What a difference a week makes

Well lets see last week, Kjell knew of three interviews and had no offers. Today we stand at Kjell having two more interviews- completing three in the last week being offered TWO jobs and having to turn down an interview. And then comes the really hard part... Picking a school. I LOVE that Kjell teaches- I love getting involved with the schools he teaches in- doing books for sporting events, even running the clock for football games. We are a family who LOVES sports so getting to back a school for my whole life has been amazing. I started out as a Meade Buffalo- got a plaque in high school for having attended every single varsity game while in HS which included riding with a guys' parents I had never talked to to get to one game. I endured a year of the longest losing streak of Meade football and then watching that come to an end. I can still remember the celebration of that game like it was yesterday. After graduating I attended Seward County Community College and got to watch some of the best girls' basketball players ever. And even had class with a  guy who ended up at Oklahoma State University. I was a part of the women's tennis team there and while I didn't contribute much to the playing- I played number 6 I did top out our GPA and helped us earn a banner that still stands at SCCC for some kind of academic team award.  Then I went to Washburn and attended every football game and basketball game as part of the pep band my first year then as a fan my second year. We had our own little cheering section- some of my friends and these two guys who had to be in their 90s that never missed a game. We always held our breath to make sure they were at each game- we were afraid they might die and we would never know. Then I went work for Inner City Urban Young Life in Kansas City Missouri.  I spent two years working in the "toughest roughest" (according to all the KC news stations) in KCMO. While there I kept books, botched the national anthem in front of about 500 people... awful! and called my dad after the first game and told him to write a freshmen' name down... Travis Releford  I told dad he was going to be big- ( He was a member of the runner up KU Jayhawks this past year. Then we moved to Spring Hill and I became a Bronco- I worked as a para for one year and then I had Kiah but continued to do books for the school district the next year. Then Kjell got the call to Atwood and we became Buffaloes again. I once again found myself doing books and even assistant  coaching jr high volleyball. Then we moved to Meade and Kjell started working in Minneola and I got to books in Meade and Minneola- I love watching sports and seriously for basketball the best seats in the house are behind the scorers' table. So yeah sports are in our blood. I would have to say one of my favorite things about being a teacher's wife is still being able to cheer. Sometimes for the state champs  and sometimes for the team who won no games the whole season. I love being a part of that, and I love being a part of a community drawn together by sports.

Which is probably why I usually cheer for the underdog. I love the NCAA tourny we don't miss a game in our house. It's when Kjell and I met and started dating in 2003 there is just nothing like having everything come down to one single game.. and sometimes one single second- just ask Memphis.. So when we went to a school this last week that in my mind screamed underdog... I didn't want to go there I didn't want my kids to have to go there. So I told Kjell I didn't want to go there. He enjoyed the interview, enjoyed  the school, and was offered the job. But we still had three interviews and one more school who he had already interviewed with.... and one week changed everything. He got offered another job, in a better location, a "better" school, we can do swim team again, if I have any Atwood readers you know why that is important to Kjell and me. But we went back and forth for hours today trying to justify telling our underdog school thank you but no thanks. Finally that is what happened. Kjell called me and I cried but I knew this time it had to be done. He called back about 20 minutes later, I asked how they had taken it they did well but Kjell said he almost cried... lol I am starting to wear off on him. We still are not sure where for sure we are going but we are not going to the underdog town. But even from the hour and a half I spent in their town, I will always have a good feeling towards them... and always watch the bottom of the Friday night news to see how their teams did that night.

Old Navy

 Most people know one of my favorite places to shop is Old Navy I enjoy some of the crazy fabulous sales they have. Like the weekend I just happened to be in Wichita and they had a 5 hour half price coat sale and the next day a 5 hour half priced sweater day. Then I got to host a party with one of my good friends and two of Jordan's friends and we got to try on a ton of clothes. Since then Old Navy is really one of my go to stores for myself. This time I got to get free shorts for me and a friend. I also gave one away to Mary even though she's not a sis-in-law yet she is really going to think I give great gifts I hope she doesn't get too used to all the free clothes! haha. Anyways I was impressed with a pair of Old Navy shorts I had bought two years ago and was super sad I had not bought more than one pair. So when I found out I won this I was excited. I did a lot of looking at the "shorts page" at OldNavy.com and was impressed with how they tried to cater to everyone. There were super short shorts... not for me of course... and then there were mid thigh and then they had my new favorite style the Bermuda shorts. I was so excited to get a pair of those. I think Old Navy has such good sales it is worth waiting for what you want to go on sale because it will. Thanks again Old Navy for letting me try some of your great clothes!

