May 9, 2011
What Got Us Through
I just re-read my previous post about hope and thought I should give an update. I wrote that after Duffy came home from a very disappointing teacher job fair in NY, where they weren't really offering any jobs, just mock interviews. I was certain and had faith that he would come home with a job that day and....nothing.
About a year ago, Duffy left his teaching job in Georgia without already having secured a job here in NY. The pull to NY was strong and we felt it was now or never to move back. We knew he had great experience and awesome recommendations, but we were told by most school districts that they were cutting teachers, not hiring new ones. One principal even said, "I don't know of any principal who will hire you without first watching you sub for a few years." That was NOT the direction he wanted to be headed. Still, we went to Atlanta and began to pack, even though we had no real reason why. It just felt like the right thing to do. Duffy continued to apply to just about every school district in the state. We did know at that point that I could keep my job and work from NY for at least a year. We knew we could move in with his folks if it came to that, so at least we wouldn't be homeless. Thankfully, in late July he was asked to come in for interviews at two different school districts.
The last interview was in Ithaca and we were driving back to Atlanta the next day. I sat in the parking lot while he was being interviewed by a panel of 8 or 9 teachers, administrators, and parents. He came out and really couldn't say how it went. He said it was tough and generally didn't feel great about it. One detail he did give me was that there was one principal there who he was sure didn't like him.
The drive back to Atlanta was an emotional journey. What were we going to do? He thought about going to his principal and begging for his job back. We attempted to log into the Georgia Teaching Jobs website, but the website acted so weird--like it was broken, and it wouldn't allow him to apply for any of the jobs posted. Was Georgia meant to be our home and we weren't accepting it? Do we keep having faith that this is the right thing to do?
That summer we made 3 roundtrips from Atlanta to New York. The cd we listened to most was Amy Grant's "Somewhere Down the Road". Honestly, I think it got us through one of the toughest times in our lives. Duffy felt awful, like "What have I done?" I was torn, "we are making this move on faith, but are we just being stupid?"
From the first line, "So you've handed in your resignation...." this song was our anthem. These words were something we couldn't overlook:
"Do I wait until it falls into my hands?"
"a long highway ahead" --all those miles to and from Atlanta
"there's something to be said for experience" -right there on his resume.
"take it a day at a time" "it won't happen overnight" "Don't give up"
We alternately wept and were renewed by this song.
Well, most of you already know the ending. That principal that Duffy thought disliked him, hired him less than a week later and said that he was meant to be there. We needed to be moved to Ithaca in a week. It's a good thing we were already packed.
| By amy | 7:46 AM
Comments
Amy, you introduced me to this song this past year. Right when I needed it most. So much of this applies to what we went through over the past 9 months as well. Thank you for sharing the song and your story! Praise God for ALL the blessings he has been showing!
Posted by: Elizabeth at May 9, 2011 9:30 AM
I sure miss you guys but, wow, what a miraculous story.
Anne
Posted by: Anne at May 9, 2011 9:43 AM
And we are so thankful and happy that you all are here. Love you guys!!
Posted by: Jen H. at May 9, 2011 2:43 PM
As always, there are more pieces and details to the story than just what is written here. The week between when he was hired in Ithaca and when we moved to New York we just happened to park behind a car with an "Ithaca is Gorges" bumper sticker. Another day, we were in a different parking lot and the guy getting out of the car next to us had on an Ithaca shirt. He proceeded to tell us what a great school district Ithaca has. We couldn't have picked a more perfect spot in upstate NY for ourselves were we given the chance. The story continues further with how we got connected with a group of friends here. And, before this whole thing started, I told Duffy, "I am not doing the 'faith-thing' this time." I sensed that was where we were headed and I guess it was exactly what we needed.
Posted by: Amy at May 9, 2011 5:29 PM
