So, it is Spring Break! My district gets 2 weeks for Spring Break, and Week 1 is already half over! I haven't been nearly as productive as I should be, and after I write this post I'm gonna go clean my apartment.
But first, I want to update the World Wide Web about what's going on in my life, since it's not my friend on Facebook.
A long time ago I was studying in The Book of Mormon and was in 1st Nephi. I was reading the part where the Liahona came and Lehi's family was following where it told them to go. It says they named the place "Shazer" which means twisting or intertwining in Hebrew. I felt that my life was "Shazer". It was going all the wrong ways, it took twists and turns and didn't go where I expected it to. I knew where I wanted my path to go, namely I wanted a theatre teaching position and I would go ANYWHERE to get one. so I applied to so many jobs! I wish I had kept track of how many positions I applied to, I would estimate about 50. I heard back from 2 jobs. TWO. And so I interviewed at them and didn't get them. The second one was at Eaton High School, which I thought was the job Heavenly Father prepared for me. It was close to home, family, friends, everything I wanted. Except it was a 1/2 time position and I would be back in Greeley, where I started and have gotten sucked into and locked in for five years. So, maybe it wasn't perfect, but I was pretty sure it was what Heavenly Father had prepared for me and prepared me for. It wasn't. I didn't get the job. That interview was the very end of August, so I thought it was my last hope to get a job before the next school year. I was so upset when the principal called and told me he had chosen someone else.
Then I applied to be a sub. I subbed in the Greeley district. Some days it was fun. I love elementary schools, except for Martinez Elementary, and Winigrad Middle School and P.E. at Heath Middle were good, but other than that, I HATED subbing. I started in October and over Christmas Break I felt like I needed to prepare for something. I didn't know what and decided that I was going to die soon and should prepare for that. In January I was dreading going back to subbing and I yearned for my own classroom and students to teach. I prayed to Heavenly Father. In Romans 8:20 I learned that the Spirit can communicate our feelings to God, so I sent that desire and feeling to him. Later that DAY I got a text message from a friend and former roommate, Lori Dawn Depew, that said "If you or any of your theatre friends are looking for a job, there is an opening in my district!" I got the information and started applying that day, Monday, and finished on Tuesday. On Thursday I got a call from the principal of Falcon Middle School saying that he wanted to interview me the next day. My Mom rearranged her schedule, we went down that night, stayed in a hotel, and went to my interview the next morning. On Monday I was supossed to find out if I got the job or not, but the district had a snow day. The next day, Tuesday, I subbed for my PE teacher at Heath Middle School. On my lunch break I called the school to see if they had hired someone. The secretaries didn't know, so they put me through to the principal, who didn't pick up. I was relieved, but he called me back a few minutes later and told me I was their first choice and that he was waiting to hear back from some of my references. I called my references and at 3:55 I got a call from the District HR representative. I was subbing until 4:05, so I couldn't take the call. She left a message saying that she would leave her office at 4:00 if I could call back before then, or I could call the next morning at 7:00. I called the next morning and she offered me the job.
I had a week and 2 days before I told them I could start. A bunch of little things happened those 9 days and it was a miracle I had a place to live and transportation to get me to and from work every day! I found my path even more "" and I prayed to Heavenly Father, saying, "I know you can perform miracles, and I know you will provide for me. But you're cutting it kind of close this time, aren't you?" He did cut it very close, but he made the deadline, provided me with an apartment I can afford, a car that gets me to where I need to go without costing my left limbs for gas, and a job that could pay my bills and make me a very happy girl.
Teaching middle school has been so fun. I feel like I'm making a difference in my students lives. While no day has been perfect yet and my life continues to be "Shazer", I love every moment of my new life.
I love my students! At the end of school on Friday all the teachers went outside and waved goodbye to the busses as they pulled out. I didn't know about this ritual until I was walking to the office and heard yelling outside. I thought someone had gotten into a fight and went to the window. I understood what was really going on as the last bus left. I was sad because I felt like I didn't get to say goodbye to my students. I finished my trip to the office where I shared my story with Karen, our Administrative Secretary (who, by the way is a miracle worker!). One of the students I have in class was walking thorough and heard my story and very energetically and enthusiastically waved to me and yelled across the office "Bye Miss Stieber!!!!" I wanted to hug him.
In 1 Nephi 11:16 it says about the intwining path: "And we did follow the directions of the ball (the Liahona), which led us in the more fertile parts of the wilderness". My "Shazer" path has been very fertile for me. I learned so much during the time that I didn't have a job and had to sub. I learned that he has a plan for me. His will is more perfect than mine, which is why and how he takes us on the fertile paths. He knows what he's doing, even when all I see is the turns, He is leading me safely through the more fertile paths.
