Following the Fowlers

On Saturday I attended the Plano ISD job fair. We will be moving to our house this week. Mark's school is going to be less than 10 minutes away. I will now be commuting for 30-40 min. one-way. So, Mark and I decided that it would only make sense for me to search for a job in Plano. This was a hard decision to come to because I have really enjoyed my job is Lewisville. It has been a wonderful place to begin my career.

So, I show up at the job fair at 8:10, but the door don't open until 8:30. I already saw a line forming at the doors, but it was drizzly, so I decided to wait it out in my car. As I sat there, I saw the streams up applicants heading towards the school. The longer I sat the more dread a felt. All the self-confidence kind of fades away when you see hundred of people heading in to try and get the same job you want.

Once I finally made it inside I consulted my list of schools I wanted to talk to. I had "narrowed" the search to about 20. But, out of 40+ schools, that was less that half. I am lucky enough that my resume had already been passed around before the job fair by my friend Zack, who is a principal in Plano, and Mark's assistant principal and one of his other coworkers. When I walked up the 3rd table, the principal saw my name tag and, before I said one word, she said "Hattie! I've been looking out for you and I want to set up an interview!" I said, "Okay, let's do it!" She had already seen my resume, and was already interested. How easy! So, we set up an interview at Hunt Elementary for 1:00 that afternoon after the job fair. After that, I proceeded to finish my entire list of school and got out of the job fair at 10:40 or so. Most every school was very nice and encouraging. I was impressed the with job fair overall.

I went to the interview at 1:00. It lasted about 40 minutes and went very well. They actually have to hire three 4th grade teachers, which if very unusual. They currently have 5. However 2 are leaving and they are adding 1 more position b/c it is a growing area. So, I think my chances are pretty good b/c I have 5 years experience in 4th grade. The school is about 5 min. from our house and 2 min. from Mark's school. Hunt Elementary feeds into Murphy Middle School. Well, they ended the interview by saying they were going to check my references and they were "very, very interested" in me. Yea! This would be a wonderful job and opportunity.

So, if you are still with me after this very long blog, please keep me and this job opportunity in you prayers. Please also keep Mark and I in your prayers as we move this week!

I forgot how time consuming packing can be. It has been 2 1/2 years since we last moved, and I just seemed to have forgotten that it really is work! Of course, part of my problem is that I like to do it all myself. Mark offers to help, but I usually say, "No, thank you." I guess I am just a control freak about that. I'm not normally a control freak, but when it comes to packing our things, keep your hands off! I like to know it is done the way I want it done, and I also like to know where I put everything. I am carefully labeling each box to make sure it gets in the correct room. Yesterday I spent the entire afternoon packing our office. I didn't realize we had that much stuff in there. But, between all the books, decorations, and items we had stuffed in the closet, it took 20+ boxes. I have finally consented to let Mark pack the cd's, dvd's, desk supplies, computer items, and t.v/stereo equipment. But, goodness knows he won't do it until the last minute! My last big project to tackle is the kitchen, I will probably put that off for another week, because I want to still be able to eat at home. We get our keys to the house in a week from tomorrow! We will be able to get in and do small things and clean starting April 1. The movers come April 5! Yippee!

Over the last six weeks or so our washing machine has slowly gotten worse and worse. This machine is only 2 years old, which makes it even more frustrating. It wasn't spinning on the spin cycle. Sometimes it would spin, sometimes it wouldn't. We could usually get it to spin by running the rinse and spin cycle a second time. However, about a week and a half ago it stopped spinning altogether. This makes the machine pretty much useless, because it leaves the clothes sopping wet.

Last weekend we wanted to fix it, but Tom and Nancy were out of town. Mark usually likes to have Tom around when fixing things b/c he has great tools and even greater advice and insight. So, Tom and Nancy came over yesterday bringing tools to help with the washing machine and boxes for our move. Tom and Mark immediately got to work pulling the machine into the middle of the kitchen and disassembling it.


















Then they took it apart to the bare bones to try and diagnose the problem.














After about 4 hours of work, they finally think they had the diagnosis. There was a part on the very inside cylinder in the tub. The part had been worn and shaved down. This wearing caused it to not catch where it was supposed to, therefore not engaging the tub during spin cycle. So, they hopped in the car and drove to the nearest parts store.













When they returned they popped the part in and what do you know? It worked! It only took a $14 part! Here I have to give Mark props or he will get upset. Mark was the one who technically saw the part and deemed it as the problem. It took him a while to convince Tom of it.


















So, they put the machine back together, slid it into place and I have never been so happy to do laundry! I have always said that Mark is so lucky to have a dad as handy has Tom is. It seems that there is nothing they can't fix together. Thank you boys for fixing my washing machine and doing it for free labor! You are my heroes!

I never thought that I would have my own blog. I never really understood why people had blogs or what they were really all about. However, over the last year I have become an avid reader of blogs. Many of my family and friends have started their own blogs. I have found it to be a really wonderful way to keep in touch with their lives. I feel more connected to them, even though we don't talk every day. The other day I was telling my sister, Jessica, how much I really enjoyed her blog. She encouraged me to start one of my own. So, after much thought, I have decided to give it a shot. I do not promise to be the most interesting, insightful, or humorous writer that you know. However, I do promise one thing I pride myself on, which is being real. So, I hope that you find this blog to be a real depiction of my life, whatever may come my way. Enjoy!