Yep, It's True...

I HAVE A JOB!!! A real live job that I get to go to and that will pay me!!!! I will be working as a Tutor for Autistic children in the Santa Clarita Valley. During my training I was astounded at what I learned about Autism. Did you know that it effects 1 in 90 children? It is a neurological disorder that has no cure and is life long. I cannot imagine what it would be like for a parent to have a normally functioning baby only to have your child regress and slowly end up in their own world. While there are no known cures for Autism, I will be working as an "interventionist" and teaching these children skills they can use to communicate with a program called Applied Behavior Analysis. This is the process of using positive reinforcement to have a child complete a desired task. That sounds really easy, but during the 3 days of training I had proved that it will be a challenge in that each child learns differently. I understand that it will be a challenging job but also equally rewarding. It may take 100 times asking the clients I teach to touch the cup, but the 1 time they do it will be soooo exciting! I officially start next week shadowing already employed Tutor's and hopefully the following week I'll start working with my own clients. The best part is that because I have a Master's Degree and experience as the Director of Education at Sylvan, I have the skills and education to potentially get promoted to Program Manager, which would be more of a coordinator position between parents, students and tutors. That's the job I originally applied for.

I am excited for the opportunity and looking forward to the challenge. I have been going quite awhile without work and while it will make for some different dynamics at home, both Michael and Leah are excited!! I am sure I'll have some crazy stories and some unique experiences!! God has blessed us and as usual, His timing is perfect!!

Christmas Highlights!

This Christmas seems like it was one of the best and here are some of the reasons, in no particular order:

--Our annual baking day with Mom, Emily, Grandma, Uncle Paul, and Leah.

--Making a gingerbread house with Leah, a new tradition.

--Taking Leah to see Christmas lights, it really gets us in the Holiday Spirit

--Having Leah spend Christmas Eve with us this year (we usually only have her on Christmas morn)

--Seeing the love my family has for Leah, and knowing how lucky she is to have them, and we are to have her.

--Staying in my PJ's and watching my hubby and his brother play with his "new toys" for Christmas.

--Having a Rock Band (a video game) reunion with Michael and his brother.

--A mini-Haugen family reunion, at mom's and dad's.

--Michael taking 2 weeks off work, and getting to spend some quality time with him.

--Moses (the dog) and his new shoes.

Here are some pictures of the highlights: (most are also on Facebook!!)

Leah with Grandma Carol:

and with Grandpa Dan:

Mom and Grandma, ohhing and ahhing over their annual calendar gift:

Sisters!!:

Grandma loving her new slippers:

Leah "performing" for the Family on Christmas Eve:

Mom, with her family: Uncle Paul and Grandma:

Moses and his new shoes:

Leah's gingerbread house:

Merry Christmas!!

Michael and I finished up the Christmas shopping yesterday and I have vowed that next year I will do my shopping online! But while spending the day together, we were able to reflect a little bit on the past year and we are so thankful that even though it doesn't seem like it in the day to day, God has been really working in our lives! I still do not have a full time job that I can call mine, but I have hope for the new year, and will continue to sub as I get called. My schedule has allowed me to be there for Leah in times of need and in the fun times. One of the latest fun times was a Holiday Concert and Class Party at school.

Here she is getting ready to decorate some cookies with her class. She had a blast introducing me to her friends. The look of joy she had when I walked into the class just warmed my heart. She is just the sweetest kid I know! The next picture, she is just belting out the Christmas Carols!! It was way too cute!!




Here she is doing a "book exchange" with her classmates. They each got a book and while listening to a story they had to pass the book clockwise when the heard the word "bear" and "snow". I love her very genuine smile!! She is becoming such a great reader, so it was awesome to get a new book!!

Here is our Christmas tree. It is such a highlight for me to get the house decked out. I also love the feeling of knowing that all the shopping is done and all the gifts are wrapped. Now, I just get to relax!!

Michael has about 2 weeks off too, so we have the days ahead to relax and enjoy the season and each other and with Leah. She has been very, very interested in wanting to hang out with us and do what we're doing, and while sometimes it gets a little old we've committed to making the most of our time with the munchkin. We know that all too soon she'll be totally uninterested in doing anything with her family.

We pray that you and your family have a joyous Christmas season and take time to fully enjoy the season. We also pray that you have a healthy and prosperous New Year. Can you believe that it is 2010?? WOW!! We love each and every one of you!

Fall Highlights...so far!

Can you believe it is already November?? It has been a long time since I have posted, and we have been busy with living life. Leah has been doing well in school, Michael has been traveling all around the country and I have been recovering from sinus surgery and waiting for a new job to start. Not insurance...like I posted before. I had begun studying for the Life and Health Insurance Exam and getting ready to work for Aflac as a sales person, when I got a phone call from a school I applied to over a year ago. I interviewed the following day and was offered a teaching job...that I am still waiting to start. It is with California Virtual Academy, an online public charter school for all ages. I am responsible for teaching and managing about 20-3o students...all through the internet while working from home. It is a little "out of the box" but sound like it will be a good mix of my teaching experience and my experience as an administrator at Sylvan Learning Center. The hold up is waiting for enough students in my area to enroll. It could be that I start tomorrow or in a few months. In the meantime, I will continue to substitute teach in my area and get my Insurance Liscense. I am more than half way through the course, and it's good for 2 years, so why not? Right?? It could be something to do on the side for extra income. Pray that the waiting for the teaching job comes to an end!!

