Cha-cha-cha-changes

Well there is much to say....I haven't posted because I have been swamped with work. I was presented with a fantastic opportunity at work that both inspires me and breaks my heart all at the same time. First let me give you a little background. There are some people who never really know what they are meant to do with their lives. For me, it became clear as glass for me my sophomore year of college while doing my teaching observation hours at Fern Creek Elementary in an EBD self contained classroom (emotional/behavioral disorders). That scatterbrained, impatient, crazy, irresponsible girl I was at 19 became the calm, cool, and collected woman I had been striving to become as an educator. I had found my calling. I was fortunate to be able to student teach in the same classroom. I left Louisville for Indianapolis after graduation and was offered a position at the high school I graduated from. I had NEVER worked a day in a high school prior to my first day of teaching and was totally outside my comfort zone, yet I found myself returning to the calm, cool, collected educator I hoped to be. At the end of my first year (where I was co-teaching), I found myself becoming scatterbrained and impatient because I was bored and unchallenged. That summer my boss approached my friend Meghan and I to start an alternative program for at risk drop outs to get them back on track. These were rough kids that most people had given up on and we were able to design a program to make it happen. I felt creative again...I was outside of my comfort zone....and most of all I felt calm and at peace with it all. The program was a success and I will be able to sit at graduation next year and actually see "the originals" (as they call themselves) walk across the stage to get their high school diplomas. I was RIFed and after a long drawn out process was given my job as the alternative teacher back for this year, although instead of splitting it with Meghan (she went to a job share) I'd be on my own. Once again I spent my time tweaking the program from last year as needed to meet the needs of the kids. Once again the program was effective and kids who had never been motivated to do well in school were being successful. Then last week, I was told I would be moving to the ED classroom because the teacher possibly being out for the rest of the year. I would be leaving my kids effective the day after....

This was the first time in my teaching career that I had ever been genuinely scared. Not for the new classroom or the new kids, but for what I knew would happen when I left my kids in the alternative program. I got donuts for the kids on Friday, cried when I told them, and spent the rest of the day playing basketball in the gym with them. I was not ok with this at first...I was upset...I mean like didn't-sleep-for-days-cried-through-two-boxes-of-tissue-could-hardly-eat upset. I made a plan of action, like the responsible girl I am should do, yet in my heart I knew only time could make my heart stop hurting. I was both excited about the new challenge and scared for my alternative kids to feel abandoned by yet another teacher. I didn't want them to feel like that and certainly not because of me. I spent last weekend buying up supplies and getting the classroom ready. By Sunday night, I was physically and emotionally drained. I walked into school on Monday ready to face this new challenge. The first week was pretty good. I missed my old kids for sure yet I also knew I couldn't focus on that or I'd be a mess. I am loving how well the students listen and how receptive they've been to the change. I'm blessed to be presented with this opportunity, yet its the first time I haven't been calm, cool, and collected about change. I'm almost there...and until I am fully there....God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

So until things slow down, I probably won't post much because things are a tad bit crazy. I hope to be back to it asap. Thanks for your prayers lately. I've definitely needed all the help I can get.

Prayer request

Dear Blogging Friends,
I am in need of some serious prayers right now. I have been presented with a wonderful opportunity and will not know for several weeks if it will actually happen. I can't share many details now, but this is something that would give me the opportunity to impact some young people in a very positive way. I am praying that God will allow this to happen as I can imagine it and I am hoping that your prayers will help too. You all have taught me so much over the past year about myself and the power of the Lord. Please keep me in your prayers as I take these new steps toward a great experience. Pray that the Lord moves the heart of others to allow me to positively impact the lives of some amazing young women.
Love and thanks,
Kels

Ice Ice Baby

It has been an interesting week here in Indy! We are covered in ICE!!!! About 2-6 inches of ice has completely covered every surface in sight...which also means snow/ice days. We've been off school since Monday!! Although I am excited to have this unexpected vacation for my birthday, I am also starting to get stir crazy! I'm hoping to be able to go out tonight with my family for my birthday dinner at Ruby Tuesday's (SALAD BAR....HOLLA!!!!).

On to the real reason I am posting from inside my ice shelter...savings! I am one of the intelligent people who made the decision to go to the grocery store the weekend prior to what is being called Snowmagedon 2011...instead of the night before. I have weeks worth of food and a good most of it I got for free or under $1 thanks to some great sales at Kroger and coupons. I am linking up with Cait @theblessedlife to participate in her How much can I save in a year link up. I do not have the kind of planning or patience to be able to calculate how much I can save in a year....needless to say my response of "a lot" will suffice for the time being. I will however be participating every month by posting some of the best deals I've gotten for the month and a savings tip I find valuable. So here goes January!

All of these were part of the Mega Event Sale that gave you $5 off instantly when you bought 10 items (You must by in sets of 10....I bought 20)

(9) Honest Tea $.75 each- (9) $.50/1 coupons (my store doubles)=9 free +$2.25 overage

(2) Birdseye Steamfresh veggies -$1.49 each-$.50/2 coupon (doubled)=$.99 each

(1) Lean Pockets $1.60-$.50/1 coupon (doubles)=$.60 each

Silk Pure Almond Milk $1.99-$1/1 coupon=$.99

(3) Kraft 2% Milk Singles $1.49 each- (3) $1/1 coupons=$.49 each

Other sales

Wholey Guacamole $1.99-$1/1 coupon=$.99

(2) Helper products (chicken and hamburger) $1 each - (2) $.50/1 coupons (double)=2 FREE

(3) Tyson Anytizers $5.99 each -(3) $1/1 coupons=$4.99 each (Thats a $5 savings each off regular price!)

(9) Yoplait yogurts $.50 each -(2) $.50/4 coupons (double) and (1) Free cup coupon=about $.22 a cup

Plus: Free chocolate milk WYB Gallon of white milk

Ok now for a savings tip from the single girl. In order to maximize my budget at the grocery, I only buy marked down meat or poultry (or extremely good sales). In August, I found ground beef on markdown for about $.50/lb. What a great price! So I bought 20 lbs of it....$10. I came home and broke it up into 3 different size packages (1/2 lb, 3/4 lb, and 1 lb). I just finished my last package last week. I do the same with chicken and pork too. A few weeks ago I found boneless chicken thighs marked down to $.75/lb. I bought 5 packages for about $10. Just think of the stews, soups, and baked chicken dishes I can make with these. Yes I can't always predict what meat is going to be marked down, but I can plan all my meals around it. I might go a couple dollars over my grocery budget, but like the ground beef, I won't have to buy it again for several months. That kind of savings really adds up for me over the long run! It has allowed me to cut my grocery budget down to $10 or less some weeks. I am also planning on trying to spend $40 for the month of March by using stockpile stuff up and only buying fresh produce and dairy products. Hopefully I'll be able to do it!