It’s Amazing Grace

Ever since I graduated with my B.S. degree from Cal. Baptist University in the year 2000 I have been hard at work trying to find a full-time job. Even after I received my M.S. degree from Cal. State Fullerton, it was still a painstaking process. Seven years have gone by now and in that time I have done it all–personal training at Bally’s Total Fitness, substitute teaching K-12 regular and special education at CNUSD and RCS school districts,  two long-term Adapted Physical Education substitute teaching assignments, coaching track and field, Chick-fil-A kitchen worker, and finally down to my current position…Instructional Aid. In the midst of it all I couldn’t understand why it was so difficult and I wanted God to tell me what he wanted me to do because I wasn’t sure I was going in the right direction.

Until this past Thursday when I went to go see my counselor, Bobby at CIFT, and she suggested I try calling colleges again to see if I could get an adjunct teaching position. You see, I had already tried doing that and it just didn’t work out at the time. But upon calling my alma matter, CBU, I spoke an older lady–a long time friend of mine who use to watch me fly past everybody on the basketball court at college games, as she always says. I knew she was still the secretary for the Kinesiology Dept., so when I called her she got up and went to her new boss’ (Sean) office and told him about me. She transferred me over to his main line and had a very, very exciting conversation with him. They are in need of a part-time professor. However, he asked me to e-mail him my resume so I did the following night around 1am. I didn’t want to waist too much time because I wanted him to know that I was serious about getting the experience teaching at the college level. You see, I just have to know if I would enjoy it more–Is it the job for me? I called him later that same morning when I was at work and he checked his e-mail and looked over my resume. He seemed to be very impressed with all the experiences I gained over the past 7 years and to learn that I am a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and American College of Sports Medicine Health/Fitness Instructor Certified. He said,” they are in need of someone who can teach Adapted P.E. and regular Physical Education courses to undergraduate student. But with my concentration being in Exercise Physiology and Biomechanics (Sports Medicine) he was hesitant that I would want to teach P.E. courses. But I wanted to teach P.E.. I have learned that I have to be flexible. Besides I had a double concentration in Exercise Science and Physical Education at CBU. But our conversation didn’t end there. He told me I have a really good chance (considering I’m one of CBU’s own) of getting the “Lecturer” position which pays approx. 30k/year (more than adjunct) and comes with health benefits, unlike the adjunct position. I would teach 3 classes during the day on Tuesdays and Thursdays, along with 1 or 2 night classes on Wednesdays. And he went on to say that they are going to have a full-time position sometime next fall that will pay $60,000 plus a year. I felt like I hit the jackpot. And, then I finally looked back at all my positions and how God was preparing me for this position. Sure, I could have done adjunct a long time ago, but I wouldn’t nearly be as good of a teacher then that I can be know with all the knowledge I have gained working in a school district with regular and special education students. Surely, I can teach undergrads how to be effective teachers for Christ no matter where they may go throughout the world. Plus, I see it as me being able to reach more kids this way, than on my own with my own set of high school classes. I feel like I know what these kids need and I want to give it to them through teaching teachers how to be that special somebody in a kids life. You have know idea how thrilled and alleviated I feel right now! Just to know all those jobs I worked were not in vain…but can be used teaching undergrads at Cal Baptist. I’m still going to finish my Special Education Credential at National University because he said I could possibly teach in the special education dept. at CBU as well because they also have a great need for professors. I plan on keeping my Single-Subject and Special Education Credentials up-to-date so that I can continue to be a better effective teacher. Oh, and I will probably be able to still coach track at ERHS because practice times would interfere with my work schedule.

Even working in the kitchen at Chick-fil-A has taught me something…to be humble and work hard at whatever I do. I have an immense amount of respect, appreciation and compassion for those who work in fast food industries making barley enough money to survive off of…especially the overwhelming amount of Mexicans who work in this sweaty, hot and back-breaking environment to support their kids so that their kids can get an education and get jobs that they would enjoy doing. In a way, God sent me out into the world and brought me back to my roots to share my experiences.

