teaching(and/or)jobs

It has been over one month since I've updated you all. Just in case you weren't aware... :)

Soooo, here we are in our new apartment!!! I'm pretty sure I talked about Cory's job in the last post, so that's old news by now. It has been such a blessing for him to have a full time position! And we have now been in our very own apartment for almost a month. It is absolutely wonderful. I kind of had an inkling that this would be so, but I've come to find out that I really reeeeeally like being a homemaker. I have had an absolute blast decorating and making pillows and chair covers, etc. I'm really glad we got all those Pier 1 gift cards from the wedding because otherwise our walls would be quite bare.

In other news, since my last update I've applied for probably somewhere around 20-25 jobs, and received a grand total of 1 interview, and 0 jobs. It's been really easy for me to get frustrated and question if I'm even really good at anything or worth being employed. But, I know that God's ways are not our ways! He has a very specific place in mind for me, and He's keeping me safe until then. :)
I'm definitely not just sitting around all day, however. Even though Cory's job is an absolute blessing, he only gets paid once a month (rooough), and it's still not quiiite enough for us to live off of comfortably. Especially since my demons/student loans kick in next month. So, I've been substitute teaching, which I'm surprised to say I've actually enjoyed. The very first job I worked was at Cory's school, and ever since then, his school's sub coordinator calls me first for any jobs that become available. It is so cool to get to go to work with him! Sometimes I get to spy on his classes and stuff -- he looks so handsome in there, being all teacher-y and such :) And I think I've probably had almost every kid in the school by now, so they all know that I'm Mr. Hale's wife. Usually what happens is:
me: I'm Mrs. Hale.
5-10 different kids: Hey! You're Mrs. Hale? Do you know Mr. Hale? He's the art teacher. Do you know the art teacher? His name is Mr. Hale. Are you married to him? Are you Mr. Hale's wife? He's the art teacher...
It's fun.
God has truly shown me favor in that I haven't yet had to deal with any supper rotten attitudes/fighting/whatever else those confused middle school kids go through. Discipline is probably my weakest link... which is also why subbing is really nice because I don't have to go back and see the same classes the next day.

And we are still loving our life group! Even though we are the absolute youngest couple there, in age (I found out the other night that I went to school with a daughter of one of the other couples) and length of marriage, it is so great to get to watch and learn from the other couples who are muuuch more experienced than we are. Although, I must say, we DID have game night the other night, and we DID play the newlywed game... and the Hales swept the board -- the newliest of wedded couples haha.

Finally, Cory's family is coming down today!! I'm so excited for them to get to see where we've been living and everything that's in the area, etc. I know that it's hard for them and for Cory being so far away, so I hope that getting to see our southern stomping grounds might make it a liiiitle bit easier. And, I would just like to say, I have the best in-laws ever. You may think you have great in-laws, but comparably speaking, you probably don't :)

And I think that's probably all of note right now. Who knows, maybe I'll surprise everyone and update again in a week or two!!

Love, Casey
(and Cory)