :)

Well, that's all I got right now. I'm hoping to update soon with some good news!

Crafty 101

Soooo, it's been awhile. Since my post isn't really about the past and more about the present, I will quickly bullet what's gone on since I last posted (since I'm sure you are all just dying to know).

• Still no word on my j-o-b for the next school year. We return to school from Spring Break on Monday, and that week they will start RIFing (laying off) people. I, of course, am anxiously awaiting this time...there is an open position at my corporation's high school that I'd really like to snag if I could. Otherwise, I don't know what's gonna happen....
• I have to apply to grad school to start my masters. It's kind of crap that I make a small amount of money anyway, yet I have to pay to go back to school to further my education in order to renew my teaching license. Grrr. Right now I'm deciding between IUSB (duh) or online courses through Ball State. I really wanted to get my masters in Human Counseling & Mental Health Counseling through IUSB, but I just think the schedule would be too crazy for me to be working and having a family. I'd have to go from work straight to school 2 days a week PLUS do a lot of the work on the side (which I've heard is A LOT). Don't get me wrong, I'm not usually one to take the easy way out...I live for challenges. My family and Max does come first though, and I don't think I want to spend the next 3 years or so of my life juggling that and possibly neglecting my family while taking out an UBER amount of student loans at the time. So, online courses through BSU to get my masters in plain old secondary education is what I'll probably do. I'm still livid about the student loans though - I currently have no student loans from my undergrad and really don't want any. Unfortunately, we don't have an extra $5,000 cash laying around. Pssssh.
• I've gone back on my healthy kick. No, I'm not fat and no I don't sit and eat ice cream all day. I do, however, stress eat....eating pretty crappy things. Before I was pregnant with Max, I was very health conscious, working out everyday and watching what I ate like a hawk. After I lost my baby weight (well, all but that stubborn last 5 lbs....but remember, I gained around 60 lbs people...which is ridiculous and will not happen again!), I kind of lacked the healthy eating and lifestyle habits I had before. I've been working full time in a very stressful job, and I just felt as though I didn't have time nor did I really care...I just wanted to get through my work day/week! Well, folks, with the end of this job in sight (umm, 35 school days!), I've decided the make a return to that lifestyle during my Spring Break week. I have to say, I'm feeling really great and refreshed! I totally cut out pop, since it always made me feel extremely bloated. I've also stayed away from junk food and paid attention to my calorie intake. I've also worked out every single day, WOOHOO! I'm not exactly doing this to loose any weight (but hey, a few pounds or so is always nice, right ladies?!), but rather to tone back up and feel good again. I love it!
• I hate the IRS. I'm not going to go into an entire tirade here, but let's just that they are ridiculous.

Now, the real reason for my post - I need some HELP! Although I would love to be one, I am just not a very creative/crafty person. I watch HGTV all the time and am always like, "Wow, I could so do that!"....theeen, I go to do it, and yeah, it doesn't look all that great. In order to me to become more frugle with money, I feel as tough being more crafty would be to my benefit. If anyone knows of any good books or websites on directions for creatively-challenged people on how to be crafty, please share. I'm getting an itch to redo some things in my house (nothing major...yet....just more decorative)....so, I need some input here. Otherwise, I will get frustrated and go spend money that I really don't wanna spend. Alright, that's my plea. Now go enjoy the weather that has decided to become nice again at the END of my Spring Break....GRRRRRRR.