You know, it’s funny…because I go to church, eat, and play recreational football with the Sandal’s guys on Saturdays at CBU. And, now I maybe working their…I guess I love my old school…I should just live there…maybe don’t want to go that far!(smile)

I haven’t read my bible in several months now…especially since I was doing all that scientific research on the souls existence after death because of the death of my guitar class partner unexpectedly. Also, because Randy Alcorn’s book “Heaven” has been keeping me busy…mentally that is…but this Saturday morning I decided to pick my bible up off the floor next to my bed and spend time with God in His word. I came across an “Emergency Phone Number’s List” (encouraging bible verses to read in times of various life experiences) and I started going down the list and came across the title, “When your faith needs to be stirred, read Hebrews 11″. I felt like this is what I needed at the time, and maybe for a long time now even…I’m sure of it. Interestingly enough it was the chapter I left off from when I stopped reading…I never got to finish this very same chapter. Huh, it makes me think what has been preventing me from continuing in this chapter…I believe Satan was at work and was trying to prevent God’s will from advancing. So I read…and kept on reading until I finished the chapter and all the life application notes for the entire chapter as well.

By faith so many people in the old and new testament accomplished much, even in the face of danger. Believing in the things unseen and the ability of the things unseen to see us as we are now. It’s difficult to have your faith stirred…but I’d rather go through rough times in my faith than to live a life with mundane faith. Satan would do anything to try and rid us of our faith in Christ. Many people believe that they can’t be tricked by Satan because of their “Super Faith” or “Faith in Faith” as they call it. But I believe our faith is in Christ, and not faith itself. Not everything that Satan does to try and trick us is black and white. In fact, I believe his ways are colorful and may seem like the right thing. It would be foolish of me to underestimate Satan’s ability to manipulate me and cause me grief…he is the “Father of all Lies”…so it is my goal to always be alert and mature in my faith in every way that I can so that I am not fooled…and even if I am fooled, I believe that in my maturity of my dynamic relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (three persons in one God) He will take me back and get me back on the right track…because He knows I earnestly listen for His Spirit to speak to mine. 

Oh man! I have been having a really bad week. Why do relationships have to be so freakin’ hard?! I wonder if we will ever get this communication thing down. But, after talking to Bobbie I have decided to admit that I didn’t trust him just to  be fair. But, me not liking to be told what to do as if I am a child still stands. I just wanted to be treated like a competent adult. Plus, I wanted to try and handle things my way to resolve the issue so that it didn’t go as far as a letter to the attorney general. It’s really not that I don’t trust him as a person…more so, it’s like I didn’t trust that he was handling the situation appropriately. Luckily everthing is alright now and we are able to pay my dentist bill for my braces without suing the finance company…overreacting can cause a situation to be more stressful than what it has to be…I prefer to think first and considered all possibilities to make the wisest decision.

I’m so appreciative of Jim-James taking the time to fix the wires inside my keyboard pedal…now it works again! Unfortunately, I was trying to be helpful passing him the tools he needed and was in for the shock of my life. I didn’t know what a soldering iron was before, but you better bet that I do now! I read on the web that those things can get up to 400 degrees Celsius…and that’s what it felt like…400 degrees Celsius. I had to keep ice on my fingers for 1 1/2 days because whenever I took it off it started burning all over again…with the same intensity. I look at my fingers now and am constantly staring at this huge white blister that looks like it’s filled with fluid and all I can think of is “those cells are dead, cooked to a crisp just like wieners blister up in a pot of oil when cooking”! Scott asked my if I cursed and I didn’t. Actually the first words that came to mind and that always seems to come to mind in these type of stressful situations is “Oh my gosh and/or ouch! Between this injury, the one I got not to long ago when I dropped Leah’s keyboard…tried to save it, but got scared pretty deep with my skin, and the paper cut I got two days ago at work…I can only say that my left hand isn’t pleased with me right now…it is jacked up!

I think me, Brittney and Angela F. made a great team setting up Leah’s baby shower. I must say that it’s the best baby shower I ever been to where I had fun and good food. Angela is one of the most creative people I know. She had me introduce this onesies game to everybody. They painted on the onesis with two people per group. Leah picked the best artistic painting she liked and the winner got a prize. I never would have expected her to pick the one she did! Jessica told me beforehand, “I don’t know Grace, are you sure you want me to participate in this game (she and her mom are artists). But Leah picked the work of art in which Becca B. and Stephanie R. pained a bikini on the onesie. I don’t know…maybe Leah did like it and/or maybe she did it on purpose because she thought it was funny. That was the first ever baby shower I had to throw, and I couldn’t have done it and been successful without Angela F. and Brittney R….forgive me if my spelling is incorrect for the onesie…some baby related terms are unfamiliar to me.