This are looking brighter

Okay, so afer all my complaining about the alternative high school, things are actually going much better. I think this is due to two things: 1) changing my attitude about the whole situation and 2) the population of kids has changed drastically. The school decided to refine it's interview process and because of this, the population of kids we have has gotten better. We now have students who are wanting to graduate and want to be there. This really makes for a much better atmosphere at the school. I now have a lot more to do, students to see and a possible future there. Which leads me to the next brighter thing: I answered the phone at the school on Thursday and on the other line was our assistant superintendent (which I've met and talked with before). He was telling me that the plans for next year will probably included a bigger facility and that along with that comes a need for a counselor. He asked me if I would be interested. Of course I said yes! So we will see what God brings and if that is what He brings, I will be delighted to be there. So you see... things are looking brighter!

Attitude Adjustment

Okay, so I suppose that sometimes God tries little things to get our attention. Well, yesterday at the high school, I was having a bit of a bad attitude about going to the Academy today. I was really praying for a snow day (no such luck) so I wouldn't have to go. My supervisor handed me a magazine that she gets from her old college which happens to be LDS. She tells me, "I know you're not LDS, but there are some good quotes in here. If you want, you can have a look". So, out of politeness, I decided to look through it. I wasn't looking seriously, but a quote did jump out at me and made me take a second look. Here's the quote: "You either control your attitude or let your attitude control you." Oooooohhhhhh....talk about an Ah-ha moment (that's counselorees for what we hope our clients have when we are counseling them). I have a choice when I'm at the Academy. I can choose to control (change) my attitude or let my attitude control me while I'm there. I'm thinking that it would be in my best interest, and the best interest of those around me, that I allow God to control my attitude so that I can make the best of the situation and get the most out of it. So.....thank you God for using a simple magazine to get my attention. God does moves in mysterious ways and uses unusual circumstances to get our attention. So as I head to the Academy today, my attitude is in check and my determination to succeed is facing forward!

Not for me

Okay, so I've decided that while a normal alternative school may be okay, this one is not for me. I'm not sure if it's lack of structure (oh wait....that's it) or the fact that the administrator is also a teacher which puts me in a disciplinarian role (sure..that's it too), but it's not for me. I leave feeling frustrated and not wanting to go back. Yet....I feel obligated to continue the year out (Ugh...) because I don't want to leave them without a counselor (what a saint...???). SO, pray for endurance, pray for opportunities to practice my patience and pray for guidance. Thanks so much for your support.

What am I doing??

Okay, so there are days when I really believe that the alternative school is my niche. Then there are other days when I wonder what I'm doing there. The kids say I don't know them, yet I'm doing everything I know of to get to know them. There are quite a few there that I really feel I've connected with. There are also some that are making it very difficult to get to know. I just don't know what direction God is pulling me in. There are good benefits to the alternative school, but there are things that drive me crazy, mostly the attitude of some of those kids. How do I see past that? Is this really the right place for me.? I love the high school. I fit right in, do my own thing, run my own groups.....but it's comfortable. The alternative school is way out of my comfort zone. It's hard to run any type of group because the kids need to be in class...the attitudes are tough to deal with....I don't know where I fit in at times. Is that good? I don't know. I just know I will keep on keeping on and pray that God shows me the right direction. Maybe I'm having these doubts because I only have one more semester left and I'm thinking about my future job and where I'll be and where I want to be. Much to think about!!!

One semester down.....

Wow. I can hardly believe it. As I'm busy doing end of semester things, it is finally hitting me that I only have one more semester to go. Could it be that all my hard work over the past three years is FINALLY coming to an end?? I won't hardly know what to do with myself!! On one hand, it's gone so slow, yet on the other, it's flown by. All I know is that I've had an amazing experience through it all. I've learned a lot about myself as a person and as a counselor. Now I just need to make sure I get a job and put all my skills and knowledge to work. SO, be praying for me that God will open the right doors so that I can get a job. My prayer is to stay at the alternative high school. There will more than likely be an opening and I'm praying that it will go in my favor. SO....with all that said....When May 4th comes...I'm going to throw a big party and celebrate!! Thanks to my husband, kids and close friends who have helped me through this whole process. I love you very much.

Finally on our way

Well, with a bit of frustration and bad attitude because of waiting...we finally got our collaborative project approved. We had originally planned on being able to start our group the 1st of September, but due to some...pickiness...on the behalf of the Research Committee, our hopes were squelched until this week. That's okay, because the Lord has it all in control. I will conduct my first group today and I have six girls who are wanting to participate. We won't have all our data and final results before the Idaho Counseling Association Conference in January (where we are to disseminate our project), but at least we will get in a good chunk of work done before that time. Yehaw!!!

God know what we need

You know, it's funny how sometimes we forget about time and how it's flown. It's hard to believe that on the 21st it will be 5 years since my mom went home to Jesus. In some ways it seems as though she's been gone a life time, especially when my heart aches to talk to her. Other times it seems like it can't be that long that she's been gone. The funny thing is...God likes to send me reminders of her. On my computer I have a file that has pictures that I scanned of my mom when she was young all the way up through my childhood and beyond. It is not in my screensaver file. It is a completely separate file...yet.....yesterday....the pictures in that file started appearing on my screen saver. I'd be in the room and look over and there was a picture of my mom and I on the screen saver. What a warm and wonderful feeling that brought to me. A reminder....of my mom and the relationship we shared...of the relationship I miss so at times. And then I'm reminded that I have the opportunity to have that relationship with my daughter...to cherish the times we have together for we don't know what tomorrow brings. I say all this to remind you that God sends us what we need when we need it. I needed a reminder of my mom and the good side of our relationship..especially as the 5 year anniversary approaches. The Lord is good!!!!