A New Adventure!

I've taught for 12 LONG years! And I'm taking a break to be with my son before he starts kindergarten. It was the right decision but it was made with a lot of anguish, tears and uncertainty. Before I begin to describe to you what it feels like to be taking a break I need to go backwards in time for just a moment.

I knew that I wanted to be an elementary teacher in high school. I helped out in many elementary classrooms, I loved school, and I knew that I wanted to make that my career. In 1998 I began my freshman year at NNU and four years later in May 2001 I graduated with a BA degree in elementary education. I was excited to begin this adventure in teaching.

Throughout the summer I searched for jobs, had countless interviews and nothing seemed to fit quite right. Granted, I would have taken anything that was offered to me but I'm glad that God knew what he was doing and in late July of 2001 I had an interview in Melba. I thought that the interview went well, I liked the principal and the school seemed very primitive but I was used to that having grown up in Grangeville. However, the position that they were interviewing me for was a preschool/special education position and I had zero desire to do it. I wanted to be a classroom teacher more than anything and this just wasn't it. The principal did however somewhat promise me that I would be given a classroom teacher position the following year and for that I was hopeful. I knew I had to take the job if it was offered to me, I wasn't going to count on getting another interview in the next three weeks. That night, Mr. Dudley called me while Jeremy and I were on our way to dinner in Boise and offered me the position. I knew I had to take it - and so - I tentatively said yes! The very next day I received a call from the Kuna School District to come for an interview. I went! I interviewed! It was for a 3rd grade teacher! And I wanted it! Badly! So - I called Mr. Dudley at Melba Elementary and was completely and totally honest with him. I told him that I had an interview in Kuna and that it was exactly what I wanted to do - BUT, I had given him my word that I would come and work for Melba and so I had to honor that. I asked him for me to be released from my word so that I could go and work in Kuna as a third grade teacher. Unfortunately (at that time) he held me to my word and I stayed! And OH how glad I am that I kept my word and stayed in Melba. God knew what he was doing and I see that now! I have been blessed beyond belief to have worked in such an amazing community.

So - I taught and loved it!

Then in 2004 Addison Grace Franklin joined our family and with her came an intense desire to be at home. Financially it was not possible and so I continued to work and left her in the very capable hands of my mother (most of the time) and I will be forever grateful to her for that. The years passed, Addison grew and I still was not able to stay home. I don't hold any bitter feelings about it now ( I did then). Then in 2008 Rhett Douglas Franklin joined our family and again the intense desire to stay home doubled. I had expressed interest to my principal that I would really like to work part-time. Luckily, that year there seemed to be a huge influx in kindergarten students and with that came a part-time kindergarten position which I gladly took. I was extremely apprehensive to teach kindergarten but I was SOOOO ready to be at home every other day with my kids. It was great - I really enjoyed kindergarten - and gained one of my best teaching friends, Mrs. Drescher who was the "other" kindergarten teacher.  But after two years they no longer needed a part-time kindergarten teacher and staying at home was still not a feasible option, especially with the downfall of the economy. I began teaching 2nd grade full time. Addison was now in first grade and with me every day (right next door) which gave me great comfort and Rhett was with his grandmas.

Second grade was so much fun due to the fact that I had a lot of my kindergarteners in my class. I feel so blessed to have taught them for two years. They were an amazing group of kids and they will forever hold a very special place in my heart.

Then - the economy began picking up. Jeremy took on more and more builders who were actually building, we were able to pay cash for our new vehicle, pay off our college debt and save up for a trip to Disneyworld. We were being blessed through his job, enough so that I had asked him if it may be possible if I could stay home for a year since it was Rhett's last year before kindergarten, we were taking a trip to Disneyworld in October and possibly a mission trip to Africa in February. He reluctantly said that it was my decision and after waiting YEARS for him to say that it may be possible I should have jumped for joy and immediately called my principal.

But I didn't! I was met with apprehension and feelings of doubt. What? I don't like change! This is what I've been waiting for ever since Addison was born, the opportunity to stay home and why was I so uncertain about it? It took me 6 months to REALLY make a decision. I knew that I wanted to stay home and I had people pray that I would be able to. This was an answer to prayer right? Finally in March I realized that in 10 years I would look back on this decision and NEVER regret it.

But I was torn with the realization that I LOVED teaching, and I LOVED the people I work with, and I LOVED the students and I LOVED the community - it had become my second home, my second family and it was really hard for me to tear myself away from it. My only consolation was that I would be back - hopefully when Rhett goes to kindergarten I will go back. To Melba! To teach!

After looking back on my adventure and writing it all down (leaving many details out of course) I know that God had his hand in this adventure - more than I realized. And I feel incredibly blessed! He knew I needed to work in Melba, he knew that I would fall in love with this school and this community, he knew that I would want to have my children in this school, he knew that I would need the staff that I so dearly love. Prayers are sent up daily on behalf of this school, due to the faith-filled staff that works there and for that I'm grateful and not fearful to have Addison return there in the fall to be in third grade. She was put in a class with an amazing Christian teacher who is one of my closest friends and I am extremely excited to participate in her school year from a different perspective.

And even though a year seems like a long time - it will fly by and so I choose not to take it for granted! I plan to not only spend time with my son, but make small changes to my house, read! read! read!, take a few classes to further my education, participate in school activities and events, be an art mom for Addie's classroom, enjoy coffee dates with friends, do some crafty activities as well as many other things. Now that it is a reality - I'm excited - I'm energized and I'm ready for it!!!

And I KNOW for certain that God will have his hand in this new adventure just as he has for the last 12 years and I am grateful in advance for his guidance and love. I feel blessed already and my year hasn't even begun.

Here's to a new adventure!