Living Open Handed

I would love to be able to say that my job search is easier... but that would be a lie. This is so different from any other time I've had to look for a job. It's more competitive, and I just don't feel like I fit here. I send out application after application... and nothing. No interviews, no phone calls. Just the form email that says, "You along with several other applications were all considered. Unfortunately, you were not selected." I have had two interviews. One I wasn't excited about and one I was. And I am a countin'-chickens-before-they-hatch kind of girl... figuring out how to set up a room, planning lessons, imagining how I'll feel when I get "the call", how happy Nate will be... And the two good things that came from those two interviews just doesn't feel like enough anymore.  At the one I wasn't excited about, I received the nicest rejection email ever: "Just because you aren't a good fit for us, doe...

As most of you know, I'm deep in the teaching job search. Which is growing my faith like crazy, and I love that part (really, only that part). And for a reason I can only explain as God, I have a huge peace through this process. The last time I did this (two years ago in Indianapolis), I was putting all my hopes in me and how awesome I thought I was. And, no surprise, I didn't get a job, but did get a big piece of humble pie. Which is why this peace I have now is too good to keep to myself. About a month ago, I found out there was unofficially a job opening at the school I work at now, in exactly the grade level I want to teach (5th), and I really liked the teachers who also taught that grade. But I wasn't exactly sure I even wanted to stay in this district, or even at that school. There were a lot of things I just wasn't used to, and I was worried I wouldn't be happy. So, I prayed about it- for clarity and specific direction. About two weeks later, I had a very...