I was tagged..... by Amy over at Laughing Through the Tears


Four jobs I have had in my life:

1. I worked during a busy holiday season one year in a mall in the western part of NY which is where I went to college for my undergrad degree. I was a picture framer for a fine arts store. I knew nothing about the work; I was trained by the shop owners who were a wonderful Italian couple.....I had just graduated from college and was saving money to go to grad school....didn't get a music teaching job right out of college so was thankful for this job in retail.
2. Substitute teacher in Central NY public schools. I did this for one whole school year while also working as a piano instructor in a private piano studio. Subbing was not something I really wanted to do but the pay was good, the experience was needed and I learned that I wanted to get my masters degree in Special Education because I loved teaching the special needs kids the best!
3. Special Education Master Teacher in an inner city PreKindergarten for 8 years. This was the absolute best career. I loved my job and used to walk from the parking lot to my classroom thanking God every day for the opportunity to serve in an inner city school with children I just loved teaching! I quit after my oldest turned 2 to pull her out of daycare and sometimes I have regretted it. The school is no longer in existance but....it has been my best job ever! (besides being a mommy!)
4. Parenting Instructor at an inner city crisis pregnancy center. This was a volunteer position at first. After being there for about 18 months I began to get a small stipend. It was a ministry and I enjoyed my 5 years there although I would get very frustrated in not seeing change in the clients' lives. Some of them DID desire change and did accept God into their lives but.... I was burned out from working with that population after 5 years. I did like the hours though (10-2, 2 days a week) as I had my 2 daughters by then!
   

Four movies I would watch over and over:

1. Casablanca: because it was what my husband and I watched for our first Valentine's day as a married couple! It is on the top 5 movies of all time list! A real classic!
   
2. It's a Wonderful Life: because it is a family tradition that every year when we put the tree up at Christmas time, we sit together and enjoy this old classic!
3. Sound of Music: you just don't get any more wholesome than Julie Andrews!
4. Spirit: yes, an animated children's flick! My oldest and I went to see it when she was in 2nd grade and it first came out....I believe it is probably the best movie I have ever seen (animated) for children. The music, the plot, the character development.....we just love it at my house!
   

Four places I have lived :

1. Herkimer, NY ( a small town in central NY, where I grew up)
2. North Chili, NY (a small college town where I attended college, near Rochester NY)
3. Albany, NY (where I went to grad school)
4. Clifton Park, NY (where I shared a townhouse with a colleague, and started my special ed career)
   

Four TV shows that I watch:

1. Law and Order: SVU my absolute favorite right now
2. American Idol: hey...I have a 14 year old..it's what they do! we connect by watching this!
3. Heroes: what can I say? My husband is a science fiction nut....it's our time together on mondays which tends to be a busy day!
4. Women's Murder Club: I love the Patterson novels....I don't often get to watch this show as we are out alot of friday nites or doing other things but.....I do like this one!
   

Four places I have been: I'll list my favorites as I have been many places!

1. a teeny tiny town called Newcomb, population less than 500 I think, located in the heart of the Adirondacks where we like to hike
2. Acadia National Park, Mt. Desert Island, Maine..my absolute favorite vacation thus far!
3. Aruba: our honeymoon!
4. San Francisco, CA: my husband and oldest daughter (when she was 4) and I spent a week at Thanksgiving there in 1997 with my husband's side of the family. His sister and her husband live there and they flew everyone out....we did all the touristy things and Courtney had her first horse riding lesson in Golden Gate Park....a fun vacation!
   

Four people who e-mail me regularly:

1. Lynn
2. Erin
3. Hope
4. Melissa
   

Four of my favorite foods:

1. Pasta, any shape/style
   
2. Fudge, especially chocolate-orange with walnuts
3. Bittersweet Sinphony ice cream (Perry's)
4. Potato-Cheese Casserole (my recipe, not my mom's)
   

Four places I'd rather be:

1. a cabin in the Newcomb area with my husband and daughters
   
2. on a Carribbean beach, preferably for 10 days during winter break!
3. the Red Lion Inn in the Berkshires with my husband for a romantic weekend getaway (we haven't done this since like 2001!)
4. our camper at Moffit Beach State Park, playing our favorite board games and eating our special camping dessert
   

Four things I am looking forward to next year

1. using my kayaks!!! (hurry up spring!)
2. hiking one of the high peaks with my husband
3. my daughter's 15 year old birthday!
4. seeing where God uses me in ministry at church