Rise-ing to the Occasion

I was sitting in a room of 58 other college sophomores, anticipating our first practicum teaching assignment. We had been given the spiel about how not to wear anything revealing - no cracks were to be shown - front or back, not to bring cell phones, and how confidentiality was of the utmost importance. We were anxiously awaiting the green sheet, the sheet that informed us of the school, grade level, and teacher with whom we would be spending the next several hours of the upcoming semester.

I often tell the story that while other children were packing Barbie and Ken into a pink Jeep to go to the beach, I was teaching them their ABC's and 123's, and my poor teddy bears and baby dolls weren't exempt either. They may not have had a tan or sand between their toes, but by golly, they were going places! They were lined strategically along the couch, careful not to put Lucy beside Skipper, those girls were quite the talkers! And every day, me with my grade book and lesson plan in hand, and them with their dry erase boards and hand-me-down textbooks, in the basement of our house, we had class.

I have always wanted to teach. While friends explored other venues, I pursued my love, my passion for teaching and learning. Finally, as a twenty year old, I was getting the opportunity. I opened the carefully stapled paper to reveal the contents of my placement. Before I read the scripted words, I daydreamed. Would I be teaching multiplication to sassy fourth graders, or laying a foundation and love for learning for snaggle-toothed kindergarteners? I envisioned my first teacher outfit with my teacher bag on my shoulder and newly personalized lunchbox in hand. I pictured, phone in hand, making parent phone calls and writing notes of praise on season-appropriate note cards. 

My enthusiasm could have not have been greater when I read that I would be interning in a three year old classroom at the Johnny Stallings Center, affectionately known as Rise, on The University of Alabama campus.

I approached that semester ready to teach, to impress my knowledge on others, to enrich the lives of students. 

I walked away from that semester having learned much more than I taught, my life being the one wholly enriched.

Seeing teachers and assistant teachers work in collaboration with other specialists to provide their students, both typical children and children with special needs, with the ideal education, greatly inspired me. I saw children with seemingly insurmountable mental and physical disabilities approach each day, each task, each learning opportunity with such an incredible zest and passion to excel. And excel they did. Their drive was unparalled and unwavering. I rarely left with the mascara I had carefully applied before arriving; but I always left with a renewed spirit and happy heart. As the semester wound down, I vowed to return to this children's paradise.

Little did I know, that almost 10 years later, I would be returning. But this time, I would return not as an educator, but as a parent.

Our God works in incredible and intentional ways.

His ways are not my ways. 

His thoughts are not my thoughts.

His ways and His thoughts are greater. 

Earlier this Spring, on a bright afternoon, Brian came home from work. His demeanor did not match the warm sunny day. Instead of his usual cheery, "Daddy's home!" which follows with a chorus of squeals from the little because he know what comes next is a whirlwind of scooping up this away and spinning that away, he was more reserved. Upon closer inspection, I noticed his eyes were red. My always happy husband was somber, comtemplative. 

That day, God had impressed something upon his heart. A push to do something more, for Baker, for our family. 

That day, Brian found Rise. He scoured their website and confidently proclaimed, with his familiar smile resurfacing, "Jennifer, whatever it takes, Rise. Rise is where Baker needs to be."

Mind you, we each had wonderful jobs we love, a church family that is...well, the thought of leaving them makes me a weepy mess, a house that we have made a home, family here, Baker's doctors and therapists and a school we adore. And, one teensy detail, while we were faithful it would happen, Baker had not been accepted to Rise.

God's faithfulness.

It's in the details.

It's incredible.

There's a verse I love.

"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."

Today, Brian has a job in Tuscaloosa. 

Baker has been accepted to Rise.

Our house is under contract.

We have visited a fabulous church that has welcomed our little family with open arms.

And I am beginning a job search that will allow me to be the mommy Baker needs while still helping provide for our family.

God's faithfulness.

It's in the details.

It's incredible.

The birth of our son has been such a blessing, in so many ways.

My faith in the Lord and His unending faithfulness to our family has been evidenced time and time and time again.

 

His ways are not my ways. 

His thoughts are not my thoughts.

His ways and His thoughts are greater.

We're Rise-ing to the occasion. 

And are excited about the opportunities awaiting our family!