But in the meantime we've enjoyed Halloween, and 1/2 marathon for Michael and getting ready for the approaching holiday season!! Here are some photos of the marathon and Halloween!! Enjoy!!

The "after" photo of Michael and Leah

Leah showing off her medal from her Kid K

Leah running her Kid K


Waiting for the Kid K to start...a little bit bored, can you tell??

Michael getting ready to start his 13.1 mile race!! (he's so handsome!!)

In February, we're going to do the Surf City Marathon in Huntington Beach. And when I say we, I mean my mom and I are going to do a 5K, Michael is going to do the half-marathon, and Leah is going to do the Kid K...I need to start training ASAP!!

Halloween Highlights!

Our Kitty Cat, with her Loot

She's soooo cute!!

The "Surgeon" and the Kitty Cat, ready to go...I stayed home and passed out candy!

Anxiously waiting to go with our pumpkins!!

Our pumpkins!

Ch Ch Ch Changes...

Hi Everyone...it's time to update you all on what's happenin' with the Koontz Clan. Not much is going on with Michael and Leah, just work and school for them, but for me there is a major change going on. I have decided to make a huge career change and I took a job as an independent insurance agent at Aflac. You know, the company with the duck!! I am beginning to study for the CA State Life and Health Insurance Exam and am super excited about the potential this job will have for success. I have never really sold anything, but I am a people person who can use my life experience and stories about people I know to get people thinking about a need for supplemental insurance. Aflac is not your everyday medical insurance. It is for "extras". One thing they do is pay you while you're recovering from a hospital stay...then you can use that money to pay your bills, buy groceries, put gas in your, etc. We mainly sell to smaller businesses who can't afford the best of the best health insurance. As I embark on this new career adventure, I am asking you to pray for success and that this new path comes easily. Also, if you are a small business employee (or large business) or if you know of anyone that may need some "extra", please send them my way, or let me know and I can contact them. It would be easier to start out with people I know.
Another prayer request for me is that October 14th, I'm going in for surgery on my nose. I've lacked a sense of smell for quite sometime and it turns out I have a deviated septum, and a thick mucus wall (ewww, I know!) in my nose, so I'm going to have it "roto-rootered". I am asking you to pray that it is an easy process and heals quickly. Lots is going on for me at the moment. I am excited and nervous and freaking out internally, but I know that this is what I need to do for our family. I have not given up teaching completely...just for now to see what else I can do. The Special Ed credential is on hold but hopefully I can continue on that journey a little later. I'd love to know what the rest of you are up to...
Happy Fall!!

Is Summer Really Over?

Here are pictures from the fair...I don't know why they won't go to the bottom of what I already posted, so don't miss it and read it when you're done enjoying the pictures!

Leah and a baby chick at the AV Fair!

Our Rock Climbing Champ!!

A HUGE slide...she loved it!!

The Koontz Clan!

Our little lemon girl!

I can't believe the summer is already over...it went too fast. Leah is well into first grade, having been going a week. Homework is starting to come home and we already have a full September calendar of things to remember. I am also beginning a new chapter. I have just begun to get my special ed teaching credential through Cal State Northridge. As I began the process of applying and jumping though all the hoops of the application process, I was really wondering how it was going to all work out with Leah in school, Michael traveling for work fairly often and my working. As I began the registration process I found a class that was offered completley on-line. This is great beacuse I hope to get a full time job, either as a general ed teacher, or as a special ed intern. This program allows me to work as a special ed teacher while earning my credential, so I am praying that God will open the correct doors for that to happen. Now with textbook and syllabus in hand I am flooded with memories of the beginning new sememsters of school. It looks like a lot of work, but I am sure I'll be able to handle it. The glasses are dusted off and the tv is off, so I better get working!! For now, I am subbing in local school districts, and hope I will get called everyday. Even though it seems summer is over, we made time for one last summertime favorite. The AV Fair, in Lancaster. Leah talks about it all year, so how could we say no. Here are some highlights of the fun! Enjoy! Pray that soemthing amazing, job-wise, comes along!!

First Grade Already???

Today was Leah's first day of First Grade. We cannot believe that she is getting so big, so fast. We asked her was she liked best about first grade and she said that the 2 recesses are the best. We are hopeful that she will continue to be a good student and we know she'll do so well. Things are the job-hunt for me are still very slow. I was hoping to get a very cool job as a Resource teacher, but it seems that God has a new plan for me. I've been accepted into the Special Ed Credential program at Cal State Northridge, with the hopes that I can intern in a special ed class. The way things are going though makes me think that subbing will be my best bet for the fall sememster, and then put off the Credential program until the Spring semester. We are seeking the Lord's guidance in all of this and we are hoping that a door, or window, or a crack in the wall opens to allow me to work full time. We would love your prayers and support during this time. Sorry there are no pictures to add this time, but I'm sure we'll do something fun in the near future and I'll post them. Let's pray that I can post about a new job for me, too!! Love and hugs to you all!!