Interviews!

Today Kjell had his first interview in town number 1. While he has his interview the kids and I drove all around town and checked it out. There was not much to see it was a very small town, and from the look of it it looked liked a very poor town. We saw not one house for sell or one house for rent. Also at the park there were some young boys who were making fun of Kiah so I wasn't too impressed. It was in a beautiful part of Kansas with rolling hills in something called TREES all over. lol Kjell thought the interview went well and enjoyed the people he met, the school is pretty small he said you could see from one end of the school to the other when you walk in the front door!

We drove through the town Kjell interviews in tomorrow. We didn't stay long because the kids were asleep so we didn't want to wake them up but we found the school and drove down too blocks. This town looked really nice! The school also looked very nice I am excited to explore it more tomorrow. We have found a few houses for sale in this town but none of them our in our size range. One had an inground pool we figured we could drain it roof it and make it into a bedroom. JK! Please keep praying for us. It has been fun to get some calls and if God wants us in one of these towns it will happen or if He has something else in mind I hope we get that call soon. We leave for Sweden in two weeks from today! I have SOOOO much to do.

Honey Bunches of Oats

So  I am taking a break from talking about the family issues going on, because they are totally out of my control now and I don't want to worry about them. So I decided to finally launch my FUN giveaway. Somehow Purex (who I am insider of which means I get to try a lot of their products before they hit the market and then tell my readers about them) teamed up with Post's Honey Bunches of Oats. So I got a free box of cereal so I could try it and several FREE BOX COUPONS four to give away in fact. My family is the cereal house- I was raised on cereal almost every morning so that is what we do at  our house now. I don't know I never am hungry enough for a hot breakfast or maybe awake enough to make one. We often eat Honey Bunches of Oats and really like it- when we were in Wichita a few weeks back we went into a store where they had free samples of two new flavors that are fruit blends I really enjoyed the peach/raspberry one if you want to know more about Honey Bunches of Oats- here is their facebook page they have a dollar coupon on there right now too!
All you have to do is tell me your favorite cereal either in a comment on here or I know a lot of you can't get comments to work so just let me know your favorite cold cereal and I will draw four winners on Sunday. Good luck!

Post provided a free sample of their Honey Bunches of Oats- Honey Roasted so I could review them, all of the opinions expressed here are my own.

What will this day hold?

This is our happy picture. The wow look at us our life is going exactly how we want it to and we are happy picture. This was taken two days before we found out that Kjell had lost his job. It's a picture I love and hate to look at because we had no idea what was coming. But God did. And once again we get to hold His hand as he takes on a new journey/ or perhaps even the same one .

Well today I am just not quite sure what to do. I have been praying a lot, the kids and I went for a walk to do errands and visited a friend. But today is a big day. Kjell is going to go before the school board and ask for his job back. We have heard nothing from the board but plenty of rumors from everyone else to have NO IDEA what is going to happen tonight. I think I should be more nervous but I am just ready to know. And MOVE on no matter what it the result. Of course I don't want to move I live in the same town as my parents I really like my house and I would still like to meet my goal of one day living in a house that is paid off. I don't want to keep finding a good house and then moving away from it. And I know my kids (even though they are young) enjoy the friends they have made.  Last night I thought I slept pretty good and every time I did wake up a praise song or hymn was on my lips. Crazy how sometimes when you are longing for help your subconscious  can focus on Christ for you. Please pray for Kjell tonight at 8PM and whatever happens may God be glorified through it all. I am excited to see where God takes us. I love my husband and know he has shown so much humility in this, and pride has never once been in issue. Including tonight when he will talk to the board to try to keep me where I want to live. When it's all over he has over 50 applications out. Our life is a journey and I only want to be where we can be used by God the most. And He is the only one who knows where that is.

One month

One month from day (as far as the date on the calendar) Kjell and I will be on our way to Sweden. WOW I can't believe it is that close. Sometimes it feels like a dream still that we or maybe just that I am going. After how Justus acted yesterday when I left him for a few hours I am rethinking my plan of having the kids say bye to us at the airport. It is going to be very tough to leave my kids with other people (even if they are some of the people I trust most in the world with my kids) but two weeks is a long time. Please pray for my kids and also those watching them, because it's not easy raising three little ones. Even if it is only for two weeks! I think Kiah will be fine and she sees this as her own adventure as she will get to spend a whole week with her cousin. Justus will probably be fine too, once we are gone- I hope he just always wants me to know that he loves me, loves me most, loves me mostister and loves me loves me... I know this time won't last long so I hope he still feels that way after I leave him for so long. Karis is the wild card. She could do great or she could be the one everyone is glad to see leave when their turn is over. She is doing really well sleeping in her own bed but that is just it it has to be her own bed. It's not a crib any more and I do think the first night will be tough for her but I think after that she will settle down and enjoy herself.

