Big Changes

I have never posted about my job before, but to appreciate my current feelings and exactly what a big deal recent events are to me, you must hear the WHOLE story.  It is a story that begins four and a half years ago, shortly after Josh and I were married.  It is a testimony to God's grace and goodness to me and my family and one that continues to leave me amazed and incredibly joyful. 

Four and a half years ago, Josh and I were facing some big life changes.  Josh had just been accepted to Carnegie Mellon University, meaning we were preparing for a move across the country, far away from supportive family and friends....an adjustment from small town roads to big city highways and interstates.....a culture change from small town Missouri to big city Pittsburgh.  Oh....and we had just found out we were going to have a baby.

This was a crucial "fork in the road" for us because I made a decision to follow Josh across the country and leave my job in Kirksville.  I was our only means of income. Josh had just graduated college and as a full time grad student, he was under contract not to obtain a job. It was an incredible leap of faith to resign and leave our financial security with nothing on the horizon. Applying for jobs across country was daunting and discouraging....applying to places I had never heard or seen.  To make matters worse, the Pittsburgh school system was incredibly different from small-town Missouri. Instead of hiring therapists directly as employees, the majority of public schools in Pittsburgh "contracted" therapists through "Intermediate Units" (a term unfamiliar to me at the time) or through companies.  We did not have the finances to fly out for interviews, and in fact none were offered. Ironically, Pittsburgh is one of the few cities with "too many"  therapists due to several colleges with good Speech-Therapy schools.  I was also in no shape to interview as I was experiencing full fledged and extreme "all day" sickness.  I was constantly  puking and it was hard to hide the fact that I was pregnant.

This is where I first saw the hand of God in our circumstance. We had picked a place to rent (over the internet of course) which looked to be in an area in the suburbs with a bus route close-by.  I got the call in July a week before our big move.  It was a contract company who had seen my resume online and thought they had a school who would be interested.  It was an Autism School.  I thought that sounded like an amazing opportunity.  Amazingly, the interview was held over the phone and I was hired "on the spot."  It was also miraculously within reasonable driving distance.

 Walking in the first day, the one thought I had was: "This is where I'll be until Josh is done. No quitting."

Of course there are pro's and con's with every job.  So here are some of the con's I discovered when I began working there.   These particular students were highly aggressive.  The school specialized in behavior modification.  It was not out of the norm to have my hair pulled, be pinched, spit at, kicked, scratched or cursed at.  It was not unusual for desks to be thrown and chairs overturned, for materials to be swiped off the table.  I felt very vulnerable being pregnant.  I had to be very careful.  I would have never forgiven myself if because of my carelessness, my baby was injured.  It was an adjustment.  I had to overcome fear of the student's aggressions to get to know the child inside.  Determining function behind the aggressions was very important.

 There is a lot more I can say here about getting to know the students and bonding with them and having the amazing gift of learning about them and drawing them out, of teaching them how to express themselves....of watching them progress and learn and of getting to know the families and hearing about the way life is in their homes, about caring and loving a child with severe autism... but I will save that for a different post. 

God provided and protected my family through this job:  When we first moved to Pennsylvania I was unaware that my teaching certificate, which is necessary to work in ANY public school did not carry over because I had to re-take the Praxis (big scary hard test) because PA does not have reciprocity with other states.  It took me a while after Ryan was born to have time to study and re-take the Praxis. Having THIS job protected me from having to STOP working at a public school.  Secondly, this job allowed me to work part time 9-3, amazing hours for having small children.  I also can not overlook that fact that during the entire four years I have been there, I did not sustain any major injuries.  I was protected several times from physical harm while pregnant.  Once, I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.  A student became escalated.  I was nine months pregnant and clumsy. I could not get out of his way in time. I was waiting for a kick.  There was nothing I could do.  He had me by the arms.  But he did not kick me.  He looked at me, intense anger in his eyes, holding me by my arms.  I assured him that he was OK, and the staff responded very quickly and pulled him off.  I had bruises but nothing more.

Financially, this job provided just enough for us to be "comfortable."  Contract work means that I only get paid on days I actually work.  There are no benefits.  This meant summers were always tight.  But financially, it was just enough.  That's all we really needed anyway.

About six months ago, Josh proposed his thesis.  In February this year, I began to experience a lot of frustration at work. More than I have ever experienced before. It was a lot of small things. Some big things.  I had trouble making sense of it.   It began to be clear that quite simply, God was shutting the door on this job.  One of the clear signs I had that the figurative "door" was shutting on my time there was  that in May the director announced the school had decided to hire a speech-therapist directly for the following year and keep one therapist part time.  Part time would be greatly reduced with priority given to the full time therapist with regard to caseload.  Part time would no longer be "enough" to support my family. It was a great business decision on their end. One I can completely see and I think will benefit the school in the long run.  I was encouraged by the powers that be to apply for the full time position.  I'm so touched they wanted me to stay.  In the end, I did not feel at peace about it.

Two weeks ago, I sent a resume to a private clinic, whose website I found interesting and amazing.  Two days later, they called me.  I interviewed last week.  I accepted their job offer yesterday.  Josh is currently on track to defend his thesis by September first.  Although he is experiencing set-backs due to faulty equipment and plain tedious work (counting cells by hand...ugh) this deadline is still possible.  I am continually amazed at the Lord's timing and provision.  I think about the last four years and shake my head.  My job sustained us for exactly the right amount of time until Josh was *about done* with school and then God provided a job, which I believe will be the perfect fit while Josh begins his start-up company...a risky venture.   I will miss the kids I worked with and the staff who I developed friendships and close relationships with, but I am very excited for this new chapter in our lives and looking forward to the future!