Yep... It's me ! I'm still alive... !!

It is almost 2 am in the morning and I cannot sleep, so I thought I would update my blog for anyone who might still be interested in my ups and downs and adventures these past few months....
Here are my updates:
1- I have now been working seasonally for Disney for just over 13 months.  Among my talents is being able to embrodiery people's names on their Mouse Ear hats...  Too many cool experiences to relate here..
2- I DID work as a teacher in Florida for three months during the last school year.  I worked from Feb till May at a middle school in Titusville, but lost my job at the end of the school year.  Basically, the ending of the Space Shuttle program was the beginning of the end of many teaching jobs in Brevard County.  Laying off 9000 people at the Space Center does tend to have a trickle down effect on the number of students in a classroom.
3- I just got hired as a teacher in Osceola County.  I will be teaching Science at The Adolescent Residential Center (ARC) commonly known as a Youth Detention Facility of the Department of Juvenile Justice.  I officially start pre-planning on Aug 15th and my students will arrive iin my classroom on Aug. 22nd.  They are actually at the facility already, but my "school" is 5 modular building on the other side of the facility from where the boys live.  I will be teaching boys ages 12-18. 
     I know that many people will take this job as proof that I have truly lost my mind, but I consider this teaching opportunity to be my dream job.  I will have every type of technology one can imagine in my classroom.  I will have 6 classes, but will only have a maximum of 19 students per class.  My school day will begin at 7:30 and will end at 2:30.  But more important than any of those physical things, I will have the opportunity that is very rare in education these days..... the opportunity to very little restriction on the ways and means that I use to reach and teach my students.  Although these guys are 12-18 years old, many of them have not spent much time in "organized" school rooms and therefore their reading ability is really low.  My only solid requirement I have been told is "to do whatever it takes to get them ready to succeed"  I have had students such as these in my classroom for the past 7 years as a teacher, but have never had the opportunity to focus on just their needs and with upwards of 30 students in a class, I did not have the opportunity to concentrate as much as I wanted to on what others consider "throw away kids." 
I LOVE the challenges these type of students present to me as a teacher because it requires me to think outside the box on how to help them.  In my present teaching situation, if I take one of these guys from a 3rd grade reading level to a 4th grade one, or if they make a "C" instead of their customery "D", then I will have done something right !
      I will be in an apartment of my own by the 1st of September.  Don't get me wrong... I have been so blessed that Travis, Lindsea, Sarah and my friend Kathe have shared their homes with me during the past year, but I am so anxious to have my own place again.  I will be independent again and not so "needy" and that will give me peace of mind. 
     I have had so many prayers of mine answered in the past couple of months and I am so grateful for the Lord's guidance in my life.  I am also grateful for the unconditional love of Mom, Dad and my kids...
Thanks bunches.......