ray is such a stud writer

So it is awards season again. As many of you know, Ray has won awards at both Des Moines Area Community College and the University of Iowa for his writing. He has also won awards from both the Iowa Newspaper Assoc. and the Missouri Press for stories he has written on the job. But today he found out that he just won his first national level award! Way to go hubby!

In fact, Ray won two national awards doled out by the Suburban Newspapers of America. He is the education reporter for two papers originating from the same Northland office, one covering Clay Co. and the other covering Platte Co. He can correct me if I'm wrong, but the details are as follows:

Sun-Gazette won 3rd place for education coverage
Sun-Tribune won 2nd place for education coverage

Pretty good, huh?

happy little update

this morning ray had an interview with the northtown high school principal. i had interviewed with him last summer for a school counselor position that i didn't get. at the time, he said he really wanted to find a place for me on their staff and told me to get in touch with him in the spring.

with my recent resignation from the kcmo school district, ray and i kind of figured i had ruined my chances for a job with nkc schools for a few years. however, in their conversation this morning, ray was able to fill dan in on my situation. dan said that he still really wants me on board. he added that he felt like we really personally connected and then gave me some nice compliments (that i'm talented and intelligent...).

so, i'm hopeful that maybe i'll be back in the schools next fall. keep your fingers crossed, pray for me, rub that lucky rabbit's foot, make an offering to the job gods...i'll take all good fortune for a job at northtown!

one week down

So I entered back into the work force this week. It was a big adjustment getting dressed everyday! I really slipped into full unemployment mode there for a while. I really have a generous boss - when I was interviewed and we discussed my hours, I requested that I be able to either take Titus to school or be able to pick him up. Furthermore, I told him that on Tues & Thurs, I need to be able to pick him up due to Ray's work. He created a schedule just for me. I now work M, W, F 10 am to 6 pm and Tu, Th 10 am to 3 pm. I get to take Titus to school everyday. I love it.

I also love what I'm doing. I have this deep desire to help people. It is so rewarding to meet with my students and help them along their path of self-development. In just one week, I'm pretty enamored with D. who comes every day to work on her GED, L. who is a very bright, quiet woman who wants to go to massage school but can't until she passes her GED. Both are motivated by wanting to be able to be better providers for the little ones in their lives - a granddaughter and a son. They are lovely women. I'm blessed to be their teacher and guide on this part of their journey.

Of course, it is nice to have students say in just a few hours with them that they feel encouraged and respected by how I talk to them and how I'm explaining the rationale of their educational paths. I love it. I am able to combine my counseling skills and educational skills in a way that people are hungry to experience. It gives them hope to see how they can get to their goal and make their lives what they know they need to be. When I was preparing to see my first client during my counseling internship, my supervisor said "give them hope". I've never forgotten that. And over the years, I've become more adept at assessing the strengths people have, hearing their fears and desires, and speaking words that bring comfort. It is so powerful to understand their motivation, hear their goal, and lay out a plan for how they can get there. And then, enter their journey with grace and love and kindness. Can you tell I love my job?

Then there are my ELL students - a physician from Argentina, a mom and her adult children from Honduras, a man from Mexico and his friend...they are working so hard. And it is so fun to spend time with them learning English. I have a lot to learn in my effort to be an effective teacher for them, but it will come. And I have a great co-teacher, Patricio...a journalist, musician, and political junkie. What a cool group of KIND people I get to spend time with!

The nice thing is that I'm not feeling any new job honeymoon-high. I'm too beat up from my last gig to think that all will be peachy. But, I'm certainly appreciating the good things about Whatsoever.

And one last thought...yesterday my boss came in and said I'm getting a raise. It's been a good week.

coolest valentine ever