But by the Grace of God. A story of Victory and Salvation {part 1}

It's not something I talk about often. In fact, I've never blogged about it, and my {semi-new} church family doesn't know about it. But it is a huge part of my life story and tonight I feel like talking about it.

After nannying for a little over a year, I began to get the urge to go back into teaching. I ignored it for quite some time, throwing myself into life with my two favorite boys. The feeling did not go away, however, and so I addressed it. By going back to school. Seems logical right? ;) Really, it was just a step towards returning to teaching, since my license was about to expire, and I had to show proof of continuing education if I was serious.

After a few semesters of classes, as tensions at "home" ran high between me and the parents, it became apparent to everyone that parting ways would be the best for everyone. Over the course of my 60 day notice, I began applying for teaching jobs in a city about an hour from my small town.

Actually, I applied for just one teaching job as a pre-kindergarten teacher in a daycare center, and within 5 minutes of me clicking "submit" on the e-mail, my phone rang. It was the director of the center and she wanted to do a phone interview RIGHT NOW. At the end of the interview, she offered me the job, that I was only allowed to accept of decline after I came in to shadow and do a face-to-face interview.

The boss and I ended up in agreement that my teaching style was exactly what this group of kids needed, and a few weeks later, I had already started to develop a reputation for myself as the teacher who meant business. Without tooting my own horn too much, I'll say that I worked really hard, turned the kids around behaviorally and educationally, developed some amazing raport with the students and their parents, made my way up the ladder in terms of influence in the building {everyone wanted to be in my room} , and just had a lot of fun overall.

I said goodbye to that fabulous group of students at the end of August and began a new school year with another group of fiesty 4 year olds {most of whom I had already built great relationships, just through my nature and the nature of the building policy and design}.  I was so excited to start a new school year and try implementing some new ideas; they even gave me a co-teacher this time!  The first few days were definitely busy, but I loved it.  Totally in my element, and feeling like I was doing what I was created for.

That's not to say we weren't without our challenges, and with a class biter, and another very violent child {among many issues our class faced}, we had our work cut out for us.  Thursday of our first week together, my co-teacher and I sat down and came up with a game plan on how we wanted to handle a few things, then we talked to the parents at pick up time.  Everyone was totally on board, and as eager to see change in their kids as we were.

Then on Friday afternoon, my life changed in a way I had never imagined....