Back at Hope

 After three years at Central Florida Christian Academy (some years/months were wonderful...some not so much) I am back at my "home" school Hope Charter for what is most likely my final year of teaching. 

After leaving Hope back in 20203 because of not having my ESOL credits, the owner realized she could have kept me on as a permanent sub. Each year, I would return to teach summer school, and each year she would call me to her office to see if I was ready to come back.  I would tell her that God had not told me to "move" yet. I firmly believe God leads me where He needs me and I believe my purpose of staying at CFCA was to tend to my little girl who lost her mother in December since I had just been through it myself.  

This spring was different. I felt a tug to leave as I saw the vision of the school changing and I felt I was not a good fit for the direction they were going. My first stop was talking to the owner at Hope.  

All she had available was a 5th grade position.  That is not in my comfort zone, so I prayed hard about it. I kept coming back to the God leads me where He needs me belief and decided to trust His purpose for me.  I'm not going to lie though - I was worried all summer and not really all that excited about it.  I kept praying. 

A couple weeks before school started, the principal approached me and asked how I felt about teaching 3rd grade.  Apparently they had hired a teacher for 3rd and after thinking about it, came forward and said she really wanted something in the 5th or 6th grade range.  God moved!  As a plus, the second of the 3rd grade team is the same teacher I taught 2nd grade with!!!  And I really love her!!! 

We are a week into school and I am bonding well with my 18 3rd graders.  It's going to be an adjustment because I don't have nearly the free planning time that I had at CFCA, but on the flip side, I really enjoy being able to get more academics into the school day.  

As I said, I am pretty sure this will be my last year as a classroom teacher.  Next summer, I need to move to the house in Flagler Beach that my parents left to us.  My rent is up to $2,000 a month and I it's silly for me to continue to pay that when I could move and pay about $600 a month for lot rent/utilities.  

I am going to try my best to enjoy every moment.

 

Random Thoughts About Our Trip

 - the time zone change, while really only 3 hours, seemed difficult to adjust to. Between the hours of 1-4 in the afternoon I kept thinking back home, we'd be getting ready for the evening.  

- I was not impressed with the weather in Anaheim at all.  I realize we probably were there at a bad time, but the mornings were very overcast and cool. Actually, it was cool pretty much the entire time.  It was very rare that we were not wearing sweaters or sweatshirts.  

- I was surprised that they still manually check all the bags at security. I was even more surprised that it didn't create long  lines. 

-Overall, the parks seemed much less busy than Disney World and much better maintained.  They were cleaner and their hand sanitizer stations were filled.  

- Loading and unloading rides is less efficient than Disney World.  For the original rides, only one car is usually loaded at a time and the loading is being done from the left at the same time the riders are exiting to the right.  

- Our room in Anaheim (Marriot) was really nice.  It was a great benefit to be able to use the concierge lounge and we got free mini cans of soda, juice, water, and coffee.  I was, however, disappointed that while they have several options for dining, most were unavailable or not opened. They would just refer you to their expensive sit down dining option. So one of the days we ended up eating in the park, one of the days we ended up walking to a nearby pizza place, and one of the days we didn't eat at all. 

- Being able to visit Hollywood was a dream come true.  I never thought I would get there and while it was extremely touristy and there wasn't much to see beyond the theatre, I was so happy to be able to say I've been there.  

- Las Vegas has gotten so expensive!  It has been a long time since I have been there (like years and years and years) but I remember one of the perks was very cheap buffets with good food.  Not anymore. The food was quite expensive and the last night there, I decided to order a Kahlua and cream and got the shock of my life when presented with the receipt for $16! 

- Our room at the Excalibur was ok. It was on the older side and the TV reception was really bad, but Zack and I an amazing view from our window and we weren't in our room a whole lot anyway.

- I spent most of June being conflicted about going. I just didn't want to leave Brayden and thought he'd be upset we left him and would feel abandoned.  Turns out, I needn't have worried.  Brayden had the time of his life and so did I!!!!  As exhausted as I was at times during our trip, I would do it all again in a heartbeat. 

Las Vegas/Disneyland Vacation Day Nine

 Sunday July 5th

No pictures to go with today's post - just our return trip home. We met in the lobby about 9:00, returned the rental car, checked in, went through security, and eventually boarded our plane.  We flew United going home and I was very pleasantly surprised to discover entertainment systems. 

The flight was only a little over 2 hours (Kas Vegas to Houston), but it was nice to put a movie on and think that by the time the movie was over, we'd be landing.  I chose to watch Michael and then had a little extra time to start watching Anyone but You. 

The take-off was a bit turbulent and we had a couple more patches of turbulence. I sat by Jon who is a very nervous flyer so he would put a death hold on the arm rests while Prachi and I tried to calm him.  

Our second flight left about 6:30 and was also a little over 2 hours.  It was a pretty smooth flight thank goodness. I finished watching Anyone but You and started watching Grease. 

Zack and I got back home about 10:15.  

Las Vegas/Disneyland Trip Vacation Eight

 

Saturday July 4

This was our one and only relaxing day on this trip.  This morning we traveled over to the Bellagio to see their conservatory and botanical gardens.

Video above: the fountain show at the Bellagio. Music was the national anthem for July 4.

I spent the afternoon in our room editing photos and relaxing.  I took Zack to Taps for dinner - where I got a $16.00 kahlua and cream!!!!!

And how awesome that we didn't even have to leave our room to watch the fireworks over the New York New York. MGM Grand was also doing fireworks. 

Las Vegas/Disneyland Vacation Day Seven

Friday July 3

 This morning was an incredible experience. We got a taste of God's wonderful hand here on earth by visiting Red Rock Canyon in the Mojave Desert. 

We really got fortunate and entrance was free (probably for Independence Day).  Quite honestly, pictures cannot do justice to this magnificent landscape. The red rock mountains looked almost fake transfixed against a clear blue sky. 

 

There were trails you could hike, but due to my pathological fear of snakes I stayed at the car each stop.  The others did not hike too far because of excessive heat. 

We ate lunch at the Yardhouse and then returned to our Hotel to get ready for the night.

This evening we had another amazing experience - The Wizard of Oz at the Sphere.  It was completely immersive and unlike anything I had ever experienced before. 

You are surrounded by a screen larger than 4 football fields and through the magic of AI, 16K resolution (the highest ever), 167,000 speakers along and accompanying special effects, you feel as you are actually there.  The only complaint I have heard (which didn't bother me at all) was that they cut a lot out and made the 102 minute movie into 75 minutes.  

After that we made a short detour to Fremont Street. Dinner was at a Huey Magoo's inside one of the casinos. 

Walked around briefly and went back to our hotel. A nice end to a beautiful day.