I am just trying to prepare my heart and mind for this trip when there are so many other things on this heart and mind right now with the whole job situation. There is now a petition going to try to get Kjell reinstated. I don't see the school board changing their minds but I am very happy to see people supporting Kjell. Kjell still has about one million applications in and we still haven't heard from anyone. I am nervous for that call though. Kjell has been offered the teaching jobs at 75% of his job interviews.That's pretty good odds that an interview means a job.  He is a great teacher and many schools would be happy to have him. I am just not sure where we will end up. That is always the fun part!

Craziest Year of our Life?

Well this next school year could be REALLY interesting. Or it could be a big move/change who knows yet. But I don't want people to worry about us. Pray for us sure worry, nah. For one reason I do enough of that already and for another reason there really is no reason to worry. We have life figured out. (if you don't sense a slight sense of sarcasm in there and a bit of laughing than you need to get to know me a bit better) Kjell has about forty applications out, yes 40 we are willing to move anywhere in the state of Kansas that will take us. That has always been our motto with finding a teaching job, and it will not change even though in my mind we are in the perfect location. But then there is that question- what if no school calls. See this could happen, parents in their anger over playing time really did make it nearly impossible (humanly speaking) for Kjell to get rehired- frankly it looks bad to move once after three years at one school and once after two- people begin to wonder what is wrong with the teacher. So if there are 50 applicants for one job he is probably thrown out at the beginning. We know this and we are (most of the time- calm cool and collected. Why? Because we have a plan B.

Kjell and I have talked about doing full time ministry before- in fact when we met Kjell was working part time for Youth for Christ in Topeka and I was working full time for Urban Young Life in Kansas City Missouri. We always wondered why God called us together only to call us out of ministry. But perhaps this is all part of His crazy plan for our lives. We have talked about Kjell teaching at a school for missionary kids overseas for the last year. It had been heavy on my heart and I prayed a lot about it. Then after Kjell lost his job we really started looking into it and realized... hummm that is a LOT of fundraising to do for this. For most places we need to raise at LEAST 3000 a month. So that seemed nearly impossible to do in a few short months. That is why if we get no phone calls, no interviews, nothing we will somehow live on pennies for the next year while trying to find the perfect school/country and raise money for the next big adventure in our life. So while I may lose sleep over the fact that Kjell lost his job because some girls didn't get to play enough in a handful of basketball games.. I know my GOD causes all things to work together for HIS good and HIS purpose. Sure I'm scared. It will be tough going from making 42K a year to well nothing- Kjell has been offered one very part time job that he can not say yes to until we know what is going on that would bring in about 6000 for the year. And I make about 150 a month. So it could be exciting.

I have always been very good with our money. This could be the biggest challenge I have had to face. We just refinanced our mortgage  (SP?) so we only have to pay 200 a month there ( and now it will NEVER get paid off that is something I am having to cope with) but it's doable. And we have Kjell's paycheck and insurance through the month of August so we got time.

WHAT A RIDE!!

Well we are three weeks into this whole Kjell doesn't have a job after this school year issue. It has been hard and easy at times. Hard because I don't really want to uproot again- sell a house again- buy/rent a house again- pack a moving van again- say goodbye to friends again- make new friends again- ya get the point. But then it is excited to see what God has in store for us and all the possibilities that are out there. Kjell has over 40 applications out and he makes a map and we can see where it is he has applied. It has been very hard though to not know why he was let go and yesterday it seems we really got some answers even if the facts are not correct by those who think they are we now know more and that gives me relief. Because I just felt we knew nothing. Don't really have more of an update at this time. I just know Kjell has worked really hard to get about a million apps out it's almost like when you are a kid and you spun a globe and put your finger on it and said ok here is where I am going to live. Only we are doing that with the state of Kansas. Here's to hoping we hear something soon!

Purex is at it again. This time I am going to get two free coupons to give away to my readers. They are running a new campaign about our everyday life. I watched one of the short videos and thought it was rather cheesy but that doesn't stop me from wanting to get a free product so check out the website. http://www.purex.com/ you can also enter daily to win a years supply of Purex products that would be super nice right now!