Blessing During Recession.....Part II

Saying goodbye brought so many emotions with it and at the end of Wednesday I felt completely drained. I had no clue what the next day was going to bring for me because I was going straight into KINDERGARTEN the very next morning! Pray for MSC (Many Small Children) and the Lord tends to have a sense of humor with how he provides!

When I originally interviewed at Highland Elementary, I thought I was interviewing for a new Third Grade position that was opening up. While that was true, there were also 2 kindergarten positions open and a Fourth grade position open. When he came back offering me one of the kindergarten positions. I wasn't the least bit timid about it. I knew I could do it. I had spent my ENTIRE college career preparing to be a kindergarten teaching. A high school internship, 2 college internships & student teaching were spent in kindergarten. I had experienced by far the best kindergarten teacher on the planet during student teaching. Patsy Alley was amazing at making kinders do exactly what she wanted them to in the most creative ways that they enjoyed. I learned so much from her and knew I simply needed to drag it from the dusty shelf I had left it on 6 years ago.

I LOVED it! I realized quickly that the pace of my day was going to be much different, but it was FUN! I really had missed the aspects of school that elementary teachers get to enjoy. These past few days reminded me of why I became a teacher.

I chose a spider theme for my first two days to go with the Halloween week. I'll have to continue to be creative in those ways too because I have a sweet baby who can't celebrate any holidays.

Spiders it was. I hung a HUGE spider on the corner of the board. Kinders are the most observant kids ever. They had hardly walked in the room and welcomed their new teacher ( I had met them the week before during a day long visit),that their little voices said "MRS. BERRY! There's a spider over our board. Who put that spider there??? " I love their excitement...so refreshing.

We graphed whether we like or dislike spiders and then wrote about it! What fun is learning about spiders if it doesn't involve food? So we made spiders from marshmallows & pretzels. They didn't stand a chance with hungry little kiddos. I did manage to get a picture before they were consumed!

I even found these awesome cupcakes to go with our theme!!!

The kids loved them:)

Yesterday afternoon the entire school focused on Kindergarten. Everyone lined the hallways & each kindergarten class prepared themselves with their themed hats. Our theme was scarecrows. They kids loved that I joined in with them!

A new adventure with a tremendous amount of fun to come!

Blessing During Recession..

Just like our God always does, he has shown out this last month! It's amazing to see how he loves us through his blessings.



Through many doctors visits in the hopes of having the MSC (Many Small Children) we hope to have, the final prescription from my doctor alongside very EXPENSIVE fertility meds was LESS STRESS!



"Really", I responded? "Do you know that I am a teacher of 120 lovely middle schoolers AND a pastor's wife?" To which he responded, "Really Pepper. If you want those MSC, you are going to have to lessen your stress so the percentage of your possibilities for children will increase." How very discouraging to hear that you have slim chances of having the babies you so desperately desire, but with alot of help and encouragement from my husband, many tears & many prayers I am trusting the Lord for the percentage that the doctors say is void from our lives!



The very week following my appointment I was approached by someone at church that asked me if I might consider moving schools? I can only imagine my facial expressions, knowing in my mind what the doctor had just told me. And with that question from her, the Lord began opening up the opportunity for me to interview with another school. That week I approached my principal at the middle school in every attempt to be professional about this possibility & told him that I was considering this opportunity. Interviewed that very week on Thursday. Accepted a position on Friday! I followed with my 30 days notice & started the long awaited change.



It was, despite the quickness in the decisions from day to day, one of the hardest decisions I have ever made. I love my kids at the Middle School. Saying goodbye to them, I knew was going to be one of the hardest things to do. But, I had to decide to take care of my body & my health in order to fulfill dreams that I've had since I was a very little girl.



So after a almost an entire month, my principal gave me the letter that would inform my children that I would be leaving. We gathered them together to break the news. Having all 240 of their eyes looking at me and having no idea what was about to hit them was terrible. We shed tears. We shared germy hugs. And we made it through that terrible Friday. With 3 days left together, I had no idea what to expect, but I was showered with love from my kiddos. I have never received so many gifts. It was like Christmas in October! Flowers, cards, letters smeared with thank yous from students and parents, candy, bible covers, pictures, ornaments, food, lunch..... It was endless. I felt so loved and cared for. I left them with a challenge to love Ms. Vaughan, a first year teacher who had been in kindergarten, with all their might.

Very delayed update...

Summer has come & gone & so has my free time that I typically use to update our blog.

August brought with it a visit to Greenville, SC & we were able to spend some time at the youth conference that B Berry puts on with his REVOLUTION ministry.

A new school year has started and I have enjoyed my team at Max Abbot greatly. They are great group of women. So sweet & enjoyable. I am very sad that I will be leaving them soon. More to come on that.

In September John & Denice came down for a weekend visit. We found a restaurant that we thought fit us well! We enjoyed a motorcycle ride to Raleigh and we visited some of the museums there. It was a great weekend to visit with one another.

John and I recently enjoyed a Barbeque Festival in Lexington, NC. We met Donald and Wanda and enjoyed a few hours together before going to Greensboro for a birthday party. Eric, John's college roommate, turned 30 and we ventured up to celebrate with some friends! Eric almost won the t-shirt contest with his Goodwill REBA find!

So far this fall season has been great for us. We have definetly missed the fall leaves of Boone, but have enjoyed the warmer days. Hard to believe we've been here in Spring Lake for ONE YEAR on November 1st. Time flies when you're doing what God has before you!