A decision

After a lot of debate and indecision, I've decided not to teach full-time this school year. I am not sure what will end up happening with possible treatment going forward and my body just really isn't ready for the demands of full-time teaching. While I think it is probably the best decision, I'm disappointed as I miss teaching and the people I worked with.

I've moved into my new apartment in Wheaton, with my mom's help. It's good sized, but there was a leak that appeared the second day I got here, and it took a couple of days to get them to send someone out to look at it, despite my sending multiple emails and pictures. I guess there was some kind of miscommunication on their part, but the guy did finally show up and is now investigating what appears to be a leaky pipe behind in the bathroom wall. By this point it has affected the bedroom, where I first noticed it soaking the rug, and the bathroom and kitchen where we noticed it leaking through the tiles as we walked on them in the last 12 hours or so.

Thankfully, other than a few books that got wet, because they were sitting in boxes in the bedroom closet, there hasn't been any damage to my stuff, but the delay in getting work done on it has meant that a lot more of the apartment has gotten wet. While I typed this, they discovered water in the basement and are about to pull out the toilet and open up the wall...

So it's been an eventful couple of days. As I said, I'm disappointed not to be able to return to teaching full-time. It puts additional financial strain on me to stay on disability, but more I'll miss actually doing the job and the people. I'm glad, though, to be back in Illinois to be close to my church and people I've missed.

Please pray that things will get settled with the apartment before my mom has to leave tomorrow and that I'll adjust quickly to being back here (except for the ridiculous heat wave were having; I'm not likely to ever adjust to that! Thanks as always for the way you all support me, including financially,  with your encouraging words, and in your prayers.

On the road again

I'm leaving tomorrow morning to return to Illinois after spending the last several months living near my family in Maine. It has been wonderful to be near my family and to get to spend time with my niece and nephews. I will really miss them, but I found a relatively affordable apartment in Wheaton close to my church, which I've missed along with my friends in Illinois.

I also made this decision to give myself the chance to work this school year. I recently had new CT scans done and the cancer has continued to progress somewhat. My oncologist in Maine has recommended that I resume treatment, but I am unsure about whether I want to do that or not. The treatment was very hard on me and would make it impossible for me to work at all. 

Right now the plan is that I would teach third grade at my old school, Norton Creek. I think that it would be good for me to work again in a lot of ways. I enjoy the learning involved in teaching and having some place to be on a daily basis after so long without it would be good for me. However, I am also unsure whether I will be able to teach full-time given the deterioration in my physical condition from treatments over the years and two years of being completely out of work. 

I'm planning to meet with my principal next week, before making a final decision about whether to return to teaching or apply for another leave of absence. I could definitely use your prayers for wisdom regarding this decision as I really don't know what the right choice is. I can see big pros and big cons to either choice. 

I'll try to update in the next week or two once all the decisions are made and I'm settled into my new apartment.